Choi Hyo-jung/first draft/Tues11.am

Once again, it is this time of the year. The air is getting colder, ginkgo nuts are falling down from the trees. It is fall. Personally I prefer fall to summer or spring but every fall reminds me of a loss I've experienced in my early days.

 

My brother and I were coming back from school. We were both in elementary school, and it was rare for us to meet on the way home since we each went to a different school. However that day, we met on the bottom of the hill and was very glad to see each other. We were going up the stairs when my mom flew past us down the stairs. We've never seen her run so fast, in such a hurry. However I did saw her holding a binocular. How odd, I thought. Then there was a sudden flash. When you watch dramas you sometimes see people just feeling things when something bad happens. A phone rings, or someone knocks the door and they instinctively know that something went wrong. I always thought it was nonsense but at that moment, I just knew something was terribly wrong. My brother must have felt the same thing. We looked at each other for a second, then ran two stories up to our house. Loud beeping sound was coming out from our door lock, warning us that it wasn't shut properly, but we didn't even had time to turn it off. We rushed inside and looked everywhere to find our bird. We looked in the bathroom, looked behind the curtains, looked up over the fridge, over the bookshelf, everywhere. But she was nowhere to be seen. I should first mention that we always kept our bird outside her cage. At night she slept on top of my bookshelf and during daytime she roamed freely around the house. She spent time on my desk when I was studying, on my mother's laps when she was watching the television. She sometimes hid behind the air conditioner or under the bed. So my brother and I kept saying to ourselves that she must be here somewhere, because she can't be gone. However our search ended in vain, so we anxiously waited for our mother to come back. I don't know what my 9 year old brother was thinking at that time but I think I already knew what she was going to say when she comes back. Couple hours later, she came back with a short breath and tears in her eyes. I knew then that we have lost our bird forever. I didn't know how to cope with it, so I cried a lot and kept insisting she might somehow find her way back to the house. That never happened.

 

It took me a long time to talk about her without showing tears. Many years past but I still remember clearly the day my first pet left our family, but now I know loss eventually heals after time. I believe this loss I experienced taught me that I can lose anything or anyone any time, so I should always be faithful to people around me.

Sung Young Jang/ the first draft/ Tues 11-1

The air was hot and humid, just as any other summer morning, as I rose from my dorm bed. My small room appeared as it had always been, messed and comfy. The atmosphere trembled with a hint of excitement telling me the day had come. My roommate was already up, as usual, getting dressed in front of the mirror with care. "Can't believe you're still sleeping." he said, with a sleepy smile. "Come on. It's gonna be a busy day" I murmured something on the lines of "Too tired, couldn't sleep." as my lazy body walked itself to the showers with a bundle of clean towels in hand. As the water hit my body, it didn't take long to remember that today was the long awaited school festival.

 

I was in my second year of high school and it was a day of great anticipation, yearned by everybody. Our school festival goes by the same routine every year, 1st grader performances in the morning, booths in every classroom, something special for lunch musicals in the big halls, and a final stage at night, a night of passion. Similar routines get dull after a year or two, but who would refuse a day away from the heated classroom, the agonizing numbers, ongoing lectures, and disapproving looks? This day was a day of freedom, and all the more so as we have practiced for this day a long time.

 

Now, I don't know if everybody goes up on their first stage voluntarily, but going up on the stage was almost mandatory for us in high school. Every second year student had to participate in the class competition at night, which was set on the biggest stage our school had. Having a thousand eyes look at you while you're on stage is not an everyday thing and the thought of it gave my heart a rush. The afternoon went on full of fun and games and the night came quickly. We were all excited and nervous as last minute checks were made. Halls were busy with people screaming "How do I look?", "Where's my shoe? I had it hear a minute ago!" and so on. Everyone was panicking as the time ticked closer.

 

When I finally made it up the stage my head was completely blank. The audience was covered in darkness and I couldn't see anything at all. As the music thundered through the hall I tried my best to focus on what I had practiced so hard on. My mind was never on the audience, I could barely see them making it easy to focus on the stage only. The time flew by as we did one repertoire after another. As I got to the last few moments I was able to relax and enjoy the screams, gleaming lights, and rush of my heart. As I took light steps down the stage I realized that I had had more fun than I could have imagined, and as I looked back on the stage, it looked a bit more friendly than it did yesterday.

