Minjok : flawed, but undeniable

 

Minjok : flawed, but undeniable

The flag of Han-peninsula
= North Korea + South Korea

While watching the soccer game, the broadcaster often says, ‘Let’s show the power of Koreans, the power of Hanminjok to them!’ The middle school ethics textbooks tell us that unification is necessary because we are the same Hanminjok. What on earth is MINJOK? The dictionary definition of Minjok, ethnicity or ethnic group is a group of people who have lived in the same region for centuries, and sharing common cultural heritage, ancestry, history, language, series of thoughts and possibly other aspects such as religion, cuisine, dressing style, physical appearance, and so on. However, Minjok does not simply comply with the concept of a nation, nor does it mean the same to the dictionary definition in the reality. Considering the specialty of Korea, minjok means even more than that.

 

Someone would think that the concept of Minjok existed from millenniums ago judging by that ‘minjok’ is innate in people. However, according to Carter Eckert, there was not strong sense of belonging to a Korean nation until late in the 19^th century. Minjok wasn’t an important concept until the Japanese illegal occupation era. Japanese tried to unite Korean and Japanese under the slogan, 내선일체 naeseon ilche, claiming that Japan and Korea are ethnically homogeneous, but separated unavoidably. On the other hand, Historian Shin Chae-ho used the ‘minjok’ in order to unite Korea and provide the axis of resistance against Japan. In his book, he stated the bloodline of Dan-gun, Goguryeo, Goryeo, and Josun to emphasize the Korean, Han spirit. In the modern days, former president Park Chung-hee who maintained dictatorship for 16 years, emphasized ethnic nationalism, and homeland. Lastly, Kim Young-sam propelled Korean globalization in accordance with reinforcement of the concept, minjok.

 

 

Historian Shin Chae Ho

President Park Chung Hee

President Kim Young Sam

Then, what makes minjok? The dictionary says that Minjok is a group of people sharing culture, series of ideas, language, and possibly genetics. However, I don’t think minjok means so. The standard of minjok is extremely vague, but to get general ideas of it, I think bloodline may be the primary standard of Hanminjok. For example, consider multicultural families, and foreigners living in Korea. Sam Hammington, Robert Holley have lived in Korea for years and even use dialects, and eat Kimchi. Their eating habit is more Korean-tic than Korean kids, they more engaged in Korean society, and married to Korean. But still, they are not considered as Korean. Actually, I won’t say people with blue eyes and blond hair are Hanminjok definitively. Next, how about Koreans living abroad or migrated to other countries? They share not the place or region, but the bloodline and series of thoughts. They might not be legally Korean, but still considered as Han-minjok, and Korean associations exist abroad showing strong bond among Koreans.

 

This indicates that neither eating kimchi nor assimilating to the Korean society determines Hanminjok. Where you live doesn’t either. The bloodline is thought to be the most primary standard of Hanminjok. What is contradictory about this is that even we, ourselves don’t have unique bloodline. Throughout our ancestors of Gojoseon, Goguryeo, Goryeo, and Joseon, our blood mingled and people married to foreigners. Also, scores of invasion by Japan and China affected so-called Dan-il minjok. These days, Korea is no more a Dan-il minjok society. However, we still believe and claim that they are ethnically homogeneous, racially distinctive compared to other societies. Sometimes, I feel that we do blindly.

 

The standard, bloodline makes minjok such an exclusive community with contradiction. Bloodline is arbitrarily given exclusive factor. It can only be satisfied with being reborn in Korean, and no one outside this exclusive community can mimic and meet the condition. Fixated on this exclusiveness, people sometimes blindly claim homogeneity and distinctiveness, thereby revealing the dark part of Minjok concept. For example, the exclusiveness of Minjok often hurts the outcast of Korean society in the form of xenophobia. Kids from multicultural family are often bullied. Furthermore, Koreans have inclination of not accepting and embracing the mixed-blood. Their nationality is Korean, language is Korean, and eating culture is Korean. However, they aren’t considered as Han minjok, indicating once more that the concept of minjok and nation is another story.

 

multicultural family in Korea



Minjok has been occasionally used as a political tool to unite people and drag attention. In fact, we don’t use the term, ‘minjok‘ in our daily lives saying, “I will share my favorite snack with you because we are the same Hanminjok.” Instead, we can find the term more frequently in Declarations, Inspiring speeches and special events such as World cup, sports game. Especially, the sports broadcaster keeps reminding us that we are the one, and thus insinuating that we are the best one. It has been used as necessary illusion in order to unite people and drive them to focus on economic development and national agenda.


