Su Yeon Kim (201500568)/ Task 4.2 and 4.4/ Thurs 1-3pm

Task 4.2

As cliché as it may be, I love cafes. It is the perfect hang out spot for lazy people who want to enjoy a simple day out.

 

With winter approaching, I could barely feel my fingers or face from the biting wind so I sought cover in the closest café. As I walked through the door, immediately the familiar aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans filled my nose and a wave of warmth washed over me. I was also greeted by the chattering of people and soft instrumental music playing in the background.

 

I sunk into the plum cushioned armchair and felt completely at ease. My thoughts then wandered only to be startled out of it when I was notified that my coffee was ready with a vibrating devise. I eagerly returned to the counter and received my mug of coffee. As I settled down again I wrapped my hands around my coffee, I felt a tingle in my fingers as I tried to absorb all of its heat into my cold hands. After a few minutes of this, I lifted the mug to my lips and savored the bitter and smoky taste wash over my mouth. As I swallowed I felt the warmth of my coffee travel throughout my body.

 

The dim lights in the café, the music and people engaged in conversations while taking occasional sips from their white coffee cup makes me feel as though I'm in a painting. I could spend hours on end just sitting by the window sill table, inhaling the wonderful scent of my coffee and appreciating one of humankind's most enjoyable sensations of music.

 

Every once in a while when the music briefly stopped, people's murmuring overtook the café. I overheard parts of people's conversations, heard the clicking sound of photos being captured and even caught the sound the expresso machine whirring and releasing steam. While the café music was pleasing to the ears, the combination all these sounds were slightly overwhelming. I could barely make out what my friend was saying but it did not matter, I was warm and my overpriced coffee tasted wonderful. I wanted nothing more than to not think of anything and take pleasure of the serenity of cafés.

 

 

Task 4.4

Details:

·         Sight – metal gate, brick house, photos

·         Sound – rice cooker humming, radio

·         Smell – make up, food

·         Touch – pat on the back, embrace

 

The first home that I can remember is my grandparent's house from my dad's side. This house withholds my earliest childhood memories. Even now, my grandparents are still living there and it is the one place throughout my life that hasn't changed. Every detail about the neighborhood and house is the same now as it was 20 years ago.

 

There's a small alleyway and at the end of it was my grandparent's house. I remember being afraid of the alley as a young child because it wasn't very well lit so I would sprint to the gates with my eyes half-closed. Coming up to the house there's a huge metal gate which had a lock from the inside (this was before password locks were invented). So we would have to call out to my grandparents and let them know we arrived. I would feel really thrilled when I heard my grandfather's reply, "Oh you're here! Hold on let me get the door!" and it would be followed by the tapping from his walking stick. Then in a few seconds he would open the door and usher us in with the brightest smile while patting our backs.

 

Once I walked through the gate, the brick house which was always a familiar sight became clearly visible and there was a small space on the front lawn where the dog's house was. I was just as excited to see the dog as I was to see my grandparents. Outside the house smelled of soil and colorful flowers from the large, brown pot plants which my grandmother tended. I loved this earthy smell because it made me feel like I was in the village far from cities. In addition to the metal gate, the house had a metal door which had a massive dragon design carved into it. My grandparents had simple taste for things so I always thought the door was very out of character. Anyway, as soon as we enter the house, we would be immediately embraced by my grandmother who always smelled of light make up and food from cooking. Strangely, it was this scent that was very comforting to me rather the smell of the house because it's the scent which really reminded me of home. Additionally, apart from my grandmother's greetings there were various sounds that could be heard in the background. We could hear voices from the radio that was on 24/7 and the sound of the rice cooker humming.

 

The interior of the house is made of dark varnished wood which gave off the perfect antique atmosphere unachievable by modern apartments. On the four walls of the living room are four photos of our family smiling at us. Some were from my dad's childhood, some were more recent photos of my cousins and me. There were four rooms in the house which were all connected by the living room where we spent most of our time. The whole living room was bright even without turning the lights on because there was a huge glass window from which sunlight spilled in. Also, because the window was so large, the change in the seasons was so easily observed. During spring and summer, we could see the blooming of flowers and hear cicadas. While during fall and winter, we could see the leaves from the pot plants turn red and yellow and get enveloped in snow. There were flower patterned curtains on either side of the window but I had never seen them drawn. By the window is a mahogany red couch on which my grandfather used to sit and listen to the radio. There was a huge electrical mat which most, if not all, Korean families own and it was on this mat that we would eat, have conversations and even take naps. Due to the radio being on even at night, I remember I used to fall asleep to the ballads from the early 60s and 70s. More importantly, I used to wake up to the sound of my mother and grandmother cooking in the kitchen, chatting away while my grandfather would hum to the songs on the radio. There was never a time the house was completely silent and I loved that. It was and forever will be my home, my roots.

 

Subin Lee / Task 4.2 & 4.4 / Thursday 1-3pm

Task 4.2

I practiced using my senses at the Express Bus Terminal on my way to Cheonan. As I sat outside the bus terminal to wait for my bus, I closed my eyes. Sound was the most evident sense of all. I heard numerous buses pulling in and out. 'Pi- pi- pi- pi-'the buses beeped as they pulled out, probably warning others to get out of the way. I knew that it was a departing one because the sound gradually died out in distance. The engines purred as the sharp sound of a whistle cut through the air. People walked here and there, sometimes dragging their baggage with them; often there were sound of wheels rattling along with footsteps. I could also eavesdrop on some phone calls. One thing that I did expect to hear was the sound of bus wheels, but to my surprise, it wasn't noticeable. I had also expected the smell of oil, nasty scent of grease. However, all I could smell was the cold evening air. It pierced through my nose as I inhaled deeply. The abrupt change in the weather made me shudder- I should bring some warm clothes on my way back to Seoul. The air was cold yet dusty. The feeling of dust particles lingered on my tongue, although I'm probably being over-conscious. The chair I was sitting on was cool with the weather, and it surprised me. It used to be unpleasantly warm in the hot summer days. When I grabbed the hard plastic chair, the thought that my bus would be due anytime soon hit my mind, so I opened my eyes.

 

Task 4.2 - 3) After rereading what I've written, I noticed that there are not many descriptions of senses other than sound. Maybe I could add some more information about how my thin coat felt, or how I could feel my hands getting colder, sitting outside. Explaining more in detail about how the dusty air felt in my mouth, and writing an additional smell that I could sense would be some ways to improve this work.

