Listing friends as spouses and relatives on Facebook ??

                 I started using Facebook very recently just after starting my freshman year at KMLA. I made my profiles by stating my personal information including my hometown, school, and birthday. While creating my profile, I saw many blank spaces where I could put in a lot more specific information. I could list my family members, marriage or dating status and more particularly, my political and religious opinions. I left the marriage or dating status empty and rather put my two sisters as family members. I thought that this would be the same for every KMLA student, just typing their family members’ name and leaving others empty. However as I used Facebook more for contacting my friends, I found some of the people in my friend list added their friends’ name in spouses or relatives space. It was kind of bizarre that they add their friends’ name even though they were not real relatives or spouses.

I started to think about Facebook itself before I further contemplate about that particular function. Facebook has provided a global connectivity which is very unique in our times. As long as I can add anyone in my friends list, I can just send messages no matter where they live. Especially, the function of Newsfeed enables me to share life with anyone. Even when I am not with my friends, I feel as if I am still talking to them because I can write comments like a conversation on many photos, videos, and statuses they post. At the same time, I can see how they are doing. I concluded that Facebook has become its own virtual world to billions of people who use it.

                 However this virtual world focuses more on people I am surrounded by in the society rather than family at home. Facebook is not mainly designed to share stories with family. I believe it is designed to communicate with friends continuously and people use Facebook to cultivate social relationships outside of my family. Therefore, people are listing their best friends as spouses or relatives because they are considered more important in the social circles of Facebook, in other words, the role of family is weakened in Facebook. My parents don’t use facebook because it is not popular among their generation, and noticeably I contact more with my social circle of friends than my two sisters.                    

From another view, for KMLA students who do that, I think it attributes to the special environment we have in KMLA. It has only been four or five months since we entered KMLA, but here, about 400 students eat, sleep, and study together in a same place. We face the same people every day. Indeed, for this year, students have spent more time living with other students than with their family. This is the reason we often say KMLA family. I have not found friends that I feel as close as my family but for others who did, I think by marking them as family, they would feel a closer relationship because it also means that they consider and care about them like family. It is also partly for entertainment purposes. Furthermore, whereas I felt somewhat lonely when I left those spaces empty, they instead put their friends so that they feel content as if they have spouses.

I will continue to live with my KMLA family until I graduate, and the friendship that I have with them will become deeper. I would accumulate many valuable experiences and memories with them and maybe after two years, I may consider them as close as I do with my family. 

                 

Minjok and Patriotism

Minjok and Patriotism

The difference between patriotism and nationalism is that the patriot is proud of his country for what it does, and the nationalist is proud of his country no matter what it does; the first attitude creates a feeling of responsibility, but the second a feeling of blind arrogance that leads to war. — Sydney J. Harris

Patriotism is proud of a country’s virtues and eager to correct its deficiencies; it also acknowledges the legitimate patriotism of other countries, with their own specific virtues. The pride of nationalism, however, trumpets its country’s virtues and denies its deficiencies, while it is contemptuous toward the virtues of other countries. It wants to be, and proclaims itself to be, “the greatest,” but greatness is not required of a country; only goodness is. — Sydney J. Harris

           Among Koreans, there lies a concept of ‘minjok’ both on a conscious and subconscious level. On a conscious level, it is seen during a national soccer game. The whole country passionately cheers the national team as one team.  

Subconsciously, when I hear about someone Korean who achieved something great on international stage or even see foreigners choose Samsung Galaxy over Apple’s iPhone, I feel proud.  

           According to online Naver dictionary, the word ‘minjok’ is defined as, “a social group shaped historically on the basis of a common language and culture in the same community and region. It is not equal to race or national citizens.”

