Korean Movies on Netflix

(In order of Rating. 1-5 stars)

The Chaser (5)

I watched this alone at my house. It's based on a true story about a serial killer who kills girls. I was scared. Needless to say, I started watching more thrillers after this, but none have been nearly as good. The suspense in this movie is wonderful!!! It is so naturally created and the feelings are portrayed so well, that you will be rolling around pulling your hair out.
Mood: if you want to pull your hair out???
Rating: R (foul language, and gory and action scenes)

The Man from Nowhere (4.5)

Basically, the Korean version of Man on Fire. Man on Fire is awesome, watch it if you haven't. This movie is similar, it has to do with a little girl getting kidnapped, and the main character going on a crazy revenge chase to get her back. But, instead of child kidnapping in Mexico, this has to do with the Korean drug trade. It has lots of action, and is slightly unrealistic with all the guns shooting and the blood. Oh, the blood.

Mood: Kill them!!! Kill them allllllllll!!!!!
Rating: R (foul language, and gory and action scenes)

Once Upon a Time in High school  (4.5)

Every once in a while it is nice to watch a movie that is gritty, real, and slightly depressing. That pretty much describes this movie. A teenager transfers to an absolutely horrible school, has a difficult love situation, and does some awesome Bruce Lee. Maybe I like it so much because I love Kwon Sang-Woo.  He's really great in other movies too.
Mood: Uggg... school, and friends are so frustrating. No, never mind, there not. I mean, mine aren't anyways.
Rating: R (foul language, a lot of sexual talk)

My Tutor Friend 2 (4.5)

There is a number 1, but number 2 is way better in my opinion. Its really cute and funny. As usual, you have to appreciate Asian humor. If you like it, then you will love this, because it will give you a healthy dose. More comedy than romance, watch if you want to feel good.
Mood: Hm... I want to feel good.
Rating: PG

I'm a Cyborg but that's OK (4.5)

Very strange.... a little long, but, its worth it. I loved it. About a girl that thinks she is a cyborg, and gets put into a mental institution and another guy there who has impulsive stealing disorder. Its actually a love story. Who would have thought? Beware, it is a little creepy at times...dentures will never be the same after you see this.
Mood: I would like to be weirded out.
Rating: PG I think (might be swearing, might just be bad translation though)

Innocent Steps (4)

Just a really cute romance, about a guy that quit dancing and the usual timid girl/dense girl. Its pretty funny in some parts. This was the first movie I watched that made me realize that a romance can be just as sweet without kissing. Many Korean romances/dramas don't have kissing.

Mood: Snuggling on the couch and just staring. 

Rating: PG (may have foul language in subtitles)

The Good The Bad and the Weird (3.5)

Watch this if you want pure action, a really sexy bad guy, and a plot line that makes no sense. What the Japanese are attacking Mongolia, there's a map, who's the bad guy really, wait he doesn't have the map, what is he looking for then, wait who is she?!?! Oh, never mind. Wow, this scene of them trying to shoot each other on a train moving full speed while hanging out the window is great!!!
Mood: Hahaha!! Shoot, shoot shoot!!!!! Hahahaha!!!
Rating: R (for blood and action. But it was really mild if I remember correctly)

Attack the Gas Station 2 (3.5)

Completely utterly ridiculous  Has no theme really. Just a series of strange events that lead to one strange event after another. Watch this if you enjoy Korean Humor, and want to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all.
Mood: Bwahaha!!! He's so stupid!! He's threatening them with fire and diesel fuel! Everyone knows diesel isn't gas, so it won't light!!.....or will it?
Rating: PG (foul language in Subs)

Perfect Couple (3.5)

I really liked this movie, because the female lead is ridiculous, but she isn't dense or completely stupid. it would be a really fun movie to watch BUT the subtitles are horrible. So much of it isn't even subbed. I guess it would be considered a romance, but it wasn't really that romantic, just funny and with some action.
Mood: I love Korean movies so much I will put up with bad subtitles, and enjoy myself!!!!!
Rating: PG (foul language in Subs)

