6月19日，waiwa終于通過了act，真是可喜可賀啊！早上我在Grand st恭候她的大駕，當她進入我的眼簾，哇！一臉的憔悴和倦容，一看就知道是因為最近努力復習act，被act折磨所致。啊！真是我見猶憐啊！！！！到了Lehman college，當她進入考場前，我深情地說：“Good Luck。”然后我就自己在隔壁的空教室開始復習我的功課。時間過得很快，一眨眼就到12點半，我感覺也waiwa也差不多出來了，我正在猜想結果會怎么樣呢？如果不幸沒過，我該說什么去安慰她呢？我不知道，但我會陪她坐車去Coney Island，因為我知道那里有高速旋轉飛船，然后再去吃一頓，最后回學校再戰ACT，正當我在構思時候，一個穿粉紅色衣服披著黑色外套的身影一掠而過，我心里蠻緊張的，但看到這個速度，我知道我的安慰計劃已經用不上了，因為這個速度告訴我這是好消息，當我出現在你背后，看到你的笑容，和你走過來擁抱我，我抱著你的那一刻，我的心情也好復雜，因為我也很怕是壞消息，很怕你會失望，難過，沮喪，但取代這些negative feelings的是興奮，激動，自豪！因為你再也不用為act而難過，沮喪，我沒有出手幫你，你是堂堂正正地靠自己的努力和毅力而得到今天的成績，也不枉費我在BMCC陪你練習3天，我也為自己感到驕傲，因為我的方法是有用的。特別是看到到處打電話給人的時候，那份喜悅真是比自己考過了還開心。你可以為自己爭口氣，在那些曾經打擊過你的人面前揚眉吐氣了。為了慶祝一番，我知道你喜歡吃麻辣燙，所以特意建議從Bronx坐車去Flushing，雖然坐1個多小時車去吃麻辣燙，聽起來似乎有點瘋狂，但我陪你.老實說那個麻辣燙真的蠻好吃的哦！雖然辣得流鼻涕，但真的真過癮。小雨，你那么早回去，真是錯失良機了，我和WaiWa一起吃麻辣燙，你沒得吃，真可惜，不過我們不欺負你，等你回來以后，我們約個時間一起去吃。最后在此，我衷心恭喜waiwa，你要繼續努力，一步一個腳印，我在等待你Eng 110，210和CPE的好消息，我相信在明年，我一定可以聽到這個好消息。

這個學期過得真的好累啊！上6節課，從早上8點到12點上課，12點到7點做工。以下都是我這個學期寫的paper和essay，除了一門微積分外，上的課都是文科。全部都有很多閱讀和寫作。特別是那個古典文學，要讀10本書，老實說，讀完那些書我一點都不明白書上說什么，包括Homer Illiad, Odyesseus, Bacchus, Great tragedy, the Cloud, 等等，真的是好難啊！面對著一大堆書，我只好從網上找來summary,讀完以后才知道這些書是說什么，否則這節課一定完蛋。在這一刻，真的好想輕松一下，什么都不管，什么都不做。突然我問自己，把自己累得半死不活，值得嗎？
其實這個學期剛開始的時候，我也沒打算上這么多課，后來上6節課是因為一個自己喜歡的女孩子，我自以為大好男孩，一向勤奮，上進，各方面都不錯，而且一心一意關心她，在寒假里，即使很忙，也幫她一起讀CPE的reading，盡力幫她考過CPE，而你考完試以后，并沒有發生什么不愉快的事，卻從我的身邊消失了，真的讓我很傷心，很難過，你答應過我不會不理我，居然失信于我。簡直令人心寒，因為在年初一還煲了幾個小時的電話粥，而且聊得那么開心，所以真的讓我感覺“女人心，海底針”令人無法捉摸，而且說翻臉就翻臉，也許是人心難測，女人心更難測。 經歷這次，起初真的讓我心灰意冷，自己所做的一切都是沒用的，自己即使千萬般優秀，多么真心關心她，又怎么樣呢？她答應過陪伴我，還不是一樣食言。讓我不敢再相信女孩子的話了。
我突然很懷疑我身邊的女孩子，她們和我交往，是真心對我還是在利用我呢？
Vivian,從08年認識到現在，有什么問題都來找我，甚至轉學到Long Island University，把全部東西交給我辦理，自己就跑回大陸，去貴州和馬來西亞旅游。回來以后什么都不用干，直接去新學校上課，因為新環境，居然還想把我拉過去陪她，這個學期還唧唧喳喳跑回Brooklyn college,要我幫練習speech，聽她的演講。還讓我幫她寫了3個演講稿，self introduction, persuasive speech, formal sppech.一個philosohpy的paper。
小雨,考ACT考了很多次都不過，拉我到Lehman college當槍手，結果一考就過了，平時在QQ上留言給她，居然對我愛理不理。
若蘭，一個和我一起做工的女孩子，發現我幫Vivian寫paper，于是二話不說，也把她的paper拿給我改和寫。
而大陸的一些家伙呢？就拿她們的畢業論文叫我幫忙翻譯。
我自己都已經很忙了，被她們這么一弄，更加忙得不可開交了。突然感覺我身邊的女孩子都是在利用我，還說什么“能者多勞，勞者多能。”那我失意沮喪的時候，又有誰來關心過我？在乎過我呢？還不是靠自己一個人咬緊牙關熬過來。仔細想想，這些所謂的感情實在是太虛浮了，真的很難再令人相信感情，也不敢再真心對人了，也不敢對女孩子動情了。所以選擇了努力讀書，努力做工，賺錢，使自己的知識更加豐富，更加強大，這樣覺得更實在。至少展示自己的存在價值，以前那些真心關心人，真心幫人，真心對人，現在真的越來越讓人心冷，覺得不現實，真的不想貪戀那些什么熱心幫人的虛名了，不想貪戀那些男女之間的情愛了。之前，我還是一直認為只要我努力學習和上進，讓自己的人生充實，有意義，那才是取悅人的最佳方法。如今我真的有點懷疑自己是否太過于天真，那些有用嗎？在我情緒低落的時候，真的覺得自己很幼稚，但冷靜下來想想，我至于為了一個女孩子而否定自己嗎？ 不至于啊！如果她真的是屬于我，她真的喜歡我，在乎我，就不會讓我難過；但她讓我難過，也就是說，也許她不值得我喜歡，為了一個不值得自己喜歡的女孩子而傷心難過，那就是更不值得了。
我現在有這種想法，也許我的心真的痛了。對那些人真的不想再去理會了，還是覺得獨來獨往的好，但畢竟不多不少還對那些情感有一絲不舍，因為的確很吸引人，很令人向往。害怕自己因為一時的挫折，而錯失一段真正屬于自己的感情，錯過一個真心喜歡我的人。人生真是充滿矛盾，但也充滿驚喜！

In this society, there are lots of factors to relating to women’s body image and structure. There factors include culture, media influences, and so on. Cultures affect makers to make a media, and audiences are influenced by the media. TV and advertisements influence people’s evaluation. These factors directly affect modern women’s attitude toward their body images and their periods. Women set a standard about their body images according to those influences. Actually, it is not necessary for women to be shamed about their period, and they can share their feelings about their periods with female friends and male friends. It is essential for women to build their self-esteem about their body image or facing their period, but not being effected by cultures, TV, and advertisements anymore. Also, the contexts of TVs and advertisement are keeping changing, and it is not necessary for women to maintain a standard towards their body image and their periods.
