Undergraduate / '...since Facebook is blocked in China' - Chicago Short answer #2 Danza Kuduro! [3]

I tried to make mine a bit different from a typical answer.
Share with us a few of your favorite books, poems, authors, films, plays, pieces of music, musicians, performers, paintings, artists, blogs, magazines, or newspapers. Feel free to touch on one, some, or all of the categories listed, or add a category of your own.

For me, songs are like mementos; they preserve the special, valuable moments of my life that I will never forget.

Las manos arriba, cintura sola
Da media vuelta, danza kuduro!

"RENO! DANZA KUDURO IS ON GET READY!" my friend shouted out as I walked out of the bathroom.

Oi oi oi, oi oi oi
E para quebrar kuduro, vamos dancar kuduro

"Everyone! The Tecktonik master is coming!" she shouted again.

I did not know this was happening. We were playing basketball during PE class and I had to use the bathroom few minutes ago. I did not know what to do. My classmates were clapping and shouting out my name. They all had cheerful smiles on their faces as they waited for me to come on the gym court.

"Come on Reno! I know you do techtonik!" she said again.
"Reno! Reno! Reno! Reno!" my friends started to shout.

I never danced before. I just liked to watch videos of people doing Tecktonik. However, it was too late to turn back. My friends were excited and happy. I never saw them so happy before during the terrifying PE class. I did not want to let them down. So I sprinted to the center of the gym and started whirling my arms and bouncing my legs like the people I saw on Youtube.

My cheeks turned red and my heart started to pump faster. What will they think of me now? A crazy Korean who twirls his arms and head without knowing what he is doing?

After a minute of reckless head movement, everything in my vision started to twirl around and made me lose balance. My friend ran towards me and gave me her hand.

"Man, I loved it!" she said, "I didn't know you dance!"

All my friends came and gave me a high five. They all had bright smiles on their faces that remain vividly in my memories. Unfortunately, I cannot contact them since Facebook is blocked in China. However, when I want to meet them again, I turn Danza Kuduro on my laptop and recall them from my memories.

Undergraduate / My testing scores and achievements - why Uchicago? [6]

Question 1 - How does the University of Chicago, as you know it now, satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future? Please address with some speci-city your own wishes and how they relate to UChicago.

To be honest, because I have recently received permission from my parents to apply to American universities, I could not conduct deep researches on schools as I had to spend most of my time working on my weakest aspect as an applicant: my SAT scores. So I mainly depended on the emails from Universities to gather information. However, from the periodical emails, I was able to receive ample information about University of Chicago to figure out that this school is the one that I would love to attend.

Firstly, I cannot deny that my testing scores and achievements are not as great as other applicants'. However, that does not mean I am not as competent as other applicants. Because there were no extensive academic support and not many opportunities to pursue my interests, I have always studied on my own to learn about the subjects of my interest and managed to pull myself up to this level. That is why at UChicago, I will fruitfully use my first year to learn from the Core curriculum. I appreciate how the Core allows everyone to get similar sets of knowledge regardless of their previous knowledge they gained in their past education. Therefore I believe that with the similar sets of condition provided by the Core curriculum, I will fully engage myself with the high volume of work as I have always wished to do so in the past. That is why I will enjoy working with the Core to prepare fully for my economics major.

Secondly, I have spent my entire high school years in small schools with approximately ten students per grade. As a result, I have met limited number of friends and personalities in schools. I have always wanted to spend my four years in university with numerous people, so I can meet diverse people to learn their culture and perspectives, and even share my perspective of living around with them. That is why I love the House System of University of Chicago. By getting assigned to a house, I can belong in a group of sixty people whom will become my source of motivation, relaxation, and mentorship. I will enthusiastically participate in the enormous cook-off - Grillpcalypse, and team sports to relieve my stress and build friendship and bond with my house mates.

I believe I will make out the best during my four years at University of Chicago.

Undergraduate / I visited Tunis to meet my father ; Princeton/ Summer [3]

I don't know whether this is the right way of answering the "write about your summer" prompt. Any suggestions?

After finishing my sophomore year in Turkey, I've visited Tunis to meet my father who had to stay in Tunisia to complete his tour of duty. Because I've seen the ramifications of war in Libya, I expected Tunis to be somewhat similar to Tripoli.

