Journal #11 The differences between McDonald's and In-N-Out

In the U.S., we can meet various kinds of fast food chains. Among them, I especially like to go McDonald’s and In-N-Out. Both of them are easy to go in California and we don’t need to wait for long time. That’s why people like to fast food chains. However, there are three differences between them.
First, their menu is quite different. In-N-Out has just four menus, but there are secret menus such as animal style, which is serve with chopped onion, melted cheese and special source, protein style, which is wrapped with lettuces instead of bread, etc. Last time I tried protein style, it was quite good. On the other hands, there are more than thirty menus in McDonald’s. In addition, McDonald’s makes and releases new menu constantly.
Second, taste is different. As I know, In-N-Out always uses fresh meat and vegetables, so I have to wait little longer than other fast food chain. Also, I can see how to make my order, because kitchen is open. When I had its burger first, I couldn’t feel different from other burger. However, I can feel now, its burger is fresher and unique favor. Meanwhile, McDonald’s uses frozen food, because it has lots of chains. McDonald’s tries to keep same taste all the chains, so it is essential to serve same materials to every store. For this reason, I can feel almost same taste in everywhere.
To sum up, they are two differences like menu and taste although they are very famous similar style fast food chains. McDonald’s is well-known company worldwide, but In-N-Out is in California. I hope to see In-N-Out in Korea as soon as possible.

Journal #10 You,Me and Dupree

I would like to introduce a movie is called “You, Me and Dupree” This movie is a romantic comedy released on 2006. Main actors are Owen Wilson and Matt Dillion and main actress is Kate Hudson. The film starts around Carl and Molly’s (Matt Dillon and Kate Hudson) wedding party inviting the best friend of Carl, Dupree (Owen Willson). After that, Dupree has lost his job, apartment and car, so Carl lets him to stay his house.
Carl and Molly are preparing their wedding party in Hawaii, Dupree attended their wedding party as the best friend. After finishing wedding party, Carl knows that Dupree has lost his job and loses his car which is given by previous company because of attending his wedding party. Also he doesn’t have a place to live, so he has been sleeping a cot at the bar. After knows this situation, Carl decides to stay Dupree in his house. Carl says to Molly he will stay until he getting a job, so she agrees to stay him. During his stay, he makes lots of problem like sleeping on the couch naked, messy, flooding the bathroom, and walking in on Molly and Carl in the bedroom. For this reason, Molly thinks about how to get out him earlier, so she set up a meeting with her colleague and Dupree. One day, When Carl and Molly are coming back home finishing dinner together, there are something strange in their house. Then their living room burn down because of candle. Finally Dupree moves out their house.Next night, they find Dupree is sitting a bench during heavy rain, so Molly decides that he comes back their home. After returning home, Dupree is totally different. He cleaned up burned living room, making food, riding a bicycle. At that time, Carl is tired to work with Molly’s father. Carl starts to doubt Dupree and Molly are cheating.
In the dinner with Carl, Molly and Molly’s father, Dupree suddenly shows up and Carl hit Dupree. Carl run out of house, Molly realized her father makes Carl angry.Finally Dupree find Carl, Molly and Carl are happy again, and Dupree becomes an author and a motivational speaker.
This movie is really funny and Owen willson's acting is awesome!!! If you want to laugh, I recommend you to watch this movie.

Journal #9

Journal #8 Differeces between the U.S and Korea

Korea and the United States have quite different life styles. First of all, Korea has good transportation system, so I don’t need to worry about going here and there without a car. Also, Riding on a taxi is not expensive, so I used to take a taxi at night. On the other hand, a car is very important to live in California. Even though there are lots of buses, most of them service one time per an hour. If I miss the bus, I have to wait another hour. For example, I went to Garden grove which is located in Korea town by bus. It’s not far from my house. It might take just thirty minutes by a car. At that time I had to change two buses, so I took almost two hours. I was so tired to change a bus because most of bus stop has no roof, it was so hot.
Next, there are tons of shopping places in California. When I went to Brea mall at first, I surprised its scale. However, I realized that Brea mall is not big than other outlet malls. Also, most of stores accept to return goods within thirty days of purchase date if you have a receipt. Meanwhile It’s not easy to return except for a department store. I think California is the best place to go shopping.
Last, I have to pay tip. I don’t need to pay tip in Korea. However, tip is essential and natural after getting service. Until now, I grudge paying a tip.
There are a lot of differences except for mentioned three points. However, I love both Korean and American life style.

