Bita Khademi: A Woman's Role

Women have a big responsibility inside the family. As a wife or a mother, she should take care of every thing so that every member of family feels calm and comfortable. Raising children as well as cooking, cleaning and shopping have made a housewife’s duties more challenging. All of these affairs are time-consuming and require patience and attention. However, today, there is a tendency inside the female society toward many other responsibilities. There are several reasons which explain why women should also be active outside the home.
First of all, women have proved that they are able to participate efficiently in different positions. Taking part in different steps of business is one of them. Women either as a manager or in a lower step as a secretary have been successful. Meanwhile, many women are highly educated and as professionals appear in different organizations. In universities, many ladies are teaching and investigating in different fields, and many educational books have published by them. Furthermore, female workers and employees have a big role in running many companies, and in both production and office administration women have been working shoulder to shoulder with men. In addition, in the military service, women have found a significant position. Having been familiar with their duties as a commander or soldier, they have been successful and honoured. During the war in battle field and war- stricken zones, women’s relief work have provided a significant support. Women, as a part of these forces, have been very supportive by nursing the wounded and providing food, medicine, and other supports.
Second, choosing a career outside the home can give women a chance to enhance their abilities and skills. Intellectual growth is one of these abilities. Challenging with different problems in work helps them to decide more wisely in other affairs. Furthermore, working as professionals in any organization requires effective communication with other experts which provide them an increase in their knowledge. Moreover, being involved in a job can give them a sense of self-esteem. Financial independence is a definite advantage of having a career. It makes a woman more confident encountering any situation. In addition, any salary can be beneficial in the improvement of economic condition of the family. In fact, the more the salary, the more each family can benefit from more advanced facilities.
To sum up, although a housewife can make a home more comfortable, her occupation is more beneficial for both family and society. As they form half of the population, they have a big role in running many affairs, and this can hardly be ignored.

Susan Lee: Globalization in Korea

Nowadays, we can hear about globalization everyday on Tv, radio and the internet; besides, we realize that the world is changing quickly, as the countries have come closer to eachother. However, Koreans think about globalization in different ways. Some of them view it is a process which is beneficial to the future world, so they think that it is the result of human innovation and technological progress. Another group of Korean people view it with hostility, even fear, because they believe that it increases inequality between nations and threatens employment. However, I believe that globalization has greatly affected culture and Education in South korea.

The culture has been considerably changed. Frist, globalization has changed our country's food dramatically. There were many small grocery stores in a residential street before Korea became globalized. As the world becomes more global, a combination of stores which contains western food appeared and have become bigger to compete with western grocery store, as Walmart, Karfu, the Costco. Although western grocery stores could not succeed, it affected our country's distribution industry. Therefore, people could buy import items esilsy at the supermarket. Every shelf in a shop display a variety of items from all over the world even fruit and vegetables. Also, western fast food command general popularity in South korea like other countries. For instance, Macdonalds has opened over 200 store in South korea, so a lot of people could eat hamburgers and fries for a cheep price. By introducing western style restaurants, a lot of up-scale restaurants have been created. For example, T.G.I Fridays, family restaurant, has opened fifty store in South korea in a short time; futhermore, it has always fascinated people even though prices are expensive. Second, entertainment has been changed. The introduction of other country's cultural productions, which can be a entertainment, have benefited the music and entertainment industry. Despite the fact that ticket prices of the concert are expensive, many people enjoy the performances. However, the globalization has not affected all of us in a positive way. As time goes by, the computer appeared as the way of entertainment. For example, the better-known, user-friendly, multimedia side of the Internet, called the World Wide Web, grew almost 20-fold. In just few years, users created more than 3 million multimedia pages of information, entertainment, and advertising. It made people more individual; as a result, the internet makes people lonelier and increases isolation, even though it is a wide word of communication. Third, globalization has affected our fashion style. Fashion shows from other country, created a variety of styles in our fashion. Most people prefer to wear famous brands from all over the world. Also, globalization has made our traditional clothes combine with western style. For instance, our traditional dress consists of a top and a skirt, but nowadays people like wearing without top like a evening dress in the Western countries. It has been designed in european style; so that, it looks like fusion-dress which harmonized Eastern and Western.

