Japanese or Korean?

I was asked a question recently about my love for Asia and Japan, and why I chose to learn the Korean language. I wasn't originally planning on posting this, but the question really got me thinking and this is what came out:



Question:

Just curious, but with your love for all things Japanese, why are you considering learning Korean?









Reply:

Well, when I was 12-14 yrs. old, I completely fell in love with Japan and I wanted to learn the language, but when I was 15, I met a Korean exchange student and it got me really thinking about Korea (because I didn't know a thing about the place, language, history, etc.). Then during and around that time, the show "Lost" began ;) ;) and two of the characters in the show are a Korean couple, and they would speak their language. It fascinated me and got me thinking...

Later on, I eventually fell in love with not only Korea, but also China and Vietnam, so I learned and studied the cultures and a bit of the languages...

I had always wanted to learn Japanese, but I was always afraid it would be too difficult to learn (not so much the speaking, just the writing system - it really intimidated me, the same with Chinese). So I thought, since I had fallen in love with many different countries and languages in Asia, why not choose a language that seemed the easiest?



"So I Chose Korean..."


So I chose Korean. What I love about the writing system is that each little symbol represents a letter, and the letters are formed into syllable blocks (and it is also read from left to right). That, I decided might be much easier for me to learn Korean (because I can relate it more to the English language - not much, but a little at least) than to learn say Japanese or Chinese with their pictograph character system (which is quite a mystery to me how one can memorize and recognize all those hundreds of characters and their vague meanings!), or Vietnamese (which is written in Roman letters, but the language is so tonal, the writing system is full of different symbols that represent the different tones).

So... yeah... Does all that answer your question? :laughs:


:)

One of my Dreams...

