Assignment 5 : About the minor EUP

A new world, EU

I have been in breda for approximately 3 month as an exchange student learning about European Union Policy. And this semester is going to finish in January.

Frankly speaking, before learning about this, I just thought that EU is like a big country and a beautiful place where many travelers like. Because I did not have much interest about EU, I did not learn and did not know many things about EU. Thus, at first, I worried about that if I cannot understand the minor. So I would like to introduce about this.

Firstly, I would like to mention about subjects that we handled until now. This minor handled about EU law and economic integration.
As you know, EU is consists of many countries. Because of this condition, when EU makes new legislations, they have to have many steps. Of course, these steps are more complicated than a country makes legislations. Thus, basically, throughout this subject, I could learn the procedure of legislation, important organizations related with running the EU and the role of the organization. After that, we also learned about the contents of the legislations. The most interesting thing is about discrimination to me because this is not limited just EU. South Korea also has problems about it and has to solve problems cleverly.
Regarding to economic integration, in the beginning of the EU, EU member states wanted to achieve a single market. So they have tried to do this and now this is achieved. For example, they accepted a single currency, Euro. Because of this, it is easy to make single market. Finally, EU has high competition as a single market in the world and other countries target EU as their new target. Recently, by passing treaty of Lisbon, EU expected more integration about other sides.

Secondly, this minor has a special class, tutor groups. In the South Korea, many students just listen to professor’s lecture. On the other hand, during the tutor group class, we can discuss about the task. This class is leaded by every student not a professor. Professor just helps us to make flexible class. To attend this class efficiently, we have to read the task before attend a class and preview about it. And then we can discuss theme of the task. If students do not preview, students cannot catch up with the class easily because we cannot talk anything about it, if we don’t know it. So it is necessary to preview and talk a lot with students and professor to enjoy the class. Frankly speaking, to me, it is still not easy to adapt this style of lecture because I have already learned many things with different way in South Korea. So I always keep silence during the class. But it is not good.
Also we have many group projects. The theme of project is really difficult to me. So because of this, sometimes I felt stress. However, by doing this, I could know about issues more closely.

Lastly, to me, there are difference things between before learning EU and after. Before learning about EU, I do not have any interesting about the EU policy like that and do not know anything. However, now, whenever I saw a new related to EU in the internet, I always clicked and read the news and understand. Even though I cannot understand the EU policy, it was a good opportunity to learn about new things. So I think that learning about new thing is show new world.

Assignment 4 : credit crisis

A big disaster comes from 'Subprime mortgate' and impact of this in Korea

About 2 years ago, a huge credit crisis happened from America. That was so serious. So many people lost their work and became homeless. There were even some people who suicide due to it. As you know, now is globalization and America is one of the best country in the world. Thus, the impact was so big and wide against other countries. Many countries also was damaged because of this. The main reason that it happened was subprime mortgage. Many people who loan the money from bank when they invest the real estate or buy house could not return the money. So, big banks faced the worst situation.

As I mentioned, because now is globalization, the money can flow other country freely. So many American investors wanted to withdraw their investment from other countries and they did. So naturally, many countries lost much dollar and the value of the dollar highly increased. As a result many countries faced credit crisis. This is also damaged to South Korea.

Firstly, I can say that South Korea economic is depend on the situation of export. According to economics theory, when the value of the dollar increased, many exporters can get much benefit. Unfortunately, because South Korea doesn’t have any resource, when Korean companies make some products, we have to import the main ingredient from other countries. So we have to pay much dollar when we buy main ingredient. Also when the situation of the American economic is worst, American tend not to import products from other countries and America is the main country of exporters of Korea. Thus, South Korea had damages.

Secondly, it is also related the increased value of the dollar. During this season, I could read sad news in newspaper. Frankly speaking, Korean parents have much interest about education of their children. So there are parents go to America to improve their children’s English ability. Also there are also some families to live separately. In this situation, many fathers send the money to their family who stay in America. So during the season, many fathers felt hard because the value of the South Korean money decreased. Thus, many father had to send and earn much money than before. Finally, there were even some fathers who suicide because they had much burden. So whenever I saw these news, I felt sad.

I just write about a short of background and impact of the crisis in Korea with examples. Now, the credit crisis also has not solved clearly and many countries still feel hard. In this situation, many economics have to find some clear solution to solve this problem. And we also have to study economics hard and know the situation exactly.

Assignment 3 : interesting article to me

A great Hangeul which is exported to cia-cia tribe.

About 2 months ago, cia-cia tribe that is small tribe in Indonesia has adopted Hangeul which is Korean unique character as a letter. Of course, they have their own letter. However, it is limited to write their thoughts by using their own letter because it is difficult to learn. So a Korean who has a great interest about Hangeul contributed to teach Hangeul to cia-cia tribe. Finally they adopted Hangeul as their letter. During the two months the tribe said that Hangeul is so easy to learn and scientific thing. Also by learning this, many children are able to have their own dream. This fact was announced to many Korean people through many articles 2 month ago. Even, Japanese media also reported this and surprised about the exportation of Hangeul. A few days ago, October 9th 2009, many people paid attention to this article again because that day was Hangeul day in Korea. By reading a article about this, I thought two things about it.