Education has been rapidly changed in South korea by providing information of the foreign school in the world. First, studying aboard became common; therefore, the number of international students has dramatically increased. Futhermore, there are a lot of students who are anxious to study in different countries. Thus, this situation has led people to go another country automatically. A large number of people immigrate to all over the countries each year. Second, by introducing foreign method many people could learn diverse methods. For example, I learned the music method 'Kodaly method' which was introduced by Zoltan kodaly, a Hungarian composer and educator. This method has affected teachers and music curriculum in my country like other countries. In addition, lots of teaching method was introduced by globalization. Also, the number of a foreign language institutes has up sharply and they are wild spread. Besides, there are plenty of places for the kids to practice speaking English: they can withdraw play money at a pretend bank, then use it to tip their waiter at a restaurant. Likewise, they can practice English which they learned from the place as a real Canadian or American lives. Moreover, fluency in English is essential, and a working knowledge of foreign language is highly desirable in many companies in South korea.

In conclusion, as the world become global, there are many things which have changed by globalization. Especially, globalization has changed South korea's culture and education. Also, I agree that there is not only positive way but also negative way. However, it is difficult to return a wave of globalization even though there are many problems. Because, it is not just a recent phenomenon; also, globalization comes from supporting high technology which developed by man. Besides, it comes from man's passion for a better lives

Sergey Kazakov : Globalization

All of us had an opportunity to witness ugly scenes during the recent G-8 meeting when anti-globalists tried to interrupt its. Usually, their struggle against Globalization takes grotesque forms such as fighting police, firing it bonfires, and crashing stores’ windows. They claim that it is their response to Globalization which has led to exploitation of and suffering among people in the developing countries. They believe that the broken window in the McDonald’s in North America or Europe could help these people. It is difficult for me to catch the connection between those different issues. But maybe I do not understand something important which kept me from participation in this noble social movement. To answer this question we should analyze the nature of Globalization, and understand the negative and positive features which it brigs in our life.

From scientific point of view, the nature of Globalization is absolutely clear and exists in good correspondence with mutual physical laws with respect to sociology – any system without outer influences tends to reach mean level of all possible properties inside itself. From human history, we know that people in all times tried to make connections, to cooperate with habitats of different corners of the World. For example, in former days, the most successful merchants organized constant supply of different exotic goods from India to Europe, and everybody was happy to use the results of their activities. It is also clear that in our time when easy communications between different countries are possible any company would try to take advantage of world labor market. Recently it has become usual practice that big companies are moving their facilities to the East, China for example.

As any complex matter, this process has negative features. The addicts of anti-globalism theory try to prove that due to Globalisation, international companies are gaining possibility to rob “poor” countries when they buy natural resources at low prices and sell back goods from these same resources for high prices. It is inhuman and should be prohibited. We also know that salaries for the same job at developing countries are much less compared with those in developed countries. Worries exist that this process may destroy national cultural identities or local cultures. People can buy the same hamburger everywhere around the World; run-on the youth are listening the same music and prefer the same clothes fashion, and it is serious.
But we can find a lot of positive features which Globalization is bringing too. Maybe the most important thing is that it is the only one real possibility for developing countries to participate in World Market. As a result they are gaining new technologies, new factories are growing in these countries; educational level of their population is growing, too. It leads to the creation of national intelligence and improvement in society in general, although this road doesn’t promise to be easy. Due to this process many young people have had the opportunity to achieve there own high targets. Many multinational companies such as Microsoft use in their R&D departments people educated elsewhere around the world. Science has become a really international issue due to it.

This short analysis demonstrated that Globalization is a very complex, controversial, but objective event of our current life. When I see fighting of anti-globalists with police, I have strange feeling that I head about something similar before. Maybe it reminds me of Luddits who tried to destroy steam-machines to prevent poor people from loosing their job places. I have a feeling that intentionally or unintentionally they try to do the same – to struggle against unavoidable objective things of our life. We should agree that they formulated very important questions, but their approach to its resolution is absolutely wrong. – They must fight not to stop progress but elaborate approaches on how to use Globalization event for the benefit of poor countries and theirs population. History of developed countries has proved that all questions concerning exploitation and national authenticity may be solved. And let’s not forget that not only multinational corporations but also population of these countries with all their experience of struggling human rights and fighting for environment will participate in Globalization, too.

