This stone was one of the toys of gods and goddesses of heaven, which mistakenly fell down to the Earth and later made the inhabitants of heaven extremely busy. As the stone hit the earth, it shattered into a million pieces and spread over the Earth. It also caused most of the giant dinosaurs to disappear and gave birds and small furry mammals the opportunity to survive. Therefore, this stone is really special in the history of modern Homo sapiens, who are now called humans.

This story started when two Homo sapiens kids found a piece of that stone and played with it. They became so happy and started to make sounds from their throat. The sound attracted other members of the tribe around them. The whole tribe liked the stone and started to make the same sounds whenever they wanted to play with the stone. They gradually made various sounds for different occasions and objects around them and in this way that stone helped the invention of languages! As those kids grew up, they travelled to other lands and their game, as well as language, spread among other tribes who did not have any language before. Until one day, they reached the land where people had found another piece of that stone and made different type of sounds and played in a different way with it.

The travelers were astonished, as they learned the new tribes’ story which was similar to theirs and concluded that those stones were special and if they could find more of them, they could live easier and happier than before. So the “Stone rush” started! In a quest to collect more of them, they learned to make tools and safe shelters and how to plow lands and grow different seeds and now here we are as their descendents.

What happened to the stones?

The stone rush ended in bloodshed. It was really hard for those stones to do nothing as the rivers of blood flowed all over the Earth. After all, they came from heaven and, being unusual, they decided to become invisible and only a few people could see them afterwards. However, their story was told from generation to generation and became a myth.

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You’ve written your last exam and put the finishing touches on your final paper. Summer has started! But this isn’t a break that ends in September. You’re done with your undergraduate degree! It won’t take many days of purposeless couch-lounging and expensive beer-drinking before that burning, unrelenting question finds its way into your consciousness: what now?

These days it can be hard for recent undergrads to find their perfect entry-level job. Positions are highly competitive and it seems like employers expect recent undergraduates to have high marks as well as plenty of practical experience, which doesn’t seem fair. A lot of students also worry about what use their degree has – especially those of us who studied humanities. So if you are a recent grad like me, and are battling with the “What Now” problem, here is a list of ways to put your degree to use if you don’t already have the perfectly relevant job lined up.

1. Unpaid internships and volunteer positions. This type of work can be easier to get than a full-time paid job, but it counts as work experience on your resume. Getting an internship or volunteer position within your field of study is a great way to break into the scene and start networking with people who will be able to help you find a paid position. Some intern and volunteer opportunities are also competitive, so this is also a great way to practice cover letter and resume skills.

2. Certification programs. Getting certified in a skill that is related to your degree can be a great way to ensure that you will have the knowledge to find a job almost anywhere. Engineering graduates can do a short sound technician or “audio engineering” certification. Maybe English students can get their TESL certification to teach English as a second language. These types of positions may not be what you ultimately want to do, but will enable you to find work that is skills-based.

3. Save up and go travel. Spend the summer working full time in a customer service position, save as much money as you can, and go travelling! A lot of recent grads want to see the world. Sometimes starting a job and beginning the “daily grind” of everyday life is too daunting for recent grads who need a break after completing four tough years of studying. There is also the option to volunteer abroad to get some relevant experience. Science students who are interested in medicine can volunteer in local clinics or hospitals. If you’re interested in sustainability and environmentalism there are dozens of ecological reserves that need volunteers. Pair something like this with some backpacking and sight-seeing and you have an exciting post-grad year ahead of and you.  You will come home a wiser person with fascinating and unique experience to offer.

4. Find that dream job: Lastly, there is the option of spending a lot of time and effort to find the perfect job. Get ready for dozens of customized resumes and cover letters, and be prepared for rejection! Ask your professors and any other connections you may have to recommend you to organizations or companies. Browse your university’s job listings (UBC Career Services), Craigslist, and other online job-posting databases. This may take a long time and it can be stressful, but if you put in enough effort and get used to utilizing every connection you can, your dream job may be within reach!

Graduating can be stressful and there is a lot of pressure to find a good job and enter the “real world.” But hopefully you can find creative ways to make your degree work for you. Remember, the point of university isn’t just to find a job. It’s also about being educated, opening your mind to new ideas, thinking critically, and understanding the world and your role as a “global citizen.” So instead of agonizing over the “What Now” aspect of graduating, think of it as an exciting “What Next” opportunity!

Unrelenting: Adjective, not easing or slacking

Networking: Noun, a supportive system of sharing

Utilizing: Verb, to put to use.

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I was really glad that I got to visit the MOA (Museum of Anthropology), because I am interested in ancient culture. Also, I am majoring in History and Culture, but this is the first time I have gotten the chance to study Canadian history. Previously, I just studied the history of Korea, China, and Europe. Now I finally got the chance to learn about ancient Canadian history and culture.