My Scary Girl (3)

The beginning of this movie seemed normal enough, but then it gets weird. Unfortunately it didn't flow too well, and failed to explain a lot, and it had a mediocre ending. BUT, the main character in my opinion is hilarious. He's so new to love, so there is a lot of awkward humor. I think my rating is due mostly to personal preference in movies, not the actual movie itself. Others enjoyed it more than I did.
Mood: Oh my gosh, they're kissing, like that!! Its so awkward!!! Hehehe! .....OK....what just happened?
Rating: PG

Romantic Island (3)

I romance about four different people, and there love lives on this vacation island. It has been awhile since I watched it. I thought it was fine, not that funny, not that romantic. Just fine. Yep. But, I like a little more action and/or humor.

Mood: I want to watch a romance, any romance, as log as its cute. 

Rating: PG

Old Boy (3)

This will probably be a pretty long review. This movie is crazy. Its fairly popular, because the plot is so well organized. First off it is a thriller. Essentially a 30 something father of a 5 year old girl gets suddenly kidnapped and locked in a hotel room for 15 years. Then he is suddenly released. Whoa.. it gets crazy. Everything makes perfect sense in the end though. But why the low rating? Well, this movie is sick. The whole plot is so twisted and horrible that your just sad and grossed out by the end. Also, it is a very graphically sexual movie. So, I can't really recommend this movie to anyone. 

Mood: I need some incentive to throw up, maybe if I watch this movie it will help. 

Rating: R (everything possible pretty much)

Finding Mr. Destiny (2.5)

I can't remember this movie much, probably because there wasn't much to remember  I pretty much always watch every movie through, but my cousin fell asleep halfway through. It was a romance, but it was slow and boring.
Mood: Tired and need a nice movie to fall asleep too.
Rating: PG

That's it for now! I'm sure I will watch more, and write more reviews in the future!

LEARNING STYLES: THE MEANS OF RETAINING INFORMATION

LEARNING STYLES: THE MEANS OF RETAINING INFORMATION

(A short personal essay for my COLL100 class)

While taking one of my first courses in College, English 101, I was introduced to the three Learning Styles: Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic.  Almost immediately I knew my most prominent style was visual, never doubting the existence of the three, since I found that they were very prevalent in my College learning experience.  However, after reading an article “The Myth of Learning Styles” by Cedar Riener and Daniel Willingham, I realized that people may have different views on what Learning Styles mean.  While it is true that interest in the subject, personal background, and the teacher’s skills all effect learning, Learning Styles are specific to the retaining of knowledge, or our memory.

A few personal examples of this would be studying skills in the classroom, and even in my choice of degree.  After a few bad grades in which classes presented information entirely new to me, I began making note cards that were full of color, and contained many pictures, graphs and diagrams.  I found this helpful regardless of my interest level in the class.  In fact, some of my favorite classes were also the most difficult because I was taking in brand new information, not because I didn't enjoy the class, or have a lack of interest in the subject.

The other example is my choice of major. I decided on English because of my love of researching, and writing.  And this major actually uses the Learning Style that I am most comfortable with: visual.  Researching and then writing about a subject, is a sure way for me to retain information.  I have learned and remembered much more in the few English classes I have taken, then in other classes where similar topics were studied.  Why?  Because I was able to formulate the information I was given into my own words in the form of a something visual: an essay.

Further examples of the use of Learning Styles to retain information can be seen in the other two styles.  Upon taking two Online Learning Style Surveys, both determined that I was a Visual Learner and secondly an Auditory Learner.  Looking back on my study habits, I realized that I used this style frequently as well.  About two years ago I took Japanese 101. This class required a vast amount of memorization and was fairly difficult.  One night, while searching the Web, I found a rap song of the Japanese numbers one through twenty.  Within ten minutes, I had them memorized and haven’t forgotten them since.  Needless to say, while I had a wonderful teacher, good studying habits, and great interest in the subject, this class was extremely difficult, further proving that Learning Styles are merely a means of memorizing and retaining information.

