IBP Class in HPU :)

  

     Time has slipped along. Actually, I'm in module #3 now days, and I have only 2 weeks left in Hawaii(also HPU)!

     Before I came to the Hawaii, I was so excited because I always want to study abroad with other country students. Another reason why I expected HPU life so much was because of my major. In Korea, I majored in English and Literature(though I changed my major to English education). So I had a lot of interested in English, and I thought this is a pretty nice chance to me to improve my English. I don't want to miss out on an this enlightening experience!

     And I'm definitely satisfied with IBP class now. I want to introduce my IBP course briefly.

① Global Issue

- I learned many writing skills in Global issue class. This class help me to learn and improve my overall writing skills. I also learned how to write APP style essay in module #2, and especially professor Tijana gaves a lot of information and helpful advise to me. I'm sure if you take this class, you will get great ability in writing!

② Cultural Studies 

- As you know well, IBP class is comprised of many different aboard students! So it is really important to understand other country's culture. In this class, you can not only learn other country's culture but also you can learn Hawaiian culture. We went to Manoa heritage center or Bishop museum for field trip and it was really helpful to me to understand Hawaii culture! Furthermore, we have a lot of discussion in this class. So I can share my opinion or listen to other students ideas so far in this class.

③ Sustainability and Local action

- Sustainability problem is one of the most important thing in now days. We learned how we can live our life as plenty in sustainability class. But we have a lot of homework to do! Especially, we have to make a presentation for every final modules, and it is really hard work. But I can sure that your presentation skill will make a remarkable improvement in this class!

④ International Education 

- I strongly recommend this class for all IBP students. And actually, this class is mendatory for 2011 spring semester students. We read a book 'Enrique's journey' in module #1, and it was so impressed on my mind with great lesson. In module #2, we learned how to analyze movie and I think it was the most interesting task in IBP class. We also watched the movie 'Dangerous mind' and share our opinion about the relation between teacher and student in this movie.

     I hope these tips will help you to learn in HPU. Frankly speaking, I'm much gratified with the IBP program and highly recommend to do it.

Social media+On-line identity(Anonymity)

     In "More Limits Planned on Internet Anonymity" (The Korea Times, Nov.10.03.2008), Kim Tong-hyung reporter tells about Internet anonymity. The Korea Communications Commission (KCC), the country's broadcasting and telecommunications regulator, says Internet users will be required to confirm their identity to post comments or participate in online discussions at popular Web sites starting soon.

     However, due to the unclear definition of cyber bullying and attacks, critics argue that the government's new regulations could pose a significant threat to the freedom of online speech and may eventually open the door to cyber censorship.

     I agree KCC's plan. I think best of Internet's merit is thing we can say what we want to express and own many people's opinions. Anonymity has some advantages, but has harm cases and defects too. Some people curse and swear to specific person because they don't be known their names and faces to other Internet users. My heart bleeds for cyber bullying and attacks. And when I see cyber bullying and attacks, I lose faith in human goodness.

     Netiquette is the set of rules and customs that it is considered polite to follow when we are communicating by means of the Internet. I think, to be sure, netiquette's spread is needed. So if Internet anonymity is limited, people can assume the responsibility and be considerate of others´ feelings. Also we can get more exact informations because when people hardly spread falsehood things.

     I think about Internet Anonymity, it has some merits but the real-name system has more advantages. So I agree limiting Internet anonymity.

Hanauma Bay in Hawaii :) (Hawaii life⑤)

'Hanauma' means 'curved bay' in Hawaii's local language.

Hanauma Bay was designated as a nature preservation area, actually.

Here is one of the famous tourist attractions in Hawaii!

You can get to Hanauma Bay by bus 22 or 58.

But the bus run is 30 minutes to 60 minutes,

so you have to check your bus schedule for first.

If you arrive at Hanauma Bay successfully,

you have to pay $5 for entrance fee.

And the most important thing : We have to viewe the video!

It takes about 10minutes to watch the video,

and it is mendatory who want to get it to the Hanauma Bay.

