June 4, 2012 (Reflections on soliloquy)

Today, we performed a soliloquy of Romeo and Juliet, of the balcony scene. I really liked it. I love romance stories. I was assigned to memorize the Juliet part of the performance. However, in the middle, I forgot some parts. I paused. I didnt like that. I hate that I have stage fright. I get nervous. At home, I recited and recited perfectly, as the words roll of my tongue. However, look at what I've done today! However, I cant complain, since if I started memorizin it weeks before, then I would've memorized wonderfully. I know I keep saying this, regreting that I've not done it better. Oh, will I ever change?

May 15,2012 (Quickwrite: From the Odyessy, Part II)

The possible reactions from the person that's returning home after being absent for so long are fear, happiness and anxiety. First, the person may feel fear because he might think people forgot about him, and that everything has changed, and s/he wont be able to fit in anymore. Another possible reaction is happiness. Of course, since s/he's been absent for so long, s/he would miss his/her home, family and friends. Also, another reaction may be anxiety, as in s/he can not wait to get home and meet all the people is to confirm that s/he isnt dead yet and s/he is just too anxoius to reveal that s/he is alive and good.

May 13, 2012 (Differences of Cyclops section in book and movie )

First, in the epic poem, Polyphemeus demanded several cups of wine from Odysseus, but in the movie, he only drank one. Second, in the poem, there was a dialogue between Polyphemeus and other Cyclops, but in the movie, he only screamed that "Nohbody's blinded him." Also, in the poem, Odyesseus and his men waited until the next day where Polyphemeus let out all the sheep to graze, and hid under them. However, in the movie, Odyesseus and his men hurried out the cave the moment Polyphemeus was blinded, and only one had disguised under sheep fur. When Odyesseus and his men embarked on their ship was were escaping, Polyphemeus had threw a huge rock hastily, but no rock was thrown in the poem. The mocking dialogue between Odyessues and Polyphemeus was shortened in the movie.

May 8, 2012 (Quickwrite: The Odyssey)

Who should be heros? What makes the heros heros? What did they do different from everyone else that makes them stand out and respecte so much? Fictional or movie heros can be superman and all the others with super powers. They were made heros because they helped the others. Helping the less fortunate or ones in difficult situation also makes people heros. Of course, people who sacrifice for others are often made heros too, like martyrs, for example. Also, a hero should never give up and reach his/her goal.

May 6, 2012 (Deceive for a purpose)

A group, institution, or organization can appear like one thing and actually be another under the surface. In other words, they can be deceptive. Not only groups, institutions, and organizations do that, but also countries. Let's take DPRK as an example. After the Korean War, the Koreans were left to decide which country they would like to live in, which there is no turning back. Many Koreans at that time chose North Korea since the North Korean town rigth next to the border looked so grand with ample amount of electricity and luxury. In reality, the electricty and goods are from the aid of Soviet Union. Also, the buildings that look so grand to lure the Koreans in were in fact hollow and empty in the inside. (There were even no floors!) This example shows how North Korea appeared one thing (luxurious) and actually was another (empty and poor), which its purpose was to lure more, get more Koreans in their country.

May 2, 2012 (Quickwrite: Beware of the dog pg. 686 )

Some people are still alittle bit racist, and people judge others by categorizing them into sterotypes. Also, people just judge others by their first impressions. Perhaps a girl was wearing all black, you would assume that she isnt the loud, outgoing type. Contradicting to the quickwrite prompt (the old saying about appearances can be deceiving) I think that first impressions are pretty accurate. However, yes, I've misjudged people, sometimes when two people meet, one can be having a bad day. People can find out their initial impressions are wrong by actually getting to know that person.

April 18, 2012 (American History: Quickwrite)

The topic today is about two personal experiences that are significant to us and have ties with history. For me, is the visit of museums and experiencing traditions. These experiences occured many times throughout my life, which are significant to me, but today I would like to choose examples from the summer camp about learning about my homeland. I visited museums that have collections of potteries, and war memorials. These are significant and have ties with history because I have learned about the history of my homeland that I didnt know before. Also, the experience with traditional food and games were interesting. This ties with history, tradition and culture, which leaves me a valuable experience and lesson. It gives me the chance to really feel the history.

April 16, 2012- Quickwrite: How to eat a guava (Favorite food)

My favorite food is pomegranate. I like how it is both sweet and bitter(the seeds). It is a very troublesome food. You need to dig out all the little parts and then take out the little bitter seeds in them. However, they are very sweet and good. Digging out the little parts are annoying and troublesome. You have to peel away those yellow-ish layers. Then you would eat the little parts but then you would also have to spit out the seeds which is very very annoying, and bitter if you bite into it accidentally. That fruit was eaten at home about an year ago. While digging out the little parts, little bits of the pink juices sprayed on the wall behind me, and my mom didnt like me eating pomegranates after that. It wa a very experience. However, I still really like the sweet and accidental bitter taste (when bite into the seeds accidentally), so I'm still going to eat them!

