Last Topic: What's Next?

I cannot believe that our semester has already come nearly to its end!  I have thoroughly enjoyed spending this semester with you all.  You have brought much joy, happiness, and laughter to me, and I will definitely miss each and every one of you.

My last question to you is regarding about the next step.  Now that we have completed our semester, what's next for you?  Where will you go?  What will you do? 

Topic 10: Biggest Regret

As we go through life, we make mistakes here and there.  As a result, we often experience regret at the mistakes we have made.  I do not know about all of you, but I do believe that our succeses as well as our failures or mistakes shape who we have become. 

My question to you for today is regarding your biggest regret.  What is one moment or incident that you regret?  What happened?  Why do you regret it so much?

For me, my story goes back to when I was in junior high school (this was not very long ago.... ;) ).  When I was a junior high school student, I had a friend named Aimee.  During that time, we became really, really good friends.  I would almost say she nearly became my best friend at that time.  Unfortunately, due to reasons which I cannot remember, we ended up getting into a huge argument.  I do not think I have ever been involved in such a big argument as I did with her.  As a result of this argument, we stopped being friends.  After a couple of years passed, we reconciled and became "friends," but it was nothing like before.  We were not nearly as close as we had been.  Now, I will tell you what exactly it is that I regret so much.  When we entered high school, we discovered that she had a brain tumor.  When I found out, I was shocked and surprised.  Even though we had reconciled, I do not think we had TRULY reconciled.  There was still a lot of tension between us, for we had not completely told each other everything.  As the years rolled by, I always told myself in my mind that I needed to fully clear everything with her.  Although I kept meaning to, time continued to slip by.  I noticed that she eventually started wearing a wig and then a hat because she was doing chemotherapy.  Still, I did not go to her and completely make amends.  Then one day, while I was in the library, one of my friends came running to me with tears in her eyes.  When we asked her what was wrong, she told us, "Aimee just passed away."  I could not believe it. I was in shock and deep sadness.  Then I thought, "I never completely made my peace with her..."

Therefore, this is what I consider to be one of my biggest regrets.  I wish I had spoken to her sooner....but I will never ge that chance.

What about you?

Questions 9: Having Fun

I do not think it is necessary for me to ask if you all have friends, for I am sure you have MANY!  However, how many of you are extroverts, and how many are introverts?  Therefore, when it comes to having the most fun, do you like to be alone, with a large group, or with a small group of really good friends?  Why is that? I have said this on many occasions (though none of you seemed to believe me!), but I am naturally a very shy individual.  Therefore, although I do not mind being in a situation where there are lots of people, I find myself having the most fun when I am with a few good friends.  With that said, I suppose I am an introvert?   What about all of you?

Question 8: Supernatural Ability

If you could possess one supernatural ability, what would it be and why?  Do you think you would use this ability all the time, or would you use it only on occasion?  Why?

For me, I do not know why, but I have always wanted to fly.  The funny thing, I have a mild fear of heights.  Therefore, you would think that I would be terrified of the idea of flying.  However, that does not fear me. I always thought it would be so fun and freeing to be able to fly.  Whenever I look at some birds (i.e. eagle), they look so free and at times, majestic.  I think there is something very liberating about the ability of being able to fly. 

What about you?

Question 7: Why Does This Exist?

A fly

As you know, this world is full of living creatures.  We have plants, animals, HUMANS, etc.  They all have a purpose and play some role in life.  However, is there anything that currently exists which you wonder why they exist?  As I was thinking about this question, my first thought was flies. To me, they are so annoying and dirty.  I at first wondered, "Why do flies exist?"  However, I realized that they serve the purpose of being food to other living creatures, i.e. a frog. 

Therefore, I continued to ponder on this topic a little more and finally came with an answer.  A COCKROACH.  I do not understand their purpose in our lives!!  Why do they exist?  They completely scare me, and I feel itchy, unclean, and squeamish when I see one. 

A cockroach

With that said, what about you?  What is one living creature that you do not understand its existence?

Question #6: My Indispensable Item

What is one item that you absolutely cannot live WITHOUT?  For instance, is it your cell phone?  Is it a piece of jewelry?  What is that item, and what happens if you do not have it with you?  Why do you always need this with you?

