[Reflective Essay] Building Hope

           

            Many ambitious students actively volunteer to teach students, to fundraise and to donate. I, as one of those students who are eagerly looking forward to participate in volunteering, am a member of a volunteering club, ‘KMLA Habitat for Humanity’. When I first entered KMLA and heard about the volunteering program which all of the club members participate regularly, I thought it would be a unique experience – just a unique experience, no more or no less. However, I had a chance to think over my first definition of the club activity when I went to Thailand this summer.

             Most of the students hesitated a lot before going overseas to volunteer not only because of the expenses but also the time that needed to be sacrificed. A week at Thailand would mean less time to study, less time to play with friends, less time to go to the theater and many more. There were 13 students all together who had decided that volunteering at Thailand would mean more than anything else, and off we went to Thailand.

               As most of the people would notice from the name of our club, ‘KMLA Habitat for Humanity’, we build houses for people who need help. There is ‘Habitat for Humanity International’ which controls and guides all of the volunteering worldwide. We were assigned a coordinator named Malinie and a house of 6m x 6m to build. I still remember our first moment at the building site – surrounded by new environment, mesmerized by the beautiful nature, and worries on our mistakes we may make during our job. I had never worked with a shovel before; in fact, I never imagined I would throughout my whole life. But there I was, on the pile of gravels, holding a shovel and trying my best to shove it through the gravels. It was people’ first time for most of the member to work in a construction site, but we did our best and followed the specific instructions given by Malinie. When we went back to our hotel after finishing working in the building site on our first day, everybody fell asleep right after taking a hot shower.

             For four days we actually built a house; we filled the base of the house with gravels, covered it with mud, mixed cement, poured the cement and covered the floor, piled bricks along the walls using cement, higher than ourselves. It was very tiring since none of us were used to extreme 8 hours of work a day, but nobody complained. All of us were thankful for the fact that we could actually help the owners of the house, Pong and Mon, that we were able to afford to come here and work, and were surprised at how delicious Thailand food was in every snack time and meal time. One day, we couldn’t finish the work assigned for that day. Malinie suggested that we leave the building site according to the schedule since we had to rest, and the owners would finish up the remaining work. A hot shower and a delicious meal was tempting indeed, but nobody left the building site; we all worked together to finish our work, and we were able to finish it faster than we expected. The owner of the house held each of our hands, thanked us almost crying when we got into the van to leave the site.

On the last day, we had a little ceremony to dedicate the house to Pong and Mon. All of their families and the villagers gathered in front of their new house, which was slightly unfinished due to time constraint, and we all had barbecue. They blessed us by tying traditional bracelets, giving us umbrellas and flying away fire-lit kites into the sky. The owners cried during the ceremony, which was especially touching for me, since I was surprised at what we were able to do for the owners, who were preparing to start a new life at the house we had built together.

What Habitat for Humanity had taught me was more than how to build houses and what to put in when making cement. It was my first time actually interacting with the people who I was helping, unlike donations or fundraisings that I experienced before. Also, I believe I felt proud when we were able to dedicate the house to the owners, since even though the work to build up the house was tiring, demanding, and difficult, we did our best. Habitat for Humanity has taught me that I could actually help people, and there are some people who cry thankful tears for our efforts. Habitat for Humanity has taught me that I would be able to make changes in world, which would change many people’s life. It also taught me that I don’t need to be a supernatural or a billionaire to help people; all I need is a devotion towards what I do, sincerity towards whom I help and a little courage to give up what I have and offer it to the people with less opportunities.

[TED Review]Jacqueline Novogratz - Escaping Poverty

One out of seven people die of extreme Hunger. This is not because there isn’t enough food – actually there is enough food to feed all the people on earth. It’s not because of an epidemic or natural disasters nor lack of technology. This flagrant situation is caused by the esoteric structure of the society and elusive attitudes of people against the people experiencing famine, and this applies to all the poverty that exists on Earth.

