Chapter 10 Science and engineering students with no fellowship experience

I was often invited to participate in large-scale ceremonies, so I naturally accumulated diplomatic experience step by step. While traveling around the world, I thoroughly felt the importance of foreign language ability, so I became enthusiastic about learning English.Whether it is taking the bus, tidying the room, knitting or brushing teeth, whenever I have time, I will recite some example sentences with new words or listen to tapes.The hunger for English learning is not satisfied until the English ability is sufficient to read the original works of Ernest Hemingway, William Shakespeare, "Talmud" and so on.After gaining confidence in English, the scope of learning foreign languages ​​has been expanded to French and Spanish.

For me, learning other languages ​​also means being able to see a wider world.Language is a means to improve my quality of life, and the sense of accomplishment of being able to speak another language is far beyond imagination.Moreover, the satisfaction of learning about previously unknown things through books is completely different from the happiness brought by food and new clothes. It is a different level of happiness, so I have gradually become a nerd addicted to reading. Female college students my age would talk to each other about going to listen to music or watch movies together after class, and enjoy the romantic life in college to the fullest; most of my part-time tutoring friends would also compare their students with each other jokingly.Frankly speaking, I sometimes envy their freedom, but I have to accept the restraint of life, so I can only gain new satisfaction in accumulating knowledge.

I lived an ordinary university life and entered the Department of Electronic Engineering of Sogang University as I wished, but my studies were not easy at all.In order to study in the Department of Electronic Engineering, I switched from liberal arts to science. Not only mathematics, but also other subjects must work harder than others.Although I occasionally enjoy flowers in the spring breeze with my classmates, for me, the time that allows me to focus the most is the class time. After class, the male students will go to drink together in groups of three or four, it should be a rice wine party.Although I sometimes wonder about their lives, I still can't drink with a group of boys.I was in my early twenties, a shy age.

One day, a male classmate suddenly approached me and said, "Jinhye, I'm going to participate in the parade later." Looking at his leaving back, I asked, "Why are you going to parade?" He turned his head, smiled and said, "Go warm up." Then he left.That tone seemed to be saying "I'm going to exercise". Even if they participate in the parade, the students in the department will try not to skip classes as much as possible. The attendance rate of the class is very high, and there are almost no vacancies in class.One time, the professor asked a male student why he was late for class, and he replied, "I just came back from a parade," and then returned to his seat and sat down.The male student didn't have the nervousness of the parade on his face, but felt guilty for being late for class.

I became more and more enthusiastic about the course work in the department and devoted almost all my energy.My father is a celebrity, so my college life did not have much freedom compared to other classmates.I always worry that if I make any mistakes, it will make my parents look bad, so I am used to living with a tense attitude.I have never participated in a general fellowship, and I have never wandered the streets with my classmates until late at night. I must be responsible for every behavior of myself; Life is dull and exhausting. Only once, I boldly got rid of my retinue and lived a life as I wanted for a day.That day, when I arrived at school, I went into the classroom and pretended to be going to class, then slipped out the back door and headed for Myeongdong.On the bus to Myeongdong, I opened the window, the warm spring breeze was blowing on my face, fluffy clouds like cotton candy floated in the sky, the scenery in front of me was so quiet and warm.

After getting off the bus, I wandered freely in every corner of Myeongdong, with light steps as if I were about to fly into the sky.After a while, the movie poster of "Anne's Thousand Days" in front of the Central Theater caught my attention, and I bought a ticket to enter the theater without a plan.Because it was a weekday, there were not many people in the morning, and the three audiences, including me, enjoyed watching the movie as if it was a private room.The content of the movie is the story of King Henry VIII and Queen Anne Boleyn of the Tudor Dynasty in the 16th century. Looking at Anne Boleyn's ill-fated life, my heart also became entangled.