When I entered the museum, some unique carvings captivated me. There were totem poles and house posts. I think that these are similar to Korean poles, called Jang-seung, but these Canadian poles were bigger and covered with animal carvings. According to our tour guide, the tribes who created these thought that human beings and animals are not separate from each other. This made me imagine how nice life would be living together with animals.

Another piece that I was interested in was The Raven and the First Men by Bill Reid Rotunda, which is based on the story of the original human being. The story was new to me and is different from stories that I have heard previously, such as folktales from ancient Asia or Greece. To sum up the story, after the great flood, the raven (which is kind of crow) found some creatures in a shell. These creatures were the first men of the First Nations people. Similar to other folktales, some gods appear who are very much like Zeus or Bok-hee and Yeo-wa. On the other hand, when they uttered ‘after the great flood’ it reminded me of the event of great flood in the Bible. That similarity was so interesting.

Not only that, but I could also enjoy the many galleries, outdoor exhibits and the Koerner European Ceramics Gallery. All in all, I got insight into new cultures and thought, and I learned how the Canadian First Nations people had lived. Also, the MOA seemed very diverse, containing Canadian history, First Nations folktales, European ceramics and multicultural relics.

Captivated: Verb, to attract and hold the attention or interest of someone.

Similarity: Noun, likeness or resemblance

Diverse: Adjective, of various kinds and forms

UBC Koerner Library - Image Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Why are some young people going to work before they graduate from their university? Are there any advantages or disadvantages of young people doing this? What kinds of jobs are good for young people to do? There are so many different opinions about these issues. In my culture, young people typically go to work during their university. They usually work as clerks in shops or bookstores, waiters or waitress in restaurants, or assistants in companies or business offices and tutors.

A typical job a teenager will do in my culture is usually a part time job, with not much training, with not many skills, with a low salary and with a boring job. A part time job gives teenagers chance to earn money by themselves and time to study. They work 4 to 5 hours, 3 to 4 days during weekdays, then they can go back home to study for maybe two hours. However, some teenagers spend too much time on their part time jobs, and they become exhausted. They are too tired to study; moreover, they skip their classes.  Not much training and not many skills lead teenagers to get easy jobs, but it is hard to learn professional skills from them. Although young people have difficulties learning professional skills from their part time jobs, they can still learn something else from them. For example, teenagers can learn how to get along with their coworkers, how to deal with the problems which come from customers, how to organize partial things well, and so on. Low salary and boring jobs make teenagers switch jobs frequently; on the contrary, teenagers accumulate a lot of different work experience which is useful for their future job hunting.

My younger brother had a part time job as a clerk in the NET clothing shop during his university years. He worked 4 to 5 hours, 3 to 4 days during weekdays. Although the job itself was boring, where he would reorganize clothes, welcome customers and pick out clothes for customers to try on again and again, he built a lot of confidence, made a lot of friends, and became more independent owing to his job. In addition, he got to save some money for his college fee. My parents were glad that my younger brother grew up through his job.

If our society can offer better jobs for teenagers, it will let teenagers have a better future. We should follow our law of limiting teenagers’ working time strictly and legislate for offering better working environments for younger people. As the matter now stands, young people can get vast advantages from their jobs without adverse effects.

Vast - very great in number, quantity, amount. Example: vast sums of money.

Adverse – [ad-vurs, ad-vurs] opposing one’s interests or desire.

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In Japan, most of the middle school students have to belong to a club. My school had a soccer club, a baseball club, a volleyball club, a judo club, an art club, a brass band, and so on. When I entered middle school, I wanted to try a very hard club because my teacher said, “be willing to endure hardship while you’re young”. I was influenced by this, and chose the volleyball club because it was known as having the most intense practice and a difficult coach.

After I joined the club, I didn’t have any days off. In addition, there were thirteen new members in my club, and every member had previous experience playing volleyball except me. I felt depressed at first, but I tried to think of this in a positive way. The coach and senior members could spend time mentoring and teaching me.

Some members quit the club. However, I didn’t because I decided not to drop out when I made up my mind to commit to the club. In spite of my decision, I often had instances when I didn’t want to go to practice, but I wanted to confirm the saying, “Continuity is the father of success,”

Fortunately, I was taller than most of my team members in the club, so the coach told me to be a spiker. I couldn’t succeed in the technique, so I practiced to jump higher and higher. It is because I thought it is important to learn how to jump higher. At that time, I began jumping even in my house, and my goal was to touch the ceiling. After one year, I became the highest jumper in my club, which means I could be a strong spiker.

Our team won the prefectural tournament and participated in the All Japan Middle High Volleyball Championship. However, my mother was worried about my studying because I was too busy to study due to practice. We had a practice every day, even on Christmas, New Years Eve, and exam period.

