Below is what I wrote when we were studying This I Believe with Christina. I'm posting it for safekeeping.
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I believe in video games.
I believe in the imagination. Whether it's a dark plane filled with falling, colorful blocks, a vast, vast land and its diverse residents and deadly dungeons, or a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, games take players to places they've never seen. Traveling to these wondrous worlds only enabled by games is a magnificent experience, an excellent retreat from reality.
I also believe in the interactivity. Video games are better than books and films in a sense, because players become characters themselves and make their own choices. As a pirate, a bounty hunter, or even a heroic plumber, a player gets to be fully immersed within the fantasy. He can follow the white rabbit into a hole, time travel in a DeLorean, or strike a Bludger straight into one of his opponents himself.
I believe in the growth. Every enemy crushed is a step closer to the player's ultimate perfection. Starting out in humble clothes and a feeble sword, the protagonist makes his way through many obstructions, gathering skills and experience and adding useful items to his inventory, gradually maturing into the knight in shining armor capable of slaying the dragon. This hero's journey is what always fascinates the gamers.
I believe in the frustration of constantly being killed and defeated in the process by zombies, flying bullets, or even an activated trap card, and also in the satisfaction that comes from overcoming all obstacles and delivering the final blow to the boss, finally clearing a level, and moving on to the next. I believe in the pure challenge the player has to face.
I believe in the competition: battling others to determine who is the most skillful in the virtual reality. Despite the insignificance of it, the inexplicable passion of the participants and the bonds that are created are amazing. I believe in the entire community that can share the fun and communicate each other through games, bringing friends and families together.
Most important of all, I believe in the simple joy of gaming.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
The Frontier House
The Cowboy... horses... cattle... and stories around a campfire... times when a handshake means your word... The wild west where self_reliance, freedom, individuality,inventiveness and equality of apportunity are all prevailed.
You can see this western spirit in the Frontier House, and see authentic people, places, gear, and traditions of cowboys, past and present, right there.
Modern Families experienced the 1883's life on the American Frontier facing many challeneges like; hunger, fear, the nature and neighbors.
If i got the chance to read about it before, it wont be as remarkable as when I saw it in the class in the Frontier House show.
You can see this western spirit in the Frontier House, and see authentic people, places, gear, and traditions of cowboys, past and present, right there.
Modern Families experienced the 1883's life on the American Frontier facing many challeneges like; hunger, fear, the nature and neighbors.
If i got the chance to read about it before, it wont be as remarkable as when I saw it in the class in the Frontier House show.
The Frontier House
The Cowboy... horses... cattle... and stories around a campfire... times when a handshake means your word... The wild west where self_reliance, freedom, individuality,inventiveness and equality of apportunity are all prevailed.
You can see this western spirit in the Frontier House, and see authentic people, places, gear, and traditions of cowboys, past and present, right there.
Modern Families experienced the 1883's life on the American Frontier facing many challeneges like; hunger, fear, the nature and neighbors.
If i got the chance to read about it before, it wont be as remarkable as when I saw it in the class in the Frontier House show.
You can see this western spirit in the Frontier House, and see authentic people, places, gear, and traditions of cowboys, past and present, right there.
Modern Families experienced the 1883's life on the American Frontier facing many challeneges like; hunger, fear, the nature and neighbors.
If i got the chance to read about it before, it wont be as remarkable as when I saw it in the class in the Frontier House show.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
The Clune Family and Self Reliance
Look at what the notion of self reliance has done to the Clune family. Their survival is in danger, and they're too proud to ask for help. The Glenns know this, and they want them to admit that they're helpless. I'd say this is a cruel, negative side to this American value.
At the same time, the Clune kids speak ill of the Glenn family for forsaking them. I wonder if they are learning the aspect of self reliance.
At the same time, the Clune kids speak ill of the Glenn family for forsaking them. I wonder if they are learning the aspect of self reliance.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Frontier House
Yesterday we watched an episode of frontier house where all the contestants had to work hard for their houses and to eat, they used the most important american values, self-reliance and inventiveness because at that time they didn't count on anyone else but themselves and use all their creativity to survive.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Byebye,,,
I just stopped by to say goodbye to my classmates and Cara.
I didn't realize that I'm the last person in the photo of this front page.
Vehbie.. Ziyad.. Cris.. and me
Time flew really fast...like an snapshot of cameras..
I still remember the time when I took cara's idiom class for the first time..
Thank you for your enthusiastic lessons..
It was my pleasure to have you Cara as my best teacher and it will last forever for sure.
take care and keep in touch !