In the article “She’s Pumped, Your turn[1],” by Liz Robbing, published on New York Times, Robbing mentioned that the first lady, Michelle Obama, showed her biceps, triceps and shoulders at the Inaugural Ball. It is because Michelle Obama has a typical runaway body and 5-foot-5 frame. It caused many women’s envy, admiration. In “Between Body and Culture: Beauty, Ability and Growing Up Female” by Carla Rice, Rice states about the first socializing messages. Many women received negative messages about body from other people or media. Especially, for girls, they put more attention on their bodies than boys. Also, the parents are affected by those messages, they raises their children following those messages. Namely, girls should be beautiful, and boys should be strong. Additionally, children have lots of chances to receive message from television, such as TV, advertisement about beauty and body. In this case, the importance of beauty is deepened in girls’ mind. It is the same with the news. Michelle Obama obtained many women’s admiration by showing her biceps, triceps and shoulders. Michelle Obama has put a definition in women’s mind because she is the first lady. This is the media influence.
Michelle Obama said that she trains several days a week but without saying the details of her workout. Mr. Schoenfeld also encouraged people that all people have ability to look beautiful according to training hard. This is an encouragement for people to go to the training center. The more people go to the training center, the more money the center earns. It is an economic stimulation. The leader of the training center can get more profit by this way. Also, Robbing still mentioned the President Obama’s personal trainer who guides Obama. It means that Mr. Obama also does the training. This is also another way to attract people to go to the training center. it is a method to have more profitability by persuading more people to join the training center, and the development of economy is shown. The leader of the training center can keep their income. Likewise, In “Between Body and Culture: Beauty, Ability and Growing Up Female,” Rice also stated that economic is another factor that “women and men change hair texture, hairstyle, skin color, facial feature, or eye color.” It is because men and women want to get high wage. In the white-dominated institution or companies, these changes can keep or get a job for women and men. The purpose of both cases is to get profit, but their methods are different from each other. One is to persuade to change standing the position of a leader, but the other one is to actively accept the change.