We are united into Red Devils under the concept of Han-minjok

Necessary illusion, suggested by Noam Chomsky, is a political power using propaganda to distort and distract from major issues to maintain confusion and complicity, preventing real democracy from being effective. The former president Park Chung hee implemented 5 year economic development plan, and required people to engage in it. The dictatorship highlighted the concept of Minjok, nationalism, ethnic romanticism to drag their attention to the plan solely and drive them to pursue the prosperity of nation and minjok. This necessary illusion worked relatively well. In contemporary Korea, the Dokdo issue is broached whenever a political conflict or corruption is revealed to the public. Public are more interested in dokdo issue, thus it mitigates the impact of the exposure of corruption or conflict. Politicians know that minjok concept is innate in our minds and exploit them as a political tool to drag attention away from their vulnerability.

 



Panorama image of Dokdo



The higher degree of necessary illusion exists in North Korea. North Korea developed the concept of Minjok into Ju-che thought. It is a more aggressive, blatant form of ethnic nationalism, or Minjok-ism. They believe that they are the cleanest race, the most superior race in the world. Brainwashing North Koreans, they succeeded to maintain stable government with united ideology. The blatant form of minjok such as North Koreans is closer to Nazism and ultranationalism. Some people are afraid if this kind of things would happen. Minjok is such a closed community and people are fixated on bloodline, homogeneity. If the ostracism against foreigners worsens, we might become unable to communicate with other societies.

 

 

Again, what’s minjok? I’d like to say that it is hugely flawed concept. Used as political tool in the form of necessary illusion, possibility of authoritarianism requiring the sacrifice of individuals is occasionally entertained. It has extremely vague criteria. Bloodline is a primary standard, which hinders embracing the diversity of Korean society with the prejudice prevalent in closed community. But it doesn’t even mean the bloodline itself determines minjok definitively.

At first, I thought that the concept doesn’t exist, and it’s illusion. The concept of minjok was initially introduced to unite people and urge them to fight against invasion or external force. It was used as necessary illusion, but eventually we cannot deny that minjok exist among Koreans and we are united easily under the concept of minjok. Overcoming these flaws will be hard, but if we do, I believe Korean society will develop into more embracing society for others.

 



more embracing minjok concept



My first Minjok Herald article - SAT Cancellation in May and June Confuses KMLAians



I'm so glad to be the writing crew
of Minjok Herald

I got accepted to Minjok Herald as a writing crew. This is my first article for Minjok herald July about the SAT cancellation in Korea.

SAT Cancellation in May and June Confuses KMLAians

Kim Ye-Suel

Writing Crew, 18^th wave

 

SAT is a standardized test widely consulted as an integral factor in college admission. Despite this importance, the May SAT and the SAT Biology subject test in June were cancelled in Korea. This sudden cancellation agitated KMLAians.


 

SAT Academies' inappropriate behaviors

On May 1^st, Collegeboard, which holds SAT(Scholastic Aptitude Test), cancelled the May SAT in Korea. They also cancelled the June SAT Biology subject test in Korea. Furthermore, on May 25^th, some applicants received an email from Collegeboard informing them to not come to the test center. Doubts that Korean SAT academies have stolen previous exam questions were broached, leading Collegeboard and ETS to cancel the SAT in Korea.





Some students went to Japan to take SAT,
paying even more money.

As the May and June SATs were the last tests before the early application for US colleges, 16^{th }wavers experienced difficulty due to their cancellations. There were some 16^th wavers who even decided not to respond to the interview. 16^th waver Kim Hong-Soon, who took his SAT US History test in Japan on June 1^st, expressed his discomfort to Minjok Herald. ”I was really annoyed when I heard SAT was cancelled because some academies broke the rules,” he said. He chose to take the test in Japan because he was nervous that the June could suddenly be cancelled as well. He added, “The cancellation cost me more time and money. Those academies made the effort of other students who invested long time meaningless and potentially damaged all of the Korean students preparing for US colleges.”