As can be seen from these examples, while there are many factors that influence a person’s ability to learn, these do not inhibit a one’s Learning Style.  Learning Styles stand alone, and are simply a person’s specific way of retaining of knowledge, whether it be through Visual, Auditory, or Kinesthetic aids. 

P.S. The thing to remember is that I had a word limit, and I had to somehow incorporate my degree plan into an essay about learning styles  If I had written just about the learning styles without any requirements, this would have been so much more informational!!! Oh, well. 

Haven And Jordan Adventure Now Tucson!!! (HAJANT)

    Now this is the account of what transpired when Haven went to visit her Cousin Jordan in the distant land of Tucson. 

    CHAPTER 1: DAY 1
    It was on Thursday the 11th of October. Haven arrived slightly worn from the two hour drive from Phoenix, but plenty grateful that she made it through without being pulled over. Jordan and Alie rushed out to meet her, while giving her the exact location on the phone. Jordan in her excitement, ran flapping her arms wildly, right past Haven sitting in her car. Oh well, she just turned around and ran back. 
    Alie proceeded to an eye appointment, while Jordan and Haven proceeded into the apartment for a first ever tour!!Oh such epic piles of clutter, and what a tiny winedy dark stare case! Ah, the grandtoost of such a bathroom , and what quaintness of a room! These indeed were the thoughts that passed through Haven's mind as she was lead about the tour. 
    As the next few hours rolled by, Jordan patently set about modifying Haven's desperate case of a laptop. So desperate in fact that she was still in the throes of using Internet Explorer and not Google Chrome! Oh, the agony!! She also proceeded to educate Haven in the wonders of Homestuck, showing her a plethora of Fan art pictures, and a magnificent story she composed so named: Ourstuck ... Hmmmm....Anyways, it was a common topic of conversation for the next three days, as Jordan persisted in drenching Haven with the glories of Homestuck. 
   Shortly thereafter the two chums decided to go for a leisurely stroll about the neighborhood  For the next hour they enjoyed walking down alleyways and disturbing the neighbors by making the dogs bark. Oh, the joy!
    Despite all the present enjoyment of the day the best was yet to come when Alie, Jordan, and Haven clamored into Alie's car at 6:30 promptly, and proceeded to roll down the rooftop window thingy-ma-bobber. 
    After picking up Paul, some lonely College student, who had nothing better to do then hang out with our awesomeness, we met Cody, a major in communications, who believe it or not acted just like a major in communications would.. not to stereotype people by their majors..but really. Our meeting place was a very sumptuous Japanese restaurant by the name of Yoshimatsu (do try it when you are there). We clamored inside, ordered at the counter, and went to our seats. the first comment was about the very dim lighting, and how it made each of us feel. But, due to the excitement, nobody noticed Haven when she commented that it made her feel sleepy, and to display this feeling she laid her head on the table...only she accidentally laid it a bit to harshly and ended up with a nasty bruise the next day. But, like I said, nobody noticed. 
   The meal was quite scrumptious, and the company quite loud. The time passed quickly and soon it was time to depart. 
    Once home both girls crammed onto a twin mattress and slept quite soundly till that horrid thing called an alarm clock sounded at 6:45 the next morning. 
    
    CHAPTER 2: DAY 2
    The first thing that I must explain before delving into their wondrous day is the text they received the night before. This text sheds quite a bit of light as to why this day had an extra pinch of spananza. 
    It went something like this:
(OJ: Other Jordan and J: Jordan)

OJ: Quickly would you rather be assault, sniper, heavy weapons, or support?

J: Support. Haven would be a Sniper. XCom? (That's the game's name)

OJ: Oh wow, yeah. How did you guess?

J: A guy at school was talking about it. Thanks for including me in your game. :) What is Monica?

OJ: I made her the Heavy Specialist, and Elijah and Ivan are assault. I will include Haven now because I didn't know who would be the sniper.

J: Haven feels honored. Like, super honored. Like, that's what I would make everyone too!