Biily Collin's Poetry (March 7, 2012)

Though we did watch it during class, I picked "Somedays" as my favorite one. I realized that this poem is about being controled and controlling. Somedays you just go with the flow, but other times, you order or command the others what they have to do. Also I think there is the unpredictable factor in it. Days are just very unpredictable. Also, this "Somedays" which gives readers a feeling that it is common, reoccuring phenomenas. That there are always these days where you control or are being controlled. The poetic elements in this poem are rhymes like people/table, alliteration: people/places, refrain: perfectly/perfectly, along with vivid imagery. I feel exactly like this poem these days, about being a leader and a team member: ontrolling and being controlled.

The Cavern by the Sea (February 26, 2012)

First, before mentioning the answers to this blog entry, I need to talk about the poem and my response to it. I absolutely love the poem. Though having read several poems before, I never loved so dearly one. Indeed, "The Highwayman" was also a wonderful poem, but I really like "The Cavern by the Sea." So this poem is about a chieftain on a island of Tonga in Southern Pacific ocean. On the island are beautiful flowers, palm tress. Then one day he dived so deep so that he discovered cavern under the sea. Stalactites hung from the center of the cave, shells and seaweed were scattered and it was dark inside. Only the light reflected from the water was present. Dazed by the wonderful palace, he vowed to not tell a single soul. Time passed, and a ruthless king rose on throne. A chief planned a rebellion. However, this news somehow reached the king's ears. The king was outrageous, hurried to prison him and his family. This chief had a beautiful daughter which the chief who discovered the cavern loved. The chief of the cavern set out to resue the beautiful lady. He kept comforting her, and brought her to the cavern under the sea. The king's men where chasing behind, but soon lost them. He constantly slipped in food and clothing for her. The chief soon prepared to leave the cruel country, prepared a boat and his man on the run. He went for his bride, and they all left to a peaceful kingdom faraway. After years, the king died and a better one was on throne, the tribe returned and lived peaceful ever after. The mood of the poem is victorious. The tone is passionate, especially towards the subject. There is perfect end rhymes that never fail to be. Because of the perfect end rhymes, perhaps the mood can be described as energetic or upbeat. The diction is olden day english, for example "thou art mine, and O."

An extended metaphor for life in the poem "Seven ages of man" that William Shakespeare wrote, was compared to the world being a stage, and the man and woman merely actors and actresses. As for my extended metaphor, is a book. When you've come to a new page (top of left page), it is the birth stage. Then the rest of the first page (on the left) is the teens period. Then, the top of the right page, is kind of a new start, you're an adult now. Then, the rest of the page on the right, is the old man's period. However, this extended metaphor shows how unpredictable life can be. You never know what will happen until you finish reading the very last word of the page. The very last line, can be "And the character died." This changes the plot of the story completely. This is compared to how you dont know what will happen till the last moment of your life.

The Seven Ages of Man (February 20, 2012)

What are the seven stages of a persons' life?

The first stage of life is the moment you're born. An infant. Then, there is the childhood, where you're carefree with no worries. Next, is the teens period. You go through many things, learn alot and realizes many things about life, that world is a quite cruel place. You learn about important things like responsibility. Then, is the young adult period. You learn about what the society is really like and experience the world. Then is the true adulthood of life, love, marriage, success. Then there is death, the gloomy part, but always a new begining. At last, the part I strongly believe in. It is the next life, reincarnation. I know everything, everyone is reborn. So I prefer to treat everyone and everything nicely. There you have it, the seven stages of life.

Disrespect (February 18, 2012)

The quickwrite is about imaging disrepected situations and how would I feel about them. However before going into that, I would like to talk for a quick second about respect. First of all, respect is everywhere. Between all people. Respect is between families, friends, lovers. Respect is mostly toward the elders. Which "Respect your elder" is much of a slogan now. Which explains why the quickwrite mentioned deliberately about "imagining a situation where we will be disrepcted."  For me, respect has always been a huge issue. Perhaps because of me being a Korean with all the different cultures, I never dared to forget about respect. Respecting others was the most important thing for me. However, sometimes I lose a nerve and become disrespectful. I am very shameful of it. Yes, I need to try harder. So, since my 15-year life hasnt been respected since I am still a kid, I will make an example. Perhaps I become a college professor, a student of mine may disrespect me, by not greeting me. However, I would like to teach them respect, if I were to be disrespected, I'll teach them right. If I was disrespected, I would feel utterly terrible. It is because I have been really putting respect as my number one priority and if other people didnt but respect as theirs, and they disrespect me, I will be very disappointed and terrible.

