Politics in Ghana

For a developing country set in the heart of West Africa the citizens of the country are way too involved in the political process.  A president serves 4 years in office per term and each individual can serve a minimum of 2 terms. After 20 years of autocratic rule the citizenry jumped into democratic process with everything they have. From the time of election till the time the next election rolls by, all that concerns the Ghanaian people is politics. Everything is linked to politics, from gas prices to church affairs. The people have their best interest at heart but do the political leaders have the people’s best interest at heart?

Ghana is a multi-party state but there are two main political parties at the helm of affairs, The New Patriotic Party (NPP) and The National Democratic Congress (NDC). With the bulk of votes going to these two main parties and the other parties share a paltry 2% of the votes. Ghana goes to the polls in December 2012 but the struggle for power in 2012 began at the end of the 2008 elections. I believe it is not only in Ghana but every country which allows a candidate to have two terms of office. The problem is that the said candidate who is now the president rather than being concerned about the country’s development starts to plot his second term in office right from the first day he or she is elected in office. Does that mean that a candidate should be given only one shot in office? Definitely not rather any person who is truly interested in serving his nation will do so disregarding how long he gets to spend in office.

Who is to blame for the then is to blame for the bad political scene in Ghana? First and foremost the people are to blame, for being easily swayed by politician who fulfill just one campaign promise and disregards ten thousand others.  Secondly I lay the blame solely at the feet of the media. Turn on your TV or radio and all you are bombarded with are political debates between opposing parties. Nothing new is being reported it is all a power tussle between political parties. It is the duty of the media to provide us with the facts and allow us make our own decisions but how can that happen when the media is politically- biased.

 I believe people should not just pledge their allegiance to one particular party but rather listen to the agendas of these parties and decipher who might have got it right. But that is just my humble opinion. Like it or not politics is going to be around always, you either jump into the game or stay aloof.

Written by: Nadia Koranteng

WSU International Student

Ghana

Holidays of Giving

Every year in most countries February 14^th is a special day. People call it Valentine's Day and they exchange valentines. This is a good day to ask someone out and to show affection. It seems romantic but it could be sad also. So many singles try to find someone and want to receive something but the real world is not like a fairy tale.

Korea also has Valentine’s Day but has a different tradition. Usually on Valentine’s Day, females give chocolate to males. It is strange because usually it is the guy who asks the girl out. Interestingly enough, in Korea girls can show their feelings first. You can’t find any guys who will give her candy or chocolate on Valentine’s Day.

In addition to Valentine’s Day, there is “White Day” which corresponds with it. It is March 14^th. This day guys can give flowers or candy to females. Of course usually girls don’t give anything because they already got the chance to one month before. 

There are many stories about why this day was made. So many people believe that this day was made by marketers who wanted to sell more of their chocolate and candy. It looks hilarious but it still works in Korea. Another example is November 11^th. It is called “Bbae-Bbae-ro Day”. People can exchange a snack called “Bbae-Bbae-ro”. It looks like a bar partially dipped in chocolate. Even people who are not couples can give the snack as a thank you. 

Written by: SeungHoon Song

WSU International Student

South Korea

South Korea's Economy

South Korea might be a small country, but it has a great history and culture. South Korea is a homogeneous society and has over five-thousand years of history. In addition, although South Korea was attacked by surrounding countries during those five-thousand years, it has protected its country and culture. However, today I will talk in terms of South Korea’s economy. These days, Korea is considered one of the strongest economies in the world. South Korea became a member of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and held many major international events including the G20 Summit, and the 1988 Summer Olympics. |

In the past, South Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world fifty years ago. After going through the Korean War, most facilities were desolated. The country was left in ruin. No one expected South Korea’s development to prosper. However,  South Korean people didn’t give up their hope. They cooperated with each other and worked hard as much as they could. Everyone was dreaming of being citizens of a developed country, and their dream came true. For these efforts and desire, South Korea has developed into a powerhouse in a very short time. All of the people were surprised by South Korea’s amazing development. We called it ‘miracle of Han River’ like ‘Rhein River of miracle.’ In addition, a lot of South Korean corporations such as Samsung, LG, and Hyundai have become international household names. At that time,  South Korea was considered one of the four dragons of Eastern Asia along with Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. South Korea became, is still a leader of the Asian economy. 

