Island views

[I]Editor’s Note: The following are written by the students of the Writing Classes of Mrs. Robinson at the Northern Marianas College. The views expressed are solely those of the students.[/I] [B]Seoul[/B] [I]By HOJIN WOO[/I]

Have you ever visited Seoul, Korea? Seoul is my hometown, and it is also the capital of South Korea. There are many people who live in Seoul so there are many cars. Seoul has four seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. The four different seasons make Seoul a very beautiful city. The popular places to visit in Seoul are an old palace dating back to the 13th century, a modern building with 63 floors, and the Han River, a very large river where large ships sail. Seoul has a population of 10 million people. The Blue House, the presidential mansion, is located in Seoul. The Congress Building is also in Seoul as is the Supreme Court. Fifty years ago, Seoul was a very poor city. Today, Seoul has become a prosperous city, because the people work hard from morning to evening.

[B]My life on Saipan[/B] [I]By SELENA WANG[/I]

Do you enjoy your life on Saipan? My life as a college student on Saipan has two sides: it is precious and it is difficult.

I returned to Saipan in January 2012, after looking at other colleges in the U.S. mainland. I prefer to study in the U.S. mainland. In 2007 I graduated from Eucon International College on Saipan, then returned to my home in China. Since my return to Saipan last month, I have made friends who have helped me. They include a lady whom I call “Aunty.” She helped me to get back in school. She also found a room for me. Mr. Wicksman who teaches reading and vocabulary at the Northern Marianas College also gives me extra essays to write. He also corrects my grammar and gives me many opportunities to read in class. I have also made new Chinese, Filipino, and Chamorro friends. All of these friends are very precious to me.

While I have many good friends, I also feel life here on Saipan is difficult. I am by myself. There is no one I can really communicate with, except God. I feel alone here. I miss my parents. I also feel there is no hope for me regarding the transfer of my credits from Eucon and from the university in China where I graduated from. I try my best to study diligently, but I still do not know when I can graduate from NMC. I hope to have my credits from Eucon transferred to NMC to use toward my graduation. I believe my life on Saipan is both precious and difficult.

[B]Repair of electronic devices[/B] [I]By DONGMEI GU[/I]

Have you ever repaired an electronic device by yourself? If I have a broken appliance at home, I try to fix it first by myself. It could be a rice cooker, an electric fan, or a computer. If I cannot fix it, then I take it to a repair shop. Last Sunday, I repaired an electric kettle that had stopped working. First, I found some tools to remove the bottom cover of the kettle. Then I looked carefully at each electric line inside the kettle. I found a broken wire so I believed I found the problem. I replaced the broken wire with a new wire. The kettle could work again. I was very happy. I had a special sense of accomplishment.

[B]My first car[/B] [I]By TIM SULA [/I]

Do you remember your first car? I got my first car two months ago. As an 18-year-old, I was so excited because having a car makes me feel mature. I had been waiting to have a car since I was a junior in high school. One Saturday morning at home, my dad called me to go to Triple J Motors and to bring my automobile license. As I hurried over to Triple J, thoughts ran through my mind. I wondered, “Why does my dad want me to bring my license?” When I got there, I saw a 2004 Hyundai Tiburon to my surprise. My dad told me to take it home. It was a red sports car. It is economical on gas, because the engine is only 2.0 liters. It is semi-automatic, which means it is both standard and automatic shift. I wish it was only standard shift, but having a semi-automatic is okay, too. This is a great car for me. I did not ask for my first car to be a sports car.

[B]A better future without alcohol[/B] [I]By MAVERICK MARLIK[/I]

Do you drink alcohol? I tried it recently, but I realized it was not good for my health. Many teenagers today drink alcohol, even in junior high and high school. Before you start drinking alcohol, think twice about the consequences. I know some people who died from drinking too much alcohol. When they were alive, these people were called alcoholics. I cannot believe a small island like Saipan imports so much alcohol. For those of you who drink alcohol to impress others, you are wasting your time. Alcohol will kill you. Alcohol is more than just a drink. Alcohol is also addictive; it can cause stomach ulcer. It is a problem to everyone on our island. Health is a major problem in the CNMI. People are dying from alcohol, because they cannot control their drinking.