(http://krdic.naver.com/search.nhn?kind=all&scBtn=true&query=%EB%AF%BC%EC%A1%B1)

           The idea of a single ‘minjok’ originates from Korea’s foundation legends and continued throughout Korea’s history. It evolved from the feeling of congruity among people within a community before the creation of the nation. It is a core idea in the narrative arguing that a single tribal ancestry was able to thrive without the “mixing” of other groups. Indeed, after the establishment of distinct dynasties in the middle ages, cross migration was not as active as in other continents, partly due to the rich lands for agriculture and settling. In the case of people of other Asian peoples coming to Korea throughout history, there can be a number of hypotheses: 1. They were able to be a part of the society and assimilate into Korea’s culture or 2. Korea did not offer them the life they wished for.

           As a peninsula, Korea was exposed to attack of other countries for centuries. Korea suffered through many invasions from foreign powers, including several dynasties in China, the Khitan, and Mongolians. While resisting against the Mongolians, nationalism was aroused in an attempt to bolster soldiers’ mental strength and defend the country. There was a major movement to form a voluntary army that was majorly comprised of ordinary civilians who wanted to protect their kinsmen. This type of military rather than a national military protected the nation throughout Korea’s history.

           Another era of nationalism in the form of ‘minjok’ culminated during the Japanese occupation from 1910 to 1945. Korea lost its sovereign rights to make policies and decisions, and most importantly, as colonization progressed, the Japanese sought to eradicate Korean culture and even prohibited the use of the Korean language, the worship of Korean religion and even the use of Korean names. The heroes of the independence movement such as Kim Goo and Yoo Gwansoon represent this nationalist narrative. Such a colonial legacy created a strong sense of nationalism still seen in history and land disputes.

           In the West, different forms of nationalism developed throughout the centuries such as Romantic Nationalism that swept all of Europe in the eighteenth century and resulted in the shift of sovereign rights to citizens rather than an imperial power. Many of these disputes and revolutions were among people of different socio-economic status and not national difference.

Vive La France!

           Among strong powers, traditional western ideologies such as liberalism, conservatism, communism, socialism, and fascism were used to empower communities, but often either within a country, as seen in the political split in the United States, or groups of countries like during the Cold War. Korea’s colonial legacy arguably has the most impact on the Korean people today, and thus Korea’s nationalism becomes understandable.

           Today, ‘minjok’ calls out to Koreans for a love of their country and a willingness to cooperate and help each other like family. However, from an outsider’s perspective, ‘minjok’ could appear to be an ideological means for homogenization and alienation, and as history shows, nationalism that is too radical can result in human rights violation and even genocide.

           In terms of globalization, there is also criticism that Korea’s insistence on ‘minjok’ can be a big obstacle. In “The Paradox of Korean Globalization,” scholar Gi-Wook Shin writes that both proponents and critics of nationalism agree it is antithetical to globalization. According to the dictionary, ‘minjok’ translates to nationalism. Will Korea’s nationalism survive the 21st century and should it? Before answering this question, it is important to think about the nature of nationalism in Korea and how it is changing towards patriotism. Considering the various aspects of globalization and its relation to modernization, which is mostly Eurocentric narrative, I believe Korea’s nationalism was an inevitable post-colonial response. In this time of transnationalism, Korea’s love for its tradition and way of life in the form of patriotism is valuable.

           Shin argues that Korea’s globalization serves its nationalist agenda, but uses quantitative data in his paper from government surveys before the year 2000 to make his case. Korea is now a part of the transnational community where government no longer has control over all interaction of people, ideas, and money. We now have YouTube and Facebook to share ideas every second without any barrier. People travel to different continents to study, work, travel and even volunteer. In Korea, we can see many foreigners who live among Koreans and even speak Korean very well. A well-known example is Sam Hamington from New Zealand, who is a comedian on the popular reality TV show of experiencing the Korean military with similar reaction like any new soldier.

           There are many multicultural families that combine both Korean and foreign ways. There will be prejudice for unfamiliar things, but with time, there is hope. In countries like the United States, multiculturalism is at least hundred years old. I believe Korea is moving quickly from nationalism to patriotism, but it should be a patriotism of compassion as argued in this blog post from The Berkeley Blog. It reads, “Just as strong attachment to parents can serve as a template for healthy relationships throughout life, so secure attachment to one’s nation can give us the confidence to respect other people’s countries.”

http://blogs.berkeley.edu/2013/07/02/can-patriotism-be-compassionate/

           We are still proud of our ways, but also have open mind and value the difference brought by others. This is a challenge, not only to Korea, but all countries in the global community especially the leaders. I would like to contribute to this hopeful future by studying these ideas more deeply in history and in life.