For me, as much as I do not want to admit this, I think my item is my cell phone.  I know that some people feel more liberty if they "accidentally" forget their cell phones at home.  I, on the other hand, am the complete opposite.  I do not feel complete and if it is possible, I will go back and get my cell phone.  There were many occasions when I forgot my phone at home, but I almost always went back to get it.  However, there was this one day when I was too far away from home to go back to get it, so I ultimately spent the entire day without it.  Boy!  I
sure felt strange!!  I think in my case, I do so many things on my phone: talk, text, check email, read news, get on social media, etc.  Therefore, I always need it. 

How about you?  What is the one item that you absolutely always need with you??

Question #5: Your Birthday!

Do any of you have a birthday coming up?  In my case, mine already passed in May, and it was my first birthday as a mom.  It was a little surreal, but I definitely loved it!

How do you feel when it is your birthday?  Do you feel excited?  Sad?  Indifferent?  Is the way you feel about your birthday now any different from the way you felt when you were younger?  Do you celebrate your birthday any differently?

Question #4: When I'm Angry...

What do you do when you are angry?  Do you become very quiet and desire to stay by yourself, or do you like to go out and avoid thinking of the problem?  Everyone solves their anger in a variety of ways, and I am interested to read what you all do when you are angry.

When I get angry, I have a variety of reactions. If I am really angry, I will sometimes sit there and cry at the beginning.  Other times, I like to talk to someone, i.e. my husband or my mother.  Whichever way I initially deal with my anger, I usually always end up spending time praying to find peace.  Nowadays, when I get angry, I tend to hug my daughter really close to me, for she helps me to feel much better.  What about all of you?

Question #3: What Makes You Happy?

What makes you happy?  I am sure you are all very happy people, but what in particular makes you especially happy?  Is it your best friend?  Your mother?  Your pet?  The sunrise and sunset?  Please share what it may be.

Ella and I

As you all know, I recently became a mommy.  Although there are many things that make me happy, I would have to say that my answer for this week's question is my five months old daughter, Ella.  She is such a joy, and she is such a good baby.  When people say, "Umma" to her, which means "Mommy" in Korean, she smiles really big.  When I see and hear that, it makes me so happy!  Every time I look at her, my heart is filled with so much joy.  Just recently, she herself started to say, "Umma" all on her own.  Ah!!  I became so happy to know that her first word was, "Mommy."  I hope you all will be able to meet Ella some day soon. :)

Questions #2: California is...

Some of you have been here for over a semester, whereas some of you recently came.  Now that you are here, what do you think of California?  Is it exactly as you had imagined, or is it completely different from what you had envisioned?  What did you expect California to be like? I have heard of students who expected California to be like the shows they had watched while back in their home country.

As I had mentioned before in class, I came to the United States when I was 4 years old.  However, I have lived in Southern California ever since I arrived here.  Therefore, I have to say that I have been spoiled by this weather in this part of the United States!  In the past, I did not realize how wonderful the weather is here although it may not seem so wonderful recently!  However, as I started traveling to more countries, I really came to appreciate and enjoy Southern California weather.

What about you all?

Question 1: Who are You?

The question for today is, "Who are You"?  Several of you gave a short introduction of yourseles in class.  However, I would like to take this opportunity to give you all a chance to introduce yourselves through writing.  Therefore, the question is, "Who are You?"

I will start.  First off, you know my name, which is May Youn Kim.  I was born in South Korea, but my parents and I came to the United States when I was 4 years old.  Ever since arriving here, I have lived in Southern California.  Although I have visited several of the other states, I have lived here in Southern California for all those years.  I came to the teach with the American Language Program in 2010, and I have very much enjoyed teaching here.  I have been married for almost 4 years, and I recently had a daughter.  She is currently almost 5 months old.  As I had already mentioned in class, I LOVE to eat and always like to try new food.  I used to drink coffee EVERY day, but I stopped as soon as I became pregnant.  Even though my daughter is born, I still refrain from drinking coffee. I am sure that you all will get to know me better as the semester continues. 

Now what about you??

Welcome!

This marks the first entry for this blog.  First off, I would like to welcome you all to this class!  I am so excited to have you all in this class and really look forward to getting to know each one of you better throughout the semester.  As I had already mentioned in class before, please be sure to let me help you anytime during the semester if you have any trouble with anything.  Welcome once again, and may the writing begin! :)