Surprisingly, Tunisia was very different from Libya. I saw no riots or violence. Streets were bustling with tourists and citizens of Tunis, and men were at bars smoking shisha while drinking their traditional mint tea; however, the remnants of the Arab Spring were evident. Tanks and armored cars were parked near government buildings on the main streets. People did not dare move close to the armed forces, as if the police had warned that anyone who came closer than few meters would be arrested and restrained.

After visiting my father in Tunis, my mother, sister, and I visited Carthage. I've always fantasized about Carthage ever since I learned about the development of the Mediterranean civilizations. Despite the unfair treaties made with Rome after the Punic Wars, Carthage was still able to hold off the Romans for a long time. During my research on Carthage, I came across a hypothesis that stated that the Carthaginians had great technological advances in irrigation, allowing them prevent the desertification of the Sahara regionn. As a result, I've admired the hardy yet wise nature of these people. It was an honor to stand in the homeland of the Carthaginians and see the vast, blue Mediterranean Sea.

When I came back, I spent most of my time studying for Korean universities. I studied math and Korean based on the Korean curriculum. Despite all the time studying, I went to the gym for two hours a day to build stamina and strength for a new season of sports.

My father was transferred to Qingdao, China at the end of July. After living with my mother for five months in Turkey, I was able to live with my father as well in Qingdao.

Contrary to the energizing summer of 2011, I focused on academics during this summer. This January, my father finally approved of my plan to study at a university in the States. Therefore, I had to redirect my efforts and change my focus from the Korean curriculum to devote my summer to prepare for universities in the States.

Undergraduate / MY BAG - Stanford Supplement/What matters to you? [3]

Hey guys, I would really appreciate it if you could help me. I will promise to look at yours

I have a bag that I have used for almost four years. My parents gave it to me as a present for becoming a legitimate freshmen in Trinidad and Tobago. I was happy because my old Nike bag was torn apart by the sharp corners of textbooks that continuously rubbed against the bag.

I still remember the first day I packed my new bag with school materials. The new yet stiff bag seemed to hold extra textbooks and two more notebooks that I used to carry with my hands. I was so happy. To me, having more books in the bag meant heavier load, but it gave me an impression that I finally became old enough to pursue a higher degree in academics. With the high expectations of high school and the new challenge I would face, I enthusiastically walked to school wearing this bag.

But time passed. I moved to Libya, stayed there for a year, and evacuated to Turkey. I had to live with my mother since my dad had to stay in Libya. Because of my dad's absence, my mother and I had trouble adapting to the new environment. Also, my new school's classes were much more challenging compared to the one in Libya. It had more course work and competition. So with the increased competition and all the trouble (adapting), I started to get frustrated with school. So one day, when I came home after school, I threw my bag on my bed, sat down on my seat, and opened my laptop to play games. However, I felt uncomfortable. I did not know why. In an attempt to find the cause, I looked around, and my eyes stopped at the bag.

I suddenly remembered my first day with the bag in Trinidad: walking to school eagerly and enthusiastically, yearning to learn new ideas and concepts. Since that day, I have grown both physically and mentally, but my attitude towards learning did not. To me, the bag symbolized my passion for academics. Throwing my bag meant that I mistreated and abandoned academics. I felt horrible. That is when I thought I should return to my old self and start fresh with the feelings and expectations towards learning. Since then, I have taken my bag everywhere to remind myself. Eventually, I overcame my stress and started to focus on studying. I thank my bag all the time. Without it, I would not be where I am right now. I hope it guides me in college.

Undergraduate / "Chiney"; Stanford Supplement - what matters to you [3]

3. What matters to you, and why?
"Jesus Christ!" I shouted as my opponent tackled me down. "What was that for?"
"Shut up. You don't belong here hoss," he replied, "soccer ain't for tiny Chineys like you!" He squinted his eyes with his fingers as he walked away.