 

Going up on the stage was mandatory, but it was an unforgettable experience that I believe, changed me a lot. Now I know the excitement of the stage, and what it feels to go in front of so many people. Not only was it fun, but it gave me courage that would help me out for the rest of my life, and I am grateful for the exhilarating night that came by my way. 

Tsz Ching LEE/ the first draft/ Tues 11-1

Every time when I look at the long scar on my left inner ankle, the memory happened 12 years ago has still remained vividly clear inside my mind…

 

It was a sunny weekday afternoon, I asked for my uncle's permission for going out with my new pink scooter, my birthday present at 10, after we finished our lunch at home. Scooter was a hot item at that time, every child as me just couldn't wait to have one once it hit the market. I was too excited to go riding my scooter outside. After riding 2 blocks away, I met my primary school classmate Harry on a pavement accidently. And he was with his blue scooter too. "The pavement isn't busy, why don't we have a race then?" he asked after few chats. "Sure! Why not?!" I said with excitement. We went to a street and set our starting point and goal. "Okay you ready?" he asked, "Yay!" I replied. "Alright, so 3,2,1… Go!" We counted down loudly. The goal was in the end of the street, and it took around 3 minutes to finish if riding in high speed. After it started, the only one thing in my mind was to ride faster and faster, I desired to win. And… here is the accident happened. I rode as fast as Harry at first, but I started falling behind on halfway. Since I was too focus on riding my scooter as fast as possible, I didn't notice there were something hurt my foot, or any pain. There is a sharp part on the edge of the scooter pedal; my uncle has always asked me to beware of it when riding though. I kept riding in high speed toward the goal; I still didn't feel any pain but somewhere very cool down on my foot, but the goal was just in front of me, I even didn't have any chance to look at what happened down there. Sadly, Harry reached the goal first, he turned at me and showed me a complacent face to tell he won. On the next second, his face changed… "Becky, stop!" He yelled with a face shocking expression. I stopped immediately, and wanted to find out what's happened my left feet still feeling so cool…  I looked down instinctively, and there was a band of red... and I turned around, there was bloody, literally. My foot was bleeding… It was cut by the shape edge of my scooter. I looked at Harry, and didn't know what couldn't I do for next but just stood in shocked silence. I passed out on the street, as I was too afraid. The next moment I remember is waking up after a surgery, and my uncle sat right next to me. My uncle told me that there was a woman from the neighbourhood sent me into the hospital, and my classmate Harry fled after I passed out as the woman said. The cut was pretty deep as it needed 10 stiches, but fortunately it didn't hurt the main tendon.

 

My uncle blamed me hardly after, and this accident taught me a lesson I'll never forgot. Every time when I look at the long scar on my left inner ankle, the memory has still remained vividly clear inside my mind…

Ji-eun Kim/ the first draft/ Tues 11-1

One shiny day, when I was nine years old, I was crying out loud. I ran to the nurse's office. Every student around was staring at me out of curiosity. There was blood all over my face and I cried and cried because I was so scared. I was terrified by the blood all over my face when I saw the mirror in the nurse's office.

           "What am I supposed to do?" I cried out loud.

The nurse could not reply. She was busy trying to contact my parents and wiping the blood from my face. It was a total disaster for me. I never thought it would go this far. I was just hanging out with my friend and we started threatening each other for some reason that I cannot recall. I threatened him with a large stick and he got so scared that he threw a stone at my face. It immediately hit my forehead, and before I ever got to notice anything, blood came gushing out of my forehead.

By the time I got too tired from crying, my parents came to school. They were also very shocked. Seeing their little girl with blood all over her face must not have been an easy thing. They immediately took me to the hospital. I went in the operating room and I was put under anesthesia. Actually, they injected it through my forehead, so I screamed out loud. It was too painful for a 9-year-old girl to handle. Consequently, I got 6 stitches on my forehead. It took me a while to make it somewhat invisible. But I can still feel and see it when I closely look into it.

In addition, every time I feel the scar on my forehead, I always tell myself that I should never go too far when I am carrying a practical joke, and that I should be careful at any situation that could lead to a terrible disaster.     