Sergey Kazakov: A Woman's Place

What does this question mean? By its inner nature it should be answered only “YES” or “NO”. But we should not forget that it concerns such complex and contradictory matter as “woman”. Due to this, a lot of people, who were asked this question, had different meaning for the same words in the same sentence. This short question may be answered in absolutely different and contradictory terms.
People, who answer “NO”, regard it as a test of loyalty to women rights. They are usually the addicts of feminist movement, which supposes equality of men and women everywhere and their mutual responsibility for raising children and running a household. Mankind history is full off brilliant achievements of women even in muscular fields, such as fight at battlefield in case of J.d’Arc. In some difficult situation they demonstrated bigger gusto compares with men. There participation in politic recently has brought them dignity.
People who answered this question “YES” are appealing to the habits and tradition, when household was women’s responsibility. Even the Bible ratifies this situation. Many women like the idea of being a “Mother” and “Wife”; it is a big pleasure for them to build a nest where their family would live. Many women till now think that life on behalf of their children and husband is the highest destiny of their life. They care about their children instinctively. They should not deprived by their rights.
Nobody argues that man and woman is equal creatures. Even Catholic Church in 1968 agreed with this. But, why women should choose between two possibilities? Why she cannot be a mother and successful businessman simultaneously? Let’s leave answer to this question to women. Our goal should be the creation of possibilities for every woman to make a free choice and support her decision.

Anne Lee: Global Korea

Anne Lee
The development of means of transportation and communication has changed the globe into a global village. If you are an ambitious businessman, you will make your target market not only your own country but also the entire world. This unavoidable new wave has affected most of the world. Korea is also no exception in this globalization wave. Globalization has had great effects on the industrial structure, job opportunities, society and culture of Korea.

First of all, globalization of labor market and trade has dramatically affected Korean industries. Labor-intensive industries such as textile sectors, clothing sectors, once contributed to the initiative economic booming in Korea. However, rising labor cost obstructed further growth of these parts of indusries. Consequently, they turned their eye to the neighboring countries to look for a cheap labor market since neiboring countries were no longer far away countries. Alternative driving power of economic growth of Korea was IT industry. Therefore, government made great effort and investment on training IT engineers. Those highly skilled human resource did their job more than expectation of country up to the economic crisis in 1996. Combination of unrest of Korean economy and golden hello of developed countries made brain drain. Because traveling and movement of their business or residence to another country was not an impossible issue any more, manufacturers moved their factories to China, Vietnam and skilled workers moved to developed countries to receive more benefits. As a consequence of those movements, the industrial structure is forming into new one. The trend of trade also made a great impact on Korean industrial structure. Since the entire world is a marketing place, we have had to respect WTO. If we want fair competition in the trade with other countries, we should respect their expectation of fair competition in domestic market either although it has drastic downside. As a result of moving toward export-oriented strategy for development of country, changes in industries were inevitable.

Secondly, changes of industries made huge impact on job opportunities in Korea. People who do not have many skill and education used to have enough income for supporting their family from hard working in labor-intensive industries. However, many of them plunged into poverty due to job losses and lack of job opportunities. Since those industries moved their factories to China and even small sweat shops hired illegal cheaper foreign labor, there were no more job for them. People who are skilled and educated but not overseas trained or not highly educated also have difficulties to find education-appropriate jobs. Because increasing number of overseas educated or trained work forces are taking over their job places, they lower their job expectations.

Thirdly, less job opportunities for domestic people and more job opportunities for foreign work force have affected Korean society. As a consequence of lack of job opportunities for grass-roots, the number of city slummers and homeless people has been increased considerably. It brought higher crime rate and more insecure sense to the whole society. More and more hiring foreigners to do menial jobs forced our society to forget about pride of a homogeneous nation. Without foreign work force, small business cannot survive any more. As living with those people who came from all over the world became necessary, Korean society started opening our door to the multicultural society.

Finally, these changes have affected not only society but also it's culture. Nowadays, more koreans are moving to other countries with our unique culture and more foreigners are coming to Korea to live with their own culture. Consequently, Korean culture is moving toward multi-culturalism. Despite the fact that it is just beginning, it is obviously predictable move. However, there are great concern about losing Korean cultural identity.

To conclude, globalization has already made a huge impact on the industrial structure, job opportunities, society and culture of Korea, and it is still an on-going situation. If it is inevitable, we should try to gain competitive edges through analysis and research.

Susan Lee: Moving

I am very happy when I imagine that I toured another country even for only one week; how much more excited I should feel if I were to live to anther part of my country. I have already realized that I am delighted have come to Canada from my own country. I have learned so many things and could have brilliant expectations in my future life. I believe that living in a variety of places has the pros and cons. However, I prefer to move in order to improve my life for three main reasons.

Firstly, It is a good idea to live in a better climate. Enjoying nature is good for mental health. Nature, says the proverb, is the best physician. I like feeling the turning of the season except winter; likewise, gardening in the spring, sunning myself at the beach in the summer, seeing the changing leaves in the fall please me. Making snowman is also my hobby after my children were born. Also, it helps me enjoy my favorite activities in each season like swimming and skiing. Also, I agree that air quality can affect people's health. Living in less polluted places is beneficial. In the very busy city, for example, air pollution in Seoul is very serious. People suffer from air pollution, and they often get sick because of the heavy smog that fills the air. After I came to Canada, I recognized that there are less traffic jams, and its air is clean - free from pollution. Automatically, it leads to less lung disease.