Jacqueline Novogratz talks about Mathare, a slum in Kenya. The big town was filled with poor, powerless and secluded people who lived along with drugs, violence and prostitution. Some people sell water and soap in order to prevent the owner from relegating their families out of scanty shacks, some struggle in garbage dumps everyday to find something to eat, and many other kinds of situations. This isn’t because of the people’s indolence, wickedness, or evilness; it is because they are never provided an opportunity to escape such vicious cycles. Jane, whom Jacqueline met, was one of those unlucky people. Jane told Jacqueline that she once wanted to be a doctor and also wanted to marry a good man. However, she ended up in prostitution, earned 20 cents or so a day, and still continued to live in Mathare. But her life changed when she encountered ‘Jamii Bora’ and was provided a chance to borrow money. She spent a year to collect 50 dollars, bought a sewing machine and started her new career as a tailor. She would buy second hand clothes in market, repurpose it, and sell it to people who would wear them in milestone events such as sweet 16 parties, birthday parties – events that people celebrate regardless of economic spectrum. She makes more than a dollar these days, and is looking forward for her new house she had provided herself. Novogratz says that the worldwide economic crisis is an opportunity for innovation and invention. She added that it was chance to renovate the world into a society where products and services were extended to all people, so they will be able to make decisions and choices for themselves.

Jamii Bora, introduced in Novogratz’s speech, is the largest microfinance organization in Kenya, which means ‘good families’. It lends money to people no matter how poor they are, under the condition that the people provided commensurate amount of savings. This organization nullifies the invisible barrier poor people face when trying to afford the bases of their daily lives. Also, Acumen fund introduced later in the speech, is a non-profit global venture fund that aims to solve the problems of global poverty. These organizations had similar characteristics to the Grameen Bank, which I read in a newspaper a few years ago. Grameen Bank was founded by an economist who wanted to solve the problems of poverty as well. Grameen means ‘rural’ or ‘village’ and lends money to people under the condition that they prove the people are using the borrowed money efficiently and are saving appropriate amounts. I believe such organizations exemplify how the individual organizations should help the poor people. I think such organizations would assuage the gap between ‘the haves’ and ‘the not haves’ by providing opportunities to suffering people.

The people like Jane do not need extraneous condescending or sympathies. Supporting them shortly and instantly does not appease them. Rather, the pragmatic systems which would ‘teach’ them how to start living on their own can actually make big changes. Prodigal and useless donation is no good for anybody - it may provide a day’s shelter or meal, but the fact that they have to be afraid of the new sun rise does not change.

There are many teenagers and students who are zealous in participating programs to help people experiencing extreme poverty. We read a lot about them, we hear a lot about them, and almost all the teenagers have their own opinions on the global poverty issue themselves. This is good sign, since out apathy would be more virulent to the people. However, we need to elaborate what we know to what we actually do to ameliorate the pitiful reality. We should do our best to minimize the amount of resources and efforts squandered by carefully examining and determining what the poor people really solicit.

“When I go HIV counseling, I always say 'Look at me. You are not dead. You are still alive. And if you are still alive you have to serve,'” This is what Jane told Jacqueline. We should learn from this brave woman who had changed her most depressing moments of life into a time of changes. Also, we should do our best for the next Janes.

Let there be no more people on Earth who suffer from lack of opportunities. Let people who had enjoyed much work for the neglected – to teach them how to catch a fish instead of catching tons for them. Let our grandchildren’s children read that one out of three people experienced poverty in history textbooks, not in newspapers. This isn’t just an auspicious hope; this is a world we all should work together for.

Contemplation on Dormitory - Publicity and Privacy

  

There are two big doors that you need to identify yourself to the guard in order to enter. Then you have to go through a hallway full of CCTVs and get on an elevator where everything is recorded as well. After you get off the elevator, you have to find a correct room, open a thick metal door, pass through a small hall way and open another wooden door. This is a process which a normal person would have to undergo in order to enter a student’s room in our school.

