nay's blog bay

When you think of South Korea, what is the first thing that pops up in your mind? Is it kimchi, the fermented, staple side dish present at every Korean’s table during lunchtime? Or maybe you think of K-Pop, specific groups like BTS and BLACKPINK?   This topic of stereotypes about Koreans was the main focus of a survey done by Asian Boss , a channel on YouTube that often conducts interviews similar to this to reveal cultural and social issues to its viewers. In this survey, some viewers from a previous video were told to comment on any questions they had about Koreans, which would be used by Asian Boss to conduct real-life interviews with strangers in the streets of Seoul.   While watching, one part of the interview, in particular, caught my attention: “This stereotype was one of the most common – Koreans dislike the Japanese.” All of the interviewees answered differently but with a common similarity that it is because of the history between Korea and Japan, especially regardin...

My feet were numb from the ankle-deep water, slowly freezing my entire body. I was surrounded by wet, eroded brick walls forming a pipe-like structure as far as I could see into the dark unknown. I could only hear the sounds of my feet trudging through the water - no other sound could be heard and no movement was discoverable.  Suddenly I felt a small and thin object in my hand. It was a candle. The warmth it gave to me from the dim light was the only thing that seemed to reassure me. It was the only warmth present in this cold, eerie tunnel. It felt like I had no warmth left inside of me. I kept walking through the tunnel and stopped in my tracks. What is that? I stretched my candle up to see and instantly stopped in my tracks. Chains. Thick, metal chains, hanging from the ceiling like vines in a jungle. The candle didn't seem so warm anymore.  I cautiously walked further down into the unknown, and I was horrified at the sight. The insensitive chains were holding up my closes...

I spent two days finishing up Crying in H-Mart  by Michelle Zauner two weekends ago, and I don't think I'll ever recover from it. Here is the Bento Box I created for this memoir: 1. The Heart The Heart represents Michelle's relationship with her loved ones, primarily with her mom and Peter. The memoir itself is attributed to her mom, focusing on the course of her relationship with her mom throughout the years from her mother looking at her as if she "...were a worm, an unfamiliar speck eating away at all her efforts" to being completely inseparable (Zauner 65). Especially after her mother is diagnosed with cancer, Michelle realizes the importance of relationships and learns to cherish them. While her mother is struggling with cancer, Peter is always by Michelle taking care of her and trying the best he can to help her through it.  2. The Sheet Music Throughout Michelle's adolescence, music has been her only solace to escape the cultural and social stereotypes ...