Shel Silverstein - Early Bird

 

How everyone's point of view differs. :)

Rights to Education... Are They Being Respected?

Education... Have we taken it for granted? It seems so, as in most countries it is natural for children to attend preschool and go on to elementary school, middle school, high school, and then college. We normally do not consider it a privilege to receive continuing education. However, recent news concerning the violation of education rights for girls in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Africa tell us it is not the case in some parts of the world.

Despite the Millenium Development Goal promise to secure universal education for girls by the end of 2015, progress has been postponed due to lack of funding. What's more, people fighting for universal girls' education have been discouraged, often violently. Supporters have been threatened, assaulted, bombed, and murdered during this struggle - principals were murdered, and schools that had announced their will to enroll girls were blown up with grenades.

As an effort to resolve this critical issue, the United Nations and the World Bank have stepped up, discussing with these countries what they need to promote girls' education.

(Original Article: "Girls Who Risk Their Lives For Education,"

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/09/opinion/global/girls-who-risk-their-lives-for-education.html?_r=0)

Related Legal Information: Right to Education

Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 26

1. Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.

2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

(Reference: United Nations, http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/)

International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, Article 13

1. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to education. They agree that education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and the sense of its dignity, and shall strengthen the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. They further agree that education shall enable all persons to participate effectively in a free society, promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations and all racial, ethnic or religious groups, and further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.

2. The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize that, with a view to achieving the full realization of this right: 
(a) Primary education shall be compulsory and available free to all; 
(b) Secondary education in its different forms, including technical and vocational secondary education, shall be made generally available and accessible to all by every appropriate means, and in particular by the progressive introduction of free education; 
(c) Higher education shall be made equally accessible to all, on the basis of capacity, by every appropriate means, and in particular by the progressive introduction of free education; 
(d) Fundamental education shall be encouraged or intensified as far as possible for those persons who have not received or completed the whole period of their primary education; 
(e) The development of a system of schools at all levels shall be actively pursued, an adequate fellowship system shall be established, and the material conditions of teaching staff shall be continuously improved.

(Reference: United Nations Human Rights, http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CESCR.aspx)

*Compulsory Education: pre-school, nursery education
*Secondary Education: middle school, high school, preparatory school, vocational school
*Higher Education: college, university, institute of technology, academy

(Reference: Wikipedia)

However, with ongoing discrimination in the field of education, international organizations have made continuous efforts to advocate universal education for all. Some of the more prominent movements are:

Convention Against Discrimination in Education
A multilateral treaty adopted by UNESCO in 1960, this convention had its goal in resisting all types of discrimination such as segregation, lack of funding, and unfair policies in administration.

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
An international treaty adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly, this convention is also known as an international bill of rights for women, focusing on gender equality.

Katarina Tomasevski, former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, developed the 4 As framework in her term. This is not necessarily the standard followed in all nations, but it is a general idea given on the fulfillment of education.

1) Availability – that education is free and government-funded and that there is adequate infrastructure and trained teachers able to support education delivery.

2) Accessibility – that the system is non- discriminatory and accessible to all, and that positive steps are taken to include the most marginalized.

3) Acceptability – that the content of education is relevant, non-discriminatory and culturally appropriate, and of quality; that the school itself is safe and teachers are professional.

4) Adaptability – that education can evolve with the changing needs of society and contribute to challenging inequalities, such as gender discrimination, and that it can be adapted locally to suit specific contexts.

(Reference: "Right to Education Project," http://www.right-to-education.org/)

Reading Journal - "Norwegian Wood" #2

All I knew about the well was its frightening depth. It was deep beyond measuring, and crammed full of darkness, as if all the world’s darkness had been boiled down to their ultimate density.

“It’s really, really deep,” said Naoko, choosing her words with care. “But no one knows where it is,” she continued. “The one thing I know for sure is that it’s around here somewhere.”

This “field well” seems to be what continuously haunts Toru and Naoko. They just cannot let go of the thought that they might fall into it someday without knowing it, although they’re not even sure if this “field well” even exists. The mere idea of unconsciously stepping in to the well and facing the tragic “end” holds the two back from moving forward.

Naoko loves Toru, and she knows he does too; nonetheless, fear keeps her from initiating a new relationship with him. Upon the death of Kizuki, who was her boyfriend and best friend for a long time, she suddenly disappears into thin air, without giving Toru a single clue about her whereabouts. When they meet again two years later, Naoko and Toru start spending time together like the good old days, but once they become intimate on her birthday, she again leaves without warning. For several months, she doesn’t reply to any of Toru’s letters, only to later inform him of her being in a mental hospital. She seems to be all bright and recovering, which relieves Toru and encourages him to wait until she is ready, but she just cannot manage to escape from her “dark days”, as in the end she suffocates herself to death.

Also, in Toru’s case, fear keeps him from admitting his love for Midori. Looking around to find Midori at his class History of Drama, worrying when she does not show up, waiting for her phone calls… He obviously cares about her, but he doesn’t take a further step because he can’t figure out his situation. Toru has trouble defining his relationship with Naoko, which leads on to a similar confusion between him and Midori. The fundamental cause for this issue appears to be his worrying about stepping into the “field well.” The image that Naoko gave him a while ago follows him around, reminding him that the deeper a relationship becomes, the nearer he gets to the well. Even when he realizes through his conversation with Reiko that his true partner is Midori and calls her to at last clarify his mind, however, the thought of the “field well” once again tortures him, messing with his head and apparently getting him lost: “Again and Again, I called out for Midori from the dead center of this place that was no place.”

