Compared with the essay, the blog is like a diary. I think I can write what I want instead of what I am required. I do not need to make a clear topic in every paragraph, I can write something like stream of consciousness, instead of the thread that is inflexible. I do not need to find something to write specially. I cannot say that I like writing blogs very much but it is better than essays, though they are both actually important to English study.
A few days before, our navy held a grand parade in Qingdao to celebrate the 60th anniversary. And it invited many countries to join us. The US and many other countries came to the parade on invitation. Our great chairman—Hu Jintao personally went to the celebration and reviewed troops. That is circumstance at that time. So I think it can be said a significant parade in the history after the PRC founded. In the meantime, I think it has some more significance besides celebration. The celebration is just one aspect. We also have more purposes to hold this parade. As we all know, nowadays, the maritime situation to China is not that favorable. Many southeastern Asian countries want to occupy the islands, the China’s dominions which lie on the South China Sea. As they are far away from our mainland, some small countries, such as Philippines, Vietnam, attempt to dominate them illegally. For the general situation of economic development, China did not take so much action to avoid these small countries, just denying its legality. But in the current time, these countries aggravated to apply for the sovereignty in the UN. It is definitely unacceptable to China. We need to deter them to stop their stupid ideas. So this parade is the very moment to show off our navy’s strength, to deter these countries who have the cheeky and illegal idea. That is a signal to tell these countries, “do not be so much blatant, our toleration has limit. We can destroy any of you by our strength.” Now I think these countries should be calm and stop executing their stupid plan.
Even though our navy is not strong very much, only ranking 10 or lower in the world. But we are developing, we are stronger and stronger. So these small countries should not withstand the most important neighbor, the future is unpredictable…..
April 28, 2009
April 27, 2009
Harry Potter(Yap)
It was when I was in Grade 1, junior middle school that I caught my first glimpse of “Harry Potter”, and then I fell in love with the series. In the past six years of my middle school, every time I finished one episode I commence to look forward to the launch of the next one. I have to admit that J.K. Rowling is not only an excellent writer but also an outstanding businesswoman. She chose not to publish her works immediately after she accomplished them so that readers and fans of “Harry Potter”, like me, could not help controlling the impulse to buy one copy of her newly published episode after waiting for a narrowly unbearable long time.
Actually, the first six episodes I read were all Chinese translations. I also tried to read the translation of the seventh one in the last year of my senior middle school, but unfortunately, I did not finish it due to the burden of study. And I did not get any opportunity to resume reading it since the book is not mine and I do not like to read books on a computer screen. Therefore, the day I got my term card of NUS and was notified that I could use this card to borrow books from the libraries, I went to the Central Library excitedly to book the book named “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows”. After almost forty days’ endeavor, now I have finished more than five hundred pages of this six-hundred-pages book. Its fascinating plot, figurative language and vivid characters are the main contributors of my obsession with this book.
The hero of “Harry Potter”, Harry James Potter, is a gallant and responsible teenager, who has been chosen as the only one that can beat and kill the most ever evil wizard-Voldemort. Throughout the seven episodes, he managed to perform better and better in the fights against Voldemort as he grew up and he had never given up in spite of the deaths of his closest friends, such as Sirius, Dumbledore and Fred. Finally, with the help and encouragement of his best friends, Ron and Hermione, and other people who support the justice and peace, he killed Voldemort successfully.
Last but not least, “Harry Potter” are really wonderful books. You cannot miss them!
Actually, the first six episodes I read were all Chinese translations. I also tried to read the translation of the seventh one in the last year of my senior middle school, but unfortunately, I did not finish it due to the burden of study. And I did not get any opportunity to resume reading it since the book is not mine and I do not like to read books on a computer screen. Therefore, the day I got my term card of NUS and was notified that I could use this card to borrow books from the libraries, I went to the Central Library excitedly to book the book named “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows”. After almost forty days’ endeavor, now I have finished more than five hundred pages of this six-hundred-pages book. Its fascinating plot, figurative language and vivid characters are the main contributors of my obsession with this book.
The hero of “Harry Potter”, Harry James Potter, is a gallant and responsible teenager, who has been chosen as the only one that can beat and kill the most ever evil wizard-Voldemort. Throughout the seven episodes, he managed to perform better and better in the fights against Voldemort as he grew up and he had never given up in spite of the deaths of his closest friends, such as Sirius, Dumbledore and Fred. Finally, with the help and encouragement of his best friends, Ron and Hermione, and other people who support the justice and peace, he killed Voldemort successfully.
Last but not least, “Harry Potter” are really wonderful books. You cannot miss them!
April 26, 2009
I gain interest in C programming~~(YAP)
Throughout the phase one of my bridging course, I seldom studied C programming. Each time I have to take the C programming class, I would fall asleep until the end of that class. I just could not understand a word of C programming. "Maybe I would not use this kind of thing later in my campus life", I always tell myself this. However, I finally got to know that the ability to use C++ is one of the basic skills in NUS. Even then, I didn't start to take C programming seriously. I just don't like it, and I don't want to learn a piece of knowledge of it.
One reason would always lead to one result. In my C programming test,which was my first check point, I got completely failure. The full marks of the C programming test is 100, but I only got 52. I was so sad because I didn't pass my first check point and if I don't pass my next check point, I would be sent back to China. I simply can't stand that. I then decided to study hard to catch up with my classmates.
In the following week, I almost study C programming every night for 2 hours. At first, I felt it very boring. However, as time went on, I finally found out that C programming is actually very interesting. I start to enjoy myself when I study C programming. I start to feel that if I had chosen SOC, I would enjoy myself more. Anyway, I finally gain interest in C programming and I believe that I would pass my second check point because I do like what I am learning now.
One reason would always lead to one result. In my C programming test,which was my first check point, I got completely failure. The full marks of the C programming test is 100, but I only got 52. I was so sad because I didn't pass my first check point and if I don't pass my next check point, I would be sent back to China. I simply can't stand that. I then decided to study hard to catch up with my classmates.
In the following week, I almost study C programming every night for 2 hours. At first, I felt it very boring. However, as time went on, I finally found out that C programming is actually very interesting. I start to enjoy myself when I study C programming. I start to feel that if I had chosen SOC, I would enjoy myself more. Anyway, I finally gain interest in C programming and I believe that I would pass my second check point because I do like what I am learning now.
Two of My Favorite OSTs (YAP)(18)
(OST is short for original soundtrack, which always means the incidental music in movies.)
Have you ever watched a touching movie that when the touching scenes appeared and the slow and sad music played, you were moved to tears? Have you ever watched an interesting movie that when the funny scenes appeared and the light and lively music played, you laughed into tears? For a movie, not only the story, the performance of the actors or the scenes makes difference, the incidental music is also very important. Some is so important and wonderful that long time after watching the movie, people may forget the content of the movie but would still remember the music played in it. Kar-wai Wong’s Ashes of Time (东邪西毒) and Hocheung Pang’s Isabella are just two of this kind of movies to me.
The music in Ashes of Time was created by Frankie Chen. At the beginning of this movie which is about heroes’ loves, sounds of drum appear, from fast to slow, followed by the blend of some other percussion instruments, which creates a majestic and sad atmosphere. When the heroes and heroines lose themselves in love, the music goes and stands still for a while, and then goes again, giving the feelings of wanting to give up but just cannot, which is just the feeling in painful loves. I don’t know how to describe the music exactly in English; I just want to say that, the music really makes me get into the movie, as if I am one part of it, feeling what the characters feel, doing what they do.
The music in Isabella is the kind of Fado, which is one kind of traditional music of Portugal. Produced by Peter Kam and won the first price of incidental music in Berlin International Film Festival, it really has its magic. In many scenes, the editor just let the music play, no words, no other sounds, but as if we can get thousands of word from the music and the movements of characters. The movie was shot in Macao. Once ruled by Portugal, scenes of streets and houses in Macao meet the Fado very much.
The music of Fado is mainly played in the piano, violent and guitar, but it comes out unusual and fantastic. It really makes me crazy.
Have you ever watched a touching movie that when the touching scenes appeared and the slow and sad music played, you were moved to tears? Have you ever watched an interesting movie that when the funny scenes appeared and the light and lively music played, you laughed into tears? For a movie, not only the story, the performance of the actors or the scenes makes difference, the incidental music is also very important. Some is so important and wonderful that long time after watching the movie, people may forget the content of the movie but would still remember the music played in it. Kar-wai Wong’s Ashes of Time (东邪西毒) and Hocheung Pang’s Isabella are just two of this kind of movies to me.
The music in Ashes of Time was created by Frankie Chen. At the beginning of this movie which is about heroes’ loves, sounds of drum appear, from fast to slow, followed by the blend of some other percussion instruments, which creates a majestic and sad atmosphere. When the heroes and heroines lose themselves in love, the music goes and stands still for a while, and then goes again, giving the feelings of wanting to give up but just cannot, which is just the feeling in painful loves. I don’t know how to describe the music exactly in English; I just want to say that, the music really makes me get into the movie, as if I am one part of it, feeling what the characters feel, doing what they do.
The music in Isabella is the kind of Fado, which is one kind of traditional music of Portugal. Produced by Peter Kam and won the first price of incidental music in Berlin International Film Festival, it really has its magic. In many scenes, the editor just let the music play, no words, no other sounds, but as if we can get thousands of word from the music and the movements of characters. The movie was shot in Macao. Once ruled by Portugal, scenes of streets and houses in Macao meet the Fado very much.
The music of Fado is mainly played in the piano, violent and guitar, but it comes out unusual and fantastic. It really makes me crazy.
Lucky Money, Because It’s Fake (YAP 20)
I met this old man many years ago, in one of my midnight dreams. I do not know why he did not come to reality to make the truth I am going to state below truer. He was not prepared to do that, maybe, or, he just want to turn me into a prophet.
Let me describe his characters first. He was a lovely old man, a very lovely old man. I can say his loveliness was beyond compare without any exaggeration. He was childish in many things; his childishness was often the biggest laughter for a three-year-old child. But he was a distinctive man who would grab any chances flew by him as the last straw.
Then here comes some basic information about him. He was suffering somewhat from pulmonary disease. He was not a rich man. Actually, he got subsidies from the government. But he was a distinctive man who loved cigarettes deeply under those conditions.
One day, he got a ten-Yuan forged note by accident. He imagined buying two packages of three-Yuan cigarettes and one package of four-Yuan cigarettes in his great mind, using his wonderful computing skills. “It means I earn ten Yuan!” He thought happily. But a foolish shopkeeper saw through him at once. Then he gave back the packages in his hand, reluctantly and firmly, to the shopkeeper, saying: I won’t buy it! Then he went away, happily. Why was he happy? It is because he was heading to another shop hopefully.
After many attempts in many different shops, he turned out to be the most foolish person ever existed on the earth. He felt very sorry for this truth, but he was still happy and kept trying to buy those three imaginable packages. I have said, he was distinctive, he would not let any chance pass by, and he loved cigarettes deeply.
At last, he got rid of the unhealthy habit of smoking. Then he found he was the luckiest person in the world. Let me help him give his thanks to the maker of that ten-Yuan forged note.
Let me describe his characters first. He was a lovely old man, a very lovely old man. I can say his loveliness was beyond compare without any exaggeration. He was childish in many things; his childishness was often the biggest laughter for a three-year-old child. But he was a distinctive man who would grab any chances flew by him as the last straw.
Then here comes some basic information about him. He was suffering somewhat from pulmonary disease. He was not a rich man. Actually, he got subsidies from the government. But he was a distinctive man who loved cigarettes deeply under those conditions.
One day, he got a ten-Yuan forged note by accident. He imagined buying two packages of three-Yuan cigarettes and one package of four-Yuan cigarettes in his great mind, using his wonderful computing skills. “It means I earn ten Yuan!” He thought happily. But a foolish shopkeeper saw through him at once. Then he gave back the packages in his hand, reluctantly and firmly, to the shopkeeper, saying: I won’t buy it! Then he went away, happily. Why was he happy? It is because he was heading to another shop hopefully.
After many attempts in many different shops, he turned out to be the most foolish person ever existed on the earth. He felt very sorry for this truth, but he was still happy and kept trying to buy those three imaginable packages. I have said, he was distinctive, he would not let any chance pass by, and he loved cigarettes deeply.
At last, he got rid of the unhealthy habit of smoking. Then he found he was the luckiest person in the world. Let me help him give his thanks to the maker of that ten-Yuan forged note.
