loveku

 Early in the morning, Seung Chul, Byung Jun and I went to the PSU to eat breakfast. 
Diligent Baduk fans were already eating there and we were asked to have our lunch boxes.
 
There were four courses of group tours and people selected one when they applied for USGC. 
We could choose one among the four tour courses, 
a bay, a gorge, the China Town and a wine brewery. 
I chose to go to a gorge and asked Takemiya sensei to go with me. 
Once he said, 'You are cute!', so he easily accepted my request, 
but I could not have a conversation with him because he took another bus. 

Portland, Oregon was a peaceful, calm and clean city. 
The mountains seen from a distance and lakes that mountains embraced were beautiful and lovely. 

I took pictures of Columbia River Gorge, but pictures of my camera were just simple mountains. 
It was indeed a spectacular sight in my eyes, like seeing a great movie. 

(Columbia River Gorge)

(I was totally exhausted because of my survey)

 I saw my pictures of Columbia River Gorge and thought, 
'being a photographer that has to put into his feelings in his pictures isn't that easy.' 
I had a very naive view before, 
'being a photographer seemed very fun and easy'.

 After watching Columbia Gorge, we went to see a beautiful waterfall. 
Someone shouted, 'We can take the bus in time 
if we climb up the mountain and take the waterfall to come down!' 
That reminded me of a movie, 'The River Runs Through It' 
and the scene where Paul took the waterfall bravely with his brother, Norman.

(Me, Jennie Shen 2p, Guo Juan 5p, and Takemiya Masaki 9p)

I did my survey on the bus and when I got off the bus, I went sightseeing. 
Finally, I fell asleep and could not get off the bus at the third destination. 

Hanging around here and there, I saw a great number of fish. 

 Something occurred to me that I didn't eat fish for a while. 
I wanted to eat them, and felt sorry for beautiful fish. 
To be honest, sushi tastes great! 

Someone from China said hi to me along the way to the last destination, Mt. Hood. 
He introduced himself, saying that he graduated from Peking University 
and was studying Master's degree in Minnesota. 
He also said that he participated in USGC a few years ago. 
He was interested in Korean Baduk world and remembered some of my game records. 
We talked a lot about Baduk on the bus and reached a pinnacle of Mt. Hood. 
Surprisingly, people enjoyed skiing in summer on the Mt. Hood. 

 (with Kim Byung Jun 2p) 

I tried to take more pictures of Mt. Hood, but stopped. 
I could not capture its beauty in my camera, so I just enjoyed looking at the gorgeous mountain. 

Pros went to a restaurant after the sightseeing tour. 
We rose up to 30th floor of the building and I saw someone already there. 

 (Looking down Portland downtown at the restaurant)  

I took a seat next to Takemiya 9p, Ryo Maeda 6p, 
Mr.Chris the former president of AGA, Mr.Roy Laird the board of directors of AGA. 

Mr. Roy Laird started to talk at the sight of me. 

He wanted Korean  Baduk Association to provide AGA with some Baduk boards and stones. 
He also said that  it would be better 
if Myung Ji University has a cross registration system with other US universities.
KBA has to organize 'Baduk Tour' formally and send as many professionals to US as possible every year. 
Large enterprises in Korea should try to cosponsor Baduk events with large corporations in USA. 
It will then lead other US businesses to support the American Baduk society. 
Mr. Roy told me about his blueprints until 10:30 P.M. 
and I was impressed by his passion and thought that the future of AGA would be very bright. 

The president of AGA, Mr.Michael Lash was very pleased to say that 
84 American children took part in 24th USGC this year. 
He said American Baduk world has grown every year, 
but in order to make it better, cooperation from Asia was necessary. 
The biggest goal for AGA was to have more than 10,000 participants in US Go Congress. 

(We were listening to Michael Lash)

 
Mr. Roy, a bachelor, said that every Baduk player was his family. 
Not to mention, I was one of his family members.
He told me, "Be a bridge between Western and Eastern Baduk worlds." 
Phew! I cannot do anything well, neither Baduk nor English. (Sob) 

I started to interview some directors of boards as one of my survey affairs. 
I couldn't eat well and tried to finish my assignments. 
I learned that I should think twice before taking matters into my own hands. 

