Everyone has places where they belong. From the place, people experience comfort, protection, and relief. That's why people gather together eventually. However, Liu's situation is quite different because she came to United States with a purpose 'To learn English and America's culture'.
I had a similar experience in 2006, when I came to United states asa first time. Like Liu, I came to US with a same goal. I lived with American family so I had to follw their life of routine. I had to eat their food even though I didn't like, I had to speak English even though I want to speak Korean, my native language and I had to get used to their way of thinking even though I couldn't understand with my Korean thinking. I missed my family, friends, food, culture even language. Something I never thought that I'll going to miss became myself, my lover, and my belonging. However, from the city I lived in US, I couldn't find anything nor anyone which belongs to Korea. As a result from the first year in US, I got improved English skill, I learned American way thinking and I could eat American food without any difficulty.
I truely understand Liu's situation. However, I don't agree with the action that Liu took - follow Chinese. He had a dream that he watned to accompl;ish. Once he decided to do something, he should finish no matter how it is difficult. Because it was something he wanted to do before he met the chinese and missed chinese culture.
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part 2.
stumble: V/N
You put your foot down awkardly while you are walking/ running and nearly fall over
Preeminent: ADV
Someone or something is more important, powerful or capable than other people or things in the group
Complacent:ADJ
Very pleased or feels that they do not need to do anything about a situation, even though the situation maybe uncertain or dangerous.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
differences in gesture...etc #3
What differences in gestures, eye contact, and body space have you noticed between your own culture and what you have seen in the United States? Why do you think this is? What similarities in nonverbal communication have you seen between the two cultures?
There is a story that happened when I had just came to United States from Korea. I met a dean of my school and I bowed deeply with "Hi, sir" and I found out later that I don't have to bow in United States. That was the starting point to figure out the differences in gestures, eye contact, and body space between my country and United States - contradiction and similarity like colors pink and red.
Have you ever felt what is 'Culture Shock'? As a person who experienced it, I think it starts from gesture difference in one culture and another culture. In Korea, people should act with gesture that shows your respect about the other. In Korea, there are several kinds of bow. Like in United States, you can greet friends with waived hands. However, you have to drop and raise your neck slowly when you meet older person. If you meet older person for the first time in a long time, it's respectful to bow down upon knees. It's also courtesy to dead person but this case, you have to do twice. There is one difference about crossing legs and arms. In United States, people usually don't feel awkard when they do cross their legs or arms. However, if you do that in Korea in front of older people, they will look down you becuase they think it is rude to do in front of elders.
Lots of Korean students who are just came from Korea have a difficulty when they talk to American due to eye-contact. In United States, people think if you do not look eyes each other, they think you have dubious and untruthful mind. In contrary, in Korea, when a person did something wrong and if the person look the other's eyes (staring), we think that's really impolite. From the difference, there is a story of my friend in America.. He actually lied to teacher before, and when the teacher found out that he did lie, she asked, "Did you do somthing wrong?" He couldn't look her eyes that shows shame and sorriness that actually what Koreans think people should do. However, as an American, his teacher got really mad after that.
For body space, there is one thing that I hope Koreans learn from Americans - hug.
Even though Koreans do hug, it is limited as an expression for a lover. What I like about hug is, in United States, lots of people do hug for a lots of reasons. They do hug as expressions of love, celebration,and consolation, etc. with anybody. If I do hug friend of mine in case it's boy, he probably think I like him as a boy or I am drunk. There is one more funny thing as difference, lots of girls do link arms each other as showing thier friendship. If you do that in United States? People probably think the girls are in a relationship.
Although there are lots difference between two conturies, like the saying, 'if you can't talk in its language, you can communicate with body-language', lots of gestures are similar.
For example, if you put your finger in front of your mouth, that means 'be quiet' or 'hold on'.
If you roll thumb and index finger together, that means 'ok' or 'money'. If you put hands behind your head, and move, that shows uncertainty. You also can show affection by wink your eyes or put your finger and blow.
In this world, there are lots of language that you can't understand. However, nonverbal cmomunication is a key to communicate with others but you should know the difference each other becuase even though it seems similar, sometimes the meaning is totally different - like colors, pink and red that stand as 'color' but have different feelings.
There is a story that happened when I had just came to United States from Korea. I met a dean of my school and I bowed deeply with "Hi, sir" and I found out later that I don't have to bow in United States. That was the starting point to figure out the differences in gestures, eye contact, and body space between my country and United States - contradiction and similarity like colors pink and red.