South Korea did have a hard time in 1998. The economy was getting worse and many kinds of figures such as growth rate and GDP dropped into the negative range. Finally, South Korea asked for help from the International Monetary Fund. Many people lost their jobs and suffered from the recession. However, South Korea showed amazing miracles again, the people united to help their country. Every South Korean collected their gold and donated it to the country to stimulate the economy. They showed a kind of miracle again and made the people ‘Miracles of Han River’ again. South Korea showed a great collective pride and power of union. For these efforts, South Korea was able to recover and bounced back again easily.

Of course, nowadays, South Korea’s economy doesn’t seem to look nice. By developing China’s economy, many kinds of industries will deal a serious blow to South Korea. However, South Korea will endure this situation and find a new breakthrough wisely, like showing an amazing miracle like those of the past.

Written by:  Suk Hyun Jung

WSU International Student

South Korea

  [출처] [06월 22일 수요일]-EBS- 입이 트이는 영어-입트영-내용요약 (컬컴 영어회화 영어 토론(culcom)) |작성자 ikkk

 [출처] [06월 22일 수요일]-EBS- 입이 트이는 영어-입트영-내용요약 (컬컴 영어회화 영어 토론(culcom)) |작성자 ikkk

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The Life of Malaysian Youth

There are many differences between American and Malaysian youth.  One differences about Malaysian youth is the “yumcha” session that we always go for. “Yumcha” is a Cantonese word, by translating it directly it means to drink tea; but what it really stands for is a time to hang out with friends. These “yumcha” sessions occur throughout the day, but mostly at night when most people are free. Most of the restaurants and cafes in Malaysia do not close until past midnight. The most popular place for these hang out sessions will be the Mamak stalls with their Roti Canai and Teh Tarik. Mamak, which refers to Muslim Indian stalls found in Malaysia. Roti Canai is a toasted Indian flat bread and is available with a variety to flavors, such as Roti Banana, Roti Telur (egg), Roti Bom (round shape flat bread with condensed milk and sugar) and more, that comes with curry. Teh Tarik is made of black tea and condensed milk from the pouring process “pulling”. Roti Canai is kind of similar to tortillas, except that it is crispy and flaky on the outside, fluffy and soft inside, larger in serving, and comes in a square or round shape. 

The next option for “yumcha”, or supper session, will be the Nasi Lemak, rice cooked with coconut cream and pandan (a type of fragrant leaf) with sambal (smashed chili paste), fried peanuts and fried ikan bilis (anchovies). On top of that, you have the option to add fried eggs or fried chicken or any other dish to your Nasi Lemak, making it go from delicious to heavenly.  Other than that, there are Taiwanese desert cafes, such as bubble tea or pearl milk tea (flavored tea with chewable black pearl balls) and Snowflake (flavored shaved ice with toppings), that are also really popular with the youth for “yumcha” sessions. And there are also the cafes with singers singing live music which are good choices for a hang out session too. So usually, the youth will have their frequent “yumcha” session with their group of friends at these places chatting, catching up with one another, playing games such as monopoly deal, cracking random jokes, just simply having a great time.

 However, the most distinct difference between Malaysia and the United States is that, youth, that are above the age of 18, are able to drink alcohol in Malaysia! Unlike the United States, where the minimum age to drink is 21, I am able to drink alcohol and go to the bars and clubs in Malaysia. Now that I am in the United States, it is illegal for me to drink alcohol-it's as if I have gone back in time and am 17 again. It's a bit of a culture shock. Other than the partying, and “yumcha” sessions, there is a whole lot more of other Malaysian youth culture yet to be mentioned, such as the games, the dances, and the activities we do. The best way to experience the life of Malaysian youth, is to visit Malaysia, especially Kuala Lumpur!

Written by: Jen Juan Wong

WSU International Student

Malaysia