Na Shil Hwang/ First Draft/ Tues 3, 4

"Ahh!! Anboyeo!"

I cried out as I felt my way in the pitch black hall of my house. Black outs happen so often in the Philippines, at least once a month. It is one of the most common household disasters are blackouts in the Philippines. Ever since I lived in the Philippines, I have experience frequent blackouts and although it's very uncomfortable, but thankfully electricity comes back mostly to around few hours to within a day. Still I always had fun looking for candles in the dark and lighting them.

 

I was about 7 years old when I experienced the most embarrassing however inembarrassing experiences I had with black outs. There was a storm and it was so severe the electricity did not come back for more than a day. Because of that, getting water from faucets were impossible since the water pump on the first floor was totally out and without the water pump working, my house could not get any water supply. My house was on the fourth floor and because of that our family had to carry buckets all the way downstairs and fill them with water. I did not have enough water to take a shower that particular day.

"I think you should take a shower downstairs."

My mom took me carefully all the way downstairs with a flashlight all the way outside our building where the water pump was.

"Umma, it's so embarrassing. What if someone sees me?"

"It's okay. Since it's so dark nobody can see you."
It seemed like a like trip all the way to the first floor. In the pitch black darkness all around me, I took a shower in the wide open area. I was wearing some clothes, of course, but it was still very difficult to not notice the wide area. The building was actually quite open, just like houses with small walking space in between and grass around them. I was quite afraid that someone might notice and see me, however, even if they did, they could not see me but it felt like someone could. My umma was there to stay with me until I finished but it was quite embarrassing all together. After taking the shower, I went upstairs and the night went by as dark as ever.

 

Bo-won Kim/the first draft/Tues 3-4

She is so cute

 

"I regret having gone to Australia", this is the first thought that came into my mind after I heard what happened to her. She died because of an accident while I was in Australia for year and a half. Of course, I could not meet her during those times but I could hear her news or see her through the pictures my mother sent me. She was my pet, a puppy named Cutie. As the name implies, she was the cutest Yorkshire terrier I have ever seen in my life and still is the cutest animal to me.

When I first met her, I was only ten. I begged my father for having a pet, especially a dog. I loved dogs since I was born and always admired those who have dogs. My mom was okay with it but my dad said no every time me and my sister begged for it. One day, I was so sad and angry after another denial from my father. I did not eat a single meal whole day and ignored everything my dad said. Now I think about it, I think it actually worked because that night my dad crawled into my bed and asked, "Your birthday is coming soon. What do you want for your birthday?" So I replied with the most annoying face I could make to make my dad feel sorry, "don't you know what I want? Now get out of my room. I have to sleep." The day after my rebellion, my dad asked me and my sister while having a breakfast, "Do you really want a puppy? And do you promise to keep it safe and give a care?" That was the very day I first met my dearest friend, Cutie.

 We went off to the pet shop after having a breakfast. I don't remember how I finished my meal, I could not think of anything except my first puppy on the way to the shop. Entering into the shop, the shop was surrounded by little angels, puppies, as if it was a little heaven. I started to search for my puppy and I could not take my eyes off from a one puppy. It was like how people describe the moment they first saw their lover and the love song comes out like in the movie. My parents told me to choose a puppy that I would not regret for the rest of my life because they knew that I always regret after having done something but I was sure that I would not regret having chosen her.

As I have imagined, my memory with Cutie is filled with nothing but happiness. I sometimes regret having met her too early to spend time with because if I haven't gone to Australia during the times with Cutie, if I have met her after I came back from Australia, I could have spent more time with her. But I cannot turn back the time and even if it was just almost two years, it is the happiest memory I have in my whole life.

 

Byungwook Kim/Assignment#2/Tuesday34

Heading to the weekly Saturday art class located on the third floor of a four-story red brick building, the idea that I have to spend two hours of mundane art lesson with by far the most beautiful teacher in my life gives me a mixed sensation of frustration and expectation. Just as I slightly open the transparent glass door, she glances up with a warm welcoming smile, her dazzling, mesmerizing hazel eyes meeting mine. Sitting on a black round chair a , "You look more excited than usual" she says, and I give her a short curt reply scrupulously trying to ignore her tight worn-out cobalt blue jeans hugging her slim curves as if it's her second skin.. Sometimes my eyes deviate from the canvas and appreciate the beautiful contrast her pale white flawless skin makes with her dark silky hair gently landing on her shoulders.