(P.S - I am going to Japan this morning and will get back to Korea next Monday. 
Then I will write more. See you in a few days!) 

loveku

I crawled out of my hotel room in order not to awake Janice Kim. 

I had personal business to do other than formal business. 
It was about survey stuff that I mentioned earlier and distributing gifts for Baduk fans.  

The gifts, which were folding fans, were very heavy 
so I continued walking and taking a rest, and finally, got lost in the PSU campus. 
I was confused and even forgot the name 'Smith Center', so I couldn't ask people direction. 
After wandering and arriving at Smith Center with difficulty, 
I found the breakfast hour had already finished.

By any means, PSU wouldn't give a loaf of bread to a poor foreign girl because it was already 9:40 A.M.
I had to keep a secret and I didn't want my mother to know about 
my wandering and skipping breakfast like this. 

In the morning, I had to do 'game analysis' and it was a commentary of people's curiosity. 

 Someone asked about 'Mini Chinese Ryu' and I tried to explain it with my best. 
Nonetheless, people seemed just confused and it was hard for them to understand my comments. 



Frankly speaking, 'Mini Chinese Ryu' was very difficult for me to play. 
Some people came up to me and consoled me, "It was an instructive experience." 

I was supposed to play 1 on 8 game against youth players on 3:00 P.M, 
so I decided to conduct a survey before that. 
Unexpectedly, it was not easy or simple at all. 
Children didn't know the words, 'occupation' or 'status' and asked me what the words meant. 
Adults inquired about doubtful points of questionnaires; like an entrance exam of college. 
Distributing questionnaires only worsened the situation 
and I started 1 on 1 survey after finishing simul games. 
 

 (They were filling out my questionaires. Thanks, everyone!
 She took my name tag later on. Keep it and remember me, okay?)
 

Seen from a distance, Myung Wan 8p prepared the public commentary 
on the first floor and many Baduk fans were sitting there. 
He might be commenting on the selected games of US Open or Ing's Cup. 

 Everybody was serious to watch it and it reminded me of the pleasure 
that I felt when I learned Baduk for the first time. 

It's 11:00 P.M when I finished up my survey with 50 people. 
I had additional questions for USGC managers as well as more questionnaires for 150 people. 
What should I do? 
Tomorrow, people would go sightseeing together in the morning. 
In the evening, I should take part in the special program, called 'pros'dinner'. 
Besides, I already had a prior engagement 
with the president of Korea Tourism LA branch office on Friday. 

As I was pressed for time, I thought that it was impossible to keep a promise with prof.Kim
at   Myung Ji University and I couldn't sleep well due to my worries and suffering. 
"When I am in trouble, it's important to go to a toilet and think again. 
But I couldn't find a bright idea even though I was sitting in the toilet all day."
I've made my last decision. 
I decided to bring my questionnaires on Wednesday, the day of wednesday-tour. 

 (Grandfather showed me his magic several times. 
 You should have seen it.)

 People responded my survey passionately. 
 Thank you very much! 

loveku

 It was midnight when we took a bus for four hours and arrived in Portland. 
We arrived there so late, and we felt bleak since nobody greeted us. 
Seung Chul gave me a piece of advice whenever I made a gloomy face. 
"At this moment, you'd better go to the toilet calmly and think again." 
Strangely, for sure, one Korean said hi after I was back from the toilet. 
Mr. Kim Sun Tae, the translator, could not recognize our faces in the first place. 
He explained that I looked younger than the picture, but I noticed something important. 
We were not famous pros. (sweat) 

 (They helped us, thank you!) 

After arriving at the hotel 'University Place', I met Kim Byung Jun 2p, Takemiya Masaki 9p, 
and Mr. Frank Fukuda, the head of pro-coordinator in the lobby.
I already sent lots of emails to Fukuda san, so I felt closer to him. 
Takemiya 9p came up and said to me in Korean, "You are cute." 
Everybody giggled at me and I was embarrassed; 
I did not know what to do, cry or smile or whatever.

