Dear Diary,

I have officially committed to ArtCenter College of Design. I am really happy to be attending, but not too excited for the fall term. In light of COVID-19, the school might change their courses to online classes. This isn’t good for me because I learn more efficiently when I do hands-on task. I’m basically supposed to make art, but I’m worried that I won’t be able to learn to my full potential from behind a screen. Furthermore, graduation is coming up, but it’s now virutal? It’s unfortunate that we are celebrating our final year of high school from, again, behind a screen. But no one is to blame. The district is trying their best to congratulate their seniors, but this is not the way to do it. Point is, nothing is happening the way I expected it to. Physical classes and a physical graduation are no longer to be taken for granted.

I am also extremely frustrated with the protests against Coronavirus restrictions. Protestors are holding up outrageous signs saying, “I need a haircut,” “Give me liberty or give me COVID”, and “Social Distancing is Communism.” These questionable people are not taking the impact of the virus seriously. Standing in lines closer than what CDC recommends, not wearing face masks, and shouting in the streets? They are the reason why the victim number continues to rise (52,234 deaths in the U.S as of today) and why the peak never seems to fall. I am sincerely concerned that it will take longer than necessary to get things back to normal. Although Costco lines are still a mile long, and I am only getting my daily dose of fresh air from my window, I know that “this too shall pass,” and that gives me a lot of hope for the future.

Yours truly,

Ji Min

Dear Diary,

The weather is getting warm. Around this time of the year, I would normally go shopping for spring clothes and hang out with my friends at the park. But I can’t, at least not for a really long time. It’s been exactly one week since I stepped outside my house. Boredom is eating away at my entire family. Everywhere on the internet, I see people raving about the new Animal Crossing game. My sister and I have been hard-core contemplating on whether we should buy a Nintendo Switch just to play it. But then we’d sulk about how we need to save money during this time rather than spend it, and end up playing a game of Monopoly. 

The beginning weeks of quarantine have messed up my sleep schedule. With all the time in the world, I’ve been waking up long past noon. However, recently I thought of it as an opportunity to become a morning person. I’m lightly forcing myself to wake up earlier and reclaim the sunrise. I’m an avid fan of poetry, and picked up a new book that my sister recommended to me. It’s called The Universe of Us by Lang Leav. This book has been my go-to every night. The poet’s words sound like beautiful cascades of love and loss, and they hit deep. 

Amidst the dreary situation, I finally heard some good news that I got a scholarship to my dream school! It’s hard to believe that I will be a college student in the fall. I’m still very hopeful for the future and know that sooner or later, we will be able to go back out into society.

Yours truly, 

Ji Min

Directed by Yoshifumi Kondō, Whisper of the Heart is a coming of age story about fourteen-year-old bookworm, Shizuku Tsukishima, who longs to become a novelist. One day, she notices that all of her books have been checked out previously by the same person, Seiji Amasawa.

While chasing a cat, Shizuku enters an antique shop owned by Mr. Nishi. She is immediately mesmerized by The Baron, a magical cat figurine, who helps her listen the whispers of her heart. Shizuku later befriends Mr. Nishi’s grandson, a boy her age who is already pursuing his dreams of becoming a luthier.

This film was absolutely beautiful in its simplicity. It portrayed a charming protagonist with an ordinary school life, but it is her unique persona that leads her to amazing and exciting encounters. Shizuku’s challenges are relatable to audiences of all ages, which is why I was personally engrossed in this story. Her quest to find her true talent, and struggles of feeling behind her peers, are all challenges that I face as a teenager. Together with Seiji, Shizuku is able to develop a deeper understanding of life, passions, and love.

I was particularly amazed by Shizuku and her interesting perception of life. She was very enthralled by the objects in the antique store. She treats the items like treasures, not just objects. Her open-mindedness, the way she respects everything in the shop, and how she is genuinely interested in each of the items’ background is remarkable. Her ability to connect with something and sympathize with it inspired me to have a deeper and keen outlook on things.

“You see that rough surrounding stone? You can polish it all you want, but it’ll still be worthless. But there might be something much more valuable inside that you can’t yet see.”