Sitting side by side in a small cozy atelier, I can hardly concentrate. With her beautiful smile floating and drifting in my head, pleasant disorientation floods my mind, and I helplessly surrendering to the unknown and unfamiliar emotion, eager to explore. Above all, having spent several weeks together right next to each other, it is hard to dismiss the subtle atmosphere formed in the air. Every once in a while our eyes met, both of our cheeks turning into crimson red. Trapped in an akward silence of few endless minutes, she just stares down at her read converse sneakers as if she is waiting for something. Clock is ticking, and the gap is widening.  Yet the blind man is too foolish to offer what the lady seeks.

Jihee Won/ First Draft/ Tuesday 34

My unforgettable moments in Quebec

 

"Hey! I am going to Canada for summer vacation! I'm so excited!"

"Oh really? I envy you! Buy some souvenirs when you are coming back."

When I was 13 years old, I had a chance to go Quebec, Canada for summer vacation. My uncle was living in Canada and he invited our family. Unfortunately, my father had to work so only three of us, me, my little brother, and my mother booked tickets. The first time I heard about this great news from my mother, I called my best friends to boast about this wonderful opportunity. We were leaving four days earlier than my summer vacation starting date, so I had to leave early, leaving my classmates behind, waving hands at me saying "Have a good time in Canada!" It took about 11 hours to get to Quebec. We had to transfer once but without any accident, we safely arrived at Montreal airport, where my uncle and aunt greeted us warmly.

 

   It was midnight when we arrived at his house, so we straightly went to bed. Due to jet lag, when I woke up, it was almost noon. We ate lunch and my aunt took me to YMCA youth center. I was curious so I asked her what the purpose of taking me to this place was. She told me that there will be summer vacation classes for foreign students who wants to learn English, so it will be a good chance for me to improve my English skills and to make some new friends. At first, I was really excited that I could talk with foreigners. At that time, I was attending English speaking academy three times a week, and I was taking higher level of classes than my peers. Native teachers always lauded me for my vocabulary and pronunciations so I was confident about myself. The starting date of the class was tomorrow, so I went downtown to buy textbooks and new T-shirts for my first appearance to new friends.

 

The next day, my aunt drove me to the center, and I went into hall. When I walked in, I was awed by other students' height, which was much taller than me, and their matured appearances. When it was time to introduce ourselves, I was overwhelmed by their clear pronunciations and wanted to go back to Korea right away! After introduction, all of us moved to gym because a instructor named Carla, wanted students to play basketball and kickball as a method to get familiar with each other. Carla was wrong. It was the most terrible time for me because I was not good at playing sports. Everyone was excited.. They jumped, ran, and passed balls to each other. I didn't know even girls were this good at playing sports. I walked out and sat alone on stairs. Suddenly I felt so lonely. In Korea, we play dodge ball in P.E. class and I was a good player so gym classes in Korea was always fun. However, situation was different in Canada. When it was time for lunch, everybody sat down in a circle and took out their meals. There was kimbap in my lunch box. Except me, all the friends prepared sandwiches, donuts, and coffee so it was no wonder that they stared at little Korean girl's strange lunch box. I felt a sense of difference because I was not good at speaking English, playing sports, and also my lunch menu was not same with others. So before afternoon classes, I went into toilet and sobbed. I imagined my first encounter with foreigners to be pleasant but it was not.

 

Three days passed and I was still alone. Everyone was getting familiar except me. No one was interested to me. I sat alone at the bench and finished my lunch. When I read the time on my watch, it was 10 minutes before English grammar class, so I hurried up to the 4^th floor, where the classroom was located.

