Time goes by so quickly, and my first semester is almost over, and most of you are going back to your own countries by the end of this month. Maybe we didn't even have many chances to talk with each other, which I felt a bit sad. I don't like to say goodbye yet, but I know time is always cruel; we have no choice in front of "time". I know the coming 4 months will also be very quick.
Here, I want to show you the some of the lines of my favourite Chinese song called "goodbye", and I just chose some of them.
"Looking at the crowded street, listening to my own heart beat... They say nothing lasts forever; we are only here today... Standing on a mountain high, looking at the moon through a clear blue sky. I should go and see some friends, but they don't really comprehend. don't need too much talking. without saying anything. all I need is someone who makes me wanna sing."
I have been listening to this song for years, and I think it is a perfect song for goodbye. Every time I listen to it, I have different feelings, and I think this is life-very difficult, and we have very little strength in front of time.
I hope our remembering selfs can be very precious, and I hope we can remember the pleasant time that we spent in ELI, and later in our life, we can think of it again to see how beautiful our life was when we were young:)
Goodbye and good luck!
Sunday, 14 August 2011
London Riots and " The destructors"
I saw a lot of pictures on the Internet, and I am very shocked that how they could do such violent things nowadays in London. I was also very shocked when the riots took place in downtown,Vancouver. However, this time the riots in London seemed much more serious. I looked for some information and I tried to find out the cause of this riot happened in London this time.There are several possible causes such as the social irresponsibility, the economic crisis or the lack of response of the police when confronted by the protest. As most of them are young people, and I think they don't know how to behave when they feel pressure; also, they don't empathize others properly. On the other hand, in " the destructors", it is understandable that those young children destroyed the house because they grew up right after the war, and maybe it was because of the way how they were raised up, and they became violent naturally. As the damage in London is very huge this time, I hope they can rebuilt those damaged things again soon, and I also hope they can live a peaceful life there.
Tuesday, 9 August 2011
How I feel at this time of this semester.
I think time goes by so quickly! I've been here for more than 3 months already, and it's time to say goodbye to many friends here. I feel a bit sad because I'm afraid that the next four months will go by even more quickly. I don't want to leave yet, and I think by the time when I leave here, I will feel very very very sad.
But goog luck to every one, and I hope to see you again in the future.
But goog luck to every one, and I hope to see you again in the future.
Monday, 8 August 2011
"Helen Fisher studies the brain in love"
I think this is a very interesting talk. Yes, everything is brain chemistry-very difficult to explain, and sometimes no need to explain. Helen said "Almost nobody gets out of love alive". I think without love, life can be very miserable. I appreciate my mother's love very much. Although sometimes she still gets very upset about me, and loses her temper too, I know that my mother will never give up on me. Every year I see her, I think she is getting older than before because I always have so much trouble to make her worry. I'm afraid that I will have nothing to pay her back. She said if her death can add some happiness to me, she would like to die. Although it's not romantic love, I think the brain chemistry is similar. Then I start to wonder what makes us do such crazy things for someone that we love. I think I had very few experiences like that as I hadn't been in a good condition to like or love someone. However, in the talk, it says "Romantic love is an obssession." I think when we are in love, it's very difficult to explain why we crave to be with the one we love. We sometimes think that we want the one we love to be happy only because we think we love him or her, but in fact I think it's also because we will feel happy too if he or she is happy. Maybe biology somehow plays an important roll too.
Monday, 1 August 2011
My Interpretation of " a Space Odyssey 2001".
The movie was too difficult to get the deep meaning of it, and I don't think the movie has a clear theme for every one. Each individual would have different point of view after watching the movie, and I found it very difficult as I have seen very few science fictions and also because the movie itself is very deep.
The movie has four parts: the dawn if man, the monolith on the Moon, the Jupiter Mission, and Jupiter Beyond the infinite. When I was watching the movie in class, I didn't think the four parts are related to each other, but now after I thought about it carefully again, I think they are all related even the first part--the apes.
As what we disscussed in class, the femur bones, the pen and the spaceship have something in common--basically their shapes, and also, they are all tools that used by mankind. I think the movie wants to tell us something about human evolution and technology. In the first part, when the ape started to use the bone, we can see the progress of the intelligence in human evolution, and in the second part, the pen means another progress of human evolution--a progress of the civilization. However, the third part and the forth part, when I saw the spaceship, I think it was an ironic as the shape made us think of the bone and the pen in the previous parts of the movie and because this time "this shape" this time doesn't necessarily mean a progress in human evolution. We are killing ourselves as we don't pay careful attention to the development of technology. The computer HAL was able to read people's mind, and it became very dangerous at last.
In my opinion, the last part of the movie shows the limit of the power in human society. When the glass broke into pieces on the floor, it made me think that "modern technology" is still a dream, and it's impossible to make this dream come true in a very short time; if we try too hard without paying enough attention to the technology itself, we will break ourselves like the broken glass. Also, I think the fetus is another sign which tells us that we still have a lot of things to know and to discover.
I'm not sure whether my interpretation is correct or not, but I believe there is not a certain correct interpretation for this movie, and I think I will have deeper interpretation after I watch it again next time.
The movie has four parts: the dawn if man, the monolith on the Moon, the Jupiter Mission, and Jupiter Beyond the infinite. When I was watching the movie in class, I didn't think the four parts are related to each other, but now after I thought about it carefully again, I think they are all related even the first part--the apes.
As what we disscussed in class, the femur bones, the pen and the spaceship have something in common--basically their shapes, and also, they are all tools that used by mankind. I think the movie wants to tell us something about human evolution and technology. In the first part, when the ape started to use the bone, we can see the progress of the intelligence in human evolution, and in the second part, the pen means another progress of human evolution--a progress of the civilization. However, the third part and the forth part, when I saw the spaceship, I think it was an ironic as the shape made us think of the bone and the pen in the previous parts of the movie and because this time "this shape" this time doesn't necessarily mean a progress in human evolution. We are killing ourselves as we don't pay careful attention to the development of technology. The computer HAL was able to read people's mind, and it became very dangerous at last.
In my opinion, the last part of the movie shows the limit of the power in human society. When the glass broke into pieces on the floor, it made me think that "modern technology" is still a dream, and it's impossible to make this dream come true in a very short time; if we try too hard without paying enough attention to the technology itself, we will break ourselves like the broken glass. Also, I think the fetus is another sign which tells us that we still have a lot of things to know and to discover.
I'm not sure whether my interpretation is correct or not, but I believe there is not a certain correct interpretation for this movie, and I think I will have deeper interpretation after I watch it again next time.
Saturday, 30 July 2011
Summary of " the Riddle of Experience vs. Memory"
In the talk given by Daniel Kahneman, the speaker mainlly talked about several cognitive traps which made it impossible for people to think clearly about happiness.
The first trap is the reluctance to accept complexity. The world "happiness" is no longer a useful word because we apply it to different kinds of things.
The second trap is about the difficulty of understanding the two concepts: experience and memory; they are both mixed in the notion of " happiness".
The third trap is the focusing illusion. Only by distorting the importance of feeling happy, we can think about some circumstances which affect the feeling of being happy.
There are two selfs--experiencing self, who lives in the present and remembering self, who is the one that keeps score, and maintain the story of our life.
The speaker gave us an example of two patients A and B who did colonoscopy, and it tells us that there are actually two selfs.
Another example about one week vacation and two week vacations shows that for experiencing self two weeks are twice as good as one week; however, the remembering self is not about time if there is no change, so the two selfs are quite different from each other.
Also, happiness is about spending time with people that we like, and it is a different notion from "well-being".
Finally, we can't think happiness clearly also because we need to think of contrast about the answer we want.
The first trap is the reluctance to accept complexity. The world "happiness" is no longer a useful word because we apply it to different kinds of things.
The second trap is about the difficulty of understanding the two concepts: experience and memory; they are both mixed in the notion of " happiness".
The third trap is the focusing illusion. Only by distorting the importance of feeling happy, we can think about some circumstances which affect the feeling of being happy.
There are two selfs--experiencing self, who lives in the present and remembering self, who is the one that keeps score, and maintain the story of our life.
The speaker gave us an example of two patients A and B who did colonoscopy, and it tells us that there are actually two selfs.
Another example about one week vacation and two week vacations shows that for experiencing self two weeks are twice as good as one week; however, the remembering self is not about time if there is no change, so the two selfs are quite different from each other.
Also, happiness is about spending time with people that we like, and it is a different notion from "well-being".
Finally, we can't think happiness clearly also because we need to think of contrast about the answer we want.
Monday, 25 July 2011
2001 A Space Odyssey ( 49mins)
Before we watch the movie, I learned that " MCMLXVIII" means 1968, which I found really interesting, like a special code. There is no dialogue in the first 20 minutes, and it is similar to the movie "the Tree of Life", which I watched a few days ago. The gorillas show the " the Dawn of Man", which means the beginning of humanity. It teaches us the vulnerability of some kind of animals. There are also motifs in it. For example, animal dies, man starts to use tool. There is also perspectives in the beginning of the movie. I think the scene that there is judo on the television and the woman bows to the passenger shows a better manner of mankind, and we can feel it easily since it is totally different from what gorillas do. The rocket also reminds us of the scenes of bones and pens at the beginning, which is also a motif of the movie.