Whisper of the Heart has so many gorgeous elements, yet manages to be fluid, simple, and charming. The story is filled with meaningful messages that are truly inspiring. This classic Studio Ghibli film is heart-warming, and encourages the audience to be imaginative and listen to their hearts.

Directed by Lasse Hallström, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape follows the story of twenty-four year old, Gilbert (played by Johnny Depp), who suffocates from the responsibility of taking care of his autistic brother, Arnie (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), and his overly obese mother.

Feeling trapped, Gilbert encounters Becky (played by Juliette Lewis), a free spirited girl who stops by his small town. Upon falling in love with her, Gilbert realizes the boundless freedom he will have if he leaves town, but is held back by the burden of his own family.

The film humbly depicts real life sorrows and sufferings of a vulnerable family. It highlights the importance of accepting others and understanding the struggles of mental health. Depp’s character is relatable and the audience can feel the emotional turmoil he goes through trying to take care of his family while trying to find his own path. Gilbert’s own sacrifice for the happiness of his family, is what slowly eats away at him.

Leonardo DiCaprio’s acting in this film is phenomenal as he successfully immerses himself in his role as an autistic boy. The entire cast and their performance is perfect and unbelievably real.

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape is a clever story that makes you reflect on your own life and your perception on those not as fortunate. This classic is a must-watch, powerful story in a simple screenplay.

I come from a very conservative family. From a very young age, I have been told to always respect my elders, take my shoes off before entering a house, and never get a B in a class. All these values have affected my beliefs and shaped me as the person I am today.

As an honors student, I maintained A’s in advanced classes. Like many Asian children, one of my first dreams was to become a doctor, specifically a veterinarian because I loved my dog, and I had a big interest in anatomy. Although my parents always told me that I could be whatever I wanted to be when I grew up, they always encouraged careers in medicine and law. I have always wanted to please my parents, but the thought of being a doctor never satisfied me. When I said that I wanted to pursue a career in the art industry, my parents were surprised. I was afraid that the amount of preparation and cost of supplies would become a burden to my family, yet they wanted to support me and my dream.

My mother is the most important person in my life. In times of trouble, she is the one always there to comfort me. On the other hand, my father tried very hard to discipline me. Because my sister and I are first generation Korean-Americans, my father wanted to teach us everything about our native country. I was taught Korean traditions and values, the alphabet, language, and history. I also had to keep a diary that my father strictly told me to write in Korean. The process of learning so much was frustrating, but I never wanted to disappoint my parents.

My Korean roots and the values that I have been taught have influenced many the decisions in my life. I am proud to be knowledgeable about my country’s culture and my own heritage. I have the most warmhearted and attentive parents, and I am very grateful for that. As I begin to age, I realize more of how much my parents sacrificed for me, and the amount of affection I received from them. All my relatives are in Korea, but my parents immigrated to America and took on hard jobs, just for my sister and me to have better lives. In the future, I hope to become the successful woman that my parents want me to be, so that I can return their unconditional love and warmth.

I try to be optimistic in moments of despair. I have learned to be optimistic through the many television shows I watched as a child. One character that particularly comes to mind is Eeyore from The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. While the other characters in the show are lively and happy, Eeyore is constantly gloomy and depressed. When comparing the optimistic Tigger to a pessimistic Eeyore, I knew it was better to have a more positive outlook about life.

Many years ago, on Easter, I got ice cream with my friends. The double scoop in a waffle cone was perfect for the warm day, but I happened to step into a ditch. I tripped and spilled the untouched cold treat. On the inside, I felt like my life was over as I had just wasted a fresh ice cream. I regretted not taking few licks and being my clumsy self. However, I could not express those sad feelings with my friends who were enjoying their memorable day. I pretended to not care, when I really did, and continued to smile on. I told my friends, “I simply dropped one of the thousands of ice creams that I will eat in my life time.” My friends then noted that I was really optimistic, and that they would have actually cried. As they continued to compliment my positivity in a negative situation, I realized that replacing negativity with hopeful feelings helps others stay positive as well. With that mindset, I continued to face difficult problems with optimism, and it was much easier than dealing with those hardships with pessimism.