We Are All Animals (6) - The weaker ones.(YAP)(18)
Thanks Kindom, to give me permission to write the sequel for the topic We Are All Animals.
This Saturday, my friends and I visited the Botanic Garden. We played games near a fish pool. When we found that there was a fish food machine, we decided to feed the fish. At first, we just threw the fish food into the pool casually. But after a while we saw some tortoises, they were too slow and clumsy to get the food. Then all of us changed our feeding ways, we tries our best to let the tortoises get the food. Every time the crazy fishes robbed the food we threw to the tortoises, we might felt sorry and sighed together. Soon, we finished feeding and went home calmly, but my heart was not as calm as my appearance.
Why would people always tend to give more chances to the weaker? And whether it is right or not?
In wild world, animals would seldom pity the weaker; only the strong ones can survive and pass their excellent gene towards. But humans are not the same as wild animals, we are kind and humane. When the poor have no food and no shelter, governments and social welfares would take care of them; when two sport teams compete together, audiences who are not the fans of both teams will always want the weaker team win. This kind of kind is one part of humans’ moral sometimes but maybe unreasonable in some situation.
I remember that I have watched a film, in which the clever and educated people would think twice before they have child and they tend to have less or no children because they want to succeed in career, while the not so clever ones will have more children, so after thousands of years, all humans in the world are stupid.
To help the weaker ones is OK, I think, but never forget to let the stronger ones win and motivate the weaker ones to become strong.
This Saturday, my friends and I visited the Botanic Garden. We played games near a fish pool. When we found that there was a fish food machine, we decided to feed the fish. At first, we just threw the fish food into the pool casually. But after a while we saw some tortoises, they were too slow and clumsy to get the food. Then all of us changed our feeding ways, we tries our best to let the tortoises get the food. Every time the crazy fishes robbed the food we threw to the tortoises, we might felt sorry and sighed together. Soon, we finished feeding and went home calmly, but my heart was not as calm as my appearance.
Why would people always tend to give more chances to the weaker? And whether it is right or not?
In wild world, animals would seldom pity the weaker; only the strong ones can survive and pass their excellent gene towards. But humans are not the same as wild animals, we are kind and humane. When the poor have no food and no shelter, governments and social welfares would take care of them; when two sport teams compete together, audiences who are not the fans of both teams will always want the weaker team win. This kind of kind is one part of humans’ moral sometimes but maybe unreasonable in some situation.
I remember that I have watched a film, in which the clever and educated people would think twice before they have child and they tend to have less or no children because they want to succeed in career, while the not so clever ones will have more children, so after thousands of years, all humans in the world are stupid.
To help the weaker ones is OK, I think, but never forget to let the stronger ones win and motivate the weaker ones to become strong.
My Feelings after Choosing Course (YAP)(18)
It is a hard time choosing the course, especially for the ones like me who do not know what they are really interested in the most. Everything seem OK to me. I feel very bad every time thinking of the future, and I am afraid of making choices, because I always think: What if I eventually found that I am not interested in this way and what if I found another way that I am more interested in, could I go back and take another way? I am not a brave and adventured man in life.
I think it is all because I have no certain aims in life. Before, I always thought I have aim, which is to live a happy live, on matter succeed or not in career or other material aspects, for happiness is only the matter of mind. That’s why I concentrated too much in my own soul but not the outside world. That made me pessimistic and also unhappy. And now, I think happiness should not and cannot be a certain aim. It will not come when you search everywhere in your mind but when you forget it and walk you way, it will come naturally.
I need certain aims but before I get the very far and big one, it is good to have some near and small one, just like “I must get A in this subject or I must run 10km in 40min.” I think these kinds of certain aims are small but can make our lives more meaningful. What is more, it is better for me to become less strict about life. There is no perfect way in life and in most of the time, we cannot decide our way totally. The most important thing, I think, is to make the best of the ways in front of us, no matter whether they are chosen by us or just appear by chance, and never be afraid of making choices when it is necessary, every way have challenges and sweets.
I will keep telling myself all above.
.
I think it is all because I have no certain aims in life. Before, I always thought I have aim, which is to live a happy live, on matter succeed or not in career or other material aspects, for happiness is only the matter of mind. That’s why I concentrated too much in my own soul but not the outside world. That made me pessimistic and also unhappy. And now, I think happiness should not and cannot be a certain aim. It will not come when you search everywhere in your mind but when you forget it and walk you way, it will come naturally.
I need certain aims but before I get the very far and big one, it is good to have some near and small one, just like “I must get A in this subject or I must run 10km in 40min.” I think these kinds of certain aims are small but can make our lives more meaningful. What is more, it is better for me to become less strict about life. There is no perfect way in life and in most of the time, we cannot decide our way totally. The most important thing, I think, is to make the best of the ways in front of us, no matter whether they are chosen by us or just appear by chance, and never be afraid of making choices when it is necessary, every way have challenges and sweets.
I will keep telling myself all above.
.
Long Long Ago, Lao Tse Said (YAP 20)
There was an old man thinking alone thousands of years ago. His name was Lao Tse, who was among the greatest thinkers in Chinese Philosophy History. I hear his words now, through his great work left to us. What did he say? He said: Do not admire or praise those who are intelligent, thus competitions between our civilians will finally disappear.
This idea was so strange at the first sight that it attracted my full attention immediately. It goes against the common ideas which all of us have been familiar with since we were born. It means that no intelligent person will be superior to an illiterate person. Furthermore, it seems to support illiteracy. Then how can the society develop with a nearly 100 percentage of illiteracy? Very few people will agree his idea, at first sight.
I thought over it at the second sight. Didn’t he know that knowledge is the power of social improvement? I cannot help to answer like this: Yes, he did. With this answer, I started to pay my attention to the second half of his words: Competitions between our civilians will finally disappear. How peaceful a world that he was describing! Isn’t it the final goal all the rulers tried and tries their best to achieve? Now our society is not like that peaceful yet, and there is not a single signal showing that it can be like that. Lao Tse’s theory seemed to be very childish, but childish theory has nothing to do with a successful one. Then I tend to believe Lao Tse was right, at least his great hope.
Then the third sight: even you tell the civilians do not admire or praise those who are intelligent, will there be no competitions truly? Sorry to say, cannot, because every person has the tendency to choose the best one from a certain group. Competitions come naturally. Then it became really childish. But he was Lao Tse!! What about his was just using an irony? Then it seems so painful that a thinker had to use childish words to express his great idea and hope. Wow, how great Lao Tse was!
But, if a child says these words casually, will I look and think over it for three times? Probably not. That is the greatest pain Lao Tse and other thinkers suffered at their times.
This idea was so strange at the first sight that it attracted my full attention immediately. It goes against the common ideas which all of us have been familiar with since we were born. It means that no intelligent person will be superior to an illiterate person. Furthermore, it seems to support illiteracy. Then how can the society develop with a nearly 100 percentage of illiteracy? Very few people will agree his idea, at first sight.
I thought over it at the second sight. Didn’t he know that knowledge is the power of social improvement? I cannot help to answer like this: Yes, he did. With this answer, I started to pay my attention to the second half of his words: Competitions between our civilians will finally disappear. How peaceful a world that he was describing! Isn’t it the final goal all the rulers tried and tries their best to achieve? Now our society is not like that peaceful yet, and there is not a single signal showing that it can be like that. Lao Tse’s theory seemed to be very childish, but childish theory has nothing to do with a successful one. Then I tend to believe Lao Tse was right, at least his great hope.
Then the third sight: even you tell the civilians do not admire or praise those who are intelligent, will there be no competitions truly? Sorry to say, cannot, because every person has the tendency to choose the best one from a certain group. Competitions come naturally. Then it became really childish. But he was Lao Tse!! What about his was just using an irony? Then it seems so painful that a thinker had to use childish words to express his great idea and hope. Wow, how great Lao Tse was!
But, if a child says these words casually, will I look and think over it for three times? Probably not. That is the greatest pain Lao Tse and other thinkers suffered at their times.
Free Me from the Trap I Set For Myself (YAP 20)
I can see, you can see, too, the title is not “We Are All Animals” any more. This shift between titles happens not because I think we are not animals anymore; there is no so significant improvements we had made in the past few months that help prove that we are not animals in fact. I change the title only to save myself, to free myself from the trap I set for myself months ago.
If I continue to write about animals in this first blog of phase two, I will surely write about animals till the end of our bridging course. Now I cannot figure out what kind of animal will be the main character in the article “We Are All Animals 10”, I just feel sorry when I think of the long long queue of 10 kinds of animals who had been subjectively misread by a foolish self-satisfied human being, suing me for imputation in the presence of God. So I decided to stop before when all the things become out of control. Now, after some struggle, I have already got out of that trap, have I?
At this moment, I have another thing to tell you. Some of you my friends wondered why my mind is so “animalized” in your comments; I do not think I can answer it directly. The person whose mind is full of math trickeries is called mathematician, the person whose mind is full of poetic scenes is called poet, the person whose mind is full of policies and so-called truths is called politician, etc. I’m only an ordinary student, not a mathematician, not a poet, not a politician… Then, what can I have in my mind? I think I have answered your question now.
Thinking of the traps I had ever set for myself, I will find myself laudable. There are so many so many traps! Never mind, from now on, traps are to be impoldered, surely enough.
If I continue to write about animals in this first blog of phase two, I will surely write about animals till the end of our bridging course. Now I cannot figure out what kind of animal will be the main character in the article “We Are All Animals 10”, I just feel sorry when I think of the long long queue of 10 kinds of animals who had been subjectively misread by a foolish self-satisfied human being, suing me for imputation in the presence of God. So I decided to stop before when all the things become out of control. Now, after some struggle, I have already got out of that trap, have I?
At this moment, I have another thing to tell you. Some of you my friends wondered why my mind is so “animalized” in your comments; I do not think I can answer it directly. The person whose mind is full of math trickeries is called mathematician, the person whose mind is full of poetic scenes is called poet, the person whose mind is full of policies and so-called truths is called politician, etc. I’m only an ordinary student, not a mathematician, not a poet, not a politician… Then, what can I have in my mind? I think I have answered your question now.
Thinking of the traps I had ever set for myself, I will find myself laudable. There are so many so many traps! Never mind, from now on, traps are to be impoldered, surely enough.
A Fragment of Wish (YAP)
A couple of days before, a friend said to me he never and never wanted to write any blogs in a slipshod manner, and it is real feelings that we should write about. I nodded and I didn’t question, because that’s exactly what I think. I also have to confess that I sometimes do write in haste, however, it doesn’t mean what I write is non-sense, and I meant every word I said. Like what I am going to put on my blog today. It is one of my little wishes hiding deeply in my heart and every time I think of it I feel a beautiful delicate life beckoning in the coming future.
What impressed me most about Mrs. Manee Lugg when we first met was that she does gardening. A wish of owning my own garden has been rooted in my mind since I was thirteen or so. It happens all because of a book named Secret Garden. Gardens in that story are merely clues that link the entire story, but they had magical effect on me. They not only strengthened my love for plants especially flowers, but also set up a small wish for me to fight for. I want a garden to pay attention to, to look after, to spend lots of my spare time on… Can you imagine violets, lavenders, lilies and daisies blooming gracefully in your front yard? And those charming rose vines twining on the white fences? Or the scene that all of them sway gently in the comfortable breeze or the twilight of a summer day. If possible, this garden should only be taken care of by me myself. However, I sadly aware that usually childhood dreams fade and eventually vanish as a person grows up, but this small dream is the last one that I want to forget.
Luckily I still have small wishes like this.
What impressed me most about Mrs. Manee Lugg when we first met was that she does gardening. A wish of owning my own garden has been rooted in my mind since I was thirteen or so. It happens all because of a book named Secret Garden. Gardens in that story are merely clues that link the entire story, but they had magical effect on me. They not only strengthened my love for plants especially flowers, but also set up a small wish for me to fight for. I want a garden to pay attention to, to look after, to spend lots of my spare time on… Can you imagine violets, lavenders, lilies and daisies blooming gracefully in your front yard? And those charming rose vines twining on the white fences? Or the scene that all of them sway gently in the comfortable breeze or the twilight of a summer day. If possible, this garden should only be taken care of by me myself. However, I sadly aware that usually childhood dreams fade and eventually vanish as a person grows up, but this small dream is the last one that I want to forget.
Luckily I still have small wishes like this.