Michelle Obama showed her arms in public. Arms can be marks for women’s age. Robbing also pointed out other models sleeveless, such as models bare their arms, including Meredith Vieira, 55, and Jane Fonda, 71. It is not difficult to see what the purpose of listing Michelle Obama and these models. That was wrong and old that Women need to cut their hair short and cover up their skin after they turn 40 years old. It is not suitable anymore today. This is a beginning for women to step out of an old theory, that is, their arm should be covered after 40 years old. It should not make women uncomfortable. Likewise, in “Keep on Keepin’ on: Me, My Period and the Stars Above” by Laura Edmonstone, she began to complain about her menstruation with her friends in the change room when she was in high school. She shared her hard experience about painful cramping and achy backs with her friends. Among the friends, they knew they need a tampon or pad in time of need. Although Edmonstone could share her hard experience of painful cramping and achy backs with her female friends, she still felt embarrassed when the other boys knew she had her period. She didn’t want boys knew her period because she treated her period as her privacy. It is similar that women cut short hair and cover their arms after 40 years old. It is because women treat their age as a secret in their hearts, and they don’t want other people know what their ages are. Especially, women feel uncomfortable when men know their ages.
In addition, Edmonstone made a study for the women who use Keeper. It promoted her to change the situation. She wanted to persuade women to ignore the social barriers when they use the Keeper. However, the social construction of shame is still surrounding in both men and women. Edmonstone wanted to encourage women to open their minds talking about women’s period. It can bring close connection among women. Period is just a part of natural cycle for women. She didn’t feel shameful anymore when she talked with her friends about menstruation. No matter for young or not-so-young women, it is not necessary to be shameful talking about period. Just like Michelle Obama showed her arms. It is not necessary for women to be embarrassed to not cut their hair short and not cover their arms after the age of 40. Michelle Obama showed an example for women, that is, she didn’t feel shameful to show her arms after the age of 40. It can encourage women not to be shameful to show their arms after 40-years-old. She can make use of her status to promote women because she is the first lady in the U.S. This is also a media influence. All women would consider that the first lady, Michelle Obama, did. They also can show their arms, they are even over 40-years-old. It can also encourage women to do exercise as well as Michelle Obama. It is not expensive to obtain this goal. On the other hand, it can be also a example to keep their bodies fit and looking good in the U.S. The new theory of body is formed in women’s mind.
Comparing both the articles “She’s Pumped, Your turn” and “Keep On Keepin’ on: Me, My Period and the Stars Above,” both of them show women can share their privacy (menstruation or age) with the female friends, and it is not a big deal for women. The old theory can be replaced by the new theory, that is, women can show their arms after 40, and they can also talk about their bad experience about period with male and female friends. Women don’t need to be uncomfortable when they talk about these private issues with female friends and male friends.
[1] http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/19/fashion/19fitness.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&sq=body%20%20image%20and%20women&st=cse&scp=8

In this society, there are lots of factors to relating to women’s body image and structure. There factors include culture, media influences, and so on. Cultures affect makers to make a media, and audiences are influenced by the media. TV and advertisements influence people’s evaluation. These factors directly affect modern women’s attitude toward their body images and their periods. Women set a standard about their body images according to those influences. Actually, it is not necessary for women to be shamed about their period, and they can share their feelings about their periods with female friends and male friends. It is essential for women to build their self-esteem about their body image or facing their period, but not being effected by cultures, TV, and advertisements anymore. Also, the contexts of TVs and advertisement are keeping changing, and it is not necessary for women to maintain a standard towards their body image and their periods.
In the article “She’s Pumped, Your turn[1],” by Liz Robbing, published on New York Times, Robbing mentioned that the first lady, Michelle Obama, showed her biceps, triceps and shoulders at the Inaugural Ball. It is because Michelle Obama has a typical runaway body and 5-foot-5 frame. It caused many women’s envy, admiration. In “Between Body and Culture: Beauty, Ability and Growing Up Female” by Carla Rice, Rice states about the first socializing messages. Many women received negative messages about body from other people or media. Especially, for girls, they put more attention on their bodies than boys. Also, the parents are affected by those messages, they raises their children following those messages. Namely, girls should be beautiful, and boys should be strong. Additionally, children have lots of chances to receive message from television, such as TV, advertisement about beauty and body. In this case, the importance of beauty is deepened in girls’ mind. It is the same with the news. Michelle Obama obtained many women’s admiration by showing her biceps, triceps and shoulders. Michelle Obama has put a definition in women’s mind because she is the first lady. This is the media influence.
Michelle Obama said that she trains several days a week but without saying the details of her workout. Mr. Schoenfeld also encouraged people that all people have ability to look beautiful according to training hard. This is an encouragement for people to go to the training center. The more people go to the training center, the more money the center earns. It is an economic stimulation. The leader of the training center can get more profit by this way. Also, Robbing still mentioned the President Obama’s personal trainer who guides Obama. It means that Mr. Obama also does the training. This is also another way to attract people to go to the training center. it is a method to have more profitability by persuading more people to join the training center, and the development of economy is shown. The leader of the training center can keep their income. Likewise, In “Between Body and Culture: Beauty, Ability and Growing Up Female,” Rice also stated that economic is another factor that “women and men change hair texture, hairstyle, skin color, facial feature, or eye color.” It is because men and women want to get high wage. In the white-dominated institution or companies, these changes can keep or get a job for women and men. The purpose of both cases is to get profit, but their methods are different from each other. One is to persuade to change standing the position of a leader, but the other one is to actively accept the change.