"To learn another language is to possess another soul" Cara said once..
and I guess now I have another one thanks to Cara, who is the greatest teacher,ever.
I didn't realize that I'm the last person in the photo of this front page.
Vehbie.. Ziyad.. Cris.. and me
Time flew really fast...like an snapshot of cameras..
I still remember the time when I took cara's idiom class for the first time..
Thank you for your enthusiastic lessons..
It was my pleasure to have you Cara as my best teacher and it will last forever for sure.
take care and keep in touch !
"To learn another language is to possess another soul" Cara said once..
and I guess now I have another one thanks to Cara, who is the greatest teacher,ever.
Friday, August 6, 2010
6th.august.2010
Dear diary.
It's time to step back and think back on my old days in the USA(a.k.a Kaplan!!). For me, Kaplan was the USA, because all the people I know now are or were from Kaplan and all the English I have learned is from Kaplan. When I arrived the school for the first time, I was afraid of everything. At that time, I was not an adventurer because I was busy with protecting myself from everything around me in the new country. However thanks to nice friends and nice teachers, now I feel as comfortable as when I was in my country.
I can remember every single moments that I've gone through here. I remember the moment when I met Yeonhee, I remember the moment when I met Cara and Jessica, I remember the moment when my classmates and I shouted that we want to go clubbing in New jersey and I remember the moment when I saw the chupacabras. Every single moments is very special and precious, so I want to keep them in my closset so that I can't forget them and I can see whenever I want to, but I know that it is impossible. However, I believe that, at least, I will be happy whenever I look back the life here even if I forget some of the memories.
This is my last diary on Cara's class blogs. I think my lazyness is cured perfectly thanks to keeping diary here. I don't know how many people have read my diary and how the people feel about this, but I appreciate you reading this and It was awesome to get qualification for keeping diary on this blog. Thank you Cara and Goodbye everyone.
It's time to step back and think back on my old days in the USA(a.k.a Kaplan!!). For me, Kaplan was the USA, because all the people I know now are or were from Kaplan and all the English I have learned is from Kaplan. When I arrived the school for the first time, I was afraid of everything. At that time, I was not an adventurer because I was busy with protecting myself from everything around me in the new country. However thanks to nice friends and nice teachers, now I feel as comfortable as when I was in my country.
I can remember every single moments that I've gone through here. I remember the moment when I met Yeonhee, I remember the moment when I met Cara and Jessica, I remember the moment when my classmates and I shouted that we want to go clubbing in New jersey and I remember the moment when I saw the chupacabras. Every single moments is very special and precious, so I want to keep them in my closset so that I can't forget them and I can see whenever I want to, but I know that it is impossible. However, I believe that, at least, I will be happy whenever I look back the life here even if I forget some of the memories.
This is my last diary on Cara's class blogs. I think my lazyness is cured perfectly thanks to keeping diary here. I don't know how many people have read my diary and how the people feel about this, but I appreciate you reading this and It was awesome to get qualification for keeping diary on this blog. Thank you Cara and Goodbye everyone.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
5th.august.2010
Dear diary.
Has my diary been narcissistic??
I learned blogging and narcissism in the classroom, and I thought about if my diary had been narcissistic or not. I don't want my diary to look like that, because narcissists are a kind of people who I don't like and I don't want to be like them. I would rather be a serious dreamer or a mindless blogger than a narcissist.
Has my diary been narcissistic??
I learned blogging and narcissism in the classroom, and I thought about if my diary had been narcissistic or not. I don't want my diary to look like that, because narcissists are a kind of people who I don't like and I don't want to be like them. I would rather be a serious dreamer or a mindless blogger than a narcissist.
This I believe : Be cool to the pizza delivery dude.
I chose this topic from www.thisibelieve.com, because it was interesting and I was curious about what Sarah adams who is a writer of this essay and who is an english professor at Olympic Community College would talk about in this essay.
She said that we should be nice to the pizza delivery dude, and there are a few principles. Hilouriously, these principles reminded me American values.
Coolness to the pizza delivery dude is a practice in humility and forgiveness.
Coolness to the pizza delivery dude is a practice in empathy.
Coolness to the pizza delivery dude is a practice in honor and it reminds us to honest work.
Coolness to the pizza delivery dude is a practice in equality.
I've never thought about the pizza delivery dude in my life. For me, the pizza delivery dudes were just helpful people who deliver me a pizza eventhough their behaviors are not that polite and sometimes make people angry by driving their motocycles crazyly.
