Slow&Steady wins the Race!

Talk about internship programs in Korea.

2010-03-02T00:36:00.002+09:00

## Talk about internship programs in Korea.

# The English you can speak, 25 DEC 2009

College grads are eager to make the best use of their time before they get their full-time jobs. One of the most popular ways to build experience is to get an internship. In times of high unemployment, quality internships are in high demand. There are both internships that may or may not be paid. If it's a paid position, your wages will usually be disappointingly lower than those of the regular staff. Still, interns are generally happy to learn about the real world and get some hands-on experience. If the internship is for an international company, there is the added perk of being able to brush up on your language skills. The negative aspect is that there is no guarantee you will be asked to continue on as a full-benefit employee. Whatever the conditions may be, young Koreans look at these opportunities as stepping stones to a better career.

# An internship is the position held by an intern, or the period of time when someone is an intern.

# An intern is an advanced student or a recent graduate, especially in medicine, who is being given practical training under supervision.

# Someone's wages are the amount of money that is regularly paid to them for the work that they do.

# Something that is disappointingly is not as good or as large as you hoped it would be.

# Hands-on experience or work involves actually doing a particular thing, rather than just talking about it or getting someone else to do it.
# Perks are special benefits that are given to people who have a particular job or belong to a particular group.

# Something that is a guarantee of something else makes it certain that it will happen or that it is true.

# You can describe a job or event as a stepping stone when it helps you to make progress, especially in your career.

# Extra Topics for Study Groups

1. Did you do an internship when you were in school?

2. What kind of internship programs have you heard of?

3. What are the benefits of doing an internship program?

Talk about how Koreans typically live with their parents even as adults.

2010-02-22T17:58:00.003+09:00

## The English you can speak

In North American culture, living with parents after college is seen as a very unattractive thing to do. This kind of person has the image of being an unemployed and overly dependent individual. For Koreans, however, it is totally natural and even expected to live with parents until marriage as long as the circumstances allow you to do so. This custom is rooted in Korea's agricultural past, in which children were expected to work on family farms. Also, some young, single adults nowadays live with their parents for practical reasons. It is very expensive to move out and live by yourself, so living with your parents helps you save money. Based on time-honored traditions, a woman leaves her house upon marriage only to move in with her husband's parents. Although this has become much more uncommon today, many parents of the husband still live with their married sons.

# My opinion
It is a Koreans' tradition to live with their parents until they get married. I also want my children to live with me until marriage if my children want. For Koreans, actually, it is impossible for university students or young age to find or lend a house because it is too expensive. After I start to work, I made it a rule to save money which I earned about 70-percent every month. If I kept my saving for 10 years, I could buy a small apartment by myself. Since the parents want their sons and daughters to marry, they gave children big money to support buying a house when they get married. So it is a good excuse to live with parents to save money.

# Extra Topics for Study Groups

1. Until when did you live with your parents?

2. What are the pros and cons of living with your parents in college?

3. How many of your friends lived with their parents even after school?

Talk about how bicycles are becoming more popular in Kora.

2010-02-09T23:20:00.002+09:00

# The English you can speak, 21 Oct 2009

Biking in Korea is enjoying something of a renaissance these days, and it's not without reason. Our parks and streets have become much more bicycle-friendly. Not do people only use their bicycles to get exercise but more and more are also using their bikes to commute. Biking provides a myriad of health benefits. After a few weeks of consistent biking, you will start to notice the benefits of it. First, cycling gives you a good cardio workout. Your endurance improves and your circulation gets better, too. Of course, the environmental benefits are not to be downplayed, either. Taking your bike to work means there's one less commuter clogging up our congested freeways. Last but not least, biking saves you money as you don't have to pay for gas or sign up at a gym.

# My opinion

I love to ride my bicycle to commute since I had wanted to lose some weight. Riding a bicycle in Korea becomes more popular and favorite than before because the government start to be focused on building a cycle route along rivers or beside road. It is very useful and safe to ride on it. So I made it a rule to commute using my bicycle in order to exercise regularly except for rainy days. It only takes about 30 minutes to go school by bicycle along a road by the river. I not only save my transportation costs but also get some exercise to keep my health. I agree that I kill two birds with one stone by riding my bicycle when I commute to school.

My hobby is also riding bicycle and a bicycle trip. In 2002 the year of the Korea-Japan World Cup, I went to all of 10 World Cup stadiums which are located all around my country by bicycle, even to Jeju stadium which is located on Jeju island. It was fantastic to catch a ferry with bicycle and watch the sunrise and sunset on it. I was able to reach the Jeju island while I were asleep in the ferry. Whenever I think about going the any stadiums, I feel very excited. If it is possible, I truly hope that I will go around all of the stadiums again.

# If something experiences a renaissance, it becomes popular or successful again after a time when people were not interested in it.

# "Bicycle-friendly" describes policies and practices which may help some people feel more comfortable about traveling by bicycle with other traffic.

# If you commute, you travel a long distance every day between your home and your place of work.

# A myriad or myriads of people or things is a very large number or great variety of them.

# cardio : connected with the heart, This is an aerobic exercise, which mostly burns calories and fat and makes the heart strong.

# Endurance is the ability to continue with an unpleasant or difficult situation, experience, or activity over a long period of time.

# Your circulation is the movement of blood through your body.

# If you downplay a fact or feature, you try to make people think that it is less important or serious than it really is.

# When something clogs up a place, or when it clogs up, it becomes blocked so that little or nothing can pass through.

# Extra Topics for Study Groups

1. Where do you normally go to bike?

2. Describe your bicycle in detail.

3. Tell us about when you learned how to ride a bicycle.

4. What are the benefits of bicycling?

Tell us about a business trip you took overseas.

2010-02-05T18:54:00.002+09:00

I went on a business trip with three coworkers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Singapore to visit three universities in January. The trip lasted for eight nights and nine days, and was mostly focused on looking at their laboratories and how they manage them in the aspect of space and human resources. I visited the University of Malaya (UM) in KL, the National University of Singapore(NUS) and Nanyang Technological University(NTU) in Singapore. I did have a few days for sightseeing though, especially the Bintan Resort which is famous for wonderful landscapes and very expensive prices.

The reasons why I visited those universities are ;

1. How does the university generally manage their laboratory?

2. How does the university maintain their space and human resources in their laboratory?

3. How does the university support the material cost for their students' projects?

4. Does a term project progress between two or three departments which are closely connected?

and so on.