Wordsmart exam prep M

Machination: (mak uh NAY shun) n. scheming activity for evil purpose

The North Korean spies confessed that they were carrying on machinations attempting to kill the president.

Magnanimous: adj. forgiving; unresentful; noble in spirit; generous

My magnanimous father always gave me a chance first to correct my wrongdoing on my own.

In the movie Les Miserables, Jean Val Jean is magnanimous in that he forgave the man who hunted him down.

Magnate: n. a rich, powerful, or very successful businessperson.

I want to become a magnate when I grow up so that I can buy anything I want.

Malaise: n. a feeling of depression, uneasiness, or queasiness

When I told people that I’ll be taking AP physics C, they all said I will feel malaise from the first day of the class.

Malfeasance (mal FEE zuns) n. an illegal act, especially by a public official

The president’s addiction to drugs was a shocking malfeasance.

Malignant: adj. causing harm

The doctor discovered malignant tumors and warned that the patient needed surgery as soon as possible.

Malinger (muh LING ger) v. to pretend to be sick to avoid doing work

John malingered when he didn’t want to do something, but for things he enjoyed, he gladly devoted his efforts.

Malleable: adj. easy to shape or bend

The robot was made from malleable materials which allowed it to move flexibly.

Mandate: n. a command or authorization to do something; the will of the voters as expressed by the results of an election

An abusive mandate can cause a country to founder in a short period of time.

Manifest: adj. visible; evident

It was manifest that he was infected by the zombie virus; his red eyes and blue skin made it sure.

Manifesto: n. a public declaration of beliefs or principles, usually political ones

Martin Luther King Jr. gave a manifesto declaring that all men should be treated equal regardless of race.

Marshal: v. to arrange in order; to gather together for the purpose of doing something

All the students marshal in the gym every Monday morning to mark the start of the week.

Martial: adj. warlike; having to do with combat

Martial arts, such as Kendo and Taekwondo are useful in self-defense.

Martyr (MAHR tur): n. someone who gives up his or her life in pursuit of a cause, especially a religious one; one who suffers for a cause; one who makes a show of suffering in order to arouse sympathy

He was a martyr in saving a boy from an incoming subway which caused him to lose his leg.

Matriculate: v. to enroll, especially at a college

Schools like Harvard, MIT and Yale only matriculate less than 5% of the total applicants every year.

Maudlin (MAWD lin) adj. silly and overly sentimental

I grew maudlin as its smell reminded me of my childhood.

Maverick n. a noncomformist; a rebel    

John was a maverick in that he stood against the injustice of the school board.

Maxim n. a fundamental principle; an old saying

In accordance with the maxim, “No pain, no gain,” John believed that he could endure the pain of his leg throughout the trip.

Mediate v. to help settle differences

An important role of the United Nations is to mediate peaceful resolutions between conflicting countries.

Mellifluous (muh LIF loo us) adj. sweetly flowing

The mellifluous songs by Oasis always brightened my spirits.

Mendacious: adj. lying; dishonest

His mendacious ways made him lose credibility of his friends.

Mendicant: n. beggar

I gave a mendicant a handful of coins from my pocket.

Mentor: n. a teacher, tutor, counselor, or coach; especially in business, an experienced person who shows an inexperienced person the ropes

My mentor, Mr. Kim, helped me choose the best course load for the new semester.

Mercenary: n. a hired soldier; someone who will do anything for money

After returning from Afghanistan, Jake became a mercenary for a security company in the Middle East.

Mercurial: adj. emotionally unpredictable; rapidly changing in mood

It seemed impossible to make my girlfriend happy due to her mercurial mood.