For those of you who haven’t heard, I am taking college classes, and I wanted to share with you all a paper I wrote for one of my classes. I was assigned to visualize the exact moment in the future when I am experiencing the accomplishment of my biggest dream while still a student. So, having some inspiration from the movie “Little Women”, I came up with this:

~~~~~~~

As I sip the hot and bittersweet taste of my cup of coffee to ward away the cold, winter weather, I turn the keys to the door of my apartment and breathe a tired sigh. I can’t wait to relax and get away from the daily stresses of work and college. As I cross over the threshold into my apartment, I stumble over something. I look down and see a flat, square package. My eyes widen and I feel adrenaline pumping throughout my body. Could it be?

Snatching up the package, I rush into my apartment and close the door, shutting away the noise and hubbub of daily traffic. I excitedly tear open the package, my heart beating quickly. Then I see it. A book. MY book. I run my hand over the hard, glossy cover and let my eyes take in the wonder and beauty of such a simple object.

After two years of learning the Korean language and learning the art of watercolor painting, after weeks of trying to find a publisher, and after weeks and weeks of writing, translating, researching, painting, and editing, all the work paid off. I had finally gotten a book published for young Korean children.

As tradition with holding brand new books, I open the book straight in the middle, bury my nose in it, and inhale the wonderful and magical aroma of the “new book” smell. I smile as I lift my head out of the book and realize that it is MY work that has that glorious smell.

I stand there silently holding my work, realizing that it is only the beginning...

Your Music Tastes Shows Your Character (Re-post)

If you're hearing music and you don't know where it's coming from, have no fear! I have recently added a music player called Project Playlist, where it harmlessly plays music that I know and love, and wish to share with all of you! The Player is located at the bottom of my blog, where you can browse the several songs I have added. Enjoy!

I have always thought that the music someone listens to shows a little bit about that person, and I thought what better way to express myself a little more to you all with my choice and style of music that I listen to!

I Don't Believe What I'm Hearing from My Own Mouth...

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but… I am getting a “Facebook”. At first, I was completely against the idea. I thought,

“Wow… it’s just another fad going through my church congregation (surprise!), so whatever.”

But then all my friends starting getting them and telling me how cool and fun they were, and so I felt kind of out of the loop.

But I stood steadfast. I would not get a Facebook. (See "On the Outside and Barely Able to Look In"). But I would still hear of all my friends interacting with each other, and chatting, sharing pictures and videos, and having tons of fun and getting to know each other.

A specific part of my reasons of not wanting a Facebook was that I have a habit of wanting to be noticed by people, and seeking their approval of me. And some specific people that I knew had Facebooks were exactly who I was struggling with wanting to impress. So, I didn’t want that to be a struggle or stumbling block for me, and that was a main reason why I did not want a Facebook. (Of course, know I realize that I don’t have to interact with certain people, so I don’t have to have that stumbling block!)

So, just yesterday, my friend Joelle came over to my house and showed me what exactly a Facebook was like. You can share pictures and videos and have a huge profile, (etc, etc, etc, etc), and I got hooked. If there’s one thing I love about an internet interaction website, it’s the ability to have a huge profile and interact with friends in such a fun way!

So now, I am officially setting up a Facebook account. I am breaking my “vow” of not falling to fads and I am going to have fun and get to know people!

Hope to see you there!

요한복음 3장 16절 (Hangeul - John 3:16)

Hey, check out this old post that I got a comment on! I'm so excited I got critiqued! :)

요한복음 3장 16절 (Hangeul - John 3:16)

What’s the Purpose of Teen Romance?

Here, I’ll get straight to my point. I don’t understand why teens get involved with each other romantically. There is no point whatsoever. I mean, you’re “on” hormones (they are almost like a drug!), you’re inexperienced in everything, and you’re transitioning from childhood to adulthood. Why add the complications of love?

You both are young. You both might have career plans that neither of you know about. Both of your views on life are changing every day because you both are constantly growing in body and mind. When you both finally mature and are fully grown (the average person doesn’t stop growing their brain until around their early twenties!), you both will be completely different people then when you were teens.

I hear rumors and gossip about boys kissing girls and major flirting (in the church congregations I’ve gone to, even!), and I don’t understand why it goes on (behind the parents’ backs, I might add!). Yes, I know, it’s hormones, but that’s no excuse. I personally think people (especially guys) flirt, kiss, etc. just for the buzz and excitement of it. If you really like someone, and care about them, don’t get them confused or befuddled with their emotions by dragging them in emotionally (and also physically, even if it’s just a kiss!). This applies for just one person initiating, or both of them doing it!

I guess I’m lucky. I’ve never had to deal with a romantic relationship. I’ve always dealt with faraway, one-way crushes. I’ve never had a guy like me back (or as far as I know). It’s always just been me admiring a boy from afar, longing for a relationship, and becoming jealous when I would see the guy interacting with girls, while I would be a wall-flower, too scared and infatuated even to stand next to him. Boy, do I sound pathetic…

I guess it’s easy for me to think rationally about this subject because I’ve never been involved in relationships (as much as I often longed for it), and also because I’m getting older, I can look at some things differently then I ever could have when I was younger.