April 25, 2009
Come on, my soldiers （AW）
As an arrow, time flies so quickly. Without paying much attention, we have had our bridging course for four months already. Facing our phase two, we have a very important and interesting task that is our research. As a group leader, now I really want to say many things about our research, but firstly I should speak highly of my group members. Come on, my soldiers!
Though our research is going regularly now, it was not smooth at the beginning. Our topic, NUS halls—find out which one is the most suitable for you, came out one week later than other groups’. Thank goodness, Mr. Jega approved our topic at last, so we can run for it. Why did we choose this one? I think as prospective students of NUS, we want to and need to know more about our future lives, especially the place we will live in. Usually, I call my members together two or three times a week, discussing the research with them and superintending whether they have finished their own jobs. These things are also OK, it is not very difficult, however just ask us to spend a little more time. The most challenge task is our questionnaire.
From designing to distributing, we had paid much attention to it. We came up with the final one, having gotten three drafts before. In terms of distribution, I think I made a mistake that choosing a wrong time. We went to NUS halls on last Saturday evening, meeting not so many students in halls. That made contribution to the difficulty of our questionnaire. However through three hours, we got the data about the six halls in NUS at last. When we came back to Eton Hall at that night, we were all tired and hungry. But this lesson had taught me what the real team-work is. Thank you for fighting with me, which makes this “battle” not boring but meaningful.
This week, we had finished the statistic of data on Friday night. And the next step is how to analyse it. Trough it is a little difficult for us, newbies, that we didn’t do this before, I am very confident that we can handle it successfully.
Come on, my soldiers. Look forward to our celebration of our research.
Though our research is going regularly now, it was not smooth at the beginning. Our topic, NUS halls—find out which one is the most suitable for you, came out one week later than other groups’. Thank goodness, Mr. Jega approved our topic at last, so we can run for it. Why did we choose this one? I think as prospective students of NUS, we want to and need to know more about our future lives, especially the place we will live in. Usually, I call my members together two or three times a week, discussing the research with them and superintending whether they have finished their own jobs. These things are also OK, it is not very difficult, however just ask us to spend a little more time. The most challenge task is our questionnaire.
From designing to distributing, we had paid much attention to it. We came up with the final one, having gotten three drafts before. In terms of distribution, I think I made a mistake that choosing a wrong time. We went to NUS halls on last Saturday evening, meeting not so many students in halls. That made contribution to the difficulty of our questionnaire. However through three hours, we got the data about the six halls in NUS at last. When we came back to Eton Hall at that night, we were all tired and hungry. But this lesson had taught me what the real team-work is. Thank you for fighting with me, which makes this “battle” not boring but meaningful.
This week, we had finished the statistic of data on Friday night. And the next step is how to analyse it. Trough it is a little difficult for us, newbies, that we didn’t do this before, I am very confident that we can handle it successfully.
Come on, my soldiers. Look forward to our celebration of our research.
A Good Friend Means A Good Business Partner?(AW)
A Good Friend Means A Good Business Partner?
Since friends are the people whom you can turn to for help, you will immediately take them into consideration when looking for business partners. However, this method may not reach your expecting outcome. It is even said that you can trust your enemies more than your friends in the book <48>. When it comes to the field of business and politics, I think this idea really works. To put it simply, a good friend does not mean a good business partner.
As we all know, there are certain rules and disciplines of dealing with business issues. Just like laws to a country, if the rules in business are not executed strictly, how can we make sure that everything will get along well? However, for the most part, the friendship you cherish can ruin these fundamental disciplines. For an instance, if you start a business with a partner who is also your best friend, it will often happen that he tends to overuse his power which is against the rule. And he may make some important decisions without your consideration, which is usually taken for granted by him. All these can be attributed to that friendship takes priority to the rules in your business.
Another important point is that your friend in the business may not talk to you with frankness, especially the friend you do not trust deeply. For these people, to keep your friendship or to please you is more important than to offer a creative suggestion. Thereby you cannot get an equitable judgment or reflection from them. To this extent, enemies can be more helpful compared with your friend partner.
The last but not the least, compared with others, your friends in business usually tend to expect more from you. In the company, they desire privileges over the average. For example, they want to benefit more from the equal contributions as they feel they have closer relationships with you. In fact, part of the benefits comes from your friendship.
To conclude, the person who can be a good friend in your life may be not suitable to be your business partner. You must evaluate the same person with different norms when it comes to different fields.
Since friends are the people whom you can turn to for help, you will immediately take them into consideration when looking for business partners. However, this method may not reach your expecting outcome. It is even said that you can trust your enemies more than your friends in the book <48>. When it comes to the field of business and politics, I think this idea really works. To put it simply, a good friend does not mean a good business partner.
As we all know, there are certain rules and disciplines of dealing with business issues. Just like laws to a country, if the rules in business are not executed strictly, how can we make sure that everything will get along well? However, for the most part, the friendship you cherish can ruin these fundamental disciplines. For an instance, if you start a business with a partner who is also your best friend, it will often happen that he tends to overuse his power which is against the rule. And he may make some important decisions without your consideration, which is usually taken for granted by him. All these can be attributed to that friendship takes priority to the rules in your business.
Another important point is that your friend in the business may not talk to you with frankness, especially the friend you do not trust deeply. For these people, to keep your friendship or to please you is more important than to offer a creative suggestion. Thereby you cannot get an equitable judgment or reflection from them. To this extent, enemies can be more helpful compared with your friend partner.
The last but not the least, compared with others, your friends in business usually tend to expect more from you. In the company, they desire privileges over the average. For example, they want to benefit more from the equal contributions as they feel they have closer relationships with you. In fact, part of the benefits comes from your friendship.
To conclude, the person who can be a good friend in your life may be not suitable to be your business partner. You must evaluate the same person with different norms when it comes to different fields.
Wisdom of Nature ( M.L.)
Nature is magnificent not only for her vastness of time and space, but also for the infinite wisdom reflected from the vivid biosphere. Here we may look at the resilience of the reeds, the way a poplar disperse its seeds, and the symbiotic relationship between a goby fish and a shrimp.
When I was young, I often sat on the bank of a river and watched the reeds bend under the pressure from the wind and then return gracefully to their original position after the wind had died down. Thousands of robust trees have been blown down by gales, but the delicate reeds remain unscathed. It is resilience makes all the difference. When used in reference to a person the word resilience can mean the ability to recover from shock, depression and any other situation that stretches the limits of a person’s emotions. But we can apply the survival skill of the reeds to ourselves when we are near the breaking point. The skill is, do not be too stubborn or let the ordeal get the better of you, bend temperately and return gracefully.
The dispersal of seeds of poplars has never failed to put me in reverence for nature. At the time when summer succeeds spring every year, there are white “clouds” floating everywhere in my hometown. They are actually numerous minute seeds of poplars surrounded by tufts of long, soft, white hairs which aid wind dispersal. Just think, one such cloud contains millions of seeds, one poplar disperse millions of such clouds, how many seeds does a poplar disperse every year? But how many of these seeds will actually grow into poplars? We cannot stay aloof and indifferent to the fabulous investment of life. Here nature is impressing on us a lesson: Most seeds will never grow, but if you really want something to happen, you had better try more than once. Once aware of this, we may be less likely to complain about our unpaid efforts. By understanding the law of seeds, we do not feel very disappointed by the fact that we may attend twenty interviews to find a good job or that we may interview forty people to find one good employee.
I also marvel at the mutual symbiotic relationship between a goby fish and a shrimp. In the wondrous undersea world, a shrimp dig a burrow and shares it with a goby fish. Since shrimps are nearly blind, they are vulnerable to predators. So the goby fish informs the shrimp by tapping it when danger emerges. Other types of symbiotic relationships exit widely in nature, and symbiosis plays an important part in the process of co-evolution. By benefiting each other, they find a way to survive in the challenging world. Coming back to us humans, if all the leaders had frames of minds of mutual benefits, perhaps many problems and conflicts would be easier to settle.
I am reverent for nature, and I will continue with the lessons of nature’s wisdom.
When I was young, I often sat on the bank of a river and watched the reeds bend under the pressure from the wind and then return gracefully to their original position after the wind had died down. Thousands of robust trees have been blown down by gales, but the delicate reeds remain unscathed. It is resilience makes all the difference. When used in reference to a person the word resilience can mean the ability to recover from shock, depression and any other situation that stretches the limits of a person’s emotions. But we can apply the survival skill of the reeds to ourselves when we are near the breaking point. The skill is, do not be too stubborn or let the ordeal get the better of you, bend temperately and return gracefully.
The dispersal of seeds of poplars has never failed to put me in reverence for nature. At the time when summer succeeds spring every year, there are white “clouds” floating everywhere in my hometown. They are actually numerous minute seeds of poplars surrounded by tufts of long, soft, white hairs which aid wind dispersal. Just think, one such cloud contains millions of seeds, one poplar disperse millions of such clouds, how many seeds does a poplar disperse every year? But how many of these seeds will actually grow into poplars? We cannot stay aloof and indifferent to the fabulous investment of life. Here nature is impressing on us a lesson: Most seeds will never grow, but if you really want something to happen, you had better try more than once. Once aware of this, we may be less likely to complain about our unpaid efforts. By understanding the law of seeds, we do not feel very disappointed by the fact that we may attend twenty interviews to find a good job or that we may interview forty people to find one good employee.
I also marvel at the mutual symbiotic relationship between a goby fish and a shrimp. In the wondrous undersea world, a shrimp dig a burrow and shares it with a goby fish. Since shrimps are nearly blind, they are vulnerable to predators. So the goby fish informs the shrimp by tapping it when danger emerges. Other types of symbiotic relationships exit widely in nature, and symbiosis plays an important part in the process of co-evolution. By benefiting each other, they find a way to survive in the challenging world. Coming back to us humans, if all the leaders had frames of minds of mutual benefits, perhaps many problems and conflicts would be easier to settle.
I am reverent for nature, and I will continue with the lessons of nature’s wisdom.
April 23, 2009
Doing the survey (Jega)
We feel great for having the chance to do the survey. I believe that doing our survey in NUS campus is a good chance to practise my spoken English and I can communicate with so many students from different countries. When our bus stop at central library, my survey really starts. I choose central library because it is a public place with many students. While, maybe my time is still early and there are not many students. Only a few students are sitting at the table and are busy with there study. I have heard from my seniors that all the NUS students are preparing for their final examination this semester. That is a bad news for me because I do not want to bother someone who is busy in study. When I come to a girl who is reading, I just ask:" Excuse me, we are conducting a survey on blog, could you please do a survey?" To my surprise, the girl is very helpful and she just do all the questions for me , I appreciate her help very much. I have a good beginning just then. After finishing a few questionnaires, I happen to meet a girl who refuses me. She is busy learning and do not want anyone bother her. I just forgive her because the examination is the most important thing, comparing with my survey.
When I talk to the other research group, I feel lucky because we choose to survey in NUS and most of the students are very happy with our survey. The other groups meet a lot of problem and they try very hard to finish the survey. Anyway, the survey gives me experience in communicating with people, the next time will be easier, won't it?
When I talk to the other research group, I feel lucky because we choose to survey in NUS and most of the students are very happy with our survey. The other groups meet a lot of problem and they try very hard to finish the survey. Anyway, the survey gives me experience in communicating with people, the next time will be easier, won't it?
a vist to the NUS halls
This Saturday evening our project group went to the NUS halls to distribute questionnaires. Our group consists of four members and we divided into two little groups. I and Huang Yuehua were supposed to convey Raffles, Eusoff and Temasek Halls.
Firstly, we decided to integrate the Raffles Hall. It turned out to be very successful thanks to Huang Yuehua bumping into his senior. The senior was very friendly and told us something about life in NUS. After finishing his questionnaire, he led us to a study room in Raffles. There were many students. The locals were very outgoing. They studied together and made interesting comments on the questionnaire. We also investigated some PRC students. I think they were hardworking and quiet. In a nutshell, we finished the task in Raffles very smoothly.
Then we took a school bus to Eusoff. Its facilities were better than those in Raffles. However, it was a little more difficult to convey. We found a computer room but the three students were busy playing computer games. I had to force myself to converse with them. Finally they finished it but one of them was so careless that he made a mistake. So that one had to be wasted and I had no courage any more to investigate him again.
During the survey, I got to know more about the life in NUS halls. I met a lot of kind-hearted seniors. Their lives were fulfilling. Some of them were preoccupied in their own band. One of them was playing the piano carefully. Some of them were enjoying a bowl of chicken soup they made themselves in the hall kitchen.
