10.10.2016 ~ 10.14.

2016

BOOM TRIP
JOURNAL
Bea Kim
 BEA KIM

BOOM TRIP
JOURNAL
Hope that this Journal can recall the
memories of the BOOM Trip.
- 16 years old, Bea

One of the best ways to make yourself

happy in the present is to recall happy
times from the past. Photos are a great
memory-prompt, and because we tend
to take photos of happy occasions, they
weight our memories to the good.

- Gretchen Rubin
PRELIMINARY JOURNALING
Before Departing
When I first heard the word BOOM, these words came to my mind:
MAIN IDEAS:
Sudden, Unexpected, Quick. Mr. McNairy told us during his class time that
Predictions
of the
BOOM trip in regards the trip was named BOOM, since no one unexpected to go on to the trip
of:
when it was held in the first year of the school. Whatever the reason it
Nature & Landscapes was for going on the trip, I liked the fact that we were going on a trip,
Localresidents & and missing school for a week! These days, many students from our grade,
Villagers
including myself are stressed-out from having so many summative. I think
Personal Explorations
that the purpose of BOOM trip is, to give freshmen, or students who just
Travel Experiences
came to high school an opportunity to feel relieved from academics, and
The change in
demographic of the expose themselves out in nature to figure more about themselves.

villages
The two villages I will visit and stay for few days are Dumo and
Trend in fishing
Darangi. In some ways, I expect that the trip will be exciting. I am
industries over time in
the villages excited to see various kinds of plants and clean air in the countryside.

Although for some aspects, talking to new people may be frustrating, I am

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looking forward to make new friends and getting along witness children in both villages, because of the

with more people through this trip. I also think that changing demographic, caused by peoples tendency to

the local residents and villagers would be kind and move to cities to gain jobs. Also due to the

generous. Hearing stories that they may be telling me contamination of the ocean, we might not gain an

would help me in life comfort my mind. enjoyable experience from the fishing activity.

However, in some aspects, I also think that the In summary, my overall expectations of this trip

trip will be unexciting. We might have to walk up is low, because I am frustrated about the new

inclines when we are walking to the villages. One of challenges of this trip.

the difficulties I might face in this trip would be

being exposed to many bugs. I am also worried about

physical explorations such as hiking and kayaking,

since I easily become tired. I might also be provided

with local food that I have never tried before. I

expect that the Minbaks that I am staying will be

inconvenient and different from my house. Staying in

Minbak would be a new experience for me, since I have

never been to Minbak before. It would be hard to

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INTERMITTENT JOURNALING
DAY 1 Hello, Dumo!

MAIN IDEAS
Today was an official first day of the BOOM trip. Although I had to wake up

Departing to Dumo village almost at the middle of the night, I didnt felt tiring since I was excited by the fact

Resting areas that the BOOM trip was about the start. The bus ride to Dumo village took us

about 5 hours. About once every two hours, the bus had arrived at a rest station,
Arriving in Dumo
which had restrooms and places to buy foods.
Settle in our Minbak



the
way
to Dumo
During

village


After we had arrived at the Dumo

Visiting an elderly womans








village, I was overjoyed by the fact that
house

She told us about:








the long bus ride had ended. Since we

Her background








arrived at time a bit later than we

Her family








planned to, we headed straight to the

Farming in Dumo









lunch. Our lunch was provided in the

Click


to play!




village assembly hall, and the village

manager introduced herself. Most of the food provided for our meal resembled the
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foods I was used to have at home. After we had lunch in the been farming for most of her life. The small stroller that she held

village assembly hall, we went to Minbak, to leave our on to, supported her to walk upright. The entrance of her house

was very steep, which was even hard for a teenagers like us to
suitcases, and get changed for the next activity. I was
climb up. I have imagined how hard it is for Kim Soon
surprised by the quality of the Minbak, since the space inside
grandmother to walked up such slope everyday. When we
the Minbak was larger than I expected. Besides, there was
arrived at her house, she asked us to come in, and have seats.
even a TV in our room.
She sat on her bed, that was next to the entrance door while she
First lunch at Dumo village assemble hall
had conversations with us.