 Hours of operation will be from 6:00AM until 7:00PM in summer,

6:00AM until 6:00PM in winter.

Now enjoy your snorkelling at Hanauma Bay! :)

Ho'oponopono in Hawaii :)(Hawaii life④)

     ‘Ho’o ponopono’ means “to make something right”. Actually, I saw ‘Ho’o ponopono’ at Polynesian culture center. I went Polynesian culture center this spring break. I watched variety of show and native Hawaiian’s culture. And I deeply impressed with ‘Ho’o ponopono’ that is Hawaiian’s peculiar ritual.

    ‘Ho’o ponopono’ is an ancient Hawaiian practice of reconciliation and forgiveness. Traditionally, ‘Ho’o ponopono’ is practiced by healing priests or kahuna lapa’au among family members of a person who is physically ill. ‘Ho’o ponopono’ is defined in the Hawaiian dictionary as “mental cleansing-family conferences in which relationships were set right through prayer, discussion, confession, repentance, and mutual restitution and forgiveness.”

     Literally, hoʻo is a particle used to make an actualizing verb from the following noun, as would “to” before a noun in English. Here, it creates a verb from the noun pono, which is defined as “goodness, morality, excellence, well-being, prosperity, welfare, benefit, true condition or nature, proper, right, just, fair, beneficial, successful, accurate, correct, necessary.” Ponopono is defined as “to put to rights-to put in order or shape, correct, revise, adjust, amend, regulate, arrange, rectify, tidy up, make orderly or neat”.

Unforgettable memory-KOKO HEAD HIKING!(Hawaii life③)

Koko Head is the headland that defines the eastern side of Maunalua Bay

along the southeastern side of the Island of Oʻahu in Hawaiʻi.

On its western slope is the community of Portlock,

a part of Hawaiʻi Kai. Koko Head (at 642 ft or 196 m) is an ancient tuff cone

that is somewhat dwarfed by its neighboring tuff cone,

Koko Crater, with its peak, Kohelepelepe (or Puʻu Mai), rising to 1208 ft or 368 m.

Koko Head itself has three significant depressions or old vents,

the largest of which forms the well-known Hanauma Bay.

(From wikipedia)

As you know well, Koko head is famous for it's magnificent sight!

I went to Koko head with my friends,

and it was unforgettable memory that I had experienced in Hawaii.

Actually at first, I couldn't imagine Koko head's steep slope(Also, it was really high..)!

It was really hard to get to the top of the mountain.

But I can reach the top by help of my friends:)

Social media+Copyright

1. In your opinion, do you think it is good to do things even if you know it is illegal? Why or why not?

     I think it is not good to do things even if I know it is illegal. As you know well, law is based on the conscience. What good are people to do things when they know it is illegal? We must all obey the law because the spirit of the law is based in equity.

2. Do you think people who are remixing videos are actually stealing or creating new ideas from the creator?

     I think remixing videos are not stealing or illegal. It can be illegal if someone bring and post up videos at it is, but 'remixing' is different. 'Remixing videos' are secondary product, actually. Maybe the original video and remixing one are completely different in it's forms, contents and details. So we have to understand remixing videos as a new forms of creation.

Social Media+Power

     Social media, such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, played a role in energizing the bottom-up democracy movement in Egypt. Protesters there urged Hosni Mubarak, who has been in power for nearly 30 years, to step down.

     But Egypt is not the only government that restricted the people’s right to access information. The Iranian authorities took similar measures in 2009 shortly after the presidential election as citizens and activists organized rallies against the government for alleged election frauds. Myanmar and one of China’s provinces also did the same in the past.

     I think social media enabled ordinary people to connect with activists calling for freedom and improvement in human rights conditions in the region. This made it easier for activists to organize anti-government protests.

