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Southern Illinois University Carbondale
CESL Today V57

CESL  TODAY

Volume 58, Term 051, January-March 2005-03-08
Center for English as a Second Language
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Carbondale, Il 62901-4518

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Visiting the USA

There are many differences between South Korea and America

There are many differences between South Korea and America. One difference is there is a large family system in South Korea, but people support themselves system in America. There is a restricted life style in South Korea, but a free life style in America. American also has a variation in cultures as compared to South Korea. In South Korea there is a group mind set but individual mind set in America. Another difference is a lower cost or standard of living in South Korea. An important difference is safer because most people can't have guns, but in America many people can own guns. Because of the differences I think South Korea is a better place to live than America.
By Jang Seunghun, AE1

Travel diaries

Miami

First day

There was an urgent meeting before we left Carbondale to Chicago. Mrs. Rivers was very worried about too many people traveling in our group. We did not talk a lot to her because we did not have enough time. We just got into the train. It's a bit dark inside Amtrak. It takes 5 and half hours to get to Chicago. We arrived at Chicago at 9:35. Then it took another to find the Youth hostel that we reserved. I couldn't sleep well, because I called my professor and he was very worried about my itinerary in Toronto. He advised me to cancel it.

Second day

Chicago International Airport is very easy to go to.

It's only $1.75 to get there. Everything's fine to get to Fort Lauderdale. I just canceled my Toronto flight after getting there. The penalty is $200. My god! The worst thing was I can't get the flight money refunded. It just remains as my credit. And I have to use it within a year. I was so blue. But I met my friend, Tracy. It took almost 5 years after I decided to go and see her.

Florida is far, far away from my country. We have dinner together. And we went to her house, which is very big and gorgeous. We had a chat a lot about her fiance and her engagement ring cost $5,000. I don't have any silver ring on my finger, but I still miss my boyfriend.

Third day

We went to Orlando to go to Disney world.

I never know that I could go there. It's a dream place to me. We go to MGM in Disney world. An attraction called Hollywood Tower is really exciting. We take a lot of pictures. I bought some presents for my friends and give them to show my appreciation. I feel so happy that I could do something for them

Fourth day

We got up late. That's because we talked too much last night. And we went to bed at 7 o'clock in the morning. Tracy's friend Taihun was very interested in Korean politics and political science is my major. We have late brunch in Cheeze factory and go to a big outlet. I bought some clothes in there. After shopping we go to Miami beach. Miami is not a suburb. It's a big city. I really like Miami. We had a dinner in a good restaurant and had some cocktail in one gorgeous hotel at the South beach.

I really had a great time with her and her friend. And I'm very afraid that I couldn't stay longer. I really hope that she will be happy with her future husband.

By Sally, Chung Buk University

LA Travel~!!

Above all, the purpose of this trip was to meet my friend who I met last March online. This friend is a penpal friend. Actually, we've talked a lot online, but it was the first time we met face to face. So I was very very nervous. The first day, I visited Hollywood alone. It was nothing compared to meeting my friend. I met her and her friend. Now I have become friends with her friend as well as her. My friends are Chinese. So the first time when I met them, I felt familiar with them, as we are all Asian. Anyway, they were very kind and good. They made me feel comfortable while I was in LA. We went to Universial Studio (US) and Santa Monica Beach (SM). That was so nice. US had many sections. Each section has its own character, like Shrek, Terminator, Mummy and so on. That was all I've watched in a movie. Terminator 3D was a vertical image. It seemed alive!! I'm serious!! So cool. That was the most impressive thing. In SM, actually, I feel always since I've been in USA that the people who live in USA have latitude of mind. That is what I envy the most. In our country, the people usually want to hurry. Sometimes it's good for saving the time. But compared to usually, I think it's bad. Anyway, by the day I came back, I had become close to her friends and her family. I really regretted that I had to go back. I know if there is a meeting, there is also a parting. I don't know when I will meet them again. However I'll certainly do it!! At that time, I hope I'm good at Chinese also. Then I'll talk with her parents. Because I can't speak Chinese, so I didn't talk with them a lot. I'm thankful to them. They gave me a special memory which I'll never forget.
By Juhyoung Kim, ChungBuk U.

Traveling in Chicago

I went to Chicago with some other Koreans. I was excited before I left. And I was looking forward to seeing a big city in America. We went there by Amtrack. It took about 4 hours to arrive in Chicago from Carbondale. Actually, Chicago was a really big city. I could see many tall and big buildings there. On the first day in Chicago, I went to the John Hancock center. I will never forget the beautiful scenery I saw. The next day, we went around downtown Chicago. Chicago is a typical American city. But for me, the city seems a little bleak. Personally, I don't like the bleak atmosphere in cities. That means not only for Chicago but also other cities. Anyway, I experienced many good things in Chicago. In the evening we went to Navy pier. We also could see the beautiful scenery city there. We took many pictures but it was too bad that the weather was so cold. The last day in Chicago, we went to an art museum. I was so glad that I could see many paintings there. I was happy when I saw Lunewar's painting. The name is "At the piano." It is one of my favorite paintings. I saw many impressionistic paintings. But the museum was too large to see all the paintings in a short time, so I couldn't go around the whole museum. We also went shopping. The price of goods in the shopping center were cheaper than I expected. I spent a good time in Chicago during all 3 days. I want to remember the time in Chicago for a long time.
By Yi mi-rae, Chung Buk University

Travel in New Orleans

I traveled in New Orleans last weekend. Pretty long trip cuz I took a train for 14 hours from Carbondale to New Orleans. It's my first time to take amtrak so I was excited.