Among all of the SAT subject tests, SAT Biology was the only subject test cancelled in June. Several 16^th and 17^th wavers who planned to take SAT Biology were bewildered. 17^th waver Lee Gina told Minjok Herald, “I was really disappointed and angry at the situation. I thought I won’t need to take any SAT or AP Biology test after June, but was annoyed when I found out that I needed to prepare for SAT Biology test until October.”

When interviewed about the SAT cancellations, Head Counselor Jung Key-One said, “Cancellation of SAT in May is of course perplexing for seniors who are looking forward to the scores for their college applications, and it is expected of their schedules to have suffered damage.” However, to the question of the influence of SAT cancellation to college entrance, he answered, “I cannot hastily tell my opinion about how this will affect international college entrance since the changes will vary for each university.”

Similar doubt of leakage of SAT questions by Korean academies was brought up several times before, and cancelling the test in whole Korea indicates the gravity of situation. Other Koreans also say that as a same Korean, SAT Cancellation due to the cheating behavior is so embarrassing. Due to the irresponsible behavior of some test takers and the late inform by Collegeboard, several KMLAians experienced difficulties and were annoyed. Despite the desire to get higher score, there shall not be more obstacles for students and test-takers due to cheating.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSIxwlTn7aYwlTn7aY

KYMUN 2013 Live, Love, Matter

June 7th, Friday, carrying my bag, laptop and books, I took plane to Jeju. Last time I went to Jeju, I was with my mom, dad and brother excited at family trip. However, this time, I landed at Jeju with 9 other friends, feeling nervous and worried. KYMUN, Korean Youth Model United Nations was waiting for me.

KYMUN was my first MUN conference, unlike my friends who have already participated in MUN at least once. There were 5 committes, General Assembly, Security Council, UN Environmental Programmes, UN Development Programmes, and ECOSOC. Kim Kyung-min B, Kim Seung Hye, Ryu Hyun Seung were in GA, Jung Sehee, Shim Kyubo were in SC, Jung Yunseo, Hwang Inkyu, Kim Hosung were in ECOSOC. I and Kim Minkyom were in UNEP. I was the delegate of Japan, and stood on the podium dealing the agenda, "Strengthening international cooperation in preventing over-exploitation of natural resources". I couldn't sleep much because I had to prepare for KYMUN. Min-Kyom and I brainstormed with other delegates, and it resulted in one resolution which was approved at last. It was a hard time for me since KYMUN took place on June 7th, 8th and 9th, which meant I also had to write GANSE PAPER at the same time. It was a total mental destruction. However, I think I earned some precious things by joining KYMUN.

1. FRIENDS
In Jeju, I met many students from different schools. HAFS, Branksome Hall Asia, KIS, NLCS, Younghoon int'l middle schoool, etc. All of the delegates I met were kind, hardworking and so engaged in KYMUN. Even though I left Jeju on June 10th morning, I'm still glad that I can keep in touch with them through facebook. Also, I could get closer with KMLA students who joined KYMUN together, especially Kim Kyungmin, Kim Hosung, Kim Minkyom, and four girls.


KMLA in Jeju, KYMUN 2013

 2. EXPERIENCE
As I mentioned above, KYMUN was my first MUN conference. That was why I felt so nervous. But I got 2nd prize, the outstanding delegate! Not that I'd like to mention that what I've earned was prize. Despite it being the first experience, nothing bad would happen, and what you would get are valuable people and experience. This is what I felt. So far, I tended to avoid what I've never dealt with. My mom used to give advice to me that I should be more adventurous, challenging, and seeking new things. But I refused to try new things. Now it turns out that KYMUN is another empirical reason that I should be brave at challenging. KYMUN was definitely a valuable experience.



I am speaking on the podium!

3. REST
Yes, this might sound awkward considering this is just a short-term benefit, and I had to write THE ganse paper during KYMUN. However, KYMUN in Jeju island gave me nice rest. At the second day of KYMUN, I walked along the hotel alone. Listening to the music, walking alone, feeling the sea breeze was a perfect rest itself. Moreover, leaving school for few days cleared my mind and refreshed me.

When we first decided to join KYMUN, we thought that we will be in one team, representing one country as team. But, as it turned out that each of us, individual should represent the delegate, I was in panic. However, thanks to KYMUN, friends and myself who helped me to get this far. I hope I can participate in another MUN with much more preparation and confidence.