Although my mother was concerned about me, I managed to enter the high school of my choice, and applied to join the volleyball club again. This volleyball club had only seven members, but I really enjoyed spending time with them. We were very close because of being a small club.

In the last year of high school, I had to study harder. In fact, it was natural for the students in my high school to sit at the desk and study for thirteen hours a day during the summer vacation. I also had to study really hard to catch up with other students. Studying to enter university was extremely stressful, not only for me but also for other students. Because of stress, some students couldn’t sleep and eat. Fortunately, I didn’t get too stressed like that, but it was a difficult time in my life.

In addition to studying hard, I became the captain of the club, and I joined a program to stay for two weeks in the UK. It put pressure on the limited time for studying, but it was so helpful and useful for my life. Furthermore, I would love to spend my time joining school events. In those days, I tried to be a positive and active person in all my activities. It made my mother feel worried, but she didn’t insist on me studying and supported me instead.

Commit (verb): to bind or obligate, as by pledge or assurance

Continuity (noun): a continuous or connected whole

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It’s that time of year again. The ELI classes end and exam season starts. Everybody will be studying hard for their exams, and the libraries will be filled with a stressful atmosphere. The best way to perform well on your exams is to learn how to deal with exam stress. This will allow you to study better and get through this time. Here are some suggestions that have worked for me in the past.

1. Create a schedule

The best way to plan and pace your studying is to create a study schedule. First, plot when your exams are occurring on the calendar to gauge an idea of how many days you have to study for each exam. Next, look at each course schedule and section off the curriculum into manageable parts, and allocate each part to each day. One key point is that each day’s agenda needs to be realistic. In general, goals need to be S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time specific).

2. Healthy Lifestyle

The most important part of studying is maintaining good health, and part of this is to eat good healthy food. For me, I tend to eat lots of fruits and fresh vegetables, as they are considered nature’s snacks, and I avoid eating the temping fast food, as it makes me bloated and lethargic. Also, do not underestimate the power of good sleep. It is better to quit early and get a good sleep so you can be well rested for the next day of studying. Studying late becomes inefficient because your brain is too tired to think. Lastly, exercise in small amounts, like walking up the stairs or going for a walk as a study break. This will help get the blood in your body flowing and allow your brain to have some oxygen to stay awake.

3. Limit the distractions

One key part in studying is to maintain your focus. Make sure you allocate a lot of time for each subject and decrease the amount of little errands to do. Flow, when studying, is extremely important. Related to this, Facebook is a good way to take a break, but only take breaks when you have completed a section of studying. Do not study with Facebook open, and avoid using your computer when its unnecessary. Also, place your cell phone away from arm’s reach and keep it on silent.

4. Find ways to de-stress

When studying, I find the best way to re-energize my studying is to take planned breaks. After each section of studying, I purposely fit in ways I can de-stress, like playing guitar, listening to music, or cooking myself a meal. Finding time to completely abolish studying (for a short time) helps me remain motivated to get back to studying.

5. Keep a good mindset

Lastly, when you are in the middle of exam period, just remember that exam period is very brief and you will survive through it. When you are done exams, you will be free as a bird. When entering in your exams, be confident because you know you tried your hardest, and after your exam try not to dwell on the exam you wrote and focus on the next exam.

Gauge (verb): to appraise, estimate, or judge

Lethargic (adjective): drowsy; sluggish

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Nowadays there is not enough time for children to play. Do you know why they are so busy? In Korea, most parents have very high expectations of their children; they are under a lot of pressure to get high grades in school. Children spend most of their days indoors studying, never with nothing to do, except when they are sleeping. However, I believe that students cannot achieve the academic success their parents expect in this way. To reach this goal, students need to feel passion for their own goals inside them, not forced upon them externally. Parents have to remember these three significant factors to foster their child’s academic success: responsibility, motivation and trust.

Students should take responsibility for their own life to succeed in academic performance. Sometimes parents tend to overlook the importance of teaching responsibility. For example, when my cousin was in elementary school, his mother started to push him according to her own study visions. The parents believed that their child should follow the plan without consideration for the child’s own will. However, it failed to make my cousin more responsible. This pressure discouraged him from making an effort to study autonomously. Eventually, he became a problematic child with a lack of discipline, skipping school, procrastinating, and doing whatever he wanted. This implies that children need to acquire responsibility by making their own decisions about their life from an early age onwards. It is an undeniable fact that people have to own their life because they will leave their parents eventually. Thus, responsibility for his or her own life plays a significant role in encouraging a student’s morale.

In addition, motivation produces the power to strive to concentrate on the student’s study. My motivation is my parents. Unlike my cousin’s parents, my parents always let me decide everything for myself as well as providing me with valuable role models by doing their duty as parents. Although sometimes our family was in economic trouble, they always set an example to me about responsibility. It gave me motivation to study hard and has encouraged me to do my best for my academic success. I have showed qualities such as following instructions, submitting assignments on time, and participating actively in class discussions. I always got scholarships and good grades in school. Force from parents does not lead to this kind of success; children need to feel the motivation within them. It is an important factor to move their minds through real-life incentives.