During the conversation, she informed that the gas, that

was flowing in the farm was caused by burning the remainders

after harvesting the crops. She seemed very happy and engaged

when she talked to us about her family. She had many children,

Click to play! and grandchildren, too. She had given birth to many children,

since she knew how much it felt lonely to live as an only child. In
The first activity that I did, was visiting an elderlys house. The
present, she was living by herself, because her children had
name of the elderly woman we met was Kim Soon. Her back
moved to Busan and other cities that they had better chances to
was bent, and I assumed that it was probably because she had
succeed and find jobs. One thing I have seen at her house, that

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gave me an emotional feeling was, when I saw the reminders on

the wall that her son had written for her. The wall recorded her Posing at the Official Sign of Dumo Village
daily routines of eating medicines, and reminders for staying

healthy. It seemed like her son was kind, because she had told

us that his son visits her at least once a week. Although we have

asked her many times if we can help her with anything like

cleaning up the house, she refused and rather wanted us to talk

with her. By this, I could understand how lonely she had been,
Click to play!
and how much she had wanted to the talk with people. At the

end, Kim Sun grandmother gave us a pumpkin as a present. I

have never received a pumpkin as a present before, but it felt

very special, especially it came from her. I would never forget

the lessons she gave to us; to be respectful to our parents and

grandparents.

Way back to the village after visiting the elderlys house

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INTERMITTENT JOURNALING
DAY 2 Visiting Boriam

LOREM IPSUM I didnt know that I would experience the hardest hike ever in my life,

Hiking up Geum San Mountain before I came to this trip. Hiking Geum San mountain was the first activity
Visiting Boriam
scheduled for the day. Our guide, Jun informed us before we went on the
Visiting the Sang-Sa Bawhi
Eating lunch at the peak of hike, that the distance between the entrance and Boriam temple is about 2
the Geum San
Highs: km. As soon as we started hiking, I felt so hot, and started to sweat. It was
Viewing Beautiful Sceneries
fortunate that I had not put many things in my bag. However, I regretted
Drinking hot chocolate at
Boriam temple
not filling up the water bottle before the hike. While were hiking up, the
Eating gim-bab after a long hike
people who were coming down from the top of the mountain cheered us,
Lows:
and joked about how much there has left for us to reach the peak.
Sweating a lot during the hike
Having risky moments at the I was amazed by the sceneries on the way up to the Boriam temple.
mountain, formed due to the
typhoon
Every time I looked back, I could see the ocean and other areas of the

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mountain. The higher I went up, the better view I was near the time that University Exams are held in

could see. During the bus ride to Dumo village, I didnt Korea. Our group had discussed the night before, that

know how Nam-Hae Island would look like, until I since Boriam is very busy with peoples visits, we would

reached the high point of the mountain. When we only take footages of the temple, and not concern

arrived at our first destination; Boriam temple, I was about the interviews. Boriam is famous for having a lot

excited to be in a place that helps me to investigate on of visitors whose wishes were accomplished after

the topic of the BOOM project; Buddhism. Me and my praying in Boriam. I have also wished something special

BOOM project group members; Kate, Jimin, and Betsy; at Boriam. I am excited to see if it is real that praying

had brought our cameras and phones to take lots of at Boriam can turn my wish into reality. After visitng

footages at Boriam. We were ready to film and shoot Boriam temple, we continued our journey on hiking up

photos right away when we entered the temple, since it to the peak of the mountain. I was tremendously

was only one out of two temples that we were going to happy when I reached the highest point of the

visit during the trip. We could see a lot of moms mountain. We had the lunch at the peak, and it was

coming and praying to Buddha, most likely because, it really nice to eat gimbab as we looked down at the

8
beautiful sceneries. After we had lunch at the peak, that would have nothing on it, but as soon as I arrived

we started to head down to the entrance of the at the destination, I could totally understand why

mountain. HOWEVER, there was one more destination people make their hard ways to visit this place. If

that was waiting for us, which was Sang-Sa Bawhi. Boriam was a stem of a tree, Sang-Sa Bawhi would be

Sang-Sa Bawhi is a rock named Sang-Sa. I first did the flower of the tree. The sceneries of Sang-Sa-

not understand what is the purpose of visiting a rock, Bawhi were one of the greatest views I have ever seen

in my life. When I stood up on the rock and faced the

ocean, my eyes witness the beauty of nature; the

glinting water, colors of the ocean, landscapes of the

mountain, even the sun that had an adequate

brightness. To sum up, I had learned, heard, viewed,

and felt how beautiful nature is. I have realized that

for a while, I had not been conscious about the

environment of the world that I am living in. What

9
would be purpose of studying, if we didnt have the

environment to live in? I think sometimes in life, we

should look at the smaller things that surround us in

life, in order to look at a bigger frame.

Buddhism group waving at the temple!

Click to play!

10
INTERMITTENT JOURNALING
DAY 3 Thinking

  about

  Life

MAIN IDEAS He still likes you, a voice says.