The most impressive thing was that almost all the students who were in KL or Singapore spoke English very well when they explained their projects. I was surprised that they didn't hesitate to present their project to us at all. They seemed to eager to explain questions about their work to me. I felt they strove to concentrate on their studies at every university I visited, differing from our university students. And there was a lot of space where the students were able to study in chairs and desks everywhere such as hallways or around the buildings. The company wanted to hire the students who were graduating from those universities as soon as they graduated. The employment rate of those universities is amazingly over 90 percent.

After officially visiting all three universities, I started to look around tourist spots. I was anxious to see the Petronas Twin Towers in KL and Julong Bird Park in Singapore. I was astounded at how tall the Twin Towers were and how smart the birds were. Actually, I have already visited the Twin Towers in 2005 because I had a three-day stopover during a European trip.

I ended up taking over five hundred pictures while visiting those marvelous places, I also ate a lot of various foods during that trip.

Tell me about your hobbies. What kind of hobbies do you have? When and where do you do your hobbies?

2010-01-07T21:35:00.002+09:00

===== Thanks! Samuel~!

My hobbies are riding my bicycle, taking pictures and traveling around the world. I think they go together very well. They make me happy when I am tired, bored or exhausted about my life. I've already taken trips on my bicycle, taking beautiful pictures many times.

I usually ride my bicycle to commute to work because I want to lose some weight. It only takes 30 minutes by bicycle along a road by the river. But if I take the subway, it takes over 40 minutes. The reason why is that it's very far from the subway station to the building whereI work. I kill two birds with one stone by riding my bicycle some of the time when I commute to school.

In 2002, the year of the Korea-Japan World Cup, I went to 10 World Cup stadiums which are located all around my country by bicycle, even to Jeju stadium which is located on Jeju island. Whenever I think about going the stadiums, I feel very excited. And I have also been to Europe, India and Taiwan. Last February, I rode my bicycle in Taiwan.

The thing that interests me about traveling around the world is that I really want to have good memories to carry with me forever. So I decided to learn how to take pictures well with a nice digital camera. Although my memory may fail as I get old, the pictures which I have taken willalways be with me.

=====

If I took the subway, it would take over 40 minutes. (but I never do)

If I take the subway, it takes over 40 minutes. (So I don't like that.)

=====

"Mad men"

- 1 hour each episode

- about a 1960s advertising agency in New York

- shows a lot of changes in American culture

- the English is very clear

=====

Forgiving someone who has some faults.

2009-12-31T13:00:00.005+09:00

She told me her thoughts.(09-12-22)
I am very lonely and depressed today even though I have a girlfriend. She told me that she feels mixed emotions about our relationship. She has lost trust in me but in her heart, she still loves me. So, she doesn't know how to handle this. She has started to lose interest in me and now ignores me. I lost her trust the time I blacked out and couldn't answer her phone calls. It is difficult to build a reliable relationship between couples and unfortunately it is easier to spoil it. I totally regret what I did and take responsibility for it. What can I do to change her mind? How can I change her mind and the way she feels about me so I can take her on a date today? This is the worst night I've ever had in my life!

Christmas, the time to forgive(09-12-24)

In my case, I am so happy to have someone to spend Christmas with. I usually spent Christmas with my girlfriend. If I don't, I just stay at home and watch some Christmas TV programs or the movie such as Home Alone or non-stop TV variety shows for 10 hours. These days, my girlfriend and I aren't getting along because of my faults. I hesitate to ask her out. I tried to find some special place to have dinner together even though it was tough to reserve because of Christmas eve. She said it must be so crowed and expensive. Just let's go to a small coffee shop in front of her house. I met her there and told her my thoughts, my plans for the future and my true feelings about her. What if we break up with each other? How would I feel? She feels differently between her mind and heart. Anyway, she smiled at me and gave me one more chance to save our relationship. To strengthen our relationship, we must not discard the good time we shared since Feb, 2007.

Talk about legal ages in Korea.

2009-12-27T00:11:00.001+09:00

# The English you can speak, 16 Dec 2009

In Korea, you are legally considered a minor until you reach the age of 19. When you reach that age, you are legally allowed to purchase cigarettes and consumealcohol. 19 is also the age when you can legally start entering the bars and night clubs or work at places where alcohol is sold. In the United States, you may buy cigarettes when you turn 18, but you can't have your first drink until your twenty-first birthday. Also, you can get your driver's license when you turn 18 in Korea. That's quite a difference from the United States, where you can get your learner's permit at age 15. You are given the right to vote in Korea when you become 19. However, you must be at least 25 to run for public office and 40 to run for president. You also have to be at least 19 to be able to buy lottery tickets in Korea.

# A minor is a person who is still legally a child. In Britain and most states in the United States, people are minors until they reach the age of eighteen.

# Cigarettes are small tubes of paper containing tobacco which people smoke.

# Drinks that can make people drunk, such as beer, wine, and whisky, can be referred to asalcohol.

# The president of a country that has no king or queen is the person who is the head of state of that country.

## Extra Topics for Study Group

1. What is the age restriction for alcohol in Korea?

2. What were you legally allowed to do when you turned 19?

3. How old do you have to be to vote or to run for office in Korea?

# You have to reach 19 to be able to get married without parents' consent.

# One of my dreams as a young child was to run for president.

# My opinions

Oh my God-! I'm already late in twenties. I'm absolutely allowed to do anything what I want now. At the freshman of university, my buddies and I had to find a bar to sell us a bottle of soju. The reason why it's against the law to consume alcohol until my or his nineteenth birthday. But some bars sold it without any verification. So, there was always crowded with a bunch of freshman and we also went there to drink soju. In order to drink a soju at a bar, I used to memorized another's identification registration number and his name of Chinese character. The bar owner sometimes requested my ID number and Chinese character to verify whether I was allowed or not. It's old days. Anyway, the time is flying never to return. I hardly understand how fast time is. Someone says the speed of life time is as well as his age. In other words, if I were 10 years old, the speed of life time is 10km/h. It's too slow and nothing to do. Unfortunately, the speed of life time would be 30km/h when I become 30. There are not enough time to do something. For me, it's a time to go on the next step and get a job for my life. My girlfriend is more worried about my future, my job and me than I worried myself. I'm one of the happiest persons in the world to meet her as a girlfriend and I honestly appreciate her even though she start not to concentrate on me, a person who really like to drink and sometimes not to receive her phone call at the bars. I'm sure I should keep in touch with her every day. Please pray for me and her.

== Thanks- Mike!