 

Task 4.4

1&2)

Extremely hot / greenery / sound of tourists / hot, stuffed air

 

3&4)

I had often wondered why it is that some Japanese friends I know have somewhat darker, tanned skin than Koreans do. Korea and Japan are both placed in East Asia, and have all 4 seasons. 'What could be so different?' This was the day I found the answers to that question. The blazing sun was literally burning your skin. There would be no way to prevent your skin from getting tanned if you were to live in the country during summer.

I was in Kyoto, a historical city full of cultural heritage, but all these didn't matter to me then. The surrounding greenery was refreshing, if not for the heat. The sun glinted through the leaves, and we could see a peek of the wooden pillars of Kiyomizudera. It was a sight that my friends and I have long looked forward to. However, the Glazing sun was cruel and had no mercy to let us to see the sights. The sun was pushing us down to the ground, and the ground reflected the heat back. I had never before thought that heat could kill. However, in the foreign country, my friends and I were dying of heat. What's worse is that we wearing yukata, as an aspect of cultural experience. The clothes which seemed unique and attractive an hour ago turned out to be something which we can't wait to take off. It hampered each and every step we take. What's more, the thin cloth constantly stuck to our skin. Because of the humid weather, we felt like the yukatas were picking a fight on us. Flipping it over when it sticks to our legs, we desperately searched for a place to sit down. The traces on my face felt cool when the sweats rolled down. Even talking was a luxury in the steaming hotness; the stuffy hot air made it hard to breath. I felt like it was dominating my lungs. The people around were endlessly taking photos and talked in elated voices. Their rowdy conversation hovered around us, and we dragged our legs to find a place away from it. Finally we found a spot under a roof, in the shadows. The three of us shared relieved glances and limped towards to sit down.

Lee Ji Won/ Task 4.2&4.4 / Thursday 1-3 pm

201502643 Lee Ji Won   Task 4.2   *Some notes I wrote down immediately after I opened my eyes : Orchestra music, conversation between people, laughing voice of my nephew, light smell of scented candles on table, silk fabric, no taste   On Sunday, I went to Hotel ICC which is located in Daejeon to go to my cousin's wedding. I was so cold waiting for my family outside in the freezing weather, but after I took a seat in a wedding hall and closed my eyes listening to a slow and soft orchestra music, I could calm myself. I felt like the beautiful melody is making my body warm just as when I drink a cup of hot chocolate. At the same time, various voice of people filled the wedding hall and especially hearing my baby nephew gurgling, I could just imagine a lovely dimple on his face that appears when he smiles. Also the natural and subtle fragrance of scented candles on each table played a role in making a lovely atmosphere. Meanwhile, I could feel a silky texture of a wedding tablecloth whenever I slightly moved. I couldn't feel any sense related to taste during a few minutes when I closed my eyes.     Task 4.4   Place: My dormitory room (room number 314) Sight: Two bunk beds / Giant teddy bear doll / Piles of clothes (laundry) on the floor / Our school uniforms on hangers / Windows decorated with photos of university campus and logo Sound: Snoring sound of one of my roommates / My friends and I talked in whispers / Tick of the clock / The corridor echoed with a shouting of housefather Smell: Aroma of fabric conditioner / Smells of chocolate cookie and noodle that we secretly ate Touch: Cold wind blowing through a small gap in windows / Hard floor with the heat on / Soft blanket / Fluffy pillow   At the start of my second semester when I was a junior in high school, I moved to a new dorm room and met three new roommates. A sweet floral fragrance of fabric conditioner always filled the air of our room and whenever I opened the door, my roommate's giant teddy bear doll at the top of bunk bed always caught my eye. Our room was always messy with piles of laundry on the floor, but the only thing that was neatly organized was our school uniforms on hangers. While one of the roommates went to bed early every night, other two roommates and I chatted for hours at night. We used to giggle quietly because the snoring sound of that sleeping roommate was quite funny. We had to secretly eat snacks and noodles because it was not permitted to bring any food or drink inside the dormitory. A whiff of spicy noodle was really mouth-watering. After having our own late-night snack party, we lied vertically on the hard floor and began chatting. Although a wind blowing through a small gap in windows was a little bit cold, because of ondol (Korean traditional heating system), our back became warm in an instant moment. We talked in whispers, covering ourselves with a soft blanket and resting our head on a fluffy pillow. We used to talk about how the day was or about our dream universities. We encouraged ourselves to enter one of Korea's top universities in Seoul, decorating windows with beautiful pictures of various university campuses and logos. When a corridor echoed with a shouting of housefather, we hold our breath pretending to sleep. Then the only sound in our room was a tick of the clock. I loved small pleasures that came from these repeated daily school life.

LeeSooKyung/Task 4.2 & 4.4/Thursday 1-3pm

Task 4.2

1.  Near the back of the HUFS, an imposing building called 'The hall of peace' lies on the top of Kyunghee University, which is well known for its beautiful campus. So I visited here to practice using my senses with my friend.

2.  When I closed my eyes and sat on the stairs of the building, the sound of visitors' happiness around this building came into hearing. The voice of people passing by the most luxurious and famous building in Kyunghee University became louder and louder. The sound of people's laughter and camera shutters mingled in the air. I felt the cold wind on my face. Because of the icy wind, the stairs also so cold that I couldn't help standing up soon. The stinky smell of ginkgo fruits was wafted through the wind.

3.  After reading my writing, I thought it would be better to add more detailed expressions. For example, to change the sentence from 'I felt the cold wind on my face' into 'I felt the cold wind on my face as if it told me the winter is coming'. The reason is that if I wrote some descriptive writings in a specific way, the readers could imagine easily, reading my essay.

Task 4.4

1.  The high school where I went for 3 years made me unforgettable memories with my friends and teachers, so this is a valuable place for me.

2. Sight: Tiny schoolyard, Beautiful musical fountain

   Sound: The voice of students and teachers, The sound of laughter and the school bell

   Smell: An earthy smell from flower garden, A delicious smell from the cafeteria

   Touch: A stiff chairs and desks in the classroom, A cold blackboard

 3 - 4.  I closed my eyes and tried to imagine the daily life of my high school days. When I was in high school, every time I went to the classroom, an earthy smell from flower garden was wafted through the refreshing air. With a noisy from the laughter of the students, a bell sounded for the beginning of the class rang out. I hated to sit on the stiff chair during the class and when I erased the blackboard as a weekly duty, I used to think it was always cold to clean. As the lunch time was getting close, a delicious smell from the cafeteria made me so hungry that not a word of the lecture was coming into my head.