 

When I walked in, a girl came to me and asked, "Hi my name is Ezgi Cetinkaya and I am from Turkey. Can I sit next to you?" I was so happy that someone gave an attention to me, a shy Korean girl. We sat together and when the class was over at 4pm, Ezgi introduced two other friends to me. "This is Esra from Turkey and this is Moerai from Tahiti." We talked until my aunt came to the center to take me to home. I was full of happiness that I made some friends eventually and after several days, we became best friends and went everywhere together. Everyday after class, we went shopping, watched movies, went to amusement park and saw rock band performances. I thought my English skill is getting better and I decided to challenge everyday life. I told my aunt that I will go to the center by myself, using metro. It was a big challenge for me, who was not used to take subway alone even in Korea. Also, I participated actively in classes, even in P.E. class. Though I was not good at playing sports, my classmates passed me balls often to give opportunities for me.  

 

   By the end of summer vacation, I became intimate with everyone in my classroom. We promised to write e-mails to each other when we go back to our home. I still keep in touch with them and they always call me "My little Korean friend". Two months of summer vacation was like a nightmare at first but after all, when I look back these days, it was the most wonderful summer vacation in my lifetime. So I will never my forget memories in Quebec.

 

Ju Hye Choi/ A Memorable Experience/ Tues 3 4

 

 

130420

 

"I don't understand what you are saying. I cannot hear," I said to her in sign language. The lady paused. She looked at me like I was some painting by Picasso, confused, interested yet lost. Did I not make myself clear? I asked myself as she continued her words without any consideration. I thought maybe she did not understood me so I tapped my right ear twice and repeated myself hoping she will get me this time. She paused again. But this time she was rather hesitant. She only glanced at me then she continued again her explanation about an item which I do not remember. The words began to sound like I was listening from underwater.

I felt dumbfounded and insignificant. The fact that someone with an actual hearing disability might experience such hostility bothered me. The lady did not try to help me understand, instead she went on describing the item like she would to someone who could hear. Silence filled the room as she finished talking. I fixed my eyes on the description on the item, said thank you and quietly left the place.  

It was on the 20^th of April 2013, the day of "Persons with Disability" at City Hall when I acted this out. It was a project from my sign language class where I was told to only use sign language as means of communication on that day for three hours. After my unpleasant visit with the lady, I silently walked down the street nearby visiting booths that were offering various services and entertainments for people with disability. I stopped at a booth where I sat to create and design my own egg-shaped candle.

"It is very beautiful" a staff member said as I began working on my candle.

"Yes it is" another lady added as my lips tickled to say thank you.

As I sat there hearing the compliments these ladies were making, my heart broke down rather than feeling any sense of delight. I was around people with disabilities and imagining that there are people here who cannot listen to the compliments these ladies were making to them as well made me realize the importance of learning sign language.

The place was loud and full of joy but to them it was perhaps…quiet. I felt the need to learn sign language, now that I feel that this day helped me better understand how it is like to be in their shoes.

 

 

Choi Yun/the First Draft/Tues 34

A Fine Mistake

             "Whew", I finally feel relieved after checking hot topics in the Internet. That is what I habitually do whenever I sober up. When I drink, I become the most miraculous animal in the world. I metamorphose into various things: When I drink, I am a whale inhaling tons of alcohol and after I drink, I am an old lady with Alzheimer who throws away everything in her brain. My amazing metamorphosis makes me wake up in anxiety and led me to make a fine mistake.

             That night I met a boy named Kim Donghui, who I met at blind date before. We go out to Hongik university and ate grilled pork cheeks. And of course we drank. After drinking a lot, we impulsively moved to Yeouinaru, which is one of the most beautiful date courses. As you know, a loaf of bread is better than the song of many birds. So, we bought Takoyaki at a truck and we send out for Kyochon chicken that we both love passionately. Since I am a heavy drinker, I could not help drinking more.

             The following day, I woke up late with massive hangover. I did not have any idea and I did not want to and I even could not. After staring the wall in my room for a while, I picked up my phone to check what time it was. I realized that he sent me a text message and I mindlessly checked it. At the moment, my hangover was hanged and over. His message made me totally sober: "So it is the first day of our relationship! Let's be happily together!" Suddenly the memory of the last night passed by panoramically. And I found something wrong happened. But I could not tell him to forgive my rash judgment and I had to continue meeting him even though I did not want to. Since I had never had a boyfriend before, I was very cautious about meeting the opposite sex.