Michelle Obama showed her arms in public. Arms can be marks for women’s age. Robbing also pointed out other models sleeveless, such as models bare their arms, including Meredith Vieira, 55, and Jane Fonda, 71. It is not difficult to see what the purpose of listing Michelle Obama and these models. That was wrong and old that Women need to cut their hair short and cover up their skin after they turn 40 years old. It is not suitable anymore today. This is a beginning for women to step out of an old theory, that is, their arm should be covered after 40 years old. It should not make women uncomfortable. Likewise, in “Keep on Keepin’ on: Me, My Period and the Stars Above” by Laura Edmonstone, she began to complain about her menstruation with her friends in the change room when she was in high school. She shared her hard experience about painful cramping and achy backs with her friends. Among the friends, they knew they need a tampon or pad in time of need. Although Edmonstone could share her hard experience of painful cramping and achy backs with her female friends, she still felt embarrassed when the other boys knew she had her period. She didn’t want boys knew her period because she treated her period as her privacy. It is similar that women cut short hair and cover their arms after 40 years old. It is because women treat their age as a secret in their hearts, and they don’t want other people know what their ages are. Especially, women feel uncomfortable when men know their ages.
In addition, Edmonstone made a study for the women who use Keeper. It promoted her to change the situation. She wanted to persuade women to ignore the social barriers when they use the Keeper. However, the social construction of shame is still surrounding in both men and women. Edmonstone wanted to encourage women to open their minds talking about women’s period. It can bring close connection among women. Period is just a part of natural cycle for women. She didn’t feel shameful anymore when she talked with her friends about menstruation. No matter for young or not-so-young women, it is not necessary to be shameful talking about period. Just like Michelle Obama showed her arms. It is not necessary for women to be embarrassed to not cut their hair short and not cover their arms after the age of 40. Michelle Obama showed an example for women, that is, she didn’t feel shameful to show her arms after the age of 40. It can encourage women not to be shameful to show their arms after 40-years-old. She can make use of her status to promote women because she is the first lady in the U.S. This is also a media influence. All women would consider that the first lady, Michelle Obama, did. They also can show their arms, they are even over 40-years-old. It can also encourage women to do exercise as well as Michelle Obama. It is not expensive to obtain this goal. On the other hand, it can be also a example to keep their bodies fit and looking good in the U.S. The new theory of body is formed in women’s mind.
Comparing both the articles “She’s Pumped, Your turn” and “Keep On Keepin’ on: Me, My Period and the Stars Above,” both of them show women can share their privacy (menstruation or age) with the female friends, and it is not a big deal for women. The old theory can be replaced by the new theory, that is, women can show their arms after 40, and they can also talk about their bad experience about period with male and female friends. Women don’t need to be uncomfortable when they talk about these private issues with female friends and male friends.
[1] http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/19/fashion/19fitness.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&sq=body%20%20image%20and%20women&st=cse&scp=8

Irony is a literary device in literatures, and it can express tragedy effectively. In “Agamemnon,” “Oedipus,” “Bacchus,” and “the Clouds,” all tragedies happened among family members. All authors expressed tragedies by ironic device. According to using the device of irony, let readers have a deep thought of tragic events. Hence, the main purpose of using irony was to reveal tragedies.
In “Oedipus the King,” the author mainly used the device of irony to show the tragedies. At the beginning, Sophocles used the plague in the Thebe as an introduction in the play. This introduction described a heroic image for Oedipus. After discovering the truth, Oedipus made a promise to look for the murderer to kill Laios. Oedipus’ promise was preparer to reveal his tragedy.
“Oedipus: I will bring this to light again. King Phoebus fittingly took this care about the dead, and you too fittingly. And justly you will see in me an ally, a champion of my country and the God. For when I drive pollution from the land, I will not serve a distant friend’s advantage, but act in my own interest. Whoever he was that killed the King may readily wish to dispatch me with his murderous hand; so helping the dead king I help myself.” (Page 16 Line 135)
In this quote, this was a good example to show tragedy by using the device of irony. Oedipus didn’t know who he really was, did not know who his father really was, and did not know he was the murderer to kill Laios. He was eager to look for the murder, and he made every effort to clean the pollution in the Thebes. All what he had done made a heroic image in people’s minds. He eventually would destroy his heroic image in people’s minds. He would be from a hero to become a murder to kill father. This was really a big irony. A murder didn’t know him a murder, and wanted to punish himself.
In addition, at the middle of the play, Jocasta told the history that she had abandoned a son. She stated the reason why she abandoned her son.