It is very important that parents believe in their children and display trust. Parents’ trust is the most powerful motivator for a student because parents are close to their children. Students should feel motivated when parents feel nervous about their child’s academic success. Parents should try to be patient and generous and not feel nervous. Boundless trust makes a huge impact on their child. For instance, my uncle became aware that his disciplinary method didn’t work and then he was determined to show boundless belief in his child. It very hard for him to be patient, but he was. After a while, my cousin started to do really well after he felt the trust from his parents. The results of waiting come slowly, but this patience will make a huge difference.

Using these methods, children will be as busy as they were in the past. However, they could feel happier than children in the past and be more efficient in achieving their academic goals. To touch one’s heart is the most important factor. A positive mind needs to be the starting point to achieve any goal. Overall, I firmly believe that parents should take into consideration what really helps their child and perhaps focus less on their expectations of their child’s success.

Procrastinate: (verb) to defer action; delay

Autonomously: (Adverb) independently

Vancouver's Chinatown - Image Courtesy of Flickr

Canada is a multicultural country. This is especially obvious in Vancouver. Whenever you are wandering around downtown, you can hear more than five languages spoken by diverse people. Also, Vancouver is filled with many different kinds of food and restaurants from a variety of countries. It is even hard to find someone who is not a first generation Canadian, especially in Richmond. I think my home stay proves this fact.

Many of my friends are living with a host family and most of their host families are first generation Canadians. Their nationalities are very diverse, such as Filipino, Chinese and Greek. I am living with a host family who immigrated from the Philippines. It is always very interesting to talk with them. They have been in Canada for more than ten years now, so their lives are mixed with Canadian and Filipino culture. Now, I will introduce my crazy but lovely host family to you!

Five females and one male live in my house. Four of them make up my host family. My host mother, Alicia, has five daughters. She works at a big grocery store as a cashier to afford her family’s living. Her job seems to never end – she also has to take care of her two kids, cook for us and clean the house after working. She is a superwoman! Alicia’s oldest daughter, Sarina, often helps her mother and does chores and housework. Sarina also has a job which keeps her busy on weekdays. Jenowa, who is the second daughter, lived in the house but now she is living with her boyfriend. She studied health care and just graduated from a college. The other girls are the two little monsters in the house! Keilani is six years old and will be seven on April 9^th. Recently, she keeps talking about her upcoming birthday party at dinner time. I think this is so I can memorize every single detail of the party, like how many friends are invited, what kinds of games will be played and how excited she is! The youngest girl, Alyssa, is such an adorable girl that sometimes I want to bite her cheek. Whenever I come back from school and enter my home, she runs to me and hugs my legs, saying “Hi Songhee” in her high voice. Her height is only half of mine and she is always active and cheerful. Keilani and Alyssa never stop playing and bothering me. They love to play games with my cell phone and listen to music on my laptop. I used to babysit them on the weekend for a few hours. The kids are cute and lovely, but noisy!

Finally, there is also a boy who lives downstairs but he is hardly ever home after class. He told me that he goes to Grouse Mountain and Whistler to go snowboarding twice a week. Lastly, there is a girl who is an ELI student, who lives to talk with people, loves coffee and enjoys writing articles for the ELI blog…that’s me! I love everyone in my host family. We are diverse and different, but lovely!

Immigrate: (verb) to come to a country of which one is not a native, usually for permanent residence

Diverse: (noun) of a different kind, form, character; unlike

The UBC English Language Institute building

The Tokai University students who were short term students left here on March 30^th. It means three months have already passed since I arrived here. How quickly time flies! During my stay here, I have experienced good things and bad things.

Although studying English is really tough and hard, learning new things is fun. Recently I have felt so much pleasure because it is supposed to help my future.  I don’t know specifically what I want to do in the future, but I want to challenge myself to do something at the ELI and in Vancouver.  During my adventure studying abroad, I have grasped the opportunity to grow up and mature.

Also, I feel that connecting with people is really important these days.  The friends that I’ve met here are precious. They come from different countries and have their own culture, values and religions, giving me many different experiences. Sometimes I compare their English, personality and thought to mine, so I feel inferior.  Sometimes I don’t feel like I have anything to share, and I would rather absorb information or experiences I don’t have than ignore them.  I’d like to experience more and more. Everyday my friends give me opportunities that change my life.

I will stay here until end of August, but I know time rushes away. I don’t want to waste time here because I promised my friends that I would improve my English skills and become more mature.  I don’t want to betray them, but I shouldn’t miss my chance to study English and experience many things.

Inferior (adjective): lower in station, rank, degree, or grade

Mature (adjective): to bring to full development