OJ: Lol, are you speaking on her behalf?

J: Yes. Yes. Good niggggghhhhhttttttt....

OJ: Good night

    Now,back to day two: Friday. At 8:00 a.m. Jordan and Haven drove to the soon to be verily explored University of UofA. After parking in the parking garage, to which we would later have to pay a hefty fee of eight whole dollars, we walked candidly to the Poetry Building where Haven planned to spend the next three hours finishing homework, while Jordan went to her classes. This plan was quickly annihilated  as the Poetry Center didn't open till 9:00. Therefore, Jordan made the wise decision to re-nest Haven at Sloanaker, the Honors College (She felt right at home), which was quite the quaint place indeed. At 12:00 they regrouped, and instead of doing the wise thing and dropping their heavy burdens back at the car, they began walking. This walking continued in short and long spasms for the next 5 hours or so, as they explored much of the UofA campus. During this time the series of texts continued:

OJ: Good news, you all died, except Haven, who panicked and ran away.

J: Noooooo!!!!! Haven says her fate was the worst!!

OJ: Especially because before she ran she shot Monica in the leg to make sure the aliens got Monica instead of her.

J: Oh wow. Haven's all: "nooooooooo"

OJ: I found it so entertaining I promoted her to squad leader

J: Haven: "Well, I AM an entertaining person!"

After reading these texts Jordan and Haven continued their Journey... penetrating many different buildings, Science Buildings, the library (Haven read poetry, and both drew pictures), sat a few feet from a couple making out (and proceed to talk about the awkwardness of it all), moved to a really nice shady spot, that slowly filled with people and while seated, read the next and last series of very swell texts:

OJ: I more that agree with that. Looks like when the shit hits the fan haven will sacrifice her squad to get out alive, which is exactly what I look for in a leader

OJ: And it turns out the squad gave her the nickname "team killer"

OJ: Well, beat the game, and oddly enough haven saved the planet

J: No. Way. She totally pulled through.

OJ: Yep, turned out she was a psychic and was the planet's only hope

J: Haven: " heh heh. I like this game." :P I love how Haven's the hero of your game!

OJ: yeah, it was a twist I wasn't expecting

As the time rolled past Haven began to starve. Jordan, in her poor bachloretteness, had slowly began to eat about the same portion that a rabbit or a cannery eats in one day, and so, failed to notice the terrible condition of her much over fed cousin. But, before Haven reached the point of collapse, they managed to climb the stairs to a slightly exquisite Chinese restaurant, in which they ordered some stir fry food and boba juice. Oh the boba! it was glorious! How many boba can YOU suck up a straw at one time?

At around four in the evening, Jordan unaccustomed to the leisurely lifestyle of her Cousin Haven, failed to realize that her limited energy supply was at its last bar and needed to be recharged. Trying to remedy this, they searched for and found a place to lay on the grass, where Haven attempted to pass out, and Jordan refused to stop talking, even forcing Haven to move position so that it appeared as though they were in deep conversation, and she wasn't just talking to Haven's butt.

This was a miserable failure, and Haven was turning into a miserable grump. In a last attempt to appease her gradually turning into a monster cousin Haven, Jordan suggested that they walk the whole mile back to the car, which was parked in that ridiculously expensive parking garage, and that Haven take a nap. Surprisingly this contrivance appealed to Haven, and off they headed. You may be wondering, why didn't they just go home? Are they dimwits? What is wrong with their intelligence? While I may not know if there is indeed something wrong with their intelligence, I do know why they stayed: Gaming Club.

Yes, that's the reason. While it may seem like quite a loserly reason, let me tell you, they both felt it was quite worth it. After napping for approximately an hour under Jordan's watchful eye- kind of like a guard dog, or like a goose, I might say, they headed off to play at the gaming club!!!