According to the process above, individual’s dormitory room seems to be the most private place a student could have, probably out of his or her entire life. Sometimes the school limits even the parents in entering the dormitory, and the dormitory door is only open three times a day; when the students leave for school, when they come back for lunch, and when they come back from school. Apart from the entrance being locked, teachers make sure all of the doors of the rooms are locked once all of the students vacate their rooms. Some students even lock their drawers and cabinets; how can there be any place with more privacy in the world?

However, that isn’t the case. What I mean is, our dorm room, which seems to be one of the most private places in the world don’t always turn out to be so private. First of all, students are regularly checked by teachers and get punished when their rooms are dirty or if they are doing something else such as watching movies or playing games. Students have to mandatorily attend a roll call once a day, with teacher making sure there are no problems. Also, since three students share a room, despite the fact that all the desks, beds and drawers are separated, sometime it is inevitable to discover each other’s secrets. Not only the roommates, but most of the students know each other too well because they reside and interact with same people every day. If you put it this way there seems to be no place in the world with less privacy than our dorms.

            The changes in our dormitory- such as installations and removals of CCTVs, changes in the frequency of the teacher’s check-ups- seem to be struggles between the students against the teachers and parents. However, I think the unchanging fact is that we, high school students, still need some cares and interruptions from adults even if we live independently. Privacy of individuals should be respected, but restriction of privacy shouldn’t always be considered unjust, depending on situations such as my private and public dormitory room.

[Review] Between the Borders of Tradition and Modernness-Hanbok in KMLA

Like most of the high schools in Korea, Korean Minjok Leadership Academy students wear uniforms. Since it is a dormitory school, students spend most of their time wearing the uniform. However, it isn’t just a uniform; it’s very unique, probably the only kind in the world – Hanbok.

Hanbok is Korean traditional clothes, and is known for its beauty and elegance. Yet, it’s uncomfortable for the modern people with busy schedules and increased amount of physical activities. This is the reason why KMLA has both traditional and modernized Hanbok as their uniforms. There are uniforms for all seasons; spring and autumn, summer and winter. Let me focus on winter uniforms, especially the modernized Hanbok that students wear every day.

1. Colors ★★★★☆ 

There are basically four colors of uniforms from which the students can choose from. It usually depends on which wave you are in, but for the 16^th wavers, girls can choose from pink-black/red-green/navy-navy/green-dark green and the boys can choose from navy-pink/navy-grey/ green-dark green/ pink-black. Also, if you wear hand-down uniforms, you can choose more diverse colors. It’s nicer to see diverse colors in school campus, instead of all students wearing the same monotonous uniform.

2. Design ★★★★★

Unlike the traditional Hanbok, the school uniform’s top is much longer and the skirt is much simpler. This is more comfortable than general uniforms, since it doesn’t stick to students body that much, which relieves stress especially for teenage girls who are sensitive about appearances. Also, boys favor modernized Hanbok as well. “Our uniform pants are more comfortable than training pants, since it’s more loose and soft” said an anonymous 16^th waver.

3. Functionality ★★★☆☆

Since our school is in Gangwon province, winter is especially cold here. Other than jumpers or coats, we have to rely on our uniform for warmth. The school uniform serves well on this part, especially the traditional overcoat – Nu-bi. The hanboks are made of thick but light materials, which keep the warmth to the inner side of the clothes. However, there are no clothes to protect our hands or necks from the nasty winter wind. Also, the girls have to be aware not to step on their own long skirts when climbing the stairs, which is bothersome for some girls.

4. Easiness of Maintaining ★★★★★

Since KMLA is a dormitory school, whether maintaining the uniform is easy for the students or not is an important issue. In case of the uniform, it is easy to maintain, since students can just put it in a laundry basket and wash it in a washing machine. Also, modernized Hanbok is not easily wrinkled, even if students don’t hang it in their closets. It needs less care than the normal clothes students wear in weekends.

5. Accessibility ★★★☆☆

Since it is easy to maintain, many students prefer to wear Hanboks when they need to leave their rooms. Nu-bi is one of the most frequently worn coats on the way to the morning exercise in winter mornings, and to any walk outside. However, it is a little awkward to wear the uniforms outside of the school, and actually few students do so.

Overall ★★★★★★★☆☆☆

According to Minjok Herald, 155 students out of 197 preferred Hanbok as KMLA's  school uniform, other than the general uniforms of other schools. The purpose of wearing modernized Hanbok in school is excellent, and it’s colors, design, and easiness of maintaining seems great as well. However, it’s accessibility and functionality needs more improvement in order to meet the satisfaction of the majority of the students, who expect more from the Hanboks. 

Three-Penny-Scat in 'The Body'

     

 “We were playing three-penny-scat, the dullest card-game ever invented, but it was too hot to think about anything more complicated.” - p.295, Different Seasons-The Body, Stephen King

This is the game which the three boys were playing when Vern arrived at the tree house. The boys started concentrating on the game, talking about it when all became quiet at the news of a dead body.

Three-Penny-Scat is a card game also known as Blitz, Ride The Bus, or 31 Card. To play this game, at least two people are needed. Usually, three people play this game. However, you can play with as many as you want, but have to remember that more decks of cards are needed. In most games, a standard 52-card deck is required. The players start with three cards each. The goal is to find cards with sum close to 31 - Aces are worth 11 points, Kings, queens and jacks are worth 10 points, and the numbers are worth the points written on its surfaceThe cards have to be in same suit(heart, clover, spade, diamond) in order for the person to be able to add them up. If all three cards in one’s hand are in same suits, you can add up all three cards. If only two of the cards are the same suit, one can add up the two unless the sum of the odd card is worth more than the sum of the two.

One dealer is needed. The dealer shuffles the card and then passes them out to the players until all of them have 3 cards. Next, a card is turned face up, indicating the discard pile. The first player draws a card from the discard pile. After each turn, the player must discard one card. If you take a card from the discard pile, you can’t discard the same card.

You can ‘knock’ if you feel that your sum is the closest to 31. (You have to declare that you have 31 if you do so.) Each player will get one last turn to draw and discard. Then, everyone’s cards are revealed. Each player picks a suit and totals their points up in that one suit.

Each player uses three pennies. When players lose a life, their penny goes into the center of the table. If you knock and lose with the lowest hand, you put two pennies in the center. If someone gets 31, all the other players put a penny in the center of the table. If you lose all three lives you are ‘on the country’ or ‘floating’. If you lose while you are floating then you are out of the game. The game continues until one is left.

[Mr.Moon] Fragile, White, Optimistic - Myself

      
         ‘Fragile outside but strong inside.’ My mom once told me to always keep this in mind. I always try to become a person like that, while most cases turn out to be unsuccessful. Respecting and understanding others while listening to my own voices and opinions turns out as  much more complicated than expected for a 17-year-old, immature girl to do. I sometimes feel like a color white; a color which blends with any colors when mixed in a palette - a color which turns alike with the added color, but not exactly becoming the same. Some people describe me as optimistic, since I usually agree with others easily and accept most situations without hesitation. I believe I need more time and experience in order to be able to balance what others want and what I want.

易地思之 - a reflective essay to 'Spring'

易地思之, which means ‘ to think for the other’s situation’, in other words, to be in one’s shoes, is a famous expression used by many people for a long time. These four Chinese characters are answers to many essay questions, themes of many books and stories, and a lesson many people gain after precious experience.

In the first part, ‘Spring’, of the film ‘Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring’ directed by Kim KiDuk, a young boy learns from his mischievous prank he played upon animals. The boy and the monk live in a secluded area surrounded by lake. One day, being extremely bored, the boy starts to catch animals, tie a string around them, and attach a rock to its end. The monk quietly observes him and ties a rock around the boy as well. He tells the boy to release all the animals if he wants to get the rock off of himself. The boy cries sorrowfully when he finds that the fish and the snake he had tied to the stones were dead.