“Laios had the feet of this child bound and pinned. Someone tossed it in a mountain wilderness. So there. Apollo didn’t cause this boy to be his father’s killer. Laios didn’t bear the terror he feared from his son. That’s what the words of prophecy defined. (Sophocles I line 717)
In this quote, Jocasta released Laios and her story. The use of irony was to show that people could not escape from fate even if they knew their fate. Although Laios and Jocasta knew their fate, they still could not avoid the fate. They thought they sent their son far away from the Thebes, and they could escape the tragedy. Unfortunately, the fact was not changed, and the prophecy still came true in Thebes. Laios ultimately was killed by his son, and Jocasta finally married his son and produced children for his son. Oedipus felt into regret toward what he had done. Hence, it was really a great irony. If Laios and Jocasta didn’t send Oedipus away from Thebes and brought up Oedipus, they might escape from their fate because Oedipus knew who his father and mother were.
In “the Bacchus,” Euripides also showed the tragedy by irony. He described Agave’s sadness after she killed her son Pentheus. She cut her son into piece. She put her son’s body together when she knew she had killed her son. Comparing to the following dialogue, this was also a great tragedy. Happiness of killing her own son and sadness of killing her own son were a conflict, but it was a big irony.
Agave: Father, where is my poor boy’s body now?
Cadmus: There it is. I gathered the pieces with great difficulty.
Agave: Is his body entire? Has he been laid out well?
Cadmus: All but the head. The rest is mutilated horribly.
Agave: But why should Pentheus suffer for my crime?
Cadmus: He, like you, blasphemed the god. And so the god has brought us all to ruin at one blow, you, your sisters, and this boy. All our house the god as utterly destroyed and, with it, me. For I have no sons left, no male heir; and I have lived only to see this boy, this branch of your own body, most horribly and foully killed. (“The Bacchae” Page214 line 1300)
In this dialogue, Agave recognized what she had done to her son Pentheus, and Cadmus told Jocasta the reason why he had no sons left. In fact, that was revenge from his grandson Dionysus. However, they still thought that was a punishment from the god. At that moment, Agave’s emotion was totally different from her emotion of killing her son
Chorus: Extraordinary catch.
Agave: Extraordinary skill.
Chorus: You are proud?
Agave: Proud and happy. I have won the trophy of the chase, a great prize, manifest to all.
Coryphaeus: Then, poor woman, show the citizens of Thebes this great prize, this trophy you have won in the hunt. (“The Bacchae” Page 208 Line 1200)
In this dialogue, it shows Pentheus’ mother, Agave’s proud and happy after she killed her own son. It was really a big irony because mother was full of happiness to kill her son. She took her son’s head as a prize, showed her son’s head to the citizens of Thebes proudly. Using this example of irony is the best way to show this great tragedy because there was nothing more effective than mother killed her son as a wild lion.
In “the Clouds,” Strepsiades wanted to avoid his debts, he sent his son Pheidippides to the school. Let Pheidippides be educated by right and wrong. As a result, Pheidippides learned the wrong and helped his father to avoid the debts when he graduated from the school. However, after avoiding the debts, the tragedy came to Strepsiades. Not only Pheidippides beat his mother, but also he was not grateful to his father. He twisted the law by his wrong argument.
Strepsiades: You Clouds, it’s all your fault I suffer this! I trusted you to handle my affairs.
Chorus Leader: No you’re responsible for doing it to yourself: you took the twisting road that leads toward evil.
In this quote, it was also an irony. Strepsiades didn’t reflect what he had done to his son. He put all faults on the school. In fact, Strepsiades just wanted his son Pheidippides to help him avoid his debt. Nevertheless, he could not predict the bad result that his son would beat him after Pheidippides helped his father to avoid the debt. Strepsiades’ tragedy was made by himself. He just wanted to avoid his debts but ignored the result which his son would deal with him by the wrong argument. He finally blamed the clouds that they led his son Pheidippides to be an evil person rather than reflecting his wrong actions. It was his retribution that he made his son become evil. Not only his son used what he had learned from the Clouds to deal with those creditors, but also Pheidippides used what he had learned from the Clouds to deal with his parents. He “lost” a good son who was graceful to his father, and produced an evil son who would beat his parents. At the end of the play, Strepsiades burned the school, but it didn’t make any sense for him because his son would not change anymore. Hence, this was a tragedy but this tragedy was shown by a comic.
In “Agamemnon,” Agamemnon was the King in the Argo. He sacrificed his daughter to Iris. That was his tragedy to be a King and soldier. When he was killed by his wife Clytaemnestra, no one of the members of the Chorus revenged for him. Although Agamemnon didn’t directly show his sadness to sacrifice his daughter, his wife Cltaemnestra did. She wanted to kill her husband Agamemnon due to her sadness of losing a daughter. According to Cltaemnestra’s sadness and hatred, tragedy was shown.