Journal #7 Music & Lyrics

Music & Lyrics is a romantic comedy film. It is really funny and lovely movie. Alex Fletcher(Hugh Grant) is a former pop-star who was one of member of famous band POP. Now, he is singing high school reunion party or amusement park and has just middle age fans.
One day, pop singer star Cora Corman(Haley Bennet)asks him to write a duet to be called "Way back into Love" for her within just few days. However he can write just melodies not lyrics, so his manager promised to find a lyricist. Sophie Fisher(Drew Barrymore) visits his house to give some water to his plants instead of her friend. When Alex makes a song with a lyricist, Sophie is singing a great word while giving some water to plants. Sophie is not a song writer but she decided make lyrics with Alex. They made a song together and Cora like it, so the song is put into Cora’s new album. But Cora wants to change that song to steamy and sticky. Sophie doesn’t want to change the song but Alex doesn’t want to this chance, Finally Sophie leaves Alex and Alex prepares new album with Cora.
Cora invites Alex and Sophie to her concert which will launch new song “Way back into love”. While performing a concert, Sophie surprises that Cora announced “New song by Alex Fletcher”, so she starts to leave the concert hall. At that time, Alex starts to sing his new song “Don’t write me off” which explains their love story and his apology. After hearing this song, Sophie runs to back stage due to meet Alex. And she realized Cora doesn’t change the song. When Alex and Cora’s song is almost finishes, Alex and Sophie are kissing in back stage.
I love this movie. Especially original sound track album is really great. After watching this movie, you feel so goooood!!

Journal #6 Chu suk

My favorite national holiday is “Chu Suk” which is similar to Thanksgiving day. In other Languages Chu Suk is called "Han Gah Wee." The word Han Means "Big!" and the words "Gah Wee" means in the center. These words originated a long time ago.August 15th in the Asian Calendar is consider the official day of Chu Suk, the meaning of Chu Suk simply means, it is in the middle of the year, the middle of August and a very big day. Up until recently, "Sull" which is Lunar new year day, Jan. 1st and Dan Oh were two of Korea's more famed holidays. Now Sull and Chu Suk are recognized as the two big holidays in Korea.
A few days before the Chu Suk holiday, families prepare special dish for ancestor worship ceremony. The most famous special dish in Chusuk is Songpyon which is kind of rice cake. In the morning of Chu suk, all families gather and do ancestor worship ceremony. After that, families say a few respectful phrases to their ancestors regarding how they are living their lives and wishing the good fortune and share the food. After eating foods, families visit to ancestral graves.

Journal #5 Knott's berry farm

Before I went to Knott's Berry Farm, I had heard too many times about there from my friends, so I really looked forward to going there.
As soon as we arrived, we started to ride. My favorite ride was Xcelerator which is roller coaster. During riding it, I felt really scary and weird. It’s really fast to move, so I couldn’t think anything when I was sitting on it. This is the best roller coaster I’ve ever ridden.
However, I suddenly felt dizzy and like vomiting, I had to go home when it was almost 2 PM. I regretted to be sick that day, but I talked a lot with my friends and had fun. It was great time. If possible, I want to go Knott’s berry farm again!!

Journal #4 Kimbap

Kimbap is the most popular meal that Koreans have as a picnic meal, because it is easy to carry and eat without other side dish. Kimbap is a wonderful meal that has taste, scent, color and nutrition. When you make Kimbap, you can use any ingredients you want to put in. Once you taste Kimbap, you will love it.
There are several kinds of Kimbap such as Tuna, Kimchi, Beef, etc. I’ll introduce recipe for my favorite Tuna Kimbap.