After watching the movie, I walked down Myeongdong Street and enjoyed the leisurely atmosphere of spring.You can feel the breath of spring from the light clothes of passers-by, and you can go in and try on the clothes you like when you see them in the window.Occasionally the clerk would ask: "You look familiar, have you been on TV?" I would smile and respond: "I am the face of the public, and I am often said to look like someone." There are many fashionable people on Myeongdong Road. At that time, bell-bottom pants and miniskirts were popular. I was very happy to see the youthful attire of female college students. I also saw many boys with guitars on their backs.

As I was walking, I found a coffee shop by the side of the road. The warm sunlight shines in from the big windows, which is very cozy.As soon as I opened the door and walked in, I was greeted by the strong aroma of coffee. I sat down by the window and stared at the people coming and going on the road. Everyone was walking towards their respective destinations, looking very interesting. vitality.Spring is here, and people's expressions seem to be much more relaxed. Sitting opposite was a boy who looked like a college student reading a book. It seemed that he also skipped class like me.Our eyes met, he smiled at me first, and I smiled back politely.Mozart's music is played in the coffee shop, and the atmosphere is quiet and lazy.A person's leisure time is very precious to me.

As night fell, street lights came on one by one, and I went into Myeongdong Church to attend the service.The faces of the people who were praying were full of sincere prayers, and my heart became devout and peaceful. After leaving the church, it was dark and it was time to go home.Although it was impulsive, I don't regret it, I just feel a little sorry for my parents who are worried about me.I'm sorry that I didn't go back before dinner, and the entourage must have been very anxious.After getting ready to be scolded, they entered the house. Their parents' expressions were unexpectedly calm. They thought they would be questioned a lot, but everyone just ate dinner peacefully as if nothing had happened.

The next day, I went to the classroom as usual, and a classmate approached me. "Where did you go yesterday? It seems that the followers are looking for you everywhere." I smiled and replied: "Have you seen "A Thousand Days of Anne"?" He had a "why did you say this all of a sudden" expression. "I went to see that movie yesterday." At this time, the classmate suddenly realized, showing the expression of "now I understand what you mean". "Gunhye, don't go alone next time, let's go together. It's a bit boring to stay in the classroom in such good weather."

