Mina's learning expereriences in this course!

When I have time, I first turn on the computer. It started 10 weeks ago. First I read my friend’s twitters. We met once a week but we knew their daily life. Then I follow the Web2 English schedule. It has a due date. It was very strict but I got used to it.

When I had coffee mornings for kid’s moms, I couldn’t sleep the day before because of my nerves. Now I understand 75% and when I don’t understand some words, I ask them. Before I couldn’t because I didn’t want to stop their conversation and I thought I could almost understand. Our group comes from 5 different countries. Now we know accents and pronunciation. It is very helpful to listen. I went to a language institute school, I had a group lesson and I had a tutor in my house for a while. However I couldn’t speak properly. Maybe it is back to basics and that’s why I improved in such a short time.

Why? I think computers are an attractive tool for studies. We made things ourselves and since we can see the results or comments, the sense of accomplishment is very satisfying, even though we are only finishing our homework. We made blogs, podcasts and presentations, which we comment on. I wait in anticipation for comments. It is nerve racking but worth the wait. The most difficult part is the podcast for me. Before I record I practiced 40~ 50 times. One day Sally wanted to use my computer to record. She just read twice. Oh I was shocked. Some people do things easily! The best thing was that I could use spare time. I cannot manage my own time but it was very nice. Usually I studied when everybody was sleep. We studied as friends and that brought us closer together where we understood one another better. When Martha’s daughter was sick everybody was worried. When Sally and Misook couldn’t write on their twitter, we asked “What happened?” We became so close.

One day I complained to my son’s piano teacher. Before I couldn’t speak properly but this time I had confidence. I spoke what I wanted to say. That time I felt like my mouth had a motor. I couldn’t speak confidently before to complain but thanks to Sean, I can complain, argue or express my feelings without any nervous feelings. Now the piano teacher understands my mind. We are officially good together.

I was most happy when I could study with my children, instead of just saying “Please study children.” I show them by studying with them. It has a good effect more than words!
I will continue to study with my children. They are my classmates and good teachers also!! I want to continue Web 2 English but now we have to do it alone. I am deeply grateful to Sean for bringing me this far and between our group and myself, we have to discuss what to do next.

I am a city mouse!

Last summer, my family and I traveled Kang Hwa Island, which is usually about 2 hours drive from my mom’s house. We prepared food and snacks and then we took 3 cars. After leaving the city, we could smell fresh leaves and flowers. Suddenly I felt dizzy because of the fresh air. In Korea, in the summer time everybody wants to go somewhere. It was vacation season and that’s why we spent double time. We sometimes go but for residents the weekend is a problem. We booked a reservation in a pension, which had a very nice view. In front, we could see the beach behind a small mountain. We ate fresh food from the sea. After, we played on the beach at low tide. My kids caught seashells and mini shrimps by touching the mud. At night, my 2 brother-in-laws prepared a BBQ. My nephew has an allergy from insects. My sister forgot the medicine but there were no pharmacies around. We had to drive 15 minutes and come back. It took 30 minutes. It is very long because in Seoul we walk only 5 minutes and we can buy everything. I hated all insects. When night came, all the bugs came out.

The problem started the next day! Outside it was very hot. My family didn’t want to go out. We played games and ate and took a nap. Children played Nintendo D.S game. Afterwards everybody watched T.V until eating time. My eldest sister said “with this much time and money, we could have spent a fantastic time in Seoul instead of this.” We laughed.

Now I think I live in country because I cannot enjoy a cultural life. Last year I watched a ballet with my kids. I went to the theatre for the first time in this country. Do you know where the theatre is? It was on the corner of the book roundabout. Do you know how nice the place is? They use the beautiful theatre once a year. Every morning I am looking at the theatre, which is my dream. I would like to get my own theatre! When I came here I was always angry. When I need something in Korea, I can get it within 24 hours but in this country it is always “Inshallah tomorrow.” “Oh~ my goodness.” But now I have got used to that. I learned the aesthetics of being slow!

I miss Seoul’s night scenery and night market, which is open 24 hours. I want to watch musicals, concerts and theatre plays. I would like to live in the city!

The environment

The world is worried about global warming but recently the Ice Age will be coming in about 20~30 years. It is the curse of El Nino.

Now we have to take action about our environment. First, the government should make wind and solar power plants. This country does not have enough energy. Last summer 3 times a week our power was interrupted. In this country, in the summer, if the power is not supplied for the A/C, it is the same as terrorism. 7 years ago, in the summer, a power plant broke down. In Dubai, there was confusion on the roads, the hotels, shopping malls, and everything. First of all, the A/C wouldn’t work. That time, I was stuck on the road for 4 hours in the car with Minwook. It was horrible!

Next, they must start a garbage collection system. They should recycle bottles, cans, papers and food, etc… My husband went to a garbage mountain. There were a lot of laborers who wore the mask and they separated the garbage. It is very hard work and waste of time and money.

Then, they must make sewage plants. A few years ago, they started to make sewage lines but I don’t know where the sewage disposal plant is!! They should clean the sea. We should conserve what we have.

After that, last summer, Carrefour started to sell the plastic bags. Then suddenly, they didn’t give them. Maybe many people complained or the costumers reduced. In Korea, If you bring own shopping bag, the shop give a discount to us.