I was worried about awakening Janice Kim, my roommate, since I arrived at my room too late. 
Unexpectedly, Janice Kim went back to our room after me because she enjoyed playing poker so much. 
She had to wear a tattoo, 福(fortune), next day 
because she was defeated by Yun Jae Woung 2p in the poker game. 
I could not wait to see people who would look at Janice's face tomorrow. 
It was a long day. 
I departed from Seoul on August 3rd and arrived in US on 3rd as well. 
I felt I was like an alien who took the time machine. 
I was not tired at all even though I only took a little nap.

 
So many people were playing Baduk at the Ballroom, Smith Center, Portland State University. 
People from USGC (US Go Congress) greeted us warmly. 
The simultaneous games of professionals and many tournaments were held in Ballroom, on the third floor. 

U.S Open and Ing Master's players were playing at the special room. 

 
These tournaments many stars of North America were taking part in 
were limiting access to only authorized people. 

I started to work following the formal schedule from that day.
It was hard but fun to play 1 on 8 simultaneous games which Japanese couples also participated in.
Considering I was poor at English listening, American amateurs started to analyze my every move.
"It was hard to follow, I couldn't understand her intention, 
it was a strange move, she tried to cheat on you"...and so on.
I reviewed every game in English, and the translator had gone somewhere else. 
People who analyzed my moves were shocked. 

I ate supper with Jayme, Kim Myung Wan 8p, Jang Bi Ama-7d, and Jae woung 2p in the evening. 

After dinner, the Ballroom was full of passion toward Baduk. 
Everyone was freely playing their games and reviewing them, 
but those who were noisy were asked to get out of the room immediately. 
Such considerateness for others was worth learning.

Baduk fans could have played Baduk till dawn 
if Smith Center hadn't closed the door due to the sudden gas leak at 10:00 P.M.

loveku

A 'beginning' always brings a flutter.




I looked down the vast Pacific from the airplane, 
and I felt something totally different at the sight of US land. 

 
What will God show me from now on? 
What is waiting for me? 


The American seating in the front seat was excited to see 'Tacoma', his hometown. 
I didn't know where 'Tacoma' was, but he said to me, 
"Very nice!" continuously and took pride in it.
 I thought to myself that he loved not only 'Tacoma', but also US. 

(Tacoma) 

What about me?
Do I love Seoul? 

It took an hour and a half for security check on our luggage at Seattle Airport. 
I was interviewed by airport officials and police officers, 
and I was a little bit nervous, since I heard that I could be expelled depending on my response. 

"What do you do for a living?"
"We play Baduk."
"Badung? What the hell is that?"
"It's Baduk! Many Americans call it 'Go'."
"Hey! Does anybody know about Go?"
Other officers shook their heads.
"We are professional players." 
"Wow!"
"I became a pro at my age of eleven."
"Wow!!"
"It has been 11  years since I became a pro." 
"Wow!!!"
While keep saying 'wow', he made a raid all of a sudden.
"Did you make much money?" 
"No, not much." 
"Hahahaha!" 

 
Mr.Kim Jae Ho, who was supposed to pick us up and give us a ride from Seattle Airport to a bus station, 
greeted us with a smile, showing up later than expected.

Mr.Kim is a strong Amateur 6-dan and has taught Baduk to Seattle Baduk fans for a long time. 
He has always played Baduk on 'Cyberoro' or 'KGS' and watched pros' games intently. 
He watched Seung Chul's final match of 
Samsung Fire Insurance Cup prelim until the end of the game. 
It was fun to know that we did the same thing on the opposite side of the globe. 

It took half an hour by a car from Seattle Airport to the Greyhound bus station, 
so we would have been in trouble without him. 
Thinking back, I should appreciate his help. 
Unfortunately, tickets for the 3:00 bus to Portland were sold out, so were tickets for the next bus. 
The only ticket we could buy was for the 7:40 bus, the last one. 
What can we do until then? 