The most beautiful place in the school was a music room. Its windows' beautiful and fragile stained glasses were luxurious enough to catch everyone's eyes. A black grand piano, a sheet music, and some musical notes were drawn on them. These colorful windows were always glittered in the sunlight. When I visited the music room at first, the interior appearance seemed like the gorgeous medieval Gothic style's building. The peaceful classic music coming from the musical fountain reached on the music room. 

Subin Lee / Character Sketch Essay First Draft / Thursday 1-3pm

Dora

Dora is a sunshine; she is one of the warmest person I know. She has a kind heart that cares about not only the things around her but the earth as a whole. I can say that Dora is the living definition of rightfulness. It is thanks to her that I learned to pay more attention to what is going on in the world we live in.

Dora Car is a gorgeous friend of mine from 7 years ago. Her fair skin glowed under the sun, as her light hazel eyes shined under her long eyelashes. Her oval face was a great match with her long neck. It was especially noticeable in PE classes, when she tied her hair up. She would give me a dazzling smile of apology whenever she gets me in a game of dodgeball. Her lean figure made her look great in jeans, although she got embarrassed whenever I tell her that. Dora had firm, piercing eyes which often gave the impression that she can see through others. It was one of the features that made her look somewhat cold and indifferent. Or maybe it's her compressed, thick lips that made her look so. However, everybody realized that such was a wrong judgement as soon as they got to know her. Dora was a charming girl, whose inner beauty is much more striking than her appearances.

Dora was like a nest that comforts others. My friends and I could always trust on her to give advice whenever we are troubled. She was like a true magician of words. Dora could turn any troublesome problems into nothing, she would give the perfect solution for it. A bad experience would seem trivial after she suggests a new perspective to look at it. When we thank her for her help, she would always grin and say "No problem." I could always feel at ease when she gave that smile. Dora was considerate of other people, and thought of others' problems as if they were her own.

Other people weren't just the thing that she cared about. Dora had a great interest in protecting the nature and animals that suffer from human selfishness. She always contemplated what she could do to be of help as an individual. As a part of it, she engaged in voluntary service at dog shelters and participated in Greenpeace programs. A single trash left in the streets would be picked up by Dora and be put into a bin. If anyone asked her why she put so much importance in such values, she would answer, "It is our responsibility to preserve this planet. I believe that my actions can help make the world a better place, no matter how little it may seem." She was mature and thoughtful than any of us in the same grade. Others must have agreed with this thought, too, as they often said "Dora, you are the only hope of our planet", "I don't know what I would've done if you weren't here to talk with!" Dora definitely had a beautiful personality.

           One remarkable feature of Dora was her hair. Dora had a broomstick in the place where her hair was supposed to be. She had an oatmeal hair which stood out in every direction. The fluffed hair made her head look twice as big. Her hair was thin, which was one of the reasons it was so frizzy. If you had seen her, you probably might have thought that she was on a bad hair day. Her crazy hair was the one thing that stood out the most; it didn't suit Dora at all. Yet, it is one of the most significant characteristic of her, and it was what made Dora herself. This probably explains why I miss her crazy hair so much.

Dora was a guiding star to me. I admired her beliefs and attitude towards others and the world. It is her that has influenced me to be more interested in the outside world. It reminds me of Dora whenever my friends compliment me for always trying to act in a right way. I miss her dearly, I would do anything to meet her again and thank her for how she has guided me.

Subin Lee / Task 3.3 & 3.4 / Thursday 1-3pm

3.3

The writer provides reasons why she described this man with a certain metaphor. This enhances the readers' understanding of her feeling towards the man. Her gentle expressions arouse the wave of nostalgia, reminiscence for the times she spent together with the man.

 

3.4

My sister is a pendulum.

My mother is a couch.

My father is a bright moon in a dark starless sky.

My friend is a bouncy rubber ball.

Seung-Hui Jeong / Tastk 3.3 and 3.4 / Thursday 1-3PM

3.3, Q3

The writer's use of metaphor allows a clearer understanding of the writer's feelings towards the man. The writer clearly is not interested in making the reader interested in the man's looks and the metaphor of the rain allows me to truly empathize with how she is reminded of a person from rain. It makes me think about what or who I am reminded of when I listen to the rain.

 

 

3.4

My friend is the sun that pulls sunflowers towards her.

My friend's depth of thought is a clear lake.

My friend is a rabbit.

My friend is the moon that shines down gratefully in the pitch blackness of the night.

Chaeyoung Son/ Character Sketch Essay First Draft / Thursday 1-3

Classmate

 

When I first saw 'him', I thought he was a Snow White. He was sitting alone in a group of students prepared for the school event. I knew he feel bad if he would notice my idea, but I couldn't stop thinking. I asked around everywhere to find out his information, but just got snippets. He graduated from a nearby middle school but always being alone. I couldn't hear any malicious tongues in school for some unexplained reason he didn't have no friends in school. In addition, I learned he act feminine, failed to acquire more information about him.

And then next year, I was in the same class as him at school. I have had apparently curious about him so we became friends. After being friend, he was very different from how I had imagined about him but he was still pretty. White skin, small face, bright brown eyes, hair and skinny body. Among them, his very pale skin that never tans was eye-catching. Against his skin, ruby lips made me feel extremely ashamed in my face whenever I face him.

Personality wise- I really don't know what is act like 'feminine'-he is meticulous about many things. But it is his advantage. He could read my emotion quickly and took proper actions. And he read many books so very scrupulous about the choice of his word. But generally, he was uncaring of those around him so only people close to him knew this character. Someone said he is a gay, but he was straight and remain. I cannot understand why that weird rumor about him went around. And also said he is really stuck up. He just has very delicate features and was methodical. We always walked home together he said it is difficult to resist that kind of rumors. He was completely unaware of his looks, but others were interested so used to such rumors. He wish he could tie them up in his shoes. I had not experienced his situation either, but I felt sorry for him.

Hwang Hyelin/ Task 3.3 & 3.4 / Thu 1-3 pm

3.3

 

 

Her metaphor makes me absorb in her essay. It makes the essay more emotional and mysterious, let the essay's mood calm. It is proper to its main material, rains' image. I think she used it extremely effective and suitably.