“You cry out as if I were a woman and vain; but my heart is not fluttered as I speak before you. You know it. You can praise or blame me as you wish; it is all one to me. That man is Agamemnon, my husband; he is dead; the work of this right hand/ that struck in strength of righteousness. And that is that.” (Euripides V Lines 1401-1406)
The Queen admitted that she killed the King Agamemnon. However, the old men just cried and complained about Agamemnon’s death. They totally had no any actions to revenge for Agamemnon. It was so ironic that King was killed by the Queen. However, they still obeyed Clytaemnestra as a queen in the Argo, without punishment. Comparing to when Agamemnon came from the Trojan War, the Chorus’ attitude were totally different. At that time, they showed their respect to Agamemnon. When Agamemnon was killed, the Chorus changed their attitude. No one revenged for Agamemnon. In addition, when the members of the Chorus knew Clytaemnestra’s lover Atreus helped Clytaemnestra to murder Agamemnon, they just blamed Atreus for all that had happened, stating that he put Clytaemnestra up to committing this act of murder instead of being honorable and doing it himself.
“So then you, like a woman, waited the war out her in the house, shaming the master’s bed with lust, and planed against the lord of war this treacherous death? (Lines 1625-1627)
It was so ironic that what the Chorus said. Without Clytaemnestra, it was impossible for Atreus to approach to Agamemnon. He had a chance to help Clytaemnestra to murder Agamemnon because he got an advantage, that is, Clytaemnestra wanted to kill Agamemnon. The Chorus was fearful of Clytaemnestra, and they put all responsibilities on Atreus. What they did was to show they were cowardly. It was really Agamemnon’s tragedy because he protected and led a group of cowardice. He devoted his daughter in order to win the Trojan War. However, there was no one revenging for him after the unnatural death. Furthermore, Agamemnon was a soldier, and he had experienced the Trojan War for over ten years. Here, it was also ironic that Agamemnon did not die in the war, but he died in his palace, and was killed by his wife. Hence, this irony was shown by the difference of the Chorus’ attitudes toward Agamemnon.
Above all, in the four works, all authors mainly use the device of irony to show the tragedies. All characters in the plays suffered from their tragedies. All their tragedies came from their family members. According to using the device of irony, readers can reflect these tragedies as their life lesson.

Everybody has a dream. The dream should be perfectly in your own world. I always yearn to live in a place where there is a nice environment which is besides seashore. There are many gorgeous buildings and towers. People are friendly and smile all the time. Some of them are busy, some of them are relax.
As we know different societies have different cultures, and culture has a great effect on a society, because culture forms a firm sense in people’s minds. In order to be suitable to people, government, economic, sex, marriage, and family the culture must be suitable for people. Otherwise, a community must be not peaceful. In my ideal society, everything is like this.
The government must be ruled by elites. High-educated people can lead a society to a bright future by making use of their high education. These elites also have to act for common people’s benefit, and keep common people’s benefit in their minds. Hence, they have to be elected by common people. Regarding power, I totally agree with power balance because three branches work together, and the three branches can limit other department’s power. In this case, there is no absolute power in any one of them. Also, the president has power to collect more tax from the rich people. It is a good way to decrease the distance between rich people and poor people. According to collecting more tax from rich people, government has more money to help those poor people in this community. Of course, the leaders can make more opportunities for poor people. In this case, these poor people can earn money by their working. The president can’t feel free to declare war to other countries. If the war is just, because they are attacked by other countries, the president has absolute power to declare war without permission. Thus, in my mind, the leaders have to be experienced, and understand what people need. These two qualities are the basic things for leaders. Otherwise, they can not run the government well; even they can lead people to be in trouble. Once the president makes a wrong decision, people have right to overthrow the president at once.
For sex, marriage, and family, they have a close relationship. In the normal way, marriage is formed by male and female. Males work outside because their physical nature is different from females’ physical nature. They can earn money to support their families. Compare to Thomas More’s words, “though the weaker sex are given the lighter jobs, like spinning and weaving, while the men do the heavier ones”(55). I agree with him because men are mostly stronger than women in the same age. Females will stay at home, and they can take care of their families and their children. This is for normal marriage. Although males work outside and females work inside, it doesn’t mean that husband has no responsibility to do housework and take care of sons. Children want to go to bathroom in public. After all, it is not convenient for men to take daughter to men’s room or women’s room. If a man takes his daughter to women’s room, it is not good for this man. If a man takes his daughter to men’s room, it is not good for his daughter. Likewise, it is either inconvenient for women to take son to women’s room or men’s room. Also, parents can put the idea of heterosexuality in their children’s minds. It is good for parents to raise their children, and prevent homosexuality. Hence, preventing homosexuality can be from the beginning of teaching children.
However, in order to be fair to the gay marriage, there should be an area for these gay people living. This is not discrimination against the gay marriage, and it is protection to those gay people. Also, this is a way to cure gay people and lesbians. Gays and lesbians can change their attitudes. As we know, family is formed by male and female. After male and female get married, they can produce the next generation by their sexual intercourse. After children grow up, they can be raised in the normal environment. Parents can show their love to their children, and teach children how to love when they grow up. In fact, this is a way to continue the family by giving birth to children. However, it is difficult to remain their families for gays and lesbians because they can’t produce children by their sex activity. Without production, gay marriage can die out. Even though gay marriage doesn’t die out, the number of gay marriage will be less and less.