I am glad I never had the opportunity to get emotionally (and, God-forbid, physically) involved with someone. It was bad enough for me to have faraway, one-way crushes, and to have my heart broken in those ways than to be entangled emotionally with a “boyfriend”.

To not have that distraction in my life was a blessing from God. I was able to grow in Christ, and grow mentally and spiritually, especially in this past year, and I attribute it only to God. I did nothing whatsoever, and I thank Him that I was not (and am not) dragged down by my emotions of just another sinful human being (because it’s bad enough having to worry about myself!).

There. My rant is over.

My Summer of 2008

Here is another paper where I would like to share with you my aspirations I would like to accomplish over a period of time that has not happened yet. In this paper, the time period is the summer of 2008. I do not know if any of these events I write about will actually happen, but I will write and dream nonetheless, and pray that God will show me the path He has already prepared for me.

~~

The first month of summer: June.

June was wonderful. It felt so good not to have to worry about deadlines for papers, getting to classes on time, etc. I was so happy to be done with the school year!

I had so much fun getting together with friends that month. We would get together and do crafts, watch movies, and talk, and it was so fun! I invited my friends Hannah and Krista over to draw Manga (Japanese comic drawings) during that month, and we had a lot of fun! I never thought I would like Japanese Animé (animation) or Manga, but it is so fun to draw and color (oh, and I had gotten Manga paper and nine Copic markers, and had already drawn lots of pictures!).

During the middle of June, I got my permit. I couple of days after I got it, my Dad gave me my first driving lesson. It was very weird to be behind the wheel after 18 years of always being a passenger (and it was scary!), but I managed . . . with Dad’s help and patience of course.

On June 22nd, my family and I attended the L.’s 25th Wedding Anniversary party. I had so much fun! The socializing was very neat, and the music and dancing were awesomely spectacular! It was so much fun, and I was very excited because it was the first huge social outing that I could really show everyone my new hairdo (I had gotten it cut a couple weeks prior)! That may sound silly to the reader, but believe it or not, getting my hair cut was a huge milestone in my life.

~~

The second month of summer: July.

July was quite eventful. I attended On Your Toes Studios’ intermediate intensive summer camp. The classes were over three hours (combined) every weekday for two weeks. But I had so much fun and I learned so much! It felt so good to exercise and dance Ballet again after six months of not doing so! I learned (and remembered) lots of technique and moves from the Ballet classes, but Hip Hop and Modern were so foreign to me! I have only danced Ballet, and so a change of pace and mind was quite a change (though I can say it was refreshing and extremely fun!).


I was also still learning how to drive that month (and I hadn’t crashed, yet!), and I was also trying to figure out what I was going to do with my last year of school ahead of me.

~~

The third month of summer: August.

Then August came. The last month of summer. The month of getting ready for the next school year.

I talked to my parents about taking college classes like prerequisites such as math, English, grammar and writing, etc. I knew I would have no problem with any reading or writing assignments, but I knew I needed to get math (and other prerequisites) out of the way before I decided to actually go to college.

I was still trying to decide whether I actually wanted to get a degree of something when I attended college after I graduated. Would I study the Korean language and become a translator? Would I get a degree in Graphic Design and have a professional career? Or would I write books and make a living off of that? These were all really hard questions that were very hard to try to figure out…

But I did know that I wanted to go to college, get my driver’s license, and get a job. I knew I wanted to spread my wings, have more responsibility and independence, become much more confident in myself (for who I am in Christ), and be able to do things I hadn’t been able to do before.

~~

Present (June 10, ’08)

A part of me wishes that everything I have written could go exactly as I have planned. That it would all be perfect and how I wanted it to be. But I know that totally will not be the case. And frankly, I’m glad. For example, the last three or four months (March, April, May, and June, ‘08) did not go anything how I had expected or planned, and I’m glad! God worked tremendously in my life, I got closer to friends and got to know other people, and I could not have done or accomplished any of it! It was all God’s divine plan, and I know He has a plan for my life, even though it may seem that I can’t see it right now.



“A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).

Romans 12

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,

5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;

7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;

8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited.

17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.

18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

"Some of My Favorite 'You-Tube' Videos" Special - part IV

The King and I - March Of The Siamese Children

I absolutely love this scene from "The King and I". The Siamese children are so adorable!






"That's How You Know" from Disney's ENCHANTED

I just saw this movie about two weeks ago... and I LOVE IT!! It is such a cute, sweet, sappy, over-the-top, adorable love story! I highly recomend this movie! :)





Classic Jerry Lewis Moment (from "Cinderfella")





The Incredibles - Where's my Super Suit?

My family loves this movie. We quote this sequence a lot! :)






Anastasia - Once upon a December

Oh, this song is so touching and so sad!

Some of My Favorite Song Lyrics

“God so Loved” (Jaci Velasquez)

God so loved the world
That He gave His one and only Son

That whosoever believes in Him
Will not perish by have everlasting life



“How Many Kings” (Downhere)

How many kings stepped down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?

How many gods have poured out their hearts,