We took a taxi and got back to ETON HALL at about 8:30p.m. We felt happy to finish our task though we were tired and hungry.Hope our group can manage the projeject and enjoy it.
Firstly, we decided to integrate the Raffles Hall. It turned out to be very successful thanks to Huang Yuehua bumping into his senior. The senior was very friendly and told us something about life in NUS. After finishing his questionnaire, he led us to a study room in Raffles. There were many students. The locals were very outgoing. They studied together and made interesting comments on the questionnaire. We also investigated some PRC students. I think they were hardworking and quiet. In a nutshell, we finished the task in Raffles very smoothly.
Then we took a school bus to Eusoff. Its facilities were better than those in Raffles. However, it was a little more difficult to convey. We found a computer room but the three students were busy playing computer games. I had to force myself to converse with them. Finally they finished it but one of them was so careless that he made a mistake. So that one had to be wasted and I had no courage any more to investigate him again.
During the survey, I got to know more about the life in NUS halls. I met a lot of kind-hearted seniors. Their lives were fulfilling. Some of them were preoccupied in their own band. One of them was playing the piano carefully. Some of them were enjoying a bowl of chicken soup they made themselves in the hall kitchen.
We took a taxi and got back to ETON HALL at about 8:30p.m. We felt happy to finish our task though we were tired and hungry.Hope our group can manage the projeject and enjoy it.
April 19, 2009
Distributing Questionnaires in Vivo City ( M.L.)
Today our research group went to Vivo City to distribute the questionnaires.
The first thing I learnt from this experience is that it is not the same as school when we go out there. I had anticipated that doing survey out of school would be harder than on campus, but it was not until six people in a row declined my request to fill out the questionnaire did I realize how difficult it is to do a survey in real society.
The four of us parted to distribute the questionnaires on different floors of Vivo, and we felt confident. My first targets were a couple of boys. I started with an introduction of “We’re doing a survey on …”, but they interrupted by waving their hands and passed by, leaving me stood there embarrassed and hurt. The following four people I asked all declined to help. Yesterday I saw students from another group distribute the questionnaires in the NUS canteens and libraries, the respondents were willing to help and cooperated well.
Perhaps the contrast shows why on campus we feel more accommodated. We have friends who are pursuing academic success just like ourselves, we have caring tutors who are always willing to offer individual attention and help during a critical stage in our life, and we have many campus stuff who keep the school going and try to provide the best learning environment for us. I really find home here in NUS, maybe partly because that I am an international student. But the world out of school may be different and we had better be prepared.
The second thing I learnt from the experience is when you come across others’ requests, step out of your busy routine to give help. You never know how much your offer can mean to that person. I do not want to complain about the high refusal rate because I understand that some of them were in a hurry and thus did not bother to fill out a stranger’s questionnaire, I want to appreciate the help offered by my first respondent, a young girl.
After six refusals, my heart began to sink. I felt insecure about myself and totally at a loss what to do next. I looked around, the A1 floor was still not crowded in the morning. I decided that I would try one more time and that I would stop if still failed. Then I saw the pretty girl coming towards me gracefully. I took a deep breath, greeted her and asked whether she could help on the survey. She smiled and answered “Sure” gently, and filled out the first questionnaire I ever handed out. I was touched. She lightened me up from my depression and I regained the confidence to go on with the survey.
I will pay attention to those who need help and those who are neglected from now on, because my experience tells me that you can help to make people around to feel better, sometimes simply by taking one minute out of your busy schedules to fill in a questionnaire.
The first thing I learnt from this experience is that it is not the same as school when we go out there. I had anticipated that doing survey out of school would be harder than on campus, but it was not until six people in a row declined my request to fill out the questionnaire did I realize how difficult it is to do a survey in real society.
The four of us parted to distribute the questionnaires on different floors of Vivo, and we felt confident. My first targets were a couple of boys. I started with an introduction of “We’re doing a survey on …”, but they interrupted by waving their hands and passed by, leaving me stood there embarrassed and hurt. The following four people I asked all declined to help. Yesterday I saw students from another group distribute the questionnaires in the NUS canteens and libraries, the respondents were willing to help and cooperated well.
Perhaps the contrast shows why on campus we feel more accommodated. We have friends who are pursuing academic success just like ourselves, we have caring tutors who are always willing to offer individual attention and help during a critical stage in our life, and we have many campus stuff who keep the school going and try to provide the best learning environment for us. I really find home here in NUS, maybe partly because that I am an international student. But the world out of school may be different and we had better be prepared.
The second thing I learnt from the experience is when you come across others’ requests, step out of your busy routine to give help. You never know how much your offer can mean to that person. I do not want to complain about the high refusal rate because I understand that some of them were in a hurry and thus did not bother to fill out a stranger’s questionnaire, I want to appreciate the help offered by my first respondent, a young girl.
After six refusals, my heart began to sink. I felt insecure about myself and totally at a loss what to do next. I looked around, the A1 floor was still not crowded in the morning. I decided that I would try one more time and that I would stop if still failed. Then I saw the pretty girl coming towards me gracefully. I took a deep breath, greeted her and asked whether she could help on the survey. She smiled and answered “Sure” gently, and filled out the first questionnaire I ever handed out. I was touched. She lightened me up from my depression and I regained the confidence to go on with the survey.
I will pay attention to those who need help and those who are neglected from now on, because my experience tells me that you can help to make people around to feel better, sometimes simply by taking one minute out of your busy schedules to fill in a questionnaire.
Building the wall(Song Lu# Jeg)
In his book SOCIOLOGY (third edition, 2000), Doctor David M.Newman said that: “we, as individuals, play an important role in coordinating, reproducing, and giving meaning to society in our daily interactions. But our ability to define social reality is limited.” The first time I encountered this sentence I was totally shocked--------how true it is. Sociologists are really very sophisticated thinkers. When you are born into the pre-existing world, everything has been right there for you, which means you will be influenced by the surrounding environment during your growth and development. Then, when you are phenomenal enough to shape the world, you are defining the reality of the world and dictate the running of the world. But you still have to stick to the disciplines and norms of the world. You cannot create whatever you want and put whatever version of how human will be coordinated to the world. Doctor Marx once wrote, [people] make their history, but they do not make it just as they please; they do not make it under circumstances chosen by themselves, but under circumstances directly encountered, given and transmitted by the past.”(Marx, 1963, p.15). This sociological theory can be easily grasped, but can’t be easily discovered. You may even not pay a little attention to such a subject before, but it truly has changed our perception of the world.
An Awful Weenkend (Lugg. 7)
I experienced the most awful weekend since I came to Singapore. It is lucky that I am still able to write something in memory of it. Hope that next week would hide some surprises for me!
On Saturday morning, I went to NUS to attend an interview for University Scholar’s Program (USP), which was the start of the miserable weekend. I nearly fell into asleep before it was my turn because the room temperature was rather low and I did not have enough sleep the night before. My heart sank at the first question, which I didn’t catch. I reluctantly let out the word “pardon”, which seems to be a frequent term when we Chinese students communicate with English-spoken people. Worse still, I missed the second question. I, with guilt, said sorry for clarification again. After that, they slowed their speed and spoke more clearly. I knew at that time that I would not be admitted any more. But I didn’t show much unpleasant emotion and kept my smile. Coming out of the interview room, I found many pitfalls of their questions and got to know the problems of my answers. A bit frustrated, I went back to the hostel with another mate who also took this interview.
About 4.30 in the afternoon, my research group set out to NUS to do our questionnaire, which almost drove me crazy. I, with our leader Lay, was supposed to do the survey in Kent Ridge Hall (KR), King Edward VII Hall (KE) and Shesres Hall. We first took the bus to KE, only to find that there was not even one person in the hall. We tried hard to find 3 seniors, whom we asked to help do the questionnaire. I thought it was not wise to do the survey in the hall, so I waited at the bus stop. However, most people who were waiting at the stop were from PGP residences. We took far more than 1 hour to complete the first target. It was later than 8.00 in the evening that we finished all the tasks and gathered to go back. I felt exhausted and broke down immediately after I got into the taxi.
Early this morning, I got up to prepare for the badminton match. After 3 games, we lost the competition because of the poor performance of us two’s. I don’t want to say much about the match but I will mention an unsavoury episode here. Due to my low-quality return in the third round, Lay got hurt at the elbow and knee when he was trying to save the ball. Much sorry for Lay!
Tomorrow is another day, and we will keep on striving!
On Saturday morning, I went to NUS to attend an interview for University Scholar’s Program (USP), which was the start of the miserable weekend. I nearly fell into asleep before it was my turn because the room temperature was rather low and I did not have enough sleep the night before. My heart sank at the first question, which I didn’t catch. I reluctantly let out the word “pardon”, which seems to be a frequent term when we Chinese students communicate with English-spoken people. Worse still, I missed the second question. I, with guilt, said sorry for clarification again. After that, they slowed their speed and spoke more clearly. I knew at that time that I would not be admitted any more. But I didn’t show much unpleasant emotion and kept my smile. Coming out of the interview room, I found many pitfalls of their questions and got to know the problems of my answers. A bit frustrated, I went back to the hostel with another mate who also took this interview.
About 4.30 in the afternoon, my research group set out to NUS to do our questionnaire, which almost drove me crazy. I, with our leader Lay, was supposed to do the survey in Kent Ridge Hall (KR), King Edward VII Hall (KE) and Shesres Hall. We first took the bus to KE, only to find that there was not even one person in the hall. We tried hard to find 3 seniors, whom we asked to help do the questionnaire. I thought it was not wise to do the survey in the hall, so I waited at the bus stop. However, most people who were waiting at the stop were from PGP residences. We took far more than 1 hour to complete the first target. It was later than 8.00 in the evening that we finished all the tasks and gathered to go back. I felt exhausted and broke down immediately after I got into the taxi.
Early this morning, I got up to prepare for the badminton match. After 3 games, we lost the competition because of the poor performance of us two’s. I don’t want to say much about the match but I will mention an unsavoury episode here. Due to my low-quality return in the third round, Lay got hurt at the elbow and knee when he was trying to save the ball. Much sorry for Lay!
Tomorrow is another day, and we will keep on striving!
April 18, 2009
Cakes （YSM）
Schwarwaelder Kirschtorte: Schwarwealder is the mountain area in southwest of
Mousse: Mousse is something like puddings, but it is much softer. The special thing about it is that it needn’t be baked in an oven. The main ingredient is whipped cream and egg white. So it is usually kept in refrigerators. It originate in dining capital---
Cheese cake: Cheese is the solidified fermented milk. It contains protein, calcium, zinc, vitamin A and B2, and is easy for human to digest. Besides cheese, eggs, fruit, and cream are also its ingredient. It has soft upper layer, and the low layer is usually made of biscuits. It is often decorated with strawberries or blueberries, or simply honey. Cheese cake first came from Greek, it is said that it is made purposely for the Athens Olympics.
So, in fact, the cakes we eat today is not only a dessert, but also a work of art containing bakers’ painstaking efforts.
April 17, 2009
I need to accelerate! (Jega)
Never have I got such feeling before, while, I feel it is the right time to say I need to accelerate. To be honest, I am no longer the one who has gone through the hardship of senior high school. In the former period, like other Chinese students, I studied hard and hadn't got any extra time for entertainment. But things changes so fast, when I was selected to be a scholar to Singapore, I made a turn in the pattern of life. After the university entrance exam in last June, I probably got over 5 months to rest. Such long time with nothing to do had made my speed slow down. I enjoyed long-time sleep and just eating and playing, obviously, there was no learning. I am afraid that I have forgotten the way to study. After coming to Singapore, there is still no sign to make things better. Maybe my parents allow for my loneliness and unadaptable to the different culture, they do not warn me to study well or punish me. Anyway, it's not their fault.
There is an old saying that a person may find it easy to live from a poor life to a rich life, while, it is too much hard to get used to a poor life after he led a rich life before. Things are the same, I recognize that the way ahead is very difficult, which requires you not only your strength but also your real believe. Just like Formula one, when you lose your speed, you have nothing to do then but to wait your failure. Every team does its best to improve the speed, every rate of speed one increase needs a great amount of work in their factory. Never the less, hard work sometimes may not lead to any improvement.
All in all, I need to push my self, push and push, to the extreme.
April 16, 2009
I shall wake up(YAP)
Time flies.