Special Credits to  Kim Kyung-min B, Kim Seung Hye, Ryu Hyun Seung in GA, Jung Sehee, Shim Kyubo in SC, Jung Yunseo, Hwang Inkyu, Kim Hosung in ECOSOC, Kim Minkyom in UNEP, Hannah Joo(17th waver), Lee Soyoon(17th waver), Hwang Heeseung(18th waver) who actively participated as chairs!!

Monthly TOEFL Essay #2 (Possible changes in 21st century)

Topic for the response: The 21st century has begun. What changes do you think this new century will bring? Use examples and details in your answer.

On December 31^st, 1999, at the last day of 20^th century, hope and expectation were prevalent in society with fear and worries facing the new millennium. Embracing those emotions, it has been 13 years since 21^st century was born. Several changes are made until now, and they are indicating other new changes in the future as well. I’ve selected few changes which are expected to be brought by brand new century.

Netscape went public on September 8^th, 1995 at the cost of 28$. It started the internet, dotcom market boom. In 21^st century, with the invention of smart phone, the world consists of more webs of internet and cell phones, and the development of network shifted the agent of several activities from group to individuals. Now we can download open-source software, movies, and songs with one click at home. For example, using a program ‘utorrent’, each individuals can upload and download files. We can update our status on our personal blogs or social media. Free educational lectures are offered at university website, making our visit to school unnecessary. In the past, all sort of things used to be held in groups such as the education in classroom, information shared in library. However, due to the development of network in 21^st century, activities are becoming individual-oriented.

Expected changes also include the development of renewable energy. The renewable energy is an energy which comes from the resources which are continuously replenished. They include wind, solar, bio-fuel and geothermal energy. Their further developments in 21^st century are self-evident since the men are feeling the need of renewable energy by their skin. The global warming is expedited in 21^st century, causing several phenomena such as stronger hurricanes, sea level rising, and polarization of seasons. Oil, natural gas and coal are running out within a century at most, and pollution is getting worse in every aspect. People started to focus on renewable energy, and continuing research and development. For example, methane hydrate and shale gas are newly found energy which are being investigated currently. Since human are keep feeling the need of renewable energy, and conducting research and development, renewable energy are expected to be the main source of energy.

Barely a decade has passed since 21^st century began, and it might be too early to suggest changes expected in new century. However, individualization and renewable energy as main energy source are quite feasible changes. By reflecting 20^th century, I hope we earn more positive changes than negative ones, and better result at the end of 21^st century.

Vision Trip!

 

The oasis during the 3 years of desert in Korean Minjok Leadership Academy. I’ve heard this phrase a few times from 16^th and 17^th wavers while describing the vision trip. All of 18^th wavers were looking forward to vision trip, and enjoyed it with friends. Although the start of my vision trip was delayed due to the disconcerting experience of my entrance into US being denied, I could thankfully enjoy the trip in Europe instead of US. Visiting Europe for the second time, I could feel difference in European environment. 

 

 

Jungfrau

Interlaken

Vatican

We visited several countries such as France, Switzerland and Italy. More specifically, we enjoyed the beautiful cities of Paris, Versailles, Interlaken and Rome. In Paris, I visited Musée d’Orsay which itself was already a piece of art. The Chateau de Versailles was decorated with gold and mirror, showing the ultimate splendidness with the huge garden. Interlaken was a picturesque village. Below the Jungfrau, the top of Europe, every house looked like one in the story. As the train went up the mountain, the color of land gradually changed from green to white. Looking down on the world, there were only the sky and the mountain. In Vatican, detailed the Sistine Chapel Ceiling portrayed the effort of Michelangelo. Marbles of beautiful colors, statues with elaborate description of muscles, beard and clothes which I couldn’t believe to be made in ancient times, astonishing architecture technique also surprised me. In Rome, no square contained a fountain without exquisite decoration.

 

After visiting various cities, I felt one thing in common. The cities didn’t build new buildings, but were still using old ones. In Paris, antique houses built in 19^th century or before stood along the street with elaborately decorated windows and balconies. They were not merely tourist sites, but actually being used. For example, Musée du Louvre and Musée d'Orsay are old buildings being reused. Each was originally a palace, and a train station before. These buildings went through several different purposes, their structure and interior being slightly altered. The hotel we slept at in Interlaken has existed since 1960. Its exterior hasn’t changed much since then, and was forming a perfect harmony with the stream next to it. In Rome, filled with great monuments such as  Colosseum and Pantheon, I could see many buildings from medieval or modern ages.

