Kim hajun/The story of a man/Narrative Composition/ Tuesday 11a.m.

I met a man. He looked very tired, his shoulder drooped. He is very handsome, has good body. But in his face, I could look the angry. I had curious about reason why he is angry. So I asked about his story. First of all, his age is 28. He is college student, major the English. When he told about his age and he is still student, he smiled bashfully. After he was discharged from the service, he want to be a lawyer so he started the study about law. During the 2 years, he studied and failed. He wanted to study continuously. But, he didn't have another choice, because he couldn't be absent from school anymore. So, he must to attend school. The problem is that he don't like the English. That his major is English is very irony. Anyway, he entered other class about management, have escaped from English class. But, now to graduate the school, he could not run from English. He cannot speak English well so, he had lots of pressure about entering the English class. Moreover, he wanted to study and pass the test as soon as possible. Because he wanted to get a money. In front of He felt he stand at cliff. He said he thought to leave school in early semester. But in Korea, college diploma is very important and he also knew he will need the diploma to do he want.

Whether he attend school or continuously study, he needed the money. But he was just students, didn't money. His parent wanted that he gave up his studies. So, they just supported him with his school expenses not study for test. And he had low credits in school, he didn't think about finding job. He thought passing the test is only way. It was the perfect time of year to enjoy school, but he couldn't. He had no ability, interest in English. He felt school is just obstacle. EIT gave many assignment every week. Because after school, he went to do private tutor for money and wanted to study law, he thought college checked his course. Attending class made him angry. In first time, he did best to chasing two hares at once. But he knew he cannot get the good score even though he did best. For some time past, school rating system was changed so just doing best is not enough for good score.

He found the temptation to miss the class too hard to resist and actually he cut his class. Finally he just moaned and did nothing. He thought 'I'm a right, other people can't understand my think, mind.' But he knew he was wrong. Just, he was afraid of failure. In very tired situation, he have become more rushed and pressed for time and ran from it. Situation was not changed if he was upset. It will only aggravate the situation. Lately, he suddenly felt no one help him, he should do himself. But he cannot change this situation at a once even though he was rushing.

A man who I interview is me. These day, I always have thought I gave up the school. But, I could not have a decision, and the next thing I know, this semester is about to be finished. Individually, this semester is very difficult time. Money, English and time all about school have made me tired. Just complaining is not help to me so instead of complaining all the time, I will get over with this difficulty I felt by the act of will. Through process I write, I remind what I can and should do. And I concentrate on my way.

 

Hyewon Chang/The Age of Innocence/Narrative Composition/ Tuesday 11a.m.

The Age of Innocence

 

201302991 Hyewon Chang

 

When I visited my grandparents' house, first thing I saw was cars filling up all the available spaces in the village. They are living in a satellite city named Gwacheon and the exact county where their home located is a hot spot for the retired senior citizens. Therefore, whenever I go there on Korean holidays in my parent's car, we had a hard time finding spaces for parking. Usually villagers there do not have to visit to other families but can just wait for the others to come. However this time, I went there by subway so I didn't experienced a traffic jam. Because my grandfather was in a dove park, where lots of pigeons inhabit, I met him there and slowly walked back to the house where my grandmother was waiting for us.

                 Grandparent's house were white and clean. Since my grandfather worked as an elementary school teacher for his whole life, his wife had lots of occasions to meet children's parents. Maybe it's the reason why the house is always remaining so clean. With cups of tea, grandfather first started to talk about the watercolor painting he recently started. He told me that when he was at school, he didn't have enough time for painting. "Our house was just round the corner of the school. Some students came inside the garden and played with our dog. Have your mother told you about 'Bodi'?" When I answered no, he said about the story. "The dog was 'Baduggi(it means black and white dotted dog in Korean.), but your mother was not able to pronounce it properly.'" He told me that he was not able to eat good foods like nowadays, but sometimes he gave some chicken breasts when the day was hot and everyone is having chicken soup.

