Good Bye and Welcome

The semester is rushing toward the end and our summer vacation is not far left. All students (Me, too, of course) are expecting for the vacation, but they are also struggling for the final tests. Although we are exciting about the end of school days, there is some sad news, too. Many students are leaving SPPA next semester and several people are my friends among them. I think almost half of the total students are going.

It is certain that most of seniors are going to University next semester. I didn’t have deep relationships with them, but it’s sad that they are going. I think it would feel little empty if they are gone. Some of my friends are going abroad, too. It is really sad to hear that. The reason for them to go is that our school can’t provide enough assistance for us and other international schools in foreign countries are better than SPPA. However, no matter what they say, I will do my best in SPPA, graduate it, and go good universities. Some teachers are going, too. Mr. Hale was already gone for his health problems. Ms. Heckler said she is going to Denmark after this semester. Mr. Peck is going to Australia to get his bachelor (or doctor)’s degree.

However, there will be new faces next semester. Mr. Carlin is already here for Mr. Hale’s empty seat. I heard that Ms. Stolerman’s brother is coming to school as a social science teacher. Also, a new physical education teacher will be here, too. Not only teachers, but many new students will come, too. I don’t know exactly, but I expect at least 30 new faces. Some are going and some are coming. I made a good relationship and I will make a good relationship.

Pressure on Final

The public enemy for all students...is the Final Test and it is coming to us right now! Especially, I think this semester's final will be more hard than last one. I took six classes last semester and there were only three final tests. I had two study halls, so I had more that enough time to study. However, I have four tests this semester and there are some problems now. I have two weeks until finals, but there are too much things to study!



First, let's look at the biology honors. Last unit finished on a week ago and the new chapter started on the last Tuesday. The new chapter is about the body system and there are six(!) systems. We are covering one system per one class... That's too much! We are taking quizzes every classes, too. The body system test is on this Friday and the study guide was presented yesterday. If I only focus on biology, I can do it, but I have another three subjects to study. The final test is on next Thursday and I have to study four chapters until then. It is truly OVERWHELMING!!!!!

Second, I have American literature. As well known, I think the hardest subject for ESLs is English. We are reading Shakespeare's The Taming of The Shrew(TTOTS) on the class recently. Ms. Stolerman said that the final test will be about the short story and TTOTS. I have the least grade on English now, so I have to success on the final to get certificate. Again, there is not much time left, but the teacher doesn't give us the study guide...

Next two things are Algebra 2 and US History. I have little concern about Algebra 2 because I am confident about the math and just have to study a little bit. Also, I can ask questions to Ms. Park who teaches after school math. For the US History, Ms. Heckler told us that she is busy for packing the baggages. So, the test will be easy. My concerns are Biology and English, and there is not much time to study...

Who do I want to be?

"Don't let enemies know my death..." This is the famous saying in Korea. Maybe almost 99 percents of Koreans might know who said this. The Korean General Lee Sun Sin said this when he died at the battle between Japanese before. After his death, his good minds and brave spirit influenced many people and make them admire him. I respect him very much, too, but my true idol is someone else. 

When we ask people that who is their hero, many people choose their spiritual supervisors or physical characters. You might confuse what I said, so I will explain it. Spiritual supervisors mean people who have extraordinary minds or wills that affect other members. Let's have an example. Albert Schweitzer was a good doctor who helped the uncivilized Africans in 1900s. His ability of the healing art was not the best or first-class, but his mind to help poor Africans was sacred and noble. Many people want and pursue Schweitzer’s that strong spirit. So, I am saying Schweitzer as the spiritual supervisor. Physical idol means the people who want to resemble their physical abilities. If a person said his icon is Wright brothers, he/she is admiring Wright’s skills to make planes; a person is not admiring their minds.

For the reason of this, I have two people who I want to resemble. First person is Mother Theresa. She was very dedicative woman who volunteered to help poor and sick people for her entire life. Not many people can follow her minds, but I want to pursue and always keep it in my mind. Next person is Young Do Lee in Korea. He is a Korean author who wrote several famous books such as Dragon Rasa and Polaris Rhapsody. His writings contain the philosophic factors and don’t forget humorous things, also. It is very clear that Mr. Lee’s works are very hard and have to use our brain to understand its true meanings. I want to write books like that, too. 

Hypocrite

We meet a lot of people when we are living in the world. To maintain a friendship with them or just make it a coincident is our choice. However, no matter what relationship people will keep, they don't express their real minds at first. They hide their real emotions behind their smiling face and friendly behavior. I don't like that, but that is people's familiar act and I usually do that, too. 

Unless you are really mad person or having some mental diseases, you will not show any bad feelings toward a person who meet first time. If you ask me about the reason for that, it is very complex. All I can say to you is that all people do that in the world and it is the basic of the politeness. Let's assume that you meet some person who is very ugly and violent. You will feel not good if you are a human. However, you don’t express that bad feeling when you first encounter this person. This behavior violates the truth and presents the false things. By the meaning of honest, this is not good. What should I do?