Water activities in Dumo No, he doesnt, the second voice interrupts. he wont care about you any longer!
Kayaking & Fishing
The two voices argue on whether he still likes me or not.

Leaving Dumo, moving to What...? Can you guys pause for a moment!, I shout at them.
Darangi

On that moment, I finally woke up from the weird dream and my eyes saw the
Visiting Yong-Mun-Sa clock pointing at 8 am. Oh god, Im late, spoke myself in reality. Along with my
Bowing 108 times
roommates who also had been late to their activities, I went straight from our
Meditation time
Minbak to the kayaking and fishing area, which was the first activity scheduled for

our group. I have had a fishing experience once before in Jeju Island.
Evening activities in Darangi
Cooking
We boarded on the boat that took us to almost the middle of the ocean. The
Drumming
fisherman provided us the fly rod, and attached pieces of sea worms on the end of

the fish hook. I gave a try on hanging the sea worms on the fish hook, and
11
succeeded on it! I had caught 3 different fish, which felt kindness and generosity of Dumo villagers would linger in

amazing. The sensations that I had on every minute that the my mind for a long period.

fishing bait had been thrown into the water, was ticklish,
Along the way to Darangi village, we visited Yong-Mun-
since I felt as if the fish would bite the Sa, which was a temple located near by

bait in any minute. I have realized from Darangi village. When I got to the temple, the

the fishing that, the key to be number one alert in my mind was; taking

successful in terms of fishing would be photos and filming, since our group had

planned to ask some interview questions to

having patience.
specific people at Yong-Mun-Sa. One of the

After experiencing the water
people whom we thought would give an
activities, we packed our stuff and left essential information about Buddhism, was
to Darangi village. It was kind of sad the buddhist monk of Yong-Mun-Sa. We had

when I was leaving Dumo, since I gained permission from the monk for

happened to like the village a lot. interviewing her, and we started to ask her

However, I was also excited, by thinking of all the new some questions; What is the daily routine of the temple?,

What are the major beliefs of Buddhism?. Another event that

adventures I will have in Darangi. The impressions on the
happened earlier at the temple was 108 bae, which is 100

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bows in literal translation. The number 108 indicates the sometimes confused, because at high school things were a lot

number of times that you should bow for doing it, and each bow different from the middle school. My peers started to talk more

are set for different purposes of praying. A soothing background about studying, and started to care about their grades. I was

music with the audio of a person stating the purpose of the bow expected to behave like an adult, and gained more

on each time, flew out as we practiced 108 bae. While we were at responsibilities than before. However, when I thought back, it

Yong-Mun-Sa, we also had a meditation time, where we had to wasnt just bad. As we were expected to behave and make

set ourselves individually from others for certain amount of time, choices on ourselves, we were given more free from at school,

and do meditations. While I was meditating, I thought about and allowed to figures things out without being instructed from

how I think of my life in grade 9 so far. I felt that I was supervisors.

Ascending to Yong-Mun-Sa
After we visited Yong-Mun-Sa, we were headed to a

new village, Darangi. The formation of the houses were a lot

different from the houses in Dumo. Each Minbak had

different and unique names, and the name of the Minbak

that I stayed in was House of Semickle ( ).

Click to play!

13
INTERMITTENT JOURNALING
DAY 4 Magical Last day

MAIN IDEAS It was finally the last day of the BOOM trip. Somehow, I felt that

Breakfast time has passed so quickly. Breakfast was offered in my Minbak. Since I
Realized that eating breakfast
gives to strength to start the had eaten too much snacks at the night before, I didnt really felt like
day with
having breakfast. However, I decided to eat even just a little, because the
Coastal Hike
grandmother in my Minbak had already prepared a lot of food. The foods
Challenging
that she had made for us were organic foods, that she had grown on her

Photo-race game own. Until I came to BOOM trip, and started the day with having breakfast,
Conflicts in the beginning
were resolved in the end by I didnt know how having breakfast can energize me throughout the whole
respecting, helping out each
other
day.

Bon Fire & Traditional Games Our first two activities of the day were helping the farming;
Bonded the togetherness of
our grade harvesting sweet potatoes from the farm, and working on the BOOM

14
project with the group. I really enjoyed digging up the village, it was hard to decide on the place to film the

sweet potatoes from the ground, since the moment opening. At the end, we came up with a solution that

that I uprooted them relieved stress. Also, it was worth filming from down side of the hill and shooting the film

spending time to safely uproot the sweet potatoes, with its angle up, would incorporate the overall

since we were going to cook and eat them during the background of the village.