“Things like that must actually happen.”

“They do, every once in a while. Maybe once in two or three years. Somebody disappears all of a sudden, and they just can’t find him. So then the people around here say, ‘Oh, he fell in the field well.’”

It sure did “actually happen,” but more often than expected. It happened to Naoko after Kizuki’s death and to Toru following Naoko’s death. Both of them got lost with a close one’s death. Midori “disappeared” for a while as well, with her dad’s passing away, but she was able to come back to reality after she took her time. She gradually came back to her usual self, and could fold that dark period away, labeling it a trip “South to Nara and North to Aomori.” It’s a different story for Naoko and Toru though. They two are in this vicious cycle where they lose a dear one, disappear, make efforts to go on and meet new people, and just as they’re about to go a step further, they are reminded of the “field well” that might be somewhere close by, representing another “end.” So Naoko firmly locked herself up, never recovering and eventually committing suicide. As for Toru, he did come back to his usual self, but only physically; he had no idea where he was.

“Field well.” It’s what let pass so many great relationships, opportunities, and possibly true love for Naoko and Toru.

Reading Journal - "Norwegian Wood" #1

Forests, with sunlight sliding through the leaves of the tall and sturdy trees, always seem to arouse a mystical atmosphere. In “Sleeping Beauty”, Aurora awaits her true love’s kiss in the forest, having been cursed into a deep sleep. As for Katherine Paterson’s “Bridge to Terabithia”, Jesse and Leslie build their own sanctuary - or should I say kingdom - in the forest, where they feel safe from those who do not understand them. It appears as if forests encourage for magical happenings to take place.

Some literary critics, however, go further on to say that forests symbolize the journey one takes to discover a woman’s secrets and her story. This may be the case for Murakami’s “Norwegian Wood”, as Toru and Naoko often walk in the woods.

The story of the two starts off with Toru recalling the unforgettable day he spent with Naoko in the meadow eighteen years ago. He talks about how he was too busy thinking about his love beside him to appreciate the scenery, but is then surprised to realize that it is the first thing that comes to his mind. I believe this is so because purity and honesty - conveyed through the meadow and the forest - is what is central in their relationship; neither Toru nor Naoko plan out his or her next move, but rather behave as they wish, based on their unscarred, unfiltered feelings and thoughts.

That they endlessly walk without a destination is another fact that points to the basis of their relationship. Walking instead of riding the subway or driving a car means that one is willing to take his time and look around. It is like what comes to our mind when we think of a person who likes walking: one who enjoys the transition from one place to another and gives everything along the path a glance. After all, it is widely said that when you walk, things you might not have seen otherwise catch your eye. Also, when searching for something, we often look past the objects in our vicinity and forget about the most trivial factors that may later turn out to be the most helpful. Similarly, Toru and Naoko may as well be trying to define their relationship by walking on and on, without a single idea of where they are going. It felt to me as if the forest was a place of their own amidst the big, busy city of Tokyo, where they had no obligation whatsoever to what others thought. They simply chose to take their time, notice each other’s smallest habits, appreciate them, and wait for the right time when they can genuinely open up to one another.

“If it is meant to be a connection, it will eventually work out without too much effort.” This saying came to my mind after reading the first three chapters of “Norwegian Wood”. After his dear friend Kizuki died and Toru moved into his dormitory, he says that “There was only one thing for me to do when I started my new life in the dorm: stop taking everything so seriously; establish a proper distance between myself and everything else.” I think it is because he ignored the social pressure to connect with others that he could develop a tie with Naoko. He started off from walking behind her and gazing at her brunette, until she stood naturally by his side, entwined her arm with his in the fall, and later put her hand inside his coat pocket. He waited, and she came, though it took some time. It is because he kept his composure and was cautious that the two were able to naturally connect without falling into the deep, dark, unnoticeable “field well.”

Bookshelf, The 100% Perfect Town

Knock, knock.

“Hi. I’m Aging Well, and I just moved into the place next door. May I come in?”

“Yeah... I’m Stumbling Into Happiness.”

Stepping inside, Aging Well asked, “Do you go out a lot?

Eyes widening, Stumbling Into Happiness blurted, “No. I stumbled into this town where I’m a misfit, but I’m thinking of stepping out. The people who live here are too problematic.”

“Have you ever talked to them? Why don’t I throw a party at my house tomorrow night, and we might be able to find out why, if there is a reason, they’re the way they appear to be.”

Stumbling Into Happiness reluctantly consented, but nonetheless seemed skeptical.

To a relief, everyone showed up, but no one seemed to know each other, not even acquainted. Aging Well broke the silence by introducing himself first.

“Hi, I’m Aging Well, and I moved in yesterday to help out the landlord with her Positive Psychology lecture. What about you?”

“I’m Pride and Prejudice. I see you’re single. People say ‘a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife’. Are you? My little one isn’t taken yet.”

“Nonsense. You’re obviously stuck in 1813. Simplicity, simplicity! Stay simple, my friend, and you will encounter the true values of the world. By the way, I’m Walden.”

“You do know you’re speaking from the 1830s perspective, right? But I have to admit, simplicity is needed just as much in the 1960s, too. The Orient, the exotic… They can fool you. I’m M. Butterfly.”

“But you must not let go of your dream because of money matters. Embracing yourself from the fear of dying poor is not worth losing your career and causing your wife to suffer from morphine addiction.”