I will bring my own experience. When I was in Thornlea Secondary School in Canada, I could see various kinds of students. Whites, Blacks, Canadians, Iranians, Koreans, Chinese, Japanese, and etc. Cheerful, quiet, gloomy, ugly, pretty, handsome, violent, kind, and etc. All of these students were new to me and no matter how much I like them, I became their friends. The first facial expression that I showed to my friends at the first time was smiling. I thought blank face looks awkward and non confident at that time. I smiled to any students who talked with me and they smile, too. I smile to handsome blond guy and I smile to ugly disabled student. I lied, but these are white lies. I will keep doing this.

Battle Rations

Our team chose ‘Battle Ration’ as the topic of our project in US History class. I, Dean, Seri, Seojin, and Yoosoo were one team. We decided to research about the rations that soldiers ate during World War 2. United States, Japan, Britain, and Germany were our targets. Among them, I want to talk about United States’ rations this time.

The major United States army rations are divided into battle field rations and base rations. Then, battle rations are divided into three major rations which are C, D, and K rations. C rations are the food package for the squad or company. It was usually dropped by planes to airborne troops who fought inside the enemy line. These were like the big presents contain meat, D-ration, biscuits, candies, and cigarettes. D rations are simple rations that were regarded as the emergence rations such as chocolate bars and candies that contain high nutrients. K rations are the small food package for the individual soldiers. They contain breakfast, supper, and dinner. Most of these foods have extremely high nutrients to reach soldiers’ amount of energy needs. The base rations were like cafeteria. Soldiers had to eat in 20 minutes for other soldiers. Foods were most cheap cafeteria foods like hot dogs, chipped beef, hamburgers, beans, rice, corned beef, and bread. They could have water, milk, and coffee for beverage. Only base units could eat hot foods.

US battle ration is illegal to possess the army ration for normal civilian, so it was very hard to get. First, I went Nam Dae Moon market to search US field ration on Sunday with my parents. However, the place was close for Sunday, unfortunately! Then, I went to Itaewon. I was looking around for it for almost three hours and finally got it. I bought one box because the storekeeper said he doesn’t sell apiece. One box contained twelve C rations, so I ate one of it for dinner. Then, I got stomachache...

The first...(WHAT!!!)

What I most like to do in free time is reading books as you all know if you read all of my blogs. However, I couldn't remember the first fantasy book that I read and the feelings of it. So, I will present my feelings when I started to write my own book. 

It happened in Canada. Since I didn't study enough and played a lot, I was tired to play. I played games, watched animations, went outside with my friends, read books, and did whatever it seemed to be interest to me. (Reading books were the best among them... ha ha) One night, I was bored to do anything and just laid on the bed. My roommates (Two people, One is Sung Min in journalism class) gathered on my room and talking. Somehow, we were talking seriously about our future and jobs. When we decided to think about our interests, I thought about fantasy books, of course. Then, one of my roommates suggested me to write a book. Wow, I didn't think about that, but it was pretty attractive. Creating my own world that does not exist on the real life. It seemed so nice to me. 

That was the cause of my writing. I began to make the settings, backgrounds, characters, and morals of my book immediately. Once I began to write a book, I couldn’t get out from that. It was very hard to choose words and make sentences with them. I could understand authors’ difficulty and feelings. Despite of these problems, I was drawn more to it. I can’t describe that strange and vague sentiment that I feel when I am writing a book. I will say it as a pleasant and desire, but it is more than that. I just can’t explain it well. Anyway, my first book is incomplete. I read my book after few months which mean that I got more knowledge about fantasy. It was such a mess that I was even shamed! I couldn’t believe the book was created by me. So, I left it as an incomplete and I don’t mind to finish it. Until now, I am still writing books for my happiness. It’s much better than before now and is getting better. I can’t give up my hobby although I have to study.

The children's day for family

"May 5^th is the happy day, because it's children's day and I get a present!"...I said this until few years ago, though, I can't say this now. It's very sad to not get a gift from parents, but I feel a little pleasure for being matured. (Maybe, this is just what I feel) While I was in Canada, I didn't care about children's day because I am not a child anymore. It was same when I returned to Korea, too. However, it was different this time. Now, I can definitely say, "Children's day is the fun holiday!"

SPPA families went to Chung Ryue training center for field trip and athlete competition on May 5^th. Students could bring their families and friends to the trip. I brought my family to there. The park was on Suwon, near James’ (Pyung Jae) house. It was on a mountain and the big grass fields were stretched. Some tents were prepared for us at the top of the park. It has been a long time for me to play in a wide park. We arrived at 10 a.m. and we had a free time until 12 o’ clock. Some students gathered on the major field and started to play soccer. I was one of them, too. The weather was so fine. No, it was more than fine. The soft sun was glazing and cool breeze swept us. We played sports until the lunch and prepared for the main event after the lunch.

The sun was hotter than the morning. All families and teachers gathered at the major park and divided into two teams, white and blue. My family was in blue team. We wear blue shirts and stand on one side of the park. White team was standing on the other side of the park. We were going to play a team competition. Mr. Peck was the referee of the game and he explained it to the people. There were a lot of games such as tossing eggs, three legged race, and tug-of-war. I participated on some of them. The tug-of-war decided the winner of the team. Blue team won the competition! For the prize, we received snacks and a photo shot with the trophy. Also, we did a treasure hunt which was the most impact event. It was very pleasant children’s day.