             Undergoing this process, I became his girlfriend and he became my boyfriend. Although I first thought that it was a colossal mistake, it surely was a golden chance. He is a really good man who loves me more than anyone, who always considers my feeling and who gives priority to me. We have spent almost five-hundred-days as he said, "happily together."

 

P.S. Although there are some rough expressions and grammatical errors, I hope for your understanding. Because it is an assignment writing "the first draft."

 

HyeIn Jo / First draft / Tuesday 3-4

"Hey, it's really late for you to walk on the streets. Get in my car." It was a kindness masked as a dangerous crime. In March of my freshman year, I and my older sister lived together at a house near HUFS. She stayed with me for a while to help me to adapt to the new house where I had to live alone, away from my family. At that time, I enjoyed hanging around with friends until late at night. It was late at night at around between 12 am and 1 am. I and my sister met together at the subway station to go to the new house together. I was talking cheerfully about how fun it was to attend the so called "meeting" where I and my female students had a drinking session with male students from another university. It was my first "meeting" though. We giggled and laughed a lot. Even though we were walking the streets late at night where there were not many lights or stores that hadn't closed yet, we weren't that much scared because we knew we were together.

 

           We were passing by a gas station right before we turned right to an alley where my house was located a few meters away. In the left were there car roads while the gas station was in the right. From the left side of us, a white passenger car suddenly stopped near us and a female driver told us "Don't you think it is too late for young girls to walk on the streets at this late at night? I could drive you guys to your home. Where is it?" At that moment, I felt thankful about how kind she was to try to help strangers. But, as we were really close to our home, we politely apologized to her that we wouldn't accept her favor. But she didn't leave. She persistently tried to persuade us to get in her car. Only then did we start to doubt her exceptionally kind behavior. We declined over and over again before she finally did the most dubious act. She asked our phone numbers! A "female" stranger asking phone numbers of two "women"? We felt something wrong. We quickly ignored her constant request and hurried to our home.

 

           But right after we turned right to the alley, another black car along with that white car entered the alley. We instinctually took off our shoes to run and hide behind some cars in the corner. We got even more scared to see those two cars never going ahead nor heading back. Those cars were just stalled there for more than 10 minutes, presumably trying to find us. We called the police and explained how things were going around. But at first, the police didn't bother to help us, claiming that the dubious person we met was a woman and thus not dangerous. We were so dumbfounded as well as hopeless. But in the end, a police car arrived and we got on the car to go to our house. We couldn't find those cars when we were out there.

 

           What I learned from this experience was that I should not easily trust strangers or accept their favors. Another thing was that I need to protect myself on my own. It was the first time that I realized even a police might not be able to or bother to help and save me. Since then, I try to be alerted all the time whenever I walk down the streets alone late at night, carrying self-defense goods.

          

Tae-Hwan Park / The first draft / Tues 3-4

The best way to describe my middle school math teacher is a Marine Corps drill sergeant. Miss Wallace used to be my math and P.E teacher. There was not a single day that I'd seen her without her tightly tied brown hair, black Oakley sunglasses, and tennis shoes. Miss Wallace had a better built body than an average female rugby player, and a temper more sensitive than a mine. During P.E she would scream at our faces with her thick Australian accent, and during math nobody failed because they couldn't afford to slack off with such an intimidating figure in the room.

Back in ninth grade I and my friends used to fold a piece of paper really tightly and folded it into an acute angle, and then we would shoot that folded paper with a rubber band like a slingshot. The force of the hit was really hard it would sometimes cause bruises. One day when Miss Wallace was writing something on the board I got my paper projectile out and decided to shoot a friend. I pulled the rubber band as far as I could and let my fingers release the bullet aimed for my target across the room. The projectile soared through the warm classroom air and headed directly for my target. Suddenly, in the midst of the flight as a result of faulty paper bullet production the aerodynamics made the bullet curve 90 degrees and hit Miss Wallace directly at the back of her head. "Who was that!" screamed Miss Wallace. "If somebody doesn't own up in ten seconds the entire class will be on lunch detention for the rest of the term!" The countdown started, and with that a whole scenario terrible things that would happen if I confessed came into my mind, but due to the guilt I would feel if my entire class had to suffer for my actions I stood up. "Ok see me after class" said Miss Wallace in a very calm yet intimidating manner. For the rest of the class my heart pounded like crazy. I had gotten into very many trouble in the past but this one was different, I felt like my life was at stake.  I had to get myself out of this mess so I came up with a plan. When class ended I strategically timed and positioned myself not to be seen in between my classmates as they were getting out and threw a rubber band on the floor. I walked up to Miss Wallace with a poker face and said "I don't know if am the one who did it but I was fidgeting with my rubber band and I think it accidentally flung out of my fingers and hit you. Let me try and look of it. Aha I found it." Miss Wallace couldn't punish me when I pointed to the evidence on the floor. I walked out of that class without a single scratch.