To romance a world that has torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
Only One did that for me.



“Such a Small King” (National Christmas Choir)

Such a small king, isn’t he? Such a small king.
Yet He will bring deliverance to me.
Prophets foretold His place in history.
Such a small King, such a small boy.



“How Can I Keep from Singing?” (Chris Tomlin)

How can I keep from singing Your praise?
How can I ever say enough?
How amazing is Your love!
How can I keep from shouting Your name?
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart want to sing!



“I will Boast”

I will boast in the Lord my God
I will boast in the One who’s worthy
He’s worthy.



“All I Really Need” (Mark & Stephen Altrogge)

All I really need is Your grace
All I need to know is You are near me.
All I need is you.

All I really need is Your grace
All I need to know is You are for me.
All I need is you. All I need is you.



“Let Your Kingdom Come” (Bob Kauflin)

Let Your kingdom come, let Your will be done,
so that everyone might know Your Name!

Let Your song be heard, everywhere on earth,
'til Your sovereign work on earth is done.
Let Your kingdom come!



“On the Street where You Live” (Sung by Harry Connick, Jr.)

I have often walked down this street before
But the pavement always stayed beneath my feet before.
All at once am I several stories high
Knowing I’m on the street where you live
…
And oh the towering feeling
Just to know somehow you are near.
The overpowering feeling
That any second you could suddenly appear!



“My Heart Belongs to Daddy” (Ella Fitzgerald)

Yes, my heart belongs to Daddy
So I simply couldn’t be bad.
My heart belongs to Daddy. Dad.
If you feel romantic, laddy,
Let me warn you right from the start
That my heart belongs to Daddy
And my daddy belongs to my heart!



“Let Me be a People (Plain Old Me)” (Jerry Lewis from the movie “Cinderfella”)

I keep statin' it,
No debatin' it,
I'm a happy breed,
So, therefore,

Let me be a people,
Says I sincerely,
I'm a fella who wouldn't give that for royalty,
I don't wanna be anyone else but plain old me.



“The One on the Right” (Johnny Cash)

… Now this should be a lesson,
If you plan to start a folk group,
Don’t go mixin’ politics with the folksongs of our land.
Just work on harmony and diction
Play your banjo well
And if you have political convictions
Keep ‘em to yourself.

"Some of My Favorite 'You-Tube' Videos" Special - part III (Shirley Temple special)

"We Should be Together" - Shirley Temple and George Murphy






"Little Miss Broadway " - Shirley Temple and George Murphy





"Hey, What Did The Bluejay Say?"

"Some of My Favorite 'You-Tube' Videos" Special - part II

Beatboxing Peter and the Wolf





Can I Live





Beyond the Night - Stargate Atlantis





Pirates of the Caribbean reenactment

"Some of My Favorite 'You-Tube' Videos" Special

Lost

Star Wars Tribute

Ryan vs. Dorkman

Elizabeth F.'s Graphic Design

Friends,

I wish to share with you all my NEW and much improved WebBlog! There I display all of my graphic designed artwork that I so greatly love to make.

I have had a love of graphic design for over the past two or three years, and the main category I delight in is making miscellaneous media posters. I hope to be able to take college classes soon, and learn more about layout and design so that maybe I can take my love for graphic design and artwork to the professional level as a career someday!

On my new WebBlog, "Elizabeth F.'s Graphic Design", there are several pages that you can explore: On the Main Page you can browse the newest updated photos and artwork, or go to the WebLog and read my thoughts and musings (you can also send me a public message in the Chatroom!). You can also look through all of my Albums of pictures and media. If you like any of the pictures, voice your opinion! Click on a picture and you can tell me what you think of it!

You can also read my Profile if you want to learn a bit about me!

I know it's a bit silly that almost all of my posters are Star Wars (and other such media) related, but I have the most fun making them, because there are endless creative opportunities that can be utilized and thought of in such far-fetched and creative contexts! Well, I hope you all take a little peak into what I love to do and I certainly hope you enjoy what you see and explore! Give me feedback, too!! That's what every aspiring artist needs!

It is so fun to have such wonderful and fun opportunities to share such things with you all!

Elizabeth F.'s Graphic Design

Banners, and Tags, and Links, Oh My!

Check out the bottom of my blog! There you will find links to some of my favorite sites! Have a look around and enjoy!

Another Day... Another Year...

Wow. The year 2007 has already come and gone.

Yesterday, my dad assigned my brother and me to write a paper for school. The papers' setting was to be on December 31st of 2008, and we were to write as if we were looking back on our year of 2008. That night, we read our papers to the family (dad even wrote one, too). The papers were all very good (if I don't say so myself. ;) :joke: ), and it was neat to see what my brother and my dad wanted accomplished in 2008.

In conclusion, here is my essay where I give account of what I would like my year of 2008 to be like (of course, it's all up to God ;) ).


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The Year 2008 of My Life

A fictional essay written by Elizabeth F. on December 31st, 2007



A lot has happened to me this past year: turning 18, school and activities, and growing in Christ. Now sit back and enjoy my recap of this past wonderful year!

January was like any other January; however, I had an early birthday gift from the wonderful B. family. They treated me to dinner at an authentic Japanese restaurant. I had so much fun! The atmosphere was incredibly realistic and beautiful – I thought I was actually in Japan! We all sat at a very low table and sat on mats (I made sure I sat in the proper Japanese way), and we ate wonderfully traditional and totally different food! I had sticky, white rice (of course), Makizushi (which is sushi rolled up in dried seaweed), Sukiyaki (a dish made of noodles, edible chrysanthemum leaves, Tofu, and onions), and other such dishes of which I don’t know the names. The food was all very different, and unfortunately, I didn’t quite like all the dishes that I ordered. When were almost ready to leave, I thanked the nakai-san (the waitress) in Japanese. She looked pleasantly surprised, and said; ‘you’re welcome’.