Oh my God-! I am already in my late twenties. I'm absolutely allowed to do anything I want, now. As a university freshman, my buddies and I had to find a bar to sell us a bottle of soju. The reason is in Korea, it is against the law to consume alcohol untilyour nineteenth birthday. But, some bars sell it without any ageverification. So, that bar was always crowded with a bunch of freshman and we also went there to drink soju. In order to drink soju at a bar, I use to memorize another person's identification registration number and his Chinese name. The bar owner sometimes requested my ID number and my Chinese name to verify whether I was allowed to drink. Those were the days! Anyway, time flies never to return. I hardly understand how fast time passes. Some people says that the speed of life timematches your age. In other words, if I were 10 years old, the speed of life time is 10km/h. It's too slow and I have little to do. Unfortunately, the speed of my life time would be 30km/h when I become 30. There is not enough time to do anything. For me, the next step in my life is to get a job. My girlfriend is more worried about my future, my job and me than I am. I'm one of the happiest people in the world, have her as a girlfriend and I honestly appreciate her even though she thinks I may be losing interest in her. She now sees me as a person who really likes to drink and sometimes ignore her phone calls when I'm at the bars. I think I should keep in touch with her every day. Please pray for me and her.

Explain what "gye" is in English.

2009-12-14T21:52:00.003+09:00

## The English you can speak, 12 Dec 2009

There's something called a "gye" in Korea. A gye is a rotating money club comprised of a set number of people. Each member pays a equal amount to pool of money every month. At the start of each period, one member is entitled to take the whole pot. The order in which you collect your payout is determined when the gye is formed. People who get paid later in the rotation get a little more as an incentive. In other words, you would get paid the most if you the last on payout list. These calculations are all managed by the gye-joo, the one in charge of the gye. People do gyes for various reasons ranging from traveling to ranging capital for business. This rotating credit system not only serves financial purposes but also social ones.

# A pool of people, money, or things is a quantity or number of them that is available for an organization or group to use.

# If you have pots of money, you have a lot of it.

# A payout is a sum of money, especially a large one, that is paid to someone, for example by an insurance company or as a prize.

# If something is an incentive to do something, it encourages you to do it.

## Extra Topics for Study Groups

1. If you have had an experience joining a "gye", please tell us how it was.

2. Why do people engage in "gye?"

3. What are the benefits of joining a "gye?"

## My opinion

I think a "gye" is originated from "품앗이", which is a tradition to exchange their labor instead of paying money in the old days. So, if someone need a big cash, other people gather it and give him. After that, he who takes the whole pot and the others continuously paid a equal amount to pool of money every month. The last person who takes the money get paid the most because he waits for a long time to get his turn. My mom also participated in a "gye" when I was 6 or 7 years old. I didn't exactly remember, anyway my mom went to some place every month to send in the money with me. I thought the bank is the best place to keep it up. But the interest of "gye" is higher than the public bank. In my case, I usually save the money every month to travel abroad. It's kind of "gye"

Talk about the popularity of winter sports in Korea.

2009-12-13T00:14:00.002+09:00

## The English you can speak, 9 Dec 2009

Our parents' generation used to refer to winter as a season of hardship. However, Koreans now see the colder months as a time to get out and enjoy themselves. Beginners and experienced skiers alike take to the hills at popular ski resort like High one, Muju, and Phoenix Park. Thousands of skiers and snowboarders young and old hit the slopes all throughout the winter. Many of them get season passes, but there are ones who just purchase daily passes, too. Meanwhile, the international success of figure skater Kim Yuna has also created a boom in Yuna-wannabes. While it may not be a traditional sport, ice-fishing has also become a family-friendly activity. With the Winter Olympics 2010 just around the corner, the number of people enjoying winter sports in Korea will only rise in the months to come.

# If there is a boom in the economy, there is an increase in economic activity, for example in the amount of things that are being bought and sold.

# A boom in something is an increase in its amount, frequency, or success.

# If you can someone a wannabe, you are saying in an unkind way that they are trying very hard to be like another person or group of people.

## The winter olympic games, short track speed skating was famous in Korea because we have a lot of key players and a national athlete won the gold medal several times. There days, Kim Yuna is one of the most famous person in Korea and I'm also Yuna-wannabe. Last year, it's first time to take a snowboard in my life, even though I'm in late twenties. It was fantastic experience to hit the slopes and roll over into the snow. I didn't forget the taste of a cup of coffee on the snowboard in the summit. I thought the cold weather made the coffee be more tasty. I tried the bunny's slope just 2 times and moved the advanced course. I felt how dangerous snowboarders are and why they die.

Post test from iphone

2009-12-09T01:03:00.001+09:00

hello everyone.
it's a test from iPhone.
He is my junior who is good at speaking English.
I hope he will be exempted from his military service because of his back pain.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The Solar System

2009-12-07T21:58:00.002+09:00

The Solar System

The solar system is the group of planets that orbit our Sun. There are nine known planets in our solar system, but some observers think they have spotted others beyond the orbit of Pluto.

The Terrestrial Planets

Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are called terrestrial planets because they have rocky surfaces. Earth, of course, is the planet we live on. Mercury is the closest planet to the sun. Venus, which is also called the evening star, has a temperature of 500 degrees Celsius and clouds of sulfuric acid. Mars is known as the red planet. Recently, frozen water was discovered there.

The Gaseous Planets

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are called gas giants because they are big and made mostly of gas. Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system. Saturn is famous for its rings. Uranus also has rings but is not as famous as Saturn. Neptune is named after the god of the sea.

Planetoids: Asteroids and Comets

There are many other planetoids in the solar system. Between Mars and Jupiter there is a belt of small rocky objects called asteroids. As well, balls of ice and rock called comet occasionally come close to the sun creating a bright tail that can be seen from Earth. Some scientists think the dinosaurs became extinct when one of these comets came crashing into the Earth.

-----

# If something such as satellite orbits a planet, moon, or sun, it moves around it in a continuous, curving path.

# Pluto is the planet in the solar system that is furthest from the sun.

# Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system, nearest to the sun.

# Venus is the planet in the solar system that is second in order of distance from the sun, between Mercury and the earth.

# Earth or the Earth is the planet on which we live. People usually say Earth when they are referring to the planet as part of the universe, and the Earth when they are talking about the planet as the place where we live.

# Mars is the planet in the solar system that is fourth in order of distance from the sun, between the Earth and Jupiter.

# A terrestrial animal or plant lives on land or on the ground rather than in the sea, in trees, or in the air.

# Sulfuric acid or Sulphuric acid is a colourless, oily, and very powerful acid.

# Jupiter is the largest planet of the solar system, fifth in order of distance from the sun.

# Saturn is a large planet in the solar system that has rings around it and is 6th in order of distance from the sun.

# Uranus is the planet in the solar system that is 7th in order of distance from the sun.

# Neptune is a planet in the solar system that is 8th in order of distance from the sun.

# An asteroid is one of the very small planets that move around the sun between Mars and Jupiter.

# A comet is a bright object with a long tail that travels around the sun.

# A species of animal or plant that is extinct no longer has any living members, either in the world or in a particular place.