Now, Haven wasn't well versed in the art of playing video games, but neither was she one to back out of challenge. So, even though she was faced with the Formidable Smash Brothers Brawl on the Wii., she refused to back down, and taking those strange controllers in her hands, proceeded to wield them with grace and power. Well, not exactly....BUT as her very wise brother-in-law once sort of said-maybe not-but it was interpreted this way: Even if you aren't good at it, at least make the sounds like you are. And so, even if she almost indefinitely died first, she was the most verbally viscous player in the room. Oh yah, totally won that one baby!!

 

CHAPTER 3: DAY 3: THE FESTIVAL

    What are the odds, that there is a festival the very weekend, Haven visits. Oh yes, and a very awesome one too. 
    After a brilliant morning, in which Jordan attempted to teach her slow learning cousin the art of stir fry (which she has since attempted to cook- and maybe it turned out ok?), off they headed to downtown Tucson for the Festival: "Tuscon Meet Yourself"! After getting sufficiently lost, they decided to follow a row of cars into a paid parking lot. It seemed like the right spot. There were cars and people right? We parked and followed a small group of people up the sidewalk to this big building that had a long line of people. The walk was long enough for both girls to notice that most of the people were parents with little girls who were wearing princess outfits. But, you know, little girls wear princess outfits to Cultural festivals all the time right?..right? Once in line, Haven explained to Jordan how this made her feel so very Japanese, at least the Japanese stereotype  you know, standing in random lines. No sooner had this slipped from her tongue then a father behind her asked, "Do you know if this is the line for the prepaid seating or not?" Looking like a complete dimwit, Haven gave a  slightly ridiculous laugh, " um, well, actually, we don't even really know what this line is for, we were just standing here!!!" Dumb smile. A not very amused father, who probably has very little sense of humor, because if it were me I'd be laughing, replied: " This is for the Disney on Ice." Ohhhhhh.... well that explains that little girls in princess costumes then... Both Jordan and Haven thought simultaneously. " Ah, ha, ha, well we are here for something else, we are here for the, the, this festival, called, what was..?" Jordan grabs Haven's hand, "Haven, lets just go." and drags her off. 

Jordan's Post Card to Release the Wolves.

    And, what do you know, it was literally right around the corner. Turns out it was totally AWESOME!!!!HUGE!!!! AMAZING!!!!! We ate lots of amazing different foods, watched cool performances, talked to lots of different people at lots of different stands, and many more things. Because the day was so extensively long, I will just recount the few events that stood out in greater, more significant detail.

Haven's Postcard to Release the Wolves. 

    First off was the sighting of a dog with the looks of Buttercup, but the size of Hugo. The Cousin's were idiotically excited, and both had to be a daredevil and pet it's butt. You never know, it may have turned around and viscously taken a parcel of flesh from one of their faces. 
    Secondly  was the spotting of Indian Frybread. Seriously, they had to try that stuff!!! So, they asked the very nice woman sitting there were she may have acquired this glorious substance. With a laugh full of mirth she informed them that she did not in fact know, but the man who was with her, who had just gone into a tiny Mexican restaurant did know, and that they should ask him. Thanking her the girls walked to the restaurant door but at the last second decided maybe not.... but before they could walk off they lady shouted, "Oh, go and ask him, he won't bite!!" So, in they went. She hadn't lied, he didn't bite! In fact he was quite nice and gave them very well laid out directions, and soon they were on our way to the Frybread. they did find it, and it was scrumptious to their taste buds. 
    While, there were many other great stories to tell, my fingers and probably your attention span, can't take much more, so I shall sum up this journey with one final, very short chapter. 
    
