The IEP Times

 

Of Love and Marriage

An Important List

In Congo, a traditional wedding is very costly for the groom’s family.  First of all, the bride’s family organizes the party.  The groom’s family receives a bill which shows what the bride’s family would like.  For example:  one goat, 50 kg of salt, one cow (sometimes), suits for the bride’s father and uncles, six yards of expensive fabrics for the bride’s mother and aunt,  Masangambila (traditional wine) and dried fruit.

The bill is given 3 or 4 months before the day of the reception.  Finally, on the wedding day, before the groom can go into the bride’s house, he must give money to the bride’s sisters and cousins because the party is at the bride’s house.

Blanche Van Dyck

 

Traditions, New and Old

Years ago in Korea, professional matchmakers put candidates together for marriage.  The young man and woman didn’t meet each other until the wedding.  Families carefully thought about his decision and even asked fortune tellers to predict what the couple’s future would be like. 

But now it is not like that in Korea.  A man and woman usually meet each other through a friend’s introduction or computer chatting.  Compared with the past, the meeting of modern couples has changed according to these reasonable methods.  Today’s custom is not so different from other countries.(source:  daum.net)

Hae Young “Jonah” Choi

 

 

Nicaragua

On Valentine’s Day in Nicaragua, people wake up to prepare for work as usual, but they think about the fact that it’s a special day.  They usually finish work early, at 12:00 pm.  After that, the people go to the supermarket to find a special card, gift and flowers. 

A boyfriend will always visit his girlfriend to exchange gifts.  The boy kisses the girl and gives her a bunch of flowers.  Families usually prepare a special dinner of chicken barbecue or grilled beef.  We have a great time.

Nora Stroop

 

A Valuable Box

Korea has several different wedding customs.  The day before the marriage ceremony, the groom’s friends go to the woman’s home.  They bring a box with traditional clothes and a ring.  They go to her home late at night and make a very big noise as they sell the box to her parents.  The parents often give the friends about $500 which is given to the groom for the honeymoon.  The neighbors never complain about the noise.  Some people come outside to watch the event.  After the wedding, they have a reception with friends.  Then they go on their honeymoon.

Dae Kung “TK” Kang

 

Good Luck Gifts

In Columbia, there is a very important custom for celebrating the birth of a baby.  When the people know of a friend or family member who has a new baby, they give a present to the baby for the first time.  Sometims the people ask the parents if they want a specific kind of gift, such as clothes, a cradle, or other things they need.  Some people think this act of giving is a way for the baby to have good luck forever.

Paula Gutierrez

 

 

 

Korean New Year

A representative Korean holiday is New Years Day, which was on February first this year.  On that day many people went back to their hometown to meet cousins and parents, and they ate special food. 

Rice-cake-soup is very famous and it has a long history in Korean tradition.  It can be easily cooked and it isn’t expensive, so everybody eats it.

Joon Ho Ahn

A Chinese Wedding

In Taiwan, the bridegroom and his friends have a special activity for enjoyment and preparation on the day of the wedding.  On this day, the groom and his friends set out to the bride’s home.  He will inevitably be blocked at her door by her friends.  The friends might ask the groom to do ten or more sit-ups with one hand.  The groom also has to carry one person on his back and run around the house three times.  The bride’s friends can ask the groom and his friends to do anything.  The purpose is to give the groom the opportunity to prove that he loves the bride and he will take care of her forever

Shu-Ling “Jessica” Huang

Valentine’s Day

            February 14^th is the day for people who love each other.  Many years ago, Ukrainian people didn’t celebrate this holiday, but now many young people and families like it. 

This day in the Ukraine is a very happy day. Everywhere we can see special decorations:  red hearts and flowers.  Also, men and women buy special gifts:  chocolate, some cosmetics, maybe flowers or beautiful cards.  Usually families have dinner together.  Some men invite women to a nice restaurant and they have a romantic dinner with a candle and music.  Also, many young people walk on the street all night under the moon and talk to each other about love.