                 My grandfather said that it is hard to talk about some historic events since he forgot most part of it. Other reason is that he was doing his job in the southern region of Korea so he did not experienced much of the battle. However, he said that still, there are some stories that I would feel interesting. "Have you watched a mouse? Not white ones used in lab, but the real ones. Rats." I answered after some time. "I think I caught a glimpse of him in my middle school. but no." He soon told another story about my mother. When she was young, she was fond of cute, little creatures. Mostly it was about Bodi, her dog, but one day, she found light pink colored, little bit white furred creatures. About five of them were sleeping inside the warehouse and she thought it was really cute. She gave them some whole milk powder with hot water and raised them. When my grandfather went into the storage, he found out that my mother was raising rats, so he through them out. Later, he bring cat into the house, but he said that my mother didn't like that quite much.

                 While he was talking, he mostly talked about his second daughter, my mother. I thought the interview went quite private, not historical. However, it was good to know about my mother's new episodes when she was young. He said that the only thing he could remember about the historic event, to be exact, the Civil War in Korea was that there were some refugees came to the village where he was teaching students. Even though most of them were not able to concentrate fully on the class, they are worked hard. One day, a young female teacher came to the school. "She was really the belle of the town when she first came here." Grandfather said. He said that even my mother and her friends went to the class to see her. One day, students found out that the next week is teacher's birthday. Therefore, because they didn't have money, they went to the mountain behind all together. However, they had to go to the mountain after they finish their chores, so it was already late at the time. "Some parents came to my house and asked about them. Thankfully I was able to recall some conversations about the flower and the mountain." Luckily, children were on their way home, but because they went to deep, it took time to come back.

 

                 Even though parents were not very happy, and concerned, they thought that it would be good to keep it a secret for the new teacher. So the day after, in the class, the teacher was able to get a big wild flower bouquet. "It was really beautiful. One who made it is now an artist. I haven't seen her for years, but I heard that she mainly work in abstract paintings." Grandfather told me that even in those dog days, people thought that loving each other is important. He said nowadays, it is too hard to find some innocence in children and adults. "In life, there are some venues that you cannot buy with money. I think children's innocence is one of it."

Kye-yong Lee / Chapter 5 Final Draft / Narrative Composition / Tuesday 11am

The Happiest Interview

We were sitting on the couch in the room watching the movie Titanic. It was our favorite, and had seen it more than a few times. When it ended, we still stayed there on the couch feeling the reverberation from the movie. We both took a deep breath, and by the time the aftertaste faded away, I came to wonder about her. I asked, "How were you when you were young?" She looked at me for a while and soon smiled sweetly. "My childhood?" She was lost in thought for a moment, and after a while she broke the silence.

As a child I was very busy. I had a vivid imagination, and I was always living in some kind of dream. For example, I wanted to be the little mermaid when I grew up, and during our summer swimming lessons I imagined that I was a beautiful mermaid on some adventure. I also wanted to be someone very beautiful and graceful, elegant. Someone that everyone liked and admired. Someone who was very capable to doing many things, and wasn't told that I couldn't do something. As I grew older I became a bit of a tomboy because I wanted to prove I could handle things. But my parents and other family members still treated me like a stupid kid, and a lot of time was spent focusing and perfecting my flaws.

I looked at her, and smiled as I imagined her childhood. "Can you tell me more about your family?" She closed eyes for a while and then had a smile playing about her lips. "My family... " she started to say, and paused. But then she started, and at length she spoke about them.

Specifically about my family members? Hm, my sister (who is younger than me) lied all the time. There were no reasons for her to lie, and she just would. And she always instigated fights, and would purposefully try to outsmart me and almost always succeeded. My mother had some post-partum depression, and the antidepressants made her gain a lot of weight, thus increasing her depression. So I always remember her being very tired and even sad. She often wanted to be left alone, so my sister and I always entertained ourselves -- either outdoors during the summer, or in the house during the winter. My father really wasn't present much when we were little. He worked all the time because he was very good at what he did. He was a person in high demand for whatever issues arose, but issues arose all the time -- even during family vacations. And whenever he wasn't working he was quite tired.