    CHAPTER 4: DAY 3: KINPAI KOREAN MARKET 
    After a lovely day at the Festival, Jordan and Haven came to the dire realization that they only had a few hours left together. So, they headed back to Jordan's humble abode, and curling up on the bed, watched an episode of Secret Garden together. Ah... That was nice. Then, with only one hour left, they flippantly decided to go to one of the Korean Markets on the bottom of a receipt they had received at the festival. Off they sped!!! Upon arriving they noticed that there wasn't a single car around, but the sign said OPEN, still, a little creepy, but they came all this way so they had to go in, Oh look! someone else is pulling in!! Two Korean ladies, yes, they felt much safer, and so in they headed. 
    After filling their arms with groceries and dumping them onto the counter, they began to check out, and a very interesting conversation with the older Korean Manager checking out our food began.
The total was $18:18. That's cool.
" It's 18.18" He said. 
They nodd. "ok." 
"That's 십팔(Sibpal). 십팔(Sibpal) in Korean. Double eighteen." He says.
"Oh... shibpar, sheparl." They say like very ardent students.
"Yah, 십팔, its 18. But, sometimes, it sounds like 씨팔(ssipal). That means Fuck you."
Well, his english was a little difficult to understand, so Haven stood there trying to sound it out, "Puc-Fuc-Oh!"Jordan had since already realized- like immediately actually.
"Oh!Haha, well I guess I'll have to be careful then! Don't want to say that!" Haven blubbered.
"Yah, its very similar. Very common mistake." 
"Well, thanks for teaching us!!"
"Yah, Thank you!"
"Uhum." 
And that was about it. 
Just a really neat experience at the very end of a reallly great trip. After dropping Jordan back off at her home, Haven headed back on her way to Phoenix... until they meet again.

Chinese Century Eggs

CENTURY EGGS

Century eggs are made by preserving duck eggs in different mixtures containing ingredients such as clay, ash, salt, rice and lime, and left to cure for typically three months. 

Century eggs are also known as Thousand Year Eggs, Hundred Year Eggs, or just Preserved Duck Eggs. Contrary to urban legend horse urine, or urine from any other animal is not used in the process of preserving the eggs. This most legend most likely stems from the eggs sometimes smelling like ammonia or sulfur. 

Century eggs are a delicacy hailing from Hunan China, and date back to the Ming Dynasty. They were supposedly discovered by a man who found them preserved in a pool of slaked lime. Upon eating them, he found that they didn't taste half bad and decided to modify the ingredients and preserve more.

The yolk of a century egg ranges from a pasty green to black color, with an extremely creamy taste, and the white of the egg is a gel like brown color, tasting mostly just like a regular hard boiled egg. While they can be eaten alone, Century Eggs are usually a side dish or added to different porridges. 

As for the medical benefits of Century Eggs, there is hardly any. There is little information on the benefits and risks of eating Century Eggs. However it is known that one egg has an estimated eight grams of protein, and also that they should not be eaten on a regular basis. 

Note: It seems that the lack of nutritional information is due to that fact that Asian's (at least in my experience) pay less attention to the nutritional content of their food. Why would they? Other than foreign foods, and junk food, the majority of their food is quite healthy. And so is their lifestyle/eating habits. I know this is changing somewhat, but in comparison to America, where we have horrible food, and are obsessed with weight and health, Asia doesn't seem so extreme. 

I just happen to have a work's cited! So here you go: 

Works Cited

Calories in a Century Egg. My Fitness Pal. 

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/food/calories/generic-century-egg-28910683

Century Eggs. Asian Pantry.

http://pantry.feastasia.com/century-eggs-preserved-duck-eggs/

Century Eggs. Philosophically Disturbed. 

http://philosophicallydisturbed.wordpress.com/2011/04/21/century-eggs/

Century or Thousand Year old Eggs. The Chinese Soup Lady 

http://www.thechinesesouplady.com/century-or-thousand-year-old-egg/

Century Eggs. Kok Robin. 

http://kokrobin.wordpress.com/2008/05/02/century-eggs/

Preserved Duck Egg. Serious Eats. 