Natali Nicolai

 

Dreams for our lives and world

Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s ideology had an impact on the American nation.  He was a leader during his lifetime.  He demonstrated the injustice of white Americans to black Americans and asked for a country of justice, peace and racial equality.

Legally, his dream is one hundred percent real today, but in practice it’s seventy percent because there is a kind of segregation that is covered up.

Feza Rukengeza

 

I have a dream. . .

            I have a few dreams that probably never will come true.  There is one dream that is not impossible to become reality. 

            I have a dream that all nations could be like one, no one with more power than another.  I have a dream that people could always live happily doing everything good like God wants.  I have a dream that people could be loving and helpful to each other like siblings.  I have a dream that everyone could be able to save our beautiful planet.  I have a dream that old people and children won’t feel hurt by their relatives.  I have a dream that every single person would love God.  I have a dream that no one would be homeless.

            Now I have a dream that could come true.  I would like that all Spanish people could learn the English language to be able to express their feelings and feel free to live here and enjoy life with everybody.

Roxana Luna

 

A Dream For My Hometown

            I want my hometown to work at internationalization because it’s important to connect with other countries.  We have a lot of English signs for transportation.  But foreigners might lose their way even if there are many substantial signs.  So, when they ask the Japanese, they would not understand because most Japanese don’t speak English.

            The obstacle is that few people speak English.  We study English from junior high school, but most people don’t try to speak it well.  Today we need to understand English, but most Japanese don’t realize that.  It’s really hard for the elderly who haven’t studied it.

            In my opinion, a lot of English guides and information should be everywhere.  The government’s intervention will be necessary to do that.  I hope that my dream comes true in the near future.

Yukiko Sakai

 

 

No Stopping

            Nothing could stop M.L.K. Jr. and his followers.  They did what they thought was necessary in order to succeed.  The price was very high.  M.L.K. Jr. was killed during his peaceful fight for freedom and dreams of equality, but nothing was in vain.  Today, African-Americans are legally free, enjoying all civil rights and we can say his dream came true.

Maria Fernandez

 

War is Not the Answer

            The most noticeable change to which most human beings have awakened recently is the possibility of overcoming all the factors that may inflame people to kill and persecute other people who belong to other nationalities.  Nevertheless, many extremists and fundamentalist believers use their cleverness gained through experience to kill the new warmth that has spread between many nations. 

            These persons who encourage others to get involved in a war and the act of killing innocents are oblivious to the aftermath of a war.  The result is a need for rebuilding the entire community from the destruction.

            Those Trojan extremists are destroying their own values by not following their own values by not following the ethnic legacy of the majority of people.  All nations are led by the government to determine and design their collective values which are supposed to be amicable under the principle of tolerance. 

            Religions must be separated from politics and thus the tendency of spreading a personal belief may fade faster and change the world to a peaceful one.  My hope is that government leaders will govern for the populations, but not for their business or belief.

Adama Sow

 

Special Places

My Favorite View of the Beach

            My family and I have our special place to enjoy the beach in El Salvador.  There is a club center where we usually go to bask in the sun, swim in the pool and eat delicious seafood.  The place has tropical plants, flowering trees, nice grass and several kiosks with hammocks.  It is special for me because it has a beautiful view.  It is located on a little hill above a large reef.  The beach is 10 meters down and around it is a rock formation.  I can see the beach and the horizon from my hammock.  There, I enjoy spending time by myself because I can relax while I gaze at the big waves shattering against the rocks.  Sometimes I sit on a stone on the edge of the cliff where I can feel the wind blowing on my face.  Here I meditate a little bit, see and feel the power of God with the immensity of the ocean.  I also like to walk on the beach with my husband while we talk and watch the sunset.  I truly enjoy this place.

Nelly Moreno Shenk

 

My Country’s Corner

When immigrants think about their home countries, the wish of returning comes with it.   They can close their eyes and fly through their memories.  They can feel, taste and see the wonderful place where they were born.  As an immigrant, my country is too far from here, but I can bring it near with a great number of memories.

