Journal #9: Optimistic Quote

I have great respect for Winston Churchill, and I love his saying "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty". For me, although I met the difficulty, I didn't consider it as mine, and although I met the opportunity, I didn't have the ability to use it. I was so egocentric that I always had made a decision according to my own taste. I didn't care whether the glass is half empty or half full, but I was concerned about whether I was thirsty or not.
Now, I try to change myself. I should have taken a active attitude changing my status in the past. I should have been concerned about the neighbor, society, world affairs. I regret that I had thought about me, no matter how pessimistic or optimistic. However, I am sure I can be an active optimist like Winston Churchill, who changed the difficulty the opportunity. Also, I know it needs toil and tears to change the difficulty the opportunity. Since I know this truth as well as Winston Churchill, I have no doubt I will an active optimist. If I use my ability, I will hold the opportunity. The opportunity will improve my ability, and I will be happier than now.

Journal #8 My Best Friend & Me

My best friend Hanseon and I had been in the same university. She majored in French Literature, and my major was Political Science, so we hadn't met until we became sophomores. When we were sophomores, she and I met Eadae Hakbo , our university newspaper, office. Both of us wanted to be student reporters, so we had worked together as reporters. In 1986, Korea's political situation was very unstability, and many students frequently used to take part in demonstrations. Even though student reporters at that time excessively felt stressed, she and I always had bright expressions. We had many points of likeliness. Both of us studied moderately and liked watching romantic movies, but we dreamed our wonderful future. Also, we were lazy girls and poor singers, but we liked meeting with a lot of various people.
After we graduated, she got her boyfriend. My friend Hanseon felt sad because I had no boyfriend, so she help me make boyfriend. Both of us have had a very happy marry-life since we married 2 years after graduation. My friend Hanseon had gone France to study with her husband and baby, and she took a master degree in Architecture changing her major. Now she has been taking a ph.D course in Korea. I am sure we are perfect friends with similar tastes.

Journal #7 Heroes

I wish I can cure somebody with a illess. If I can cure the patients, and so if patients become healthy, I make feel happy. I won't tell anybody about my special ability, because a lot of patients maybe come to me. Although I have the secrets, if I have ability, I will frequently use my ability. I know I am really happy when somebody need me. I will travel, and meet the patients. I won't tell loudly. Maybe somebody envy me, so I will act secretely. Neverthless the rich or the poor, I will cure the good people especially with their families in the first place. People in the world will become more and more happier.
I really want people wouldn't suffer pain. Therefore, I will never cure the people who make other people suffer pain such as Kim Jung-Il. I won't make money using this ability, because I don't acquire it from my efforts.

Journal #6 Doctor Dolittle

Although I can talk with animals, I am not sure I would make friends with them. I am afraid to touch animals, and I hate their smells. If I can talk with animal, maybe I speak to them you have to take a shower.
Provided I can talk with animal, I will keep in touch with a bird. A bird can fly. Highly flying birds can see a lot of things. I want to ask many questions to them about their experience. They can see far away. If we came into close association, I can ask to them about street situations before I go out.

journal #5 My favorite song

My favorite song is “Edelweiss”. I heard this song for the first time on the movie “The Sound of Music”. The sound of Music was the first foreign movie I had watched. At that time I was thirteen years old and that movie impressed me with beautiful songs and scenes. The main character, Captain von Trapp sang this song in the movie with his own lips. After I watched “The sound of Music”, I became to know the flower, edelweiss. Edelweiss is a white flower found high in the Alpine hills and usually grows inaccessible places. I hoped that someone gave it to me. My father bought it for me, but I disappointed that edelweiss was a tiny and ugly flower. I am not sure what Captain von Trapp meant by edelweiss. Maybe it is his country or his lover. What I mean by edelweiss is my own happiness which nobody has. I usually sing this song at the happy morning.

Journal #4 weather

When I was in Korea, I always used to complain the weather. "Today is so hot! Why does it wind, today? It is too cold. I can't go out because of heavy rain. Because of snow traffic is so terrible. etc." Now, I missed my country. California's weather is mostly consistent all around year,so I feel so boring. In Korea, sunny weekends made me feel so exciting. However, I don't need to enjoy going outside even though on the beautiful sunny weekends. The people having everything may be not happier than the people having anything. The comparison of Korea's and California's helps me to learn the wisdom of life.

Journal#3 Old Fears

Dogs are a very cute and lovely animal. I think so. I usually buy a doggy doll and I love to collect puppy pictures, but I am so scared of dogs. Even though very pretty puppies, I became nervous whenever I meet them. I hate their fur and teeth. I feel sorry for dog raisers. Especially my heart beat fast in case of riding an elevator with dogs and I loudly scream when a dog is next to me. I still don't overcome a fear of dogs; but fortunately most Americans think all dogs must be kept on a leash at all times outside home. Therefore now I don't need to be nervous in the U.S. such as in a few other countris.

Journal #2 Getting Around

Laguna Beach provides a lot of events during summer. Art festivals and street musicians pull more and more visitors in the beautiful beach. As today was the last day of August and Festival, roads near Laguna Beach, streets and parking lots were crowded all day long. When I was in Korea, I thought that America wouldn’t suffer from a traffic jam and parking trouble. Certainly these cases do not happen so frequently in America as in Korea: on the contrary high speed driving and too much spacious parking lot make me feel fear. I don’t like to travel by car, but I occasionally drive to go shopping or to dine out. Especially on and around Laguna Beach are so many shopping districts and fancy restaurants. I had twice gotten a ticket on the number 133 freeway near Laguna Beach, although most domestic roads have a convenient network and are mostly free of charge. In Korea, toll roads have gates for collecting money instead of cameras for catching a illegal pass. The gate of Korean toll roads doesn't allow the car to pass through unless the driver pays a toll charge as in a parking lot. My car was pictured because of having no pass and I was fined 60 dollars, but I still don’t know where to purchase a pass for toll roads. There are a lot of luxurious cars on Laguna Beach. In Korea, especially conspicuous is the difference from expensive cars and cheap ones. Korean roads are very well paved like the number 5 freeway passing by Irvine and have so bright street lights. Therefore, luxurious cars in Korea give more comfortability to drivers owning to nicer pavement and the drivers can boast of their proud vehicles even in the dark night.