Jahyun Lee
When I was little, my mom told me to not to touch my spoon until my father picks up his spoon first because, in Korean culture, father is like a king. When I was little, my mom told me to wipe water starting from my head, because if I wipe from my feet the remaining water from the top will slide down continuously. Then, I have to wipe again and again. When I was little, my mom told me to use pencils instead of the mechanical pencils because using pencil helps the brain to function more. When I was little, my mom told me to chew food quietly with my mouth shut, so I won’t distract others by spitting food. When I was little, my mom told be to wash my underwear while I take. In that way, the underwear doesn’t run off quickly, and I can wear them longer. When I was little, my mom told me to gargle when I get up before I swallow my first spit at the morning so that I won’t have bad breath and to prevent the cavity. When I was little, my mom told me to cut toenails, especially big toenail so I can wear the socks long time. If it’s too long, it will make a whole on my socks. When I was little, my mom told me to use fans instead of the air conditional so that it will save up some energy. When I was little, my mom told me to read books. She did not care whether it is a comic book. She just wanted me to read anything. When I was little, if I took care of the trash, she promised she is going to give to a dollar for the reward. The trash box located outside of the apartment, and we lived on the 11th floor. When I was little, my mom promised she would be giving 10 dollars, as the reward, each time, whenever I bring her a written work of book report. When I was little, my mom told me not to bring home that doesn’t belong to me. Because I liked to pick up little things like a pen, hair pins, broken rings, unrecognizable toys, something like that from the floor and bring it to home. When I was little, my mom told me to practice using my left hand so that left side of my brain will also function since I was a right hand. When I was little, my mom told me to share with my twin brother, even if it is a small cookie. When I was little, my mom told me to save leftover chips in the plastic bag. However, before tying the bag, I had to make sure it is filled with air so that the chips won’t get soggy. When I was little, my mom told me to don’t come home until I hit it back if I get hit. Thus, I punched back at a boy’s nose, his name was Hyunsoo and made him bleed. When I was little, my mom told me not to put anything near the edge of the table so that nothing will drop or fall from the table. When I was little, my mom told me not to take my socks the wrong side out. She told me that she is tired of putting socks back on the right side each time she picks up my socks from the laundry box for the laundry. When I was little, my mom told me if I follow this entire rule I will become the perfect human being in the whole universe.
This particular piece of essay that I have chose was a reflection paper based on a short story called “Girl” by Kincaid. I have never read a short story written in this style. Each and every sentence starts with the same phrase “this is how…” The whole story runs by telling the ‘to do’ and ‘not to do’ lists from author’s mother. We basically had to following Kincaid’s style of writing with our own lists. I enjoyed writing this because it took myself way back to the time when I have little kid. From trivial things like “When I was little, my mom told me to wipe water starting from my head, because if I wipe from my feet the remaining water from the top will slide down continuously” or “When I was little, my mom told me not to put anything near the edge of the table so that nothing will drop or fall from the table” to very personal wisdoms like “When I was little, my mom told be to wash my underwear while I take. In that way, the underwear doesn’t run off quickly, and I can wear them longer,” I tried hard to bring back memories. While writing this essay, I cried a little thinking about my mother back in Korea. Another reason why I particularly enjoyed writing this essay was the new style of format. I have never writing my own essay in this format which I found my self writing better and easier compared to writing typical 5 paragraph essays.