Secondly, it is important to live in comfortable and useful places. A community may be considered to be an extension of a family; also, I think a good neighbor is better than a sister far off. When I need a friend, I want to go to my neighbor who is an unceremonial friend; for instance, after finishing our basement, it was really bad but my neighbor helped with the clean up. Besides, she can take care of my children when I am late to pick them up. Also, facilities are one of an important thing for a better life. For instance, greenery creates a natural gathering space for neighbors and, ultimately, stronger bonds in the community. Good community must contain entertainment facilities as well, including a theater, a golf course, several miles of bicycle trails and park.

Thirdly, it is most important to experience learning opportunities in other places. First of all, I still like to go where the language and culture are different from what I am used to. Learning new language was going to be a whole new challenge when I started studying. I really like to feel that every language has slightly different nuances. Also, I love exploring the cultures and traditions of the whole world they are learning about. Especially, experiencing variety of food culture is very interesting. I believe that if people understand the culture of each other, they will be very close.

I think that my opinion would change if I were to move more often. However, I believe that moving would expose me to new climate, new places and new learning experiences. As time goes by, I will long to see all over the country; finally, I hope I wound be a globe-trotter.

Anna Lee: Airplanes

The world’s first airplane made by the Wright brothers on December 17, 1903 was a big invention in transportation. Since then, a variety of airplanes have been produced. Some people may think taking the airplane is dangerous because the risk involved. However, it is reported that the total number of accidental deaths by other means of transportations is more than those by air. It is expected that the majority of people would take airplanes when they travel. Airplanes have changed people’s lives in two major ways.

Taking Airplanes is timesaving and promotes economic development Airplanes are timesaving means of transportations because flying is fast and easy. It takes about twenty to 26 hours from Asia to North America by air, comparing to one week by ship. Therefore, people can easily travel from one place to another place. Airplanes make touring, studying abroad, doing business, attending conferences and other events possible. As a result, it promotes economic development.

However, taking airplanes causes some inconveniences in people’s lives. It is uncomfortable to sit in a narrow seat for a lengthy trip. The muscles may become tense and joints stiff from the hours of sitting in the same position. Fatigue and discomfort may arise. Jetlag is also a common complication after traveling by air. Another problem involved the complicating process such as one needs to book a ticket in advance, and most of the time, the ticket is nonrefundable. Moreover, one needs to arrive at the airport one or two hours ahead, depending on domestic or international flight. In addition, the expensive fare is not affordable for everyone. The round-trip fare from Taiwan to Toronto is about CAD 1500, so it is surely I will not use it as often as I use other means of transportations such as buses or trains.

In conclusion, traveling by air is faster and easier which brings people closer. Although it has some inconveniences, taking the airplane is inevitable in the modern society. The good news is some companies such as the Singapore Air, recently developed much more comfortable seats for their VIP guests. Therefore, if one can afford the fare, traveling by air will be an enjoyable thing to do.

Bessie Chan: Learning from the Past

Learning about the past (by Bessie Chan) Date:6-11-2007
The present life is different from the past. Technology has improved our quality of life, and the problems we face nowadays are totally different from the past. For example, it is impossible to find any realistic solution about the predicament of global warming from the ancient great empires because they knew nothing about the problem. It sounds reasonable, right? But it is also possible to learn valuable idea from the past. Although many people think that learning about the past has no value for those of us in the present, studying the history reasonably leads us to a more successful life.

Learning from others' successes directs us to the way of success. It is true that ¡§Every man I meet is in some way my superior¡¨ (Ralph Waldo Emerson). Great people of the past are our superior. The reasons for their success give us hints to the way of success. Their characters and attitudes are the model that our youngster should imitate and learn. Furthermore, it is commonly known that student who studying ¡§Political¡¨ should have a deep knowledge about the history. Every government facing predicament will ask the ¡§Wh¡¨ questions such as ¡§What would the previous brimming government have done if they are faced the same problem?¡¨ A successful government learns the secret of success from the previous rulers.

Learning from others' failure keep us from making the same mistake again. No one wants to taste the bitter experience of failure. It is true that ¡§He that plants thorns must never expect to gather roses¡¨. So, what we should do is not making the same mistake that led to failure. Moreover, the society is more likely to give a second chance for those juvenile offenders but tends to agree to have a harder retribution on recidivist. These imply that everyone is expected to learn from the failure and won¡¦t make the same mistake again. I believe that ¡§Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it¡¨.

