Korespanglish
I am an American citizen. English is my native language.
For a certain period this summer, the only languages I spoke were Spanish and Korean. Korean, because I am living at home with my parents, who speak very little English and very much Korean. Spanish, because I obtained a job working at an Italian restaurant as a busgirl, and my co-workers happened to be Latin Americans who speak little or no English at all.
Somehow, in a dominantly white, Anglo-Saxon, English-speaking suburb of Philadelphia, I ended up nearly forgetting my grammar rules and mechanisms of the English language as I was immersed into the alternating environments of the Korean household and the Spanish (well, technically Italian) workplace.
One of my co-workers is a native Spanish speaker who has learned English and is picking up bits of Korean at a bar which he likes to frequent. We have conversations in which all three languages are employed in one sentence. We like to call this speak: Korespanglish.
Only in America.
Ecstasy
Even if the truth hurts, it's simply a part of the refining process.
There is something unbelievably liberating in honesty. It leaves the soul feeling clean and utterly refreshed, able to face anything.
There is something unbelievably liberating in honesty. It leaves the soul feeling clean and utterly refreshed, able to face anything.
What a Truth
Robin Williams has captured the truth in one memorable quotation:
"The problem is, God gave man a brain and a penis, and only enough blood to run in one direction at a time."
"The problem is, God gave man a brain and a penis, and only enough blood to run in one direction at a time."
Birthdays Follow, Wherever You Go
18.
I feel like my years on my body have finally caught up with those on my mind. It's kind of a terrifying thought.
I feel like my years on my body have finally caught up with those on my mind. It's kind of a terrifying thought.
The World Doth Dance
Just a breakdown of modern dancing around the world as I have analyzed and concluded based on my observations of representatives from each region at the UWC-USA.
North America (namely USA): grinding. break, krunk, hiphop style.
South/Latin America: Latin dancing. salsa, rumba, reggae, merengue, etc.
Caribbean: reggaeton, carnival.
Western Europe: similar to N. American, including techno/rave.
Eastern Europe: techno/rave
Indian: Bollywood, pet-the-dog/screw-the-lightbulb, have a seizure
Middle East: similar to Indian, more seizures, Bar Mitzvah dancing
Asia: non-existent, traditional
Australia: European wannabe
Africa: G, BANGIN'.
North America (namely USA): grinding. break, krunk, hiphop style.
South/Latin America: Latin dancing. salsa, rumba, reggae, merengue, etc.
Caribbean: reggaeton, carnival.
Western Europe: similar to N. American, including techno/rave.
Eastern Europe: techno/rave
Indian: Bollywood, pet-the-dog/screw-the-lightbulb, have a seizure
Middle East: similar to Indian, more seizures, Bar Mitzvah dancing
Asia: non-existent, traditional
Australia: European wannabe
Africa: G, BANGIN'.
Dawn of a New Era
January 20, 2009. A marked day to go down in history.
At around 9:30 in the morning, I and many of my fellow schoolmates gathered together in our school's dining hall to watch the live feed from CNN covering the inauguration of the 44th president of the United States, the first African-American to become president, the man who shines as a beacon of hope to millions, billions of people all over the world. Barack Obama.
Two of my state mates sat to my left. An Israeli sat to my right. A Honduran joined us, along with a friend from Massachusetts. Around us, behind us, were an Iraqi, Welsh, Mexican, Italian, and a Singaporean, to just begin to name a few. Surrounded by students from all around the world, all here together to watch the ascension of this man into one of the most powerful positions in the world, there was a feeling of suspense, of hope, of expectation.
We prayed the prayers, we heard the speeches, we listened to the musical performances, we cheered the cheers, we stood to sing the beautiful song of the national anthem. Even without being a part of the 2 million present in Washington, D.C. to witness the inauguration, we were there. And it was something magical. In that moment, in that event, there was a feeling that all over the United States, all over America, all over the world, people stopped for at least a second in acknowledgment of this great occasion, and in that brief second, there was something that united us all.
Even though the world keeps turning and moves on, even though people continue to suffer and there are still many conflicts and issues to address and attempt to resolve, there is a new note of hope in the air. People are looking up.