“Frankly, though Long Day’s Journey Into Night has a point, but don’t forget that the era of the American Dream is gone. I’m Gatsby, in case you haven’t already heard of me.”

“What’s your story?” Aging Well nudged the exceptionally quiet man next to him.

“Heart Of Darkness.”

“Umm… Do you have anything you want to share with us?”

“The world is a dark place. Imperialism ruined the world.”

Closing the door after seeing that everyone had left, Aging Well thought to himself, ‘Bookshelf literally equals diversity. There are experts of various eras and areas, from happiness to marriage, transcendentalism, addiction issues, dreams, and utter darkness…’ Whoa.

*Creative Writing based on Murakami's "On Seeing the 100% Perfect Girl On Beautiful April Morning"

Reading Journal _ "The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World"

“Every single line… has a starting point in reality,” said Gabriel García Marquez. For him, the reality is his dough whereas his imagination is his toppings. That is, the fundamental plot is realistic, and its elements are what add an air of magic to it, somehow better revealing the truth hidden underneath.

A man drifts upon the shore of a village. The shape of his corpse is the only clue that points to him having been a human. Children, women, then men, upon discovering this unknown, drowned man, are surprised and left “breathless.” With only this, though, the plot is not that fantasy-like; it gets magical as he is characterized by the women cleaning his body to be Esteban, maybe even Lautaro, both who are mythical figures that were the pioneers and  the bravest in their fields. The man is also so huge that they cannot make him clothes of an adequate fit, not even with a sail. “Is this possible?” is what comes to one’s mind, if one gives much thought to every aspect of the story; some details do indeed seem irrational. However, when one reads it with a stream of consciousness, the story is not at all impossible.

Marquez said that “the sense of wonder and infinite strangeness which emerges from much Latin American writing is a true reflection of the complex realities of Latin American experience.” In fact, the oral story telling tradition, myths, and legends weaved into the realistic text come together to “create a cycle,” placing events and details in a manner that they “oscillate between the everyday and the impossible.” Magic realism, by extending and maybe even covering up the distinction between fantasy and reality, magnifies the intended message. As for Marquez, the merging of myth or mystery and reality recreates reality, functioning as a means of expressing “socio-political problems in which Latin Americans are submerged.” Focusing on the coexisting but completely opposite classes of the elite and the underprivileged, Marquez emphasizes that people, especially Latin Americans, are trapped in the misconception that there is a hierarchy, when there actually is no such thing. (Marquez quotes from: Maria Eugenia B. Rave, “Magical Realism and Latin America”) 

When the drowned man first appears, the women are busy admiring him, imagining how bold and marvelous he would have been when he was alive “secretly comparing him to their own men.” However, as the women dress and comb him, there is a sudden silence that is followed by pity that they are “unable to hold back.” They think of “how unhappy he must have been with that huge body since it bothered him even after death.” This can be seen as the villagers' epiphany, as they realize that size and physical qualities are not the standards deciding whether or not the normal are inferior, and that people are not of contrasting levels, but are just different. As the villagers exclaim that “he’s ours,” they become aware that everyone is worthy of what they experience, once they work for it.

The drowned man is a foil character, while the villagers are the protagonists. The man is dead; his existence itself and the impact it calls upon among the women and the men show that despite being silent, he is a mentor that leads the villagers to acknowledging their “narrowness” and motivating them to aim for higher goals, because they, together, need to become a town “worthy” of being called “Esteban’s village.”

If the seaside village with “only twenty-odd wooden houses that had stone courtyards with no flowers” was a white, blank canvas, the drowned man that approached the sea one day as a “dark and slinky bulge” was a swiftly-thrown paint ball. The sudden arrival of the drowned man brought liveliness to the village, giving some color to the originally dull area, and also guiding them to experience an epiphany. The drowned man, having both a magical entrance and exit, allows Marquez to convey his social critique. He criticizes outdated rules of the society and shed light on the infinite possibilities for change. The handsomest drowned man shows villagers that their ambitions are what allow them to live up to their potentials.

_____________________________________________________________________

Some Random Thoughts...

Why was it Wednesday when the drowned man drifted to the shore of the village? Is there some special meaning to Wednesday? Wednesday holds a connotation as a “hump day.” (Wikipedia) Being the middle of the week, once you get over it, the weekend awaits, so it is somewhat relieving. Maybe Marquez chose Wednesday specifically to show that the villagers overcome this "hump" of thoughts and meet their epiphany.

Also, among the numerous characteristics of the still vague (to me) genre “Magic Realism,” there is one called “hybridity.” (Wikipedia) This points to the belief that a story simultaneously occurring in inharmonious areas highlight a “more deep and true reality,” because the fact that both talk of the same aspect of reality merge the different planes as one. So in the case of “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World,” Marquez underlines the reality of his interest by merging the stories of the sea and the village.

Going Places

     “You drive me crazy, I just can’t sleep. I’m so excited, I’m in too deep.”
     “Alice, stop singing. The snow is driving me crazy enough.”

Apparently, I was the only one excited about this trip to Denver, Colorado. I was singing my favorite Britney song, already making a huge snowman like Frosty in my head. My father, probably glad to be away on a business trip, had left my mother to suffer at the wheel, dealing with my innocent yet annoying exclamations, while at the same time driving to places such as Colorado, Louisiana, Florida, Alabama, Utah, and even Virginia, all the way from Dallas, Texas. Not once did I notice my mother’s fatigue, though, simply excited at the thought of sightseeing.