=====

Sun - Mercury - Venus - Earth - Mars - Jupiter - Saturn - Uranus - Neptune - Pluto

When I was a high school student, I dreamed about visiting to the moon or another planets. I liked science fiction novels such as From the Earth to the Moon, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne and Movies such as Back to the future series. Actually, the reason why I chose my English nickname, Albert is that I was so curious and respected famous theoretical physicist, Albert Einstein. Anyway, the solar system is very interesting. It's difficult to memorize the planet name in order of distance from the sun in Korean and memorizing its name in English is not easy even though I've already memorized them in Korean. The more I am accustomed to use the solar system terminology for example I read the science book or watch the science movie, the more I can easily recall them. And before I read this article, I don't know what terrestrial planets and the gaseous planets are. I find out the people can't live in the gaseous planets because they are no air and mostly of gas. I want to see the comet and make my wish. After that, the comet makes my hope come true.

Talk about the different colored buses in Seoul and what they mea

2009-12-07T11:00:00.003+09:00

## The English you can speak, Nov 11 2009

In 2004, the Seoul Metropolitan Government did a complete overhaul of its public transportation system. Each bus type is colored differently, depending on its category. Green buses, called 지선버스, mainly operate routes between major subway stations and residential areas. These local buses are marked with a four-digit number and a big "G" for green. Blue buses, called 간선버스, run on the main artery roads in Seoul, connecting suburban areas to downtown. These buses have a three-digit number and a big "B" for blue. Red indicates inter-city buses, linking major areas of Seoul with outer metropolitan satellite cities, such as Ilsan and Bundang. Called 광역버스, they have four-digit numbers and a big "R" for red. Yellow buses, called 순환버스, run on a circular route around major business and shopping areas within downtown Seoul. These bus numbers have just two digits and a big "Y" to stand for yellow. In addition, each district has smaller neighborhood buses marked with two-digit numbers that make frequent stops on a more limited route.

# If you overhaul a system or method, you examine it carefully and make many changes in it in order to improve it.

# Arteries are the tubes in your body that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body.

# You can refer to an important main route within a complex road, railway, or river system as an artery.

## In this article, I can easily understand which different colors of buses are and its meanings. Actually, yellow buses are rarely driven in downtown. The only time I see yellow one is on the way which I went to Nam-san. Before this public transportation system was introduced in 2004, I should pay a fare every time whenever I got on bus or subway. Now, it's free to change your ride both bus and subway in a certain time with a little extra money, if you pay one time to get on bus or subway. But, 5 years ago, if you wanted to change your ride, you had to pay again. So, I didn't think about transporting from bus to subway or from subway to bus since I wanted to pay a fare only one time. Anyway, these days, it's very convenient to use a public transportation system.

# Do you know what the four different colors of buses in Seoul are?

# What do you think of the public transportation system in Seoul?

# Explain how to get to your school or office.

김 세엽 - DREAM LIKE LOVE (KUG AWARD 2009)

2009-12-06T00:45:00.001+09:00

KUG Award 2009 메인 이벤트 1위

전 아날로그 디바이스 반도체 설계 디자이너
현 BEEHBIRD CEO

“감성을 터치하는 프레젠테이션 디자인”

김 세엽 - DREAM LIKE LOVE (KUG AWARD 2009)

KUG Presentation Party 에서 본인이 가진 창의적인 프레젠테이션 능력을 유감없이 보여주신 분,
프레젠테이션 디자인을 하나의 드라마로 승화시킬 수 있는 재능을 가진 김세엽님

시작은 반도체 설계 디자이너였지만, 이제 본인의 꿈을 찾아 떠납니다.
이 이야기는 김세엽님께서 본인의 꿈을 찾고 그것을 결정하기까지의 한 편의 드라마를 보여줍니다.

여러분도 김세엽님처럼 자신의 이야기를 가지고 있다고 믿습니다.
TEDxMyeongDong 은 바로 여러분의 꿈과 아이디어가 실현되는 무대입니다.
(http://www.tedxmyeongdong.com/TEDxMyeongDong____Visualize_Your_Idea/TEDxMyeongDong/Entries/2009/11/30_김_세엽_-_Dream_Like_Love_(KUG_Award_2009).html)

=====
Technology Entertainment Design

Dream Like Love ?

우리는 모두 인생을 살아가는 순간에 선택을 하게 된다.
선택에 관한 이야기를 해보고자 한다.
자신의 선택에 대한 결과의 실망-
어떻게 하면 후회없는 선택을 할수 있을까?
이제 나의 선택에 대한 이야기 책을 펼쳐 보고자 한다.

우리가 원하는 선택을 얼마나 했나?

# 저의 나이테
2001~2006 : 전자공학, 반도체 회로 설계, 회사-
2009 : 어떤 선택을 해야 하나?

20대 중반까지는 일상적으로, 30대 중반까지는 벤처, 40대 중반까지는 자기 회사

16,425 : 남아 있는 날의 숫자
7,300 : 20년, 무엇인가를 할수 있는 날

# 내가 잘하는것은 무엇일까? 내가 무엇을 하고 싶은지? 내가 좋아하는 일이 뭘까?

자기자신에 대해서 잘 모른다. 여러분들의 진정한 꿈을 찾아야 한다.
회사에서 했던일은 무엇일까? 스키 워크샾. 조별로 주제 발표한다. 3년동안 1등

잘하는것을 다 적고, 그것을 그룹화 하고, 특성을 찾아내자 -> 기술과 디자인 회사를 만들자
Founding a Technical Presentation Design Company

KUG를 찾고 발표를 많이 했다. -> BEEHBIRD

다양한 경험 < 나는 누구인가? < 나의 꿈 < 선택 -> 성공의 조건

아이비리그 1500명 조사 . 좋아하는 일을 하는 사람이 백만장자가 된다.

Dream + time => Vision 을 시간에 따라 나누면 plan 이 된다. 결국은 dreams come true

대부분의 사람들이 머리로 꿈을 찾는다. 가슴이 두근거리는것을 찾아라.

가슴으로 꿈을 꾸고 가슴으로 선택한길 나는 이길을 걷고자 한다.
왜냐하면 위리의 인생은 단 한번 뿐이기 때문이다.
꿈을 꾼다면 사랑처럼..

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그렇다. 꿈을 가져야 한다. 졸업후 뭔가를 해야할지 모르는 이때..

