Nothing Rivals Yearning

I used to be totally helpless in English when I was a middle school first-year. I nearly fainted because of bundles of dialogues and readings to memorize. I always doubted if I could do well on the real exam, and it didn't take a long time until the fear came true. At the mid-term exam in April, I even forgot what the word "exam" meant. Although I eventually solved it by luck, I couldn't hide my own shame, thanks to a smart schoolgirl of my year; She was one of the competent rivals of mine. She came to me after the exam was finished, and said, "are you sure you don't know what it stands for, Eugene? (actually, she called me "Seung-Han," my original name) It's the short form of "examination." I thought you were a great student, but now you say you don't even know this easy word..." So badly she insulted me, I bet you might agree. I, who had always been the first-place winner(of course I'm not being snobbish) all during the school days, lost the title at once, and it torched the heart of an adolescent, competitive fourteen-year-old soul into ashes. Yet, at the very end she stiffened my fighting spirit, keeping me eager to conquer that irritating lingua franca.
However, no sooner had I finally gained the linguistic sense through a lot of efforts than I was faced with another catastrophe, math. As time went by, my concern kept growing more and more like a snowball rolling down a hill, since I was almost illiterate about advanced math, thereby for a long time agitated as if I were stabbed by a saber, even though this agony didn't stay no further than a couple of months. I could learn about geometry & algebra one by one from the basic as I accidentally met three marvelous books, which became of help to me all along my learning.

These experiences taughted me a lesson: Nothing rivals the power of yearning mind.

Zilch Money

I am broke this time. You can say I am. I hoped to earn some profit so I could - at least - grab a workbook, although I couldn't in the end. I have already purchased two of them with a little bit of money from my mom, but I still lack of Korean Literature one. Along this week I have been under the impression that my family's means of livelihood was threatened much harder than ever. My mom gets no specific income, and it drives all my family members discouraged. She as well as I seems going sort of diabetic due to our reckless, innutritious diet all over this month. I sometimes think I need some kind of thearpy or whatever helpful if my budget ever allows me. All of a sudden I was reminded a Jews proverb that poverty is the greatest burden of life. I agree on it. I YEARN FOR WEALTH AND FAME!

My Legs Clean-Shaven

I couldn't stand the hot weather, and I put on my spare shorts. However, I looked horrible in them. A mass of hair was covering all around my legs, like a gorilla! So today, I shave all the hair of my llimbs. This time, I feel by far the best relieved and overjoyed; my legs became pretty more sleek and delicate, you can bet on it...

Exhaustion, Mingled with Starvation

Just back from the bookstore. I so far have read about 330 pages of Harry Potter. Yes, I went into overdrive; That made my brain dizzy and unfocused. I'm starving... I'd better cook a midnight snack right now.

Again about Harry

Eventually I finished the fourth chapter of HP7. I felt a massive thrill of excitement from head to toe while I was reading through the battle story with the airborne Death Eaters. Such breath-taking descriptions.

What's Going on Outside?

This late morning I wanted to grab a bite, so went out to the supermarket. But on my way, I got caught in the rain. I was carrying a book under my arm... I was kind of worried because it could get all soaked. After all, I ran at full stretch back home, and my book was safe.

A mass hostage-taking broke out in Afganistan. Most of the captives are from South Korea, and the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affaires estimates there are about twenty of them. They were all members of a volunteer group from a Christian church. However, though the goverment have warned the public many times not to visit this dangerous area before, the volunteers ignored - Some reports even read they'd already written their own death wills before takeoff. And to make matters worse, they left as "missionaries" toward an Islamic country! That's why they're now blamed by their compatriots, for their being insensible.