Throughout my life, I have travelled by foot, by car, by plane, frequently moving as well. Busan, Tskuba, Gumi, Dallas, Cheonan, Seoul, and now Hoengseong… But no, I did not have problems, whether big or small, adapting to the almost regularly changing environment. In fact, that I experienced diverse cultures helped me enhance my social skills and affability. Driving out of a town called upon fragments of past memories, driving on highways surrounded by fast cars and somewhat crowded mountains gave me mixed feelings of both sadness and hope, and driving into a new neighborhood was exciting, allowing me to anticipate new experiences.

Among these moves, though, the turning point of my life was when I decided to move back to Korea in the third grade. It was a crucial choice, except how I chose to do so was based on my parents’ bribes: a four-day ticket to Disney World and a seat in the very front row of the airplane. I was so young, having no such maturity; I naturally neglected the fact that I had no life in Korea. Friends, gymnastics, church, soccer, Kool-aids, weekly outings to Ceci’s Pizza with my friends… Frankly speaking, I do not know if I would have moved back to Korea if I were to be given the choices again. Ten years having passed, would I be able to simply disregard my friends, my lack of ability to speak and write in Korean, and the apparent truth that I could not eat anything in the Korean cuisine, full of “redness?”

Swoosh, and the plane departed. It was then, though, when I finally came to my senses. Oops, too late to run off! I gazed at the land below where I had spent my last yet most memorable four years, where everything seemed so small, like connected pieces of LEGO. Soon enough, the plane was over the ocean and I was engulfed in big, white, and fluffy clouds. Everything was so white and so blue; it was pure, pulling out the honesty in me. Time to return to the reality, since the magical fantasy of the “Happiest Place on Earth” was over. The question whether or not I had made the right choice fogged my mind, numbing me to the bright surroundings. The first few weeks of my stay in America struck my memories, reminding me of how I had trouble saying absolutely anything in English. This was a critical problem, since I was and still am a person whose “thing” is talking. What about gymnastics? Ice skating? Shopping at Macy’s? Peeping at Swarovski jewelry in the display cases of Saks Fifth Avenue? Laura? Spencer? Captivated in my own bubble, I fell into seventeen long hours of thinking.

I was floating with time, along with the clouds that seemed to be doing the same. No one was bothering me, I had no such stress. I was in a limbo. Would Korea be like the States? Would I be able to come back? In a sense, I made a vital decision in an unbelievably simple and positive manner. I guess I just decided to adapt to the new environment, since I was already in the air. I mean, I could go back some day, right?

I am who I am now. Sure, it was hard at first. I had to learn Korean all over again, and I was quite often embarrassed due to my misunderstandings of words. It was not just a “move” like any other, as it involved a transfer between cultures. But I overcame them one by one, maturing in the process. I am told and do feel so myself that my multi-cultural experiences allowed me the not so common positiveness that I have.

Sooner than later, I will go aboard an airplane again and perhaps fall into another shift of time. Back to the United States, just as I had dearly wished for ten years ago. However, the passenger would no longer be the nine year old, immature yet innocent girl, but rather a passionate one who has firm beliefs but is still bright and positive. I will embrace myself in the clouds again, as a focused person who is ready to genuinely go towards her dreams. At this time, hopefully, the clouds will not be just white, but compact and dense with new people and a new community. So swoosh again, over the sea and into the clouds.

Shel Silverstein - Magical Eraser

 

 

The first poem I ever read! I loved it then, and I still do now.

Reading Journal _ "The Dead"

“All the living and the dead” were “in for a night.” The Misses Morkan’s annual dance was a fully accompanied one, with everybody who knew them coming. Along with the food and the well-decorated house, the party was quite elegant and grand. However, what should have been a lively gathering seemed to be rather dead.

The Old Square Piano

The guests were old, with Julia and Kate, the hosts, being no exception. The piano, a somewhat central entertainer of the party, was an old square one, too. Mr. Browne who loves to flirt with the women smiled in his wrinkles, and people compared spring beds with coffins at the dining table, a usually jolly place. Mary Jane’s Academy piece had no melody; young men left, and Gabriel mentioned the generation “waning” and its “lack” of hostility in his speech. The Lass of Aughrim was sung in hoarseness, and its words expressing grief gave off a depressing air. Spirit, liveliness, and pleasure were nowhere to be found.

Though it is unusual that the annual dance, as it is a dance party, was static, on one hand it allowed Gabriel to think, to ponder. Gabriel’s random thoughts are expressed through his stream of consciousness, in which James Joyce conveys his ideas about the nature of thought. According to Joyce, every thought tends to be personal, with each consciousness always changing and sensibly continuous. This is why Gabriel’s emotions and perceptions seem to flow, with no break in between to separate one from another, eventually building up to form a sense of Gabriel as one entity. That his thoughts sometimes do not appear to be coherent clearly depicts life as an ongoing process where sometimes, nothing happens. As Sigmund Freud mentioned in his analysis of the human psyche, the unconscious may be a barrier to recognizing the truth, due to the appearance of once repressed thoughts on the surface. This illuminates Gabriel’s epiphany, or the sudden realizing that “one by one, [people] were all becoming shades.”