There was warm and sunshine when I arrived there. And slight wind made me pleasant! There was anything better than at that time. First I looked for my inn. I tried to get a hotel near the French Quarter but there was very expensive. So I decided to get a hostel a little far from French Quarter.

At night, Bourbon Street was good place enjoy music and drink. There are many live bars and street musicians. On the other hand there is pretty wild. Many people buzzed and girls sometime naked her clothes.

I visited there during the Mardi Gras festival. So there was a lot of travelers and I could show some parades on the street. It was also exciting.

I won't forget this trip. And I'd like to visit there someday.

By Hongju Jun, EAP1

3 Days in Chicago

Last weekend I stay ed in Chicago. I heard that Chicago is the 3rd largest city in the U.S. and famous for sky scrapers.

Anyway I went to Chicago. As expected, there are too many sky scrapers.

The first night, I went to the John Hancock Center which has a great view of Chicago Then I made up my mind that in beatiful Chicago I had to choose some place which I really want to visit because my time was limited. I've liked American sports before I came to America. So I decided in my mind to visit all of the stadiums in Chicago and then I visted the Cubs, Whitesox and Bulls stadiums to take pictures. Especially I could see the inside of the Cubs's home stadium (Wrigley field). It was just a 3 day trip, but I can't forget all of my memory in Chicago.
-By BK, Chung Buk University

Traveling in Chicago

I went to Chicago with some other Koreans. I was excited before I left. And I was looking forward to seeing a big city in America. We went there by Amtrack. It took about 4 hours to arrive in Chicago from Carbondale. Actually, Chicago was a really big city. I could see many tall and big buildings there. On the first day in Chicago, I went to the John Hancock center. I will never forget the beautiful scenery I saw. The next day, we went around downtown Chicago. Chicago is a typical American city. But for me, the city seems a little bleak. Personally, I don't like the bleak atmosphere in cities. That means not only for Chicago but also other cities. Anyway,I experienced many good things in Chicago. In the evening we went to Navy pier. We also could see the beautiful city scenery there. We took many pictures but it was too bad that the weather was so cold. The last day in Chicago, we went to an art museum. I was so glad that I could see many paintings there. I was happy when I saw Lunewar's painting. The name is 'At the piano.' It is one of my favorite paintings. I saw many impressionistic paintings. But the museum was too large to see all the paintings in a short time, so I couldn't go around the whole museum. We also went shopping. The price of goods in the shopping center were cheaper than I expected. I spent a good time in Chicago during all 3 days. I want to remember the time in Chicago for a long time.
-By MiRae, Chung Buk University

Chicago, Buffalo Trip

I made a reservatioin for the first night in the Hyatt Regency. It was a good choice. We shared a room and only paid $34 each. It's a reseonable price that I can not imagine in the peak time such as summer vacation.

The firstday in Chicago, We sent to the culture center first. Foutunately, we met a free volunteer guide and got introduced around Michigan Ave. and State street. After the guide tour we went to the Art Instute. We had a great time there, it's worth it!

I flew to Buffalo on the second day ot travel, not only to see Niagara Falls, but also to activate my canada working holiday visa. I applied for the visa last year and the visa's expiration date was not so far away. It's a once in a lifetime chance so I didn't want to let the chance go.

Buffalo was so calm and there were so few people on the street. But the city is guite bigger than Carbondale. I liked the city. The streets were very clean and the buildings were so fancy.

Niagara Falls was so big that I couldn't compare it to any other falls that I have seen. I also went to Canada. I got my visa acitvated and I bought some gifts for my grandmother.

On the way back, I just stopped in Chinatown, Chincago. I ate some dumplings which were very tasty. I found this message in the cookie, "You are incredibly clever; others often come to you for advice" I just dreammed that it's true.
-By Sally


with

at

Invitation to Catherine's house~!

During our trip to Catherine's house, I saw many houses. They were separated from each other, and most houses had a garden in their houses. That's very rare in our country. When I entered, I was surprised, too. The interior design seemed like houses in movies. There was a hearth, cats and a comportable mood. I love to take photos. So I took lots of photos there of the beatiful interior design. When it was time to eat dinner, I saw the Korean foods; sliced white radish kimchi and rice. WOW! Since I've been here, I've missed Korean food a lot, so that made me happy. After we had dinner, we went around inside the house. There was a pool table in one room and table tennis in the basement. We played and had a fun time. I was thankful that she invited us to her house. I was sorry that we didn't bring any gift for the party. I learned when I am invited in the USA, I should bring a hostess gift. Anyway it was the first time I visited someone's house in the USA. I'll never forget what I experienced there.
-By JuHyoung Kim

Korean party

Yesterday, we all threw a party. At first we went to the international grocery store and bought some matrials to make some Korean foods. We bought some dduck, onion, ramen, kim-chi, etc. But we couldn't find the butcher to buy meat to cook Bool-go-gi, so we had to go to Wal-mart. The next day we went to a Korean church and after that we went to Wal-mart by car. Some people in the Korean church brought us to Wal-mart in their car. We were very thankful for them. In Wal-mart, we bought some rice, meat, beverages and so on. Arriving home, we had some dinner and started to prepare for our party. Many people visited our dormitory and we were very happy. We cooked Korean foods such as dduck-bok-gi, Bool-go-gi and Kim-chi-gigimi. We all enjoyed that, although it was a little bit hot for our American guests. We really were thankful for them. We took a lot of pictures. Afer the party was over, we had a conversation together. Everybody said it was a great party.
-By Phoebe

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