Blog assignment #6

This weeks topic is to write about some experience you have had bonding with peers (MT for example).

Cultural Oddities

This weekend I had the pleasure of going to the MT for first year students. It was very interesting, especially after drinking a lot of beer. I really felt it was a good cultural experience and I wanted to write about a big difference I noticed between Korean culture and American culture. There is a special bond that happens between people in Korea that doesn't exist in America. It really felt like every student there was really closely connected to their peers. This kind of bonding doesn't exist is America in such an open and inclusive way. There it is reserved for private clubs usually for wealthy groups in society. Everyone there is much more concerned with individuality, which I feel gets in the way of pure happiness and social comfort. In any case, it was refreshing to see everyone together having a lot of fun. It is something I never experienced back home.

Blog Assignment #5

Look up the american civil rights movement on google or wikipedia. Choose one feature of the movement or any famous people involved and write a post about what you have learned.

Shop til' you Drop

In the movie we watched during class this week, we saw several important issues that troubled Americans during the 1960's. The civil rights movement was an important quest for minorities to gain individual freedom and equality in America. In the southern states, it was a very difficult process, especially for African Americans. The movie mentioned one particular incident that I wanted to explain. There was one scene where they talked about a "boycott" on buying from white store owners. A boycott means not buying or using services from a particular company or group of corporations. The idea behind a boycott is that if enough people stop buying a company's merchandise, the company will suffer and perhaps have to shut down. In the southern states, many people began boycotting companies that discriminated against minorities. This included things such as not hiring minority employees, not allowing minorities to enter through the main door and forcing minorities to leave when white people needed service. The boycotts showed that minorities could effect the economy in a negative and positive way, and that they should be taken seriously as equal members of society.

Blog Assignment #4

For those of you who must post a blog this week, here is your assignment... Take a picture of something warm, beautiful and springy...Happy Posting!

Spring Sprang Sprung

Finally the jealous winter is leaving us. Spring has arrived in Korea, and although it is the shortest season of the year, it can be amazing. After the long, gray, annoying winter we have had, it is finally beginning to warm up. Flowers are starting to bloom in the longer daylight. Forsythias have come out in bright yellow, wiry strands. Tulip trees have released their big white petals. The first of the azaleas have opened their pinkish purple blossoms. This short time of warmth and beauty will soon be ruined by a swarm of poisonous yellow dust followed by the torrential rains of early summer, then sweltering heat of August and September. So get out an enjoy this short, beautiful time while it is here!

Blog assignment #3

With winter slowly leaving us, I want you to think about what you like or dislike about the long cold winter. Feel free to add pictures! Due April 7th.

In like a lion, out like a lamb.

We have a saying in English about the coming of spring, "In like a lion, out like a lamb." If the weather is harsh, it is a lion, if calm it is a lamb. Spring comes or goes this way. Sometimes violent in the beginning then calm into summer. Other times it is opposite. I am incredibly happy for winter to be almost over. The warm sunshine is long overdue and I am tired of being cold all of the time. Soon the flowers will begin blooming and nature will wake up from its long sleep. Then a few weeks of yellow dust and May will be lovely!