Blog #9

  I can't believe this is our last blog for this class. Time goes by really fast. It feels just like yesterday when we had our first class and we all played bingo with our names. Unlike other classes, I feel like everyone in this class is close to one another and gets along really well. The semester is almost finished, but I hope we can all keep in touch or at least say hi if we meet on campus. I hope everyone keeps up the good work and does well on their finals! Also, thank you Mr.Herbst for being the best professor and teaching us how to write a proper paragraph! (Or else this blog couldn't have happened)

Blog #8

  In the video "10 ways to have a better conversation," Celeste Headlee introduces various ways on how to talk and how to listen. The first idea is to avoid multitasking. If you want to have a good conversation, you have to be present in that moment. The second way is to enter every conversation assuming that you have something to learn. Another way she suggests is to start your questions with who, what, where, why, and how. The person you're talking to is the one who knows the answer, so let them describe. The last but most important rule is to listen. As Buddha said, "If your mouth is open, you are not learning." Celeste ends the talk by saying, "If you keep your mouth shut, mind open, and always prepared to be amazed, you will never be disappointed.

  I learned a few things from the lecture. I thought the video was going to be things like having eye contact, but it introduced us to practical things. I think to always be prepared to be amazed is a great advice that many people should learn. Also, we should learn to talk less and listen more when we have conversations. 

Blog #7

 I have experienced both Halloween and Christmas in the United States when I was little. Both of them was a great experience that I enjoyed very much. We had a small Halloween party at school, and all the people wore a costume including the teachers. We had cupcakes and cookies in class, and there was a huge bake sale in the afternoon. At night, all the kids in the neighborhood would gather up, and go trick or treating together. I remember we sang this song as we walked together. "Trick or treat, trick or treat, give me something good to eat. If you don't, I don't care, I will pull your underwear." It's so ridiculous now that I think about it, but it is still a good memory that I can laugh about.

 Another good memory is Christmas. My family always went on a vacation during Christmas, so after a few days past Christmas, when we get back home, I would open the door hoping that Santa Clause left a present for me. When I open the door, a present would always lie beneath the Christmas tree. Turns out, after my brother and I got in the car, my mom would tell us she has to take the garbage out, and go back inside our house to leave the presents under the tree. Even though is wasn't santa who gave me the presents, I love the memory of opening the gifts on Christmas morning.

Blog #6

 Hmm... I don't know what to write. I'm really annoyed right now. I have three mosquito bites on my leg and it has been bothering me all day.

 While I was writing this, I just saw a spider on my side of the desk... I hate all types of bugs. A few weeks ago, there was a bug that looked like a cockroach in my room. I tried to catch it but it suddenly jumped, so I freaked out and jumped too. I had to call my host lady and ask her to catch it for me. She saw me being so frightened so she sprayed my room with a cockroach spray and even vacuumed my whole room for me. I was so thankful but I'm still worried that I might be sleeping with other bugs and their eggs. If it starts hatching eggs, I'm out.

Blog #5

State one explit, or direct, instruction given to boys in your culture that helps to form their masculine gender identity.


 In Korea, we have this phrase that says "boys should only cry three times in their lives." The first time is when they are born, the second time is when their parents die, and the last is when the country falls apart. Fortunalty, most people don't use that phrase nowdays; however, when I was in elementry school, my teacher used to tell that to the boys to stop them from crying. Although the perpective that boys shouldn't cry have changed these past years, still there are old-fashioned people who thinks the same way. I think that old phrase "boys should only cry three times in there lives" is wrong and should be gone.

Blog #4

 I thought chapter 2 "Culture and Food Habits" was an interesting topic. While we were discussing the food taboos of our own country in class, I learned that even talking about eating dogs is taboo in America.

 Although in my country many people don't approve of the idea of eating dogs, some people still do so. For instance, yesterday I was watching a Korean movie and at the beginning of the film, a whole group of people went to eat dogs for lunch. It was just a normal scene at the beginning of the film.

 After watching that scene I thought this scene could never be in an American film, and realized the cultural differences between the two countries.

Blog #3

 I have never got in trouble when I was a kid. I always followed the rules as I grew up. However, in high school I started dating someone and that lead me to the wrong way. I didn't do anything illegal, but I started lying to my academy teachers telling them I was sick, and go on a date with my girlfriend. I even told my school teacher I was sick to get out of school early to go see her. I lied to to my parents a lot too. I would tell them I was going to the library, but all I did was just hang out with her.

 Now that I think about it, I was so lucky that I didn't caught because I lied to my parents and teachers A LOT. Also, I don't know what I was thinking. I had a very important test in my life coming up, and all I could think about was my girlfriend.

 Even after I broke up I didn't tell my parents about it. I still feel so bad, but I learned my lesson and I'm never going to lie about anything like that ever again.