산에 오르는 방법만 배웠지. 어디가 산 정상인지는 누구도 알려주지 않았다.

그러니. 밑에서 빙글빙글 돌수밖에..

산 정상을 찾으러 가자-

박 수만 - ME2DAY (KUG AWARD 2009)

2009-12-06T00:07:00.002+09:00

박 수만 - ME2DAY (KUG AWARD 2009)
현 NHN 모바일팀 미투데이 담당
명지대학교 컴퓨터공학 석사

“한 줄 적기”로 대변되는 마이크로블로깅 서비스가 화두가 되는 요즘입니다.
미국에서 대표적인 마이크로블로깅 서비스라면 트위터를 들 수 있다면 한국의 국가대표는 뭐니뭐니 해도 미투데이라고 말할 수 있습니다.
미투데이는 우리가 살아가는 소소한 일상 속에서 문득 스쳐지나가는 이야깃거리들을 공유하고 이를 통해 소통하는 마이크로블로깅 서비스입니다.

미투데이를 만든 박수만님께서 미투데이 속에서 벌어지는 재밌는 이야기 그리고 미투데이가 만든 문화들을 여러분과 공유합니다.
이름보다는 “만박”이라는 닉네임으로 유명한 박수만님을 초대합니다.

=====
# 음식 사진. 휴대폰으로 실시간으로 올릴수 있다. DSLR로 잘 찍은 사진은 아니다.
실시간 커뮤니케이션에서 어떤 의미를 가질까?

# 좋은 음식점에 와서 사진을 올린다. 블로그나 미니홈피에 올린다. 하지만 트위터나 미투데이--
새벽 1시 반에 올라오는 라면 사진이 더 실질적으로 다가온다.

# 트위터 미투데이는 실시간 커뮤니케이션, : 문자 보내듯이 손쉽게 보낼수 있다.
- 간단한 형식(140자)
- 편리한도구(언제든지, 핸드폰으로도 가능)
- 일상의 소재(날것들을 보여둔다.)

# 블로그는 내가 잘하는것을 정성드려서 한다.

- 떡볶이는 안먹습니다. , 홍대에 있는 제너럴닥터, 미투 서비스를 사용해서
- 갑자기 열 오른다 우리애- -> 해결방법들을 미투에서 알려준다.
- 미투데이 이야기, 병원에서 뭘 먹었는지, 적어오라고 했는데. 그러지 말고 미투데이에 올려라
- 출산임박 화이팅, 사랑이가 태어났어요- 실시간으로 업로드, 사람들의 소소한 이야기.
- 제주도 7월 4일, 같은 장소에서 사진을 올린다.
- 영계백숙 - 주차번호판 55 오 5555
- 내 이름은 박수만 입니다. 구글 실시간 번역기.

- 돼지 릴레이
- 디데이 기념 보인인증샷! -> 팬 70,000명에게 모두 전송

- 7월 14일 : 탄천이 불어나고있다
- 7월 16일 : 개기 일식 사진
- 8월 10일 : 쌍무지개

- 서울 일대에 이런일이 일어나고 있구나- 세상에서 어떤일이 벌어지는구나-

- smalltalk : 잦은 소소한 대화가 친밀감과 신뢰를 만든다.
- me2DAY : 기존과 다른 커뮤니케이션 서비스
- 어떻게 하면 더 많은 사람들이 쓸수 있게 하느냐-
- 미투데이 지금, 무슨 생각해?

=====
그렇데 미투데이. 트위터.. 일단 부담없이 소소한 이야기를 할수 있어서 좋다.
아직까지 주변친구들이 많이 사용하고 있진 않지만.
하나둘씩 하기 시작하면 블로그, 미니홈피처럼 커다란 흐름이 될것이다.
일단 아이폰 같은 스마트폰을 잘 활용하는 사람이면 쉽게 접근할수 있겠지

잦은 소소한 대화가 친밀감과 신뢰를 만든다. 흠.
트위터나 미투데이를 하는 가장 큰 이유이다. 실시간 커뮤니케이션이라는것
만나서 이야기 하는것이 아니라, 사진찍어서 올리고 댓글받고, 또 댓글 달고..
공간적으로만 떨어져있지, 마치 옆에 있는것처럼 느껴질 것이다.

그러게,난 지금 무슨 생각할까?. 자꾸 트위터에 접속하게 된다.-

Talk about the dangers of dozing off behind the wheel.

2009-12-02T00:01:00.002+09:00

## The English you can speak, 1 Dec 2009

Dozing off behind the wheel can be as dangerous as driving under the influence. However, unlike drinking and driving, there is no breathalyzer test for driving while fatigued. Drowsy motorists are responsible for thousands of fatalities each year. Sleep-related accidents are most common from midnight to dawn and during holiday seasons. Most people know when they are fighting sleep, but they just desperately want to get to their destination. Sleepiness slows down our brain functions and delays reaction time. Tactics like chewing gum, blasting music, opening the window, and slapping your own face are sometimes to no avail. Caffeine can be a temporary fix, but it still requires time to kick in to your system. If you feel your eyelids drooping, the only thing you can do is to pull over to a rest area and take a catnap.

# If you doze off, you fall into a light sleep, especially during the daytime.

# Driving under the influence(DUI) of alcohol or other drugs is the act of operating a vehicle after consuming alcohol or other drugs. It is a criminal offense in most countries.

# A breathalyzer is a bag or electronic device that the police use to test whether a driver has drunk too much alcohol.

# If you are feeling fatigued, you are suffering from extreme physical or mental tiredness.

# If you feel drowsy, you feel sleepy and cannot think clearly.

# A fatality is a death caused by an accident or by violence.

# If you are desperate for something or desperate to do something, you want or need it very much indeed.

# If something droops, it hangs or leans downwards with no strength or firmness.

# A catnap is a short sleep, usually one which you have during the day.

## I've gotten a driver license since 2000. I can count to how many time I drove a car from 2000, maybe around 10 or something. Anyway, this year I renewed a driver's license even though I think I am not accustomed to drive and almost forget how to drive. The good thing is that my driver license is new one. And what is worse that I am a person who is easy to fall asleep anyplace, anytime. So I'm worrying that I would doze off behind the wheel if I drive a car. The reason why I like to ride my bicycle is that I couldn't fall asleep on a little saddle.

# Have you ever dozed off while driving?

# What are some ways to stay awake behind the wheel?

# When you are sitting in the passenger seat, what can you do to help the driver stay awake?

조 민희 - I SHOP THEREFORE I AM (KUG AWARD 2009)

2009-12-01T22:04:00.002+09:00

조 민희 - I SHOP THEREFORE I AM (KUG AWARD 2009)

쇼핑에 대한 창의적인 새로운 시각을 선사해주신 조민희님.