My country is full of smiling people.  I feel that I’m in my country when I visit Washington D.C. I can see many people walking around, many people selling things on the street like in my country. 

My country has a taste for sugar cane and the best coffee in the world.  In the U.S.A., each morning I can drink a delicious cup of Columbian coffee.  I can savor many Columbian products.

In Columbia, we can see many beautiful mountain ranges.  In the U.S.A., when I wake up I am lucky because I can see beautiful mountains that surround the landscape and remind me of my country.

My country is a pretty and prosperous land.  It’s full of good, hard working and friendly people like here.  But I think that the feelings that my country evokes cannot happen from another country.  I brought my country here in my heart.

Patricia Rojas

 

Travel

            If money were not a problem, I would want to go to many places:  Europe, Hawaii, and Egypt.  The first place that I would want to go is Egypt because I am very interested in mummies and pyramids in Egyptian history.  I have always felt that it is a mysterious place. 

            The second place that I would want to go is Europe.  I could look around at the scenery and go shopping at some famous stores in Europe.  I have heard that Europe is a romantic place.  So I plan to visit Europe for a vacation.

            Finally I would like to go to Hawaii because I like to go to the beach.  I could try some  exciting activities that I have never done before.  Those are the countries that I would like to go to.  I think it would be fun, if only I had the money!

Hsing Yu “Jennifer” Chao

 

 

ETC. . .

            One good thing in my life is that I know some friends in class with me.  This is my first time to make a Japanese friend.  I think they are very nice and they can converse with me.  We talk not only in English, but we also use many Chinese words because they are the same in Japanese.  I don’t feel bored at all.  There are also three Taiwanese.  If I have some questions, they will help me. 

            Last Friday, I went to see a movie with several IEP students.  That was a funny movie and the ticket was cheaper than in Taiwan.  That was great news for me.

            I hope that there are more students from everywhere.  That will be better.

Hui Chih “Erika” Chang

 

A Trick

            I have two dogs.  One dog likes people coming to my house.  When he hears the doorbell, he starts to bark.  He goes to the front door.  One day we tried to imitate the bell.  He started to bark and he went to the front door, but no one was there.  He looked sad.  Now whenever we’re bored, we do it again.  We like to tease him.

Nozomi Aoi

Hispanics  No. 1 Minority in United States

            A recent article from the Washington Times (Steve Miller, “Hispanics now No. 1 minority in U.S. January 22, 2003) says something that was predicted many years ago:  The Hispanic population in the USA is officially the nations’ largest minority group.  It grew to 37 million in July 2001, up 4.7 percent from April 2000.  Even in 2000, Hispanics constituted 12.6 percent of the population compared to 12.4 by blacks.  But no conclusion was made at that time because the census form used a box that allowed users to mark themselves as mixed race, confusing the issue. 

            By including an estimated 5 million uncounted Hispanics, they are the largest minority group, as of at least three years ago.  The Hispanic leaders hope that this event can change the mentality of people when they consider issues and form policies.

Jacinto Hernandez

We Bring the World Closer Together!

Reading the IEP Times again has reminded me how true our new motto is!  We DO bring the world closer together.  It is wonderful to learn about customs in different parts of the world and read opinions written from the perspective of people from several different cultures.  We realize that we have some differences, but we share so much in common.

            I hope everyone in the IEP this semester will take advantage to EXPLORE this wonderful diverse world to which we all belong.  Our theme for the semester is "Exploration."  Each of you can be "guides" for us to help us explore new ideas, places, and ways of life that we may have never encountered before.

            I especially look forward to seeing a new bulletin board.  It has been great to have flags from different countries displayed on the board.  But now it is time to change that display.  Help us by sharing special places in your country or any place in the world that you think we should EXPLORE. Your teachers will work with you to develop your piece of the bulletin board display.

                                                --Mike Medley

 

We are currently receiving applications for Summer and Fall 2003 terms.  Please contact IEP at (540) 432-4059, email iep@emu.edu or see our website at www.emu.edu/iep for more information.

 

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