Everything goes on in Gabriel’s mind and also in an unattended moment, both characteristics of the “Joycean Epiphany.” This sudden spiritual manifestation, showing a phase of mind itself, does not occur when one wants it to, but when it is most unexpected. One would think that Gabriel would encounter his enlightening moment while giving a speech or perhaps while perusing through his thoughts when Mary Jane plays the music, but no, he does so when he looks outside the window and sees the snow, imagining a young boy with gorgeous eyes shivering beneath the tree. Focusing on the “whatness,” the “Joycean Epiphany” refers to the way a person perceives things. In “The Dead,” Gretta’s confession of her past yet still memorable love startles Gabriel, causing him to overthrow his original attitude towards the world and start focusing on the genuine meaning rather than the outer looks. Before the shift, the word “eyes” appears twenty-eight times, highlighting how important appearance is to Gabriel, but afterwards, actual expressions of emotions can be noticed.

“Therefore, I will not linger on the past,” states Gabriel, quite firmly in his speech at dinner. His dislike for clinging onto the past can be seen even in his slightest acts, such as him vigorously scraping his feet and trying to get rid of the snow, which symbolizes the past and the oppression deriving from it, on his goloshes. Gabriel seems rather strict about his feelings, and he apparently controls his own thoughts, filtering them by the standard of whether or not it is relevant to the present. This value, however, is shattered by Gretta’s story of her relationship with Michael Fuery, whom she thinks to have died for her. Although he was the one who had emphasized the need for people to forget about the past, he changes; he is jealous and angry when Gretta could not stop talking about how sweet a boy Michael Fuery was, and “generous tears fill[ed] Gabriel’s eyes” when he discovered the passionate love between Gretta and Michael. He starts yearning for the liveliness of romance that he had never had.

No longer is Gabriel obsessed with his belief that one must live in the present and the present only. He recognizes that the past and the present coexist, and that actually, as in the time of his epiphany, the dead may be more alive than the living.

“He is dead,” says Gretta.

Is he really?

*   *   *

Traditionally, an epiphany is defined to be a flash of recognition in which someone or something is seen in a new light, oftentimes conveying a divine touch. To me, though, an epiphany is when you suddenly “get it,” when everything falls into place, enabling you to realize something that you had no clue of beforehand. It could be as simple as Ella’s sudden realization that she could “unspell” herself from obeying everyone’s orders in the movie of “Ella Enchanted.”

I used to believe in the black-and-white theory to some extent, just assuming that if there was a good, there was a bad. Over the past few years, though, as I saw friends overcome conflicts with one another and more especially as I worked in the judicial council, I came to realize that there was no such thing as a right answer. There can never be a strict line drawn in between two opposite things, although there are exceptions in cases like gender. Tomatoes, for instance, are concerned in ongoing debates endlessly arguing whether they are vegetables or fruits. Similarly, I had an epiphany when I came to know that the same situation can be seen in various perspectives, each view having its own reasoning or story. You know what they say: Every side has its own story.

Reading Journal _ "Araby" (Final)

From a distance, James Joyce’s “Araby” might appear to be a tender yet unsuccessful account of a young boy’s first love. His unconscious declaring of “If I go, I will bring you something.” portrays him as a Prince Charming willing to do anything to win his Cinderella. After all, when the nameless narrator suggests that Mangan’s sister is surrounded by light, he deifies her as an angel. To the young boy, going to “Araby” is the last gate he must pass in order to claim his love. However, on the other hand, the journey might as well be the narrator’s attempt to prove that the world of his dreams exists. He perceives “Araby” as the direct opposite of the blind and drab neighborhood he lives in, being the one chance he can count on to substantiate the existence of the ideal life that he dreams of, perhaps the life that was possible when the priest was alive, genuinely preaching sermons from books that are now “curled and damp,” and when the now “rusty bicycle-pump” was properly functioning. Therefore, it is perhaps more accurate to assume that “Araby” is not a romantic destination for potential lovebirds, but rather a dull and bland domain built for commercial purposes like any other marketplace. Here, the innocent young narrator, who had quite a hard time obtaining enough money to go to “Araby,” develops a new insight into the world. That it is indeed not a place where pure love and faith can exist struck the boy hard; the “innumerable follies” that had tortured him and the fantasies of Mangan’s sister aroused by her “white curved neck” and her “hand on the railing” that he had to endure were all for nothing. In this sense, “Araby” awakens the boy to the reality of people “counting money on a salver” and choosing to flirt rather than to genuinely love, which is not what he had expected at all. The descending images – closed stalls, the greater part of the hall that was dark, fall of coins – signal the boy gradually realizing the brutal truth: the “white” and “twinkling” love that he had so enthusiastically sought after was no more than an ideal fantasy that his imagination had created, only to be turned off as easy as a switch, once the hall became “completely dark.”

Reading Journal _ "Araby"

From a distance, James Joyce’s “Araby” might appear to be a tender yet unsuccessful account of a young boy’s first love. His utter blurting of “If I go, I will bring you something.” portrays him as a Prince Charming willing to do anything to win his Cinderella. After all, when the nameless narrator suggests that Mangan’s sister is surrounded by light, he deifies her as an angel. To the young boy, going to “Araby” is the last gate he must pass in order to conquer his love. However, on the other hand, the journey might as well be the narrator’s attempt to prove that the world of his dreams exists. He perceives “Araby” as the direct opposite of the blind and drab neighborhood he lives in, being the one chance he can count on to substantiate the existence of the ideal life that he dreams of, perhaps the life that was possible when the priest was alive, genuinely preaching sermons from books that are now “curled and damp,” and the now “rusty bicycle-pump” was properly functioning. Therefore, it is perhaps more accurate to assume that “Araby” is not a romantic destination for potential lovebirds, but rather a dull and bland domain built for commercial purposes like any other marketplace. Here, the innocent young narrator, who had quite a hard time obtaining enough money to go to “Araby,” develops a new insight into the world. That it is indeed not a place where pure love and faith can exist struck the boy hard; the “innumerable follies” that had tortured him and the gossip of Mrs. Mercer that he had to endure were all for nothing. In this sense, “Araby” awakens the boy to the reality of people “counting money on a salver” and choosing flirting over selling, when they could be pursuing true values such as love. The descending images – closed stalls, the greater part of the hall that was dark, fall of coins – signal the boy gradually realizing the brutal truth: the “white” and “twinkling” love that he had so enthusiastically sought after was no more than an ideal fantasy that his imagination had created, only to be turned off as easy as a switch, once the hall became “completely dark.”