A blessing: Analysis

A Blessing, by James Wright.

This poem means:
On the way to Rochester, Minnesota, beside the highway, the speaker and his/her friend spotted two Indian ponies. When the speaker and his/her friend stepped closer, the ponies came out to meet them with excitment. They had been feeding all day long, alone by themselves. They bow shyly, and the speaker realized they are very lonely and that they love one another dearly. The ponies went back to feed on the grass, while the speaker thinks that he would like to hold the pony that lookes slenderer, that is black and white because she had walked to him and nuzzled his/her hand. The speaker realizes that after caress the pony's long ear, that her ear is soft and delicate. The speaker at last realizes that he has changed, got realization, and he learned love and that if she/he stepped out of his/her body, he would become a blossom, a whole new person.

Turning Point

During summer, I decided to go to a camp in Korea (instead of reciting SAT vocabulary with all my classmates), which calls upon all the other koreans that live overseas. We learned to love Korea, our homeland, and learn our culture, language, experience the culture and see the history unravel before our eyes (in museums) and get to know the other Koreans that live overseas. The turning point happene on the second or third day, all people were called upon to the auditorium to listen to some saftey lectures and warnings. Then, we were picking an representative, a girl and a boy for the whole camp, a leader. People could of course volunteer to become a candidate. Something happened, like the leadership that had buried itself deep in my heart for 14 years, suddenly burning and was about to explode. So I went up to the front of the room, and volunteered. A quick sidenote, before that desire explosion, I was a coward. Perhaps not exactly a coward, but I had quite terrible stage fright. I didnt like to stand in front of everyone and talk. I hated, loathed, abhorred presentations. However, that single moment, miracle happened. After the candidates gave a little speech, the people voted. I only lost 3 points to the girl who had got elected. Yes, I was disappointed, but I believe that this was a great experience. This, was the turning point in my life. Though I still havent quite got over my stage fright, and stammer infront of alot of people. I almost always volunteer to go first, during presentations. Also, in classes like PE, where a team leader is needed, I volunteered. I like leadership, I like having leadership. I understand, leadership is difficult, hard to manage the team members well. However, I am very glad that this leadership had finally emerged from the deepest corner of my heart.
What if this never happened? What if I chickened out, and never volunteered for the representative election? I believe that till this point, I will never volunteer to go first in presentations, nor volunteer to be a team leader. I absolutely can not imagine that I missed the turning point. I am very glad I did not.

Qickwrite: Selfless Sacrifice (The Lady or the Tiger?)

Perhaps it is because I didnt earn my own money yet, or I am not grown up, I never really had to make any hard choices. For families, yes, I saved my allowance to give my family nice gifts. I made a choice that benefitted my family, instead of me, because I could have spent my allowance on something I wanted. I am very glad about my choice. I never hesitate about making any choices for my family. Since I already have everything I need, I dont need any other unnecessary products. Therefore I am always glad about being a little benefit to my family. However as I grow up, I know I will have to make hard choices. Not hard choices for my family, since they always come first. However, perhaps at work, I may have to make a choice that may only benefit one person: me or the other person. However, when the time comes, I will try my very best to make the impartial and correct choice.

More than Meets the Eye: O. Henry

Authors are not just authors. They are not people who just sit around and write all day. They are all people, individuals. They have a story. It may be a very touching one, a surprising or extraordinary one. Also, it may be surprising to learn the motivations that made them authors. There must be a reason. There must be a whole new story, and it is definitely more than meets the eye.

O. Henry was an American author. His real name was William Sydney Porter. He lived from September 11, 1862 to June 5, 1910. His mother died when he was young, and he lived with his father and maternal grandmother. William was always reading during his childhood. He worked as a pharmicist, draftsman (professional drawing-arts), bank teller, then a journalist. He also acted and sang with a group of other singers and actors. When he started his work as a draftsman, he started writing stories with characters based on his job. He was arrested for five years because of embezzlement (to take money/property in other's care, with deception) During the time he was in prison, he worked as a night druggist there. He published several books under different pen names but the most famous one was O. Henry. O. Henry moved to New York where he was close to his publishers and wrote about 381 short stories. His short stories were famous for their unexpected endings and witty (clever) narration. Some of his famous short stories are: The Gift of the Magi, The Last Leaf, and After Twenty Years. Unfortunately, he was a heavy drinker and had abysmal health, and he died in 1910. (He died of cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes, and enlarged heart.