Have you ever felt what is 'Culture Shock'? As a person who experienced it, I think it starts from gesture difference in one culture and another culture. In Korea, people should act with gesture that shows your respect about the other. In Korea, there are several kinds of bow. Like in United States, you can greet friends with waived hands. However, you have to drop and raise your neck slowly when you meet older person. If you meet older person for the first time in a long time, it's respectful to bow down upon knees. It's also courtesy to dead person but this case, you have to do twice. There is one difference about crossing legs and arms. In United States, people usually don't feel awkard when they do cross their legs or arms. However, if you do that in Korea in front of older people, they will look down you becuase they think it is rude to do in front of elders.
Lots of Korean students who are just came from Korea have a difficulty when they talk to American due to eye-contact. In United States, people think if you do not look eyes each other, they think you have dubious and untruthful mind. In contrary, in Korea, when a person did something wrong and if the person look the other's eyes (staring), we think that's really impolite. From the difference, there is a story of my friend in America.. He actually lied to teacher before, and when the teacher found out that he did lie, she asked, "Did you do somthing wrong?" He couldn't look her eyes that shows shame and sorriness that actually what Koreans think people should do. However, as an American, his teacher got really mad after that.
For body space, there is one thing that I hope Koreans learn from Americans - hug.
Even though Koreans do hug, it is limited as an expression for a lover. What I like about hug is, in United States, lots of people do hug for a lots of reasons. They do hug as expressions of love, celebration,and consolation, etc. with anybody. If I do hug friend of mine in case it's boy, he probably think I like him as a boy or I am drunk. There is one more funny thing as difference, lots of girls do link arms each other as showing thier friendship. If you do that in United States? People probably think the girls are in a relationship.
Although there are lots difference between two conturies, like the saying, 'if you can't talk in its language, you can communicate with body-language', lots of gestures are similar.
For example, if you put your finger in front of your mouth, that means 'be quiet' or 'hold on'.
If you roll thumb and index finger together, that means 'ok' or 'money'. If you put hands behind your head, and move, that shows uncertainty. You also can show affection by wink your eyes or put your finger and blow.
In this world, there are lots of language that you can't understand. However, nonverbal cmomunication is a key to communicate with others but you should know the difference each other becuase even though it seems similar, sometimes the meaning is totally different - like colors, pink and red that stand as 'color' but have different feelings.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Blog Assignment #2 (option3)
As we live, we meet numerous people. The moment to meet those people can be come by an accident or by a settled appointment. The choice to know each person can be your choice or the other's choice.
If we just pass by the person during we find a class in a hallway, the person is just a passenger but, if someone drop a book so that if we look each other and talk few minutes, by introducing, we could make a new friend. However, the point is what about the impression about the new person. More exactly, how can you decide what kind of person you just met.
I believe the first impression of the person I meet and the first impression of me who other think will affect other to decide whether if they want to meet me again or not.
Like the context, 'The First Four Minutes', absolutely, the first attitude and face expression affect the impression. Try imagine that you dropped a book and the person who picked up your book say, "Are you ok? Here is your book. I hope you are not late for your class. You better hurry up, it's almost 9'o clock!" with a friendly smile. That kind of favor will make you feel I want to meet the person again. There is a different case. You dropped a book and it's right in front of the person, and he or she says, "Watch out your eyes! You almost hurt my foot, Gosh!" Can you feel same impression like the first person?
I really think the first impression is important as the impression after you know the person better. I usually determine nice person by how often they smile or laugh, how they talk, and how they listen you well. Most of time, my determination is right. However, the word 'exception' is not for all right cases.
I have a friend who keeping our friendship for 6 years. When I think about the first time I met him, I don't think he gave a good impression like now. He was not that friendly. Lots of my friends didn't want to be around him. Even one day, one of my friend cried because of him. He didn't do his work so that I could often see him who scorned by teachers. I thought he hangs around with notorious students in my school. However, after I got to know him, I realized all this first impression about him was totally wrong. Actually, he was a sweet guy who cares about other people. Even he didn't do his work, he actually knew all the information we learned so that he got a good score. He just don't want to get along with strangers so that still his first impression is not that good. When I ask my friends or people around me, their impression about me is similar after they knew me well and actually, I want to show true me by the first impression. However, through my friend's case, I realized first impression is important but it can't determine truely what kind of the person is. Remember! The definition of impression is 'A strong effect produced on the intellect, feelings, conscience' but I want to add this few word at the end- 'formed by either first time or later'.
If we just pass by the person during we find a class in a hallway, the person is just a passenger but, if someone drop a book so that if we look each other and talk few minutes, by introducing, we could make a new friend. However, the point is what about the impression about the new person. More exactly, how can you decide what kind of person you just met.