Soohee Oh / The first draft / Tues 3-4

I often heard like "Why are you so shy?". However, it was not just the shyness. It was a lack of confidence. It got worse when I went to Canada to study abroad because I was not fluent in English, thinking I was supposed to sound as native as possible. I was hesitating all the time and worrying about myself not being good at things. After the shy high school years, I had to do interviews in order to get into universities. Interview was such a scary thing since I had to talk to strangers and think logically even with so much pressure in front of the interviewers. Although I wished I could avoid it, I realized that I had to face it since I was very desperate to go to universities.            I never liked speaking in front of other people; it was not comfortable and I was not confident either. Whenever I have to speak in front of any audience, I would get extremely nervous with a shaking voice and hands. If I get too stressed, I even had stomachaches until I finished the speaking.            All of a sudden, some phrase came in my mind - turn risks into opportunities. I knew that I needed to do something to turn myself into "a confident girl"; so it was the chance. The only way I could get better and feel less nervous was to practice as many times as I could. I imagined there were some people in front of me listening to my speaking. Also, I made many kinds of questions so that I would not be so embarrassed with unexpected questions..            I had about 7 interviews. In most cases, I was given a few minutes to think about the given questions before the interview. While I was able to calm down myself and try to think logically, there was one interview where an interviewer asked me a random question. "Steve Jobs emphasized humanities while Bill Gates considers science and engineering more important. Which one do you think is more important?" I felt like someone hit in my head. It was a question that I had never thought of before. However, without thinking much I just said what I think about humanities. Even though it was not a perfect answer, I liked how I was able to talk about my arguments in a quite logical way. This is how I gain some kind of confidence.            In the end, I was accepted at 4 universities including the one with a random question. This was when I realized that it is okay to be confident; even though I might be not as good as others, I can get better if I try harder. And those trials and practices are what could make me confident. "It is never a loss to have confidence" is what I think of whenever I face challenges

Seon Hyuk Im / Memorable Experience / Tues. 11am

Get Over It

           There's a loud crash. A kid starts crying. Dogs are barking. The kid is crying terribly. It's broad daylight. In a small town, a kid can be seen crying. He's crashed onto a pole. There are dogs barking at him. He's crying for his mommy. That kid was me. I got chased by dogs while riding my bicycle, lost control, and crashed into a huge pole. That's when I started hating dogs, and it's a trauma that I can't forget to this day.

           When I was a little boy, I used to do chores. My mom would make me run errands around town like buying eggs, vegetables, just small things I can buy and carry back home. I would ride my bicycle to get my errands done because I loved riding it. Most of the people in town would recognize me, greet me, and compliment me for being such a good kid. But one day, I was riding around for fun. There was this big black house in the corner of town. There were three black dogs inside the gates, and they would always bark when someone passed by. But that one particular day, as I passed by the house, I saw that their gates were open. The dogs saw me on my bike, and started barking like crazy. They started to run after me. All three dogs were chasing me.

           I was pedaling for my life. I didn't want to get bit by those vicious black dogs. It wasn't just one dog, it was three! I kept looking back to see how far I was getting from them, but I wasn't pedaling hard enough. They were right behind me. I had to turn to avoid a dead end, but I failed to see it and turned too late. I ended up crashing on the concrete pole, fell to the floor, and started crying. Everyone in town came out to see what happened. The dogs were still barking, but I saw the owner come running to get them back in the house. I cried for a good five minutes, until my mom came out to bring me home. From that day on, I hated dogs. I really hated dogs.