In family, both husband and wife also need to make a good relationship with fathers-in-law and mothers-in-law. Both of them have to take good care of seniors, and the seniors also need to respect their son-in-law or daughter-in-law. I think that is the moral behavior. They have their responsibility to take care of the old people in their house.
For the economics, it must be independent for a country. A society has to feed, clothe and shelter itself. Hence, agriculture and industrialization must be put in the most important positions in a country. Farmers have to plant adequate crops to support the needs in a country. Scientists have to offer their knowledge to those farmers and help farmers to increase the quality of agricultural production and the quantity of agricultural production. After farmers produce a large number of crop, these crops have to be distributed reasonably. First, the corps has to be adequate to citizens in the country. In this case, it can answer the demand in the country. Second, the quality and quantity of industrial productions must be maintained in a stable level. Focusing on these two ways, the country must be peaceful and stable. There is no inflation in the country. If people have extra agricultural productions and industrial productions, people sell their productions to foreign countries. However, people have to regular those extra productions, and measure the demand in abroad and homeland. Otherwise, this causes inflation in homeland.
It is unavoidable that crime appears in a country, because some people want to get something without working. So there are some strict laws to against the crime. Some people want to achieve their goals, and they bribe government officers. In this case, it must make a punishment to government officers. Government officers have responsibility to work for people, and they should not sacrifice common people’s benefits to get their own benefits. No matter how high the position the government officers take up, they have to be punished without any exceptions. Hence, making laws to protect people’s benefits is essential. No one can break laws without getting punishment because everyone is equal in the front of the law.
Different people have different religions in a community. People have to respect each other. There are no any religions taking up the whole community. Some people believe in Daoism, and these people have to respect other religion believers. Buddhism requires no wine drinking, but Daoism can allow believers to drink rice wine. In this case, Buddhist disciples have to respect Taoist priests, and should not force Taoist priests to stop drinking rice wine. Similarly, Taoist priests can’t coerce Buddhist disciples to drink wine. Otherwise, different religion believers can’t get along well with each other.
Little hospitals are everywhere in each city. The big hospital is located in the center of each area. Small hospitals are for people who have any non-operation emergency. But the same as the central hospital, the small ones also have many experienced doctors and skillful nurses. Similar to Thomas More’s “Utopia”, the central hospitals are very big to allow a large number of people to go in. The hospitals are divided into different zones for different diseases. The buildings are well decorated and make a best environment for patients. The walls of the hospital hall are white painted. Inside the big hospital, there are some tall trees and good smell flowers. That can help to improve patients’ spirits during they are being cure in hospital. Also, the green plants would purify the air into a fresh condition and lower the risk of infection. Patients can take a walk and relax in the ally. Doctors wear white gown and nurses wear pink dress. So people can quickly recognize who are doctors and nurses if they have any emergency. The technologists make the medicine by themselves.
For me, I feel like education is very important. From some aspects, it shows that good education lead to good personal and country future. The same as Thomas More’s Utopia, all children should attend school, because enhancing the knowledge individually helps the improvement of a country. If people are armed with knowledge, everyone will be on the same cognitive level. Therefore, there are no distances between people. All people should learn something and not to be lazy and just stay at home. At school, teachers should encourage students to create their own specific ideas and share with everyone. In this case, people can understand each other well and help each other. Students should wear their uniform under the discipline. Uniforms make students feel united and orderly. When children grow up, they can choose different kinds of jobs as they wish. In Thomas More’s Utopia, “most children are brought up to do the same work as their parents, since they tend to have a natural feeling for it”(55), “When you’ve learned one trade properly, you can, if you like, get permission to learn another”(56). For this, Thomas More also emphasizes the significance of education. Children should be encouraged to learn what they are interested in.
People are hard working, but they only work three hours a day. People spend rest of the time on entertainment with their friends and families. There is a gather at three o’clock in everyday afternoon. People bring their family here and meet different people. They bring many special and delicious foods to share with their neighbourhoods. This is a free time which lasts for 3 hours until 6 o’clock. At night, in the city, there are some parties are being held in a big plaza. People are dancing, singing, drinking, eating and playing games. Everyone enjoys that moment. In stead of going home early, people take a walk after dinner and go shopping in the mall, chatting with their close friends and sharing their stories. It is really a good way to spend times with people together. Because besides working in our life, friendship, partnership is also important to us.
There are no cars, no trains in this society. If people want to go to a far place, they can use carriage which is led by a strong horse in front. In this case, there is no pollution to the city and good to people’s health. Also this is a free trip.