Reading Journal _ "The Lady with the Dog"

Part I. “Permissible Love”

What Dmitri and Anna had and have… Is it ADULTERY or TRUE LOVE?

Dmitri and Anna started as partners of “a swift, fleeting love affair” but ended as secret, long-distance lovers. How did the young lady with a beret and a white Pomeranian dog become a couple with the man who interacts with “the lower race” only to feel prepared and superior?

Well, their love life was pretty fast-moving. Was it because they were in the particular city of Yalta? Maybe the romance never would have taken place if they had met in another city. A vacation spot full of immoral and supposedly “coincidental” occurrences, Yalta naturally reminded Dmitri of “tales of easy conquests … a romance with an unknown woman, whose name he did not know.” Ha. Perhaps “the lady with the dog” just happened to walk by at the moment. It is understandable, though, to an extent. The narrator describes the scenery of Yalta to be consisted of “a golden streak from the moon,” water that is “of a soft warm lilac hue,” and chirruping grasshoppers. No wonder the two go on a drive, take a walk, and kiss; the atmosphere is the absolute opposite of Moscow, where every single day is a “frosty day” with white snow all over the place.

Dmitri first conceives of his affair with Anna as no more than a fling that simply happened to be a bit more pleasant than the preceding unfaithful commitments, but soon notices that he was wrong. Once he returns to Moscow after Anna leaves to take care of her husband, Dmitri cannot stop thinking of her and admits that she “followed him about everywhere like a shadow and haunted him.” Never having felt this way before, he is dumbstruck for quite a while, but he soon travels to S in search of Anna, and finally meets her in the theater at the production of “The Geisha.”

Dmitri Dmitritch Gurov was once an arrogant and haughty man who knew no one but himself. People did not believe that he could change, not even his wife; however, TRUE LOVE managed to turn him into the genuine “man,” one who is responsible and trustworthy. The development of Dmitri’s attitude toward women, or at least Anna, is clearly illustrated through the noticeable difference in responses to Anna’s actions. He actually cares.

The interesting point, though, is that the wife of Dmitri and the husband of Anna never appeared on stage to present a view. If it was to prevent distraction from the realistic depiction of the affair, it definitely worked. Their absence enables readers to stand in the shoes of Dmitri and Anna and consider if their love is adultery or precious love.

As always, though, Chekhov leaves it up to the readers to arrive at their own conclusions. So, does love need to be approved by others in order to qualify as the “love” we know? Can one be granted permission to love?

Part II. Personal Thoughts

WHY name the story “The Lady with the Dog?”

Throughout the whole story, the exact phrase of “the lady with the dog” is mentioned three times, once in each section. As scarcely as the expression is used in the place of Anna Sergeyevna, it signals the major shifts of Dmitri’s change in attitude towards Anna, maybe even women as a whole.

The first time Dmitri calls Anna “the lady with the dog,” he shows curiosity only because he “had begun to take an interest in new arrivals”; he was bored. Also, it gives off a sense of indifference towards the newcomer, as if the person was absolutely of no importance to the Dmitri. However, the second time he uses the phrase, he clearly conveys the idea that she is different from his earlier immoral partners, as he realizes that their affair would not “end soon” and is in the right place for them to take their relationship to further stages. As time passes, though, Dmitri comes to acknowledge the fact that he is in love, and that Anna is not just any “fleeting affair.” She may happen to be the only real love of his life, the once-in-a-lifetime woman that a man would be lucky enough to meet.

WHY use the 3^rd person (omniscient) as the narrator?

Frankly speaking, I still do not really understand the somewhat twisted mindset of Dmitri Dmitritch Gurov. I wonder if I would have known him better if the story had been written in the 1^st person, where Dmitri might have been more accessible. Having usually responded to love stories with either fondness or envy, I could not do the same with Chekhov’s “The Lady with the Dog,” as the objective view made it impossible for me to sympathize with the man at all.

Being a story of realism, though, I understand why Chekhov refrained from using the 1^st person narrator. The story depicts an ordinary man and an ordinary woman having an affair, using straightforward details rather than rhetorical devices that are sometimes nothing but confusing. Chekhov’s enlisting of the happenings between Anna and Dmitri without mentioning their innermost emotions casts concentration on the events only, allowing readers to arrive at a conclusion of the question whether love should be permissible in an unbiased state.

30 Things About ME

1. My Name: Gyuyoun Park

奎 (star) + 妍 (bright) = “bright star”: My grandfather gave me this name, and he always tells me that I am destined to become an inspirational person who enlightens others and shines. I think my name also implies my personal duty to pursue my dreams and set an example for my cousins, who are all younger than me. I hope I am living up to this title!