Obama has a tough task ahead of him. I don't expect him to solve the world's problems, but I do expect him to be considerate of his people, and put their best interests as his priority. He should be honest and diligent. He should remember his status and duty not only to the people of the United States, but to the people of the world. God bless, and Godspeed.
At around 9:30 in the morning, I and many of my fellow schoolmates gathered together in our school's dining hall to watch the live feed from CNN covering the inauguration of the 44th president of the United States, the first African-American to become president, the man who shines as a beacon of hope to millions, billions of people all over the world. Barack Obama.
Two of my state mates sat to my left. An Israeli sat to my right. A Honduran joined us, along with a friend from Massachusetts. Around us, behind us, were an Iraqi, Welsh, Mexican, Italian, and a Singaporean, to just begin to name a few. Surrounded by students from all around the world, all here together to watch the ascension of this man into one of the most powerful positions in the world, there was a feeling of suspense, of hope, of expectation.
We prayed the prayers, we heard the speeches, we listened to the musical performances, we cheered the cheers, we stood to sing the beautiful song of the national anthem. Even without being a part of the 2 million present in Washington, D.C. to witness the inauguration, we were there. And it was something magical. In that moment, in that event, there was a feeling that all over the United States, all over America, all over the world, people stopped for at least a second in acknowledgment of this great occasion, and in that brief second, there was something that united us all.
Even though the world keeps turning and moves on, even though people continue to suffer and there are still many conflicts and issues to address and attempt to resolve, there is a new note of hope in the air. People are looking up.
Obama has a tough task ahead of him. I don't expect him to solve the world's problems, but I do expect him to be considerate of his people, and put their best interests as his priority. He should be honest and diligent. He should remember his status and duty not only to the people of the United States, but to the people of the world. God bless, and Godspeed.
Just a Click Away From the Truth
www.whatreallyhappened.com
Tis an actual website, telling the story of "what really happened" in the Gaza Strip over the last 38 years, or more presently, the past 6 months or so.
Today, there was an all school global issues, in which the resident Palestinians put together a presentation to inform the community of the Palestinian side of the Gaza conflict. The video we viewed spoke of thousands of lives lost and the perpetual fear in which Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have live and must continue to live under. Images of children's bodies, mutilated corpses, burnt out homes, rubble where buildings once stood. Wounded, dying, dead, suffering so much in life that it might be better to die. 'Rockets' red glare' and 'bombs bursting midair,' giving 'proof through the night' that people are still dying.
And we, the observers, the ones responsible for telling the so-called truth, are taking sides. I don't believe that it is wrong for a person to support one side of the conflict over the other. But I don't understand how it is possible to declare one right and the other wrong, especially in a situation where 'right' and 'wrong' are subjective terms, depending on whose point of view is judging.
For me, I don't understand how we can stand here arguing over who is right and who is wrong while people continue to die. Key word: people. Not Palestinians, not Israelis. People. It's not about who's right and who's wrong. It's not about defense or offense or punishment. It's about people dying. Why is it that whenever there is a political conflict between political powers, it is always civilian lives that have to pay?
When I viewed the video being shown during this global issues, I did not see Palestinians. I saw people. Before coming to UWC, I had never met a Palestinian before, so it's not as if I would have been able to distinguish one from the crowd. The face of a Palestinian does not have the word 'Palestinian' carved into his forehead. And if it weren't for the words in the video clip, if it wasn't for the images of signs of 'Free Palestine!' and such, I wouldn't have been able to tell who it was exactly that is undergoing all that suffering. And for me, that is what matters the most. Israeli, Palestinian, even Syrian, Georgian, Egyptian, American... Sure, there are certain distinguishing features such as the differences between those of Aryan descent and Mongolian heritage, but in reality, there is no difference. We are all the same. I once heard someone say, "There is only one race. The human race." Not the British race. Not the Indian race. Not the Chinese race. Not the Israeli race. Not the Palestinian race. The human race.
Who is suffering more? How many have lost more children? When you see a bloody, mutilated carcass, can you tell by looking at the remains that it is a Palestinian body? An Israeli?
Take away the clothing. Take away the surroundings. All that is left is a person, and simply that. A human being.
Tis an actual website, telling the story of "what really happened" in the Gaza Strip over the last 38 years, or more presently, the past 6 months or so.