I liked the music in the movie although it's a bit scary; I think it's another motif and leads us think the reason why they play this music in the movie and how it is related to the theme of the movie.
I liked the music in the movie although it's a bit scary; I think it's another motif and leads us think the reason why they play this music in the movie and how it is related to the theme of the movie.
Saturday, 23 July 2011
Personal Reaction to Bill Reid Gallery and the story of "Totem",
2 months ago, I went to Museum of Anthropology, but at that time I wasn't interested at all, and got very bored at all the sculptures and canoes as I expected to see something with much longer history. I wanted to see things made hundreds or thousands of years ago. But this time, after we read some handouts about First Nations in Canada, it was much more interesting to see similar sculptures about First Nations in Bill Reid Gallery. I learned that totem is a figure made to look like an animal, plant etc. that is believed to have a special relationship with a particular Native American tribe. I liked the stories of the poles, expecially the one about Bear Mother. I was also amazed at how he made the canoes by himself.
The gallery is not big, but very interesting to see. I was surprised at the little, tiny cups made of chalks when Bill Reid was still a child. When I saw the sculpture of what is printed in 20 dollars bill, I was a bit excited. I liked the meaning of it; obviously, there is a conflit in the crowded boat, but they are still staying in the same boat. I am also curious about why they use this picture in the 20 dollars bill.
I think by visiting galleries like this, I can get more interested in history. I think I need to read more books about history and know more about it.
The gallery is not big, but very interesting to see. I was surprised at the little, tiny cups made of chalks when Bill Reid was still a child. When I saw the sculpture of what is printed in 20 dollars bill, I was a bit excited. I liked the meaning of it; obviously, there is a conflit in the crowded boat, but they are still staying in the same boat. I am also curious about why they use this picture in the 20 dollars bill.
I think by visiting galleries like this, I can get more interested in history. I think I need to read more books about history and know more about it.
Summary of " a Darwinian Theory of Beauty"
In the presentation of a Darwinian Theory of Beauty, the speaker Denis Dutton talked about the complicated subject beauty.There are different kinds of things which considered beautiful, and the speaker provided the most powerful theory of beauty which comes from Charles Darwin. People may think that beauty depends on the eye of the beholder. Although there are many different kinds of art in the world, they all share something in common. By reconstructing a Darwinian evolution theory, we can explain this commonality. The speaker believes that the experience of beauty with its emotional intensity and joy, belongs to gradually developed human psychology. The experience of beauty is one component of Darwinian adaptions. There are two main important parts in evolution--natural selection and sexual selection, and they play very different roles. Neither natural beauty nor artistic beauty is cultural. In our aesthetic desires, we find beauty in something done with a good skill. So beauty is not in the eye of people who look at it, but embedded in our mind, created by our ancestors and last as long as humanity continues.
Weekend Blog Post (July 23th) ----Meditation :)
The morning sun slanted through the blinds, and woke me up from a very relaxing sleep. I opened my eyes, and stared out the lone window; morning had come, which meant I had to get ready for any chances of unpleasant moments. “Will I get to be okay again just like what I was a few years ago—a happy and very optimistic girl? Or is this going to hang over me for the rest of my life?” I liked the scent of the soft pillow, and I was afraid of anything that might break the pleasant time.
However, I feel grateful that I am in Canada
I think I had been too impassive since last year; I didn’t want anyone to talk to me, and I envied others’ smiles even. Water must freeze the moment it touched me. I didn’t seem to have any emotions for the whole year. Although I wished I could have family with me, I didn’t even go home for that whole summer. I spent most of the time working part time at a cash register, looking at the clock, and hoping time could pass more quickly. Finally, God awarded me by letting my little wish come true. I feel relieved that I am now in another country. I have more chances to learn to accept or even love the world.
I am making great progress. When I am walking in the green grass, I would like to sit down for a short meditation and I like the green color—looks energetic and full of hope. The sun shines through the thick light green leaves, and casts different shapes of light on the top of dark green grass as if there are a lot of candles making light of my discomfort. When I am walking on the roads paved with concrete, I can feel the heat under my feet; I appreciate that I have the ability to walk. When I am in the gardens, enjoying the peaceful water and listening to birds singing, I feel like smiling and I am grateful that I feel alive, and happy; I know life is not all about ordeals, and sometimes there are still some pleasant times.
There used to be totally no way I could possibly think that there was any meaning in life for me to live on, but now I am getting much stronger than before, and I have the courage to walk down a long distance as there are always green trees to bring me hope.
Sunday, 17 July 2011
Weekend post ( 17th July)
After some hard time, I thought it could be a good day today. I never crave happy times like others do. For me, it’s easy to be happy, yet extremely difficult. This morning, after I got up, I felt that I’d rested quite well, and I thought today I could write some positive things on the blog again; I was happy at that time.
However, I know I don’t deserve any happiness or even just a peaceful moment; I thought it ironic though because I know I’ve already been doing my best. I can write some details here in order to let my readers know why I am feeling this way. It is all about brain chemistry; I don’t care if people like to call it “mental disorder”.
Unlike other young people, I don’t like to celebrate birthdays. As I was told before, a long time ago, “everything will get better naturally when you grow up”, and I believed that at that time when I was 16. Very soon my 21-year-old birthday will come, and I feel disappointed. I remember in the past few years, I used to make a wish on every New Year’s Day and birthday as well. I clearly remember that on New Year’s Day this year I did my part time job as usual, and I paid a visit to a shrine that night as a traditional Japanese custom. When everyone else was cheering for the coming year, tears started to sting the backs of my eyes. Although I knew crying might have seemed childish, but that didn’t stop tears from getting out. I always feel that no one in this world can truly understand me even if they are kind enough to get to know me.
Until June 2008, I used to think that even if I feel pain now, I can still think of the happy times I had when I was younger, and live on with the memories. However, a certain therapy made my precious, beautiful memories so dim, and so far away.
I am getting 21 years old, and it seems that there are only a few years that I can clearly remember and these are all the times which I have been suffering. Recently, I felt that I had more happy times than before, and I was feeling hopeful even. Sometimes, it didn’t seem like anything was overly important, or frightening when I was feeling happy with the green trees and colourful flowers in the gardens; however, it made me hate myself more than before. I don't seem to get any better although I sometimes do think I am much better only when I am feeling Okay.
Every time when I am suffering from the brain chemistry, I feel like the whole world is like a big balloon that is losing air in an extremely high speed. But I promised that I won’t die that easily although it needs a lot of courage to live on.
I need to take a deep breath, and then exhale slowly. I remember someone said that people don’t get to choose what life gives to them; they do get to choose how they respond.
Friday, 8 July 2011
Weekend blog post( assignment)
I went to a beach after class with the CAs, and I enjoyed the whole afternoon.
On the way to the beach, I took a nap on the bus while others were talking; I found myself not very talkative at that time, and all I wanted to do was just to assure myself that it was me that enjoyed today. I could hardly believe that I could also have some happy moments. Although I still had some difficult times, I felt it easier to overcome and more hopeful; remembering that although I saw some black birds at noon, today I thought they looked somewhat majestic, and had less meaning of bad luck.
When we arrived at the beach, I said, " I like the weather; it's so nice today!" I knew some people there felt a bit unusual that I looked happy today. I went close to the water, and walked into the tiny waves; everything looked so cute and nice today. There were different shapes of small stones in the sand: purple, light green, grey, and white. I felt grateful but nervous. I knew it might come a big wave, and swallow me again and everything colorful. For some reason, I wished I hadn't felt so happy.
I looked at the huge sea with a shaky smile and a promise, "I am going to be brave and face all the difficulties in a good way; Life is only once, and I have to get better."
I walked back to people sitting on the beach far away. The sand was so hot, and my feet were burning-nothing could make me feel any more alive.
On the way to the beach, I took a nap on the bus while others were talking; I found myself not very talkative at that time, and all I wanted to do was just to assure myself that it was me that enjoyed today. I could hardly believe that I could also have some happy moments. Although I still had some difficult times, I felt it easier to overcome and more hopeful; remembering that although I saw some black birds at noon, today I thought they looked somewhat majestic, and had less meaning of bad luck.
When we arrived at the beach, I said, " I like the weather; it's so nice today!" I knew some people there felt a bit unusual that I looked happy today. I went close to the water, and walked into the tiny waves; everything looked so cute and nice today. There were different shapes of small stones in the sand: purple, light green, grey, and white. I felt grateful but nervous. I knew it might come a big wave, and swallow me again and everything colorful. For some reason, I wished I hadn't felt so happy.
I looked at the huge sea with a shaky smile and a promise, "I am going to be brave and face all the difficulties in a good way; Life is only once, and I have to get better."
I walked back to people sitting on the beach far away. The sand was so hot, and my feet were burning-nothing could make me feel any more alive.