http://www.seriouseats.com/2011/07/seriously-asian-preserved-duck-egg.html

The Story of Mutnik

    The days of wandering the streets of Russia alone, had finally come to an end. Now she finally had a home. Well, not quite, it was more like being moved from one uncomfortable environment to another. Only this one was more unpredictable, and most definitely unexplainable.
    In the beginning, fear was mingled with excitement. She was finally clean, warm, and well fed. There were two others like her. The humans called them Albina, and Mushka. They called her Laika. Because she was a barker, they said.
    In the beginning she had a nice kennel. Slowly, however, her kennel became smaller and smaller. For days, at least 20, she stayed in one place. After a while she stopped urinating, and began to grow thin, sick and weak. But, then the humans decided that was a bad idea. Instead they began simulations. She was put into a small padded cubical that was very shaky and very loud. It was scary, but eventually she began to get use to it.
    They also took away her normal food. They began feeding her a strange gel. They said it was highly nutritious and would prepare her for the food she would eat on the voyage.
    Then one day one of the humans took Laika home to play with his children. They said it was because he felt sorry for her, and thought she would like it.
    The next day she was cleaned really nice and then put into another cubicle. But this time there were more people, lots of lights, and it was very exciting. The humans said that she was being put into a spacecraft called Sputnik 2, and that the American's had a different name for her. It was Mutnik.
    The Voyage didn't last long. Not for Laika. Even though she was the first animal to orbit the world, and even though there was now proof that humans could indeed survive in space, it was a horrible experience. At first she was scared, her heart was beating out of control, but then, she calmed down and decided to eat her food. But, a few hours into her voyage things began to change. The human's had failed to install an adequate cooling system and the temperature was rising.
    At approximately 6 hours of flight, the humans down on earth had no further signs of life from Sputnik 2.
    In the fight to be the first country to have a life form orbit earth, the Russians had too little time and had failed to make Sputnik correctly.
    Five months later Sputnik, and what was left of Laika, disintegrated as they re-entered the earth's atmosphere.
    Today, in Star City Russia, there is a memorial erected to Liaka: the first being to orbit the earth, and the first to die in space.

By the way, I want to dedicate this post to Monica Swartz, since she is the one who suggested I present on Mutnik. Thanks a ton!!!

SAMURAI History (short and concise)

Last Friday I gave my first presentation at my job at Trivium, as an AfterSchool Assistant. The kids are between the ages of 5 and 10, so I tried to make it as simple and interesting as possible. Usually we start out with about 25 kids and then it dwindles down as they get picked p, so about the time I gave my presentation, there were maybe 15 kids, which is just perfect. 
So, this is basically what I taught, it is REALLY simple. There are NO names of any historical figures (who's going to remember them anyways?- or even be able to pronounce them?), only a few terms, and very few dates. But, if you want to know the super-duper simple history of Samurai I guess this is it:

 ~ Samurai are basically warriors that in the past controlled Japan~

SAMURAI HISTORY 

In feudal Japan the social hierarchy went like this

1.) Emperor

2.) Land owners

3.) Peasants.

(The date is around 800 A.D.)

The government gave the landowners permission to keep the peace. (For example: Stop uprisings) So they employed mounted warriors who developed into the Samurai. 

Eventually the sons of the landowners started becoming samurai, they rode horses, wore armor and used a bow and sword. 

In the beginning you could be born a peasant and then move your way up and become a samurai, but eventually if you weren't born into the samurai "class" you could never become one.

 

So even if you did really great things in the army you couldn't become a Samurai. Eventually it became the custom that before two Samurai would fight each other they would both recite a LONG list of their lineage to prove that they were REALLY a samurai. 

Eventually only Samurai could even have weapons. (1500's)

 

Also, the Samurai became so powerful that they emperor of Japan didn't have any control. He was only a symbol. He was really rich and the Samurai still protected him, and they told everyone that he was a god. But, the Samurai became the rulers of Japan. They fought a lot to be the top Samurai. 

 

Eventually, because of all the fighting there were lots of Samurai that got defeated and didn't have anywhere to go. Some of them killed themselves (committed suicide) but others decided to just wander Japan. They were called Ronin. (1600's). They became very independent and just did whatever they wanted. A lot of Books and movies are made about this time in Japan, because it was very exciting. The Ronin would travel around and you could hire them to fight for you, be bodyguards,  others taught martial arts, and a lot of them went around and found other Ronin to dual with. 