 

 

 

Task 3.4

 

My mother is a smart phone

My little brother is a unknown seed.

My housemate is a wind.   

 

My cousin is a Moai.

Hwang Hyelin / Character Sketch Essay First Draft / Thursday 1-3pm

 

T​he Piano Woman

 

 

"CLINK-"

 

The elevator stopped at the third floor.
As I make a step forward, the sound of the piano swelled and filled my ears.
When I opened the white colored wooden door, she was sitting there.

 

There was the wide velvet platform at the end of the hall. The black grand piano was on the middle of the platform. There were 5 small rooms either side of the hall, each had a piano. Some of the rooms were occupied. In front of the platform, there were wide low pastel-toned desks and lots of small chairs. Kids were sitting and solving some questions on the book. She was sitting on the chair which is on the platform, beside the grand piano. Her eyes were locked on her own desk.

 

My mother was a professional piano teacher. She worked at an art academy as a captain of the classical piano part. The institute had quite a lot of students and most of them were children. I also went to the academy every day in my childhood, after the kindergarten was over; as time goes by, the school was over. She worked for a long time, almost 18 years.

 

Students took a lesson one by one, at the grand piano. They stood in a line waiting for their turn. When a student sit on a piano stool and open the page, she only said two words. "Play it." Sometimes it sounded dry and frightening, and sometimes it felt mild. She didn't act irritable or short tempered, but she had charisma.

 

And sometimes when a child muddled up the score, she carefully pointed each notes. After the lesson, she checked the student's amount of practice through the paper card. If she drew circles on their own practice card, students colored the circles one by one as they practiced. Also beginners must had to do some basic workbooks; about the piano, chord, musical symbols, etc. She also had to check the answers of them. She constantly repeated this routine all day.

 

At the peak time, she had to do all those things at once. She checked the workbook with hands and eyes, listening the notes through ears. My mother taught more than 60 children because the other teachers could not handle more than 30 students. I remember that she rarely let the coffee out of her hands. She took it 4 or 5 cups a day. Also she had no time to have a break, usually let me go to near bakery and buy some vegetable sandwiches. Passing the rush hour, I took a lesson from her and she ate those sandwiches.

 

 After the work on the way back home, we walked hand in hand continuing a talk. And at the house, she started housework; vacuum a house, clean up the room, do the laundry. Of course she did it perfectly. She was ultimate in everything. Now I know how hard it is and respect her sincerely.

Chae young son/ Task 3.3 & 3.4/Thursday 1-3

3.3.3

 

The use of metaphor in this writing gave me a refreshing jolt. I have seen many metaphors of rain that represent internal things (like personality), but this writing also indicates of behavior. I never thought about rain much of it. Just gloomy, dark, wet. And all sentences stir the imagination, so I could picture her ex-boyfriend. Also her feelings or thoughts emerged from using metaphor.

 

 

3.4.1

 

My brother's eyes are ferret.

 

My friend is a blanket.

 

My sister is a little apple.

 

My brother is a rubber ball.

 

 

Yunji Kim/Character Sketch Essay First Draft/Thurs 1-3 PM

             His hair gently flows back as light, autumn wind swish past. The wind brings his scent to the back seat of the bike, where I'm sitting. He hums a familiar melody as he pedals forward. He turns around from time to time to check if I am okay. I insisted that we stop and maybe take a break but he confidently reassures me that he can ride 10 miles longer.

             However, the bike slows down soon and he turns back to give me an awkward and embarrassed smile. As he parks the bike to the side, he sarcastically says again that he's not tired at all and that he just wants to stop and share the view with me. He sinks back on to the grass without hesitation and closed his eyes. There is always a gentle smile on his face even when he's tired, angry or depressed. After 24 years of smiling 24 hours every day, the corner of his mouth now even seems to be fixed in a smiling-position. He lies there a couple seconds longer and rolls back to lie on his face. He does not seem to mind ruining his clothes or getting dirt on his hair. I slightly slapped his back and told him that he will ruin his coat but he shook his head and sticked his tongue out like a 7-year-old.

             I jumped back to my feet and stumped fast to the direction we just came from, and I could immediately hear urgent footsteps behind me and with an "I'm kidding!" in a childlike voice. It's been over a year since I knew him but he always acts the same way whenever I pretend to be mad at him. It is exactly like teasing my younger cousin. His footsteps come closer and soon he sticks in his face in front of mine with a wide smile. And we walk back again to the gentle breeze.

 

Seung-Hui / Pivotal Memory / Thurs 56

The senses that hit me when I leave the airport always leave the strongest imprint on me. In Thailand, it was the hot humid air that was so heavy it was hard to breathe. I yelled toward my dad, a little shocked, "how is it this hot?" He just chuckled and said this is something i'll have to adjust to from now on.
This was four years ago and as I went through the sliding doors of the entrance of Incheon International Airport, it was the aching cold that enveloped me. I was wrapped head to toe in winter clothing but it felt as though I had a mere thin sheet that went between the cold and me. My teeth chattered uncontrollably and my neck and back went stiff from trying to stop myself from shivering so much. I stepped onto the transport bus and melted the cold away in my seat. I looked out the window and it was odd to see so many signs with Korean words on them. I kept mumbling to my mother how weird it was to see words I could actually read on the streets. It was odd enough to hear so much Korean as well. Words I could understand. Buildings were cleaner, the roads were wider, and the people busier. I've been pretty adept at adjusting in new environments from moving around often, which is why it was hard for me to admit the thought of having to adjust once more in this unfamiliar country struck me as cold as its weather.
After getting of the bus and walked towards our new home, we dragged our luggages at 1 a.m. in the quiet and in the dark. If not for the cold I may have been sucked into a pit of depression. The cold numbed my mind from thinking about the few friends I had in this country, the new school I had to adjust to, and how out of place I felt even in that moment with no one on the streets. I felt as though people could smell my vulnerability, my weakness and I felt stripped away from the strength familiarity gave me. I didn't realize how much power familiarity had. I did now.
People's laughter felt unfamiliar along with my new phone. I had very few people on my contacts list; my parents, a few relatives, and a few friends. I missed the old Blackberry I used back in Thailand with long lists of friends I could chat to. Here, I had so few.
Winters are cold here but the winter of 2013 was the coldest of all. All of its memories smell of winter with a coldness infused in all of them.