January 20th, Michael and Nichole were married. It was so surreal; it was so hard to believe it had happened! The wedding was so neat, and it was quite and experience to be a bridesmaid. Nichole looked so beautiful in her dress and Michael looked very handsome in his Army Greens. It was all so beautiful and wonderful and fun!

On February ninth, I had my 18th birthday party. I had an Asian-styled birthday party, I invited many of my friends, and it was so fun! We all had fun playing Korean jacks, making origami projects, playing a Wii, learning short and simple Asian songs and phrases, and performing a small ensemble of songs from Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera, “The Mikado”. The food was very good! We had sticky, white rice (once again, of course), and there were several party platters from the Chinese/American restaurant, “Panda Express”, which had one of my favorite foods from the restaurant, orange fried chicken. Yummy! Because my birthday was three days after the beginning of the Chinese New Year, I gave everyone small Chinese and Asian-styled gifts, and everyone loved them. Oh, I had such a wonderful birthday!

In March and April, for my literature class, I read the book of Acts in the New Testament and all of Virgil’s Aeneid. Reading Acts was very uplifting (it was a whole ton better than the Aenied!) – I’ve learned that the New Testament is much easier to read and comprehend than the Old Testament. The Aenied was of course the typical Roman gods and goddesses stuff (yuck) but I did enjoy the writing and adventure of the storyline. I never thought that I would be one to enjoy stories such as Virgil’s Aeneid, and Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, but I guess my love for reading has made me appreciate the writing and adventures of those century-old stories.

My family celebrated a wonderful Mother’s Day. We all got Mom gifts and we ate cake and ice-cream and we played Mexican Trains, Scrabble, and Yahtzee, which was a lot of fun.
I also celebrated Hannah P.'s birthday with her. I couldn’t believe she had turned 17! I remember celebrating her 12th birthday! Wow, that is weird…

On Your Toes Studios was also preparing for its ballet performance, “With an Everlasting Love”, and Melissa asked if I could help with behind-the-scenes work. I went to all the main rehearsals and helped organize the little girl dancers (making sure they were in their correct line up for their dances, and such). It was fun to see my friends again, and to work with all of the dancers.

May 15th was my last literature class for the year. I really enjoyed having taken another year from Mrs. English. I had very good grades for that year. My average was “A”. At first I was a little disappointed, because last year my average was “A+”, but then I thought about it and realized that that “Classical Literature” was much harder than the previous year’s “English Literature”, and I had done my best in all I had done.

On Memorial Day, my family and I visited Jennifer’s grave, like we do every year. The visit was filled with memories and a little sadness. We all miss her. She would have been 13 years-old (which is kind of weird when you think about it. Where would my family be if she hadn’t died? I wonder how different my family would be as in interaction. It wasn’t, however, God’s plan to keep her with us. It was her time to go home, and I look forward to seeing her there.

On May 31st, OYT Studios had its ballet performance, “With an Everlasting Love”, which was an allegorical tale about God’s everlasting love for His chosen. It was set in Spain, and the music and choreography was very fun to watch. It was neat to see how much my friends’ dancing and acting had improved, and it was fun to work backstage.

Also in May was a music recital for Northwest Worship Academy. Christopher and I played a song together, and I also played a song with Hannah P.. Everyone did very well and all of the songs played were praiseworthy and God-glorifying.

June and July were two very fun months. My family celebrated Father’s Day, Independence Day, and I had lots of get-togethers with my friends. July 1st, was Canada day, and I sent a lot of funny cards out to friends (especially the L. family. They had quite a laugh out of it!).
One thing that was very encouraging about those two months was that I read a lot of the Bible and God revealed Himself so much to me. It was (and is) so beautiful to look at His everlasting grace and love.

August was pretty much all fun and games. My family and I just relaxed and did no activities. We did, however get ready for the upcoming school year.

In September, I started taking literature classes again. It has been my third year with Mrs. English and I am learning and studying American Literature. It is interesting to read stories by famous people I had heard about but never read their works. I can’t wait to read “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”. I have heard from the other students that it is a very good story.

October, November, and December were pretty much the same: piano lessons, and literature class. Thanksgiving was just my family all together and it was a load of fun. Christmas was a lot of fun, too. It was fun to buy gifts for people (and to receive gifts!). To reflect on God’s Gift to us was a very beautiful time, as well…


I hope you have enjoyed me telling you about this past year. It has been such a joy and privilege to be able to tell you about how God had (and has) worked in my life, and the experiences and joys he has given me and my family.

"Paul, His Cloak, and His Books", by Charles Hadden Spurgeon

II Timothy 4:13

‘The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments’


“He is inspired, and yet he wants books! He has seen the Lord, and yet he wants books! He has had wider experiences than most men, and yet he wants books! He had been caught up in the third heaven, and had heard things unlawful for a man to utter, yet he wants books! He has written a major part of the New Testament, and yet he wants books!

“The apostle says to Timothy and so he says to every Christian, ‘Give thyself to reading’. The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the thoughts of other men’s brains proves he has no brains of his own”.