Today, there was an all school global issues, in which the resident Palestinians put together a presentation to inform the community of the Palestinian side of the Gaza conflict. The video we viewed spoke of thousands of lives lost and the perpetual fear in which Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have live and must continue to live under. Images of children's bodies, mutilated corpses, burnt out homes, rubble where buildings once stood. Wounded, dying, dead, suffering so much in life that it might be better to die. 'Rockets' red glare' and 'bombs bursting midair,' giving 'proof through the night' that people are still dying.
And we, the observers, the ones responsible for telling the so-called truth, are taking sides. I don't believe that it is wrong for a person to support one side of the conflict over the other. But I don't understand how it is possible to declare one right and the other wrong, especially in a situation where 'right' and 'wrong' are subjective terms, depending on whose point of view is judging.
For me, I don't understand how we can stand here arguing over who is right and who is wrong while people continue to die. Key word: people. Not Palestinians, not Israelis. People. It's not about who's right and who's wrong. It's not about defense or offense or punishment. It's about people dying. Why is it that whenever there is a political conflict between political powers, it is always civilian lives that have to pay?
When I viewed the video being shown during this global issues, I did not see Palestinians. I saw people. Before coming to UWC, I had never met a Palestinian before, so it's not as if I would have been able to distinguish one from the crowd. The face of a Palestinian does not have the word 'Palestinian' carved into his forehead. And if it weren't for the words in the video clip, if it wasn't for the images of signs of 'Free Palestine!' and such, I wouldn't have been able to tell who it was exactly that is undergoing all that suffering. And for me, that is what matters the most. Israeli, Palestinian, even Syrian, Georgian, Egyptian, American... Sure, there are certain distinguishing features such as the differences between those of Aryan descent and Mongolian heritage, but in reality, there is no difference. We are all the same. I once heard someone say, "There is only one race. The human race." Not the British race. Not the Indian race. Not the Chinese race. Not the Israeli race. Not the Palestinian race. The human race.
Who is suffering more? How many have lost more children? When you see a bloody, mutilated carcass, can you tell by looking at the remains that it is a Palestinian body? An Israeli?
Take away the clothing. Take away the surroundings. All that is left is a person, and simply that. A human being.
A Lively Discussion
An Israeli and Palestinian in a heated argument after dinner over the current situation in the Gaza Strip.
A Mexican, Italian, Bulgarian, German, Peruvian, Uruguayan, Portuguese, and myself, the Korean-American, seated around the table listening attentively with the occasional input.
The Israeli declares that Israel is only against the terrorist group Hamas, and that Israel is working for the good of the Palestinians. Hamas is seeking to empower itself and will not stop at anything to get there, including setting up its military base underneath a hospital, hiding out under civilian homes, and pushing children to the front of military lines in order to discourage Israeli military from fighting. Hamas has consistently violated ceasefires and refuses to negotiate a treaty, instead shooting rockets into Israel and causing mayhem. If Israel puts a stop to its military reactions and undos the blockade on the Gaza Strip, Hamas would see it as an admittance of weakness and take advantage of the situation in order to gain more weapons and strength. On the other hand, even though civilian lives have been lost, the Israeli intelligence has been doing an excellent job targetting Hamas leaders. Israel has been responsible for its bombings by informing resident families in the target homes of its intent to bomb the house and warning them to clear out. Israel is trying to make it clear that its war is with Hamas, not with Palestine.
The Palestinian replies by stating that all his people can believe is what they see before their very own eyes, and that is countless of Palestinian civilians being killed and dying, due to the combination of Israeli attacks and blockades. Although Israel claims that her only enemy is Hamas, when hundreds of innocent civilians are killed in the name of defeating Hamas, Palestinians inevitably view Israel as their enemy. Because of the blockades preventing travel as well as passageway of food and medical supplies, many Palestinians are dying of starvation, disease, or wounds caused by Israeli bombings. Countless families have lost their homes and are living in the streets with nowhere to go. As a result, many Palestinians support Hamas, believing that Hamas' victory will bring peace to the region and put an end to all the sufferings of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. If only the blockades on Palestinian cities would be let up and supplies flow resumed, Palestinians would maybe have faith that Israel seeks only to crush Hamas, for the good of everyone, both Palestinian and Israeli.