I just have to say so.
I have been here for more than four months. My teacher in Tongji University told me that the first 3 months abroad would be the toughest time; after 3 months, I would get used to the environment and the homesick feeling would fade away. However, I even feel worse these days. Ever since I found the Chinese Northern-style canteen, the Great Wall restaurant, I almost eat there every day. I can’t help tasting the flavor from my hometown. The familiar taste just awaken my homesick feeling and drive me into deep recall of the days when I was in my hometown, Shandong Province.
Maybe I shouldn’t always focus on my homesick feeling. I just spend too much time on this and too little time on my study. I don’t know how much I will get in the Math test last week, but I surely my grades won’t high. I can feel that. I feel sorry for myself.
I shouldn’t go on living this way, I should wake up! I don’t come here to experience the homesick feeling, I’m here to study, to achieve my goal of life. I must wake up!
I just have to say so.
I have been here for more than four months. My teacher in Tongji University told me that the first 3 months abroad would be the toughest time; after 3 months, I would get used to the environment and the homesick feeling would fade away. However, I even feel worse these days. Ever since I found the Chinese Northern-style canteen, the Great Wall restaurant, I almost eat there every day. I can’t help tasting the flavor from my hometown. The familiar taste just awaken my homesick feeling and drive me into deep recall of the days when I was in my hometown, Shandong Province.
Maybe I shouldn’t always focus on my homesick feeling. I just spend too much time on this and too little time on my study. I don’t know how much I will get in the Math test last week, but I surely my grades won’t high. I can feel that. I feel sorry for myself.
I shouldn’t go on living this way, I should wake up! I don’t come here to experience the homesick feeling, I’m here to study, to achieve my goal of life. I must wake up!
April 15, 2009
After watching “The purchase of happiness"
Yesterday I watched the film “The purchase of happiness”. The hero in the movie is named Chris. He his job was to sell a new kind of machines to hospitals. However the machines were a little more accurate but twice more expensive. Thus they were very difficult to be sold out. As a result Chris was hardly able to support his family. His wife left him for he was so poor. One day his came up with an idea that he wanted to be a broker. After seeking for a long time he finally found an opportunity of an internship which however had no salary. During the intern he went through a very tough time. He had to work very hard in the company which offered the intern in the daytime. After that he had to pick his son up. As he was too poor to rent a house he and his son had to live in a refuge. At the same time he had to spare some time to sell the machines so that he could get the money for his and his son’s food. On those days he spent only a little time for sleep. However he did not give up. Fortunately he managed to complete his internship and as he did very well in the intern he was employed by the company as a broker.
After watching this film I realized that to be successful we have to work hard and never give up. A successful man has to be able to put up with big obstacles in the way to success. We have to be confidant though all the others say that is impossible. We have to be strong that we dare to face difficulties and failures. We have to be single-minded so that we will never give up.
After watching this film I realized that to be successful we have to work hard and never give up. A successful man has to be able to put up with big obstacles in the way to success. We have to be confidant though all the others say that is impossible. We have to be strong that we dare to face difficulties and failures. We have to be single-minded so that we will never give up.
I am proud of being a fan of LUNENG TAISHAN
As everyone knows, soccer is the most famous sport in the world. I am a soccer fan, sometimes even can be called fanatic. I have regarded soccer as my hobby since I was about eight years old. Same as many soccer fanatics in Europe such as England, Germany and Italy, I have the responsibility to support the team of hometown Taishan. And I did it. I became the fanatic of the team Shandong Luneng Taishan which is the team of my hometown. When I first year focused on my team, they won double championship. From then on, I support my team sturdily.
Now I am proud of being a fan of Taishan so much after I watched the game competed with shanghai several days ago. This match was held in shanghai which is quite far away from Shandong province. But it was the first away match of Shandong in this season. When I watched the game broadcasted online at night, I was shocked to find there were so many supporters of Shandong. They all wore our team kits orderly, using orderly methods to acclaim our team. Furthermore, they all traveled almost more than one thousand kilometers from Shandong, just for supporting their own team. They just wanted to make the players feel like in the home court. For this simple purpose, they stopped their jobs, studies, or maybe families for a moment, traveled to acclaim their teams. When the game was on, they kept on supporting the team by many means until the match ended. Eventually and unfortunately, we lost the game by 1-4 because of our bad condition. But the fans were not complaining and using abusive language, not like the shanghai fans who always curse their team after loss. Our fans are lovely! Although all of us are sad for the result, we will go on focusing on and support our team. Those fans who watched game in shanghai set a good example by their actions. They interpreted how the love is sturdy to our team and get people to know we are a team. They are the pride of our fans.
Now I am exceedingly proud of being a fan of our own team.
Now I am proud of being a fan of Taishan so much after I watched the game competed with shanghai several days ago. This match was held in shanghai which is quite far away from Shandong province. But it was the first away match of Shandong in this season. When I watched the game broadcasted online at night, I was shocked to find there were so many supporters of Shandong. They all wore our team kits orderly, using orderly methods to acclaim our team. Furthermore, they all traveled almost more than one thousand kilometers from Shandong, just for supporting their own team. They just wanted to make the players feel like in the home court. For this simple purpose, they stopped their jobs, studies, or maybe families for a moment, traveled to acclaim their teams. When the game was on, they kept on supporting the team by many means until the match ended. Eventually and unfortunately, we lost the game by 1-4 because of our bad condition. But the fans were not complaining and using abusive language, not like the shanghai fans who always curse their team after loss. Our fans are lovely! Although all of us are sad for the result, we will go on focusing on and support our team. Those fans who watched game in shanghai set a good example by their actions. They interpreted how the love is sturdy to our team and get people to know we are a team. They are the pride of our fans.
Now I am exceedingly proud of being a fan of our own team.
April 14, 2009
An E_mail (YAP)
Dear you,
I haven’t written to you for a very long time. You must be very worried or curious about what I’ve been doing these days. My mum also concerned me a lot during this period, because I did not call home at all for the past two weeks, only some short massages instead. Sorry to both of you, but as I have explained to her, nothing special, I was merely preparing for the mid-term exam. You know I have difficulties in using C Programming. I tried my best to understand it. Do you have to learn C, anyway?
Spring is coming. I assume there is no cherry blossom in Singapore. But I do remember the last time when my parents and I went to a Japanese temple in our hometown and the cherry blossoms were so beautiful that the colors pink and white have already etched in my heart. I also want to go to Japan at least once in my lifetime to see how cherry blossoms can drift slowly down like a rain of petals. It must be dream-like. You like Japan. Did such idea ever occur to you?
I eventually chose Environmental Engineering, although whether I will be enrolled in that faculty is written. My destiny is somehow closely related to others’ results of NCEE, for you know my mark is not that high. You also should know that the reason I choose this major has nothing to do with its prospect of future jobs, while I do have little knowledge about this major. I think I just have the passion and desire to study our environment, and this major requires only basic knowledge of physics. Is it unrealistic? But are you with me?
Have I ever told you that I have a crush on the rain in Singapore? It rains almost every day of late, yet “I’m loving it”. It sounds like the background track of my daily life, accompanying me sometimes when I get up, and sometimes when I go to bed. If truth be told, however, as one of my tutor used to say, “What if your roof is leaking? You have no shelter to hide from the rain?” Should I be upset then?
Dear you, please be happy.
Miss you and look forward to your e-mail.
Regards,
yu
I haven’t written to you for a very long time. You must be very worried or curious about what I’ve been doing these days. My mum also concerned me a lot during this period, because I did not call home at all for the past two weeks, only some short massages instead. Sorry to both of you, but as I have explained to her, nothing special, I was merely preparing for the mid-term exam. You know I have difficulties in using C Programming. I tried my best to understand it. Do you have to learn C, anyway?
Spring is coming. I assume there is no cherry blossom in Singapore. But I do remember the last time when my parents and I went to a Japanese temple in our hometown and the cherry blossoms were so beautiful that the colors pink and white have already etched in my heart. I also want to go to Japan at least once in my lifetime to see how cherry blossoms can drift slowly down like a rain of petals. It must be dream-like. You like Japan. Did such idea ever occur to you?
I eventually chose Environmental Engineering, although whether I will be enrolled in that faculty is written. My destiny is somehow closely related to others’ results of NCEE, for you know my mark is not that high. You also should know that the reason I choose this major has nothing to do with its prospect of future jobs, while I do have little knowledge about this major. I think I just have the passion and desire to study our environment, and this major requires only basic knowledge of physics. Is it unrealistic? But are you with me?
Have I ever told you that I have a crush on the rain in Singapore? It rains almost every day of late, yet “I’m loving it”. It sounds like the background track of my daily life, accompanying me sometimes when I get up, and sometimes when I go to bed. If truth be told, however, as one of my tutor used to say, “What if your roof is leaking? You have no shelter to hide from the rain?” Should I be upset then?
Dear you, please be happy.
Miss you and look forward to your e-mail.
Regards,
yu
April 13, 2009
exam and drama
This morning all SM3 students had an examination on science. I think the discipline is very strict. When tutors distributed the test papers, we had to go out of the lecture room. While we are doing the papers, our tutor even took some photos of us. The papers were not as hard as I had imagined. But there were still some questions that I wasn’t sure of. However, since the text was over, all of us took off a big burden. I hope we can have a satisfied result.
Tonight some of us went to the city harvest church to have a splendid activity. At first, we sang some Christmas songs. Tomorrow is the reborn festival so we had a drama about it. It said that Jesus Christ was fixed to the cross to pay for our sins. After three days, he was reborn and continued to help people.
We have all told lies, lost our tempers, acted proudly, hurt others with our words, and entertained unloving and immoral thoughts in our minds. All of d indeed sinned against God and the tragedy is that sin breaks our relationship. Sin causes us to fear God and live our lives outside of his will.
So I admit I am a sinner and I need your forgiveness. I believe that you died for my sins on the cross. I now open the door of my life and invite you in to be my Savior and Lord. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life from now on. Make me the kind of person you want me to be. I pray this in your name, Amen.
On the way back home, a senior talk a lot about Christmas and study in NUS with us. I felt moved because she is helpful and patient. She will graduate from NUS in May. So what will I l be like four years later? Now I was going to enter NUS to further my study. I feel curious about all the new things I see in NUS. I imagine the study, the activities in NUS. Maybe after four years, I will know much better about NUS. And then I want to be a volunteer so that I can help my juniors.
Tonight some of us went to the city harvest church to have a splendid activity. At first, we sang some Christmas songs. Tomorrow is the reborn festival so we had a drama about it. It said that Jesus Christ was fixed to the cross to pay for our sins. After three days, he was reborn and continued to help people.
We have all told lies, lost our tempers, acted proudly, hurt others with our words, and entertained unloving and immoral thoughts in our minds. All of d indeed sinned against God and the tragedy is that sin breaks our relationship. Sin causes us to fear God and live our lives outside of his will.
So I admit I am a sinner and I need your forgiveness. I believe that you died for my sins on the cross. I now open the door of my life and invite you in to be my Savior and Lord. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Take control of my life from now on. Make me the kind of person you want me to be. I pray this in your name, Amen.
On the way back home, a senior talk a lot about Christmas and study in NUS with us. I felt moved because she is helpful and patient. She will graduate from NUS in May. So what will I l be like four years later? Now I was going to enter NUS to further my study. I feel curious about all the new things I see in NUS. I imagine the study, the activities in NUS. Maybe after four years, I will know much better about NUS. And then I want to be a volunteer so that I can help my juniors.
Things Are Getting Changing （Lugg. 7）
The Sunday before last week, I, at length, made my final decision about which major to choose. I felt released at that time because the major problem had been long bothering me. With a light mood, I took much hope for the next week. However, things seem to get changing in some way, and I find myself busier than before.
Since the research report presented itself into my view, I began to have less time to “waste”. I have to spare time to discuss with my group mates about our topic, which is just the first step of completing our research report. Actually I don’t think we are efficient enough for I sometimes become absent-minded during our discussion. Luckily our topic gained the consent of our supervisor’s. We are now on the way of designing questionnaire. Good luck to our project!
Last Friday was a holiday, but I didn’t believe I was having a day off. De facto, I spent the whole day going over the lecturenotes since we would have exams the following day. This could be the worst holiday since I came to Singapore because my head was about to explode after I crammed for hours. Worse still, what I prepared on Friday scarcely had anything to do with the exams. What a bad luck!
Perhaps the happiest time of last week was Saturday evening, when I went to watch a drama. I think the performers were fairly skilled in the drama even if they are not vocational. I watched attentively all through the drama, trying to figure out the idea. I myself don’t believe in god, but I was also touched by the plot and their excellent performance. It was a pity that I didn’t remember the boy sitting next to me although he had told me his name. He is a Christian, and shows passion and friendliness during that short time. He even invited me to go to front and prayed for me. I felt something of belonging just at that time as if all my sickness and illness, financial problems and debt, emotional despair and sins were taken away from my body. Thanks for granting me the chance!
It turns out that I really have to be efficient to cope with that many tasks. So, no more time wasting and stop procrastinating. Just speed up!
Since the research report presented itself into my view, I began to have less time to “waste”. I have to spare time to discuss with my group mates about our topic, which is just the first step of completing our research report. Actually I don’t think we are efficient enough for I sometimes become absent-minded during our discussion. Luckily our topic gained the consent of our supervisor’s. We are now on the way of designing questionnaire. Good luck to our project!
Last Friday was a holiday, but I didn’t believe I was having a day off. De facto, I spent the whole day going over the lecturenotes since we would have exams the following day. This could be the worst holiday since I came to Singapore because my head was about to explode after I crammed for hours. Worse still, what I prepared on Friday scarcely had anything to do with the exams. What a bad luck!
Perhaps the happiest time of last week was Saturday evening, when I went to watch a drama. I think the performers were fairly skilled in the drama even if they are not vocational. I watched attentively all through the drama, trying to figure out the idea. I myself don’t believe in god, but I was also touched by the plot and their excellent performance. It was a pity that I didn’t remember the boy sitting next to me although he had told me his name. He is a Christian, and shows passion and friendliness during that short time. He even invited me to go to front and prayed for me. I felt something of belonging just at that time as if all my sickness and illness, financial problems and debt, emotional despair and sins were taken away from my body. Thanks for granting me the chance!
It turns out that I really have to be efficient to cope with that many tasks. So, no more time wasting and stop procrastinating. Just speed up!
April 12, 2009
My favorite color--'blue"(Yap)
Last Thursday I read a text about colors which drew much my attention and interest on the Supplementary Materials.
The writer showed eight colors, namely red, green, violet, brown, grey, blue and black, in the beginning and asked me to choose one. Without thinking twice, I chose blue at once. Actually, almost the color of all my pens is blue and I prefer to buy blue objects under same circumstances.
I have stuck to loving blue for a long time, maybe from when I fell into love with the blue sky. Whenever I have free time, I would like to go out for a walk and look up to watch the blue, spotlessly clear sky. In my eyes, the sky resembles much our hearts while the blue and clearness represent peace and calmness. Walking or jogging under such a sky can help you think the positive sides of life involuntarily and fuel your body and mind with powerful strength and fresh thoughts respectively.
Blue has also gotten the meaning of “sad and depressed”. If truth be told, I like things of that kind as well. Wearing a bit depression on one’s face looks more charming to me. I even can’t help feeling disgusted when contacting with someone who is outgoing and optimistic to a fault. In my eyes, introverted girls even look more beautiful.
Flash back to the text, its inference of personality of people who choose blue as their favorite color coincides exactly with mine. Although I am not satisfied with my present life but feel quite content with the way it is going. After all, I still have many choices to make my life more colorful and meaningful.
Notwithstanding the perceptions in the text are associated with superstitions to some extent, I enjoyed reading them at the same time studying my own personality. Anyway, blue is my favorite.
The writer showed eight colors, namely red, green, violet, brown, grey, blue and black, in the beginning and asked me to choose one. Without thinking twice, I chose blue at once. Actually, almost the color of all my pens is blue and I prefer to buy blue objects under same circumstances.
I have stuck to loving blue for a long time, maybe from when I fell into love with the blue sky. Whenever I have free time, I would like to go out for a walk and look up to watch the blue, spotlessly clear sky. In my eyes, the sky resembles much our hearts while the blue and clearness represent peace and calmness. Walking or jogging under such a sky can help you think the positive sides of life involuntarily and fuel your body and mind with powerful strength and fresh thoughts respectively.
Blue has also gotten the meaning of “sad and depressed”. If truth be told, I like things of that kind as well. Wearing a bit depression on one’s face looks more charming to me. I even can’t help feeling disgusted when contacting with someone who is outgoing and optimistic to a fault. In my eyes, introverted girls even look more beautiful.
Flash back to the text, its inference of personality of people who choose blue as their favorite color coincides exactly with mine. Although I am not satisfied with my present life but feel quite content with the way it is going. After all, I still have many choices to make my life more colorful and meaningful.
Notwithstanding the perceptions in the text are associated with superstitions to some extent, I enjoyed reading them at the same time studying my own personality. Anyway, blue is my favorite.
Say something about our weekends (AW)
Recently I find myself a little busier than before. This Saturday we faced our first examination about C language and math. Anyway I think I did a good job in studying them, so not bad about the result. Also on that day, I have been a drama which was held by City Harvest about Easter Day in the evening. In a nutshell, I had a very colorful and meaningful weekend, I think.
But not every weekend is like this one, sometimes I find it is boring and nothing to do. After finishing a week’s work, I should say it is actually tired for us. In the weekends, everyone can choose a way he (or she) likes to relax himself (or herself). Surf in the Internet, chat with my friends, read the last news and write a blog. However for a while, I find there is no worthy of wasting time on these things. Go back to my room, I want to have a nap for half an hour. The aura of shouting and clicking makes very difficult for me to do that. Everyone in my room are playing computer games, as if the scenes and characters in games gave them a kind of medicine which makes them always exciting.
Now, you can understand why weekends are boring sometimes. They, many friends of mine, don’t want to read some books, walk outside to some place or join some interesting activities. The only thing they want to do is being companied with their computers like watching movies, playing games and surfing in the Internet. I should say it is so bad when you are stuck in this situation. In other words, you have been controlled by your computer. When a weekend is over, there is nothing leaving for them, just tired. So that is why there are many students sleeping in class.
In order to change this bad chain reaction, I determine to make it more colorful and meaningful. Catch this leisure time to know Singapore and really enjoy your life here.
But not every weekend is like this one, sometimes I find it is boring and nothing to do. After finishing a week’s work, I should say it is actually tired for us. In the weekends, everyone can choose a way he (or she) likes to relax himself (or herself). Surf in the Internet, chat with my friends, read the last news and write a blog. However for a while, I find there is no worthy of wasting time on these things. Go back to my room, I want to have a nap for half an hour. The aura of shouting and clicking makes very difficult for me to do that. Everyone in my room are playing computer games, as if the scenes and characters in games gave them a kind of medicine which makes them always exciting.
Now, you can understand why weekends are boring sometimes. They, many friends of mine, don’t want to read some books, walk outside to some place or join some interesting activities. The only thing they want to do is being companied with their computers like watching movies, playing games and surfing in the Internet. I should say it is so bad when you are stuck in this situation. In other words, you have been controlled by your computer. When a weekend is over, there is nothing leaving for them, just tired. So that is why there are many students sleeping in class.
In order to change this bad chain reaction, I determine to make it more colorful and meaningful. Catch this leisure time to know Singapore and really enjoy your life here.
April 10, 2009
relationship with my friends
I’ve tried to behave all the time and be careful with my friends. You know, to have a good relationship with your friends is rather difficult, especially when you’ve got personality clash or cultural differences with them. Usually, I am a quiet and reserved person when getting along with some acquaintances. But once I’ve been familiar with them and perceived by myself that I’ve got along with them so well that even when I do something offensive to them they wouldn’t mind, I tend to do something stupid. This time, when talking with a friend, I poured out something which really sounded to be out of the way. I did not realise it for I really did not mean it. But it did hurt his feelings. I was a little surprised and stun by the way he responded at that moment. Then I came to understand the reason why he changed his attitude all of a sudden. We’ve got some differences between our own hometown cultures and personalities. Something that is normal in my culture may turn out to be unbelievable in his. Some ideas that I take for granted may turn out to be offensive in his way.
But I did not apologize to him. I have my own dignity. And I also assumed him to be a wise person who would surly grasp my real meaning.
But I did not apologize to him. I have my own dignity. And I also assumed him to be a wise person who would surly grasp my real meaning.
April 8, 2009
Troy---a classic film (Jega)
The whole movie talks about the fight between the two countries Greek and Troy, and the real fight between the two fighters Achilles and Hector. Achilles is a strong warrior with a simple mind. He doesn't care about the benefits and the power, but he thinks a lot about his reputation and how he would be recorded in the long history. Hector makes the big mistake when he kills Achilles cousin for mistake, which angers Achilles so much. I always hold the idea that Hector is the symbol of a good man that loves his country, his family, his new child ,his brother very much.
April 7, 2009
The football team Shandong was beaten by Shanghai(YAP)(Alexis 19)
Last Saturday, after my Science class, I didn’t go back to Eton Hall with my classmates immediately. I stayed in NUS because I wanted to watch a football match online. The strongest team in my Province, Shandong Luneng Taishan, fought with another strong team, Shanghai Shenhua.
I was pretty excited about this match because the match between these two teams are considered as the National Match of China. After dinner, Tan Wen and I went to Engineering Block to watch this match.
At first, my team, Luneng did a quite good job and soon after the start, we scored and made the table 1:0. I was totally excited. However, in the next 15 minutes, we failed to score although we had plenty of chances. We even hit the bar for two times. What was worse, Shandong became lazier and lazier after we scored. As the saying “Those who wastes opportunities will be punished” goes, Shanghai scored twice in less than 10 minutes just before the middle time reached. In the second half, instead of fighting for equalizing, Shandong continued to behave lazily. On the contrary, Shanghai continued to fight there way and scored another two goals in the second half. In the end, Shanghai beat Shandong by 4:1.
After the match, I was shocked. I just couldn’t accept such a result for Shandong has been considered as such a strong team that no one seem to be able to beat us. Maybe we should change our coach after this season because he has been the coach of Shandong for five years and most of his strategies have been studied by other teams. However, in my opinion, one more important thing is, we should regain our enterprise.
Today, Shandong will fight against Soul FC in the AFC Champions League. Best wishes for my Shandong Luneng Taishan!!
I was pretty excited about this match because the match between these two teams are considered as the National Match of China. After dinner, Tan Wen and I went to Engineering Block to watch this match.
At first, my team, Luneng did a quite good job and soon after the start, we scored and made the table 1:0. I was totally excited. However, in the next 15 minutes, we failed to score although we had plenty of chances. We even hit the bar for two times. What was worse, Shandong became lazier and lazier after we scored. As the saying “Those who wastes opportunities will be punished” goes, Shanghai scored twice in less than 10 minutes just before the middle time reached. In the second half, instead of fighting for equalizing, Shandong continued to behave lazily. On the contrary, Shanghai continued to fight there way and scored another two goals in the second half. In the end, Shanghai beat Shandong by 4:1.
After the match, I was shocked. I just couldn’t accept such a result for Shandong has been considered as such a strong team that no one seem to be able to beat us. Maybe we should change our coach after this season because he has been the coach of Shandong for five years and most of his strategies have been studied by other teams. However, in my opinion, one more important thing is, we should regain our enterprise.
Today, Shandong will fight against Soul FC in the AFC Champions League. Best wishes for my Shandong Luneng Taishan!!
April 6, 2009
received my package today(08)(ML)
I received my baby package from china yesterday finally.
The package was sent by post more than a month ago on 26th Febrary. I wonder why it takes so long to receive my package!!
I paid attention to every broadcast very very carefully everyday, but had never heard my name. Everytime I saw people collected their package with big smile on their face, only did I know how painful and worried I was that time.when one week passed, I did not worry at all. When two weeks passed, I comforted myself that it would soon arrive next week. When it was the fourth week, I was expecting everyday and even went to the post office to check if my package was lost or something.when five weeks passed, I started to ask everybody around me about my package and the time it should take to receive it. I was totally depressed when I was told that the package was supposed to reach singapore in a week after it was posted.
I did not hear the broadcast that night and was concerntrating on my games. Auntie did not find me and got a little angry.when I was told that there was my package, I got so excited that I almost fell down from the stairs while getting downstairs.
It is really an amazing thing that I am also among students who has a electrical dictionary and a camera!! Frankly speaking, I cannot accept the fact that I really own an electrical dictionary!! It is not easy to believe that I need not carry a heavy dictionary everyday to go to school any more!!it is really difficult for me to adjust myself from the shadow, in which I have no camera myself and have to borrow one to take pictures, to the bright days, in which I could indulge myself in photographing as much as possible using my own camera!!