2. Dragon

This is a rather simple entry; I look like one. Or, at least my friends say so. I really hated this nickname at first, but as I got used to it, I thought of its characteristics and surprisingly found some similarities. A dragon is confident, directly expresses emotions, and is loud. As a dragon, I “spit fire.” I am talkative, and I do not hesitate to tell the truth, or clearly state my opinion. I stick to what I believe is right. A dragon is one nice nickname.

3. Moving

I have no particular hometown. My family moved a lot, usually due to my father’s job. I was born in Busan, where both of my parents grew up, but lived in Tskuba, Japan until I was one. I went to preschool in Gumi but attended elementary school (until 3^rd grade) in Dallas, Texas. Coming back to Korea at age 11, I spent the 4^th grade in Cheonan, and moved once more to Seoul in the 5^th grade, which is where I stayed until I came to KMLA. The frequent moves, though, is not entirely on my father’s job; in part, there is a reason that both my mother and I continuously crave for new environments. In just one year, I will move again, but for the first time alone.

4. Road Trip

When I was growing up in the United States, my parents and I regularly went on road trips. My father was not good at driving at the time, so it was usually my mother at the wheel. We traveled to various places: Colorado, Louisiana, Florida, Alabama, and even Virginia. I was so young at the time, simply excited at the thought of sightseeing and singing along to Britney Spears’s “You Drive Me Crazy” non-stop in the car, that I never noticed my mother’s fatigue, not once. I feel sorry these days, having begged for road trips even when she was obviously reluctant to go on them. I am definitely going to make it up to her later on, once I graduate university and become economically able to take her on the best trips ever. My father, too!

5. Airplane

Swoosh! I just LOVE the feeling, the sound, and even the numbness of my ears when the airplane takes off. The expectations and delight that derive from the mere fact that I am going to another part of the world excites me. Airplanes have always taken me to fabulous places, such as Guam in 2011, and both coasts of the United States during the vision trip in 2012. Maybe I should marry a pilot! Free rides whenever I want…? Tempting.

6. Forehead

I have a big, wide forehead. It is twice the size of others’, and I am constantly reminded of this fact whenever I take a picture with my friends. When people take a look at my face for the first time, they all notice my large forehead. It used to be a complex, but now I am rather proud of it; adults say that it signifies my goodness.

7. Long Hair

I have a strict rule about my hair length: NEVER above my shoulders. I have a “trauma” about short hair; the haircut I got when I was 8 years old was simply horrifying. It was the hair style of young girls in the 60’s, cut right below the ears. I was literally the twin of “Mong-shil,” as in the picture. I did not look good in that hair, as if I was wearing a wig not my size.

8. “Energizer”

My friends describe me as an “energizer.” They say I have a pretty good reputation of being able to cheer up others no matter how bad they feel. They say I am bright, positive, and that I easily make others smile with weird jokes and funny stories. It is definitely nice to know that I am a person they can depend on to make them forget their worries, at least for a while.

9. Mock Trial

Mock trial is the activity in which I devote all my passion and efforts. Mock trial is meaningful to me not only because it is one of the reasons that gave me the dream as a lawyer, but also because it relieves my stress, taking my mind off of hardships in school life .As a witness, I savor every moment of portraying a character, answering cross-examinations, and coming up with successful team-lines. The vast range of mock trial cases always entertains me, never making me bored. Hopefully, the next time I participate in mock trial, I will be able to stand in court as a lawyer, with a fantastic opening/closing speech in hand.

10. Music

When I asked my friends what first comes to their mind when they think of me, one of the most popular answers were “singing” or “full of great recommendations of music.” I agree. I enjoy listening to music, and I cannot really remember a day in which I never listened to a song. Musicals and operas are a major interest of mine, and personally, my next goal is to watch “Wicked” on Broadway (hopefully with Idina Menzel in the cast). "Glee” is another show I continue watching, not because of the story but rather for the mash-ups and performances. These days, “K-Pop Star 2” entertains me.

11. Lizzie McGuire Show

When I first moved to the States, the Lizzie McGuire Show helped me overcome language barriers as quickly as possible. I only knew my ABCs, and although I was in the ESL program, I knew that it would take too much time to increase my English abilities with only that. Watching TV shows on the Disney Channel was my solution, which turned out to be of genuine avail.

12. Stuffed Dolls

On my bed now, there are three stuffed dolls: a lion from Joyce, a banana from Soyeon and Minjung, and a heart-angel from a middle school friend. I have a thing for stuffed dolls, ones that are fluffy and big, not skinny ones that are made of plastic, like Barbie dolls. I still have a whole collection of various dolls in my room back at home, and I plan to keep the clean enough to give them to my future children.

13. Literature

Literature classes taught me a lot over the last two years, and they are some of my favorite classes. The variety of books I read in those courses helped me develop a new insight and view objects or events in a different view as well. I still dislike poetry, though. I enjoy reading novels and plays, but not poetry. I just do not understand what message the poet or the narrator intends to convey in his or her short lines supposedly hiding the point underneath, but I am working on it. I hope to continue literary studies in college. :)

14. Language

Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, and Spanish… Frankly, I only remember a few words of Japanese and Chinese, but I do speak a little more of Spanish. I have always loved learning new languages, because I felt like I was obtaining a good reason to visit the countries of those tongues later on. That the different alphabet system for each language fascinated me is no lie either.