I was carefully listening to her. She paused for a while, drank some water, and kept going. I then asked her: "What is the most important event in your life?" She seemed a little surprised by the questions, and took a deep breath in, paused to think, and exhaled. Her brow furrowed, thinking, and then the creases flattened and a thoughtful smile appeared. She started: "The event that so drastically changed my life was the day I met the man I want to marry." When I heard her answer in this way, I at first started a bit but found myself uncontrollably smiling and my cheeks burning. I wondered if it was me she was thinking of, and when I looked over at her our eyes met and I knew that it was me. She continued:

When we first met, it was a very exciting time, not because I knew you were the one I wanted marry -- I had not the slightest clue that we would want to get married -- but because you are such a wonderful person and there was something in our personalities that just clicked. Never before have I met someone who was so similar to myself and who knew what I felt without my ever having to mention a word; our thoughts were one in the same. And this fondness and connection has only grown stronger over time. You balance me when I'm stressed out with work, or upset about an occurrence. And I do the same for you in similar circumstances. For a long time we have had to be separated by oceans and countries, but the affection we have for each other has stayed strong and only gotten stronger. When I met you, things in my life started falling into place. For the longest time I had no idea who I was and wanted to be, or where I would go. But then you just came right into my life, and the puzzle pieces just started to come together. I figured out I wanted to be a teacher, and fought and worked like mad to get there. And now that I have achieved that and I am ready to go out into the world, I know that I want my world to be with you.

I could not take my eyes away from her. My face burned and the smile I had on my face felt like it went from ear to ear. She took my hand and kissed it and gave it a squeeze. "Do you want some cookies?" she asked. I nodded, and she went into the kitchen a brought back a small plate of them. "Here," she said. "This is your favorite." I took it and had a bite. "Thank you! I will go get some milk in the fridge. Do you want some?" I asked. She responded: "Sure!" So I got up and grabbed the milk from the fridge, two cups, and came back to the couch. "Now, this is the last. What are some things that you strongly believe in and find important?" She pondered upon the question for a while. "Hmm," she said.

I strongly believe in doing the best you can. Which I guess means giving people chances and opportunities, helping out whenever you can, and being honest. I believe in family… . I believe in a sense of humor… . Hmm, and I believe in love, and that it's one of the most powerful forces out there. Because it changes you, scares you, humbles you, and even at times can make you to do such desperate things. But I believe a life without love is no life at all, and that love should be present in all aspects of life -- in your job, your family, your grocery shopping, your laundry, and your cooking. And I think that love is the factor that determines just how often we do the other things, such as the giving of second chances and opportunities, the helping out, and the being honest. I think that if we can find the love in any situation, we are perfectly capable of doing those things, and being happier.

She thoughtfully cocked her head, and shrugged her shoulders. I expressed my gratitude to her for her sincere answers. "Thank you for answering my questions," I said. She said, "Of course, any time. I always love to talk with you." We stood up and stretched ourselves with a yawn. "Shall we go for a walk? The weather is pretty nice today." She said, "Oh, yea! It is a nice day, let's go!" And so up and out we went, bounding for our shoes and the door for a nice stroll in the park, hand in hand.

Shim Ho Seob/Chapter5 Final draft/Tue 3,4

<My brother, my compass>

 

201401798 심호섭

 

I was sitting in a café behind our school. While I was waiting him and killing some time

 

with my cellphone, Jae Ho entered the café with his suitcase. Jae Ho was wearing sleek neat

 

inside his coat. He pursues neat dress style which reflects his lifestyle. He ordered

 

Americano which is same as mine and sat in front of me with gentle smile.

 

 

 

The reason why I chose Jae Ho as my interviewee is because he is the one whom

 

I know and respect most. As I explained about his brief profile in the outline sheet I

 

had submitted, he is an alumni of HUFS. He majored English interpretation and translation in

 

HUFS College of English. I was with him in his HUFS graduation ceremony. And I am

 

seeing him just about to early graduate HUFS graduate school and get a master's degree. He

 

is now studying language(English) mechanics.

 

 

 

As he has not enough time, I started interview rapidly. Firstly, I asked "Please explain about

 

your major in graduate school and how will you gonna apply your major in your future career?" He said "what I

 

am studying is easily speaking, a collaboration between computer program and language."

 

When I was a freshman, I visited his home many times and saw him doing something looks

 

like computer programing. "It usually deals with analyzing what human says and translating it

 

into it's own computer code and proceed it into certain result.", He continued. "But I think I

 

am not gonna use what I am studying that much in my future career. Because I decided to enter a

 

enterprise and make some money first for future business what I have in mind." He kept it

 

secret what is in his mind.

 

 

 

He is a quite conservative man. Because he has lived apart from his parents from when he

 

was a freshman, he became very independent type of person. He has payed his tuition fee

 

all by himself and made his living by himself by tutoring students or working in academy.

