Rachel's graduation

In Las Vegas

Jeeyun

Rachel and Katie

Ji Youn's Graduation Ceremony

Journal #15 How to Make Yaksik

Yaksik is a kind of Korean traditional rice cake. The meaning of Yaksik is the steamed rice which is able to use a medicine.Indeed, enjoying Yaksik sometimes is more helpful than taking a medicin, when I feel tired. Moreover, it can be preserved longer than the common steamed rice.

Journal #14

I agree most diet program and plastic surgery could trigger health risks. Someone say taking plastic surgery is better than losing self-respect. However, I don't think once plastic surgery can cure people without plastic surgery. Most people who undergone plastic surgery once consider next one whether the surgery is successful or not. Eventually, plastic surgery can be addicted. We can see a lot of the example like Michael Jackson or Mickie Rook.

Journal #13 Free Journal

Today, I did presentation about human origins for the reading class. My responsibility was to explain the Islamic views on evolution theory. Before the research, I guessed Muslims seem to have severly bad feeling towards evolution theory, because I thought Islam is based on the creation theory and Muslims' religious belief is very earnest.
However, I came to know through this research, Muslims have not experienced conflicts between evolution theory and their traditional creation theory unlike in the west.
One of the reasons is that Muslims have generous attitudes on scientific ideas. Arabic was the international Scientific language over 700 years from the third century to the tenth century. Therefore, evolution theory has not undermined the traditional creation theory for many muslims.
After the research, I acknowledged my view on Muslims was thwarted due to the affect of American and Jewish views on Muslims.

Journal #10

In 2002, South Korea and Japan held worldcup game together. Korean soccer team became a fourth winner in 2002 FIFA worldcup. In Korea, soccer games had been not popular, but Koreans always strongly unites to cheer national league. All Koreans made one unity in red T-shirts to cheer Korean Soccer team during 2002 worldcup periods. We all cheer our team together in the plaza and the park. Korean soccer team was FIFA ranking 40 until then, but they did it. It was miracle that Korean soccer team became the fourth winner.

Journal # 9

I want to travel during this spring vacation, but I can't because my daughter' spring vacation is the following week of mine. Yesterday, the LA Times said most domestic airlines suggested a great deal because of the low gas price and the economic situations. Some fares between LA and New York is posted at about $200. I want to go to Manhattan, New York. Manhattan has so many fabulous restaurants, museums and art galleries....... If I go to New York, I will buy a traveller's journal with information of New York. If I visit New York, I will eat, walk, and watch too much. Also, I want to take a picture and buy something in New York.
However, I worried if my younger daughter enjoys the tour of New York and the spring vacation negatively affects on my and my first daughter's remaining semester. I dislike Febluary to April of California which has cold temperature and strong sunshine. I wonder how is the weather of New York. I can't decide if I go to New York.

Journal #8

I am not sure how to improve the writing skills. The good writing needs many vocabulary, so it might be better studying new words and its collocation. Also, I think paraphrasing is very helpful.

Journal #7

I frequently watch a various kinds of TV dramas, but my favorite genre is a romantic comedy. Because of busy day after day, I have no time watching TV except for one hour before I go to bed. It is important for me to relax and well prepare sleeping and the next day. At this time I love watching romantic comedies because of some reasons.
First of all, romantic comedies are funny and interesting. Most characters of these TV shows are not perfect. They always make mistake and regret. I feel comfortable because of their unperfect characteristics. Whenever I watch these shows before falling asleep, I can easily forgive myself who made mistakes for day along.
Also, most romantic comedies are light, not severe and heavy. After watching these shows, I don't need to remember and reflect. They are very simple, so it is easy to understand and forget. Therefore, I can comfortably sleep even as soon as I turn off the TV.
Finally, the theme of romantic comedies is mostly love. Love stories is very classical, but popular. A lot of adults especially women would like to fall in love. Love is very happy and beautiful feeling. I feel happy thinking love experience. Romantic comedies make me memorize my happy memory.
In conclusion, I watch a romantic comedy TV show before going to bed, because it is funny, light and intimate. Romantic drama shows make me sleep well and forget hardworks of the day. Simple and happy thinking is very important for good sleeping.

Journal #6

I watched the 81th Academy awards on TV. The film "Slumdog Millionaire" was a winner of the day. I was sorry I didn't watch this film. My elder daughter wanted to watch this movie, but younger daughter "Coraline". Therefore, my husband and elder daughter watched "Sumdog millionaire", and I watched "Coraline" with my younger daughter. I have too many things that I want to do but I can't do because of 5 year old girl. My first daugter who is 15 years old sometimes is complaining about the existence of her younger sister. Even though I used to say all family is important, it is hard to take care of a kid. A cute girl makes me harder because she is very adorable. I can't deny her proposals because she is so pretty. I read the book that she want to. I play the game that she want to. My husband and first daughter say to me I make a girl spoiled, but they also do something in the way that she want to do.
10 years ago, I wanted time passed away. But now if time passed away, I am getting older.

