Joy of learning

I remember when I found out my grandfather passed away.  August 31, 2009, a phone call from my grand-aunt while I was having dinner at Outback.  No one back home told me.  I thought it was a lie.

I remember how my dad used to teach my how to punch.  Not like a girl, to this day my friends say that they’ve never seen a girl punch like I do.

I remember when my nanny took my brother for a walk while I was napping.  I woke up and no one was home.  I was scared, and remember what they taught me in kindergarten.  Whenever there’s an emergency call 911.

I remember asking my neighbor “uh-di you going” instead of “where are you going?”

I remember being the only Korean kid in my class, until the fifth grade.  My classmates would ask me if I was Japanese. (There were twins in my grade, they were Japanese)

I remember going to Korean school for the first time.  I didn’t know anything, and the teacher told me that I didn’t belong there if I didn’t know the alphabet.  I went home that night and memorized all the books, and the week after proved to her that I did belong there.

I remember skipping 3^rd grade and 6^th grade and graduating from Korean school early.  Beat that, teacher that told me I should go to Kindergarten because I was too dumb to be in first grade.

I remember when we thought that the keyboard was broken, when really it was the pedal.  Thanks to that, I had to be vocal for 2 months, instead of being the keyboardist.

I remember my first heart attack in school.  I was a freshman, and the doctors suggested surgery.

I remember getting my acceptance letter to NYU.  I was so happy, and all my dad said was “Oh my God.”  He didn’t want me major in music, but since I got accepted, he knew That was where I was going to go.

I remember deciding to come to Yonsei.  I couldn’t deal with the pressure at home to major in something else.

I remember the first time I smoked marijuana.  I was young and stupid, and I enjoyed it way too much.

I remember Domino’s 555 and China Garden.  The best munchies food in the world.

I remember when cigarettes were less than $5.00 a pack, not $10.00, when the legal age to smoke was 18, not 19.

I remember when gas went all the way up to $4.99 a gallon, and hating myself for having an SUV.

I remember my first car accident.  I was with Celia, going to school.  I hit a Porsche Cayenne S.  The owner was a lawyer; I was a sophomore at NYU- a music major.    His car was fine; my CR-V had a huge dent in the bumper.  Thank God for insurance.

I remember getting pulled over on the way to Camelback and the State Trooper telling us, “the ski conditions aren’t too great today.  Have fun though and don’t speed.  I’ll let you off with a warning.”

I remember my first cigarette, a Marlboro.  Michelle and I were sitting in my backyard.  I remember being nervous and curious all at the same time.

I remember, only when I try to remember.  Most of the time I just forget.

“Because he’s come, don’t let random happiness go.”

“Sorry, giving my life or love wanting your friendship.”

“Long, baby.  I make you service me over ice cream desire like I hope grandma’s tootiefrootie cake could.”

“Nothing splits jeans best at breakfast like passionate special jelly doughnuts and strong secrets shooting delight in her daffodils.”

“Pursuit of flying by stars together will only need such dreaming that we can never have.”

Inspired by the grim duality of the 1914 World War I Christmas Eve Cease Fires

If you are not female,
and didn’t let anyone borrow a pencil,
during midterm #2,

please disregard this e-mail.

This e-mail is for a girl
who let me borrow a pencil
during midterm #2,

(2nd to front row on the right side of the classroom).

Sorry I didn’t see you
at the customer service desk
to return your pencil
that you let me borrow
during midterm #2.

I will be
at the portfolio final thing
around 12:30pm

(my appointment is at 12:45).

Please let me know
if this is
before your time,

so I can leave your pencil
that you let me borrow
during midterm #2,

with one of the TAs.

If not, we can
figure something else out.

I’m really sorry about the inconvenience!

Many things You took Me
Unknown Places, Dark Places
Dante’s Inferno, Dante’s Purgatory
Always with You

To the Edge You pushed Me
Fought You, Cursed You
Banished You
And You Lived

No more You control Me
I overcame, I won
Strong, study is I…
Lurking is You?

Canerous shadow You tower Me
Impossibility, Vulnerability
Familiarity, Habitually
Hello old friend You

Violets
blue.
Why don’t I

See them
too?

Roses red
violets,
violet?

Am I,
yes I,
going crazy?

Purple sky.
Red, white, and,
and,
purple?

No!
Crazy…No!

Broken?
Maybe.

Normal.
Colorblind.