Old buildings in cities reminded me of what guide teacher said. He said, ‘People here would prefer inconvenience if they were to abandon old things just because they are feeling inconvenient using them.’ For instance, using European hotels, I found the elevator being so small that 5 people at most could use. He said that Europeans had to install elevators in narrow spaces between the staircases or at the corner of the building without destroying the pre-existing buildings. They could have built a new big hotel with updated facilities, but didn’t. They preferred traditional ones. That was what I was in envy of them.

 



Foro Romano

I was quite disappointed and sad that Korea is not like them. Of course, considering the several background, it is hard for Korea to sustain old buildings built many centuries ago. We had experienced 36 years of Japanese illegal occupation and many wars we had to go through in Korean peninsula between the continent and islands, so it may be hard to expect the monumental buildings to be reused. However, I couldn’t stop envying Paris, Interlaken, and Rome filled with monumental buildings being familiar and closer to people.




Making a choice between convenience and tradition is the matter of point of view and what I wrote above is merely a personal feeling during the vision trip. However, I think their attitudes of respecting tradition and making it absorbed in daily lives truly deserve admiration. I just hope in someday, we can also get closer and familiar to our monuments.

Things in Language, Things in Us(Reflection of 'The Body Ritual among the Nacirema')

Things in Language, Things in Us.

 

When I first met the Nacirema, I was astonished by their primitive and cruel culture. Sympathy toward the patients in latipso made me grimace. Jabbing equipment into an exposed nerve, gouging out the large sections of one or more teeth were thought to be rare in modern days and unfamiliar to me. However, I soon found out that we may be the patients at latipso of another tribe, Nareok, obsessed with dental cleanness, suffering from the depreciation of human body and the lookism prevalent throughout the society.

I was astounded to find out the Nacirema actually portrayed the life of American. There was a huge difference between reading the article before knowing that the Nacirema are imaginary and after. However, I found one thing in common in both cases of reading this article for the first time, and after realizing this was faked; Language played a significant role in both cases. In this reflection, I will briefly mention the first case, and primarily focus on the second case.

While reading ‘the body ritual among the Nacirema’ for the first time, not knowing I was being tricked, I was interested at that the medicine men uses ancient, secret language so that only themselves and herbalists can know what’s written. I thought this could be the factor of normal Nacirema’s inability to resist their eccentric culture. According to the article, the patients are forced to blindly follow whatever medicine men say. They keep ‘magical potion’ even though they don’t know what function it serves. In latipso, they receive all kinds of treatment despite the psychological shock and discomfort. In short, the medicine men possess ultimate power in Nacirema society. I expected ancient language veiled in secrecy to be the key of their power. They use restricted communication to basically prevent crowd from approaching their power and social status. Normal Nacirema have nothing more than just to follow what they are assigned to do because they don’t know what’s going on, which made them impossible to even cast doubt about it..

When I read the article for the second time, I also felt that the language played an important role. The writer, Horace Miner’s idea was undoubtedly creative to use words such as ‘Nacirema’, ‘latipso’ and ‘holy-mouth-men’ instead of ‘American’, ‘hospital’, and ‘dentist’ to give the reader a completely different image. He also used ‘ritual’, ’magical’ several times, generating an image of ancient, primitive tribe relying on unrealistic world, and specific terms like ‘sadism’, ‘harsh’, ‘lacerating’, ‘gums bleeding’, making the reader feel aversion and disgust. Lastly, Miner criticizes the reality and gives new image of terms by setting a different meaning. For example, ‘latipso’, wordplay of hospital, is described as ‘temple’, and it is said that ‘that is where you go to die.’ He used this term, implicitly criticized and humiliated of American culture. Using new terms along with new definition exposed the inconvenient truth. He is describing the culture of Americans in 1950s, but his writing style and the use of language created an aversion and new image. By selecting such terms, the writer could satirize the lookism and obsession of Americans in 1950s, making the article an interesting and impressive piece.