IgniteSeoul을 통해 검증된 조민희님의 열정적인 발표력이 합쳐져서 환상적인 프레젠테이션을 창조했습니다.

마지막으로 I shop therefore I am 이라는 책의 내용을 기반으로 본인의 생각을 더해 재밌으면서도 새로운 프레젠테이션의 시각을 제시했습니다.

=====

# 즐거운 토요일

# 맥주약속 있으시죠? 전 세계에 있는 전체 맥주의 개수는?

1) 5,000

2) 10,000

3) 20,000

=> 20,000개 정답

20,000 / 365 = 55 년

25살부터 55년 80살이 되어야 다 먹을수 있다.

# 우리가 좋아하는 맥주를 잘 찾을수 있는 방법?

- 어떻게 하면 내가 좋아하는 맥주를 잘 찾을수 있을까?

# 우리가 좋아하는 것들만 골라해도 시간이 부족하다

- 어떤 사람이 어떤 상품을 좋아할 것인가는 기존에 그 사람이 소개했던 것으로 유추

# I shop therefore I am

- 과거 소비 패턴을 리버스 엔지니어링 해서 미래에 뭘 좋아할것인가를 알아냄

# 코로나 < 기네스

까르보나라 < 회 => 어떤 여행지를 좋아할 것인가?

1. Data Collecting

Fashion, Movie, Travel, Experience

2. Data Reasoning

내일부터 내가 좋아하는 맥주를 먹을수 있다

좋아하는걸 해라.

# Be happier!

# I shop therefore I am

- Barbara Kruger / photographic silkscreen / vinyl / 1987

[느낀점]

사실 우리가 모든것을 다 해볼수는 없다. 그렇다면 내가 선택했던 data를 바탕으로

내가 더 좋아하고 흥미있어 하는것을 찾아내는 것. 그게 창의적인 생각이 아닐까?

근데, 왜 쇼핑에 대한 창의적인 생각일까?..

또, 시간이 없어서 인지 굉장히 말이 빠르다. 동영상이었으니까 정지해서 정리하고 했지

실시간이었다면, 많은 부분을 놓쳤을것 같다.

그럼, 내가 좋아하는 것은 무엇이지??

효정 결혼 축하 모임, 어겐 2001, 091129

2009-11-29T16:43:00.001+09:00

반가운 얼굴들..

초상권이 있는 사람은 얼른 알려주길 바래-ㅋ

기록은 기억을 지배하니, 10년뒤에 보면 재미있을꺼야.

Talk about some major cable TV channels in Korea.

2009-11-27T09:18:00.002+09:00

## The English you can speak, 25 Nov 2009

Today, the Korean TV audience enjoys a whole array of cable TV channels. First, it is the age of round-the-clock news media, and Korea is no exception. YTN and MBN are Korean version of CNN and CNBC. There are channels dedicated to movies such as OCN, Super Action and XTM. Channels like Olive, On Style, and GTV satiate Koreans' appetite for talk shows, foreign dramas, sitcoms and reality programs. There are channels that specialize in sports like MBC-ESPN, SBS sports, KBS N Sports, XSports, and J Golf. With Korea being the world's online gaming capital, there are even channels solely devoted to e-sports such as MBC Game on OnGameNet. There are also music and entertainment channels such as Mnet, MTV Korea, ETN, and TvN. Of course, Korean students rely heavily on educational programming. Channels like EBS+1, EBS+2, EBS English and JEI target that demographic. Of course, there are also tons of home shopping channels. Last of all, a channel called Arirang TV creates various programs to promote Korea and aims at bringing Korea to the rest of the world.

# round-the-clock : all day and all night without stopping

# If something such as food or pleasure satiates you, you have all that you need or all that you want of it. often so much that you become tired of it.

# In business, a demographic is a group of people in a society, especially people in a particular age group.

## When I had installed a TV-receiver card on my computer in freshman of university, I spent many night thoughtlessly just to watch cable TV programs. I think I was addicted to watch e-sports and american TV dramas. My favorite computer game was Starcraft which is a military science fiction real-time strategy game. I loved to play it with my friend all night and played very well. But, now I prefer just watching the game to playing because other plays very well, so I was almost defeated and it makes me sad. Anyway, I make an effort not to watch TV and try to do some exercise. The reason is that whenever I watch TV, time goes very fast just to sit on my couch or to eat some snacks. So, I don't want my wife to buy a big screen TV in our house, even though it's custom for bride to buy a new TV when she get married. If there is a TV show and TV drama I'm interested in, I try to find out how interesting it is through the internet and can easily download it and watch only that program. There are many commercials that make me bored on TV.

# Do you have cable TV service at home? How much is the service?

# Which cable TV channel do you usually watch? Please explain why.

# Have you watched e-sports on game channels?

Explain what factor "age" plays in relationships in Korean culture

2009-11-25T13:52:00.003+09:00

## The English you can speak, Oct 1 2009

Korean society still has a rigid age hierarchy deeply rooted in its Confucian past. In fact, the Korean word for "friend", "친구" by definition applies exclusively to people who are the same age as you. For those older than you, you must choose an appropriate honorific to indicate that relationship. Guys must refer to an older male as "형" and an older female as "누나". If you are a girl, the proper terms are "언니" to indicate an older female and "오빠" for an older male. These terms are used within a family to mark the relationships between siblings as well. That same pecking order also applies to students who go to school together. Koreans place a lot of weight on the "senior-junior" relationship. Not showing the proper level of respect to a senior is considered a big social faux pas.

# Laws, rules, or systems that are rigid cannot be changed or varied, and are therefore considered to be rather severe.

# An honorific title or way of talking is used to show respect or honour to someone.

# The pecking order of a group is the way that the positions people have are arranged.

# A faux pas is a socially embarrassing action or mistake

## It's an "age" custom for Korean to live with rigid age hierarchy. The "senior-junior" relationship is also very important in the Korean society and university life. So we have to use honorifics when we meet a person for the first time. As we start to be familiar with each other, then we ask naturally "how old are you?" to select appropriate honorific. When I was young, I was confused which honorific I should say to my siblings. The guy is always happy whenever they are heard "오빠". Some girl call the guy "오빠", it means girl who is younger then guy wants to talk with him. It's so cute for girl to say it.