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
Today-a positive thinking:)
It was a warm day; I liked the beautiful weather. I was glad that I was able to enjoy some time of the day and I think I felt happy. However, it's hard to stay relaxed for me. I appreciate every peaceful moment and feel grateful for every single smile that I could truly have.
Not too long time ago, there was almost no way I could passibly think that I could still feel some happy moments in my life; it looked like I was the girl who was going to experience all the difficult things--and none of them pleasant. I thought I had to erase the word "happiness" from my vocabulary; however, I didn't really want to. I craved happiness the way I craved chocolate; It was a fact of my life that I needed chocolate to survive.
Luckily, here, I have been doing much better than I thought. Today I wasn't feeling too bad. However, I know every happiness is only temporary and fragile--like the bubble. I wish I could be frozen at that time; I wanted to keep it a bit longer. I hate the rule of the world that there is no way for me to hold the bubble. I knew after the "best before" of the happiness expired, my nervous level would shoot up like the mercury in a thermometer that was placed in boiling water.
I went out for a walk late this afternoon. I like the smell of the air in Vancouver, and I was thinking that no matter how difficult it is, I am going to walk on. I believe that life won't say no to me unless I say no to life.
Not too long time ago, there was almost no way I could passibly think that I could still feel some happy moments in my life; it looked like I was the girl who was going to experience all the difficult things--and none of them pleasant. I thought I had to erase the word "happiness" from my vocabulary; however, I didn't really want to. I craved happiness the way I craved chocolate; It was a fact of my life that I needed chocolate to survive.
Luckily, here, I have been doing much better than I thought. Today I wasn't feeling too bad. However, I know every happiness is only temporary and fragile--like the bubble. I wish I could be frozen at that time; I wanted to keep it a bit longer. I hate the rule of the world that there is no way for me to hold the bubble. I knew after the "best before" of the happiness expired, my nervous level would shoot up like the mercury in a thermometer that was placed in boiling water.
I went out for a walk late this afternoon. I like the smell of the air in Vancouver, and I was thinking that no matter how difficult it is, I am going to walk on. I believe that life won't say no to me unless I say no to life.
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Similarities between the 3rd Account of "Genesis" and "Prometheus Bound".
(The article "Prometheus Bound" was too difficult- both the characters and the old-fashioned language.)
Here, I am going to discuss the similarities between the 3rd Account of " Genesis" ( In this post, I am going to use "Gen 3" for "the 3rd Account of "Genesis") and "Prometheus Bound" according to the notes.
First of all, There are both male characters in "Gen3" and "Prometheus Bound". In "Gen 3", he is "God"; in "Prometheus Bound", he is "Zeus". They are both authority figures who don't want to share knowledge or technology with people, and also, they punish the animal or person who helps human. In "Gen 3", God punished the serpent who asked the woman to eat the fruit of the tree that is in the middle if the garden, and after God knew that the woman ate the fruit, he punished the serpent. Similarly, Prometheus got punished by Zeus too.
Another similarity is that in both "Gen 3" and " Prometheus Bound", the role of the serpent can be compared with that of Prometheus; they both help people to gain vital knowledge and skill, but they both are punished.
The last similarity is that in "Gen 3", there are "Adam" and " Eve"; likely, in "Prometheus Bound", there are people. However, on the other hand, Adam and Eve are braver and stronger than people in the latter; they take the fruit and try the things that may be good for them. In contrast, people in " Prometheus Bound" are much weaker and need more help from the others.
To sum up, there are three main similarities between these characters discussed above: God and Zeus, the serpent and Prometheus, Adam&Eve and people. I think both are interesting to read, but I prefer "Gen 3".
Here, I am going to discuss the similarities between the 3rd Account of " Genesis" ( In this post, I am going to use "Gen 3" for "the 3rd Account of "Genesis") and "Prometheus Bound" according to the notes.
First of all, There are both male characters in "Gen3" and "Prometheus Bound". In "Gen 3", he is "God"; in "Prometheus Bound", he is "Zeus". They are both authority figures who don't want to share knowledge or technology with people, and also, they punish the animal or person who helps human. In "Gen 3", God punished the serpent who asked the woman to eat the fruit of the tree that is in the middle if the garden, and after God knew that the woman ate the fruit, he punished the serpent. Similarly, Prometheus got punished by Zeus too.
Another similarity is that in both "Gen 3" and " Prometheus Bound", the role of the serpent can be compared with that of Prometheus; they both help people to gain vital knowledge and skill, but they both are punished.
The last similarity is that in "Gen 3", there are "Adam" and " Eve"; likely, in "Prometheus Bound", there are people. However, on the other hand, Adam and Eve are braver and stronger than people in the latter; they take the fruit and try the things that may be good for them. In contrast, people in " Prometheus Bound" are much weaker and need more help from the others.
To sum up, there are three main similarities between these characters discussed above: God and Zeus, the serpent and Prometheus, Adam&Eve and people. I think both are interesting to read, but I prefer "Gen 3".
Saturday, 2 July 2011
the Differences Between 1st Account and 2nd Account.
In this post, I am going to discuss the differences between the 1st account and the 2nd account in these five points: God, means of creation, forethought, time, and sequence of events.
First of all, a major difference between the two accounts is about God; it is God in the 1st account; however, it is Lord God in the 2nd account. I looked it up on the Internet and tried to find out why there were God and Lord God in the Bible. When "God" is used, it is usually a rendering of the general Hebrew word for God, "Elohim." When "LORD GOD" or "Lord GOD" occurs, it is usually a rendering of a dual name for God "Adonai YHWH." ( from http://www.gotquestions.org/LORD-GOD-Lord-God.html)
Second, the means of creation is also different because in the 1st account, God created everything by speaking. In comparison, in the 2nd account, Lord God "breathes", "forms", "takes", "builds" and also "plants". In my opinion, in the 1st account, it seems that God has more power than Lord God in the 2nd account.
Third, the 1st account has a lot of forethought such as the 1st day created light; the 2nd day created sky; the 3rd day created sea and dry land; the 4th day created sun, moon and stars; the 5th day created fish and birds; the 6th day created animals and people. However, in the 2nd account, there isn't such forethought; instead, it seems that there is only improvisation throughout the whole account.
The next difference is the time used for the creation. God used 6 days in the 1st account; in contrast, Lord God only used 1 day. This also shows that there is enough forethought in the 1st account, but just improvisation in the 2nd account.
Finally, the last difference is the sequence of events. In the 1st account, God created vegetation earlier than people, but in the 2nd account, Lord God created man first, then vegetation, and at last Lord God created animals and woman. I think the 2nd account shows a predominance of men over women.
To sum up, there are mainly five differences discussed above. I like the first account better because I think creation is a serious thing and there should be lots of forethought.
First of all, a major difference between the two accounts is about God; it is God in the 1st account; however, it is Lord God in the 2nd account. I looked it up on the Internet and tried to find out why there were God and Lord God in the Bible. When "God" is used, it is usually a rendering of the general Hebrew word for God, "Elohim." When "LORD GOD" or "Lord GOD" occurs, it is usually a rendering of a dual name for God "Adonai YHWH." ( from http://www.gotquestions.org/LORD-GOD-Lord-God.html)
Second, the means of creation is also different because in the 1st account, God created everything by speaking. In comparison, in the 2nd account, Lord God "breathes", "forms", "takes", "builds" and also "plants". In my opinion, in the 1st account, it seems that God has more power than Lord God in the 2nd account.
Third, the 1st account has a lot of forethought such as the 1st day created light; the 2nd day created sky; the 3rd day created sea and dry land; the 4th day created sun, moon and stars; the 5th day created fish and birds; the 6th day created animals and people. However, in the 2nd account, there isn't such forethought; instead, it seems that there is only improvisation throughout the whole account.
The next difference is the time used for the creation. God used 6 days in the 1st account; in contrast, Lord God only used 1 day. This also shows that there is enough forethought in the 1st account, but just improvisation in the 2nd account.
Finally, the last difference is the sequence of events. In the 1st account, God created vegetation earlier than people, but in the 2nd account, Lord God created man first, then vegetation, and at last Lord God created animals and woman. I think the 2nd account shows a predominance of men over women.
To sum up, there are mainly five differences discussed above. I like the first account better because I think creation is a serious thing and there should be lots of forethought.
Languages and identities.
While talking to my friends, I noticed something interesting about the time I need to switch languages during a conversation. I used to try to figure out which language I use when I am thinking, but I never got the answer because all these happen only when I am thinking subconsciously. Whenever I try to figure out in which language I am thinking about daily things, I will subconsciously switch to a certain language or my dialect( I speak a dialect which is very different from Madarin), and then think everything in it, so it's hard for me get the answer I want. However, when I was talking to people from different countries yesterday, I noticed some interesting differences of the time I need to switch languages, and here is a chart.