Seung Chul and I just looked at each other, 
and Mr.Kim, who understood our situation keenly, drove us to downtown Seattle. 
We dropped in the University of Washington, a public market, a plant farm, and so forth. 
A misfortune turns into a blessing. 

We also stopped by 'Seattle Go Center'  ,and Mr.Kim said 
it was built by with donation by the late Iwamoto Honinbo. 

 
I saw a notice attached at the building 
that said Seattle Go Center would be closed during the USGC week. 

 
It occurred to me, 'we should go to Portland soon!' 

Mr.Kim left us for his appointment at 5:00, and Seung Chul and I just hung around the street. 
To our surprise, we saw people dancing on the street. 
I was wondering, "did they dance for a special day or for their usual habit?" 

Everything seemed new and fresh.

loveku

"Hey, sister. Be an adult after your journey." 

My brother said giving me a gift, a Bible covered with light green leather. 
'What? What is he talking about? 
Then up to now, he regarded me as a baby?' 

I felt offended at first, but looking at my mother's eyes filled with anxiety, 
I felt that I became a baby that could not do anything by herself. 
I could not help it. 
Will I keep up the good work? Will I be ill? Will I go back home safely?
 I made myself ready for the departure gallantly to show them, 'I am not a baby!'. 
But at the same time, I was crazy about my own concerns.

"What if our scale was wrong?" 
My mom whispered to me when we stood in line to check in my lugguage. 
She was worried about my luggage, because she made them weigh exactly 22Kg each. 

About a month ago, Prof.Kim from Myung Ji University asked me to do some survey 
during the USGC which was very simple and easy to deal with.  
I said okay, thoughtlessly like a baby. 

I had made some room in my bag to put questionnaires, 
but I was in trouble after getting three boxes of gifts for respondents. 
As I already had two pieces of luggage, I was going to pay for the extra luggage with gifts. 
However, mom thought I got too much luggage to carry, 
because I could not go directly to my destination, Portland Oregon. 
So, we bought two big immigrant's suitcases 
and mixed the gifts and other stuffs in them to make each weigh less than 22Kg. 
The capacity of each bag was under 23 kilogram. 


"We can pay for extra luggage." 
"Even so, we worked hard to make the two suitcases under 22-kilogram and everything's in vain." 

My luggages were put on the gauge and weighed 22.0 kilograms each. 
"Wow! It's marvelous and accurate!" 
Mom was pleased to hear that, but I felt not so good. 
'That means my weight is correct, too. Oh, my God!' 
I was talking to myself that our scale is not accurate all the while.
If I eat high-calorie diets in US, my cold-hearted scale will disclose my weight without any sympathy. 
It made me shudder. 

I had international roaming service activated for my cell phone, 
so all I had to do was to find Seung Chul. 
I reserved a window seat early on the flight, but Seung Chul would seat at the back of the airplane,
because he was too late to grab a better seat. 
And what's this all about? 

He seated next to me in the Korean Airline. 

 We left Seoul, Incheon Airport.

 I loved Bibimbab!! It always tastes so good!~

theljstaff
news

Development Goals and Basic Accounts

lj_2008

Indian Flash Fiction Contest

india_writing

Meanwhile, back at LiveJournal Inc.

loveku

 Hi, my dear friends! Long time no see!

I cannot believe that I am leaving Canada and going back to Korea today.
It was indeed a long  journey  to me.
I visited Seattle, Portland and Vancouver.
I talked to more than 200 American Baduk(Go) players and heard of their stories. 
It was amazing.

And you know what? 
I met someone very special during my journey.
He was extremely kind to me; in addition, he's young, attractive and funny(not in a weird way).
He really loved Baduk and liked me very much as well. 
He's stronger than I expected. 
Besides, he's passionate and  friendly.
Thus I was greatly impressed by his  everything.
I came to understand a little bit of him and his thought of Baduk.
Perhaps I won't forget him for a long time.
I want to see him and talk to him again next year.

And his name was USGC(2008 US Go Congress).

 Everyone, take care of yourself.
 And see you soon! 
(I will write down my story sooner or later.)