To sum up, although learning about the past does not necessarily lead to a successful life, there can be little doubt that knowing more about the success and failure of the past directs us to a brimming life with less regret.

Susan Lee: A Decision

The story of 'The lotus eater', written by Somerset Maugham, tells the story of Thomas Wilson who visited Capri Island located at the Bay of Naples. He was so enchanted with the place that he resigned from his job, sold his house and then used his savings to buy the annuity. He decided to live which would enable him to live the rest of his life without any cares on Capri. He saved just enough money to survive for a set period; and, he lived happily for twenty-five years in a cottage. After his annuity expired, he remained in the cottage until the owner finally told him that he had to leave. Then he tried to commit suicide unsuccessfully by setting fire to the cottage. Assunta, the land lady, and her husband helped him to survive. Finally, he became misfit and antisocial; after six years later, he died under the beautiful moonlight. The Thomas Wilson's tragic end was the result of his choice.

Tomas Wilson may have wanted to avoid boring lifestyle, so he was in pursuit of leisurely life in Nature. Wilson's life led in his adopted home of Capri was a boring daily routine. He was a common place bank manager and he wanted to escape the monotonous life. Also, before his wife died, he had never left his home because his wife did not like travelling. Also, he thought that he felt lonely until he was thirty-four years old; therefore, he could not do exactly what he wanted. He was really cautious about his decision to go to Capri and then he settled the matter after he read a history book, Marion Crawford. He fell in love with the beautiful place at first sight and made up his mind to leave his London life and income behind in exchange for enjoying a leisure time on Capri.

However, Tomas Wilson suffered from very difficult time as a result of his decision. He lost living expense when his annuity expired but he could easily borrow money for some years. As time went by, he could not have any credit anymore; besides, it made him lose his dignity in his relationship with other people. He had no mental capacity, so he was taken to the hospital. After that, he lived in horrible condition. Assunta, the land lady, and her husband took a pity on him, so they let him stay in a woodshed and shared their food to repay his kindness. However, Assunta's husband drove him too hard as a servant so that Wilson had to carry water and clean up the cow-shed and other hard work. Futhermore, he became the antisocial.

Maugham describes Wilson as enjoying his life on the island for the first fifteen years; however, he never shows any sign of regret for the fateful decision that which he made . However, I think that the Wilson's choice to spend his life following a life of leisure on Capri brought his tragic end. Life cannot be led without money or circumstances. In fact, many people can take controll of their lives by managing money and mastering their circumstances. From this point of view, Tomas wilson could not control all his possession.

Anne Lee: Shame

Why did Richard feel ashamed in the story "Shame"?
Anne Lee
The story "Shame" is about how Richard Gregory learned shame in his childhood. Although Richard had a single mother and suffered from poverty, he did his best to keep his pride. He also wanted to look nice to Helen who was his classmate and had everything everybody wanted. However, his naive intention ended up bringing shame to him in front of Helen and other classmates. After he learned shame in his class, Helen became his driving force to get out of poverty for the next twenty-two years. As far as I understood, Richard felt shame because everybody pitied his poverty, and he was too late to help other when he can do.

Richard was ashamed when his whole class felt sorry for his poverty. He always tried to look like a normal boy, just like other children in his class. Despite the fact that he did not have water to wash his only piece of clothes and heat to dry it up during winter, he managed to wash it everyday to look clean before Helen. Although his father was not there to support his family and even his donation, he shined shoes for his family and "buying a dad" for donation. Moreover, he did not want others' sympathy but respect. He felt good when he thought he could donate money to top Helen's. Friday afternoon's washing the blackboard in his classroom made him feel important. However, he could not pretend to be a normal boy anymore due to his teacher's insensitive mention about his being on relief and his having no dad in the class. From that time, he was a miserable poor boy with no daddy, relying on other's help. He was so ashamed that he did his best to impress Helen.

In another way, Richard felt sick about himself when he was too late to help a wino when he was capable to do so. After his bitter lesson, when he encountered the opportunity of helping a more pitiable wino, he waited too long to help him. The wino had already paid with his blood and shame. Richard had suffered that kind of embarrassment long time before, but he could not help another poor person properly. It is like that his teacher and classmates intended to help him but made him ashamed. Therefore, he was ashamed again about himself.

To sum up, Richard was a kind of independent boy with high self-esteem. His ego could not allow others' sympathetic help. When he felt others' pitiable eyes on him, he felt shame. When he could not offer his help in an appropriate way, he was ashamed. Anyway, it is admirable that he had that kind of strong soul which could turn shame into power..