Sangeun Baek/ Task 3.3 & 3.4/ Thu 1-3 pm

Task 3.3

 

The metaphor gave a mysterious feeling to the writing. It made the writing feel almost poem-like. The description was not very direct, so I had to use my imagination, but it was a more effective way to "show" the readers what the man was like, because the metaphor also gives the sense of how the man made the writer feel. In the same context, this writing made me feel tranquil, silent, maybe a little bored, but somewhat nostalgic.

 

Task 3.4

 

My mother is a glass cup.

My brother is an ergate.

My father is a wild goose.

My cousin is a butterfly.

Sangeun Baek/ Character Sketch first draft/ Thu 1-3 pm

           My friend's name is Elsa. This is more like her nickname, though. She prefers to be called Elsa because her real name is quite long and has many words. I met her when I was in 11th grade, in 2013. This is the year that Frozen came out, so I always liked to joke about her name. When she and I were both in a bathroom, I would knock on a door and say, "do you wanna build a snowman?" She always laughed when I did it. She had brown wavy shoulder-long hair. She was from Malaysia, but she almost did not look Asian. Her eyes were big and round, with double eyelids and long eyelashes. She was short- she was the second shortest person in our grade, but it fit her because she was cute. She had a really nice smile, and a laugh that sounded like chimes.

 

           She was very energetic. She was part of the cheerleading team in 10th grade, but quit in 11th grade to focus on studying. She enjoyed playing sports, although she was not very good at them. She was smart too. All the teachers loved her, because she was smart and polite. It sounds almost unreal when I describe her like this, but she was literally good at every subject. She did well in science, English, French, Economics, and math (but this was the only subject I was better than her at). She loved listening to K-pop. There were two boy bands that she especially liked- EXO and BTS. So I bought her a K-pop album for her birthday, and she almost cried. She was also very kind. She's probably the nicest person I have ever met so far. She laughed a lot. Even the small things would make her laugh out loud, and her friends' jokes never failed to make her laugh. All these characteristics made her really popular. I have not met one person who didn't like her.

 

           There is one incident which made me realize what a good reputation she had among the people who knew her. She had a boyfriend, and another one of my friend told me that there was a girl from another grade who had a crush on him. However, the girl decided to give up on her crush after she heard who his girlfriend was. I guess she knew that she was no match for Elsa. It was a funny story, but it surprised me almost as much. Sometimes Elsa makes me wonder if she is a real person, because I couldn't find one flaw in her.

 

           Since we were close friends, after graduation, she promised to visit me in 10 years. Although we don't really keep in touch anymore, I am hoping that this promise will be kept.

LeeSooKyung/Character Sketch Essay First Draft/Thursday 1-3p.m.

Lee Soo Kyung

< My Best Friend, Amy >

Every morning at 7 o'clock, my roommates and I heard the sound of footsteps, the door was opening, and a familiar voice. "It's time to go for breakfast. Hurry up!" she said in her lilting accent.

"Your voice is going through the roof of the room!" one of my roommates said, and laughed with us as always.

Just as the morning roll call ended, the girl came to my room every morning was my best friend, Amy. She only waited for the meal time. All of her classmates included me called her "Tiny glutton". Compared to her small build, she was a big eater. It might be more exact to say she ate almost everything in sight.

I met her for the first time when I was 8 years old. She had fine and silky short black hair. Also, her scarlet lips and pure white skin had impressed me. For her appearance, not only 'Matilda', but also 'the Snow White' came to my mind every time I saw her.

We attended same English academy, and took the same bus every day, but we were not the same class. For that reason, even though we didn't exchange any greetings, we knew each other already.

Then one day, she came to me and said "Hello. I'm Amy. What's your name?" with a friendly smile. She was very sociable and courageous even at the tender age of 8. I could not receive her kindness well at the moment because of my reserved character. However, we became great friends for each other since then. The reason is that we both moved to the same apartment, entered same middle school and same high school. We were even the same class during the whole high school days. These all things were too amazing to be just a coincidence.

As I lived with her for 3 years when we were in high school, my passive character was changed into a positive and enthusiastic one. She always created an atmosphere of cheerfulness by her characteristic smile and it was adorable enough to fascinate everyone. Also, it looked as if her eyes beaming with mischief are trying to say "Let's play with me". Maybe such her bright personality had the greatest effect on my life.

Now, even though we couldn't meet frequently, because she studied in Texas, the saying "Out of sight, Out of mind" doesn't work on our friendship. 

LeeSooKyung/Task 3.3 and Task3.4/Thursday 1-3p.m.

3.3.3

When I read only first sentence of this essay, the feelings of gloomy came to my mind first. Because I think when some writers use 'rain' in their writings, it makes the whole atmosphere dark. Through this writing, however, my though was changed slightly. I realized that using the metaphor of rain could deliver not only the gloom but also the calmness. Especially, the sentences such as 'It used to make me fall asleep' and 'The rain has movement like his, not too fast but comfortable to walk with' reminded me peaceful atmosphere. Like this, I think the use of metaphor in essay has a huge effect on readers. The writers can express their own feelings more specific, vividly by using the metaphor.

3.4.1

My mom is a rainbow appeared after a big shower.

My dad is a roof that protect my family from any risks.

My boyfriend is a peaceful lullaby.

My friend, Chloe is a hedgehog who really loves snack. 

Chyue/Task 3.3 Q3 & Task 3.4 Q1/Thursday 1-3pm

Task 3.3

Reading this essays, I realized two things. First one is using metaphor in the essays can touch the readers' heart and left the memory of the writers' thought. The other one that I got is the things in our surrounding always compare with people who around us. In this essay, the writer used the metaphor of rain to describe a man who was fall in love with her. She compared the man with rain and it sounds sad story. This is really effective and touched the heart to the readers and the readers also can know the writer's feeling. I think, using metaphor in the writhing can support to be perfect writing and the readers also could imagine a scene that what the writer wants to talk.

Task 3.4

My parents are roof, candle and firework.

My brother is a couch potato.

My boyfriend is a star and an umbrella.

My friend is flashlight.

Chyue/ Character Sketch First Draft/ Thursday 1-3pm

       Good friends are extraordinary. They are there to support you and to assist you. They make  you laugh and feel sensible. I'm lucky, I actually have three excellent friends. Sure, I actually have variant alternative friends. However, these three friends, I'd take a bullet for. But in these three, I would like to introduce a friend who is really kind and very close to me till now.