Madarin ---- Japanese ( before): 0.1 second (now): 0.5 second
English ---- Japanese ( before): 0.1seconds (now): 3 second
Japanese ---- English (before): 5seconds (now): 0.5 second
Dialect ---- Madarin 0.1 second
English or Japanese ----- Madarin/ dialect 0.1 second
(the figures are not exact time, but can be calculated to proportion)
I found it interesting because it shows that it is always easy to speak our first language at any time when needed; however, second or third languages sometimes get confused when either of them has been used more frequently than the other, and also it has nothing to do with how well we can use it, but depends on how frequently we use it. However, sometimes it can be difficult to realize the sign" Now it's time to switch languages!". Remembering last week when I got out of the Japanese dental clinic, someone( Canadian I think) was pushing the button of the elevator to let me get in, I bowed and even said "Sumimasen." instead of " Thank you( or sorry)".
Another interesting thing I found is that dialect is the easiest language to speak. Although it is just spoken by local people in the small city and some of the words even can't be written, it is still a valuable language for me. I can speak it 10 times faster than English and every time when I speaking very fast in dialect, people laugh a lot.
I remember I was asked that which language I feel most comfortable to speak a few days ago, and I said they are all the same. Actually, there are quite a few different feelings when using different languages. The most obvious thing is the "identity". When I am using dialect with the locals, I feel that I am still a small girl close to the Yangzi River, and the smell of my hometown is so familiar. When I am talking in Madarin, it is different; as it is the official language in China, I feel that we are from diffirent places but share something in common because we are all Chinese. However, people in China speak Madarin with quite different accents, which is a reason why I feel a bit tired talking too long in Madarin.
When I was in elementary school and junior high school in my city, Madarin was the language used only in class. But I have been using Madarin a lot more after I went to a different city and foreign countries.
Japanese is a third language for me but much more fluent than my second language English. When I am talking in Japanese, I subconsciously nod a lot and bow. Strangely enough, I don't think I am a foreigner when talking to Japanese people. Sometimes I think I even belong to the culture, which troubles me a lot when I am trying to decide my job career. However, I am a foreigner because I have to worry about the visa after I graduate from the university.
When I am speaking English, I feel that I really like it and enjoy using it; it's exciting to make progress. I think I can be more honest in English because of its culture. As in Asian culture (at least China and Japan), people tend to hide most of the real feelings, and try to be "nice" to others, which sometimes makes things more complicated. Also, in Japanese, we should use a special honorific when talking to people older than us, but in English we don't need to do it. This is one of the most important reasons why I like English; it can bring people closer, but not make people act like strangers all the time.
After all, I like all the three languages and my dialect, and I think people have different identities when using different languages; however, it is based on the premise when we are thinking in this language, but not trying to translate the ideas and sentences.
Madarin ---- Japanese ( before): 0.1 second (now): 0.5 second
English ---- Japanese ( before): 0.1seconds (now): 3 second
Japanese ---- English (before): 5seconds (now): 0.5 second
Dialect ---- Madarin 0.1 second
English or Japanese ----- Madarin/ dialect 0.1 second
(the figures are not exact time, but can be calculated to proportion)
I found it interesting because it shows that it is always easy to speak our first language at any time when needed; however, second or third languages sometimes get confused when either of them has been used more frequently than the other, and also it has nothing to do with how well we can use it, but depends on how frequently we use it. However, sometimes it can be difficult to realize the sign" Now it's time to switch languages!". Remembering last week when I got out of the Japanese dental clinic, someone( Canadian I think) was pushing the button of the elevator to let me get in, I bowed and even said "Sumimasen." instead of " Thank you( or sorry)".
Another interesting thing I found is that dialect is the easiest language to speak. Although it is just spoken by local people in the small city and some of the words even can't be written, it is still a valuable language for me. I can speak it 10 times faster than English and every time when I speaking very fast in dialect, people laugh a lot.
I remember I was asked that which language I feel most comfortable to speak a few days ago, and I said they are all the same. Actually, there are quite a few different feelings when using different languages. The most obvious thing is the "identity". When I am using dialect with the locals, I feel that I am still a small girl close to the Yangzi River, and the smell of my hometown is so familiar. When I am talking in Madarin, it is different; as it is the official language in China, I feel that we are from diffirent places but share something in common because we are all Chinese. However, people in China speak Madarin with quite different accents, which is a reason why I feel a bit tired talking too long in Madarin.
When I was in elementary school and junior high school in my city, Madarin was the language used only in class. But I have been using Madarin a lot more after I went to a different city and foreign countries.
Japanese is a third language for me but much more fluent than my second language English. When I am talking in Japanese, I subconsciously nod a lot and bow. Strangely enough, I don't think I am a foreigner when talking to Japanese people. Sometimes I think I even belong to the culture, which troubles me a lot when I am trying to decide my job career. However, I am a foreigner because I have to worry about the visa after I graduate from the university.
When I am speaking English, I feel that I really like it and enjoy using it; it's exciting to make progress. I think I can be more honest in English because of its culture. As in Asian culture (at least China and Japan), people tend to hide most of the real feelings, and try to be "nice" to others, which sometimes makes things more complicated. Also, in Japanese, we should use a special honorific when talking to people older than us, but in English we don't need to do it. This is one of the most important reasons why I like English; it can bring people closer, but not make people act like strangers all the time.
After all, I like all the three languages and my dialect, and I think people have different identities when using different languages; however, it is based on the premise when we are thinking in this language, but not trying to translate the ideas and sentences.
Monday, 27 June 2011
What I did during the Mid-term break.
I wish I had done something special-at least worth writing and reading. I tried to think of some good time during the 4 days; I think there should be some though.
I was wondering whether I should go to the night club on Wednesday with other ELI students, but I was also worrying that it would be dangerous to walk alone at night when I came back in the midnight. Then perfectly, God made a decision for me. As I was hesitating, I felt so sick and I took my temperature; it was 37.3-not too bad though. I knew it might be caused by the infection of the gum, as I still felt some chest pain, I was a bit worried; I hated fever. I tried to talk to my host family and I hoped I could get some help, like advice of hospitals-at least some warm words, but it seems that I was a thing, not a human being. They didn't actually pay any attention to how I felt. I remember that they said 39 is fever, and 37.3 is totally normal. Oh my god, I know how I feel better than any so-called scientific definition...
Until that moment I hadn't truly realized that I was on my own here, so far from home, from Japan, from anything familiar. Tears started to sting the backs of my eyes; not because of the fever or anything I have been physically suffering from, but because I was starting to feel lonely. I have been away from my family for six years already and I sometimes really wish I could still be a little child having more easy times.
I didn't want anyone there to notice my weakness; I used all the strength I had at that time to fight with my lips in order to lift a bright smile," Well, I think I am just too tired and maybe I will get better after a good sleep." I did smile and I was sure I didn't look sick when I was smiling, but I really wished I could be sleeping for ever.
Thinking of my little pet parakeet survived two winters without enough plumage to cover the tiny body, I know I should always recompose myself when I am not feeling well. I went out for a walk on Friday although I was not willing to. The green trees and sunshine can sometimes make me feel that there is hope. I loved to be warmed there, and everything seemed so nice again. I saw the most beautiful scenery- nine tiny baby ducks walking after an adult duck:) ; they swam in the lake and lay on the grass in the sun to dry themselves, and then they got too hot, so the baby ducks moved to the shadow of a small stone to feel cooler. I kept counting the little baby ducks when they are trying to move a long way to make sure they were with the adult duck. They were so lively.
Rainbows always come after the rain, so why not just wait until the rainbows show up? I walked a long way, and felt comfortable.
I was wondering whether I should go to the night club on Wednesday with other ELI students, but I was also worrying that it would be dangerous to walk alone at night when I came back in the midnight. Then perfectly, God made a decision for me. As I was hesitating, I felt so sick and I took my temperature; it was 37.3-not too bad though. I knew it might be caused by the infection of the gum, as I still felt some chest pain, I was a bit worried; I hated fever. I tried to talk to my host family and I hoped I could get some help, like advice of hospitals-at least some warm words, but it seems that I was a thing, not a human being. They didn't actually pay any attention to how I felt. I remember that they said 39 is fever, and 37.3 is totally normal. Oh my god, I know how I feel better than any so-called scientific definition...
Until that moment I hadn't truly realized that I was on my own here, so far from home, from Japan, from anything familiar. Tears started to sting the backs of my eyes; not because of the fever or anything I have been physically suffering from, but because I was starting to feel lonely. I have been away from my family for six years already and I sometimes really wish I could still be a little child having more easy times.
I didn't want anyone there to notice my weakness; I used all the strength I had at that time to fight with my lips in order to lift a bright smile," Well, I think I am just too tired and maybe I will get better after a good sleep." I did smile and I was sure I didn't look sick when I was smiling, but I really wished I could be sleeping for ever.
Thinking of my little pet parakeet survived two winters without enough plumage to cover the tiny body, I know I should always recompose myself when I am not feeling well. I went out for a walk on Friday although I was not willing to. The green trees and sunshine can sometimes make me feel that there is hope. I loved to be warmed there, and everything seemed so nice again. I saw the most beautiful scenery- nine tiny baby ducks walking after an adult duck:) ; they swam in the lake and lay on the grass in the sun to dry themselves, and then they got too hot, so the baby ducks moved to the shadow of a small stone to feel cooler. I kept counting the little baby ducks when they are trying to move a long way to make sure they were with the adult duck. They were so lively.