In the midst of this, the other observers around the table occasionally interrupt with their own comments and questions. Where is Hamas even getting its weapons supplies from? Can Israel justify the deaths of hundreds of Palestinian civilians for the deaths of a couple of Hamas leaders? (Here, the Peruvian says, yes, if that's what it must come down to; she cites her own nation's history in dealing with insurgent terrorist organizations and the innocent people killed in attempts to kill the real culprits.) The pictures and stories depicted by the media for either side are all filled with propaganda. Part of the reason that this issue is so difficult to be resolved is because of the involvement of many outside countries in this affair between two.
For a while, it seems as if there is no end in sight to this debate. While the one tries to respect the views and statements of the other, they cannot help but argue for what they feel is the correct presentation of the situation in the Gaza Strip. Yet they manage to finally come to a conclusion with the agreement that both sides, Israelis and Palestinians alike, long only for peace. If there was a feasible way of negotiating peace without violence, the two both agree that they would jump on the opportunity to bring an end the war.
Today was my first day back at the United World College (USA) since my winter break, and this is the kind of discussion that I witnessed and participated in during dinnertime. In what other place does this occur? I found myself surrounded by my peers - 16 to 18 year olds - from different nations, all with their own views and opinions on the current situation in the Gaza Strip. Each person is affected by his or her nation's history and what he or she was brought up learning, and this in turn affects the way he or she analyzes and judges the current occurences in action. Although everyone declares to wish for peace, at what cost must it be bought? Some believe that the sacrifices of civilian lives are not in vain. Others believe that the deaths of so many innocents cannot be justified by the claims of a government for wanting peace. The one thing that came out of this discussion, though, was that every participant left with an understanding and the viewpoint from both the sides of the Israeli and the Palestinian, and they themselves came to face the realities and faults of not just the opposing side, but their of their own people, their own forces of power.
This does not occur everyday. From country to country, depending on where the interests of the governments lie, the portrayal of the Gaza situation varies, whether in support of Israel, or of Palestine. In most cases, the discussions held over this topic are either overwhelmingly influenced by one bias over the other, or in political situations, the conversation is directed based on the ambitions and interests of the speakers. At UWC, though, here this discussion is held between two teenagers of warring cultures, who can only defend what they've been told and what they have seen and heard from their families back at home. It is evident that propaganda has done its work on both, but here at UWC, they have the opportunity to hear from the other side, personal stories and evidence from their own media. The additional input of their peers, those who come from the rest of world that is observing the situation, also brings a new light to the discussion - new ideas, new potential solutions, new opinions. And watching my peers, my friends, participating in this conversation and trying to collectively come up with solutions for peace, I realized that I was witnessing the future diplomats and ambassadors of this world. My generation, this UWC generation are the future leaders. The fate of the world will be in our hands someday. The negotiations, the talks, the peace conferences and meetings - the kids seated around me at the dinner table are the ones who will be facilitating and partaking in them. They are our future. And seeing and being part of a discussion like this, and realizing that this is just the preamble to what will be future discussions filled with action, gives me hope. Because if 10 students from all over the world can sit down and talk about and argue over the situation in Gaza, I have a vision that in 10, 20 years, these same 10 will once again sit down together to talk about and argue over future situations, and this time with the power to put into motion agreements and conclusions for peace.
A Mexican, Italian, Bulgarian, German, Peruvian, Uruguayan, Portuguese, and myself, the Korean-American, seated around the table listening attentively with the occasional input.
The Israeli declares that Israel is only against the terrorist group Hamas, and that Israel is working for the good of the Palestinians. Hamas is seeking to empower itself and will not stop at anything to get there, including setting up its military base underneath a hospital, hiding out under civilian homes, and pushing children to the front of military lines in order to discourage Israeli military from fighting. Hamas has consistently violated ceasefires and refuses to negotiate a treaty, instead shooting rockets into Israel and causing mayhem. If Israel puts a stop to its military reactions and undos the blockade on the Gaza Strip, Hamas would see it as an admittance of weakness and take advantage of the situation in order to gain more weapons and strength. On the other hand, even though civilian lives have been lost, the Israeli intelligence has been doing an excellent job targetting Hamas leaders. Israel has been responsible for its bombings by informing resident families in the target homes of its intent to bomb the house and warning them to clear out. Israel is trying to make it clear that its war is with Hamas, not with Palestine.
