IEW-PangWingPui/Unit2 Experience that I remember clearly/27-12-2015

          Young can't live without dream, can they? They are going through the earliest stage of life. Even though future is full of uncertainty and worry, they believe there are still chances. It is never too late to follow dreams. Youth, who are passionate to try new things and looking for what they love to do, who  also own potential to create an own life, aren't they? So do I.

 

      In 2013, I came to Korea for continuing my study of Korean basically. At the same time, there is always another ambition in my mind. Without any plan, I made few stacks of name cards with an inexistent brand name and logo. I brought them to Korea with me. Just to wait and see if someday it can be real.

 

     As the time in Korea goes day by day, I went to school every day. Certainly my Korean ability stepped forward, meanwhile, my idea and sight of fashion accessory also stepped forward which is what I think I can't live without. I was trying to look for  inspiration in this Asian fashion country.

    One year pasted, one day in September, I happened to see a notice on an online forum which is about a flea market in a café, asking some sellers to participate. I was delighted because I see the chance which I had been wanting for so long. But I am a foreigner, Can I handle all the inquiries of the visitors? Will the organizer accept a foreigner to join? Can I introduce those products fluently? After some hesitation, I sent an email with the introduction of my products and brand background to the organizer. I first have the feeling that it has become a real brand. Two days later, I received a reply email that I was accepted to join them that Sunday. To my excitement, I started to plan the decoration and setting of my display corner at once.

  The day came, I wake up early to prepare for my new challenge in this foreign country. I ate a bread and then brought my collection and some amateur handmade rings and bracelets to head to there.

    There I was. Most of the sellers were already there when I arrived. There were wide variety of different creative products. Handmade soybean candles, cookies, vintage clothes, plants, handmade natural soaps and so on. I became nervous, I keep noticing to those fantastic products while I was walking to my corner. All of the sellers indeed were great artists instead of just sellers. They made very cute and beautiful works. I hope one day I can be capable to design and make the accessories on my own either.

     I was assigned to sit next to a sketcher who drew portray of visitors with an unique and lovely painting style as I saw the  pictures  displayed on the table. I then started to set up my table quietly and everyone was busy with their preparation as well until the market open. As I have an Asian face, seems no one  find  I am a foreigner here.

   12 o'clock, the market opened. All the sellers started to visit each other's counter and greet. After they found out I am not a Korean, they are really nice to me. Later when some visitors came to my corner and tried my items. At first, I totally have no idea of how to introduce my products in Korean, I kept silent except greeting. Surprisingly, a bracelets sellers sat right next to me stood out and helped me to introduce my items like her own works. She helped to make my first trade. I have learned a lot from her. She has taught me a lot of selling skills and expressions in Korean.

   We had a really nice day. I am really glad that I have met so many nice people in my first challenge. We exchanged our name cards and they all gave me support when we left. This is a very memorable experience. I will keep challenging in this field although I am still in a beginning stage.    

​

IEW/201301547 Valeriya Bek/unit 2/fear and excitement

I remember my first day I have never thought about studying abroad until June 2012. I got a scholarship to study in Korean university. I was very excited and at the same time I was very nervous because I did not know any person and did not know the Korean language, as my English was very poor. Anyway, my first day in the university was not that good as I expected.

I did not know how where is building where I should have a class and find a classroom. I was lost and I had asked other students about the building where I was going to take classes. Korean student was very nice to me and they told me the right direction. I walked to the building, and when I came to the class I saw a lot of new people and I was very nervous.

When professor started to talk, all classmates were quiet and nobody talked to each other. This was an Economic class. The professor started to talk in English very fast and I could not understand anything that he said. My body was shaking; I could not even say anything at that moment. I was very sad and because of my nervous I wanted to run away and cry. But I tried to hold back the tears and thinking about the subject.

When the class was over, I came to the home, set on the bed and started to cry. I could not image how I will study in university if my English is so poor. It was hard for me be in a new country, with a new people, changing my lifestyle, and be in hard time without any support. I wanted to drop out and back home, at the same time I was clearly understood that this is a good opportunity to study here, to learn many new things. I was very confused and did not know how to make a right decision, so I called my mother to ask any advices from her. My mother was feeling very sad because she could not be with me in a difficult situation. When I heard her voice I could not say anything because I was crying. She thought that something bad happened with me, but I was just crying.

I think the first day in the University changed my mind and my view of the life at all, because hard things make people stronger, and give them a good opportunity to make a right decision in the future. I think I started to be more independent and learned how to take care of me by myself, even if my family too far away. Be alone in a new country is a chance to grow up and survive in any situation. Even now, when I face some difficulties not only in University, in the life, I am trying to be positive and think that I should not stop on my way because of the hard period of time.

IEW/ Kseniia Kim 201300918/ HW#2/ Draft Fear and Excitement

 The waves were roaring and slamming on the cliff. The water looked so dark and scary. I was standing 10 meters above the water and had no idea what was waiting for me there. I did not know how deep it was or what was in it. My heartbeat went much faster than usual it seemed like my heart wanted to jump out of a chest . I knew that time was coming and I could not stay there forever, I had to take a deep breath and jump.