 

So many students from our college admire him in that point. I always have wondered why

 

he doesn't get any support from his parents and lives by himself." He replied after a short

 

recitement, "Actually my father is 70 years old, quite more like a grandfather's age than my

 

father's age. I had difficulty communicating with him over that age barrier. My father didn't

 

understand my values and we always had conflicts. It was quite natural for me to get out of

 

my house and announce independent from my parent. Actually that helped me become a real

 

adult and study hard when I was an undergraduate." I nodded and understood thoroughly

 

why he has lived that life until now.

 

 

 

At last, I asked him for some advices about living valuable life. He became shy and said "I

 

am not that great person as you and your friends think. But I think I has lived quite

 

differently from my peers. As I said, I became independent from my parents early compared

 

to my friends. So I had

 

to earn money much more than my peers but instead, spend less time hanging out with

 

friends. I think that growing background made me lived quite conservative life and pursued

 

safe road. I studied hard and went to graduate school to assure my living. But I think it's not an

 

answer to life. I want you to experience more interesting things in life. Travel, love, and do

 

many other funny things in life. I think that things will make your fountain of originality and

 

creativity. And it will proceed to your future success. You can be a better adult than I am."

 

 

Lee Do Yun / Chapter 5. Final draft / Tue 3,4

<How to live as a mother in Korea>

Either a mother and a daughter know each other very well, or they are strangers (Shin, 2012). I know my mother very well, since the relationship my mother and I have is quite strong. I know my mother's habits, her favorite singer, what she has to do tomorrow, and her current concerns. However, at the same time, I do not know anything about my mother. I do not know what color she likes, what her hobbies are, or what her dream is. So, I decided to interview my mother.

I made my mother to lie on my bed and make herself at home. I also lied on the bed to create an atmosphere that we are chatting, not interviewing. I first asked her, what she wants to do from now on. She answered that she wants to take rest. She said that it has been very backbreaking to take care of two kids and make them to go to university, so now she just wants to take rest and do nothing. I knew that my mom goes to work two days a week, so I asked her why not take rest. My mother answered that to survive as a Korean elderly she has to prepare her later years, and in order to save some money she has to work now. I felt sorry for the current situation that my mother faced.

She said that she also wants to travel. She recalled her memory of trip to Norway when she was a university student. She said that she took cruise for the last course of the trip and it was so amazing that she wants to experience it once more. I had thought that my mom is not the person who likes to travel, so I asked whether she liked to trip or not. She said, "The women in my age usually want to travel." She said that her age is too late to learn something, but too early to do nothing. She said she is not a wanderer, who loves to travel, but said that traveling is pretty much everything that she can say that she wants to do. It means that traveling is not the thing that she really wants to do, but there is nothing else that she can say that she wants to do. She also added that after sending all children to college, now she is experiencing a sense of emptiness.

To change to mood, I asked that is the thing that she is most proud of throughout her life. She said that her children are her success. "In Korea, mothers have a lot to do to raise a kid", said my mother. When kids are in elementary school, mothers have to go to school to provide lunch meals, help kids cross the crosswalk. When kids grow up, they have to go to school as exam supervisors, have to collect information about private educational institutes and information about college admission test policy, and so on. "Working moms had to give up their profession as they raise kids", said my mother with a depressed voice. "At that time, everyone did so. No one thought that we were giving up something. It was presumed as a matter of course." She added that the only thing that she regrets is giving up her job. She said that after time passed, being left with ability to do nothing made her feel so desolate. She even made me to promise that when I grow up and become a mother, me to keep my career.

After interviewing with my mother, I thought that life as a Korean mother is very tough. As a mother, she was forced to give up her life and live only as a mother. The feeling that I was the result of her abandonment made me feel terrible. 