I believe the first impression of the person I meet and the first impression of me who other think will affect other to decide whether if they want to meet me again or not.
Like the context, 'The First Four Minutes', absolutely, the first attitude and face expression affect the impression. Try imagine that you dropped a book and the person who picked up your book say, "Are you ok? Here is your book. I hope you are not late for your class. You better hurry up, it's almost 9'o clock!" with a friendly smile. That kind of favor will make you feel I want to meet the person again. There is a different case. You dropped a book and it's right in front of the person, and he or she says, "Watch out your eyes! You almost hurt my foot, Gosh!" Can you feel same impression like the first person?
I really think the first impression is important as the impression after you know the person better. I usually determine nice person by how often they smile or laugh, how they talk, and how they listen you well. Most of time, my determination is right. However, the word 'exception' is not for all right cases.
I have a friend who keeping our friendship for 6 years. When I think about the first time I met him, I don't think he gave a good impression like now. He was not that friendly. Lots of my friends didn't want to be around him. Even one day, one of my friend cried because of him. He didn't do his work so that I could often see him who scorned by teachers. I thought he hangs around with notorious students in my school. However, after I got to know him, I realized all this first impression about him was totally wrong. Actually, he was a sweet guy who cares about other people. Even he didn't do his work, he actually knew all the information we learned so that he got a good score. He just don't want to get along with strangers so that still his first impression is not that good. When I ask my friends or people around me, their impression about me is similar after they knew me well and actually, I want to show true me by the first impression. However, through my friend's case, I realized first impression is important but it can't determine truely what kind of the person is. Remember! The definition of impression is 'A strong effect produced on the intellect, feelings, conscience' but I want to add this few word at the end- 'formed by either first time or later'.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Blog Assignment part 2
In this world, there are bunch of things that wonder people, and one of the reasons that why those things amaze people is because they are continuously changing. If I example one of things, I could say it is 'language'
Like fashion style, environmental change, thinking of people, language also change by culture and society. Of course, there are form that actually taught from school system and nobody can't deny that is right and basic form when they started to learn their language. However, the language that changed by several factors such as culture and society differ between generation.
I believe, the fact will never change after 10 years, even 100 years. If I say something to my grandmother even my parents with the style of language that I usually use to my friends, they don't understand what I'm saying.
It doesn't bound only one country. There is a story that occurred last thanksgiving weekend. I spend the weekend in Georgia with my friend, Jeannie who is from Vietnam. Even though, it was short break, I was excited to know different culture that I never knew about.
One day, we were invited dinner by another Vietnamese family, and I found one interesting things about language. Mr., and Mrs.Nguen were in 40's., and Jeannie who is my age were talking in the first meeting. During their talk, Mrs.Nguen started to laugh loud, and Jeannie showed awkward smile to me. She said, "I was talking and told one word that I use in my age group. When they don't understand what I meant, I explained, and that's why they started to laugh."
The languages also have different style depend listener. In English, when we meet the President Obama, even Professor. Tilman, we don't say, "Hey, What's up!". It also same in my first language, Korean. Actually, in Korean, the difference of formal and informal style is more distinguishable than other language. We have all different honorific depend who you talking to. Even simple word, 'you' has several different words with diverse nuance. That's one uncomfortable but comfortable ( I really don't know what side I'm in) thing when I learn English.
I say to older American people, using word 'you' but every time when I do this, I thought like, 'Should I say like this, is it correct to say this?"
Due to these characteristics, in one language we could find difference according to speaker. I think languages are obviously amazing thing to understand world.
Like fashion style, environmental change, thinking of people, language also change by culture and society. Of course, there are form that actually taught from school system and nobody can't deny that is right and basic form when they started to learn their language. However, the language that changed by several factors such as culture and society differ between generation.
I believe, the fact will never change after 10 years, even 100 years. If I say something to my grandmother even my parents with the style of language that I usually use to my friends, they don't understand what I'm saying.
It doesn't bound only one country. There is a story that occurred last thanksgiving weekend. I spend the weekend in Georgia with my friend, Jeannie who is from Vietnam. Even though, it was short break, I was excited to know different culture that I never knew about.
One day, we were invited dinner by another Vietnamese family, and I found one interesting things about language. Mr., and Mrs.Nguen were in 40's., and Jeannie who is my age were talking in the first meeting. During their talk, Mrs.Nguen started to laugh loud, and Jeannie showed awkward smile to me. She said, "I was talking and told one word that I use in my age group. When they don't understand what I meant, I explained, and that's why they started to laugh."