We chatted and walked into the classroom like this. Since then, nothing special has happened and the days have passed peacefully.As I stayed in the laboratory longer, I gradually became like a student of science and engineering. I often went home late to wait for the results of the experiment, and sometimes the stockings were stained with strong chemicals and had holes. "Jinhui, it looks like the stockings need to be mended, there is a big hole." There are only two girls in the department, so they are often teased like this.After similar things happened frequently, I gradually became good friends with my male classmates. Occasionally, I would go to the music tea bar opposite the school to chat with my friends, but the smell of boys smoking was really unbearable to me. The tea bar in front of the school had a different atmosphere from the current coffee shop, and the store was dimly lit like a civet cat cave.Usually the store will play songs by Jin Qiuzi, Shin Zhongxian, Song Changshi, etc., and occasionally a long-haired man will come out and sing sad songs while playing the guitar.Lunch is provided with a bento box or in the school cafeteria. There are only three kinds of lunch menus in the school cafeteria: Jajangmyeon, Fried Rice, and Omurice. Among these three, Jajangmen is the most economical.Jajangmyeon is 30 won, fried rice is 50 won, and omelet rice is about 70 won.Everyone has different hobbies, so they order something different every time, and share the food while chatting. Lunch time is also one of the joys of college life. During the 10th anniversary celebration of Sogang University, various departments held activities.Since the Department of Electronic Engineering has just been established for two years, compared with other departments, the number of students is small, and the activity funds are not much.After class, the male students in the department gathered together to discuss enthusiastically what role to play in the costume parade. "We don't have much money, so instead of worrying about what clothes to wear, wouldn't it be better to just take them off?" "Sure enough, you are still smart. Then let's take it off altogether." I listened quietly to their discussion while packing my schoolbag, and couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Gunhye, what role should we play so that everyone thinks we are cool?" "this……" In the end, the male students in our department seemed to have reached an agreement to pretend to be an African native, and I was given the task of holding the department badge of the Department of Electronic Engineering.I was lucky not to be allowed to dress up as an aborigine, so I obediently held a sign and participated in the costume parade to the new village.The male students who took off their shirts were dressed in aboriginal clothes, and their faces were covered with black coal powder, attracting the attention of many passers-by.Everyone laughed and clapped their hands when they saw us, and the students in the department also laughed when they saw each other.Looking back now, that day was really enjoyable. Although there are occasional demonstrations, the campus is generally calm.You can see girls wearing brightly colored skirts sitting on the grass in threes and fives, and you can also see boys playing guitars.At that time, the school rules were very strict. Any absence from class would affect my promotion and fail to graduate on time.The professors are quite strict and it is very difficult to get an A unless the student works really hard.When I made the decision, I was mentally prepared. The subject of electronic engineering is not easy, so I want to have a good performance.I always shuttle between the laboratory and the classroom diligently with a heavy book. In the third grade, there are more experimental homework.The physics experiment had to be carried out in pairs. That day my partner was a candidate for the Reserve Officer Corps, and that classmate asked me to wait for him to finish his education and training for the candidate, and then work on the project together in the laboratory at 7 o'clock in the evening.I arrived at the laboratory on time, and after waiting for a long time, the classmate did not show up. I thought he must have been delayed, so I sat and read the book I brought.Thirty minutes passed, and an hour passed. I thought he must be in a hurry, so I decided to wait a little longer. If you had a cell phone like now, the problem could be solved easily, but back then there were no pagers, so there was nothing to do but wait.The classmate finally showed up after three hours. He was very surprised when he saw that I was still in the laboratory. He apologized and explained to me that because he was a cadre, he had something to deal with, and he forgot the time when he was busy. , and asked me why I haven't come home yet.I replied that because it was an agreement, I couldn't break the agreement. The time has passed ten o'clock, considering the access control at twelve o'clock, we decided to postpone the experiment until the next day.Walking out of the Institute of Technology, the two walked to the main entrance together, chatting about many things along the way, such as future aspirations, family members, hopes for electronic engineering and so on.Although the topic is a bit serious, I like to talk about it with my friends, sharing other people's aspirations, hopes, future dreams and enthusiasm, which makes me feel that life is very beautiful. "What kind of life do you think we will live in the future?" Breathing the cold night air, the classmate began to imagine his future life. "I want everyone to be able to live the life they want." "Gunhye, what kind of dream do you have?" "I haven't thought about it specifically, but I plan to keep studying and become a scholar or researcher." The air is especially cold and refreshing on autumn nights, and the Big Dipper in the sky is shining brightly. When I was about to graduate, I was informed that I would graduate with the first grade.Because I never thought that I would win the first place, I was a little shocked, but also very happy. The next day at lunchtime, I announced the good news in front of the whole family, and both Mom and Dad were very happy.That afternoon, I met the head of the secretary office in front of my father's office, and he also congratulated me very happily.Since I didn't tell anyone except my family, I curiously asked the head of the secretary how he learned about it, and he said that his father told him about it happily and proudly.At that moment, my nose couldn't help being sore, and my heart was full of emotion. When my mother was helping me choose the hanbok to wear for the graduation ceremony, her eyes suddenly turned red: "Gunhye, you are our pride. Mom is so happy that she can't even sleep." Holding a bright pink hanbok in her hand, my mother said to me: "You are the first to graduate, but I couldn't make you a new suit, and let you wear what I wore. I'm so sorry." I smiled and replied that it was okay, but my mother still looked apologetic.For me, being able to wear clothes that my mother made with my own hands means more.Looking back now, graduating with the first grade was the best gift for my mother.It was only later that I realized that it was the first and last filial piety I did for my mother in my life.Before he knew it, bad luck began to come quietly.

---

Notes: