Anni, 아니

an anti-capitalismic life

'Eat like a bird, go to bed early, work out, never stop learning, meet good people, think new creative things, let's find out the best pleasure as much as I can every single day. Wear simply, get along with honest friends who are good match with me. Read books for your abundant mentality, make great environment, let's practice a common sense.'

                                                                                         -L'art De La Simplicite by Dominique Loreau

I love to read all of the books on your list. Do you think you can carry three books altogether? I have no problem read them all. 

I'm into nutrition recently. So in my list, It's all about foods and health. 

- Power foods for the brain by Neal Barnard.

- Starch by John A.McDougall

- How not to die by Michael Greger

I already got two books among three in my hand. I first chose to read 'Power foods for the brain'. This book is talking about how crucially foods influence to our brain work. There are scientific evidences that show us that veganism can ruduce complex diseases in our modern-industry society. Interesting.  

 

 I'm excited for you to come here! I can keep this job till you come to Calgary. Then I'd like to spend time travelling around Calgary with you.

 The only thing that makes me feel uncomfortable is about my boyfriend. He would also like to travel with us, but probably he couldn't. He will apply to another work visa soon and then he can't have off for a while.

 I really feel sorry to him. He said it's getting boring to work in his workplace. I said him to quit it if he doesn't like it. 

'It's okay. Just sometimes I feel boring. I'd like to get a permanent residency anyway.'   

 I became skeptical to get an PR. I don't want for him alone to sacrify himself for us. 

When I said sorry to him about his working much more than I do, he shook his head and said he felt bad that I'm working as what I didn't want to be. He reassured me that he can take care of me. He said he feels happy when I spend time doing what I like to do.

I also want him to spend his time doing  what he enjoys to do. 

Yes, Anni. I have something in my mind and wanna share with you.

I met Anna and Justine again since I needed to get back her book she'd lended me before. We had bubble tea at this time. 

Justine brought a book looked like talking about the way to financially success in a business. I asked him why he's reading that. He said they were gonna do some online-business, so he was super interested in business subject.

I asked them if they'd like to make fortunes with the business. 

'Why not?'  

Anna asked me if I also wanted to be rich. 

'Oftenly money can change our personality. I don't think I can control my greed with lots of money. The more I make money, the more I will be anxious to make more money.  As focusing on that, I think I'll easily forget when I naturally feel happy. I'm okay with not being rich.'

Justine denied it saying that he met lots of wealthy people who have good personality and control very well their fortune. He said we shouldn't conclude that money makes people ugly. It's our choice to stay good or be changed badly. And he added that he and Anna will use money just as a tool for their freedom. They don't want to think only about making money while they make money. 

When I joined a book club in my country, I once talked about money with the members of that book club. The book we talked that day was a korean novel called 'Salt'; about an old guy whose life was dominated as husband and four children's father oppressed with making money and never have chance to live as himself, finally disappearing from his reality.

'I just hate money!' I emotionally mentioned about someone's question what I'm thinking about money. After my comment, a guy who sat just on the other side said something that I haven't forgotten ever. 'Money is not good or bad thing. Money is just money, which we don't need to put any emotions.'

 I agree that people are not always gonna be more greedy when they become rich. I might be biased. When I shouted that I hated money, I was 21 years old. It turned out the thing I really got sick of is not money, but 'Capitalism'. 

 My parents worked hard for bringing me up. I was only child and they did their best to give me the best environment to study. 

'My daughter, you be free, which I never felt in my life. For being free under our society, you should be the strong and smart person. Study hard. It's the only way you can survive here.'

Whenever he was drunken, it was a his regular repatory. In my eyes, he looked lonely and desperate.

My parents spent almost a thousand dollar per month for my education from middle school to high school. It would sound ridiculous for you Anni, but it's the harmful effect of our education system in South Korea. I believe that the root of evil education system came from Capitalism. Still most of parents in my country spend enormous money for their childrens' education, believing that it's the only way for their children to be successful and live better life than they did in brutal society. 

I'm so so sorry to my mom and dad about leaving them, giving too much disappointment. I feel bad that I can't save my father's sacrified life. 

Yes Anni, now I understand my emotionally negative action towards money. It's from my background. I'm the witness of my parents to sacrifice themselves putting their effort to make more money than yesterday for only child. They are victim of capitalism and I know there are thousands of thousands victim parents in my country. 

Also Anni, We are the witness of this world where the rich monopolize every opportunity to keep their dignity high while the poor are excluded from their basic human right. Some people makes money easily through stock and real estate business and some people who live in the developing country makes 2 or 3 dollars a day working whole day in inhumane condition. We should divert our focus from making one side profit to living together, reducing this unfair gap. 

Empty prestigious life with making vulgar profit.  

When justine said that he's just gonna use money as tool for his freedom, I wonder 

1) with which way we can use money as a tool, without being manipulated by money, 

2) how much money can guarantee us freedom, and

3) what freedom come from money.  