What I just want to say now is that enjoy it!!!!!!!
The package was sent by post more than a month ago on 26th Febrary. I wonder why it takes so long to receive my package!!
I paid attention to every broadcast very very carefully everyday, but had never heard my name. Everytime I saw people collected their package with big smile on their face, only did I know how painful and worried I was that time.when one week passed, I did not worry at all. When two weeks passed, I comforted myself that it would soon arrive next week. When it was the fourth week, I was expecting everyday and even went to the post office to check if my package was lost or something.when five weeks passed, I started to ask everybody around me about my package and the time it should take to receive it. I was totally depressed when I was told that the package was supposed to reach singapore in a week after it was posted.
I did not hear the broadcast that night and was concerntrating on my games. Auntie did not find me and got a little angry.when I was told that there was my package, I got so excited that I almost fell down from the stairs while getting downstairs.
It is really an amazing thing that I am also among students who has a electrical dictionary and a camera!! Frankly speaking, I cannot accept the fact that I really own an electrical dictionary!! It is not easy to believe that I need not carry a heavy dictionary everyday to go to school any more!!it is really difficult for me to adjust myself from the shadow, in which I have no camera myself and have to borrow one to take pictures, to the bright days, in which I could indulge myself in photographing as much as possible using my own camera!!
What I just want to say now is that enjoy it!!!!!!!
April 4, 2009
My Nineteenth Birthday(AW)
Your birthday is the time when you receive not only presents but also blessings and sensation. Actually, it is the first time for me to live away from home for such a long time and learn how to rely on myself. It is also my first time to have birthday in another country. However, I do not feel lonely because of the love from the people around me.
On the day before my birthday, I happened to find a letter from my mother when checking my emails. Since I forgot that it was my birthday tomorrow, I went through the letter with curiosity. In the letter, my mother told me to be happy everyday and look after myself. My father and she would bless me though they were not beside me. As I read the letter, tears gathered in my eyes. I reflected on the past things and felt sorry about the hurts I caused to them. But I told myself to cheer up because my parents were smiling at me all the time.
It was late night, my eyes could hardly open after the study time. Finishing a bath, I came back to my room, only to find a new SMS displayed on my handphone. “Hey, happy birthday to you! I hope it is the first blessing that you receive on your nineteenth birthday. Keep smiling!” I was touched that she could stand up till midnight to wish me a happy birthday. Then during the following day, I continued to be moved by the lovely guys aroud me. That night, we friends from the same university got together to celebrate my birthday. During the party, we talked, laughed and toasted to each other. Our singing rang through the room and we really had a terrific time.
When we reached Eton Hall, it was nearly 11:00. Having been worn up, I ploped into my bed. To my surprise, my head bumped into a hard thing. Oh, it was a box of chocolates! There were two notes attached to it. The notes were full of familiar words which reminded me of the wonderful time we had together. My eyes were fixed on the notes for a long time and I could not pull myself out the gratitude to them, my friends.
Since it is the first time I have my birthday far away from home, I can feel the love from people around me much more. Thank you for all your love, it is because of you that I can live a more meaningful life.
On the day before my birthday, I happened to find a letter from my mother when checking my emails. Since I forgot that it was my birthday tomorrow, I went through the letter with curiosity. In the letter, my mother told me to be happy everyday and look after myself. My father and she would bless me though they were not beside me. As I read the letter, tears gathered in my eyes. I reflected on the past things and felt sorry about the hurts I caused to them. But I told myself to cheer up because my parents were smiling at me all the time.
It was late night, my eyes could hardly open after the study time. Finishing a bath, I came back to my room, only to find a new SMS displayed on my handphone. “Hey, happy birthday to you! I hope it is the first blessing that you receive on your nineteenth birthday. Keep smiling!” I was touched that she could stand up till midnight to wish me a happy birthday. Then during the following day, I continued to be moved by the lovely guys aroud me. That night, we friends from the same university got together to celebrate my birthday. During the party, we talked, laughed and toasted to each other. Our singing rang through the room and we really had a terrific time.
When we reached Eton Hall, it was nearly 11:00. Having been worn up, I ploped into my bed. To my surprise, my head bumped into a hard thing. Oh, it was a box of chocolates! There were two notes attached to it. The notes were full of familiar words which reminded me of the wonderful time we had together. My eyes were fixed on the notes for a long time and I could not pull myself out the gratitude to them, my friends.
Since it is the first time I have my birthday far away from home, I can feel the love from people around me much more. Thank you for all your love, it is because of you that I can live a more meaningful life.
last basketball game(08)（ML）
Today, I am depressed.
We had a baketball game against group 8, I felt vey very very ashamed of my behaviours today.
I was the one to record the foul times for each group. I knew I did not do the job well because I got too excited so that I lost my mind. My head was not clear enough to count well. I made the list a mass and the result was not clear enough to recognise, which made me really depressed and drove me mad finally. Moreover, owing to my excessive exicitement, I roared to one of my best friend and drove her away. When it was the paramount moment, I found that the ball was flying to me and thank god I stopped it in time before it could cause serious concequences. However, at the same time ,one player of the other team also catched the ball. Because I was standing inside the court and I was not a player, the ball was judged as OUT. I am very sorry for that boy and feel no one would be more stupid than I am today.
Our team played very very hard but the organisation and stratedy was not very good, compared to group 8. our team played to a highlight near the end of the game, during which, the pace of group had been disturbed by us and their field goal percentage was not so high as it was at the beginning. we scored more during this period and all the members of our group got excited and forgot who we really were that time. It was really cool when all of us became one .we shouted to cheer up our players, but I know we disturbed others, also making me like an idiot, hated by all the people around me.Though our time passed very quickly, it was worthed it, wasn’t it? near the end of the game, their team came to themselves. Even though all the players on the court were exhausted, they struggled to finish the game. god did not bless us, the game ended with the injury of xiaodong and we gave up the game, with final score 32 to 40. it was really a fantastic basketball game, especially when we are together.
We had a baketball game against group 8, I felt vey very very ashamed of my behaviours today.
I was the one to record the foul times for each group. I knew I did not do the job well because I got too excited so that I lost my mind. My head was not clear enough to count well. I made the list a mass and the result was not clear enough to recognise, which made me really depressed and drove me mad finally. Moreover, owing to my excessive exicitement, I roared to one of my best friend and drove her away. When it was the paramount moment, I found that the ball was flying to me and thank god I stopped it in time before it could cause serious concequences. However, at the same time ,one player of the other team also catched the ball. Because I was standing inside the court and I was not a player, the ball was judged as OUT. I am very sorry for that boy and feel no one would be more stupid than I am today.
Our team played very very hard but the organisation and stratedy was not very good, compared to group 8. our team played to a highlight near the end of the game, during which, the pace of group had been disturbed by us and their field goal percentage was not so high as it was at the beginning. we scored more during this period and all the members of our group got excited and forgot who we really were that time. It was really cool when all of us became one .we shouted to cheer up our players, but I know we disturbed others, also making me like an idiot, hated by all the people around me.Though our time passed very quickly, it was worthed it, wasn’t it? near the end of the game, their team came to themselves. Even though all the players on the court were exhausted, they struggled to finish the game. god did not bless us, the game ended with the injury of xiaodong and we gave up the game, with final score 32 to 40. it was really a fantastic basketball game, especially when we are together.
my early memories (08) (ML)(4)
I was very weak when I was little and I often got painful injections
I asked mum to buy ice cream for me every time after injection with the remaining tears on my face,but it did not work at all.
So when I learned to be smarter after a few times.
i would not accept an injection except mum promised to buy ice cream for me but every time I finished the injection, mum never realized her promise, even mentioned.
Then I learned to be much more smaryer
I would not accept an injection unless mum had bought ice cream for me.
it really effected.
So why do the children are smarter and smarter?
Because parents are less and less honest. we have to learn to rely on ourselves.
I asked mum to buy ice cream for me every time after injection with the remaining tears on my face,but it did not work at all.
So when I learned to be smarter after a few times.
i would not accept an injection except mum promised to buy ice cream for me but every time I finished the injection, mum never realized her promise, even mentioned.
Then I learned to be much more smaryer
I would not accept an injection unless mum had bought ice cream for me.
it really effected.
So why do the children are smarter and smarter?
Because parents are less and less honest. we have to learn to rely on ourselves.
my early memories (08) (ML)(3)
My body was covered with blisters and they were itching all the time,
“You know what ,you disease is cause by the barbecued mutton,you have eaten too much .don’t eat it any more!!” Father warned me when he was spreading the salve on my scan..
I was very scared and I warned my friends：“barbequed mutton could cause itchy blisters and I am the best example！do not eat it any more!”
Every time passing shops that selled barbecued mutton, I would say to mum
“Mum,I would not eat barbecued mutton any more.they are harmful”but still staring at the shops even when the shops had turned into a spot in my sight because I really really really want to eat once more.but dared not for my illness.
Good boy.mum often replied very simply
Only did I know how painful I was at that moment .i could count it as one of the most painful moments in my life.
Acturally , I was ill because I was infected by measles and I did not realized that until entering the collage.more deperately,when I questioned mum with that ,she cannot even remember that i had ever been infected by measles, not to mention the barbecued mutton
So what I want to say is that do not cheat little innocent children even due to kindness .your small words may have a big effect on their whole life.
“You know what ,you disease is cause by the barbecued mutton,you have eaten too much .don’t eat it any more!!” Father warned me when he was spreading the salve on my scan..
I was very scared and I warned my friends：“barbequed mutton could cause itchy blisters and I am the best example！do not eat it any more!”
Every time passing shops that selled barbecued mutton, I would say to mum
“Mum,I would not eat barbecued mutton any more.they are harmful”but still staring at the shops even when the shops had turned into a spot in my sight because I really really really want to eat once more.but dared not for my illness.
Good boy.mum often replied very simply
Only did I know how painful I was at that moment .i could count it as one of the most painful moments in my life.
Acturally , I was ill because I was infected by measles and I did not realized that until entering the collage.more deperately,when I questioned mum with that ,she cannot even remember that i had ever been infected by measles, not to mention the barbecued mutton
So what I want to say is that do not cheat little innocent children even due to kindness .your small words may have a big effect on their whole life.
my early memories (08) (ML)(2)
I went to buy bananas with my mum,I saw there are two kinds of bananas ,one were brightly yellow and seemed bigger and nicer that the other one.
Mum ,what is this kind of banana?
“they are hot bananas” mum smiled strangely with the shopper keeper
“Hot bananas?are there hot bananas?mum,let’s buy some.”
“They are very hot,you can buy some when you grow up.” said the shopper keeper,smiling to my mum
I remembered the hot bananas and when talking with my friends about bananas ,I always mentioned that there existed hot bananas
I did not realize that was not ture until I was 13 or 14
Acturally ,they are just modoles made of plastic
Mum ,what is this kind of banana?
“they are hot bananas” mum smiled strangely with the shopper keeper
“Hot bananas?are there hot bananas?mum,let’s buy some.”
“They are very hot,you can buy some when you grow up.” said the shopper keeper,smiling to my mum
I remembered the hot bananas and when talking with my friends about bananas ,I always mentioned that there existed hot bananas
I did not realize that was not ture until I was 13 or 14
Acturally ,they are just modoles made of plastic
What Makes the Great Great--Beyond Their Academic Achievements ( M.L.)
I have the habit of tracing successful people's lives and trying to generalize their common characters. When I looked through the list of the Nobel laureates, I noticed them, Albert Einstein, a laureate in physics in 1921 and Albert Camus in literature in 1957. I decided to compare them to see if there are any similarities in the two Nobel laureates. Actually I discovered far more than I had expected, and I realized that the scientist who shook the foundation of physics by introducing the Theory of Relativity and the writer whose literature was regarded as “clear-sighted earnestness that illuminates the problems of human conscience” shared many common characters in respect of their values and principles. Here I would like to discuss some of their common values and principles. I believe this will give you a deeper insight into what makes the great great.
The first common character of Einstein and Camus is speaking the truth. Einstein's honesty and frankness were not only reflected in his scientific researches, but also in his involvement in political and humanitarian activities. Facing Germany's rising militarism, he spoke and wrote for peace frankly while many people of conscience fled to the underground. Camus did not allow his art to compromise with lies. He exalted spiritual well-being in a world of materialism. He took pride in his insistence on telling the truth and his resistance to oppression. He had been speaking out against totalitarianism until the end of his life.