# How important a factor does age play in your life?

# Do you think the emphasis on age is good or bad?

# Talk about some customs we have related to age.

# Talk about honorifics in the Korean language which have to do with age.

[SDA] C1) Love and Marriage

2009-11-12T17:13:00.002+09:00

Level 6 Unit 1 Day4 Conversation

## Love and Marriage

1. What's love?

That's a hard question. I know what is love but it's not easy to define it. I already love my parents, my sister and my girlfriend. When I asked my girlfriend what is love, she answered. "Whenever I eat delicious food, from time to time I think of you. It must be love." I think love is a sweet action which I would take care of someone. Love is an interest for others.

2. Do people change when they fall in love?

Sure, I think everyone change when they fall in love. When someone fall in love, he's less selfish. He start to worry more about partner and less about himself. The world needs more love. In my case, I felt one of the pretty happiest guys in the world and felt like everything is beautiful. And I can do anything for her.

3. How can you tell if someone loves you?

Wow. Interesting question. I think the only way to really know if someone loves me is that she tell me herself. In that situation, if I know someone loves me, I am looking forward to meeting and talking her. I can easily start to be on familiar with her.

4. What's the difference between loving and liking someone?

I think loving someone involves more commitment than just liking someone. First you like someone, and as time goes on you grow to love them as well. And love is something that's permanent. You might not always like the way spouse is acting at the moment, but you still love them. Liking someone can be temporary.

5. Is love necessary for a happy marriage?

I think it is. If you don't love each other, you won't want to work out problems. You'll just want to separate. Love is important because it keeps people together through hard times.

6. What's your opinion on arranged marriages?

Arranged marriages are sometimes a good idea. It's difficult to meet similar person in order to get married. Matchmakers put people together based on their similar traits like religion and economic status. I think that kind of process helps people have successful relationships.

7. How should problems be solved within a marriage?

I would go to counseling with my wife and do everything possible to save my marriage. In my case, I will absolutely trust my wife and hope that my wife would trust like me. And I would say everything to my wife and tell her to forgive me whether I did or not.

8. Does having children make marriage more difficult?

I don't think so. If anything, it probably makes a marriage stronger. Having children brings a couple closer and makes them more committed to each other. It can only get better from there.

9. What do you think about divorce?

Divorce is a horrible thing. If it wasn't an option, people would choose more carefully who they marry. The option makes people lazy to solve problems, and they always have it in the back of their minds.

10. Is it okay for a couple to live together before they're married?

I don't think it's a good idea. It allows people to live with each other without commitment. You could really be fooled by the other person and ruin your life. In my opinion, it's kind of dishonest action for future spouse. But these days, our society thought start to change.

Blog analysis, October 2009

2009-11-01T14:25:00.000+09:00

## Google Analytics (http://www.google.com/analytics)

- 방문자 수는 지난달(828)에 비해 약간 증가했습니다.

- 역시나, 네이버 검색을 통해 유입되는 비율이 50%를 넘습니다.

- 자전거와 네비게이션에 관한 콘텐츠가 항상 1위를 하던 첫번째 페이지를 넘어섰습니다.

- 네이버 검색, 네이버 카페를 통해서 방문자가 많이 들어오는군요

- meta.sangogi.com을 통해서도 유입되는 경우가 있군요

- twitterfeed를 통해서 blogspot에 글을 올리는 경우, 저절로 트윗팅이 되니, twitter를 통해 유입되는 경우가 지난달 10위에서 7위로 올랐군요

- 부동의 1위 였던, 첫번째 페이지를 누르고, 자전거와 네비게이션 페이지가 1위로 올라왔습니다.

- 역시나, 양질의 콘텐츠가 방문자를 많이 유도하는군요

## Daum WebInSide(http://inside.daum.net)

- 여기서도 /09/gps_28.html 자전거와 네비게이션 페이지가 1위군요

- 자전거와 네비게이션이 하트코스를 누르고 1위로 올라왔습니다.

- 이젠, 자전거에 네비게이션을 달고 하트코스를 일주한 포스팅을 올리면, 인기가 많을것 같군요-

- 역시나 짝수달이라서 그런지 sda term project가 인기 검색어에 올라왔네요

- SDA 관련 영어 자료도 올려두면 인기가 많을것 같습니다.

- 자전거와 네비게이션 페이지 짱-!

# Visitors(www.flagcounter.com)

- 이번에는 좀 게을러서 11월 12일날 10월달 자료를 정리합니다.

- 이것도 매달 해주는것이 없나??

## 총평

- 사람들이 관심있어하는 주제에 대해서 써보자.(자전거, 네비게이션, 하트코스, 뚜벅이 네비)

- 네이버 블로그는 한국사람들이 관심을 가질 주제라면, Blogspot은 외국에서도 관심을 가질수 있는 주제로 글을 써보자.

- 그럴러면 영어로 써야 된다.

- 위키를 참고하여(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population) 미국인구는 약 3억명, 우리나라 인구는 4800만명 정도다. 우리나라 인구를 5천 정도로 잡았을때, 약 6배 정도. 그럼 공평하게 내 블로그에 온다고 하면 이론상으로는 미국 방문자수가 한국 방문자 수에 비해 6배가 많아야하는데. 미국방문자를 6배 곱해도 한국 방문자가 더 적으니... 역시나, 영어로 꾸준한 포스팅을 하자-

Bicycle analysis, October 2009 by Garmin 301, GPS

2009-11-01T13:10:00.000+09:00

- 총 이동거리 : 391.59km, 총 이동시간 : 20시간 1분

- 평균속도 : 19.6km/h

- 역시 등하교 말고는 추석때 2번 자전거 탄게 전부 이군요

- 한번은 북악 스카이, 한번은 포천을 다녀왔습니다.

- 이번달 부터 일요일에는 지하철 제일 앞,뒤 칸에는 자전거를 가지고 탈수 있습니다.

- 바쁘다는 핑계로, 춥다는 핑계로 못탔는데, 그러면 안되겠죠!

- 18일날은 형 사무실 갔다가, 형이 맥주 한잔 하자고 해서, 상봉에서 형집(의정부)까지는 차 뒤에 자전거를 실어서 이동했습니다(앞바퀴 빼고 난후), 승용차 뒷자리에도 실을만 하더군요

- 주말엔 자전거 안타고 뭐했을까요?? 흠흠

Talk about some unique Korean table manners.

2009-10-29T21:21:00.003+09:00

# The English you can speak, 29 Oct 2009

There are several things you want to keep in mind when it comes to table manners in Korea. First, you should not start digging into your food before an elder starts eating. If you finish eating before someone older than you, stay seated until that person finishes. As a general rule of thumb, if someone older than you offers to pour you a drink, it's good not to reject it even if you don't drink it. Blowing your nose at the table is considered very rude. One thing that may be awkward for a Westerner is that toilet paper is sometimes used instead of napkins at the table. Although regular napkins are becoming more common, it's just that Koreans don't see a roll of toilet paper as something that you solely use in the bathroom. If you're having meat, scissors are often used to cut it into bite-sized pieces. I know that this may be odd for Westerners, but that's how it is in Korea.