Homeless in Hawaii(Hawaii life②)

     Homeless is social category of people without a regular house or dwelling because they are unable to acquire, maintain regular. Or they suffer from hunger, poverty or adequate housing. Actually the definition of homeless is varies from country to country, or has different entity even in the same country or region. When I hear the word, I also remind homeless as persons who sleep in a public area or private place not designed for use as a regular sleeping accommodation for human.

     So, are they have a culture as their own? I think the answer is Yes. When we read a book 'written in the sky', we can find something similar among the homeless.

     First, their behavior styles. Homeless people move around alone but sometimes they make a group and hang out together. They look for their shelter with each other.

     Second, the food. Actually, homeless people have no enough money to buy foods or support their meals. So they look through garbage or useless article. Sometimes they recycle things which is well preserved. They also get new food from soup-kitchen from time to time.

     Third, clothing they wear. Homeless people usually wear rags. There clothes had been mended so many times, so it was beginning to resemble a patchwork quilt.

     Fourth, the religion. It seems they don't have any religion. But some of them are go to the church to pray or read bible on the bench when they are bored.

     To sum up, we can find these four things in common with homeless people. So I think the homeless also have a culture as their own!

My precious friend of my life in Hawaii :) (Hawaii life①)

     “If you could get at least three true friends, you have accomplished everything in life.” It is one of the old sayings about “Friendship” in Korea. Fortunately, I already made three friends in here, Hawaii. I can proudly say that they are truthful to me and will accompany me all my life. What I would like to talk about is one of them. Her name is Danica. She has a bit of a cranky personality and always acts differently than everyone else. During this time, she taught me not to judge by its cover and she always had my back in difficult time.

     Danica and I met at the Ohia students housing where now I live in now. When I saw Danica first, she looked so weird. It was as if she was continuously glaring all around with her small eyes. Also, her cynical face with dark curly hair and quiet mood made me uncomfortable around her. But most of all, from her boastful way of speaking and too much confidence, I never thought she would be my good friend. The atmosphere in our room was not conducive to her and everyone ignored her. For some time, I didn’t even talk with her just like the others except the time when I really needed to.

     But as I got many chances to know Danica, I felt that she was not so bad unlike I thought before. And after I opened my mind more, I also realized that she has a warm heart and most of the things she said finally appeared as reality. My preconception faded away little by little. Then, we became real friends.

     Now I am face to a lot of anguish of heart, but she is with me even if the world becomes so dark for me. A friend is one of the most valuable things for me along with love. Many years will pass and numerous things will change, but the old saying will remain “a friend is important for a person’s life”, and I learned it from my experience with Danica. I hope we continue to depend on each other and enjoy the days together all our lives.

Cyber bullying in Korea

     Cyber bullying is a serious problem in Korea. In recent years, many famous entertainers have killed themselves after being harassed by groundless and malicious comments from anonymous netizens.

     The recent suicide of actress Choi Jin-sil is fueling the debate about the need to regulate cyberspace. According to accounts by Choi's family and acquaintances, Choi was driven to take her own life largely as a result of cyber-bullying. She was greatly disturbed by internet postings that connected her to the death of another actor, Ahn Jae-hwan, who had committed suicide less than a month earlier. Ahn apparently killed himself because he was insolvent and the internet rumor mill depicted Choi as one of the loan sharks he owed money to.

     Distraught by the slanderous internet postings, Choi asked the police to investigate the matter and a securities firm employee was arrested. However, the damage was already done and Choi, who is said to have suffered from depression, gave up on life.

And early last year, a young singer and an actress also committed suicide after suffering extensive verbal abuse on the internet.

     Now as then, calls are being made to change the internet culture in this country. It is unfortunate that Korea, one of the most wired nations in the world, is under siege by netizens who use the anonymity offered by cyberspace to commit cyber bullying.

The Blue House said that it would draw up a new law against cyber defamation and expand the mandatory use of real names on the internet.

 

     Actually, the public mood is ripe for a discussion of the cyber bullying on the internet. Internet users, portal operators, internet service providers, educators, legal experts, sociologists, psychologists should take part in discussing how to deal with this negative aspect of the internet.