Cherished item

What is your most coveted treasure? Some people may say, "My laptop, of course!" "My iphone 4s, duh!" Well, laptop, you say? Laptops, they are machines afterall, electronic devices. Once in a while, they do not work right.As for phones, it goes the same way. Let's see, the most cherished item. Well, it is really hard to chose. Dont people say, "You dont know how much something means to you until it is gone." Well, then I can name many! Heaters, Air conditioners, socks, clothes, blankets, hats, warm water, cold water. However, our teacher specified "things." The thing I treasure the most, are memories. If it has to be a solid item, then it would be a camera (with all the pictures and videos of my life, my family and friends) Well, my most cherished item could be a USB with huge capacity. However, that leads to the need of laptops to display the pictures and videos, and I dont even want to go there (Again). My most cherished thing in this whole entire world are memories, and if it is a thing, then it is a USB with all the photos and videos of my life.

Should we have universal education?

Should we have universal education? Why, of course! When did it start? In Scotland, universal education started in 1561. In England and Wales, the Elementary Education Act (Forster's Education Act)was passed in 1870, where children of 5-12 had to recieve education. Why did it start? Why do we need universal education? We need universal education because then we would have the basic knowledge to live through our lives without hardships. If people recieve education, then they would learn to think more critically, and figure things, solve more problems by themselves. Education leds to revolutions (Like the French Revolution), which is a bad effect, but thinking on the bright side, they also had the Enlightenment, and had more and more people thinking and improving their society! Also, universal education is tied with fate. A little education can change peoples' lives! In alot of places in Southern Asia, poor families are tricked by the sly and wealthy businessmdn and sell their children in exchange for money. However, the families hardly know what would happen to their children. The children who were sold often work harsh jobs, requiring heavy labor. Many others get decieved to abandon their country to work in another. Which most of the time, is worse, where jobs are very difficult and harsh. These people are in desparate need of education. They need to know, that one imprudent choice, can change their lives forever. Universal education is very, extremely, and infinitely essential.

Compare and Contrast Between Two versions

Cartoon Version
-Bob Crachit is portraited as small and weak
- Bob Crachit: only watches the coal box with yearn.
- Scrooge is counting money (seems more luxurious/carefree)
-Scrooge's dialogue with Fred : Not a penny richer, fellow passengers to the graveyard,open shut up hearts
-Scrooge stops infront of a choir raising a fund, until they stop.
- The Spirit spinkles magic dust and flies to the past.
-Ebenezer met his lover in the ball
- Ebenezer puts the hat on the ghost and flies and falls, wakes up on the floor.
-Christmas Present: Fred's party: Uncle Scrooge guessing game: no drinking to him
- Mysterious (mystical figures, carriages and horses chase him)
-Bob's family cries about Tim
-Says merry christmas to the maid
- Tags along behind carriage
- -Scrooge sings with the Choir
-Bob narrates at the end.
-Story ends where Scrooge carries Tim down the street

Patrick Stewart version
-Bob Crachit seems tall and powerless. (Bold but fears Scrooge)
- Bob Crachit asks Scrooge if he would removed Marley's name: No.
-Attempts to put more coal
- Scrooge is writing (seems more serious)
-Scrooge's dialogue with Fred: Not an hour richer, a time for good, not for profit, time of kind, of forgiveness, when men and women can think of others.
- (A little boy) Caloring (from door to door): Sings at Scrooge and Marley's: Scrooge comes out with a stick and attempts to swing it.
-Bob accidently slips the word "Merry"
-Fund raisers askes Fred for directions to Scrooge.
-Painting on the wall moves (Jacob's face)
-Thinks is seeing Jacob because not digested food.
- The spirit simply transforms the past.
-Explains why he didnt go home as a school boy
-Young Ebenezer shows Small Fezziwig a trick.
-"When happiness shows up, always give it a comfortable seat"
-The ghost actually brings him home, and scrooge puts hat on him, wakes up.
-Chirstmas Present Ghost Gives blessings to people (poor) (like in the book)
-The pudding is small, and children would blush to mention the small size.
-After visiting Crachit a storm comes and sweeps them away past a lighthouse, to a ship, then to a coal mine (factory) at last, to Fred's house.
-First they plan to go, but stays outside for a while to watch Fred's party plays games
-Ghost told him that he should have accepted the invitation just for Fran's sake
-Visists Prisons, sprinkle dust, show people sing and play chirstmas carols.
- Meets Ghost of Christmas Yet to come (simply appears on street): goes to Stock Exchange
-Two old women and One man come visit Joe to sell Scrooges' things for money. (broch, blankets, boots, curtain) (took of his clothes made of silk, to sell to Joe)
-Bob's family stays calm and happy and thinks of Tim, and now Fred was nice
- In the coffin, was really Scrooge inside.
-Throws snowballs at kids
-Goes to Church and sings
-When visit Fred's house, it was ironic how the song Fred's friends were singing repeated the word "Shy" while Scrooge was "shy" and tried to sum up the courage and go in.
-Bob holds up stick for defense when Scrooge offered raise in salary
-Fred narrates at the end.
-Story ends when Bob's family visits Scrooges' house

