Mihyun Kang
I had been thinking for a long time about the things that Photography can do. But these days, I have changed my thoughts since I came to NY. When I was a child in Korea, I was brought up in a very strict family. I was loved so much as the youngest girl in a big family. I loved that I was loved by my family. That was why I couldn’t express my thoughts to my family. I was praised for being balanced with others and moreover I was educated so as to not show my weakness. I did’t gripe or complain to my mother who has was very strong. I think that made me have a meek (or docile) child complex. Therefore, there was a girl who wasn’t a good girl in myself. I loved to be alone (or make my world) as like playing mothers. I realized that living abroad break away from strong relationship in Korea as well, which has made me independent.
I think New York is the best city for being independent. NY was the city that everybody looked like friend, but nobody wanted to get relationship over friend when I visited NY 2 years ago. I think that People who lives in NY is all independent and sometimes has to independent from their society, their culture and even their family. Because New Yorker came from another city or country basically. They have a their own boat on the sea named New York regardless big or small. They should follow own dream to exist. That is why they can sympathize each other than family in some cases (or sometimes), don’t put people inside. Now I moved to New York. Because I feel that New York is the city for “I”. It make me feel more intimacy between me and subject when I take pictures. It seems like watching the world without filter. I think I am the person who cannot live with “I”. I might be feel unsettled and loneliness in NY. Why not?
I have been in NY for 6 months. It was very hard at first 3months. These days, my NY life has been getting better. I’m getting settled down and concentrating on my work and studies. Most of all, I had learned one things as a key word of my NY life. “How to say” is as important as “what I want to say” when I communicate with Americans and specially with Tim in English. Also, ”How to say with English” is one of things that I couldn’t understand and was misunderstood on relationship in NY.
I think there are 2 things that made my NY life hard. The first, How to communicate with Americans. The Second, I still had tried to understand people who I met in NY with my strict culture. I learned How to communicate with American generally from living in NY for last several months. I should say more a precise and assertive way. Also, I should be more interested not only in art, but in American History, books, Drama and movies to understand Americans. Most of all, Talk with New Yorker with my heart.
I think New York is the best city for being independent. NY was the city that everybody looked like friend, but nobody wanted to get relationship over friend when I visited NY 2 years ago. I think that People who lives in NY is all independent and sometimes has to independent from their society, their culture and even their family. Because New Yorker came from another city or country basically. They have a their own boat on the sea named New York regardless big or small. They should follow own dream to exist. That is why they can sympathize each other than family in some cases (or sometimes), don’t put people inside. Now I moved to New York. Because I feel that New York is the city for “I”. It make me feel more intimacy between me and subject when I take pictures. It seems like watching the world without filter. I think I am the person who cannot live with “I”. I might be feel unsettled and loneliness in NY. Why not?
I have been in NY for 6 months. It was very hard at first 3months. These days, my NY life has been getting better. I’m getting settled down and concentrating on my work and studies. Most of all, I had learned one things as a key word of my NY life. “How to say” is as important as “what I want to say” when I communicate with Americans and specially with Tim in English. Also, ”How to say with English” is one of things that I couldn’t understand and was misunderstood on relationship in NY.
I think there are 2 things that made my NY life hard. The first, How to communicate with Americans. The Second, I still had tried to understand people who I met in NY with my strict culture. I learned How to communicate with American generally from living in NY for last several months. I should say more a precise and assertive way. Also, I should be more interested not only in art, but in American History, books, Drama and movies to understand Americans. Most of all, Talk with New Yorker with my heart.
Streotypes of Americans
I would love to talk about “the way of speaking” of stereotype Americans. Because It is totally different way of speaking from my country. I had to be misunderstood many times and I could not understand their way of speaking. There are two things, which I could not understand about “the way of speaking” of stereotypes Americans.
First, American say their opinion very directly and precisely. I think it comes from individualism. Individualism is based on exercising of one’s goals and desires and so value independence and self-reliance. I know we are all individualist in this modern world regardless nationality. But, Asian still more think carefully about balance of family and society when we decide. It make us hard to say our opinion stronly. But, It is just difference a way of speaking. Asian also press our opinion with other ways.
Second, American likes discussion to say their opinion. I was confused a lot when I move to NY at the first. I thought they persuade me when I discuss with American. I was the person who couldn’t say even “ Yes or No”exactly. Because, I took care of other’s opinion. It’s totally different way of speaking with Americans.
Now, I understand American’s communication way. They are getting to know more each other from discussion. Nothing happen if you don’t say anything. Say simply my opinion. It’s not rude. It’s more polite way to let someone know my opinion whether someone accept my opinion or not. Americans say their opinion very strongly. But they don’t push their opinion to someone.
First, American say their opinion very directly and precisely. I think it comes from individualism. Individualism is based on exercising of one’s goals and desires and so value independence and self-reliance. I know we are all individualist in this modern world regardless nationality. But, Asian still more think carefully about balance of family and society when we decide. It make us hard to say our opinion stronly. But, It is just difference a way of speaking. Asian also press our opinion with other ways.
Second, American likes discussion to say their opinion. I was confused a lot when I move to NY at the first. I thought they persuade me when I discuss with American. I was the person who couldn’t say even “ Yes or No”exactly. Because, I took care of other’s opinion. It’s totally different way of speaking with Americans.
Now, I understand American’s communication way. They are getting to know more each other from discussion. Nothing happen if you don’t say anything. Say simply my opinion. It’s not rude. It’s more polite way to let someone know my opinion whether someone accept my opinion or not. Americans say their opinion very strongly. But they don’t push their opinion to someone.