If You're Trying To Stop An Addiction Or Trying To Do Something, Something I Find Helps Me Is To Think

If you're trying to stop an addiction or trying to do something, something I find helps me is to think my bias wouldn't want me to do this. I know it sounds crazy but out helps. My bias wants me to stop smoking, my bias wants me to get better grades, my bias would want me to take care of my mental health. Trust me, it works, at least for me!

BTS has released two sets of concept photos recently and I feel the need to explain my thoughts on Concept E. We see the boys tied up with ribbon and then separated and in glass balls full of flowers and other greenery making it seem like a perfect world. The photos seem to show how the world has taken hold of them but no one notices due to it being wrapped with ribbon almost like hiding it in plain sight. Everyone would notice if they used chains, something forceful to hold them down but ribbon is unsuspecting and seemingly harmless. Each member in a glass ball shows me that its almost as if the world has taken hold of them and placed them inside a prison but filled it with things like flowers and trees so no one would notice. A prison everyone could see but no one would recognize. In every photo you can see each member either looking out of the ball (Yoongi, Jin, Hobi), or looking almost sadly at the flowers that are in the ball with them, as if sad that they were trapped too (Jimin, Namjoon, Taehyung, Jungkook). This is just a theory so please don't take my word for law or anything but this is what I can feel from these photos and even the concept S photos as well.

BTS just released their new concept photos for S and E sets and it seems that the S set of photos have been causing some backlash. Because the photos have things like hands and eyes and cameras emerging from the walls it seems that many fans are saying the photos are “ugly” and “scary”. It seems obvious to me the meaning behind this set of photos and just what makes them so beautiful in my opinion. BTS is constantly under scrutiny of the public, the fans, the haters, and even other artists are all looking at them to try and find faults within them. Every camera, every phone, every recording device has been shoved in front of them and they are constantly under society’s microscope to be picked apart whenever it feels like it. The hands are symbols of the many people who are constantly reaching towards them from seemingly every corner where they just cant get away because another one is right there, reaching for them. BTS has always released concept photos that give different meanings, and to me this one was one of the bests I've seen because of the message that is so clearly placed in it, it’s hard to miss. The photos were beautiful and our boys and BigHit worked hard on them to relay to us just what they’re feeling and trying to say, so I hope that this has helped shed some light on the photos and to help open your eyes to the meaning behind them and their hidden beauty.

South Korea has young men enlist for two years to do their obligated military service. The reason is because of their situation with North Korea who is sitting right next to them and practically on top of them, and because even with the peace treaty that currently stands between them, they don't know if or when that peace will be broken so as a way to prepare for it all men ages 18 to 28 are required to enlist to do military service for two years. This not only makes sure that they have a fully stocked military at all times but also makes sure that if there ever comes a time when they need all men to help protect their country they will have already been trained to handle and deal with the situations that arise. If there are any mistakes I apologize but this was what I could find online about it.

So this is a little different from my normal posts, but I’ve had a couple of people ask me how I learned Korean and for tips and tricks so this is a compilation of the tips and tricks that I personally used to help me learn. 

First-Study, study, study. Spend at least a couple hours a week (or as much time as you can) practicing and learning new words and pronunciation. 

Second-Speak! If you're like me and no one around you is Korean its really difficult to find someone to speak to and thats okay, just talk to yourself and say the new words out loud when you learn/practice them. 

Third-Use as many senses as you can. Write the word down, read it, say it, hear it. This will help you to remember it. I’ve even heard of drawing pictures that goes along with the word. 

Fourth-Remember the basics! The basics are super important in any language but especially in languages that have a different alphabet and different sounds than in your first language, and its really important that you remember them. 

Fifth-Take advantage of the free apps/websites online. These are super useful and really helpful when you're trying to learn and you don't have a teacher, or even for practicing what your teacher gave you. 

Sixth-Use YouTube to help with learning new words, writing in hangul, the different sounds that the hangul make, etc. Trust me it works wonders. 

Seventh-Label everything. And I mean everything. Your house, objects, and work items that you have. This is an easy way to help remember what the name of these certain things are because you see the label whenever you use it.

Eighth-Keep a set notebook for that language. You need to have a designated notebook for just Korean or else it will get confusing and difficult to read through your notes.

Ninth-After taking notes for a certain period of time, (I do mine for about a week), look back through your notes and rearrange them a clean sheet of paper in a way that makes better sense.

Tenth-When practicing your pronunciation stick a pencil in your mouth sideways so that your teeth rest on it and speak around the pencil. MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT CHOKE ON THE PENCIL! This will help your mouth form the words in ways that is normally difficult for English speakers.

Eleventh-Learn Bachim. Just learn it. This will make life so much easier as you go through and continue learning. Just do it.

Twelfth-Dont be afraid to find a pen pal or someone who's willing to talk online in and about Korean. I know it might seem scary at first but trust me, it really helps you grow in confidence and fix any little mistakes that the computer cant help you catch.

Thirteenth-Watch KDramas/KPOP. I know you've probably heard this before but heres why you should so it. When you listen to how they speak and pronounce the words it helps you to correct your own speaking mistakes and help develop an accent. 

Fourteenth-Listen to as many different accents as you can. If you get used to the Seal accent then when someone from Busan tries to talk to you you will most likely not be able to understand them, simply because of the slight differences in pronunciation.

Fifteenth-As soon as you feel comfortable enough or decide that you need to there are plenty of apps or websites where you can actually interact with Korean teenagers like yourself, most of the time over KPOP or KDRAMAS and it will help build your confidence.

This is is all I could really think of but please feel free to add your own thoughts, opinions, tips, tricks and information on the subject! And last but not least, remember you're not alone or weird for trying to learn Korean. It’s a beautiful language that can sometimes be really difficult. Just keep your head up and keep trying and I promise you'll make it!

So with the recent Fake Love choreography I've come to notice and issue that I feel needs to be addressed. Jungkook’s abs being shown during the choreography was a pretty amazing moment, however the backlash from this I feel needs to be addressed. A lot of fans are focusing just on Jungkook’s abs and are even complaining and getting angry when they aren't shown on stage. Firstly, Jungkook can't always show his abs due to certain stage outfits like the harness he was wearing last time, secondly, Jungkook doesn't need to show his abs all the time. He is an amazing singer, rapper, dancer, performer, actor, friend, and idol, he does not deserve to be seen only for his abs. Third, I would just like to say that while I enjoyed being able to see them and the effort he put into his body/work if Jungkook doesn't want to show them and is being pressured to show them then I would be perfectly fine with never seeing them again. He may be an idol but he is also human, a hard working one, and deserves to be treated and respected just like everyone else. His is much more than his body and deserves to be remembered for everything he's worked so hard to accomplish, not just his body.