Similarities:
- Both starts with the funeral of Jacob Marely
-Scrooge is portraited as a mean and cold hearted man
- Both Bob Crachit tries to warm up (by candles)
- Nephew Fred comes in after Scrooge shoots a glare toward Bob who was trying to get warmer.
-Both Scrooge says "Humbug"
-Crachit applauded when Fred finishes his speech
- The fund raisers comes in after Fred
-An image of Jacob Marley on door
-Bells ring
- Double locks the doors
-Sees many spirits (Jacob Marley goes)
-Christmas past, appears at his house
-The man didnt come and fetch him like in the book
-Christmas Present ghost mentions his brother (appears just in scrooges house)
-Christmas ghost of yet to come doesnt talk only points (shows the people who were in debt under Scrooge).
-Wakes up from falling into his coffin, he changed totally.
-Sends turkey to Bob

The ghost that most affected Scrooge

In my opinion, the ghost that affected Scrooge the most is the Ghost of Chirstmas Yet to Come. It is because, after the visit of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, which Scrooge saw his own death,  his happiness was overwhelming him. The happiness of being alive overwhelmed him that he attended his nephew's christmas dinner, sent a turkey to Bob Crachit, his employee. Also, he raised Bob's salary. He took care of Tiny Tim, who was very weak and who was about to die. Fortunately, Tiny Tim did not die, and Scrooge was like a second father for him. And he totally transformed to another person. Scrooge changed so much and spent Chirstmas so merrily, that it was said that no one knew better about how to spend christmases.

Workhouses: Hell

First, the Acts of 1572, 1597 and 1601 were set to help the poor. In 1601, the Poor Law Act was passed, and the poor that was receiving help could live at home. However, the Poor Law Amendment Act in 1834 made the poor that who were receiving help live in the workhouses and work hard for the people giving them help. People who were aged, mentally disabled, orphaned, poor, umemployed, unmarried women worked in the workhouses. The workhouses provided free medical care, shelter, food, and training for certain skills (did not include reading and writing). Inside the workhouses, were everthing peole needed: bakery, clinic, classrooms, dining rooms, and many other stores. The workhouses were feared because the government (which feared encouraging umemployed people) so that they made sure workhouses were feared so umemployed would keep out of it.The people would be first separated into different groups according gender and age (families were split up. The people had to wear uniforms (so the other people outside knew they were working in workhouses) after being stripped and bathed. The working conditions were harsh and food had no taste. Children were often sold to mines and other factories. One of the jobs was oakum picker, which was pulling part ropes that are old and covered with tar, which injured the fingers alot. If the worker was healthy and young, they would break rocks into small portions for roads. They would only receive a bed and small portions of food, without being paid. Other jobs were digging, cutting wood, grinding corn, bone crushing (banned in 1845 because workers were eating the flesh), cooking washing, scrubbing and cleaning. Males usually had to break 350 kgs of stones, and to pick eight pounds of oakum, or nine hours of cutting wood and digging. Females had to pick four pounds of beaten oakum, or nine hours of cleaning, or needlework. At last, in 1929, the Local Government Act was passed, which abolished the activity of workhouses, and responsibilities of giving help to the poor were assigned to county councils. However, in Victorian era, the workhouses were viewed as hell, and the word was avoided like the plague: the place that is worse than prisons.

Theme for Liberty and Exile

Assignment: Theme for Liberty and Exile by Jullia Alvarez
list out all the steps of thinking of the theme:

The theme for liberty.
-the subject and title is liberty
-The main characer experienced: having to escape and leaving her best friend (dog) behind.
-Theme: Escaping for liberty and leaving everything you had behind is difficult.
     -Reason: The character leaned through the story that they had to escape for liberty to America, and it was hard leaving Liberty the dog behind.

The theme for Exile.
- Title is Exile
- Subject/topic is escaping for freedom
- The main character experienced: running away, hurriedly, is frightening.
-Theme: Escaping for freedom may be frightening and strange and new
     - Reason: The main character's father was anxious while boarding the plane, once they arrived, they had to understand elevators and other new things they havent seen before.