Despite that they specialized in different fields, they shared the same love and sympathy for humankind, especially for the weak. Einstein believed that an individual existed for other people and was bound with others' destinies by the ties of sympathy. He regarded class distinctions as unjustified and expressed his sympathy for those who suffered. Camus would rather put himself in the service of those who suffered than those who made history. In fact most of the characters in his books are common people such as the principle character of the Plague an ordinary medical professional.
Einstein and Camus both highly evaluated liberty and peace. Einstein's political ideal was democracy and he pursued individual liberty. He criticized militarism, war was vile to him. He himself did not play a role in the Manhattan Project other than signing the letter which showed concern about the potential danger of Germany's developing atomic bombs. Camus appealed to bring in new laws of justice to remake the war-threatened world into “the Ark of the Covenant”.
In terms of attitudes towards academic life, they both had strong passion for their careers, and they both took their academic progress as the gateway to approaching their ultimate goals of life. For Einstein, his passion for physics came from his deep desire to understand the marvelous structure of the natural world and to discover the profoundest beauty in the laws of science. Camus'passion came from his mission in life to reveal the common joys and sorrows, and to appeal to reestablish humans' dignity of life and death. In this sense, Einstein and Camus were both philosophers marching on the road to the eternal truth.
Although they both had extinguished achievements, they also had mutual preference for solitude and exclusion of fame. Einstein described himself as “an alone traveler”. He never truly belonged to anyone or any country. He had never lost the sense of distance and a need for solitude because he emphasized thinking independently and avoided being influenced by others’ opinions. He had always wanted a frugal life and he believed that a simple and unassuming life could benefit people a lot. Camus also highly recognized solitude and declined fame to a certain extent. He reviewed that he was accustomed to living in the solitude of composing and that he did not desire the kind of life at the centre of spotlights.
However, in spite that they preferred solitude, it is a fact that they both had strong senses of social responsibility. They did not try to isolate themselves from the society. Instead, they led active parts in activities that promoted people's living conditions.
To sum up, the immortality of the great is attributed to more than just their outstanding academic achievement, but to a larger degree is due to their great personalities, values and principles that shining in them regardless of their specializations. I will cultivate my personalities and nurture my values. I will not lose myself.
The first common character of Einstein and Camus is speaking the truth. Einstein's honesty and frankness were not only reflected in his scientific researches, but also in his involvement in political and humanitarian activities. Facing Germany's rising militarism, he spoke and wrote for peace frankly while many people of conscience fled to the underground. Camus did not allow his art to compromise with lies. He exalted spiritual well-being in a world of materialism. He took pride in his insistence on telling the truth and his resistance to oppression. He had been speaking out against totalitarianism until the end of his life.
Despite that they specialized in different fields, they shared the same love and sympathy for humankind, especially for the weak. Einstein believed that an individual existed for other people and was bound with others' destinies by the ties of sympathy. He regarded class distinctions as unjustified and expressed his sympathy for those who suffered. Camus would rather put himself in the service of those who suffered than those who made history. In fact most of the characters in his books are common people such as the principle character of the Plague an ordinary medical professional.
Einstein and Camus both highly evaluated liberty and peace. Einstein's political ideal was democracy and he pursued individual liberty. He criticized militarism, war was vile to him. He himself did not play a role in the Manhattan Project other than signing the letter which showed concern about the potential danger of Germany's developing atomic bombs. Camus appealed to bring in new laws of justice to remake the war-threatened world into “the Ark of the Covenant”.
In terms of attitudes towards academic life, they both had strong passion for their careers, and they both took their academic progress as the gateway to approaching their ultimate goals of life. For Einstein, his passion for physics came from his deep desire to understand the marvelous structure of the natural world and to discover the profoundest beauty in the laws of science. Camus'passion came from his mission in life to reveal the common joys and sorrows, and to appeal to reestablish humans' dignity of life and death. In this sense, Einstein and Camus were both philosophers marching on the road to the eternal truth.
Although they both had extinguished achievements, they also had mutual preference for solitude and exclusion of fame. Einstein described himself as “an alone traveler”. He never truly belonged to anyone or any country. He had never lost the sense of distance and a need for solitude because he emphasized thinking independently and avoided being influenced by others’ opinions. He had always wanted a frugal life and he believed that a simple and unassuming life could benefit people a lot. Camus also highly recognized solitude and declined fame to a certain extent. He reviewed that he was accustomed to living in the solitude of composing and that he did not desire the kind of life at the centre of spotlights.
However, in spite that they preferred solitude, it is a fact that they both had strong senses of social responsibility. They did not try to isolate themselves from the society. Instead, they led active parts in activities that promoted people's living conditions.
To sum up, the immortality of the great is attributed to more than just their outstanding academic achievement, but to a larger degree is due to their great personalities, values and principles that shining in them regardless of their specializations. I will cultivate my personalities and nurture my values. I will not lose myself.
April 3, 2009
Some Impressions（YSM）
It is said that a child can never really grow up until he or she is away from home. Surely, when I was at home, my parents almost cared about everything that happened on me. They helped to arrange my life in order. It is their considerate care that made my childhood so light-hearted.
Every morning, in order to ensure that I could have a longer sleep, mom would get up early to prepare breakfast for me, and then dad would drove me to school. Every day, they left no means untried to enrich my dinner, thus, there were always dishes I like and are of high nutrition waiting for me when I came back home. In case that I would feel lonely studying late until midnight, mom would always sit beside silently accompanying me. Every time when I came across difficulty, they would just be there to pull me out of the dilemma; every time when I lost my heart and was about to give up, they would stretch out their warm hands and continue the journal together with me; every time when I was tied of studying, they would guide me with an understand attitude…. It is universally acknowledged that children can never truly understand their parents until they themselves become parents.
Before we graduated from high school, our teacher told us, when we leave home, we should never report bad news, but good news to home. Because perhaps it is only a simple sentence “I fell ill”, they would spend many days sleepless and worried about us day and night. We may think parents are garrulous, reminding us again and again to watch out when crossing a road, be careful about our wallet, and concentrate during class, like treating a small child... However, in fact, in their eyes, no matter how old we are, we are always their little children. They don’t really care how much we will repay them when we grow up; they don’t expect us to contribute to the family; they simply hope that we will be happy and healthy all the way along. They say that we are their hope, the continuation of their life. They force us to study, not because if we fail the exam they will lose face, but they hope that good marks can be a guarantee for our future career. After all, the journal of life is long and tough, and they can’t always walk by our side prepared to help us up whenever we fall down.
I have read these words in a book “Actually, every mother is an angel, but when she gives birth to a baby, she just silently hides all her brilliance, and is willing to become an ordinary but great mother”. Parents sacrifice their youth and vigor to look after us. They would rather bear hardships themselves, than let their children suffer.
You may never know when it is that they have their first grey hair; you may never know when it is wrinkles cover their once beautiful face; you may never know how many times they have cried for you; you may never know how much they love you…
Think of your dear parents, their smiles, their warm hands, and their considerate care. Please do not be sparing of the words “I love you”. Right now, please pick up you phone and call back home, telling them, you love them too.
April 2, 2009
When facing the sea(YSM)
This Monday sixteen members of my group went to an island in Singapore. There I saw the sea. Though I have seen seas before however those seas were filled with feculent water and I just stood on the beach to see the seas. While this time I stood on a bridge which led us to the centre of the sea and the scenery in front of me was the limpid and fantastic water which made the sea looked like a light blue crystal. It was the first time that I started to feel that the sea was immersing my mind instead of just seeing it. When facing it, my thoughts wander in an infinite space. When facing it, my mind was widened. When facing it, the whole universe of mine was conquered.
When facing the sea, I saw the waves kept running towards me. The waves were infinite. They came to me and then left me and went on running towards the beach. I thought the waves were like time which would come to us and then leave us. No one can occupy it, the only thing we can do is to make full use of it. The waves were also like the persons passed us. We meet different persons in different ages but many of them will leave us and lose connect with us. Maybe some of them impressed you deeply just like some beautiful waves however the only thing we can do is to keep them in our memories and to recollect them sometimes just like we took pictures of the waves and review the pictures but never owning the waves or make the waves always surrounding you.
When facing the sea, I could not saw the edge of the sea. Then I realized that it was just like our future. The waves came towards me as if I was moving forward. It was the same with us. We run advanced on our way of life however we cannot see the end of our lives. The way ahead is full of sceneries and mysteries.
When facing the sea, I realized how small we were. When facing the sea I apprehended how great and powerful the natural was. When facing the sea, I comprehended what was a broad mind. When facing the sea, …
When facing the sea, I saw the waves kept running towards me. The waves were infinite. They came to me and then left me and went on running towards the beach. I thought the waves were like time which would come to us and then leave us. No one can occupy it, the only thing we can do is to make full use of it. The waves were also like the persons passed us. We meet different persons in different ages but many of them will leave us and lose connect with us. Maybe some of them impressed you deeply just like some beautiful waves however the only thing we can do is to keep them in our memories and to recollect them sometimes just like we took pictures of the waves and review the pictures but never owning the waves or make the waves always surrounding you.
When facing the sea, I could not saw the edge of the sea. Then I realized that it was just like our future. The waves came towards me as if I was moving forward. It was the same with us. We run advanced on our way of life however we cannot see the end of our lives. The way ahead is full of sceneries and mysteries.
When facing the sea, I realized how small we were. When facing the sea I apprehended how great and powerful the natural was. When facing the sea, I comprehended what was a broad mind. When facing the sea, …
Nostalgia
Now I don’t feel very well. During last two days I searched the internet with one of my classmates to find some information about flight. Yesterday night we two felt delighted because of a discounted ticket. We chose a reasonable date and decided to buy it online the next day. Since we haven’t a credit card, we had to turn to our senior for help. This noon we came to our senior’s dormitory in Raffle’s Hall. However, after we almost finished filling everything in tables, we find that it is supposed to enter the effective date of the passport. But we can’t remember it. Unfortunately, we couldn’t book a ticket without finishing the table. It is not easy to make an appointment with our senior. Their academic assignment is very heavy and I heard that he was doing four projects at the same time. I appreciated it that he could set aside his leisure time to help us. What a disappointed thing that we can’t manage to book a ticket with the help of our senior. This noon we two didn’t have our lunch so we felt hungry and sad. Later this afternoon I can’t speak out even a single word. Can’t I go back to China? I miss my home very much. I couldn’t imagine how I can bear staying away from home for as long as a year. After the class we had to have a boring meeting about our majors, which made me feel much more down. As we know, these weeks we keep having this kind of meeting. At first, I find the meeting meaningful with lots of information about various majors. However, nearly every week we have to attend this kind of meetings that make us feel confused. They also waste lots of our weekend time. Because of the meeting, we came back to Eton Hall at nearly half past six.
I can clearly feel that my relations miss me very much. My father nearly counts the number of days I have been away from home. My mother isn’t good at expressing her feelings but I know she is concerned about me. Maybe the nostalgia feeling is natural since I haven’t left home for such a long time. In my primary and middle school period, I needed to walk only several minutes from home to school. In high school, it took me about ten minutes by bike. I am a home-dependent person. When I feel sad, I want to get back home because home gives me strengths and comfort. Here far away from home I have to digest my sorrow in my heart.
However, thanks to my new friends, my life is wonderful and happy. Now I am enjoying the video of our group’s visit to Ubin. The new classmates, the new experiences and the new environment make me enjoy the new life here. Everyone has to learn to grow up so let’s valuate the process when happiness mixes with sorrow.
I can clearly feel that my relations miss me very much. My father nearly counts the number of days I have been away from home. My mother isn’t good at expressing her feelings but I know she is concerned about me. Maybe the nostalgia feeling is natural since I haven’t left home for such a long time. In my primary and middle school period, I needed to walk only several minutes from home to school. In high school, it took me about ten minutes by bike. I am a home-dependent person. When I feel sad, I want to get back home because home gives me strengths and comfort. Here far away from home I have to digest my sorrow in my heart.
However, thanks to my new friends, my life is wonderful and happy. Now I am enjoying the video of our group’s visit to Ubin. The new classmates, the new experiences and the new environment make me enjoy the new life here. Everyone has to learn to grow up so let’s valuate the process when happiness mixes with sorrow.
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