My teammates have called me Chiney ever since I arrived just because I was the only Asian on the team. I told them I am Korean, but that did not help. In fact, my schoolmates started to call me Chiney and made jokes out of my eyes and body size. The walk to classrooms was always walk of shame as I had people pointing their fingers at me, making comments about Asian characteristics. I even considered transferring to another school because I had been living in Trinidad for three months with my situation not improving. I was worried that this segregation would exist until I graduated. But, I thought that I should not be passive on their attitudes. Nationality and my ethnicity is definitely a characteristic of mine, and if I let others make fun of that shit, that is basically insulting me. Also, letting others make fun of my nationality is letting them make fun of Korea. So I decided to fight back, but by gaining their respect.

So I started to work out. I started from ten pushups and fifty situps to two hundred pushups to three hundred sit ups. Eventually, my shoulders got broad and I became much stronger than before. As a result, I began to push back the tackles of my teammates and maintained my balance in the game. Eventually, I became bigger than half of the members, making them stop making fun of my physical size. Eventually, I made the team and became the starting member. I gained their respect and eventually made them stop with the racist comments. And that is when I learned racial segregation can be toppled down. Until the day everyone remembers me as a Korean, I will strive.

Hey guys, don't mind the grammar I just tried to put in the content.
Do you think the content is ok and i answer the prompt?

Undergraduate / Leslie Chow; Letter to Roomate - Harvard Supplement [4]

Hey guys, could you comment on whether you could kind of understand who I am from this essay? Other feedback are welcome too!

Dear Future Roommate,

Hey! My name is Student, and I am from South Korea. Don't worry about the pronunciation. You can call me Reno, like the city in Nevada. You know, Reno 911 (it was my nickname since long ago.) Quite a unique (maybe funny) name right? I'll tell you more about it once I see you in the dorm.

Anyway to begin, I will tell you some aspects of me.

Firstly, I know that there are aspects of Korean culture that many people from other cultures don't understand, such as men holding hands or touching each other, even in private places. Don't worry. I won't be the typical Korean you know of. Yeah, there are some Confucian influences in me, like respecting my parents and the elders, but I have lived most of my life abroad and spent my childhood and teenage years with international friends.

Secondly, I was born on the 23rd of September. Guess what horoscope I have? I have two, Virgo and Libra (this is a bit controversial). According to some sites, Virgo ends on the 23rd of September, but according to other, Libra starts on the 23rd of September. That is why I started to believe that I have two horoscopres. You know, the more the better.

Thirdly, I have a black belt in Taekwondo. My master wanted me to participate in a national competition, but my parents declined since they wanted me to pursue academics rather than sports - not to downplay my love for learning. I always thought it a mistake not to persuade my parents, but it's in the past. But I still exercise and practice martial arts on my time. That is why if you cannot find me in the dorm, I will probably be at the gym working out or playing sports outside. I hope you love sports as well. Then we could perhaps try out for the intramural sports together. Also, FIFA World Cup is coming up soon. I am really excited about it since I can finally watch the matches in daytime instead of staying up until three in the night to watch the breathtaking matches. I really really hope that you have interest in sports as I do, especially in soccer. But if not, I am sure we can find something in common, such as volleyball or basketball.

Thirdly, I love chicken. If I had a choice between a bucket of fried chicken and $1,000, I would take the $1,000 and buy ten buckets of fried chicken. I can eat chicken for every meal, for every day. I just love chicken.

Fourthly, I guess when you hear

Lastly, I love being with friends. Oh yea, there are times when I really want to be alone, but that is about two days per year. I think I cannot live without people, from friends to families. If you are done with all your work, we could go out for dinner or take other friends to dinner. I think it would be awesome. That is why I believe that roommates should get along. As roommates, we have to see each other 24/7. If there is trouble or awkwardness between us, our days in college would not be as good as they should be. So if you have any pet peeves, please let me. I will try to avoid them as much as I can.

Talking about pet peeves, I will tell you some of mine.
1) messy rooms
2) listening to music while I am studying
3) using my things without asking (this can actually be okay when we get close enough)

By the way, I hope you like Leslie Chow from The Hangover. I can impersonate him pretty well. My friends in Turkey used to call me Leslie and asked me if I could copy Leslie's voice. I plan to dress up like Leslie on Halloween this year. I would love it if you could be Leslie's bodyguard ;)

Thanks! See you soon!

PS. Trust me future-my-man. When you need help, call me. I will be there for you.