Metamorphosis (met uh MOR fuh sis) n. a magical change in form; a striking or sudden change

After the magician mumbled some words, the woman underwent a metamorphosis and turned into a dove.

Soon after she was bitten by a zombie, her metamorphosis began.

Wordsmart exam prep J,K,L

Judicious: adj. exercising sound judgment

I judiciously used the gas containers nearby to cause an explosion in an attempt to kill thousands of zombies at once.

Juxtapose: v. to place side by side

By juxtaposing the before and after pictures of a woman in its advertisement, the hospital clearly showed how plastic surgery can bring you a new life.

Kinetic: adj. having to do with motion; lively; active

She had a kinetic personality in that she was always lively and full of energy.

Labyrinth (LAB uh rinth): n. a maze; something like a maze      

The inside of the palace was a labyrinth; there was only one bathroom among a hundred rooms.

Laconic: adj. using few words; especially to the point of seeming rude

The student, who spoke in a laconic way to his teacher, ended up going to the principal’s office.

Lament (luh MENT): v. to mourn

She lamented over the loss of her dog.

Lampoon (lam POON) v. to satirize; to mock; to parody

They lampooned the teacher’s weird voice by imitating it when answering his question.

Languish: v. to become weak, listless, or depressed

As the cancer spread out to other organs, he was noticeably becoming more languished.

Largess: (lahr JES) n generous giving of gifts (or the gifts themselves); generosity; philanthropy

The largess of his sister greatly contributed to his success.

Latent (LAYT unt): adj. present but not visible or apparent; potential

A heavy rock is latent in its capability of hurting people.

Laud (lawd): v. to praise; to applaud; to extol; to celebrate

Everyone lauded the soldier who rescued the little girl from a myriad of zombies.

Legacy: n. something handed down from the past; a bequest

The legacy of the tribe was carried on by the strong will of its people.

Lethargy (LETH ur jee): n. sluggishness; laziness; drowsiness; indifference

He got kicked out of the basketball team for his lethargy.  

Levity: n lightness; frivolity; unseriousness

The levity of the people’s attitude in the conference made it difficult to come up with an effective solution.

Libel: n. a written or published falsehood that injures the reputation of, or defames, someone

The newspaper’s libel of the CEO seriously affected the stock of the company.

Litigate: v. to try in court; to engage in legal proceedings

Although I apologized several times, she strongly wanted to litigate.

Loquacious: adj. talking a lot or too much

Monica was so loquacious that she never closed her mouth once she opened it.

Lucid: adj. clear; easy to understand

His lucid explanation engendered a lively class environment without any students sleeping.  

Lugubrious: adj. exaggeratedly mournful

Alex’s lugubrious acting distracted the audience from concentrating on the play.

Luminous: adj. giving off light; glowing; bright

The fireflies near the riverside were luminous; they glowed beautifully.

wordsmart exam prep I

Wordsmart I-M

Iconoclast (eye KAHN uh klast) n one who attacks popular beliefs or

institutions

Einstein was a scientific iconoclast whose ideas disproved the

established theories of many eminent physicists and changed the course

of science.

Ideology n a system of social or political ideas

The Korean War was the result of two conflicting ideologies that

divided the nation.

Idiosyncrasy: n. a peculiarity; an eccentricity

One of Mr. Tame’s idiosyncrasies is his fascination of zombies.

Idyllic: adj. charming in a rustic way; naturally peaceful

My parents’ goal was idyllic; they wanted to live in the countryside

after their retirement.

Ignominy: (IG nuh min ee): n deep disgrace →disgrace: shame

John looked to the floor in ignominy after being confronted about his

cheating on the exam.

Illicit: (I LIS it) adj. illegal; not permitted

The mafia engages in numerous illicit businesses under the police’s radar.

Immigrate: v to move permanently to a new country

She immigrated to the UK after marrying an Englishman.

Imminent: adj just about to happen

I had a strange feeling that something terrible was imminent; then,

the storm hit.

Immutable: adj. unchangeable

The school policies were immutable; the administration did not value

the opinions of their students.