Rainbows always come after the rain, so why not just wait until the rainbows show up? I walked a long way, and felt comfortable.
Saturday, 18 June 2011
a peaceful moment
I went to TOEIC workshop Friday morning, and we had a reading test. Last September, I took my first official TOEIC test in Japan
The feeling at that time was just like a piece of glass which could be easily broken. During lunch break, I walked through the crowd, and got out of ELI building to enjoy the beautiful weather. I was not sure where to go; I walked down the road, and came to a garden. Everything there was so peaceful-- no noise, not many people, enough fresh air, and also there were fish swimming freely in the pure, clean water.
I walked to a tea ceremony Japanese-style room, remembering that funny time when I was taking a tea ceremony course in my Japanese university, I nearly fell down to the tatami when I was trying to sit in a proper position before taking the Japanese teacup. I smiled, and realized that there were still some interesting moments in my life; I appreciate them very much. I sat down, and wanted to rest for a while; I didn't want the fragile but valuable moment to be destroyed too soon.
I sat on the bench, and I was feeling comfortable. I realized that I have been here for almost 2 months. Life here is better than I thought. Here, obviously, I have much more time to do things I like; I don’t need to spend my whole day serving in a restaurant any more, and I really enjoy studying here. I don’t need to pretend to be happy every day; I can say what I really feel because people here don’t parrot my words pretending to understand me or to be friendly; they are real and well worth trusting.
Although dark time always comes, I think I will become more able to overcome them than before, which delights me a lot.
I like here also because I don’t need to think about the word “identity” all the time. I like the way people here call us. Instead of saying “foreign students”, they say “international students”; it makes me feel that we are actually from the same Earth, and we are all human beings—the same kind. We share a lot of things in common.
It was a nice day, and I enjoyed the peace in my mind.
I looked at the green leaves in the sunshine, and they seemed lively and energetic. Everything was so peaceful and I liked it.
Suddenly, some noise destroyed the peace, and I felt so painful and helpless…
The feeling at that time was just like a piece of glass which could be easily broken. During lunch break, I walked through the crowd, and got out of ELI building to enjoy the beautiful weather. I was not sure where to go; I walked down the road, and came to a garden. Everything there was so peaceful-- no noise, not many people, enough fresh air, and also there were fish swimming freely in the pure, clean water.
I walked to a tea ceremony Japanese-style room, remembering that funny time when I was taking a tea ceremony course in my Japanese university, I nearly fell down to the tatami when I was trying to sit in a proper position before taking the Japanese teacup. I smiled, and realized that there were still some interesting moments in my life; I appreciate them very much. I sat down, and wanted to rest for a while; I didn't want the fragile but valuable moment to be destroyed too soon.
I sat on the bench, and I was feeling comfortable. I realized that I have been here for almost 2 months. Life here is better than I thought. Here, obviously, I have much more time to do things I like; I don’t need to spend my whole day serving in a restaurant any more, and I really enjoy studying here. I don’t need to pretend to be happy every day; I can say what I really feel because people here don’t parrot my words pretending to understand me or to be friendly; they are real and well worth trusting.
Although dark time always comes, I think I will become more able to overcome them than before, which delights me a lot.
I like here also because I don’t need to think about the word “identity” all the time. I like the way people here call us. Instead of saying “foreign students”, they say “international students”; it makes me feel that we are actually from the same Earth, and we are all human beings—the same kind. We share a lot of things in common.
It was a nice day, and I enjoyed the peace in my mind.
I looked at the green leaves in the sunshine, and they seemed lively and energetic. Everything was so peaceful and I liked it.
Suddenly, some noise destroyed the peace, and I felt so painful and helpless…
Thursday, 16 June 2011
Things help study a test.
Is there anyone who enjoys a test? Well, very few, I think. However, we usually enjoy the feeling of finishing a test because we consider it an accomplishment. Everyone wants to do well in the test, but the result is not always important- it's important that how much we studied for it, I mean the process.
Except short essays in TOEFL test, it's my first time to have an essay test- a little bit worried:(
1-The most important thing to do before a test is to get relaxed. Brain works well only when we feel relaxed.
2-We can review the handouts we did this week- For me, I think they are really helpful-Not only the exercises, but also the explanations.
3-I think we shouldn't stay up too late. If we sleep too little, we would feel tired, and brain wouldn't work well during the test, either.
4-If we have time, we can try to write one or two essays before we go to a test.
5-Don't drink vodka on Sunday evening:) -we would have a hangover the next day, if we drink too much. That's terrible.
Ok, that's all for things to do before a test. Sorry, I think I should have thought more to help us, but I think if we five things above, we won't do too bad in the test. Good luck to every one of us:)
Except short essays in TOEFL test, it's my first time to have an essay test- a little bit worried:(
1-The most important thing to do before a test is to get relaxed. Brain works well only when we feel relaxed.
2-We can review the handouts we did this week- For me, I think they are really helpful-Not only the exercises, but also the explanations.
3-I think we shouldn't stay up too late. If we sleep too little, we would feel tired, and brain wouldn't work well during the test, either.
4-If we have time, we can try to write one or two essays before we go to a test.
5-Don't drink vodka on Sunday evening:) -we would have a hangover the next day, if we drink too much. That's terrible.
Ok, that's all for things to do before a test. Sorry, I think I should have thought more to help us, but I think if we five things above, we won't do too bad in the test. Good luck to every one of us:)
Saturday, 11 June 2011
Twenty Winters in my life.
That was one freezing day in a girls' dormitary; after having been staying in a small room for 3 seasons, I realised that it was winter again, and I sighed," Why I feel so tired although I am only 17?" I read the prayer on the wall hoping to get some energy, and I was looking forward to some day when I can get out of this tiring world with a smile.
I was born in China and also raised in China. Although it seems so far away from me now, I can still remember it was a small city in Southeast China near Yangzi River. I went to a professional elementary school for shogi one year earlier than normal school age. I started to learn go there. Unlike other children, I had almost no childhood. I used to sit at a table for 3 hours just for one single go game. Except this, I also went to classes for sketching, calligraphy and violin. I had no spare time to play with my friends. While other children were playing on the huge playground, luckily I had a bit achievement in playing go and also in calligraphy. I won the first prize in the girls' team of the whole province, which pleased my family a lot. I won a national prize for calligraphy as well; and my family said they are proud of me. I smiled, but I was thinking," Am I really happy?"
When I was in junior high school, I focused on schoolwork, and I went to cram school after school, and did homework for most of my free time. Luckily again, I got the highest score for high school entrance exams in my school and I managed to enter the best one in my province, which is in another city far from my home city.
I can still remember how somesick I was at that time. That was 3 hours by train from my home city. A few days after my 15 year-old birthday, I was so upset on the way to the boarding school; I realised that I have to be independent from then on. At that school, I did nothing but study hard every day...
In the second term of the year, I was selected by the school to go to study in a Japanese high school. I was 15, and I started a long journey. I said goodbye to my country, and was put in a Christian high school. There, we had rules for everything; for example, we used to go to a roll-call every morning at 6:10; we had to make our bed extremely neatly before we go to school every day; boys and girls shouldn't talk too much or even walk too closely; no TV or laptop, no DVD player or even no magazine were allowed in the dorms; and we could only use cell phones for 2hours one day. Besides, we could only get outside of school once every 2 weeks, and just for convenience store which is 4kilos away from school. If we made any mistakes or broke the rules, we would be ordered to stay in for weeks as punishment. As a result, I lost all the passion a teenager should have. As there was nothing for entertainment, I used to practise talking with my Japanese friends in Japanese there, and I was "abandoned" by my only 4 Chinese friends(we were from the same Chinese school), ironically. They ignored me and said that I talked with Japanese friends too much. But why it was bad? At that time, we needed to get used to Japanese culture, I think. I felt so lonely. I thought that if I could do everything perfectly, then I could be accepted by others. I started to pay too much attention on every word I said to others and what others said, because I didn't want to lose friends any more.
I started to think every thing I had done to exame whether there was anything against the school rules, because I didn't want to be punished or dimissed from school. I found that I couldn't focus on my study any more. With great pressure, I was gradually destroyed.
But I managed to talk freely in Japanese within only 1 year. I realised that I got some psychological problems then. I rested in China for 9 months; nothing changed but went worse.
I went back to Japan again because of the expiration of the visa. If I didn't go back to Japan at that time, I could have never returned to finish my high school study and entered Japanese university there. I held my breath till I finished high school; Life then was like in a hell, and it almost killed me.
Fortunately, I managed to get in a university in Japan. I wished everything could get better in a university because there were not many school rules any more. I thought spring finally would come. Although I got some scholorship in high school, my family couldn't surport me like before any more. For 2 years, I didn't even have a good sleep. I did two part time jobs at one time as well as school work in the daytime and homework at midnight. I lived alone in a one-room apartment, and also cooked every night. As I knew if I got straight As for 2 years, then I could apply for getting scholorship for studying in an English-speaking country for a year, I studied really hard and didn't even skip a single class. I was so lucky to be chosed to come here, Canada.