15. Baking

Baking is my mother’s talent as well as her hobby, and it is something I am dying to learn from her as soon as I graduate high school. She is also a great cook; my particular taste is probably because of her so excellent food.

16. “Half Full”: Optimism

To the question of “Half full or half empty?” my answer is “half full.” I am optimistic, always trying to look on the bright side of things, regardless of how brutal the situations are. Sometimes I wonder if I am too positive. I am realistic, but I soothe my worries by focusing on the good that can come from each situation.

17. Disney World

Disney World lured me into coming back to Korea. The four-day ticket, a free pass to all four lands (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, MGM Studios) of Orlando’s Disney World, brought me a magical experience. The speed of the roller coasters, the Disney princesses and characters walking around in full costumes, and the greasy yet luscious popcorn that is available only in Disney World was, I guess, worth the move back to Korea.

18. Ocean

Nothing can win the ocean, not even Disney World. The horizon that is set far from my viewing point, the sea gulls flying peacefully, the rocks on one side of the coast, and the sun gazing down from the sky… All of these things build up and produce the outstanding scenery that at once pacifies one’s trepidation. I am glad I was born in Busan, where oceans are nearby.

19. People

I dread being alone. This feeling may be due to my being an only child; I have always envied people who had siblings, especially ones who had an older brother. I am going to make sure that my kid has a sibling! I prefer being in a noisy, crowded area to being in a quiet place where even the sound of wind can be heard. I cannot imagine living without interaction; as can be noticed from my characteristics, talking is what keeps me going.

20. Art

I am not an artist, and I am not that talented in drawing or designing. Still, I do have a knack for choosing colors that match, skills in need when redecorating workplaces or houses. My aunt, who I am very close to, is an arts professor; visiting her exhibitions and actually seeing her work in her own studio, I always felt the need to have a place to pour my thoughts, dreams, and even imagination into. I am thinking of joining an art club when I go to college. In the process, I may discover my potential or talents; who knows?

21. Gelato

A kind of ice cream that I absolutely adore! Originally from Italy, gelato has a rich, tasty flavor that often fools people into thinking that it has much more fat than the ice cream we usually eat. However, contrary to the common belief, gelato has only 5% of fat, whereas ice cream has a minimum of 10% fat. Also, according to “Alon’s Bakery,” gelato can have its chewy trait (which makes it even more appealing) because “gelato is churned at a slower speed than ice cream, making it denser because not as much air is whipped into the mixture.” I ♥ GELATO!

22. Shopping

What I like about shopping is not the buying products itself, but rather the window-shopping and the conversations with the people I go shopping with. It is fun, and the atmosphere that only a shopping center can give off is truly attractive. And… this may be irrelevant, but when I go shopping for groceries or home supplies, I favor the neat organization of products in Target, but not the stacked-up piles of wrapped products in Walmart or Costco.

23. Daydreaming

I do not know why, but I am awfully good at daydreaming, and do it quite often whenever I am bored and have nothing else to do. It gives me a nice feeling, and after daydreaming for a while, I usually have better concentration.

24. Camera

A memory I now have due to
massive amounts of photo-taking!

Why is a camera important? Pictures or photos are the only things that last. This is what I learned over time. When I was young, I did not really understand why my dad took so many pictures of practically every moment wherever we went, but now, looking through those albums from time to time, even my sixth sense recognizes the need to do so. Photos are of genuine value, and they are capable of calling upon vivid memories of each sacred moment of the past. You do not have to be a professional… capturing scenes to remember later on and smile is what matters.

25. Jaguars

The Jackson Jaguars: gold and black. The Jackson Jaguars, a soccer team at my elementary school, was what taught me about the concept of a “team,” cooperation, and team work. I still have the uniform in my room, and although I cannot wear it now, it reminds me of the lessons I learned. Gold and black are two of my three favorite colors, the other one being cobalt blue.

26. LOVE ?

Unlike most teenagers my age, I have not met my first love yet. Maybe I had one long ago, and I just did not recognize it… but judging from the stories my friends tell me, I am pretty sure that I have not had one yet. Once, I even tried to have a crush on someone. My friend managed to convince me that if I chose a particular person and developed "interest" in him, my heart would flutter, or something of the sort. But... it did not work out at all. According to a credible source, though, I will meet “the guy” when I am 24; I am counting on that, I guess. Well, five years to go! :)

27. Journal

I jot down the feelings or events of the day, trivial or not, and I doodle. I do whatever I want in it, since it is my own book, something that even my mother cannot see. When I look through these journals, maybe ten years later, I think the entries will evoke a totally new set of emotions that I do not have right now.

28. Spontaneity

I certainly know the importance of planning ahead, so I keep a schedule and usually stick to it. But sometimes, I just need a “time out” to do what I feel like doing at the moment.

29. Law

The Department of Justice, the 14^th Judicial Council, and mock trial… I have a rather declared interest in law, and my high school activities clearly portray it. I dream of becoming an international lawyer, an exceptional person who is talented and recognized in her field. Hard work is the only key to get there, so keep up the good job, me!

30. KMLA

Korean Minjok Leadership Academy is a place that gave me the various chances to turn my life around almost 180 degrees. I do not regret coming here, and I surely did learn a lot during my time at KMLA until now. I had a friend issue, I had an identity crisis, I had some difficulties finding my own path… Yes, it was hard. But if it I had not come to KMLA, I would have learned those lessons more painfully in the real society, where it is even more difficult to make up for mistakes. So, THANK YOU KMLA.