Impartial: adj. fair, not favoring one side or the other; unbiased

Zombies are impartial; they do not discriminate between the rich and

the poor when eating people.

Impeccable: adj. flawless; entirely without sin

His speech was impeccable; he was able to make an immediate connection

with his audience.

Imperial: adj. like an emperor or an empire

He was the rightful heir of the imperial line, but he had to live in hiding.

Impervious: adj. not allowing anything to pass through; impenetrable

John built an impervious fortress that no zombie could break through.

Impetuous: adj. impulsive; extremely impatient

John is extremely impetuous when it comes to eating; he finishes

before his mom can lift her spoon.

Implement: v. to carry out

John had a handful of plans made, but rather than implementing them,

he slept all weekend long.

Impotent: adj. powerless; helpless; unable to perform

The remaining survivors felt completely impotent against the

blood-thirsty zombies behind the door.

Impugn: v. to attack, especially to attack the truth or integrity of something

I impugned his claims by providing evidence that he had lied about his

whereabouts.

Inane: adj. silly; senseless

The idea of befriending a blood-thirsty zombie is inane.

Inaugurate: v. to begin officially; to induct formally into office

The new president’s inauguration was held yesterday in Washington D.C.

Incandescent (in kun DES unt): adj. brilliant; giving off heat or light

One incandescent idea can result in a dramatic advance for the company.

Incantation: n. a chant; the repetition of statements or phrases in a

way reminiscent of a chant

The mysterious man mumbled some incantation and disappeared in front

of our eyes.

Incense: v. to make very angry

The student’s rebellious attitude incensed the teacher, so he kicked

him out of his class.

Incessant: adj. unceasing (continuing or following without interruption)

The incessant waves of zombies discouraged the army.

Indifferent: adj. not caring one way or the other; apathetic; mediocre

John was indifferent to the worries of his parents and went on the

trip with a broken leg.

Indigenous adj. native; originating in that area (indigenous to “region”)

The indigenous people were treated brutally by the Western invaders.

Indigent (IN di junt) adj. poor

The indigent people in the city suffered greatly after the storm.

Indignant: adj. angry, especially as a result of something unjust or

unworthy; insulted

I was indignant when my boss forced me to do mindless work.

Indolent: adj. lazy

Her indolent son woke up at noon and went to bed again after eating lunch.

Indulgent: adj. lenient; yielding to desire

The indulgent parents hardly punished their kids even when their

pranks had hurt another student.

Ineffable: adj. incapable of being expressed or described

Her beauty was ineffable; she captured all the eyes in the room.

Inept: adj. clumsy, gauche, incompetent

She was absolutely inept at singing; her voice was intolerable to hear.

Inert: adj. inactive; sluggish; not reacting chemically

Inert gases never participate in chemical reactions.

Inexorable: adj. relentless; inevitable; unavoidable

The incoming asteroid was inexorable; the end of human civilization

was imminent.

Infamous: adj. shamefully wicked; having an extremely bad reputation;

disgraceful

The brutal acts of the military will forever remain infamous.

Infatuated: adj. foolish; foolishly passionate or attracted; made

foolish; foolish in love

The man was infatuated with Iron Man that he wore a self-made metal

suit to work.

Infer: v. to conclude; to deduce

I inferred from the heaps of garbage that there had been a crazy party

last night.

Infinitesimal: adj. very, very, very small; infinitely small

The zombie virus was infinitesimal that scientists failed to predict

its deadliness.

Ingenuous: adj. frank; without deception; simple; artless; charmingly naïve

Young children are ingenuous in that they just express whatever they

feel in a straightforward way.

Inherent: adj. part of the essential nature of something; intrinsic

The hardness of diamond is inherent in its chemical makeup.

Injunction: n. a command or order, especially a court order

John didn’t follow the injunction of the doctor to stop playing sports.

Innate: adj. existing since birth; inborn; inherent

The mark in my neck is innate; I had it since birth.

Innocuous: adj. harmless; banal

Even thought your intent was innocuous, people were still angry about

the way you handled the situation.