 

We wouldn’t have considered the same culture cruel if we used ‘Americans’, ‘hospital’, and ‘dentist’. But, since the small changes in language defined the image and ambience of the whole writing, I found myself trapped by reality disguised by the linguistic expression. Then I realized the same could happen in any case. When translating the traditional terms, little altering can cause huge misunderstandings, and I think nobody can judge the culture just by some article or references. Unless he or she goes to the field and examine the culture with their own eyes, they are easy to develop wrong and biased point of view affected by the writer of references. In fact, it is same for everything that we shouldn’t hasten judging the matters. After reading ‘The Body Ritual among the Nacirema’, I grew to be discreet on judging and deciding my point of view.

‘The Body Ritual among the Nacirema’ is the most unique writing I’ve ever read. Horace Miner made a success in effectively criticizing the lookism, obsession, and depreciation of human body by special terms and language. However, these are still prevalent and the Korean also show the same tendency. Now, we need to see things as they are. ‘They’ can be culture or ourselves. What’s important is accepting ‘just the way they are’.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjhCEhWiKXk

How does the Use of Genre & Writing Style support the Main Ideas in George Orwell’s ‘Why I write’?

131031 Kim Yesuel (Lillian Kim)

10V4

2013.05.03 (Fri)

 

How does the Use of Genre & Writing Style support the Main Ideas

in George Orwell’s ‘Why I write’?

 

George Orwell (1903-1950) is considered to be a very political writer. His essay, ‘Why I write’ deals with why he writes, and how he became to get such reasons. He says that he writes to expose some lies and facts and to fuse political purpose and artistic purpose into one. To effectively convey this message, he incorporates several genres such as personal narrative, poetry, autobiography in one piece of essay. Also, his writing style supports the main idea in ‘Why I write.’

George Orwell displays his personal narrative story in time order from when he was child to now. Time ordered explanation logically convinces readers why the author grew to emphasize on political purpose of writing. When he was callow, he focused on his own emotion feeling undermined, then started to describe things as they were. Then, his experience as police officer in Burma, and Spanish war (1936-1939) triggered him to be cognizant of how the writing can reveal inconvenient truth and political factors. In short, He was self-oriented, but got interested in things surrounding him from a person to war. He explains the historical situation and honestly reflects his mindset in time order, and the reader can follow the flow of essay easily. If he only described his current point of view, then the readers would get curious of why he became to get such view. By introducing the history of his point of view, the author successfully satisfied the reader. Also, explaining how the historical situation affected his point of view was efficient because it made the change of his mind sound more plausible and cogent. Lastly, the honest writing of how he was like and how he felt also made the reader show more approval to the essay.

The most unique part of ‘Why I write’ may be the poetry in the middle of essay. This doesn’t often happen, so drags the readers’ attention at the first sight. Then, by its condensed structure, the poetry effectively conveys his dilemma concerning political writing. In the poetry, it is said,‘But born, alas, in an evil time, I missed that pleasant haven’, ‘I dreamt I dwelt in marble hall, And woke to find it true; I wasn’t born for an age like this’. These phrases express his resentment and disappointment toward his life in such a chaotic world full of political events. Considering this is a poetry written when he was still dubious of including political purpose in his writing, it can be assumed that he feels so bad about getting influenced by social events. He could have focused on pure writing if he had not been born in that age, but born in ‘marble hall’, an ideal place. Therefore, he is frustrated by the reality. However, soon he finds out that true writing should include political factors, and what he must do is to combine political and artistic writings in one. If he included his flow of thought in normal sentences, then it couldn’t bring this much impression. By doing it in the condensed structure of poetry, it can have much more impact on readers, and make them to think of it deeper.

One of the main ideas of ‘Why I write’ is that George Orwell writes to fuse political and artistic purposes. At the end of the essay, he says ‘I lacked a political purpose that I wrote lifeless books and was betrayed into purple passages.’ Purple passages mean passages without meaning, full of decorative adjectives. This is far from an ideal writing George Orwell currently pursues. He wants a writing to be straightforward, not full of descriptive, decorative terms. That’s why he uses straightforward and clear terms at the second half of ‘Why I write’. However, we can find several purple expressions in the first half of the essay. For example, ‘outraging my true nature’, ‘a short story which was a ghastly failure’ and ‘I wanted to write enormous naturalistic novels’ are quite elaborate expressions. In these, ‘outraging’, ‘ghastly’, ‘enormous’ are not the words you often use in daily lives. But, George Orwell positioned all three of these in the first half of the essay, when he still remained to be artistic writer. This is a definite contrast in writing style between the first and the second half of the essay. George Orwell could convey the change in his point of view toward writing effectively by slightly changing his writing style throughout the essay.