Journal #5

One of Korean old sayings is that it is too difficult to live in a place with different people and water. After I came Califoria, I agree half with this saying. California water is strange to me. My bathroom and kitchen has coverd with white and hard something even though I washed around there. Probably California water includes too many minerals. I doubt California water quality so that I buy bottled water. I feel nervous that bottled water is very expensive and heavy to deliver it. Moreover, even bottled water is divided by purified water and mineral water. Even though Korea are producing mineral bottled water, it has less mineral than California's. Also, I know some purified botteld water brands is not good, because purified water is easy to be contaminated. I don't believe faucet water in California, and it is hard to choose and buy the good bottled water.
Also, I am afaraid of Police officials here. Two months after I came here a police car let my car stop. The police woman in black uniform said to me that don't move and you should have stopped at the stop line. I said I stopped, but she said I should have stopped for a longer time. while she was talking to me, her hand was grabbing the gun placed on her waist belt. After the day, I feel nervous whenever I see police officials.

Journal #4

My favorite season is the autumn. I like the fall because of its mild temperature and beautiful colour. My chubby tummy can't be concealed by a light summer look, and a winter coat is too heavy. Climates of the fall is poper to take a walk. I am used to drink a coffee at the outdoor cafe wearing a simple cardigan and a scarf in the fall. The Fall gives me gentle breeze and shows me white clouds. If there are not the Fall, I might not feel the earth is beautiful so that I might love to stay at home all around year.
Moreover, even though California's Fall is not, falling leaves in the Fall are very beautiful. I am facinated by the picture of Canada's Fall secenery. I 'd like to visit Canada in the Fall. Of course, my country Korea has the beatutiful Fall covering yellow and red falling leaves. I especially loves yellow falling leaves. The background of splendid yellow colours can make me gain the good picture. I feel happy when I play with my children frying falling leaves and take a picture with them on the background the Fall secenery.

Journal #3

I prefer having a small party to bigger ones. At the second birthday after I married, I finally could have the party for two with only just hudsband. We had made a reservation in the luxurious hotel for one night. On my twenty eighth birthday, we arrived there at 5 pm. At first, we took exercise at the fitness center and relaxation at the spa. After doing that, we had a fabulous dinner at the Italian restaurant and drink and dance at the night club of the hotel.
The hotel room was spacious and had a great view. Moreover, there are nice sofas and a table, and those made me feel better with the cake and candles and the present which he prepared. Even though I actually loved atmosphere mooded with candles. especially the day was more romantic because there are only me and my husband in the wonderful room with the nice music stereo systems and very big windows. His birthday present for me was a pretty necklace, and I was very happy at that night. Probably, our baby might come to us at that night. Ten months later from the day, we had a first daughter.

Journal #2

I watched the Super Bowl game last Sunday. Even though for last 10 minutes is it terrific, I was boring at watching this game like other sports game. Only commercials made me fascinate. Especially,the commercial of Audi was very cool. It was fantastic as like watching 007 films. This commercial had no narrations but copies, so I can more eagerly concentrate on that. However, when I watched news programs, I was disappointed that Americans chose the Doritos commercial as the best one. Probably, due to nowadays economical recession, it seems that Americans prefer the economically produced commercial to the one like blockbuster.
The Super Bowl is very meaningful to Koreans, because Hines Ward is half Koreans and Hyundai Motors is the sponsor for the Super Bowl. I am happy Hines Ward's team won. Also, I am proud of Hyundai Genesis advertising on Super Bowl. I like very much Hyundai cars, but I think the Audi commercials is more impressive. After this Super Bowl, I think the advertising is one of the hardest game accomplished with budget and ideas.

Journal #1

My name is Leslie Ahn. I came here one and half years ago. This semester is third for me, and I feel this time would be more difficult for me. I have two daugthters, and one of them is fourteen years old and another is four. Everyday I have to take my first daughter to and from her school, even though taking care of four year old girl is my husband's job. My busy school days make my family be tired.
In last year, my mother had gone back and forth between here and Seoul for my spring and fall semester. Thanks to her, my family and I was very comfortable. Her visa can let her stay in the USA during six months a year. She plans to come back here this summer. Since I am very tired and miss her, I really want she came back.
Even though I took ALP classes for two semesters, my English skills are getting very slowly improved. If I am confindent to my English skills, I will ask my family to help me to study more. However, the top prior purpose that my family visited the USA was for my first daughter's education, who is going to high school this september. She wants to attend the Northwood high school in Irvine, so we plan to move to Irvine due to early June. Nowadays, I am busier to search the house in Irvine.