Well actually a sizeable number of people here bear a strong grudge against Christians. By and large, some of the Christians in South Korea (I told you, just a portion of them! No offense to the entire Christians) don't seem like "Christians" - they're rather like a CULT. Too fanatic beyond the limit... they occasionally threaten other people, saying, "believe in Jesus Christ, or you're going to burn in hell." It seems, at least to me, that they're completely unaware of the freedom of religion, which is well reserved by the constitution. The clique keeps impairing the image of their own churches... No more than digging themselves into a hole, as far as I'm concerned...Yeah, I know my opinion may be immature - and even way out of logic - as this is just from my narrow point of view.





At 8 p.m.,(I'm not sure. I didn't take a look at the clock) I arrived at a local bookstore to delve into HP7, and I've finished two chapters until ten. That means I had to put it back shortly after, disappointed... I HAD NO MONEY TO GET IT!!!


But I'll continue reading later on... again at the bookstore.
The book isn't available at library.

Bookaholic

I am crazy about books - no matter which category they belong to. Today I bought two & they were both textbooks. Nevertheless, I am HYPER-HAPPY now!!! Mmmmm yeah you may think it doesn't make any sense. Most people think textbooks are boring as well as sophisticated. But see, by feeding your brain with various new- and sometimes interesting -facts from textbooks, your own life might go more fruitful than expected. Once you learn all those things, you can bring most of them in actual use whenever you need. But do not just try to memorize them. That's so tiring to everyone, including myself.

Instead, try more to enjoy it. Learn by heart, and play with them.
I believe that's a basic principle of learning.

I Hate Short Hair

Mom gave me a crew cut. This time, I look like a "soldier" or something... I don't like it. I've been hating crew cuts since I was in my kindergarten. They're too common among Korean men.

Yet, she had a reason for it: I used to suffer badly from atopic eczema about ten years ago, and I couldn't help getting dandruff. So she says my head skin needs some fresh air... Yeah, she got me. Geez.

Actually, dandruff was not a great problem to me. The things that bothered me most were - well, too many to count - pimples, rashes, boils, pus, and excess sebum in the nose... Whoa! It was a CATASTROPHE. But you know, time cured most of them... so now it feels rather nice.

It rains.
I absolutely adore the sound of thick raindrops outside.
They clean dust, trash, and everything impure.
The ground, once made dirt, takes a cool shower.

Astounding. I worship the greatness of nature.

My mistake

I was writing a comment for a blog post about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. After I finished my comment, I spotted a typo, and tried to correct it... But my, it didn't work! I happened to post the same comment twice...like a litany of hollow words! This makes me look somewhat rude... I feel so concerned... Sorry, Mr. Nick Solter.

(added after seven hours)

It's Constitution day in South Korea.

I went to a nearby bookstore and saw a sign, which read "HP7 40% off." Now I'm at home, but still this wizarding boy really tempts me. I can't cool this impulsive-buying instinct though the book itself is too pricy for my budget... I'm dying to know the ending of my dear Joanne's masterpiece.

I'm doing my math workbook. Even till now, eight chapters left unsolved! Such hard work... Lucky I don't have any headaches yet. I'm also starting the next chapter of my Science textbook.

Beyond a Dilemma

I kept wondering if I should use this website as an English diary to increase my writing skill. I was caught on the horns of a dilemma, and couldn’t find an exit. (I already own a Naver.com blog open to the Korean public, though at this time I cannot manage it due to my exam ahead…well, leaving that aside) This is Korea, so there are no people around who chatter and schmooze in English like the States or the UK. Consequently, no matter how profound your linguistic talent is, you have no chance here to bring it into real-life use. You can bet on it. But, on the other hand, if I activate this blogspot again, I’m breaking a solemn promise with myself... That could be another kind of betrayal.
At first, I thought of publishing various interesting posts about Korean tradition, culture, and language so I can enlighten overseas people about Korea, a motherland of mine. But maybe later, that’s all I can tell you right this moment - with these hectic schedules.
So now, after gazillions of thoughts, I made up my mind to re-open this blog ONLY as a cyber diary, all written in ENGLISH. I think this is the best choice.