       My best friend characterizes the attributes that I admire a great deal in a friend. Yu Mon Win , a young girl who I have spent with, is someone who I can trust without thinking twice. Another aspect that stands out about her is the fact that she is a caring person. Motivational, humorous and fun to be around are other qualities that would define what kind of a person she is furthermore. One of the most important attributes that I value a great deal in any friend of mine, and that makes up a great portion of my best friend, hence the importance, is trust. Without that quality, there is no basis to any friendship. Many people oversee this trait, but to me it is essential.

      Yu Mon Win not only cares for me, but she motivates and inspires me whenever necessary. In times of despair, she will cheer me up and be there for me. For example, when my boyfriend and me broke up, she cancelled her plans Friday night to talk about it with me and help me through it. That was a valid indicator to the fact that she is a very caring person, which is another quality that defines her as my best friend. 

       Another reason I can call her this is because no matter what we do together, we make it fun. We can turn any normal activity into something we eventually spend hours doing, having a good time. Whether it's shooting some hoops, spending some time in the gym, or just sitting, listening to music, there is never a dull moment because there is always something to talk about. We have so much in common that we share similar viewpoints on most things, making it much easier to talk about whatever is on either of our minds. Due to that fact, communication contributes to the quality of our friendship and has made it a lasting one for the past 5 years. She always supports me with her good ideas and advice what to do and how to do when I am walking in the forest without directions. She pointed me out and guided me to go right way. 

     To sum up, there are many people we can meet in our life but we can't meet a friend who is really good for us. They look like a precious jewelry and we should keep going through the long relationship by trust, help, understand each other. 

Lee JiWon/ Character Sketch Essay First Draft/ Thursday 1-3pm

201502643 Lee JiWon   Our housefather   I used to call him "Shouting" as a joke. It was because he literally shouted a lot to me and my friends and it became kind of his nickname among school students. Every night, he had to shout above the noise of the students who chased around at the dormitory corridor. Yes, he was a housefather at my high school. No one ever knew how much we would miss that shrill voice saying, "It's time for bed everyone! All lights have to be out by twelve!" in those immature high school days.   He was like a pine. Just like the green color of pine trees lasts all year, he always put on the same green colored T-shirt and cargo pants regardless of the season and the weather. But it is more because of his consistent diligence than his appearance why I see him as a pine-like person. For three years during my high school days, every morning at 6 a.m., I said good morning to him and he replied, "Good morning. No matter how busy you are, don't skip your breakfast!" While I myself was consistent too in terms of getting my green grape juice out from the refrigerator every 6 a.m. in the morning, I could always watch him sweeping the yard in front of our dorm; the trash, the fallen leaves every autumn and even snow every winter for three years. Now that I think of it, how consistent and diligent he was and still is!   One day, I had a bad cold and headache in the middle of the night so that I could not stand it anymore. When students have to leave the dormitory at night to go to the hospital, their parents should come and take to a nearby hospital, but I picked the wrong day to get sick. My parents were not in Korea since they went on a trip to China to visit my uncle's house that morning. I was at a loss what to do but it was he who drove me to the emergency room and waited for about 40 minutes until I finished getting an IV injection. I can't forget the conversation we had during that time. When I disclosed my mind that I felt like I'm becoming obsessively jealous to my friends who have better grades, he gave me such wise words of advice that I could not understand then but I completely do now. "Be a missing piece of the puzzle so that it cannot be completed without you, but what's more important is that to expect the puzzle to be totally completed, I should be, you should be, and we should be here all along."   "He always nagged us for a trivial thing, but I know how much he cared about us and now I miss him very much." Every graduates of our high school praise him with one voice whenever we meet each other at a high school reunion. Now I also truly understand how every little word and advice he gave to students enabled me and my friends to become a better person. He was always there for us with a sympathetic ear like The Giving Tree, and he was all of our father. How can I thank him enough for his dedication to us and our school! It is not too much to say that he was part of our precious school memories and lives.

Lee JiWon/ Task 3.3 and 3.4/ Thursday 1-3 pm

3.3.3 Reading this essay, I could feel sad and gloomy atmosphere. It is because people feel a little down on rainy days generally, but also because of the metaphor of rain when the writer describes the man. For example, the sentence 'He acted like the rain-for days with the same speed without any interruption, like a big shower' seems like showing how dry he was and how hard he was to get close to like a big shower although the writer wanted to. I guess maybe the writer secretly loved the man but always felt lonely because of him who didn't care much about her. I think the writer's use of metaphor is effective overall but there was a sentence that really confused me such as 'Probably I will regret that there was no stop in the days of raining, just like him, who never showed me his disturbed time.' Anyway I believe using metaphor is more successful to make reader imagine of the situation than saying directly. 3.4.1 Kelly is a soft sunlight. My parents are The Giving Tree. My sister is a fruit in season. My ex-boyfriend is a beat-up car.

Hong Chae-ryoung/Task 3.3 Q3 & Task 3.4 Q1/Thursday 1-3pm

Task 3.3 Q3)

The image of rain was clearly shown in the writing, as the author was reminded of a man by looking at the rain. I assumed that one of the characteristics of metaphor is providing the reader to imagine the image with their own perspectives; it allowed me personally to think of myself looking at the rain. The gloominess within myself was seen as I read through the passages and think about my hidden feelings deep inside me.

Taske 3.4 Q1)

My brother is a vitamin.

He is a left hand of mine.

His smile is a sunflower.

His laughs are sweet and fresh juice.

Hong Chae-ryoung/Character Sketch Essay First Draft/Thursday 1-3pm

My Brother, the Energizer

 

            My brother is an energizer; he hardly ever gets tired or exhausted. He loves moving around and chatting all day long. In fact, almost the only voice that our family can hear in the house is my brother's, and he definitely is the human vitamin in the house. I miss his laughing and giggling sounds these days, since my brother lives with my mom and dad in Singapore at the moment.

            Everyone says that my brother has grown up with his face looking exactly the same since he was a little baby. Some of his photographs from when he was a baby show how he has grown up so far- it literally looks like someone has stretched out his arms and legs, but not touching his head at all.