Bon fire; later in the evening. During the group project

After that, we were scheduled to go on a coastal

time, our group interviewed some more local buddhists

hike. Since Mr. Cresenti had informed us about the

who lived in Darangi. Although we already had 5

hike that, it is just a mild walking along the side of the

interviews from Dumo village and Yong-Mun-Sa, we

beach, I was relieved from the fear of hiking twice

wanted to assure that we have gained sufficient

during the BOOM trip. But things turned out to be a

amount of data before we leave Namhae. After we

lot different from what he had told us... The hike was

interviewed two more people from Darangi, we started

extremely challenging, and even more challenging than

to film our openings for the video. Since Darangi did

the one we did in Geum-San. During the hike, I almost

not have an official marking or an entrance to the

15
slipped over by the rocks that were loosen because of each other. Our group won the contest and received a

the typhoon that had passed Namhae Island. bag, and the name of the village; Darangi was printed

on the bag.
In the evening, we played a photo-scavenger hunt

before we had dinner. The game was made in order to After we had dinner, all groups went to the

give students a chance to explore the village. There haunted house that we visited on the other day to play

were some conflicts in the beginning within our group, drums. We played traditional games in pairs of two

over what places to visit first, but towards the end, we groups. Our group competed against group 5; the

could resolve the conflict by respecting and helping out group that consisted of many good athletes. Jumping

further was a very important skill for the first game,

since we had to do a jump-race. I slipped over several

times because of the slippery ground. For the second

game, we played a race which involved playing rock-

scissor-papers to make the opponents out and continue

to race until the edge of the circle. I particularly didnt

16
like the second game, because it was a total luck.

Sometimes, people do rock-scissor-papers to be fair,

but it is actually the most unfair way to solve things

in reality. The third game was using wooden blocks

aim and hit the opponents blocks.

The last thing we did today was Bon fire, which

we surrounded a fire place and sat down while eating

sweet potatoes that we harvest earlier in the day.

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REFLECTIVE JOURNALING
AFTER THE BOOM

Before I went on the BOOM trip, I had low expectations

on the trip. Whenever I imagined a grade level trip, I

always pictured of going to Lotte World, Busan, and all

those fun and crowded areas, that were popular among

teenagers. However, when I heard that we were going to

villages in Namhae, that I have never heard of before, it

gave me a bit of frustration. Also, I didnt understand

what was Minbak before going on to this trip. After

someone explained to me what it was, I couldnt conceive

of why the school has made choice for us to experience

such inconvenience by making us to stay in other peoples

houses. Other factors that influenced my low

expectations of the trip was, staying together with friends

xviii
for all day long. Since I have an experience of staying in opportunity for me to realize more things in life, that are

dorms before, I knew that it was going to be stressful for me outside the boundary of school works. One of the powerful

to stay close by friends for straight 5 days, and not being lessons Ive learned from this trip is that, I should respect my

given the time to spend individually. However, things turned parents more, as it was told by the grandmother I have met

out to be different than my expectations during the trip. One at the first day in Dumo. Another important lesson that Ive

thing that I loved after returning from this trip was, Minbak. learned during the picturing-taking game that we did on the

Minbak was a lot more comfortable than I initially thought. last day was, to never give up on anything. At the end,

The owners of my Minbaks have been very kind and BOOM was a satisfactory trip for myself, and left a positive

generous to me. Moreover, they treated me like as if I were impression. I could derive many lessons from this trip, that I

their grandchild. They have expressed and shown how much would help me to get further in life, and gave me a reason to

they were pleased to have us visit their Minbak, and stay consider life valuable.

together for even for a few days. Also, it wasnt so stressful to

When I had stayed in Dumo, I have met an elderly woman
stay together with friends for five days. Although my friends
form the village. We walked her to her house, and spent time
and I shared the same room, my roommates respected my
with her for a session. While we spent time talking with her,
personal space and time. By the time that BOOM had almost
she told us life stories that were related to her background,
come to an end, I reflected that the trip was an awesome
xix
family, and her hobbies. She seemed extremely happy when more schools can offer service for visiting elderlies and

she talked about her family, and especially when she talked spending time together with them.

about his son. She was living apart from the rest of the

family, since her children have jobs in Busan and Seoul.

Although she had never mentioned that she felt lonely, I

could understand how much she would feel

lonely to live alone. Her reaction when she

first saw us, was very happy, as if she hadnt

seen so many young children in a while.

Before when I came to this trip, I thought the

problem of the changing demographic in

Korea was not a big deal. However, after

meeting with Kim Soon grandmother, I have

realized how the changing demographics

affects elderly people emotionally, by making

them feel lonely. I think it would be nice if

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