To be able to think in other’s shoes may be the key to many problems we face during our lives. Since we live in a society full of all separate, unique and different people, we have hard time understanding each other. If the misunderstandings deepen, it causes conflicts, protests and sometime s wars. The fact is, though, most of the people know that little understanding is all they need in order to resolve the problems, it isn’t easy to let go of the selfishness and do so.

Two years ago, my parents went to Canada to visit my aunt. I was supposed to go with them, but because of some problems, I had to stay behind. Grandmother was to stay with us for a week until my parents returned, but still I had to take care of my sister. At first, I thought it would be fun, since my sister and I would be able to do anything we wanted without worrying about mom spotting us. However, it was different. I was worried when my sister played computer games until late in the night, when she didn’t wash her hands before eating, and when she cried in the night. I started to tell her to do her homework, wash, and sleep early. Then I noticed that these were the thing my mom and dad had been telling me always. I always pouted at them when they told me to turn off the TV, slammed the door when they told me to do my homework and didn’t eat dinner when they scorned me for not washing my hands. This one week was a unique and precious experience for me, since I thought once more before I disagreed with my parents or was about to say something bad to them when they told me to do something.

Think in other’s situation. This seems simple, but actually is far more complicated than we imagine. I think this is more essential for me now than any other time in my life, considering that I am living with total different entities from distinct backgrounds in the school. I hope everybody recognizes how important 易地思之 is and how much change it could bring.

[Reading Journal] The Body - 1

            “Maybe we should stop now. Mommy might have noticed by now.”

            “Scared? Then go home, chicken!”

My friends and I gathered in front of the school. Our school had a remodeling construction when I was in 4th grade. One day, my friend came running, telling us that there is a mysterious girl, who was killed in the construction area, appearing in our class when the night comes. All of my friends had agreed to meet at 9 p.m. and check if the rumor was true ourselves. Of course, it was supposed to be a secret for our parents and teachers. It took as a long time to be courageous enough to open our classroom’s door. When one of the boys opened the door, there stood a person with her back towards us. We froze instantly. We ran out screaming when we noticed that she was our teacher, waiting for us in the classroom.

              Every child is fascinated by rumors or legends about ghosts, secret chambers, forbidden treasures etc. We all have at least once experienced thrills or fears while listening to the stories. Because such theme can easily draw sympathy out of the readers, there are many novels dealing with the mysteries that attract the mischievous children. As far as I have read, the first 30 pages of the book, I believe Stephen King has chosen such experience which exist in everybody’s memory as a leading theme of the story, ‘The Body’.

There are four boys in this story- Gordie, Chris, Teddy and Vern. Just like many other boys, tree house up in the big elm tree is their usual hide-out in which they can do whatever they want without the interruption from the adults. One hot day, when Gordie, Chris, and Teddy were playing cards and reading magazines in the tree house, Vern came rushing to them. The boys showed no interest in him until he suggested them to go on a trip to find a dead body. What Vern said was that he heard his brother Billy talking about the missing boy, Ray Brower. According to what Billy had said, his dead body must be somewhere in the tracks.

Then a short story named ‘Stud City’ is introduced. At fi
rst, it doesn’t have anything to do with ‘The Body’, but as the short story is developed, there seems to be some parts that parallel with ‘The Body’. Of course, ‘Stud City’ is more dull and depressing than ‘The Body’, the characters are in a similar situation: they both lost their older brother who parents adored. I believe I would be able to find more similarities between the ‘Stud City’ and ‘The Body’ as I read along. I think the ‘Stud City’ has a kind of foreshadowing effect on the overall plot.

I enjoyed reading this since it reminded me of myself as a child, story itself being interesting which intrigued me to keep on reading and trying to match ‘Stud City’ with ‘The Body’ was unique. I can’t wait to read some more!