The Palestinian replies by stating that all his people can believe is what they see before their very own eyes, and that is countless of Palestinian civilians being killed and dying, due to the combination of Israeli attacks and blockades. Although Israel claims that her only enemy is Hamas, when hundreds of innocent civilians are killed in the name of defeating Hamas, Palestinians inevitably view Israel as their enemy. Because of the blockades preventing travel as well as passageway of food and medical supplies, many Palestinians are dying of starvation, disease, or wounds caused by Israeli bombings. Countless families have lost their homes and are living in the streets with nowhere to go. As a result, many Palestinians support Hamas, believing that Hamas' victory will bring peace to the region and put an end to all the sufferings of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. If only the blockades on Palestinian cities would be let up and supplies flow resumed, Palestinians would maybe have faith that Israel seeks only to crush Hamas, for the good of everyone, both Palestinian and Israeli.
In the midst of this, the other observers around the table occasionally interrupt with their own comments and questions. Where is Hamas even getting its weapons supplies from? Can Israel justify the deaths of hundreds of Palestinian civilians for the deaths of a couple of Hamas leaders? (Here, the Peruvian says, yes, if that's what it must come down to; she cites her own nation's history in dealing with insurgent terrorist organizations and the innocent people killed in attempts to kill the real culprits.) The pictures and stories depicted by the media for either side are all filled with propaganda. Part of the reason that this issue is so difficult to be resolved is because of the involvement of many outside countries in this affair between two.
For a while, it seems as if there is no end in sight to this debate. While the one tries to respect the views and statements of the other, they cannot help but argue for what they feel is the correct presentation of the situation in the Gaza Strip. Yet they manage to finally come to a conclusion with the agreement that both sides, Israelis and Palestinians alike, long only for peace. If there was a feasible way of negotiating peace without violence, the two both agree that they would jump on the opportunity to bring an end the war.
Today was my first day back at the United World College (USA) since my winter break, and this is the kind of discussion that I witnessed and participated in during dinnertime. In what other place does this occur? I found myself surrounded by my peers - 16 to 18 year olds - from different nations, all with their own views and opinions on the current situation in the Gaza Strip. Each person is affected by his or her nation's history and what he or she was brought up learning, and this in turn affects the way he or she analyzes and judges the current occurences in action. Although everyone declares to wish for peace, at what cost must it be bought? Some believe that the sacrifices of civilian lives are not in vain. Others believe that the deaths of so many innocents cannot be justified by the claims of a government for wanting peace. The one thing that came out of this discussion, though, was that every participant left with an understanding and the viewpoint from both the sides of the Israeli and the Palestinian, and they themselves came to face the realities and faults of not just the opposing side, but their of their own people, their own forces of power.
This does not occur everyday. From country to country, depending on where the interests of the governments lie, the portrayal of the Gaza situation varies, whether in support of Israel, or of Palestine. In most cases, the discussions held over this topic are either overwhelmingly influenced by one bias over the other, or in political situations, the conversation is directed based on the ambitions and interests of the speakers. At UWC, though, here this discussion is held between two teenagers of warring cultures, who can only defend what they've been told and what they have seen and heard from their families back at home. It is evident that propaganda has done its work on both, but here at UWC, they have the opportunity to hear from the other side, personal stories and evidence from their own media. The additional input of their peers, those who come from the rest of world that is observing the situation, also brings a new light to the discussion - new ideas, new potential solutions, new opinions. And watching my peers, my friends, participating in this conversation and trying to collectively come up with solutions for peace, I realized that I was witnessing the future diplomats and ambassadors of this world. My generation, this UWC generation are the future leaders. The fate of the world will be in our hands someday. The negotiations, the talks, the peace conferences and meetings - the kids seated around me at the dinner table are the ones who will be facilitating and partaking in them. They are our future. And seeing and being part of a discussion like this, and realizing that this is just the preamble to what will be future discussions filled with action, gives me hope. Because if 10 students from all over the world can sit down and talk about and argue over the situation in Gaza, I have a vision that in 10, 20 years, these same 10 will once again sit down together to talk about and argue over future situations, and this time with the power to put into motion agreements and conclusions for peace.
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