 

But then in 1639, the highest Samurai (called a Shogun) decided to close the whole country off from the rest of the world. There were also lots of laws passed, so that the Samurai couldn't fight each other with weapons. So instead they just did martial arts and things like flower arranging and tea ceremony. 

Finally in 1877 two of the most powerful Samurai had a huge battle and the one that won, he made the Emperor of Japan the ruler again, so he had power over Japan. About this time, the last of the Samurai died out. 

ABOUT SAMURAI

Armor: They often had symbols on their armor so that everyone could recognize what family they came from. One Samurai family painted their whole army of foot soilder and samurai a really bright red. They like to wear really big helmets so that they looked taller, usually about two feet taller. 

Weapons:

Sword: The Japanese Sword is the strongest sword in the world. At the same time as the Samurai, Knights in Europe were using sword that broke all the time. They were very brittle, but the Japanese sword was strong and flexible. Also, Samurai didn't carry shields so when they fought it was with two hands, and looked really neat. 

Weapons: 

Tanto: A small sword, like a dagger. When you put it in its sheath it looked like a folded up fan. Women, monks, and retired Samurai often carried these. 

They also had Fans that were made of metal and could be used like a weapon. 

Girls would Wear metal hair pins that were little mini weapons. 

(There were LOTS more weapons)

LIFESTYLE:

Samurai were always training to fight. At the age of three little boys would start learning to fight with wooden swords, and at 5 they were given their first real sword so that they could defend themselves. At ages 13 and 16 they went through some ceremonies and then got new swords, at sixteen they got the Katana, the Samurai Sword. 

Girls did training too. They had to learn Martial Arts. Often when her husband went off to battle, the wife was left running the castle and had to be able to defend herself.

Nightingale Floors. 

Developed by a Shogun, a REALLY powerful Samurai. He had lots of enemies and was scared that they would send ninja to try and sneak into his castle and kill him. Ninja's are really good at sneaking around and being quiet, so he made a floor that squeaked no matter where you stepped on it. It sounded like little birds chirping. There are three castles left with this floor in Japan today. I actually went to one called Niji-jo in Kyoto. 

In Japan there was a annual parade in Kyoto were civilians dress up in Traditional outfits. I saw a lot of Samurai. ;)

PENPAL Part 3: Penpal Websites

As far as what websites to use to find penpals here is my advice:

~ I tried a couple different ones, but in the end I used Japan Guide. Although, this is mostly for Japanese penpals, you can find penpals from other nationalities too. 

http://www.japan-guide.com/local/

Other sites I tried to use, weren't as safe, resulted in spam mail,etc..

Sorry that I don't know of any other sites. :(

But, here are some ideas for finding one: 

~ Try and use one that lets you make a profile and exchange emails through the website, before actually giving the person your actual email. 

~ Generally, stay away from ones that say things like "meet other singles" or "Pretty Girls profiles" or anything fishy. Sometimes these websites are divided into different sections : areas for regular penpals and areas for romance, and that's fine. But try to avoid them if you can. 

Look for ones that say "language exchange" or  "Friends" or just "penpals"

~ Instead of reading other peoples profiles and messaging them, make your own, and wait for people to message you. I got penpals both ways, but it seemed that the second way worked better. Why? A lot of people don't write enough in their profile. Sometimes they had bad english, so that was part of it. But, if your write own you can get more information from the other person right away. 

For example I wrote my age, favorite hobbies (LOTS of them!), what I'm looking for in another penpal (learn Japanese, email very frequently 2-3 times per week, send gifts, etc..), and finally I asked them to reply with what their favorite hobbies are, age, and a few other things. 

This way, if they didn't reply with a nice long email, with lots of information, then chances are, they wouldn't be the greatest penpal, and I wouldn't feel guilty about not replying back. (in comparison to if I reply to someone else's post and then decide after they reply back that I don't want to)

~ Lastly, you can try Christian Penpal sites, or if you are 17 or younger there are usually some "Children safe" sites. 

Hum... That's all I can think of for now. Hope this helps!