# An awkward situation is embarrassing and difficult to deal with.

# If you describe someone or something as odd, you think that they are strange or unusual.

## We have many several table customs in Korea. First, it's polite to start eating after the elder has started. I think it's a kind of respect for the elderly. When I lived with my grandparents, I should wait for a long time to pick my spoon and chopsticks. I could start to eat at the table after my grandfather, grandmother, father and mother had started. Next, I should stay seated until elders finish eating even though I finish my eating. So, I sometimes controlled my eating speed to keep pace with others. It's one of the most awkward thing just to star at people who are eating while I sit on the chair and do nothing. Last of all, I should learn how to use chopsticks. Every Korean uses chopsticks in the same way. When I was young, my grandmother always scolded me if I used it a different way. I know that this may be stressful, but that's how it is in our customs.

# What is considered rude at the Korean dinner table?

# What kind of table manners did you mother teach you?

# When did you learn how to use chopsticks?

# Talk about some mistakes you made at the dinner table.

Talk about how Koreans love to eat squid

2009-10-28T22:16:00.004+09:00

## The English you can speak, 28 Oct 2009

Koreans absolutely love squid. They're called "Oh Jing Er" in Korean. Squid is a popular side dish and there are many ways it can be prepared. It can be eaten steamed and dipped in vinegared red pepper paste. You can also enjoy it raw, fresh out of the ocean. It is also served as a sort of salad, mixed with a combination of greens, spicy sauce and vinegar. It's also used in a soup, which is known to be an effective home remedy for hangovers. Dried squid is also very popular. Dried squid is cut up and enjoyed in the same way that Westerners enjoy jerky with their beer. It really goes well with peanuts. Roasted half-dried squid flavored with butter is also a great snack enjoyed at movie theaters or concession stands. Squid is also the base for tons of chips you can find at the store.

# A squid is a sea creature with a long soft body and many soft arms called tentacles.

# A remedy is a successful way of dealing with a problem.

# If someone wakes up with a hangover, they feel sick and have a headache because they have drunk a lot of alcohol the night before.

# Jerky is meat that has been cut into strips, trimmed of fat, marinated in a spicy, or sweet liquid, and dried or smoked with low heat or is occasionally just salted and sun-dried.

# Concession stand is the term used to refer to a place where patrons can purchase snacks or food at a cinema, fair, stadium, or other entertainment venue.

## Actually, I like to eat squid, especially fresh one, raw squid. The best place where I eat raw squid is any place of many beach-side restaurants around the ocean. It was very fresh and delicious. So whenever I go to the ocean in order to see a wave, take a rest, and so on, I can enjoy seafood fresh out the ocean.

And dried squid with peanuts is the most common side dish you would order at a bar in Korea while drinking a cup of beer. It is so simple and no difficulty in digestion.

# Do you like to eat dried squid? Why or why not?

# Have you ever tried raw squid? What was it like?

# What kind of squid snacks have you tried?

# Do you know how to cook squid soup?

Think Big - Ben Carson

2009-10-20T11:03:00.003+09:00

"Insightful Thoughts" adapted from Ben Carson, Think Big

IN THE TENTH GRADE, I had fallen under the influence of peer pressure. In addition to my grades going downhill, I had to have the kind of clothes that my peers wore. In those days the popular style was anything Italian or leather - especially Italian knit shirts, pants, and a leather jacket.

"Please, Mother," I remember begging, "please buy me just one outfit. I don't like being different from my friends."

"If they're really your friends, it won't matter how you're dressed," she said.

"But Mother, you don't understand. Everybody dresses that way."

Although her answers varied, ultimately she would say, "We don't have the money."

One day I kept begging her for just one Italian-knit shirt. Mother sighed deeply.

"Benjamin, I'll tell you what. I'm going to turn the budget over to you. You pay for the food and take care of all the other bills. You can have what's left over."

"All right! Now you're talking."

"But first, you have to pay the bills," she said. "You count out all the cash I give you and then allocate money for all our basic needs. After you pay all the bills, whatever is left, you can have. You can take every penny and go downtown and buy all the Italian knit shirts you want."

At last I won. No more nagging. No more begging for Italian knits and leather jackets. I could buy them myself.

The next week, Mother handed me all the money she made the last week. Then she handed me a list of expenses for things such as food, gas for the car, and utility bills. I worked eagerly, but of course, long before I came to clothing I had run out of money.

"There isn't any money left," I said with disappointment. I hadn't even put down money for lunches or the telephone bill."

"That's right, Bennie. And you know I didn't hold anything back. This is about the same amount I earn every week."

"I know, I said. As I looked at her, for the first time I felt ashamed for insisting on Italian shirts. "But... how do you do it?" I asked.

"Only with the Lord's help." she said.

That was a moment of insight for me. For the first time in my life I truly understand the meaning of the hardship my mother lived under. No matter how often I looked at the income and compared it with what we had to pay out, it amazed me that my mother could keep our family alive. Never again did I ask her for an Italian shirt.

My mother gained insight through her experiences in the working world. When she applied her insight, it became wisdom. This I know for certain: Mother's wisdom rescued me from what might have been another disaster in my life.

===== Thanks, John.

# peer pressure : social pressure from your peers(similar age group) to follow them

# going downhill : getting worse

# nagging : to annoy or bother someone

## Long time ago, I had a same experience to buy a pair of NIKE shoes. When I was middle school, I had fallen under the influence of peer pressure to wear NIKE shoes. It was too expensive to buy them by myself. My memories about the price of shoes was approximately over 100,000 won at the least. Like Ben, I kept begging and nagging my mom just one NIKE basketball shoes designed for Micheal Jordan. If I wear them, I felt I could jump more twice then usual and fly into the sky like MJ, especially playing basketball, I truly believed I could do slum dunk on the basket like comic books. I don't remember why my mind could be changed to think about them. Now, I'm thinking about the time when I used to begging and nagging my mom, I have been so ashamed of myself for my inconsiderate thought. Whenever I told my mom to buy them, she felt to be heartbroken not to be able to buy new shoes for me. I am so sorry about my mom and regretted it. Anyway, I sometimes buy nike shoes by myself after I grow up and make money. Actually, they are very comfortable and fit me well even if I could not fly. But, they are still expensive for me.