Book Review - Le Papillon des Etoiles

By Hae Sung Park

The best book I ever read was Le Papillon Des Etoiles. The author is Bernard Werber who is a famous French writer of science fiction. I like his writing style. I connect the end of the story with the Bible, because not only do the main characters have the same names as in the Bible, but also the result has a similar situation.

I love that the author has an original mind. I thought, “How can he make a story like that?” When I read the book I can think of our future. We can really make a garden in an airtight place and when earth is destroyed, we can go somewhere. I think these things are in the near future.

In the story, Elizabeth Mallory was a world yacht champion navigator but she cannot do the navigation anymore because of an accident. The accident driver is Eve Kramer who is an executive officer of aerospace. This accident changed him. He quit his job and studied his father`s project. Meanwhile, he met a rich man who is Gabriel Meg Namara. He assisted Eve materially. They found two people who help them. One person was Elizabeth, Eve’s secretary. He asked her if she can work spacecraft. Finally she attended to the project. They got some problems while this project was finished. Nevertheless, they left to space. Contrary to the beginning, just three people survived. But two people can go to earth. One of these people was killed by a snake. The other one reproduced to make another person.

The First Snow

By Brian Wu

When I see the first snowing every year, it reminds me of my first lover. In 2002, I met her. My friend introduced me. We went together for eight months. That time was so happy for me.

That winter I had to go to the army. It is a duty; no Korean man can avoid that. Almost all couples break up because of many reasons. Many girls between 21 and 23 cannot meet boys of the same age friends and boyfriends because the boys must go to the army. So, many girls feel so lonely and find another boyfriend.

I did not believe that but I prepared that we would possibly break up. I made an appointment that if we were breaking up, we would meet at her university
bench when it was snowing.

Finally, we broke up in the summer of 2003 but I could not do anything for her.
When the first snow came, I could not go there. It is a common appointment for couples, but sometimes the first snow reminds me of that time.

Webaholic

By Jaisung Yoon

The Internet offers access to vast amounts of information and is an important tool for many of us in our everyday lives. However, it also offers bad influences to many people. They waste time on the Internet or get bad information from there. Some serious people don’t move and are on the Internet the whole day. Sometimes they lose their sociality so that they can’t adjust themselves to their everyday life; in addition, they lose friends and health. The variety of activities to improve their growing up disappears because of the Internet. We can’t imagine how many things they will lose in their life. The three most commonly proposed solutions to this serious problem are making a plan for using the computer, having good hobbies, and saying and sharing your Internet addiction with people addicted to the Internet.

In the first solution, people addicted to the Internet make a plan for using the Internet. For instance, when they have spare time or even when they are working, studying, they try to work on the Internet, checking e-mail, managing their blogs, and playing Internet games. They seem likely not to control themselves from Internet addiction. Let them make a plan for using the Internet. They need to consider some things before making the plan: ‘Why do I use the Internet?’, ‘How long will I use the Internet?’, and ‘Don’t I have an alternative way instead of the Internet?’. Then they make a plan to temper overusing the Internet. This will help them.

Another solution to Internet addiction is to have good hobbies: exercise, reading, walking, and hanging around with friends. Somebody said, the Internet also is a hobby. That’s the truth; however, overusing the Internet is not. They need a right hobby to reduce their using the Internet more and more. Then finally they can get back their sociality and everyday life. Moreover, by having a good hobby, they can get new experiences or friends to help in their life.

The last solution, then, is to talk and share their problem in an addiction support group. If they want to fix their problem, they need to know that first. Meeting same kinds of people is the best way to know that. In a webaholic support group, you can say and share your problem with group mates. They could know what is good or bad for them; as well, they can give solutions to each other. In addition, they can comfort each other.

Even though overusing Internet has many bad influences, we can’t escape completely from the use of the Internet. So, we should use the Internet effectively and carefully. It is clear that for us to have vast amounts information and fun, it will be necessary to encourage each other not to be slaves to the Internet. We should make a habit of using the Internet wisely.

My Father

By Jaisung Yoon

I think my father is a person who has had a significant influence on me. Even though I can’t remember when I have grasped his hand or hugged him, I can feel he always takes care of me. He is a typical Korean father, like strict, gruff, and unfriendly to his children. So sometimes I was envious of the kind fathers. However, with growing older, I have been able to realize that he gives me many kinds of love.

You can’t believe how much trust he gives me. I am sure I am still not such a good son. Especially before I came to Canada, I just enjoyed drinking or playing with my friends everyday. No dream, no study, and no future. I thought if I have fun today, it is okay, that is it. Whenever I did something like that, his face did not show any sign of disappointment. One day, before I came here, I got a chance to talk with him. It was uncomfortable because I was unused to talking with him especially about my future. At that time, he said, “I don’t know if you are on hte right way now. But I trust you will be there someday.” I was impressed by what he said and that was what made me change to be different.

My father is a seriously busy enterpriser and sometimes he seems to think about something the whole day. In fact I didn’t understand why he is serious all the time. With advancing years, I would be able to understand about why he does that because he feels his responsibility for his business and family. Thus he tries to think about everything deeply and wisely and his thinking is enough to affect my life. Now I know to think and consider carefully is important. I make my effort to follow my father’s good behaviors.

If somebody asks me, “Who is a person who has had a significant influence on you?“ I do not hesitate to answer, “My father.” Until I die, I will remember that he has given me many good lessons. I hope I will be a father like him and give my children good lessons.