            Fear, excitement, happiness all at the same time, I have never felt anything like that before. It was unbelievable. I remember tickling in my stomach and a strong wind slapping my face. In the beginning it was a strong feeling of adrenaline rush. Then, I felt so happy and that was a little strange to me because I did not expect that. Going into the water was another memorable experience. The cliff was so high up when I got to the water, at the speed it felt like I had hit a hard surface. I went so deep, it felt like I almost touch the sand but I knew it was not possible because of the depth. It was such a relief when got out of the water. When I took that breath of air I knew that I overcame my fear.

            One of the best experience I have ever had in my life. The jump taught me one very important thing that no matter how much you are scared of something, it is always worth it to put your efforts forward to overcome the struggle. The emotions and feelings you get while doing something new and exciting are priceless.

 

 

Jee-hyoun Kim/ Experiences with writing / IEW

 

I attended International high school. My English wasn't as good as other students. I took English Literature class and the assignments was writing a commentary on Oedipus Rex.  Teacher wanted us to share the assignments with each other, so she showed what I wrote during the class. I used the colloquial term 'boys and girls' in the commentary. The teacher made a joke on it in front of the whole class, and they started to laugh at it so hard. It was the worst experience I've ever had with writing. I became afraid of showing what I wrote in front of people, being worried if I made any mistake.

 

For me to graduate, I had to get over the fear. Not like Korean high school, all the home works are writing an essay in English. I read books such as Macbeth, The Glass Menagerie, Demian. I still can't believe I did read that books in high school, and wrote essays and commentaries. From the experience, I learned that correct grammar and spelling is the base of supporting the topic of the writing. The teacher recommended me not only to write more, but also to read. Reading a book, or writing in English helped me to think more of the importance of the grammar.

 

Writing in English is still hard for me. It is graded or judged by readers depending on the grammar mistake, terms, and organization. I need to put lots of effort and time to finish an essay. The humiliation I had in the high school is stuck in my mind and that made me to fear of writing. Evaluation is unavoidable. I think the only way to get over this fear is to try writing as much as I can. From the failure I had, though I am still on the way of struggling, I will surely find a way to be more confident in writing.

 

IEW_Alexandra_My attitude towards writing

Writing is something very personal to me. Writing helps me to express my thoughts and ideas when it is hard to express them by saying or telling to someone. Basically, writing is the way I can talk to myself and get to know myself better. The reason is that from my very childhood I used to keep a journal, where I wrote down everyday about my life. These days I use blog instead of diary or journal, however since I used to write only about my personal life, sometimes I find it hard to write an academic paper where I should organize a structure and follow a flow. I often stuck when I need to deliver a certain message in academic papers, and for me sometimes it is hard to connect the arguments and facts in a logical flow. I do believe that if I put more efforts in practicing of writing academic papers, I will not only improve my writing skills, but also I will definitely feel free and more confident, as I feel when I write in personal blog. 

IEW / Hwisoo Jung / my one specific experience about writing/ 2015.12.22

All of a sudden, I remember the time when I tried writing at the 4^th grade at high school. As a celebration of National Science Day in Korea, which is the 21^st April, students like me had to turn in a work to teacher. The work could be anything related to science such as painting, writing or poet, etc. Actually I didn't even know that it was Science day on that day so I didn't prepare anything. As a result, I just borrowed some papers from a friend and started writing about science without any expectation. After several weeks, teacher offered a few students who turned in quality work some certificate of award and I was included surprisingly. Then, I have realized that writing should be done without any complex or deliberate effort to be eloquent. Because I just wrote what I thought naturally that time, I was able to complete a great work of writing. Since then I've tried myself to write without intended or artificial purpose to do a perfect writing. And I believe this attitude, which is natural and unaffected way of approaching the writing really helped me  several times. I also recommend this way to you guys sincerely! 

SujeongSeo/My attitude towards writing/2015.12.22

In last semester, I took a class about climate change. As a final test, students had to submit an essay. Unfortunately, I was so busy with other essays and exams and I faced lack of time. I ended up without proper paraphrasing and I just handed it in. My professor, justly brought my writing into question as plagiarism. As a result, I got C+ even though my attitude in class or presentation was evaluated well. I felt really depressed but I took it as a good lesson. After that, I've paid my attention when I quote someone's writing. I've always tried to make my own argument rather than use others. This habit made me as a better writer compared with before.

When it comes to write in English, I felt a kind of stuffy because sometimes it is hard to find proper words or expression to show my logic. A friend of mine recommended me that when I do brainstorming, think in English, not Korean. Firstly, it sounded weird and unnatural. But I gave it a try and I realized it works for me. This method also has side effect that my writing looks like it is written by an elementary school student. So I think I should be familiar with academic words and expression.