Lee Do Yun / Chapter 4 Final draft / Tue 3,4

<Where my memory lives>

Anyone has either good or bad memory in the past, and that makes at least one place special to that person. I also have my favorite place in my heart. For me, it is the house that I lived when I studied in Canada. It is a two-storied house with white walls and red roof with a res garage door. When I lived in that house, there was a big oak tree in front of it. The grass was tidy because my cousin and I took care of it every two weeks. In the backyard, we made a small garden on one side, where we grew sesame leaves, lettuce, red pepper, and cucumber. These vegetables were the ones used in Korean dishes, which we ate at least once in two days. On backyard, usually sunlight came in, so my cousin and I sometimes went out with a mat and books and read until the sunset. I could hear birds singing, squirrels running through the bushes, and grass blow around. It was the most peaceful and happiest time in my life. I could smell fresh flowers and grass. There was nothing in hurry or urgent, but everything there was so special to me. The calm and peaceful atmosphere of that time always makes me smile when I recall that memory. And usually, when we got hungry, my aunt came out with just baked chocolate and peanut butter cookies. I still haven't found better cookies than my aunt's yet. One bite made me feel like I was in a swimming in the peanut butter river and the other bite made me feel I was in Charley's Chocolate Factory. The flavor was so rich and delicious.

 Most of all, I was with my favorite friend, and also a mentor, Jung-min. When I stayed in Canada, Jung-min was the only person who actually took care of me. Literally, I was there alone; neither my mom nor my dad was there; all my friends were in Korea. Jun-min was both my family and my friend. She took care of me when I needed help and she played with me after school. Thinking back, I must have been a troublesome business to her, but she didn't show her feeling the whole time I stayed there. She was only two years older than me, but her mental was way older than that. Thanks to her, I didn't feel lonely at all, and I also learned self-confidence and self-regard through her. I usually got upset because I had the feeling that, because my English was behind compared to others, I was falling behind. That feeling made me easily get depressed and to blame myself for not being equally good as others. However, Jung-min thought me that I was doing fine and always encouraged me so that I could recover strength. I learned that the uselessness of comparing, the way to respect myself, and the importance to love my life by her. Jing-min is one of the most important person in my life, and the place where I spent most of the time with her, the house, is a very special place to me.

In spring, Jung-min and I made rings with flowers and in summer, we had water gun fights. In fall, we made bookmarks with red and yellow leaves and in winter, we built igloos. The house was full of my happy memory which makes it so meaningful to me. I sometimes recall the house and the memory of staying there even these days. 

LEE YAE LIM/ Chapter 5 final draft / Narrative composition tuesdat 34

<Why people regard highschool friend closer than university friend?>

 In Korea, most of people believe that high school friend is much closer than university friend. I do not agree with this argument though. However, one of my best friends, Kim ji-hye strongly agrees with it. So I want to interview her why she thinks that way.

 

 We met in a cafeteria near Hankuk University Of Foreign Studies. She seemed like somewhat excited about having an interview. Her cheek was red as apple and voice was quiet fast than usual. I bought her a hot latte and started an interview. "Is there any difference between high school friend and university friend?" I asked her. "Sure! There are huge differences between those two!" She nodded with her large eyes opened. I want to hear more specific things from her so I waited for a while. She told me that first difference thing is physical distance. "High school friend usually go to same school because they all live near the school. So it is easier to meet them since distance between my home and their home is quiet close." After heard her words, I nodded and agreed soon. "Then, can you tell me a specific story about physical distance regarding university friend?" She followed an answer with a smile. She A year ago, she broke up with her boy friend. At that time, she really wanted to be comforted by her friend. So she called her university friend named Su-hyeon and asked her to meet. However, they couldn't meet because of the physical distance. Su-hyeon's home takes 2 hours from Ji-hye's.  "I just found out that physical distance is a quiet important factor in keeping friendship then." She finalized her answer with smile.

 

 However, I want to know another reason. So I asked her to tell a bit more about any other reasons. "Hmm… I think amount of time that consumed together is quiet important reason too." She said. "In high school, you usually spend over 14 hours together every day. Moreover, you can consume more time with your friend after school. You know, studying in academy or playing game at an internet cafe. I think those time made deep relationship between me and my high school friend." I understood her argument after hearing those two reasons.

 

 "Then, can you tell me about your best high school friend?" I asked her. She agreed while sipping her latte. "Her name is Min-jee. She has lived beside my house since I was 16. Surprisingly, she and I became class mate for 3 years straightly. You know, it's really hard to happen! She and I saw each other more often than our parents for 3 years! Can you believe this? I knew all about her Ex-boyfriend. And she did too. So there are so many things to chat with her until now. I think she can be the last reason to support my opinion" She took her last sip of latte and got up since she needed to take a class. There was an empty latte cup on the table after she left, and I can imagine her best friend's figure there.