Rachel Choi blog 8

In my first blog, I gathered my thoughts on what a nation is made of.  I still agree with my points on how a nation is made up of those who support a common belief.  Looking back in retrospect, what I wrote seemed very definition based.  It’s hard to describe how I feel as though I can identify with two nations and none at the same time.  I found a great article on what it means to be Asian-American.  http://cornellsun.com/node/49940

 My favorite quote was “It means that you’re bi-cultural: both Asian and American, yet neither at the same time.  In Asia, you’re American; in America, you’re Asian.”  This perfectly describes my position.  I understand both nations and feel as though I am a part of both.  So instead of redefining what I believe a nation is, I bring up the question of, can one belong to two nations? Or, can one not belong to any nation at all?

In class, I realized how easier it was to share my thoughts and experiences when in a smaller group.  When we separated into groups based on what we wanted to talk about, I joined the “I don’t know” group.  But in just a minute, I was talking about my church back at home and how the church was divided into English speakers and Korean speakers.  

Looking back to the first day our class met, our community has made so much progress in opening up and creating an environment where all opinions are welcome.  But I have noticed that even though we have created this environment, that there will always be some who do not speak up.  Gradually those who speak often are granted power over others as their opinions are the only words that enters our minds.  The people who speak could quite possibly demonstrate and practice hegemony.  Of course we have too much trust and respect in each other to let this happen but if it actually did happen, would we be more inclined to speak up now that we have learned about the sub-altern?  Despite the fact that I don’t speak up as much, I do listen to every opinion that comes out into the open.  Simply listening has helped me understand how my community thinks and what it believes in.  I believe that we have made a unique community with the most diverse group of people. We accepted one another and allowed room for individual and group growth.  I am proud to be a member of this community and proud of the fact that on a larger scale, we represent William and Mary. 

In regards to a project that would be positive towards our growth, I believe that a field trip would be best.  A retreat of some sort.  Every class on campus is inside a classroom for a certain allotted time that is expected and given.  Even in this class, we are given a strict regimen in which we must open up our minds and speak from 11 am to 12:50 am.  I suggest that we go on a trip in which we can bond as a community.  The best thing I can think of right now is a camping trip.  A camping trip would not only create an intimate setting that no classroom can create, it would allow for us to gather outside of the college and experience a whole new environment.  What would we do on this camping trip? Anything we like.  Whether it be fishing, painting, running, or cooking, any time we spend together would be indispensable to our bonding.  Also, there would be no itinerary.  We would only decide the day we leave on and decide later on when we would come back.  I am quite certain that if we do go on this trip, we will be surprised to find ourselves wanting to stay longer.