The languages also have different style depend listener. In English, when we meet the President Obama, even Professor. Tilman, we don't say, "Hey, What's up!". It also same in my first language, Korean. Actually, in Korean, the difference of formal and informal style is more distinguishable than other language. We have all different honorific depend who you talking to. Even simple word, 'you' has several different words with diverse nuance. That's one uncomfortable but comfortable ( I really don't know what side I'm in) thing when I learn English.
I say to older American people, using word 'you' but every time when I do this, I thought like, 'Should I say like this, is it correct to say this?"
Due to these characteristics, in one language we could find difference according to speaker. I think languages are obviously amazing thing to understand world.
Friday, September 4, 2009
blog assignment1 for part 1 !
My name is So-young, Choi. It means ' the white light of gem' Gem is kind of jewel.
However, I also have English name which is the name most of you all know. (hopefully)
Amy is actually means 'the loved one'. I didn't choose this name neither knew this adorable meaning till when I was 10th grade. I got this name when I went to the Korean and American English camp when I was 10 years old. My English was so bad. When I looked up my diary at that time, I wrote a diary in English... like " may name is soyoung. I am a boy" which I meant my name is so-young and I am a girl.
I have five members in my family- my parents, my grandmother, my brother who is a year younger than me and my little cutie 6-year old dog, Arthur.
I'm from Seoul, Korea but the time I spent in there was not that long as much my friends do.
I lived in Malaysia and Singapore when I was 5 till 7 years old due to my dad's business.
Then I started my elementary school after I came back to Korea but after few months later when I got enter my high school, I flew to South Carolina, USA for exchange student program. I never thought about study abroad and this reason to flew to USA also all about experience culture.
However, after I spend a full year in a American public high school and American family house,
I thought, 'Even though I miss my family and friends, it's not bad to live in here' so that after my exchange student program is over, I applied several schools and moved to Montverde, Florida.
I met lots of friends who from all over the countries and in my senior year, I was chosen as a prefect which is leader for school. My parents and I were concerned about what I will going to do for my college year, and here I am :) in the University of Delaware to major in International Relations.
Let me talk about my ideal goal. Since I was a little kid, I really wanted to be a doctor and the dream got more desirable after my grandfather's death caused by a cancer. However, in Korean School system, I couldn't handle burden to be a doctor. Also for a short time, I thought about to be a missionary but what I was fascinated was a reporter in the CNN news. I love to know about culture of another country, love to know about lots of things, love to help people, also love to travel! That's why I decided to become a correspondent who work in another country.
I'm a kind of person who think truth is the most important value and I don't like person who have narrow mind. I like watching movies, listening music specially pop, rock and R&B genre. I love watching a basketball game, getting know lots of people but also I think it is important to have few precious friends who can understand and care each other.
I guess those things are briefly introduce about me but other than that, you can figure out who I am through conversation because I love to know people by talking :)
I have five members in my family- my parents, my grandmother, my brother who is a year younger than me and my little cutie 6-year old dog, Arthur.
I'm from Seoul, Korea but the time I spent in there was not that long as much my friends do.
I lived in Malaysia and Singapore when I was 5 till 7 years old due to my dad's business.
Then I started my elementary school after I came back to Korea but after few months later when I got enter my high school, I flew to South Carolina, USA for exchange student program. I never thought about study abroad and this reason to flew to USA also all about experience culture.
However, after I spend a full year in a American public high school and American family house,
I thought, 'Even though I miss my family and friends, it's not bad to live in here' so that after my exchange student program is over, I applied several schools and moved to Montverde, Florida.
I met lots of friends who from all over the countries and in my senior year, I was chosen as a prefect which is leader for school. My parents and I were concerned about what I will going to do for my college year, and here I am :) in the University of Delaware to major in International Relations.
Let me talk about my ideal goal. Since I was a little kid, I really wanted to be a doctor and the dream got more desirable after my grandfather's death caused by a cancer. However, in Korean School system, I couldn't handle burden to be a doctor. Also for a short time, I thought about to be a missionary but what I was fascinated was a reporter in the CNN news. I love to know about culture of another country, love to know about lots of things, love to help people, also love to travel! That's why I decided to become a correspondent who work in another country.
I'm a kind of person who think truth is the most important value and I don't like person who have narrow mind. I like watching movies, listening music specially pop, rock and R&B genre. I love watching a basketball game, getting know lots of people but also I think it is important to have few precious friends who can understand and care each other.
I guess those things are briefly introduce about me but other than that, you can figure out who I am through conversation because I love to know people by talking :)
hola ~~
hihihi
this is my first post >.<
from my English class !
well, I hope you guys come often and I promise to welcome *always!! :)
then see ya
love
amy
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