 

 

George Orwell used several devices in his essay, ‘Why I write’ and those mentioned above are some. They support one of the main ideas of the essay. By giving personal narrative story in time order, inserting poetry, and changing the writing style slightly, he could much more effectively convey his message to the readers.

 

Word count : 791

EXAM IS OVER!

OMG Midterm is over!

         It was my first exam in KMLA, and I was so nervous. I heard that the grade of first exam cannot be easily changed throughout whole 3 years in KMLA. Every single teacher I met talked the same thing. They said that it will be difficult to raise your grade despite your effort because not only you but also everyone will study harder after seeing their own terrible grades. This was the case of students who are to go to domestic universities using relative evaluation, but even for students going to international universities, they would find coming to KMLA meaningless if they don’t work harder.

         I have natural competitiveness, and it developed itself to a strong desire to satisfy myself. Once I set my goal, then I try as hard as possible I can. For example, when I do homework, I check it again and again until I feel it can’t be better. Usually I want things to be perfect, and don’t want to disappoint myself, my parents and teachers. I assume this would be same to all KMLA students. And that’s why I felt that I had to work harder than in my middle school days. I slept at 1:30 every day from 1 week before the exam.

4.18	4.19	4.22	4.23	4.24
Chinese character Sat chemistry	English	Mathematics	Chinese Medieval history	Korean Urban Geography

 

 

           For last 3 years of middle school, I started preparing my exams 4 weeks before, but this time I started it about 2 weeks before. That resulted into panic! I quickly started from SAT CHEMISTRY. I made a summary note of it and solved every question in the book. Then I started URBAN GEOGRAPHY, then mathematics, then Chinese and Chinese characters. Then I had only 5 days left! OMG! I haven’t even started English, Korean, and Medieval history. Thankfully, all of these subjects didn’t require much preparation such as Sat chemistry or urban geography. So I read Neverwhere, The Tell-Tale Heart, and Korean textbook several times. My exam schedule was like this.

           So, from 4.16 I solved questions in General chemistry for the last time. Then, at 4.18, I read Neverwhere, The Tell-Tale Heart once more, and analyzed both. Then, I made an outline of some topics which are expected to be essay topics in the exam. After English exam, I solved mathematics textbook once more, and extra problems. On Saturday, I reviewed Urban Geography for the last time before exam, and went through my notes during the Medieval history class. On Sunday, I studied Chinese and Urban Geography each. Then I took Chinese and Medieval history exam. I read Korean and Urban Geography textbook several times and memorized details in Urban Geography. Then! My exam was over!!

As my first exam in KMLA, I thought, ‘it’s not so bad except few subjects, is it?’ I made an outline of some topics which are expected to be essay topics in Mr.Tame’s exam. Fortunately, I guessed right one! There were two questions in the real exam, and since I’ve already thought about them and made outline before, it was much easier to write both short essays in 50min. Also, mathematics was not so bad. I always thought that I, myself is not good at mathematics, so I was really afraid of mathematics exam. However, I could solve every question. Also, every student who took Urban Geography exam said that the exam was quite easy. So did I.

However, there are some subjects that I wasn’t satisfied. Medieval history was one of the most worried subjects, and I had some difficulty in writing responses. I was gloomy after that exam, and couldn’t concentrate while studying next day’s exam. When I was informed my score, it was not so bad. But still, I was not satisfied. Also, in sat chemistry exam, I couldn’t solve 10pt question! I studied it more than any other subject, and expected myself to solve every question. But I couldn’t, and was disappointed and sad.

           Anyway, nothing matters! It is over! My first exam is over, gone, and I don’t have to worry about it anymore. Moreover, I guess I can’t be satisfied with just first result. It’s only the beginning and I’m sure that I will make a development at next exam. That is so exciting! I now have to cope with several things such as Medieval history presentation(so called THE GANSE PRESENTATION), Chinese project, Chinese character presentation, essay on ‘Why I write’, and blogging since the exam is over. But at least today, I want to enjoy this time! On top of that, today is chicken day, which means we can smell the outside food and civilization. What a nice schedule! I’m not sure if I will receive nice, satisfying result, but let’s enjoy this moment!