Now I am no longer a teenager, I remember as I was told that everything would get better again when I grew up. It seems that I got everything that I wanted, however, I lost the most important energy for me to live on. "No pain, no gain?" I sometimes just think like this when life is too difficult. But if I could choose, I wish I could still choose this "endless" journey with no regret. Everything I thought I had achieved seems so pathetic and it's been fading away gradually if I don't hurry to get some back when I still have time. Sometimes, I just need to think that spring also comes while suffering from a freezingly cold winter--try to think positively; My desire to enjoy the world is like asparagus after a storm. Even if it may be destroyed, I would like to go on my way.
I was born in China and also raised in China. Although it seems so far away from me now, I can still remember it was a small city in Southeast China near Yangzi River. I went to a professional elementary school for shogi one year earlier than normal school age. I started to learn go there. Unlike other children, I had almost no childhood. I used to sit at a table for 3 hours just for one single go game. Except this, I also went to classes for sketching, calligraphy and violin. I had no spare time to play with my friends. While other children were playing on the huge playground, luckily I had a bit achievement in playing go and also in calligraphy. I won the first prize in the girls' team of the whole province, which pleased my family a lot. I won a national prize for calligraphy as well; and my family said they are proud of me. I smiled, but I was thinking," Am I really happy?"
When I was in junior high school, I focused on schoolwork, and I went to cram school after school, and did homework for most of my free time. Luckily again, I got the highest score for high school entrance exams in my school and I managed to enter the best one in my province, which is in another city far from my home city.
I can still remember how somesick I was at that time. That was 3 hours by train from my home city. A few days after my 15 year-old birthday, I was so upset on the way to the boarding school; I realised that I have to be independent from then on. At that school, I did nothing but study hard every day...
In the second term of the year, I was selected by the school to go to study in a Japanese high school. I was 15, and I started a long journey. I said goodbye to my country, and was put in a Christian high school. There, we had rules for everything; for example, we used to go to a roll-call every morning at 6:10; we had to make our bed extremely neatly before we go to school every day; boys and girls shouldn't talk too much or even walk too closely; no TV or laptop, no DVD player or even no magazine were allowed in the dorms; and we could only use cell phones for 2hours one day. Besides, we could only get outside of school once every 2 weeks, and just for convenience store which is 4kilos away from school. If we made any mistakes or broke the rules, we would be ordered to stay in for weeks as punishment. As a result, I lost all the passion a teenager should have. As there was nothing for entertainment, I used to practise talking with my Japanese friends in Japanese there, and I was "abandoned" by my only 4 Chinese friends(we were from the same Chinese school), ironically. They ignored me and said that I talked with Japanese friends too much. But why it was bad? At that time, we needed to get used to Japanese culture, I think. I felt so lonely. I thought that if I could do everything perfectly, then I could be accepted by others. I started to pay too much attention on every word I said to others and what others said, because I didn't want to lose friends any more.
I started to think every thing I had done to exame whether there was anything against the school rules, because I didn't want to be punished or dimissed from school. I found that I couldn't focus on my study any more. With great pressure, I was gradually destroyed.
But I managed to talk freely in Japanese within only 1 year. I realised that I got some psychological problems then. I rested in China for 9 months; nothing changed but went worse.
I went back to Japan again because of the expiration of the visa. If I didn't go back to Japan at that time, I could have never returned to finish my high school study and entered Japanese university there. I held my breath till I finished high school; Life then was like in a hell, and it almost killed me.
Fortunately, I managed to get in a university in Japan. I wished everything could get better in a university because there were not many school rules any more. I thought spring finally would come. Although I got some scholorship in high school, my family couldn't surport me like before any more. For 2 years, I didn't even have a good sleep. I did two part time jobs at one time as well as school work in the daytime and homework at midnight. I lived alone in a one-room apartment, and also cooked every night. As I knew if I got straight As for 2 years, then I could apply for getting scholorship for studying in an English-speaking country for a year, I studied really hard and didn't even skip a single class. I was so lucky to be chosed to come here, Canada.
Now I am no longer a teenager, I remember as I was told that everything would get better again when I grew up. It seems that I got everything that I wanted, however, I lost the most important energy for me to live on. "No pain, no gain?" I sometimes just think like this when life is too difficult. But if I could choose, I wish I could still choose this "endless" journey with no regret. Everything I thought I had achieved seems so pathetic and it's been fading away gradually if I don't hurry to get some back when I still have time. Sometimes, I just need to think that spring also comes while suffering from a freezingly cold winter--try to think positively; My desire to enjoy the world is like asparagus after a storm. Even if it may be destroyed, I would like to go on my way.
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
Movie "Being there"( personal reaction)
It is an interesting movie, however, I think there is some deep meaning of the theme, which is difficult to understand. I enjoyed the movie very much, because Chance knows very little about the outside world, but everything he said can be explained in another way, which all makes great sense. I have been thinking why the title of the film is "being there" and always "television" there, but I haven't got an acceptable answer for myself yet. I think the film satirizes the country's politics. I looked something up in the dictionary. It says that " in the Bible, the first woman, who lived in the Garden og Eden with Adam, the first man". Even if Eve acted as if she really wanted to make love with Chance, I still don't think Eve really loves Chance. Eve just thinks that Chance talks "well", so she "loves" him. When Chance said "I like to watch (TV)", Eve was sexually insulted, I think. However, Eve didn't even feel this way. In my opinion, it indicates how silly Eve is, and also the politics, because Eve's hunsband Ben is also fond of Chance too, and Ben's family symbolize the upper class who have the power of the politics.
Also, the real gardener Chance told us a lot of deep things simply from the real garden( although he didn't realise what he said has many deep meanings.) ; the reason why he was named Chance in this movie is because if there is still some innocence( because he was very innocent in the movie), the world could have a chance to be better.
I like the last line of the movie "Life is a state of mind." It means that we can create what ever we like in our limited life. Every one has to die; the problem is that how we enjoy our life. Maybe we don't need to worry too much. No one is perfect in this world. It seems easy, but difficult to do.
Also, the real gardener Chance told us a lot of deep things simply from the real garden( although he didn't realise what he said has many deep meanings.) ; the reason why he was named Chance in this movie is because if there is still some innocence( because he was very innocent in the movie), the world could have a chance to be better.
I like the last line of the movie "Life is a state of mind." It means that we can create what ever we like in our limited life. Every one has to die; the problem is that how we enjoy our life. Maybe we don't need to worry too much. No one is perfect in this world. It seems easy, but difficult to do.
Saturday, 4 June 2011
a Comparison (Hills Like White Elephants & The Clod and the Pebble)
In this article, I am going to compare "The Clod and the Pebble" by William Blake with "Hills Like White Elephants" by Hemingway on the following four points.
1,themes
2,symbolism
3,God
4.types
First of all, obviously, the themes are both about love, and gives us great pictures of human nature. In "Clod &the Pebble", we can learn that love is not selfish, it is all about giving and not caring about what we receive; we can also learn 'love' is selfish and bind others just to please themselves, which is totally opposite to the other opinion. So, the theme is that love gives you pleasure and also it hurts. In "Hills Like White Elephants", Hemingway didn't as clearly as what William Blake showed us what love is. However, Hemingway described the story between the girl and the American man, from which we can find ourselves in it. In the story, the girl really loves the man, however, even if she tried very hard to keep their relationship going on, she finally gave up. So we can see even if it is a true love, we still have many difficult decisions to make and sometimes we have to give up keeping the relationship for some reasons.
Secondly, there is symbolism in both writings. In "the Clod &the pebble", "clod" symbolizes good person, and "pebble" symbolizes bad person. Because clod is made of dirt and malleable, and pebble is an irritating stone which causes pain if you walk on it. Also, in "Hills like White Elephants", there are symbols. For example, hills represent the fertility of a woman. In the last part of the story "He picked the two heavy bags and carried them around the station to the other tracks. He looked up the tracks but could not see the train", from which we can feel that the man probably also likes the girl, but he has no other choice but persuade her doing the abortion. The two heavy bag probably represents the abortion, which means the man is trying to help the girl. "he could not see the train" means he felt that even if the girl smiled at him, their relationship would come to an end very shortly.
Thirdly, from "The clod &the pebble", we can see that William Blake believes in God, because clod is made of dirt which is a part of the earth(nature and God), however, the pebble does not belong to the nature and God; the clod is the "good person", and the pebble is "the bad ones" or devil. In contrast, there seems no God in "Hills Like White Elephants".
Lastly, because "Clod &the pebble" is a poem, there is rhyme and alliteration in it. However, "Hills Like White Elephants" is a short story, so there is not any characteristics of poems in it.