In Sarah's essay, she is not admiring them. She also thinks that the pizza delivery dudes are not nice people and sometimes annoying. At some point, she is even criticizing them. However at the same time, she is saying that there are some things we can learn from them.
Although their job is not a perfect job and some of them are rude, they are hard workers, so we have to show them forgiveness and empathy. In addtion, according to Sarah, they deliver pizza to young and old, families and singletons, gays and straights, blacks, whites and browns, rich and poor, vegetarians and meat lovers alike, so we can learn equality from them.
Reading her essay about the pizza delivery dude was very interesting, because her view points are totally different from mine and it gave me a lesson.
From now on I will be cool to the pizza delivery dude and I am going to look for what I hadn't recognized in my daily life like the pizza delivery dude's value.
She said that we should be nice to the pizza delivery dude, and there are a few principles. Hilouriously, these principles reminded me American values.
Coolness to the pizza delivery dude is a practice in humility and forgiveness.
Coolness to the pizza delivery dude is a practice in empathy.
Coolness to the pizza delivery dude is a practice in honor and it reminds us to honest work.
Coolness to the pizza delivery dude is a practice in equality.
I've never thought about the pizza delivery dude in my life. For me, the pizza delivery dudes were just helpful people who deliver me a pizza eventhough their behaviors are not that polite and sometimes make people angry by driving their motocycles crazyly.
In Sarah's essay, she is not admiring them. She also thinks that the pizza delivery dudes are not nice people and sometimes annoying. At some point, she is even criticizing them. However at the same time, she is saying that there are some things we can learn from them.
Although their job is not a perfect job and some of them are rude, they are hard workers, so we have to show them forgiveness and empathy. In addtion, according to Sarah, they deliver pizza to young and old, families and singletons, gays and straights, blacks, whites and browns, rich and poor, vegetarians and meat lovers alike, so we can learn equality from them.
Reading her essay about the pizza delivery dude was very interesting, because her view points are totally different from mine and it gave me a lesson.
From now on I will be cool to the pizza delivery dude and I am going to look for what I hadn't recognized in my daily life like the pizza delivery dude's value.
Tommorow will be a better day :)
I heard a boy who was a student in NYC and he believed that he and his generation will see a beeter world. Both Korea and Ameican parents are always worried about their children's future. Also, the boy, Josh,eavesdropped his parents' conversation about his future.
He thought about his great-grandfather and grandfather when they were in his age. They participated in ww1and 2. But at the end of the war they found good things like passage of civil rights. And he realized that he would see a better world and all things were going well like his grandfathers. So he told his father not to worry because tomorrow would be a better day.
Yes. I totally agreed with him. I was negative person. These days I was really worried about my internship. I thought my English was not good enough to work in American industry. But I changed! I believe myself and also Tommorow will be a better day !!!
He thought about his great-grandfather and grandfather when they were in his age. They participated in ww1and 2. But at the end of the war they found good things like passage of civil rights. And he realized that he would see a better world and all things were going well like his grandfathers. So he told his father not to worry because tomorrow would be a better day.
Yes. I totally agreed with him. I was negative person. These days I was really worried about my internship. I thought my English was not good enough to work in American industry. But I changed! I believe myself and also Tommorow will be a better day !!!
Nobel Prize-Winning Chemist Roald Hoffmann's This I Believe Essay
The Tense Middle
Just what I had thought when I learned about chemical equilibrium! When many kinds of chemical substance are mixed, the ratio of their amount always has a middle point, and that point is not fixed; it depends on the environment. Depending on the temperature, each amount, etc., the middle point dynamically changes, but is also determined by a constant. Why can't we also stand at a middle point, not biased to either side? Why can't we be agile and adapt to different situations? Things are usually not so black or white. We should take our time, assess the circumstances, and carefully choose which is best for your immutable value, your constant.
Just what I had thought when I learned about chemical equilibrium! When many kinds of chemical substance are mixed, the ratio of their amount always has a middle point, and that point is not fixed; it depends on the environment. Depending on the temperature, each amount, etc., the middle point dynamically changes, but is also determined by a constant. Why can't we also stand at a middle point, not biased to either side? Why can't we be agile and adapt to different situations? Things are usually not so black or white. We should take our time, assess the circumstances, and carefully choose which is best for your immutable value, your constant.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Yo-Yo Ma's I believe...
According to Yo-Yo Ma’s I Believe story, he believes in the infinite variety of human expression.
He is a musician of many cultures (Chinese, French, and American) who thinks that every culture has its uniqueness.
He felt uncomfortable to choose to be in only one culture; he decided to select the good values of each culture and embraced them. After that he applied his belief to music, which he thought that it also didn’t belong to any cultures or any countries.
