Journal Entry #34

The Advantages of Studying Abroad

Every year the number of students studying abroad is increasing. These days, there is a lot of competition over the world because of globaliztion. If someone does not want to be behind other people, they should go to foreign countries to study. A lot of people think that foreign countries have many things better than their home country. Particularly, many of them go to North America and Europe to fulfill their dreams. Studying abroad has three major advantages. These include that to learn different culture, to study in better educational environment, and to make many friends.

Journal Entry #33

What are you going to do over the 3 day weekend?

Veteran's day

This month, November has many holidays and special month for me, and Veteran's day is one of holidays in this month. Fortunately, it is on Monday, so I will have almost four days in this weekend. First, I am going to meet my friends who are Korean couple because I have not seen them for a long time. How I met them in the United States, when I went to ELS institute in La Verne, they were my classmates. Then there was a few Koreans, so I could get along with them, and they were older than me so took care of me like a sibling. Second, I am going to go shopping. My girlfriend and I like to go window shopping, so we are usually go to Breamall where is close to my home, so we occasionally hang out there. There is so many shops and food court, and I like to eat one of foods that the Pretzel, so I eat every time I go. Also, I like to looking around ornament store because my girl friend has interesting of decoration. Third, I going to study for TOEFL because I will take a test on November 30th, so I do not have much time for prepare. I think that I need to memorize vocabulary and more prepare for reading.

Journal Entry #32

Thanksgiving is coming up soon. What three things are you most thankful for?

Thanksgiving

This is my first time Thanksgiving in the United States. I heard many times from many people that big sale in Thanksgiving, and holiday is so long, so I really excited and glad. My home country, Korea also has a Thanksgiving Day it is one of major holidays. Almost Korean people go to their hometown and meet whole family members in Thanksgiving so always heavy traffic on freeways. There are three things thankful for this year. First, I would like to thank for my parents. Since I was a junior high school student, I tried to studying abroad, but it was not easy for me. Because I had had many obstacles to progress that my country's financial panic and joined army. So I had to delay my dream, but eventually I came to the United States on March. Likewise, I got part of my dreams because my parents made my all of circumstance for studying abroad. So I really appreciate, and they always support me through love and everything. Second, I would like to thank for my girlfriend. I have been going with her for three years, and she had been waiting for me for a year when I joined army service and then I decided to study abroad for my future. But it was not delight for her because if I go to other country, we could not stick together, so I made her sad. After that, we kept in touch by phone, e-mail, and messenger, a few month later, she came to the United States. Then she had a good position in her job, but she abandoned everything because of me.Third, I would like to thank for my ALP teachers. I have been studying here for seven months, and I have had some teachers in my school. Before, I came to the United States, I almost did not know about English. But they taught me that writing skill, grammar, vocabulary, etc, so my English ability has been improved. So I can communicate with people and writing journal and essay by English. To sum up, I have many things for thank around me, and I would like to make more thankful things in this year.

Journal Entry #31

Is it ever okay to lie? In which circumstances?

Lying for Something

Since we was a child, we learned that lying is bad behavior but sometimes lying is helpful for people, so they tell a lie for many urgent business. There are three reasons for lying is okay. First, lying is helpful that someone got some trouble. If someone of my close relationship people got some trouble, I would tell a lie to them because it is sometimes helpful. When I was a young, one of my cousins who my aunt got cancer of stomach. But her doctor said if patient does not know about illness, she would be better. Because stress is one of get illness reasons, so a doctor entreated to us. After that, we had been never talking about her condition of illness, so she could get better than before through medical treatment. Then she knew about that her illness was just a cold. Second, lying is helpful to avoid embarrassing moment. If someone made a big mistake, they could avoid embarrassing moment through tell a lie. When I was a junior high school student, I got terrible grade on final exam, so I concealed my grade record. Because a teacher let me do that get one of parents' signature on the grade record. A few days later, a teacher asked me about the record, then I said I lost because my dog bit that. Fortunately, she believed that, so I could avoid that moment. Third, lying is bring happy circumstance. Last Christmas eve, I had made a surprise event for my girl friend. It was my winter vacation, but she was working, so I could make perfect situation. One of my friends who was working at the shop that sell the party stuff, so I easily got a lot of balloon at a low price. When I got in the room, he was really surprised and dance with joy. To sum up, Lying is orginally bad behavior, but it is occasionally helpful or bringing happy circumstance.