When I merely thought that Eeyore was a depressed donkey that sulked in his misery, I remembered that each time his house was knocked down, he rebuilt it. Knowing that Eeyore usually expects misfortune, but accepts it and tries to fix the problem, shows me that Eeyore is a character of compassion. Although I identify with Tigger more than Eeyore, I know that I possess both traits of each character.

I cannot recall a time when there was no kimchi at my dinner table. This popular side dish, made of salted and fermented vegetables, is essential in Korean cuisine. Kimchi can be found at any Korean market, but it tastes best when made at home. Helping my mother make it creates not only a transcendent flavor, but meaningful memories as well.

When my mother pulls out her big, red bucket, I know she is making kimchi. Earlier in the day, she goes to the market to buy Korean radishes and napa cabbages, both used widely in East Asian cuisine. She cuts up the cabbage into quarters, and then fills up the bucket with salt water. She places the cabbages in the salt water and sprinkles more salt focusing on the white part of the cabbage. Then she leaves them to soak for three to four hours. Now it’s my turn to help, which is making the seasoned sauce. While my mother chops up the radish into thin strips, I mix together scallions, garlic, ginger, pickled shrimps, and anchovy sauce, and her secret ingredient. Only my mother can determine when the flavor is flawless.  Then we drain the salt water and leave the cabbages for another one to two hours. After a few hours, we add the chili powder to make a beautiful red color, and paste it evenly onto each cabbage layer. When the making process is done, my mother and I put everything into a container where it is left to ferment for atleast one week before eating. The process of making homemade kimchi can be very fun, and the sense of pride after making it is so great, especially because it is not store bought. Each step may take a while, but the wait is totally worth the deliciously fermented dish.

Kimchi is truly a delight within a meal. My mother’s recipe with just her sense and intuition, is incomparable to the store bought ones. But when I make kimchi with my mother, it not only becomes a prideful, homemade dish, but a personal memory is also established. When I eat kimchi on a day when my mother is no longer here, it will remind me of the happy memories we had when we made the dish.

Just to let you know, I have a soft spot for corny, old school, teen romance movies. Consequently, most of my reviews on this blog are biased from the start. I am quite optimistic and rarely think a movie sucks, maybe with the exception of After (2019), in which I couldn’t stand watching ’til the end. You’ll understand if you ever watch that one.

Based on Nicholas Spark’s bestselling novel, The Notebook (2004) tells the heart aching story of two lovers separated by class differences and war. Noah, played by Ryan Gosling, tries to win the heart of new, city girl Allie, played by Rachel McAdams. The two fall madly in love, but their summer romance is soon halted when Allie’s parents don’t approve of their relationship. She shortly moves back to her hometown, and Noah enlists in the army.

At the start of the movie, you’re introduced to an elderly man and woman. Yup, you already know who they are. But it’s undisclosed, for the sake of it. The man takes out a notebook, and begins reading a story to the woman, who suffers from Alzheimer’s. “Okay, it’s obvious she’s going to remember. He’s gonna read her ‘their’ story.” Surely, but it’s the content of that story that will have your sleeve soaked in tears.

I was immediately drawn to Noah, a poor country boy. He is wholesome, lovable, and sweet. You just want to root for people like him. (Plus it’s Ryan Gosling. Handsome, young Ryan Gosling. You’re already in love, regardless of his character.) Whenever conflict falls upon the two lovers, you will heartily feel it too, and that’s the magic of a good, love story. Gosling and McAdams have an amazing chemistry in this film, and each actor demonstrates powerful assumption of their roles. The movie was a rollercoaster of emotions: you know what will happen at the end, but you’re surprised by the sudden drops in between the ride.

The overall aesthetic of the film was beautiful and emotionally satisfying. One scene that touched me was the boat ride. The couples’ notion of paradise being the lake filled with hundreds of swans emphasized the purity and sentimentality of the lovers’ relationship. Each major scene in this movie is absolutely stunning and had my heart moving.

“The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds, and that’s what you’ve given me.” (Nicholas Sparks)

If you’re a sucker for sad romantic movies, go navigate through the unbreakable bond of Noah and Allie.