He stated that all of us have different, unpredictable, and infinite way to express ourselves. We must look beyond the point that we have assigned to do but find the point that fits the way that we want to be.
He is a musician of many cultures (Chinese, French, and American) who thinks that every culture has its uniqueness.
He felt uncomfortable to choose to be in only one culture; he decided to select the good values of each culture and embraced them. After that he applied his belief to music, which he thought that it also didn’t belong to any cultures or any countries.
He stated that all of us have different, unpredictable, and infinite way to express ourselves. We must look beyond the point that we have assigned to do but find the point that fits the way that we want to be.
4th.august.2010
Dear diary.
Nothing special happened to me today. It was a normal day. It was so normal that I can't think of anything interesting. Ah! the only one that was interesting is the fact that I got a free burito on the way home. I'm shivering with the fear of my last day in Kaplan thesedays and I think because of that I can't pay attention to what is going on around me. I need to desensitize myself to my fear.
Nothing special happened to me today. It was a normal day. It was so normal that I can't think of anything interesting. Ah! the only one that was interesting is the fact that I got a free burito on the way home. I'm shivering with the fear of my last day in Kaplan thesedays and I think because of that I can't pay attention to what is going on around me. I need to desensitize myself to my fear.
From ThisIBelieve: Live your life so that you will have no regrets
I've read and listened to the essay of Nancy Yucius on http://thisiblieve.org/. She believes in the importance of living the life without having regrets. In her essay, she refers to her mother's and to her own life describing all the phases of their lives and the wonderful and exceptional moments she could enjoy along the way. It was her mother who had told her to live the life without having regrets, and Nancy did so. She really did everything she wanted to do, and wasn't afraid of making new and extraordinary experiences.
Now, as an old woman, she's diagnosed with colon cancer. When I was listening to her story, and when she told about the fact that she'll probably die in about one year, I was completely shocked. At this point, I expected to hear some descriptions about desolation, desperation and sadness. Unexpectedly, she didn't mention not even one negative word. She was still believing in life, and was thankful for all the wonderful moments she has had. This positive energy and strong will to live is just impressive. It seems that she is balanced with herself and that she feels peace inside because of the way how she has lived her life. In addition, she also wants to encourage us to live our lives without regrets, and to use our time. I admire this woman, and I'm really touched by her story. It makes me thinking about my life, and one day, when I'll be looking back on my life I would like to say too: I've lived my life and I don't have to regret anything.
Now, as an old woman, she's diagnosed with colon cancer. When I was listening to her story, and when she told about the fact that she'll probably die in about one year, I was completely shocked. At this point, I expected to hear some descriptions about desolation, desperation and sadness. Unexpectedly, she didn't mention not even one negative word. She was still believing in life, and was thankful for all the wonderful moments she has had. This positive energy and strong will to live is just impressive. It seems that she is balanced with herself and that she feels peace inside because of the way how she has lived her life. In addition, she also wants to encourage us to live our lives without regrets, and to use our time. I admire this woman, and I'm really touched by her story. It makes me thinking about my life, and one day, when I'll be looking back on my life I would like to say too: I've lived my life and I don't have to regret anything.
Is blogging narcissistic?
I don't think that blogging is narcissistic but it's a way to try to be attentioned by other people.
Sometimes I feel weird becuase of some people who post their feelings in their online diary. I can't understand why they put their sadness on the internet. Those kind of diaries make my feeling bad because whenever I read the diaries, it seems that they want other people's consolations on purpose. Also sometimes they look selfish.
So, I think blogging is not narcissistic but posting their feelings looks not good.
Sometimes I feel weird becuase of some people who post their feelings in their online diary. I can't understand why they put their sadness on the internet. Those kind of diaries make my feeling bad because whenever I read the diaries, it seems that they want other people's consolations on purpose. Also sometimes they look selfish.
So, I think blogging is not narcissistic but posting their feelings looks not good.
Is blogging narcissistic?
Personally, I think that it depends on what the blogger post. If the person likes to keep a diary of he or she had been doing is not narcisisticn but if the person always talk about themselves and how perfect they are is obvious that the person is vain and narcisist.
I have a lot of friend who has a personal blog and they are very good people but they like to write what is happening to them everyday even if it's bad or goodm
I have a lot of friend who has a personal blog and they are very good people but they like to write what is happening to them everyday even if it's bad or goodm
Is blogging a narcissistic act?