            He is seven years younger than me which also means that I remember almost every single thing of him from the day he was born. Since the day he was born, I realized right away that he does not look like me; I am almost the female version of my dad, but my brother looks like a mixture of my mom and dad. He has single eyelid eyes, more of the Asian eyes, while I mine are double eyelid. However, his eyes are quite big, considering the fact that his eyes are single eyelid. Whenever he smiles or laughs, his smiles are shown directly in his eyes. The two eyes look like upside-down alphabet 'u's, and the pupils of his eyes are not shown at all. The dark brown curly hair is also a mixture of my mom and dad, while my straight and dark brown hair is exactly the same as my mom's. It has been quite long now that he had caught up my height; he is now officially the tallest in the house, shooting up every day, being taller than my dad. Furthermore, his is thin but fit, barely any unnecessary body fat is found in his body. However, this is not that surprising at all because he just loves to run around everywhere. "Can you not just sit down and stay still for 10 minutes?", my mom would often scold him not to run around the apartment, but the nag is not effective most of the time.

            This active and outgoing characteristic of him naturally led him to love sports, especially basketball. He would play basketball with his friends all day long in the blazing heat of Singapore, nevertheless he always gets soaked in sweat. Then he would come home around dinner time and start watching NBA games on Youtube, getting hyper and excited yet again, completely being immersed in the game. His passion towards basketball continues in collecting his basketball shoes. He adores his collection of basketball shoes; the collection of shoes are babies to him. He takes such good care of them.

            Many other people see my brother as such lovely boy who loves to entertain others. He definitely is the type of person who performs perfectly on stage and enjoys being in front of many people. One of his talents is to imitate other people and make people laugh- especially imitating specific accents. He is really good at copying some movie characters as well, whether they are animated ones or not. The confidence that he has within himself is amazing and he really wants to be perfect when he is in front of the audience. Although I cannot understand completely how he is such a brilliant entertainer on stage, but I can tell that he is an extrovert, which he gains energy from other people.

            Nevertheless, my brother does have a weak point, which is being afraid of staying home alone. "Can you come home early today?", he would call and ask me, when mom out with her friends from time to time. I truly feel that the young boy has really grown up looking at his physical growth, but then I change my thoughts right away and think he still is a baby whenever I get a phone call from him asking me to come home early. I guess no other people would ever imagine him being afraid of being home alone, but this is the real characteristic of him as the youngest in the house, and I cannot just resist adoring this sweet little boy. He would always be a lovely young boy to me; it is so hard to imagine him growing up even more and becoming an adult one day.

Su Yeon Kim/ Character Sketch First Draft/ Thursday 1-3pm

There are only a handful of people I can confidently say that I truly love and my best friend, Taniah, is one of them. She is my longest friend of almost 9 years and counting. I suppose like any other normal friendship we started off with common interests but this bloomed into something more. When you get to know someone for so long, you start to notice the things that make them so special. It's easy to be friends with Taniah because she loves everyone and everyone loves her but it's the details that matter. I cherish the little things that only I knew about her such as her little Orlando Bloom cutout in her purse or the fact she used to call her grey bag Christian because of the book 50 Shades of Grey, yes, she loved those explicit romance novels, particularly Mills and Boons. For whatever reason (maybe because of the price), she literally would not let her bag touch the floor. She was so bent on safeguarding the bag from getting dirty, despite knowing it was inevitable, that she even got a special chair for it. She loves chicken pie and lamington cake. She dies laughing over weird comic strips found in newspapers and is quite a believer of horoscopes (she's a Taurus). Her favorite holiday is Christmas and loves Disney movies. Her favorite kinds of movies, however, are fantasy ones such as The Lord of the Rings. She was always quoting lines by her favorite character Smeagol particularly "My precious" or "Nasty little hobbitses." She is Catholic but she is also very sceptic about religions in general. Back before we became friends I knew her as the girl everyone loves. She was and still is a very loveable person with her chubby stature and curly, dark brown hair which she used to style with a navy blue bandana. She has a small round scar below her right eye which she got from a dog bite. Interestingly enough, that dog bite didn't traumatize her and to this day she fawns over dogs. She has slightly crooked teeth but it never stopped her from flashing one of the brightest smiles I know. Additionally, she always had perfectly groomed eyebrows even back when nobody knew that eyebrows could be shaped. She was definitely a trendsetter. She is of Fijian-Indian heritage and she would always get annoyed when people questioned her mixed heritage even though it was relatively common. I distinctly remember her raging when she was filling out a form for a survey at school. We had to check our nationality and the options were either Fijian, Indian, Chinese or Other. She said, "I don't get it. How is it that they don't provide other options? Not everyone is one thing." She was right because I had to tick myself under the 'Other' column. This is when I realized we could be friends. She questioned things that I would usually just overlook.

Our first 2 years of friendship was that of a simple one where you basically just sit together during recess and lunch. I had moved to a new school when I was in 4^th grade and that's when I first met her because we were in the same class. We didn't become friends until early 7^th grade. Also, when we did finally become friends we were much too young to have deep conversations about anything so our conversations were either about what to buy from the cafeteria or celebrities. This obviously changed as we grew older, her insights about the world are so profound at times that I really think she should voice them for other people. She isn't very chatty or straightforward because she utterly despises arguments or conflicts. This frustrated me due to the fact that she never really fought for what she thought was right and was at times a pushover. She was very careful with what she voiced and would always add "But I don't know for sure! It's just my opinion, you don't even have to listen to me!"

Even though she doesn't voice her opinions, Taniah is very expressive about making a statement with her fashion. She has distinct likes and dislikes. Because her favorite color was orange, she always sported something orange on her even though it was against school rules. Her sporting orange was always very subtle but this rebellious side was what I liked. If I had to choose two things she's obsessed with it's the boyband One Direction and glitter. We were desk mates back in school but her love of glitter almost drove me away. She was absolutely resolved on putting glitter all over her body and I would face the aftermath. Glitter on me, my books and desk. It made her feel pretty so I never said anything. One more important thing that bothered me when we were desk mates was that she was left-handed. While writing notes our elbows always bumped and she would declare, "Su, please, respect my space when I'm trying to write." I was flabbergasted because majority of the world is right-handed and she would claim that I was in the wrong. Taniah is the one who got me into scents. I always liked perfume but I've become obsessed with them since the day she told me, "Su you smell like cupcakes. I know you're nearby when I smell cupcakes." It then became our thing where we would try to recognize people by their scent. She would be taken back to a memory when she smelled something familiar. Out of the many things I enjoyed sitting next to her throughout my high school years, it's her love of singing. She wasn't one of those people that enjoyed singing but sounded like a dying horse. She genuinely has a beautiful, clear voice. She was the class radio. Not only that but she was like a people magnet. Wherever she sat, people would gather around her. She claims she's anti-social but it was the polar opposite.

