Oct. 18th 1995

Hope and Dream Jimmy (Yonge Cigar)

It’s almost been 19 years since I immigrated to here with my family.

I was living at around the Chunglyangri station,

Seoul and managed small store before immigrating.

At that time I had some annual events. The first was a memorial

service for lonely souls who nobody visited at the Mangwoori public

cemetery on the harvest festival.

The second was a party for children on every May 5th.

The last was a party for a respect-for-age group.

When we hear about the memorial service,

we usually think it has to be magnificent. However the memorial

service was not magnificent and hard for me. It was easy for me.

I just prepared some alcoholic drinks, fruits, rice cakes, other food

and incense for it. Even if the preparation for it was not important,

I was so pleasured and felt worthwhile after finishing it. At that time

, I wrote some sentence for the memorial service. It was that

“I’m worshiping for lonely souls who nobody visits on the harvest festival.

Please enjoy eating this food without hesitation.” I gave a party for

children’s pleasure even if it took place just once a year.

It took place at plaza of front village assembly hall. 500~600 children

participated in the party every year. Before immigrating, over 800 children

participated in the last party that was 8th party and it was very successful.

At that time every children had fun time with delicious food and various

events. Even many main adults in the society joined at the party.

I was used to be happy and pleasured when I see children’s laugh and

smile and heard resounding singing at that time.

I was sorry to old man after the children’s party,

so that I gave a party for a respect-for-age group. I started visiting to

each real estate agency which was a place old man usually gathered

in Korea with food and drinks. At the first time

, they couldn’t understand me. However when I told them that

“I’m visiting you because I want to gave you a party”,

they were so pleasured and praised me. Finally I realized that my

happiness came from their smile and laughing voice.

These stories won prizes three times on the national essay contest,

Korea. In addition to this, these stories was telecasted on TV and radio.

What a so honorable and pleasurable for me! When I was leaving

Korea with left such honor and worthwhile, I was so sorry and regretted.

However I thought I could find such worthwhile things and do

continuingly in Canada.

Although I have been here so long time with worthwhile,

I gave such parties for children and old man just once. So I had been

regretted and not happy. By chance I participated in Walkerten Event

from 9th to 13th event. When I marched as masked dancer representative

Korean with Korean folk music band on the Bloor St.,

I was so proud and excite because I think this my activity is like to let

everyone know about our unique culture. I think I finally found my lost

hope and have been happy because of the Walkerten Event. Last,

I think the Walkerten Event is a flower for harmony and growth of our

Korean immigrate society and a flower for our nation. I am look

forward and hope that more people and agencies will participate in

this event so this event is going to be larger and more meaningful event

than now in the future.