Challenge myself! Until my 24th Birthday.

After a lot of times being wasted on being worried and all, I decided to become more productive from now on. 2009 is almost over. I know there have been some dramatic changes this year including the big move in the middle of the year. Well, I am now all settled with life here. Now, it is to go take advantage of all the resources KAIST has while I am still a student. There is a big reason why I decided to go back to school!! So let's not forget that!

I tend to start things and never finish it. So, in year 2010, let's become new me!! Stop whining and be more assertive!

I am creating a list of 10 things to do before I turn 24. Sort of short term goals for my long term goal in life.

Health

1. Start a routine work-out plan. Let's get that Abs showing!

I am going to dedicate 30 minutes of Cardio and 40 minutes of non-aerobic exercises to

build my strength and get in shape! ( This will be the toughest challenge, because let's face it, working out takes a lot of dedication and persistence! )

2. Eat a balanced diet. No junk foods!

3. Read one novel / week.

No matter how busy my life gets, I should not ignore the importance of reading.

After all, I need all the imagination and inspirations if I want to become a director. And what more good source for that than reading books?

From non-fiction to NY Times bestsellers, I should diversify my reading list as well!

4. Write a journal/blog everyday.

Writing is a powerful tool. What better way to practice that then writing everyday?

By keeping a journal, I will organize my thoughts clearly.

Relationships

5. Express my "Love" towards my friends and family.

I was always negligent towards people around me no matter how great they were to me. Now, it's time for me to express my gratitudes toward them. Even a small gesture can make people happy. It's time I say "thank you" to them.

6. Take an initiative

It's time to take in charge and make others follow me rather than be a follower in a group.

7. Be in a serious relationship

Being in a relationship is different in Korea. Different culture and standards apply.

My first relationship taught me well. I am going to learn more in the dating pool.

8. Keep in touch with old friends (US)

Let them know what I am doing in Korea. Invite them to come visit S. Korea.

9. Go someplace new and take pictures that I can proudly show to my friends and family.

After all, pictures are worth thousand words.

10. Read Academic journals and papers related to Culture Technology

Prepare myself to find my topic for Academic research and start my first draft.

Let the countdown commence.

Tomorrow will be D-94

Norman McLaren

Last night I went to Seoul to watch a performance made by Lemieux and Pilon from Canada as a part of on going performances play and musical festival "9th Annual Seoul Interantional Performance Festival" in 대학로.

8 of us took the KTX train from Daejeon to Seoul. We booked the 5:29PM train but we got to the train station on the dot. (Almost missed the train >.<) On the train, took pictures and listened to some music and discussed After arriving at Seoul station, we didn't have enough time to eat dinner so we ordered KFC and ate in 15 minutes! hehe The perfomance was captivating, visually stimulating and just simply words can't describe!

I was lucky to sit close to stage. The most impressive use of 4D projection was when family of cats crawled across the stage.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7QoI814ALk

Porco Rosso

Thank god it's examination week! Fortunately, I have no exams this semester so it is going to be somewhat light week for me.

So in celebration of it, I watched Porco Rosso today. As a fan of Miyazaki's animation, I was interested in watching his earlier works. The main character is a human who turned into a pig. Who is also a fighter pilot. Throughout the film, I was curious how the character turned into a pig but it doesn't explicitly tell you what happened to the character.

Pusan International Film Festival

On Friday,

KAIST GSCT held an annual workshop in Pusan. I woke up at 7AM to meet at the bus stop around 8AM. About 40 people showed up for the workshop including 3 professors.

The bus ride was somewhat decent. From Daejeon to Pusan, it took about 4 hrs but talking amongst peers and listening to music let the time fly.

The bus stopped at 칠곡휴게소 for brunch. Also on the way to the bus, people were assigned groups to move together when we watch the films. Unfortunately for me and other student council memebers, we had to were obligated to work throughout the workshop times.

I did get to watch one movie called "The French Kissers" from France. It is a French "American Pie" movie telling a story of French teenagers and coming of age.

afterwards, we moved to Hae Un Dae to eat dinner and free time.

The night went on with a roof top event at our min bak jib. The video I made this week was presented along with singing and food and good times.

Namsan Hiking

소나무 숲 in 남산

Chusuk in Korea

This weekend is Korean Thanksgiving known as Chusuk (추석).

Having lived in America for many years, this will be my first Chusuk in many years. It is one of the biggest Holiday in Korea, yet this year, the date falls on Saturday. So it won't feel much like

a holiday for many people. Although I am going home for the holidays, I don't think there will be any family events that I know of.

This just reminds me that in contemporary life, there is less family interaction. I can feel it strongly by skin! Looking at my own family, my twin brother is in America going to college, my sister is a career woman who works full time. And myself a graduate student in Daejeon, home away from home.

To give an update of my life at KAIST:

Thesedays, I am pre-occupied with classes and Student council work. CT workshop will be held in Pusan International Film Festival in October 9-10. As a member of the CT student council, we planned the event accordingly under strict budget.

This week, we also had our first idea presentation for Culture Technology Project class. Many team came up with interesting ideas including my team. However, the general comment from the professors were that our projects need to be focused on research rather than the product.

Afterall, we are not here to sell the IT products but to effectively work with many students from different discipline to research areas in Culture Technology.

This week was somewhat more significant to me because I have finally decided on what direction I am going to follow during my graduate studies at KAIST. Rather than to put myself into writing technical papers on the topic of research that I am not passionate about, I am going to pursue my professor to support me on creating contents based on CT equipments in next 2 years.

My goal then will be to walk out from KAIST with a strong and diverse portfolio that won't lack any qualty that the professional film industry looks for. I am not thinking this will be any easier than the more traditional track of writing technical paper and defense upon graduation. However, at this point, I think putting my energy into more of the artistic aspects of visual media would make myself much happier than the first option.

It's been a long (about a month long) dilemma I had and now I finally can focus.

I can't believe the month of September went by so fast!

Wishes everyone in Korea, HAPPY CHUSUK!!

Swimming lessons!

So yesterday, I began my swimming lesson.

One of my fellow classmate offered me to teach me how to swim. ( more importantly help me over come my fear of water)

When I first jumped into the pool, I became so nervous, stiff and shivered like it was winter or something. But after moving around the pool and whatnot, my body started to relax.

First lesson was to dip my head into the water. This may sound like a simple task but for a person who has fear of water, it is not so easy.

I have to say, I am proud of myself. I am 23 years old and after all those years, I finally put my mindset to overcome this fear and learn how to swim. So hopefully, I won't give up after couple days! My goal is to learn freestyle swimming by end of this semester! After all, I can rip all the benefits of swimming! It is the best exercise one can do daily!

This morning, I woke up around 8:30AM and headed to the pool around 9AM.
Moving on from yesterday's lesson, I dipped my head into the pool in a sitting down pose.
After doing it for ten times, I became more confident of being inside the water.

So my new goal is to
Swim daily and workout three times a week!