Winnie-the-Pooh

Surprisingly, I never read Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A.Milne till this year. It isn't that I was not aware of the book and the characters. I knew the main characters, Pooh bear, Piglet, Tigger, Eeyore, etc, but the story? Nope. I hardly knew how the story went, other than the fact of Pooh liking honey.

It was this year Winnie-the-Pooh came to my mind. Seeing my friends referring to the quotes from Winnie-the-Pooh, I started looking up the quotes that were touchy. Most of quotes were loving and sweet expressing the importance of a friendship. Most of my friends from the States were in love with the Winnie-the-Pooh. Then I started falling in love with it. I began reading the books burrowed from dorm head, coloring the characters either printed from online or bought from stores, and searching why the Winnie-the-Pooh never seems to be forgotten and how it is being loved from different aged people.

The book was written based on the principle called, Taoism, the way to happiness. Even now, whenever I look at the pictures of characters and quotes from Winnie-the-Pooh, I smile remembering the times my friends and I giggled and how we adored each other just like the characters in the book.

Acrophobia

My heart always was known to be weak. With an annual check up, I see several and different doctors but they never miss a sentence, "You have a weak heart." It is not a pleasing thing to hear, especially repeatedly. However, I had to hear that sentence year after year. 

There was no way I could possibly work on myself to fix or even to attempt to fix the problem, just till this month. This exact month of 2011, my father and I made a promise to ourselves to climb a mountain each weekend. Starting a new life in Korea living with my family, without distance matter, in six years, that was another change I faced. 

To climb a mountain each week. There were two thoughts inside me. One, 'Mmm. It could be fun. Especially with dad and mum' and the other, 'Gosh. How am I going to climb mountain each week!' But we all knew, it was the best for me and for us, as a family. We not only found a way to help my heart get stronger but to spend more time as a family. It was a win-win. 

Sunday, March 13. The first day I climbed mountain. It was a small mountain called, Mt. Woo-sung-e, only 20 minutes, walking distance, away from our house. I put on my brand new shoes, specially bought for mountain climbing, and walked towards the mountain and to the top. Knowing how tough the climb was for me through sound of each breath, my father suggested only to go to Mt. Hwa-bong, mountain within Mt. Woo-sung-e. 

Then there was a big barrier waiting for me. 

An endless stairs up high to the top. With a big sigh, I continued to take a step after step. 

Finally, we climbed all those stairs and was on top. Drinking ginseng juice and cucumbers we breathed in fresh air and looked around. We were able to see our house, the little apartments gathered left side of the picture below.

The feelings I had at that time is not describable but it was definitely a unforgettable feeling to have. It was not just a 'climbing a mountain' to me. It was a climbing a mountain with dad, chatting and sharing our thoughts and views. 

The best moment I had while climbing was the time I was coming down the stairs and sharing how my heart-beats getting fast on top of mountain with a fear of height. My dad and I always had lots of similarities and that moment, he mentioned how he used to fear the height. He told me to overcome the fear and that there is nothing scarier than a human being in the world. I logically understood what he meant, but emotionally, my heart was still palpitating and mind was rapidly telling how I should hold onto the ground. On the way of coming down those steep stairs, his hand and my hand were tightly held. 

The ‘disgusting’ messes in SPPA cafeteria

The issue Mr. Cornman brought up about the messes in the cafeteria at our school can be seen serious at this moment, but I definitely believe there can be a change done to improve the situation. Assuming this issue has reached the highest peak to Mr. Cornman's eyes that he now began voicing it out loud even during classes, students are now very aware of how teachers feel and will have time to think on fixing the issue.

On Tuesday during his class after lunch, he could not stand how the cafeteria looked and was distracted by the trashes he saw step after step. Potato chip wrappers, candy wrappers, three banana peels, two partially eaten bananas, one on floor that had been stepped, and grade papers with sticky parts from spilled drink. Only impression he could give on such messes was, 'disgusting.'

The mess could not be compared to anything he saw at the schools Mr. Cornman has been at school for 25 years, that he either attended or taught. The mess in SPPA cafeteria was the 'worst' he has ever seen. With no intention to hurt the students at SPPA, he can only choose to say that the students have too little responsibilities over what they do. Maybe the students believe someone other than them would clean the messes caused by them, but they should know that they are no more little children that there is not always going to be someone looking after their back. They need to learn how to take care of themselves and to have a pride over their surroundings.

To end, he strongly believes the school has to step up and put in action to bring a change to the cafeteria. Journalism students brought up some questions and solutions to fix the problem, but I think the sole solution to this issue will only be done by us, the students of SPPA. No matter how many better solutions are there that students could think of, to hire a cleaning lady, buy big trash bins, or to ban bending machines, the best solution is that each student take responsibility and always make sure he or she clean up the messes made by them. 

1*

Being a quitter for almost seventeen years, to not be one was tough.

I was a quitter. Having had lots of opportunities in past, I was able to learn how to play piano, guitar, and to swim, ballet, etc. Yet I was never consistent enough to bring a good result at the end.

One day in February 2009, I was on my way to Solo Ensemble to perform the piece Meditation, from Thais, by Massenet. Never been played as a soloist, my tummy was full of butterflies making me feel sick. Quietly waiting for my turn, I constantly looked over my music and calmed myself down.

When my turn came, my accompanist and I walked into the room tuned and ready to play. My hands were sweaty, my heart was palpitating real hard, and my face was getting just as red as strawberry. With a big breath, I raised my bow and began to play.

It was quick. That three minutes in front of a judge was so different from the times I practiced by myself or even played in front of whole student body. It was short and quick, my piece was done so smooth and fast that I was amazed.

After a talk with a judge, I waited. Then there was a post hanging up with a result written down. I did not think I was that curious to know what letter I got. My eyes were rapidly searching for my name and then slowly moved my eyes to the score. 1*. One star. That was it. That was it! I got the highest score and not just a 1, but 1*, which means I get to go to the States to perform once again.

With congrats, cheers, and hugs I could feel that I have succeeded, that I have come far and have showed not only to others but also to myself that I was no longer a 'quitter.'

That night, I called my mother who has never too pushed me but always supported and believed in me. At that moment, I could see how one little start can turn into a great work bringing a great delight.