I've told you a lot about my English teacher, Felicity. She is not only language teacher but life teacher for me.  Her dream is to live a sustainable life. She is building an eco-house with her husband now in France(But, she's from England). She and her husband studied how to build an eco-house when they were in Enlgland and kept studying.  They're really carrying out with thier hands and before long they will encounter their output. They are living in campervan temporarily before their fantastic house is ready for inviting them. Actually they'd saved that campervan which somebody was about to throw away. She showed me what it looked like and I added one more on my bucket list; to live in campervan for 6 months! It's far from luxuriou house, but full of liveness. I'm sure it would be unforgettable momory to live and travel with campervan.   

She said she has another plan to make a farm around her eco-house, so tourist can come and experience farm job. It is an eye-opener to listen to her plan. I think she can make money with the farm while she is doing the most natural thing for her. 

She has various job; English teacher, yoga trainer, mountain trainer, and soon farm manager. She said she loves to meet people from all over the world especially trying to learn new language. She's into yoga and does yoga every morning. She can spend her holiday with wonderful scenery working as a mountain trainer. She is a vegan, so interested in growing vegetables.

Of course everything wouldn't that simple and she would endure lots of hardship for living a life like she wants to. But she is trying hard and enjoyably to live that life. I love her attitude and I admire the way she decorates her life. She knows what she wants to do and finds her own unique way to follow that. She needs money like everyone need but it' not her priority. She connects her interests very well and as a result she makes a living creatively.

Kyle, the other my italki English teacher said he doesn't want to follow money. He studied Anthropology in University and loves travelling. He's lived in Peru for one and half year to learn spanish. 

'I also don't like to live under capitalism, but we need to find our way to live in here. You can come up with an idea you'd like to do to make money just as much as you're okay. '

Have you heard about Kombucha, Anni? Kombucha is a fermented tea originally from ancient china but very popular in Europe and America. Kyle noticed that Peruvian doesn't have experience to taste this healthy tea. He's making Kombucha by himself in house and He's going to supply that to the cafe around his place in Peru. He wasn't sure who's goona buy that but he looked excited and proud of it. 

1) with which way we can use money as a tool, without being manipulated by money

Money can appear with various look. Humongous house, fancy car, sparkling gems and watch, clothing, etc. If I forget who I am and fill emptyness of my ego with these material, or if I'm just addictd to feel superiority armed with material, then money can't be a tool. Money become the owner of my soul and I become servant of money. For preventing this consequence... what should we do Anni? 

   

2) how much money can guarantee us freedom 

Do you think money can guarantee us freedom? You said freedom is to decide what you want to be as a human in this weird and beautiful planet . And none of my freedom can be guaranteed by money. How about you? Have you told me about your freedom? 

3) what freedom come from money.  

Okay, I need money for buying food I'd like to eat. It's expensive to buy purple grape in here and a week ago I was dying to eat that. I bought it and it costed 6 dollars for handful amount!! I was so angry about terribly expensive price. But unfortunately 2 days ago, I was again dying to eat purple grape(not green). I went to supermarket with my boyfriend and found the promotion sign of purple grape! I grap a bag of purple grape but I felt like it's quite heavy, so I lessen a little bit. It was just 2 dollars for handful amount this time and I was full of euphoria tasting that sweet-fresh grape. You know Anni, I'm easy girl who can be full with happiness from handful purple grape. And I believe if we feel happy easily, the luck like the promotion sigh of purple grape will come to us when we are thirsty.  

Another. I need money for traveling where I'd like to go. I'd like to travel America, South America, Europe, and Africa! Yes, all over the world. Definitely I would need money for going all places. Definitely I couldn't make it right now since I don't have enough money for trips. But I'm planning my trip and I really can travel one after another. It's gonnna take my whole life to travel all this planet as long as I'm alive and It's not important how fast I look around this planet. It's all precious time that I'm working for my trip, I'm planning to my trip, even just I'm thinking about it. I'm happy to sleep in the car or tent on the road. I'm okay to skip lunch if out budget is tight. Freedom defind by me is not from money. 

Anna said she wants to help single mom in the future with thier successful business. I didn't ask her if she helps them now. But Anni, now I realised that if she really wants to help them, why not doing that now?

I said to her I felt sorry when I didn't give coins to homeless. I spend 5 dollars pleasantly for a cup of my coffee and I never give 5 dollars to homeless. Wow. how easy we are pretending to be nice person; 'Oh, dear, I am the one who wants to help others gladly. Please recognize my kindness. But I'm not sure when it's gonna 'really' happen to help them.'

It became a long letter. I need to think about more about 'money issues'. 

I'll live an anti-capitalismic life with creativity under capitalism. But it should be more specific.

Hey my honest friend who are good match with me, Let's read books for our abundant mentality. You can choose among your list, I'll be glad whatever it is.

I've seen the Banff video you sent to me. I can't wait to meet you and travel soon.

I'll stay here(philosophy cafe) for a while and jump into yoga class! 

Thanks Anni.