She is also very smart, perhaps not academically but just as a person. She was a cultured person. I was a very negative and explosive person back in high school but her positive ways really changed me. She never blamed anyone for anything and never complained. I would always dump my troubles on her and she would listen but she never did the same to me. She would suffer alone and only when she was done dealing with whatever issue on her own she would tell me what had happened. She is also a foodie, she loves to eat but when our friends put together our lunches and dug in, she was always shy and ate very little. Another thing is that while I know she tries to be very cautious with gifts and personal items, she was helpless. Many a times I was hurt because she either lost or somehow damaged whatever I gave her. Being the apologetic person she is, she would say sorry a million times but the damage was done. I never got angry with her for that but I guess it's just something I don't understand but simply came to accept. Another thing I love about her is that she laughed at my jokes. Actually, because she was such a happy person she cracked up at everything but she understood my humor and for a nerdy, awkward Asian kid that I was, it meant a lot. For the record, her laugh was contagious because it was a snorty type of laugh. She is very approachable and her being friends with me attracted a lot of other people. Eventually our friend group expanded but of course, she and I remained especially close. I'm so grateful to have met such a bubbly person and thanks to state-of-the-art technology, still have her in my life.

Su Yeon Kim / Task 3.3 and 3.4 / Thursday 1-3pm

3.3.3

My initial reaction to this essay was heartache for the writer because rain in the general sense indicates sadness. However, the more I thought about it, the clearer it became that the writer may actually not be feeling melancholy. The writer is simply describing 'he' as she remembers. The writer's use of metaphors do not give a sense of closeness as they hint at what kind of person 'he' was. For instance, the line that goes "He acted like the rain" definitely shows that 'he' is now a distant memory. Thus, I do believe the metaphors were incorporated into the essay suitably if the mood the writer wanted to create was that of reminiscence. Of course, the rain does not particularly remind her of the best memories but it definitely isn't one of resentment either. It feels more as though the writer was stating a fact about how things were and that although she has moved on, he will always be a part of her. This is so because rain will always remind her of him.

 

3.4.1

She is the straw to my berry, my Buzz to my Woody.

We're like birds of a feather.

My mother is like the soft morning light on a Sunday.

He and his thoughts are the galaxy.

Jung Aa Ahn / Task 3.3 and 3.4 / Thursday 1-3pm

3.3.3

The writer's use of metaphor reminded me of a suspense or a mystery novel. After reading the first paragraph, I thought the man would be just a friend of the writer. The second paragraph, especially the parts like where the writer used the term "big shower" to describe the person made me think that the man might be her father, or at least a fatherly figure. The writing was in general, extremely poetic. I enjoyed reading it, but thought at the same time that the writer used too many metaphors - to the extent where it may confuse the readers, who does not have any background information.

3.4.1

My sister is a bucket of ice.

My mother is the coffee, and my father is the jug.

My friend is an hard-boiled egg.

Jaeyoung Choi/ Essay Assignment/ Thursday 1-3pm

It was around this time last semester, when professors pretend that students receive no other classes but theirs and start to throw a bunch of assignments at you. I lived at a goshiwon back then, it was so cramped that the swamp of projects and exams seemed to make it feel even smaller than it already was.

One of my Ecuadorian friends, Cristina, called asking for my attending to a dinner she had planned since last week. Cristina has a round-shaped face, with beautiful light brown eyes that sometimes even seems like if they were gold color. She has a long curly hair, and even though people might be concerned about her body size, all of her being is love. I told her I was busy with all the work I was doing, and in a friendly manner she said that if for any case I changed my mind I was welcome to come. The moment I hang up with her, I couldn't stop thinking about all the work I had to do for next week. I started to frustrate with all the assignments, I could feel the stress all around my body making me feel tired and mad at the same time. And before it would attack me more, like all college students, I decided to give up. I closed my computer called my friend back and told her I was going to her place.

Her house was about ten minutes far away from mine. I walked fast because I wanted to escape as fast as possible from my house. Once I got there, there were two male unknown faces and three of my other Ecuadorian friends. During that time I had been desperately looking for a boyfriend, to be fall in love and be in a relationship. But unfortunately, both seemed ugly to me, which made me feel no interest at all around them, and somehow made the environment be more comfortable. Cristina had already served me a plate of traditional Ecuadorian food and I was fascinated of how different it was from the Guatemalans' food. We sat and talked for a while. Cristina and I had always maintained a tough love relationship. We like to joke around a lot, to the point that nobody around us can understand us. Sometimes show no care of what was happening around and keep on laughing because it was just fun to be together.

When the dinner ended, we all decided to have some drinks and get to know each other a little more. I hadn't noticed what Cristina had been trying to indirectly tell me to do all night until she literally forced me to sit beside of one of the male unknown faces. His name was Camilo and was a Korean that had been born in Ecuador just like me. He was from my second major and we had many stories in common, which made our relationship instantly just click.

Later, when the gathering was over, and both of the guys had left. Cristina rushed at me and asked me if I had liked Camilo. I told her that he seemed friendly and as soon as I said that she was already planning a second meeting with him. She is very active and passionate when it comes to boys. She encouraged me to see him next time and get to know more about him. I agreed and four days after we first saw, the second meeting had been arranged.

We met and ate chicken and beer. We decided to drink some more and later started to play games. All night I had been beside Camilo, we were able to talk more and feel more interest with each other. Cristina kept on watching me with a big smile on her face all night. After the dinner ended, Camilo said he would walk me home and once I got in my house Cristina called and wanted all the "dirty details" about what had happened. I supposed that by that she maybe had though we had kissed but, when I told her nothing happened, she got mad and kept on telling me to go for it.

 

Now, I had been in an official relationship with Camilo for six months and counting thanks to Cristina. Even though I don't see her as much as I did when I was single. We still meet every week for dinner and for drinks. We had had our ups and downs but the good thing about us is that we are direct, which means we like to keep things sincere. Whenever she feels that I am letting Camilo be the center of my world she is the one who steps in and bring my feet into the ground, but at the same time supports me in everything, literally.

She is my rock, without her I don't know if my life would be like it is now. Sometimes people might thing we are crazy when we are together, we know, that our Latino instincts are just to much for people to handle.