Firstly, of course, many Korean have to feel pleasant and proud of Hangeul and themselves because Korean own letter is supplied to cia-cia tribe also other tribes are considering to adopt Hangeul as a letter while many people pay attention English now. However there is an important thing. When we supply Hangeul to other country, we should not think that ‘Korean has the best letter and other letter is tiny and useless thing.’ This thought is so dangerous because they can feel rejection. Thus when we teach and supply Hangeul, we have to approach them naturally and teach to just help them who cannot write their thought and anything. Indoctrinating is not good. We have to respect their cultures. The writer of this article also mentioned this as an important thing and l really agree.

Secondly, as I mentioned above, many people pay attention to learning English. Especially, in Korea, the English ability is important estimating standard. Because of this, there are some Korean who ignore Korean own language. I also really want to grow up my English ability. However, if we want to teach and supply our letter or culture, we have to know about it well. Also many Korean have to know our cultures well and try to know more and more not to ignore great Korean cultures.

In conclusion, when Great king Sejong made Hangeul for people about 500 years ago, he wanted that every people were able to reading and writing their thought. He loved all people. Finally it gives a great thing that there are just 1percent of people who cannot reading and writing. Thus, we also have to consider the king’s thought and just help people who want to learn Hangeul.

Assignment 2 : Introduce some good restuarant

Restaurants that I like in Korea

Many people like going out in restaurants. I also like going out with my friends or family. Unfortunately, I did not go to any restaurant in Breda, but I went to many restaurants at least once a week in Korea. So I would like to introduce two Korean restaurants that I like.

Firstly, I went to many times this restaurant with my family. In this restaurant, we can eat grilled duck. This restaurant is so famous. Thus, this was introduced in TV programs many times. Whenever I went to there, I had to wait at least 30 minutes. Also we have to eat fast because there are many people who wait their turn. Sometimes we even were not able to eat because ducks were removed all by many people. Therefore, it is necessary to reserve before going there. Sometimes it made me unpleasant. However I always want to go there because the tasty is so good. After eating the grilled duck, we can eat bibimbap(rice mixed with vegetables). This is also very tasty. The price of all menu is also not expensive but reasonable.

Secondly, whenever I went out with my friends, I went to this restaurant “ddrarae” this mean is a garden in Korea. This is located in downtown in Deagu. We also have to wait at least 1 hour because there are also many people. Most of them are younger generation. Compared to the restaurant that I mentioned at first, this restaurant has a good mood and so beautiful. So many younger generations go to there with friends and lovers. Also we can stay for a long time about 3~4hours by chatting with friends. It is so good. This restaurant’s menus are variety. There are risottos, spaghetti, and so on. After eating main dish, we can eat main dish one more time if we want. It is so attractive to people who eat much. Also we can eat many desserts continually until we feel full. Frankly speaking, the foods' quality is normal, but the mood and view is so beautiful. Becides, the price of food is about 5.5Euro. Because of these things, many people want to go there.

I have introduced famous restaurants in Korea. If you have any opportunity to come to Korea I would like to go with you!

Assignment 1 : After I watched the film 'mother'

Mother’s or murderer’s love?

Every mother gives a huge love to their children. Especially, Korean mother has a special love. Children are their everything and dream. Because of this, sometimes the Korean mother shows so dangerous love. We can see this love through the film that will be mentioned.

This movie handles a murder case. Also the mother tries to protect her son who mentally retarded man and was accused of murder. The mother believes that her son always nice although her son is not normal. So she does not think that her son is a criminal but think her son is accused wrongly of murder. Thus, her mother tries to solve the problem instead of polices. However, as time goes by, she is able to know that her son is a real criminal by a witness. Eventually, she kills the witness to save her son. To protect her son, mother also becomes a murderer like her son. After that, polices suddenly notice that they found real criminal. However, it is not true but just it was polices’ mistakes. Anyway, she goes to meet him who is wrongly accused of murder instead of her son. The man also is not normal like her son, and he does not have mother. After the mother meets him, she cries because she thinks that if the man has a mother, the man will not be wrongly accused of murder like her son. However mother does not tell the true that her son is a real criminal even though she knows everything for just his son.

Mother is called as ‘umma’ in Korea. However, the movie director chooses the title as a mother not ‘umma’. Why? You can see the similar pronunciation of mother and murderer. The director wants teach that most mothers can be a murderer because of her love toward us. This love is not good, but we are able to see that mother's love is so strong. After I watched this film, I thought that it is too uncomfortable film at first. However, as time goes by I also can understand mother’s strong and strange behavior.

* You can expect the whole story by clicking this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8s6DXpIXNU&NR=1