           As I got older, I still couldn't keep comfortable around dogs. But in middle school, I had a friend who owned a dog, a rather big dog, and he invited me to his home. I was concerned how I would face the dog. When I went to my friend's house, the dog was rather very calm and friendly. His dog would keep sitting next to me, asking me to pet him, and he even slept with me. I went to my friend's house very often afterwards, and my fear of dogs disappeared because of it.

           When I look back at this, I find myself proud for getting over a fear. It might seem childish, but everyone has different fears and different severity. I was seriously afraid of dogs, but now, I'm not. I would like to raise my own dog, but I don't have the time to. I hope I do some day.

Yujeong Suh/ First draft/ Tues 3-4

Carols were sounding and lights are shining on the streets. At the same time, freezing colds were piercing through people's hand and feet. People were hurrying their steps toward home. Most of them seemed happy with smiles on their face. Among those people, about 30 students were standing in the streets.

It was Christmas eve. Every Christmas eve day, I had been with my family eating some delicious western food. However, that year, the year that I had entered the high school, it was different. I was with my classmates in the middle of the streets near Shincheon station. I was raising a charity with my classmates. Before I arrived at the place, I thought that it would not be so hard and I might go home early. However, it was different from my expectations. To raise money for charity, we have to get people's attention. So we appealed to people by telling them we were trying to help unfortunate neighbors and we need their help. But seldom people paid attention and donated. So I began to think that why people were not paying attention to us. And I realized that I myself had no interest when others raised a charity. I regretted and thought that I would not just past charities next time. In addition, in case of us, we were just high school students. So in my opinion, people did not sincerely trust us. Anyway, the weather was freezing, wind was massive and our hands and feet paralyzed. Some of my friends were starting to get frustrated and said that they wanted to go home. An hour and a half already had passed and it was the time we had to make decision. "Do we have to give up or find some impressive method to succeed in raise charity?" In the end, we decided to sing carols to get people's attention and actually we sang. It was tough and embarrassing moment even though I did not lead in the singing. Then, many people started to look at us and some of them even donated to us. People came to us and put money into the charity box. Finally, after spending a long time and effort, we could raise money that we had planned.

Although it was not a though experience and I missed delicious dinner with my family, I had special and meaningful Christmas eve day. Before the charity event with my classmates, I thought that Christmas day is the romantic day that Santa Clause gives gift. However, after the day, I realized that I could be another Santa to others. I received some wonderful gifts to Santa (who were actually my parents) when I was young and now I have to pay forward to help others.

Haeung Jung / The first draft / Tues 3-4

"Wake up, wake up!"

"Why, Haeung? It's not morning. What's the matter?"

"It's emergency. If you don't get up now, you might be killed."

 

Last year, I traveled Turkey with my team members. As other countries, Korean drama and K-pop is very popular with young Turkish people. So they joined Koreafans which is a club like fan cafe. In Korea, I posted on Koreafans homepage like this.

 

"We're Korean travelers. We're going to travel Turkey for 40days. We want to experience Turkish life. So we'd like homestay. If interested in, please contact us!"

 

Few days later, someone replied.

 

"My name is Ozlem, student of Ankara university. I'm a member of Koreafans, and big fan of Korea. I'd like to meet Korean. Please call me when you arrive Denizli."

 

It was very good chance for us. Because we could experience Turkish life and also reduce our budget of travel through homestay. As soon as we arrived Denizli, I called her and met. She had black pony tailed hair and wore colorful skinny pants. She took us her house. She was very kind. But I felt it was little bit weird. There were no kitchen tools and even water. Suddenly she said she couldn't let all members sleep her house. In others words, only two members could stay her house, and others should go another place. Although I felt it was weird, there was no choice but to follow her. So we moved another house. It was basement. My doubt was getting bigger. I thought myself

 

'She might be bay guy. Perhaps she'll steal all the stuff we have."

 

 But first, I pretend to stay and sleep the basement. But I didn't sleep. At night I woke up all members and we went a hotel. In the morning we went back basement as if we slept there. Ozlem treated breakfast for us. She was not bad guy at all. It's just my doubt. Nowadays, whenever I met my team members, we talked about this story. It's so fun to say now, but at that time, I was so scared.