Saying that blogging is a narcissistic act is way too extreme to me. If it were, our cyber world be much more unrealistic. And I would feel so sorry for many of my friends who always post their stories or any information on their blogs.
I don't think that blogging is a narcissistic act. The habits of narcissism and blogging are totally different. Blogging is a way to express one's feeling, emotion, or idea. It doesn't mean that those bloggers admire themselves too much. And if it were, blogging would not become such this popular.
I don't think that blogging is a narcissistic act. The habits of narcissism and blogging are totally different. Blogging is a way to express one's feeling, emotion, or idea. It doesn't mean that those bloggers admire themselves too much. And if it were, blogging would not become such this popular.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
3rd.august.2010
Dear diary.
Each people in the world has their own lives and memories. There is nothing that is not important among them. They all are important and very precious, so, many people try to keep the memories by taking pictures or keeping diaries. On the other hands, other people try to concentrate on just experiencing and believe that there is not anything that can keep our memories but our eyes, nose and ears. I don't know which way is better way to keep our memories. If I have to choose only one way between concentrating on taking pictures and concentrating on enjoying the moment, I will choose second one. I'm saying like this but I don't know why I am always busy with taking pictures whenever I find out something awesome our something new.
Each people in the world has their own lives and memories. There is nothing that is not important among them. They all are important and very precious, so, many people try to keep the memories by taking pictures or keeping diaries. On the other hands, other people try to concentrate on just experiencing and believe that there is not anything that can keep our memories but our eyes, nose and ears. I don't know which way is better way to keep our memories. If I have to choose only one way between concentrating on taking pictures and concentrating on enjoying the moment, I will choose second one. I'm saying like this but I don't know why I am always busy with taking pictures whenever I find out something awesome our something new.
Narcissism & Blogs
If posting on blogs were narcissistic activity, this place would be the temple of narcissism and I would be one of the most devoted narcissist here, because I've kept diary here everyday from june.
I don't think that blogs are narcissistic. The one that is narcissistic is not blogs but a person who posts something that is to show off him or her or to romantize him or her life. As posting on a blog is getting popular, people show their opinion easier than when they show their opinion offline and it is true that some of them ronmantize themselves in order to make other people also admire them. However, in this case, the people are narcissistic. Many other people are using blogs efficiently.
I don't think that blogs are narcissistic. The one that is narcissistic is not blogs but a person who posts something that is to show off him or her or to romantize him or her life. As posting on a blog is getting popular, people show their opinion easier than when they show their opinion offline and it is true that some of them ronmantize themselves in order to make other people also admire them. However, in this case, the people are narcissistic. Many other people are using blogs efficiently.
Is blogging narcissistic?
My answer is NO. I usually post some pictures of mine and keep a diary on my homepage. Also people who visit my hp can see my pictures and read my diaries. I want my family and friends to know what i did, do and will do. Also my hp is the place where i can express my feelings or opinions freely. Most of my friends use their blogs like me. But no one is narcissist and i have NEVER felt that they are narcissists.
What is a narcissistic post anyway?
I wrote during class that I've never seen a post that looked like an act of narcissism, or something along those lines. I'd thought that one would have to praise oneself in the post for it to be narcissistic, but maybe my definition was too narrow.
If public diaries being narcissistic means that you're just focusing too much on yourself, who doesn't? Everything that I see, every thoughts that I have are my experience. You can never write anything that has nothing to do with you. Now I'm exaggerating to the opposite end, but I'd say everyone's a narcissist.
Could someone show me an example of a post where the author is being narcissistic?
If public diaries being narcissistic means that you're just focusing too much on yourself, who doesn't? Everything that I see, every thoughts that I have are my experience. You can never write anything that has nothing to do with you. Now I'm exaggerating to the opposite end, but I'd say everyone's a narcissist.
Could someone show me an example of a post where the author is being narcissistic?
2nd.august.2010
Dear diary.
Because of my friends' and my troubleful trip to the hershey park, we almost died this morning. We were so tired that we couldn't distinguish between reality and a dream. When I fell a sleep, I felt like I was falling down to the unlimited space, which I dream whenever I'm tired. Fortunately, coffee saved us, so now I feel better, but in this morning I thought that I didn't want to go to any amusement park for 10 years because of my tiredness.
Because of my friends' and my troubleful trip to the hershey park, we almost died this morning. We were so tired that we couldn't distinguish between reality and a dream. When I fell a sleep, I felt like I was falling down to the unlimited space, which I dream whenever I'm tired. Fortunately, coffee saved us, so now I feel better, but in this morning I thought that I didn't want to go to any amusement park for 10 years because of my tiredness.
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