1,themes
2,symbolism
3,God
4.types
First of all, obviously, the themes are both about love, and gives us great pictures of human nature. In "Clod &the Pebble", we can learn that love is not selfish, it is all about giving and not caring about what we receive; we can also learn 'love' is selfish and bind others just to please themselves, which is totally opposite to the other opinion. So, the theme is that love gives you pleasure and also it hurts. In "Hills Like White Elephants", Hemingway didn't as clearly as what William Blake showed us what love is. However, Hemingway described the story between the girl and the American man, from which we can find ourselves in it. In the story, the girl really loves the man, however, even if she tried very hard to keep their relationship going on, she finally gave up. So we can see even if it is a true love, we still have many difficult decisions to make and sometimes we have to give up keeping the relationship for some reasons.
Secondly, there is symbolism in both writings. In "the Clod &the pebble", "clod" symbolizes good person, and "pebble" symbolizes bad person. Because clod is made of dirt and malleable, and pebble is an irritating stone which causes pain if you walk on it. Also, in "Hills like White Elephants", there are symbols. For example, hills represent the fertility of a woman. In the last part of the story "He picked the two heavy bags and carried them around the station to the other tracks. He looked up the tracks but could not see the train", from which we can feel that the man probably also likes the girl, but he has no other choice but persuade her doing the abortion. The two heavy bag probably represents the abortion, which means the man is trying to help the girl. "he could not see the train" means he felt that even if the girl smiled at him, their relationship would come to an end very shortly.
Thirdly, from "The clod &the pebble", we can see that William Blake believes in God, because clod is made of dirt which is a part of the earth(nature and God), however, the pebble does not belong to the nature and God; the clod is the "good person", and the pebble is "the bad ones" or devil. In contrast, there seems no God in "Hills Like White Elephants".
Lastly, because "Clod &the pebble" is a poem, there is rhyme and alliteration in it. However, "Hills Like White Elephants" is a short story, so there is not any characteristics of poems in it.
Monday, 30 May 2011
How the Setting is related to the meaning.
This story took place in a very peaceful station near some hills. The girl said that the hills were like white elephants, and we can see that the girl wanted the boy to like what she said, but it seems that the man could not understand the girl’s feeling. I think the author intended to say the man could not understand the girl’s feeling about the foetus. That’s why the author wrote a lot of words about the how the girl felt about the hills in this story.
From “The station was between two lines of rails in the sun”, we can feel that the couple will break up with each other very soon because two rails can reach one across and separate from each other again, which was intended to mean that the two was once with each other, but (after the abortion), they would break up.
“It was very hot and the express from Barcelona
The author chose the place bar because as we all know it’s not good for a pregnant girl to drink alcohol; probably the girl just wanted to see whether the man really loves her or not. Obviously, the girl was very disappointed when the man ordered the beer in Spanish. It was also a perfect setting for the story to go on.
In the middle of the story, the writer described the scenery near the station. From “ Across, on the other side, were fields of grain and trees along the banks of the Ebro . Far away, beyond the river, were mountains. The shadow of a cloud moved across the field of grain and she saw the river through the trees”, we can see the girl really wanted to have the whole world with this boy. She wanted to have the baby, and she loves the man.
The last setting which is the man drinking alone in the bar watching others told us that the man felt upset too. Maybe he felt that their relationship would come to an end very shortly.
Sunday, 29 May 2011
a personal Response to "Hills Like White Elephants"
I felt that it was hard to breathe after reading the story.
I think both of them( the girl and the man) can be understood. For the girl, she may be too young to have a baby and it can be really difficult for her to raise up a baby at her age. But I am also a girl, although I've never had such experience, I can imagine that if I have a boyfriend and I got pregnant, and it can be really difficult for me to make a decision about having an abortion or not. For me, I think I will choose to have an abortion.
It's lucky for the girl to have an abortion, because the man doesn't care about the girl at all. She would suffer more if she gives birth to the baby. Althought the man said he loves the girl, but I don't believe. If he cares about the girl, he would have said something nice to the girl, but not just 'the operation is perfectly simple'.
I don't like the girl, either. The story was written in 1927. At that time, how can a girl have sex with a man before they get married? The girl seemed so loose, because she was having sex with a man who doesn't care about her at all. I don't like the girl for another reason. She was trying to let others make decision for her. As she already knew the boy doesn't care about her, she stilll kept asking her 'boyfriend' whether she would have an abortion or not. She finally even felt there's nothing wrong with her, which made me a little bit angry. She did that with a man, and she got pregnant, and she agreed to kill the fetus, but she didn't feel anything wrong with her.
She thought that the man could love her more, however, he is a very cold man in this story. Nowadays it's very common, I think. I don't like to see young couples because I think they are just having very simple fun with each other. Girls are always the victims. Human beings are not animals, we can or we have to control our behavior I think.
I think both of them( the girl and the man) can be understood. For the girl, she may be too young to have a baby and it can be really difficult for her to raise up a baby at her age. But I am also a girl, although I've never had such experience, I can imagine that if I have a boyfriend and I got pregnant, and it can be really difficult for me to make a decision about having an abortion or not. For me, I think I will choose to have an abortion.
It's lucky for the girl to have an abortion, because the man doesn't care about the girl at all. She would suffer more if she gives birth to the baby. Althought the man said he loves the girl, but I don't believe. If he cares about the girl, he would have said something nice to the girl, but not just 'the operation is perfectly simple'.
I don't like the girl, either. The story was written in 1927. At that time, how can a girl have sex with a man before they get married? The girl seemed so loose, because she was having sex with a man who doesn't care about her at all. I don't like the girl for another reason. She was trying to let others make decision for her. As she already knew the boy doesn't care about her, she stilll kept asking her 'boyfriend' whether she would have an abortion or not. She finally even felt there's nothing wrong with her, which made me a little bit angry. She did that with a man, and she got pregnant, and she agreed to kill the fetus, but she didn't feel anything wrong with her.
She thought that the man could love her more, however, he is a very cold man in this story. Nowadays it's very common, I think. I don't like to see young couples because I think they are just having very simple fun with each other. Girls are always the victims. Human beings are not animals, we can or we have to control our behavior I think.
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
a paragraph on "a very short story"( assignment for May 25)
I feel sorry for him, after I read the story.
Before we read that, we learned that the writer of this story, whose name is Ernest, committed suicide. I think for most of people, they don't really understand the feeling of committing suicide, because they never think about such things. I read a lot of books about psychology when I was in high school, and I can understand this feeling very well. I think for most of people who want to commit suicide, they are not optimistic about themselves, and they lose hope to God; usually, they think God is unfair to them. They think bad things happen to people who have no fault, and God doesn't even punish bad people sometimes.
In this short story, I can feel the author's attitude about life. He had several marriages which were all very unsuccessful; he wrote this story probably just want to give us reflection on marriage (at least marriage in Ernest opinion). In this story, the author used a lot of words to describe how he loved Luz. For example,
1----he took the temperatures of other patients so that Luz could rest in the bed.
2----after the armistice, he sorted the letters by the dates and read them all straight through.
3----he agreed that he would not drink, and he didn't want to see his friends or anyone in the States. Only to get a job and be married.
4----although they quarreled with each other about her not willing to come home until he can find a job; even he felt sick to say goodbye like that, they kissed good-bye. (maybe he just wanted to make her happy, and he agreed that she would return home after he found a job.)
5----he felt so sad after he knew that Luz slept with the major; he had sex with a sales girl in a taxicab.(because he was drunk and even if he drunk he still couldn't forget the pain that Luz gave him)
However, Luz acted like a prostitute. At first, when I was reading the story where the author mentioned that
Luz wanted him to find a job first, then get married, I thought it was kind of normal, but even when he was alone in the States trying to find a job in order to get married with Luz, she still cheated on him. The reason why I say she acted like a prostitute is that she slept with the major and after that she even said "theirs had only been a boy and girl affair" to him although she knew he would be hurt, she still sent that letter to him. In my opinion, the author used the word or the person 'the major' here in order to indicate that she consider wealth more important than true love. I don't like such character. Compared to other international students here, I am very poor, because I use some scholarship given by my Japanese university, but not a lot of money given by the family. I used to do a lot of part time jobs. I worked in a sushi restaurant, and a convenience store; I always want to be financially independent and I can feel the happiness; and I NEVER ever think that I should find a rich boyfriend. Even if the boy I like is very poor but trying really hard, I think I can still like him.
However, in the story, Luz said that theirs were just a boy and girl love, I think the author intended to say because Luz thought he was not rich enough and he couldn't give her a good life, so she called it a boy and girl affair.
The reason why the author wrote 'a short after he contracted gonorrhea from a sales girl in a loop department store while riding in a taxicab through Lincoln Park' is that he (the author) thought that God is unfair; even though he did nothing wrong, he still got 'punishmen' from God, which also reflected on his sttitude about life.
We can feel that the author felt disappointed about the world by reading this story.
I like this story.
Before we read that, we learned that the writer of this story, whose name is Ernest, committed suicide. I think for most of people, they don't really understand the feeling of committing suicide, because they never think about such things. I read a lot of books about psychology when I was in high school, and I can understand this feeling very well. I think for most of people who want to commit suicide, they are not optimistic about themselves, and they lose hope to God; usually, they think God is unfair to them. They think bad things happen to people who have no fault, and God doesn't even punish bad people sometimes.
