|
|
| |
|
| Review |
|
 |
Vol.6 Winter 2009
(Page 58) |
|
|
|
< Nonfiction >
It Turns Out, It Was Love |
 By Han Mihwa |
|
|
 |
|
Han Bi-ya’s
Message of
Affirmation
It Turns Out, It Was Love
Han Bi-ya, Prunsoop Publishing Co., Ltd., 2009, 300p
ISBN 978-89-7184-817-3
Han Bi-ya was first a traveler who wrote Daughter of the Wind:
Travels Around the World, which caused a stir in Korean society. Soon after,
she transformed into an activist for the poor and captured readers’ hearts once again
with Marching Off the Map. Now, before leaving Korea to study more and
pursue her latest vision, Han releases her latest book. |
|
It Turns Out, It Was Love is the new
collection of essays by South Korea’s
celebrated travel writer, relief worker, and
refugee advocate. Han Bi-ya is a role model
for many young people in Korea, and
is regularly mentioned as someone they
would most like to meet. Naturally, she has
a large and faithful fan base. After having
read Han’s books, many fervent fans have
gone against their parents’ pressures and
entered the field of social work. Some have
gone on backpacking trips, even following
the same routes that Han had used.
Han’s life and vision continue to
inspire and fascinate readers, but Han
didn’t always lead an adventurous life. She
initially worked at a prestigious global
public relations and communications firm,
but decided to quit when she couldn’t
forget her early dream of globetrotting.
For the next seven years, she explored the
world, especially many isolated regions,
alone and mostly on foot. Her account of
crossing borders and being in dangerous,
yet emotionally stirring situations was
published in her first book Daughter of the Wind: Travels Around the World.
While on her travels, she realized that
refugees were in urgent need of assistance,
and decided to devote her life to helping
refugees as a relief worker. She even learned
Chinese, an immensely useful tool in her
line of relief work, and became the team
leader of World Vision Korea Emergency
Relief in 2001. Her experiences of working
in emergency relief have been published in
her book Marching Off the Map.
Han has always used her books to
plan what she hopes to achieve, and then
pursued these goals with passion. Because
of her infectious enthusiasm and boundless
energy, readers eagerly await her new
publications. This is a great example of the
dynamic interaction between writer and
reader.
In 2009, Han stopped her work with
World Vision and turned her steps to
her next project—studying the theories
concerning humanitarian work and
support. Han’s latest book It Turns Out,It Was Love can be considered as a sort of
respite before she goes on to tackle her next
goal.
Han has clearly demonstrated both
her courage and passion to the world as a
seasoned backpacker and the team leader
of emergency relief in devastated areas.
Recently however, she has shown readers a
slightly different side to her character, for
her latest book is much more personal than
her previous works. But despite the slight
change in tone, she writes energetically and
sincerely as always. Instead of merely sweet
words or cheap sentiment, she never speaks
beyond what her experience has afforded
her. Particularly in this book, Han reaches
out to young people who are struggling to
find meaning or direction in their lives,
saying that she had wanted to address many
of the questions she had been asked by
readers at conferences and on her website.
One example of wise advice she gives,
among many others, is “Knock until
you receive.” By speaking from personal
experience, Han is able to transform this
well-worn phrase into something new.
On her way to a conference in Taiwan, it
looked as though she would miss her flight,
but she didn’t give up. She transferred from
a car to a motorcycle taxi and raced to
the airport. There, she begged the airport
attendant to check her in, managed to stop
the connecting bus that had already started
to leave, and finally managed to board the
plane, and at the conference in Taiwan, she
was able to give a successful presentation.
Han tells us that it is only natural to feel
discouraged at times. However, she urges
us to make one last attempt right when we
are about to give up, because that may be
the moment someone is about to open the
door. Han’s book is full of heartfelt and
encouraging words that seem to come from
an older sibling. It contains all kinds of
practical tips on life, such as how to relieve
fatigue after a long flight, how to write well,
and even how to pray. As always with her
other books, this book, too, is for anyone
who is searching for happiness, passion,
and meaning. |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
| <%@ include file="../include/quick.html"%>
|
| |