Inordinate: adj. excessive; unreasonable

The bathroom was inordinately big in comparison to the overall size of

the small apartment.

Insatiable: adj. hard or impossible to satisfy; greedy; avaricious

Her high standards were insatiable; it was impossible to be good

enough in her eyes.

Insidious: (in SID ee us) adj. treacherous; sneaky

Smoking is insidious; it not only harms your own lungs, but others

around you due to second hand smoke.

Insinuate: v. to hint; to creep in

His calm voice insinuated that he had the situation under control.

Insipid: adj. dull; bland; banal

The principal’s remarks were insipid that almost everyone including

teachers were dozing off.

Insolent: adj. arrogant; insulting

His insolent attitude exasperated me and made me punch him in the face.

Instigate: v. to provoke; to stir up

The unsolvable equation instigated many mathematicians to work on it

for several decades.

Insular: adj. like an island; isolated

KMLA is insular in the mountains away from any major city.

Insurgent: n. a rebel; someone who revolts against a government

The insurgents finally defeated the dictator’s army and freed the country.

Integral: adj. essential

Bass plays an integral role in any band.

Integrate: v. to combine two or more things into a whole

Biophysics is an area of study where the theories of biology and

physics are being integrated.

Intractable: adj. uncontrollable; stubborn; disobedient

The intractable dog tried to bite his owner.

Intransigent (in TRAN suh junt): adj. uncompromising; stubborn

My dad was intransigent in his opposition, so I gave up getting a motorcycle.

Intrinsic: adj. part of the essential nature of something; inherent

My acne is so stubborn that it repels every possible remedy; it now

feels like an intrinsic part of my face.

Introspective: adj. tending to think about oneself; examining one’s feelings

After moving away from home, I had the opportunity for introspective reflection and realized how much I had relied on my parents.

Inundate (IN un dayt): v. to flood; to cover completely with water; to overwhelm

After leaving the faucet turned on for a week, the house was completely inundated with water that I could almost swim in my house.

Invective: n. insulting or abusive speech

His invectives often irritated people and left him with few friends.

Inveterate (in VET ur it): adj. habitual; firm in habit; deeply rooted

My roommate made many inveterate noises that annoyed me whenever I sat next to him.

Irascible: adj. easily angered or provoked; irritable

John became irascible after his surgery and often yelled at his mother over small things.

Ironic: adj. meaning the opposite of what you seem to say; using words to mean something other than what they seem to mean

When the judge said Jane looked very pretty without makeup, he was being ironic.

Irrevocable: adj. irreversible

Once you are affected by the zombie virus, the transformation is irrevocable until an antidote is discovered.

Itinerant: adj. moving from place to place

My uncle's job required him to be itinerant in that he went abroad to contract businesses deals every week.  

Wordsmart exam prep H

Hackneyed: (HAK need) adj. Hot like fire is absolutely a hackneyed expression.

Hapless: adj. The hapless zombie was electrocuted by the fence.

Harbinger: n. a forerunner; a signal of

The rapid spread of the virus is a harbinger of a deadly epidemic and the end of human civilization.

Hedonism: n. the pursuit of pleasure as a way of life

The zombie was practicing hedonism everyday by eating up hundreds of people.

Hegemony: n. leadership, especially of one nation over another

The zombies’ hegemony over humans was undefeatable.

Heresy: n. any belief that is strongly opposed to established beliefs.

A scientist’s report of a zombie virus on the exotic island was considered heresy until the virus reached cities.

Hermetic: adj. impervious (impermeable) to external influence; airtight (not permitting the entrance of air)

The unidentified virus was stored in a hermetic container for testing.

Heyday: n. golden age; prime

The heyday of my life as an inventor was during my 20s.

Hiatus: n. a break or interruption, often from work

I was so excited about summer vacation which will be my first hiatus this year.  

Hierarchy: n an organization based on rank or degree or pecking order

There seems to be a hierarchy among zombies; the uglier ones eat first.

Histrionic (his tree AHN ik) adj. overly dramatic; theatrical

His histrionic acting was embarrassing to watch.

