2008년 9월 29일 월요일

10 possible research topics

1. Tufts University must be more concerned with environment preservation and reflect on current school policies on that matter, such as giving out free NYTs to students, which is obviously a huge waste of paper

2. Study-Abroad programs should not be limited to students learning the language of the program-holding country

3. Course requirements, such as math and English, should be more lenient

4. Automobiles should not be allowed to enter the university (except the Joey, perhaps)

5. The school should adjust the concept of quiet hour period by delaying a couple of hours of its start and yet more strictly carrying it out

6. For male students who come from countries that require them to join the army, such as South Korea, Taiwan, Israel, etc., certain benefits should be given after they come back to school

7. The school should provide classes of a huge number of students with a separate space for taking mid-terms and finals (I didn't like the experience of jotting down furiously on an extremely tiny table, more of an arm-stand, in the Cohen Auditorium during my first mid-term)

2008년 9월 22일 월요일

a significant moment regarding racial identity

In my senior year in high school, my English teacher brought up a very interesting comment on racism.
"Imagine that you are on a blind date. You have been told that you will be dating the school basketball star. What image pops up in your mind? Another one: you have been told that you will be dating the captain of the school's math team. What kind of person will you be likely to expect?"
My teacher, a Korean-American born in California and a Berkeley graduate, then told the class that without doubt, probably everyone will think of a black student for the first situation and an Asian for the other one.
"Then you are all racists. Racism is not just about calling names or bouncing people off from a group. It is your thought process."
To tell you the truth, I was shocked. I don't know why; probably because that was the first time I have ever heard of an opinion so frank and direct from an American. And how clear and vivid his examples were! Only a year remaining until I start college in the U.S., I might as well would say that I had sort of an epiphany. His words definitely shed light on an idea rather remote and unrealistic to a person who spent most of his life in a homogeneous nation.

2008년 9월 17일 수요일

I lost my uncle

Piece of advice: when looking after your valuables, namely your cell phones or wallets, also check your beloved ones; you might also lose them as well.
In my case, I lost my uncle.
Among the five children, my uncle was the brightest he most outgoing one. He was the only child to have the privilege to attend a college overseas. He had his college education in the United Kingdom, where he learned his thick British accent and habituated in drinking heavily.
For a man like him, it must have been quite a pain to work in “Wonderland,” a small tutoring institute for children. Struggling alphabets with naughty kids was quite not the appropriate picture. Yet he somehow managed to maintain his coolness in front of me, the only male nephew he had.
Among the family clan, He alone indulged in alcohol and cigarettes while all the others were devout Christians. And I was most ardent in trying to remove his disgusting habit by hiding his cigarettes away, but he did not even once cast anger upon me. Instead, he just smiled weakly and promised me not to smoke and drink again. And, of course, such promises always fell into vain.
He died on a rainy day. The drunken man was hit by a drunken car.
So as you can see, sometimes people just slip out of your grasp. The time you feel something strange and look back with a feeling of lack, it is already too late.
They just leave you. They just go away.

2008년 9월 13일 토요일

a list of 10 observations about climate change, sustainability, or other environment-related issues at Tufts.

1. frequent rise and drop of temperature
2. At night, the lounge is beyond warm; it is boiling. I wonder why.
3. You can pick up as much food as you want in the cafteria, which eventually would lead to tons of leftovers.
4. Joey bus sure is convenient, but sometimes the driver stops the vehicle with its engine on while waiting for people
5. The surprisingly high number of used books in the school bookstore
6. almost everybody has a PC or laptop; exactly how much electricity are we using?
7. low water pressure in our showers
8. election flyers everywhere; having your face all crumbled and lying in the streets will not necessarily help ones edition.
9. Water fountains can be found everywhere on campus. I think that is great.
10. A lot of teachers upload their syllabus or course materials instead of handing them out. Saves a lot of paper.

2008년 9월 8일 월요일

images

9/4
brilliant outdoor class
filling up my plates with cafeteria food
relaxation; only one more class to go on friday
amazing movie clip during Intro CD class
sweaty walk all the way back to my dorm room

9/5
"ridiculously" huge Tisch library
books centuries old, probably
quiet streets and cool breeze of wind during nighttime
sore eyes after looking up the German-English dictionary
intensely hot and humid atmosphere after a hall meeting

9/6
humid, humid, hot, humid...
endless pouring of raindrops
insomnia back in action
happy to have a phone call with my friend in South Korea
frustrated after finding out that I lost my keys

9/7
attending church; intense yet somewhat unfocused sermon?
beautiful sky; probably the rain washed away the pollution
gracefully taking back leftover food from the barbeque party back to my dorm room
speachless after finding out that someone took out my laundry from the washer and put his/hers instead
busy trying to finish my reading assignment

9/8
woke up at 9:29 and ran into a 9:30 class; missed breakfast
utterly stunned after finding out that I need to pay $55 in case I can't find my keys and need to get my doorlock changed
feeling a little bit heavy after carrying 7 bottles of water in my backpack
Gobbled up two hot dogs; and oh, how good they were!
a little bit of laughter after finding out what one of my reading assignment was: "How to e-mail a professor"

First Week in College

Dear Mom and Dad,
I am so glad that I finally find myself back in school. Guess that after spending ten months practically doing nothing after my high school graduation, my mentality actually switched into a more academic, nerdy one (news that probably would dazzle you guys for a long, long time).
I am currently attending five classes: German 21, English 3, Intro to IR, Intro to Child Development, and a Faculty Seminar on Afro-Brazilian Culture. I am so thankful that I no longer have to take courses on math or science. I do enjoy all my classes. Oh, I probably would have frightened you a little bit when I told you that I decided to take a course on Child Development. I never even imagined that I would make such decision, either. But no regrets. I am thrilled to learn more about children and have a more in-depth viewpoint on their attitudes and behaviors. I think that it became a part of me ever since my teaching experience in Laos. I tried all my best to give a part of myself to the kids. Yet I found some of them still cannot understand the alphabet in the last day of class. It literally tore me into pieces. Now I wish that if another opportunity, as precious as it is, finds me, I will be fully prepared and ready to provide them with what they need.
One more surprise for you. I ended up signing for an audition for a jazz ensemble. I owe you one, mom. If it were not you and your consistent nagging, I wouldn't have been able to learn how to play the harmonica. Now I am more committed than ever to get into that ensemble and learn more about jazz. I guess that I have a clear edge over others, for so far I am the only one auditioning with a harmonica.
Well, that's that. I hope we'll keep in touch. I am completely healthy, so don't worry to much about me.
I give you all my blessing.

Euchan

2008년 9월 6일 토요일

in-class assignment #1

I am stuck.
Right in the middle of my first reading assignment. Frequent yawns and a blurry eyesight accompanying myself. It is already past midnight and rushing towards the morning. And I still have 20 more pages to read.
It is hot outside. No wind blowing in at all. My body is completely soaked with my own sweat. Sweat covering my glasses and flowing into my eyes. My conscience screams to go take a shower, but my body firmly resists. And consequently I find myself stuck in front of my desk with a conflicting state of mind.
My eyes are definitely following along the lines, but I no longer can understand them. Completely frustrating. To me, the words have become nothing but meaningless scribbles of a child which I cannot understand. My head gets dizzier, and I am slowly giving up to everything; my mind is already lying on its bed.
What I am not saying is the usual crap, the "but nevertheless, I find myself slowly becoming a committed college freshman;" I felt just awfully tired, just to remind you.