Finally, we need to take action on how to protect the environment. I suggest these ideas in real life.
1. We have to cook as much as we eat.
(1 ton of waste food is thrown away a year for a 4- person family on average)
2. All taps should be on water saving systems.
(When you turn on the tap, 11~18 liters of water is wasted every 1 minute.)
3. You need to put in a brick in the toilet water tank. You can save water.
4. You shouldn’t throw away left over juice or alcohol.
(They spoil 1 ton of pure water.)
5. Most of the problem is oil waste. Where did you throw it?
In Korea we bring the oil to the city municipality and they give us soap. First they collect waste oil and add in caustic soda. Then, they stir it until it mixes well. Next, they put it in small boxes. After that, it will become hard and they cut it to soap size. Finally, waste oil is reborn as soap.

We should act on all the good helpful information available

Mina'in the future!

In 2010 my husband and I will start our diet. I cannot go back to my weight when I was single but I will try to be healthy with my husband who will stop smoking. He is stressed too much. I know but he will try. I will cook healthy and international food. I don’t like to spend time in the kitchen. One hour before we eat I will open the fridge and decide what I will cook. Now my kids are young. Minwook is starting to eat big meals. I will have to balance nutritious food.

We are planning for our children’s education. My husband, when he was 13 years old, went to boarding school in Switzerland and he graduated from university in America. He would like to send them to the same school as him. Before I thought the same. Now I am against boarding school. When I was growing up, I had many opportunities to do bad things. Whenever I get in those situations, my family helped me on the right path. I don’t know what the best is for my kids. I will start to pray about my kid’s education and health.

I would like to do charity work. Now we are holding back because of not having enough money. T.C and I will work hard and after ten years will hand over the proceeds to charitable works. We have a condition about charity which is not to give money directly. If they want computers, we will buy them for the charities. If animals need fodder, we will buy it and feed the animals. If people are sick, we will buy medicine but no cash will be given.

I will pray every day so that our dreams will come true and we will not change our visions.

Mina's Life Now and Ten Years Ago

Ten years ago in 2000, on Jan 15, I came to the U.A.E. I worked by traveling around the world. I introduced to the audience who wanted to travel about other countries. I gave information like which place is best of the best, culture, cuisine, religion, etc…
Sometimes I met famous people. In 2000, I have been to seven countries like U.A.E, Jordan, Bangladesh, Italy, Switzerland, Peru and Norway. In Italy, I met Giorgio Armani, Farragamo and the Zegna family. It was very lucky for me.

If I had time, I would have liked to learn something. I had certification in sign language. I liked to play bowling, skiing, swimming and pool.

In 2000, on Feb 4, my fate was decided when I met T.C and in the same year in December, we got married and in five years we had one son and two daughters. I gained 7 kilograms and I cannot do any sport! But now I am happy. I got freedom from the people’s focus.
I have more responsibilities but I can fulfill my duties. Nothing in the world can change the love and importance of my family. I wouldn’t trade it for anything

Mina's childhood

When I was young I went to my grandparent’s house. They lived in the south eastern part of Korea. They had a fruit farm. We could eat any kind of fruits and we could play everywhere.

My grandma liked to rear silkworms. One day I followed my grandma. She brought mulberry leaves and opened a big warehouse. I was shocked to see the silkworm. It was white and the size of a finger with a wriggle. I screamed “Ah~ak” but my brother and sisters liked them. They fed the silkworms and touched them. The mere sight gives me the creeps. They put the silkworms on their palm and stared at them with fascination. Thereafter, I never went there again. My mom explained that it had a yearly income which is how my mom went to school. My mom has four sisters and two brothers. They all graduated school because of the silkworms. I understood but still I cannot touch them.

We followed grandpa. He pulled weeds from the bean field. My brother wanted to help him. After one hour my grandpa worked again because my brother failed to distinguish between weeds and beans. He took the beans out.

Near my grandma’s house there was a small river. We caught fish and swam there. It was very peaceful and we learned to observe nature. I loved my grandparents. They loved us too much. Now we cannot meet anymore. I thank them for giving me grateful love and good memories.

Mina's memories of 2009!

I asked my husband “How was 2009 for you?” T.C said “Oh 2009? Like hell.” Yes, the end of 2008 started the bad economy in the world. We worked only projects.
In this country payment is always delayed. We have to survive!

For me? If my husband heard my answer he might get angry. I am quite good. Last summer I went to Korea with my children. I met my family and traveled a lot around Korea. First I sent Minwook to a public Korean school with my nephew. He got many friends and speaks, reads and writes Korean. And he started to eat spicy food like Kimchi. He feels his blood is from Korea. Then Eunjin and Eunhee, they are still young, but I sent them to kindergarten. They didn’t like it there. However I couldn’t stop sending my kids there. As time went by they relied on each other. They are so close! Now they are good friends but they don’t speak Korean. My mom cannot speak English. When I went out, my mom couldn’t understand. At that time Eunjin was a good interpreter. I was happy. I met my family and friends. I enjoyed the food. Every week we traveled with my entire family, which is 18 people in total. It was a big group but we were always together. In the last 3 weeks my husband joined us. When we came to Korea he started on a diet. He surprised me because he lost 12 kg and he told me “I cannot come to Korea.” When I went shopping he called me “I am in Seoul.” He was a naughty guy.

This year I improved my belief in Christianity. I went to church only but last Christmas I stood on stage for the play “MESSIAH” and I qualified as an assistant leader of the church. I am lacking many qualities but I try to do my best all the time!