In this short story, I can feel the author's attitude about life. He had several marriages which were all very unsuccessful; he wrote this story probably just want to give us reflection on marriage (at least marriage in Ernest opinion). In this story, the author used a lot of words to describe how he loved Luz. For example,
1----he took the temperatures of other patients so that Luz could rest in the bed.
2----after the armistice, he sorted the letters by the dates and read them all straight through.
3----he agreed that he would not drink, and he didn't want to see his friends or anyone in the States. Only to get a job and be married.
4----although they quarreled with each other about her not willing to come home until he can find a job; even he felt sick to say goodbye like that, they kissed good-bye. (maybe he just wanted to make her happy, and he agreed that she would return home after he found a job.)
5----he felt so sad after he knew that Luz slept with the major; he had sex with a sales girl in a taxicab.(because he was drunk and even if he drunk he still couldn't forget the pain that Luz gave him)
However, Luz acted like a prostitute. At first, when I was reading the story where the author mentioned that
Luz wanted him to find a job first, then get married, I thought it was kind of normal, but even when he was alone in the States trying to find a job in order to get married with Luz, she still cheated on him. The reason why I say she acted like a prostitute is that she slept with the major and after that she even said "theirs had only been a boy and girl affair" to him although she knew he would be hurt, she still sent that letter to him. In my opinion, the author used the word or the person 'the major' here in order to indicate that she consider wealth more important than true love. I don't like such character. Compared to other international students here, I am very poor, because I use some scholarship given by my Japanese university, but not a lot of money given by the family. I used to do a lot of part time jobs. I worked in a sushi restaurant, and a convenience store; I always want to be financially independent and I can feel the happiness; and I NEVER ever think that I should find a rich boyfriend. Even if the boy I like is very poor but trying really hard, I think I can still like him.
However, in the story, Luz said that theirs were just a boy and girl love, I think the author intended to say because Luz thought he was not rich enough and he couldn't give her a good life, so she called it a boy and girl affair.
The reason why the author wrote 'a short after he contracted gonorrhea from a sales girl in a loop department store while riding in a taxicab through Lincoln Park' is that he (the author) thought that God is unfair; even though he did nothing wrong, he still got 'punishmen' from God, which also reflected on his sttitude about life.
We can feel that the author felt disappointed about the world by reading this story.
I like this story.
Monday, 23 May 2011
a Wish to the Seeds of the Dandelion( assignment of what I did at the weekend)
On Saturday, I walked a long way.
In the morning, I slept till 9 o'clock. It was dark in the room, and everything seemed so peaceful. I didn't want to get up early, because I was waiting for the sunshine to come into my room through a small window, and wake me up as usual.
The alarm o'clock made a big noise, and destroyed the peaceful air. I got up and looked through the tiny window, it was raining outside. I opened the window, and I felt the cold wind.
I like such weather, and I felt excited with no special reason. I quickly got dressed and after breakfast, I brought my camera with me and decided to walk outside and enjoy the nice weather.
I walked very slowly and I could feel the smell of the raindrops. Everything here is so fresh to me, because I have been here for only 3 weeks till now. I felt that I have to be excited about life here and explore the world as much as I can. I felt that I had lost something that a young girl should have. I no longer feel excited even when I am alone in a new country. I tasted the raindrop, and it was sweet and I realised that everything can be better again, as the rainbow always comes after the rain, and it is always beautiful. I have to be brave and smile even when we are facing difficulties. I shouldn't give up any hope.
While walking, I saw some earthworns moving through the soil. It was a very short worn, however, seemed very old. It was working so hard and making contributions to the ground. I could tell that it was stepped by someone and was cut into half, but it didn't give up and was still trying so hard. Looking at this brave worn, I felt ashamed of myself being so weak sometimes.
I walked a long way and I came to a beach. Through the dark, cloudy sky, I could see some sunshine far away. I suddenly realised that I am in Vancouver now, and I can do whatever I want if I really try to change myself. I sometimes appreciate it very much if it's a sunny day. However, cloudy days also come. I find it really important for me to learn how to enjoy life in the cloudy days. Life is not easy sometimes, and we don't need to make others understand us; all we need to do is to try our best.
I picked up a dandelion, and blew all the seeds away in the cold wind. I made a wish. I hope all the seeds can reach the ground they like and enjoy the sunshine in their life.
A Paragraph based on the Presentation (From"Red Thread Maiden")
In the presentation, I compared the two characters -- Tien and Red Thread Maiden. Here, I am going to write a conclusion about the similarities and the differences between these two characters.
In my opinion, there are 3 similarities. The first one is that both Tien and Red Thread maiden were active. When Tien felt sick, he wanted to move to Hsue's state, because the climate there was better than his state. In order to win, Tien even trained many fresh soldiers. So we can see that he was really active. Obviously, Red Thread maiden was also very active, because she thought that she could go to Weipo to make a reconnaissance alone. The second similarity is that they were both very appreciative. Here are some reasons to support it. After Tien found out that the person who stole the golden box was from Hsue's country, he sent a letter to thank Hsue and since then they became very good neighbors. And Red Thread Maiden said to Hsue that "It made me feel very happy to be of a little service to you to repay some of your kindness." So they are both very appreciative. The third similarity is that we can tell both Tien and Red Thread Maiden were very respectful through the letter written by Tien and the way how Red Thread Maiden talked and saluted.
Besides the 3 similarities, I also found out some differences between the 2 characters. Tien was very pessimistic, however, Red Thread Maiden was optimistic. Even though Tien had many fresh soldiers , when he found out that the golden box was stolen by the person from Hsue's state, he still felt very scared and decided not to start a conflict. However, we can say that Red Thread Maiden was very optimistic because after she stole the golden box, and on her way back to Hsue's state, she felt that it was beautiful to see the morning breeze beginning to stir the grass and flowers of the wild meadows and the declining moon half hidden by the tall trees. We can also say Tien was very coward because he was afraid of conflicts even though he had many fresh soldiers. On the other hand, Red Thread Maiden was very brave because she was a girl and she had the courage to go to steel Tien's golden box alone.
Finally, there are also some characteristics of Red Thread Maiden. She was very talented. She was well grounded in the classics as well as letter writing, and she was also good at music. Besides, Red Thread Maiden had a strong thought of male chauvinism.
In my opinion, there are 3 similarities. The first one is that both Tien and Red Thread maiden were active. When Tien felt sick, he wanted to move to Hsue's state, because the climate there was better than his state. In order to win, Tien even trained many fresh soldiers. So we can see that he was really active. Obviously, Red Thread maiden was also very active, because she thought that she could go to Weipo to make a reconnaissance alone. The second similarity is that they were both very appreciative. Here are some reasons to support it. After Tien found out that the person who stole the golden box was from Hsue's country, he sent a letter to thank Hsue and since then they became very good neighbors. And Red Thread Maiden said to Hsue that "It made me feel very happy to be of a little service to you to repay some of your kindness." So they are both very appreciative. The third similarity is that we can tell both Tien and Red Thread Maiden were very respectful through the letter written by Tien and the way how Red Thread Maiden talked and saluted.
Besides the 3 similarities, I also found out some differences between the 2 characters. Tien was very pessimistic, however, Red Thread Maiden was optimistic. Even though Tien had many fresh soldiers , when he found out that the golden box was stolen by the person from Hsue's state, he still felt very scared and decided not to start a conflict. However, we can say that Red Thread Maiden was very optimistic because after she stole the golden box, and on her way back to Hsue's state, she felt that it was beautiful to see the morning breeze beginning to stir the grass and flowers of the wild meadows and the declining moon half hidden by the tall trees. We can also say Tien was very coward because he was afraid of conflicts even though he had many fresh soldiers. On the other hand, Red Thread Maiden was very brave because she was a girl and she had the courage to go to steel Tien's golden box alone.
Finally, there are also some characteristics of Red Thread Maiden. She was very talented. She was well grounded in the classics as well as letter writing, and she was also good at music. Besides, Red Thread Maiden had a strong thought of male chauvinism.
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
What Writing Means to Me
I enjoy writing when I feel unhappy. During the past 2 years, I lived alone, and did 2 part time jobs at one time when I was in the Japanese university. Usually, I had school in the day from 9am. to 6 pm. After that, I worked till midnight. When I went back home, I was really tired and I always wanted to relax but I didn't know how. I used to open my Qzone( something like blog) and I write all the unhappy things down and upload them, which was my only way to relax. Although I had 2 or 3 very close friends, but I didn't want to talk about my sorrow with others.
I also like to write a dairy here in Vancouver. I write in 3 languages in order to practise to express my feelings in different languages, and I never avoid writing, I think.
Writing means a lot to me, because I consider wrting an entertainment, and it always helps me relax.
I also like to write a dairy here in Vancouver. I write in 3 languages in order to practise to express my feelings in different languages, and I never avoid writing, I think.
Writing means a lot to me, because I consider wrting an entertainment, and it always helps me relax.
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