Tuna Kimbap

Ingredients:
5-6 cups cooked rice (made from 3 cups of uncooked rice)
sea plant ("kim")
yellow radish pickle ("dan moo ji")
1 avocado
crabmeat, a can of tuna
soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil and seeds, and a green onion

Method using seasoned tuna flakes (2~3 Servings)

1. Prepare about 5-6 cups of cooked rice in a large bowl
2. Make your mixing sauce by mixing up ½ TBS sugar, 1 ts salt, and 1 TBS of vinegar until the liquid looks clear
3. Mix rice with the mixing sauce and stir it evenly. Set it aside for now.
4. Prepare a large plate to arrange all ingredients for kimbap
5. Make seasoned tuna flakes

• Open a can of tuna and remove the oil or water.
• Put it on a heated pan and drizzle some sesame oil over it.
• Toss it and cook it for 2 minutes
• Add 1 TBS soy sauce, ½ TBS sugar, 1 clove of minced garlic, and 1 ts of ground black pepper.
• Keep stirring for another 3 minutes.
• Turn off the heat and add 1 chopped green onion, 2 ts of sesame oil and 1 TBS sesame toasted seeds.

6. Place 3 yellow radish pickles on the plate.
7. Place 3 pieces of crab meat on the plate.
8. Slice an avocado and place it on the plate.

Let’s roll Kimbap!
1. Place a sheet of sea plant (“kim”) on the bamboo mat and evenly spread a layer of rice in the center of it.
2. Place 2-3 spoons of seasoned tuna flakes on top of the layer of rice. Add a yellow radish pickle strip, some avocado, and a red crabmeat strip.
3. Roll it up gently using the bamboo mat.
4. Remove the bamboo mat and cut the roll into pieces about 2 cm thick and place it on a plate
*tip: prepare a wet cloth or paper towel to wipe the knife while cutting, it will make it slice easier.

Journal #3 Two beautiful actress

Do you think about what the real beauty is? Do you prefer big eyes, long height, slim and nice figure? We can see many people who have good appearances but it is hard to find the people who have both inside and outside beauty. The real beauty is not from look so we feel that the people who help others and do good things are really beautiful. Even though unattractive people have good heart feel that they are attractive and even their appearances look good.
There are two actresses with beautiful looks. Era Shin, a Korean actress, and Angelina Jolly, an American actress, are very popular in their countries. Of course Angelina Jolly is well-known star all over the world. Their first feeling is quite different because the appearance of Era Shin is neat not gorgeous, whereas Angelina Jolly has sexy appealing appearance.
However, I found the real beauty from two actresses who seem to have different appearances and personalities. Also, they have great similarities that they married with very famous actors. And, since they married their couples have been doing charity activities. As members of the international charity organization, they have been supporting people of undeveloped countries by donating their money and they have been trying to let the public promote and encourage charity activities.
In addition, they both adopted children. Era Shin adopted a Korean girl and Angelina Jolly adopted one white child, one block child and two Asian children. Also they have a plan to adopt more children. In case of Era Shin, they have additional twenty two children of poor countries and she has been supporting them as a kind of sponsor.
There are lots of people who get plastic surgery to have better appearances. However, really beautiful people are not people who have great appearances but they are people who have the warm heart. Especially famous people get a lot of popularity and attention from ordinary people. And charity activities are one of the good ways to repay the public for their love and attention they showed. Also their good behavior is the model for ordinary people. I hope we think about the meaning of the real beauty, look back if you only try to take care of and make up your look.

Journal #2. Special gift

Last birthday,I was little depressed because I lived apart from my family at the moment. I thought that I can't even eat Miyuk kuk which is Korean bithday special dish. When I was ready to go out, Suhhee who is my best friend came to my home in the morning. She brought Miyuy kuk and rice for me. I was really suprised because she had never cooked before. Miyuk kuk I had that day is the best I've ever tasted.

Journal #1 Wirte about myself

It is not easy to write about myself because I don't even know well about myself. I'm changing everyday.
Now I'm studying English in ALP. Why?I believe that I can be confident to speak anyone, go anywhere, get a better job when I can speak English well. In addition, I think those experiences that stay in California, meet lots of friends, eat various foods make me happy rest of my life.
These days I'm crazy about sitcom "Friends". Whenever I watch it, I admire its story and acting. My favorite character is Ross. He is humorous and sometimes sincere and so sweet. I love him.
I'm supposed to go back to Korea in August. Before I go back, I want to meet lots of friends and have a great time with them. Also, I want to travel and go shopping a lot. Even though time to stay here is not long, I'll try to make an effort to enjoy and study..
I love California and ALP!!

Seaworld in San Diego

I went to Seaworld in San Diego last week. That was awesome. Especially, I can't forget Shamu show.