Homily: n. a sermon

Martin Luther King gave a homily on the equality of people.

Homogeneous: adj. uniform, made entirely of one thing.

The zombies were homogeneous in appearance; they had blue skin and bloody eyes.

Husbandry: n. thrifty management of resources; livestock farming

He led a life of husbandry and he eventually became the richest person in the world. 

Hyperbole: n. an exaggeration used as a figure of speech; exaggeration

Hitler's speeches were filled with hyperboles which enticed the people.

Hypothetical: adj. uncertain; unproven

The existence of zombies remains hypothetical among fans without substantial proof.

Wordsmart exam prep F

Fabrication (FAB ruh kay shun): n. a lie; something made up

I could see him nervous while he was talking to me because what he
said was a blatant fabrication.

Facetious (fuh SEE shus): adj. humorous; not serious; clumsily humorous

John was making several facetious remarks about the situation, which
upset Dan who punched him in the face.

Facile: adj. fluent, skillful in a superficial way; easy

The student council came up with a facile solution that could make
matters worse.

Jacob became too immersed in his religion and turned into a fatalist.

Fatuous: adj. foolish; silly; idiotic

Edison tried many fatuous experiments, such as trying to hatch an egg
by sitting on it like a chicken.

Fauna: animals// flora: flowers The terms are particularly used in
describing what lives in a particular region or environment
In Jim’s yard, the flora consists mostly of weeds.
Arctic fauna are very different from tropical fauna.

The flora and fauna in the Amazon are much more exotic than the ones
we usually see in North America.

Fecund: adj. fertile, productive

The zombies who drank milk became fecund and were able to reproduce in
great numbers.

Felicity: n. happiness; skillfulness, especially at expressing things;
adeptness (skillfulness)

Shakespeare wrote with great felicity when composing his sonnets for
his lovers.

Fervor: n. great warmth or earnestness; ardor; zeal

Avid baseball fans frequently display their fervor for the game by
throwing food at bad players.
His fervor for studying blinded him and made him forget his own birthday.

Fetter: v. to restrain; to hamper
In his pursuit of an Olympic gold medal, the runner was fettered by
multiple injuries.

Joe blocked the door with a shovel to fetter the zombies from pushing through.

Fidelity: n. faithfulness; loyalty

The revolutionists were full of fidelity to the cause of freedom.

Figurative: based on figures of speech; expressing something in terms
usually used for something else; metaphorical

There is a fire blazing in his eyes does not mean that his eyes are
actually on fire, but rather it means he is full of passion as a
figurative expression.

Finesse (fi NES): n. skillful maneuvering; subtlety; craftiness
Q. If something is done with finesse, does it always have to be subtle?

The children escaped through the back door with finesse away from the
treacherous zombies.

Flagrant (FLAY grunt): adj. glaringly bad, notorious; scandalous
Flagrant is often confused with blatant

After the new student made a flagrant remark in class, the teacher
sent him to the principal’s office.

Blatant: something that was not concealed very well
Flagrant: something done intentionally

The thief flagrantly stole a car from the parking lot of a police station.

Flaunt: v. to show off, to display ostentatiously
A millionaire annoyed all his friends by driving around his old
neighborhood to flaunt his new Rolls-Royce.
The student who won 1st place in the International Math Olympiad
flaunted his trophy in the hallways.

Flout: v. to disregard something out of disrespect

Although his teacher gave him a warning, he flouted it and continued
to play games on his cell phone.

  Foible: n. a minor character flaw   

The meticulous interviewer focused on his interviewer’s foibles rather than his many skills and achievements.

  Foment: v. to stir up, to instigate (to provoke)   

The death of his friend fomented him to become a professional zombie slayer.  

Forbear: v. to refrain (to keep oneself from doing something) from, to abstain
Forebear: an ancestor à sometimes spelled forbear  

Because he had to drive home, he decide to forbear drinking with his friends.

Forego (for GOH) v. to do without; to forbear Forego or forgo àpast: forewent