Everything has two sides which are good and bad, or we can say just and injust, moral and immoral. They exist at the same time forever. If there is no crime in a society, there are no just people in the world. Compare to Thomas More’s Utopia, I prefer my ideal world to his because we, in the 21st century, would hardly want to live in Utopia which was a state-controlled society dominated by men over women, where every town and every house looked the same, where everyone dressed like everyone else. Work was compulsory and supervised, and eating was a communal affair. However, it was ahead of its time. If in this situation, lawyers were got rid of because they were “useless”. No one would be conscripted for military service abroad. Divorce and euthanasia were both permissible. In education part, I quite agree with him because Thomas More also encouraged children to learn more at school and do different jobs they want. Everyone should work hard and get a better living. And we should always be aware to be a just, moral and honest person. This is not just only benefits, for us, but good for the whole society.

Everyone has afflictive emotioons, and it leads people to be unhappy. In “Ethics and Suffering” by the Dalai Lama, and Wu Men, both authors suggest that people should step out of afflictive emotions.
In “Ethics and Sufferings,” the Dalai lama gives an example about two patients with terminal cancer. One patient had an optimistic attitude toward the terminal caner. He accepted the truth and took the terminal cancer as an opportunity to develop his inner strengh. On the other hand, the other patient had a negative feeling toward the terminal cancer. His heart was full of fear, and disaapointment for the future. Comparing both parients’ attitudes, it is obvious to see the second patient fell into his afflictive emotion. The Dalai lama said, “In the case of the latter, in addition to the physical suffering itself, then is the added pain of inner suffering.” In this quote, the Dalai Lama’s purpose is very clear. He suggests people should confornt the suffering positively. The cancer is physical suffering, but people should not have the metal suffering. If people have negative view, this would enlarge suffering.
Wu Men mentions the features about the four seasons. Wu Men said, “Ten thousand flowers in Spring, the moon in autumn, a cool breeze in summer, snow in winter. If your mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary things, this is the best season of your life.” In this quote, the four seasons turn around every year. They are not changed by people’s minds. People should step out of afflictive emotions. Otherwise, they can’t enjoy the fours seasons, even though those seasons are the best in life. Falling into afflictive emotions is suffering. Losing a chance to enjoy the best seasons is a big pity. Likewise, in “Ethics and Suffering,” the Dalai lama heard the bad news from Tivet, and he was very sad. However, he dealt with the bad news well. The Dalla Lama said, “Feeling of helpless anger, which do nothing but poison the mind, embitter the heart, and enfeeble the will seldom arise, even following the worse news.” In this quote, it is the best explaination to show why the Dalai lama could do with afflictive emotions well. The bad news was a fact, and it could not change the fact, just enlarging people’s mental sufferings. It must be worse to enlarge suffering falling into the afflictive emotions. Thus, it is necessary for people to adjust the mind to confront sufferings. Otherwise, suffering will be greater than before.
Comparing with both authors, the Dalai Lama mentions some sufferings are unavailable. He lists an example of about body suffering. He said, “no matter how fit we keep ourselves or how how carefully we regulate our diet, eventually our bodies give in to physical problems.” In this quote, it obviously shows that the Dalai Lama persuades people to be away from afflictive emotions. Those sufferings are fated to come one day. We should enjoy everyday rather than falling into fear of the sufferings. Similarly, Wu Men mentions the best seasons are in our lives. Those unnecessary things, which can cloud our minds, are existed. Why don’t we ignore those unnecessary things? If we can do that, we can enjoy the best season in our lives. Thus, it is not difficult to see author’s purpose. He is persuading people to enjoy the best four seasons instead of suffering from the afflictive emotions.
In a word, both authors have good attitudes toward life. Although the afflictive emotions appear in life, people can step out of them. If people do that, they enjoy their lives with joy rather than torment in their lives.

The world is ordered, and everything run orderly. Both Mechthild and Layman P’ang agree that everything follows nature. Nothing can change the natural rule.
Layman P’ang said, “when the mind is peace, the world too is at peace.” In this quote, it doesn’t mean that the world keeps peaceful because the mind is peaceful. According to what Pang said, there was nothing real in the world, and there was nothing absent in the world. This is the best evidence to show that the nature doesn’t obey people’s mind. People’s mind is peaceful, and the world is still the same. Likewise, people’s mind is unpeaceful, the world is still the same, without change. Nothing is influenced by people’s mind. Hence, the world just follows nature, and doesn’t depend on people’s mind.
In “Mechthild of Magdeburg,” the poet said, “A fish cannot drown in water, a bird does not fall in air.” Obviously, a fish has ability to live in water, and a bird has ability to fly in air with its wings. This a natural rule. A bird would die if it falls into water. A fish would die if it leaves water. Hence, both fish and bird can’t live in the environment which doesn’t belong to them. If they want to continue their lives, they have to follow the antural rule. Similarly, Pang said, “you are neither holy nor wise, just an ordinary fellow who has completed his work.” It means that we are just ordinary people. we have no wisdom, and just follow the natural rule to work. There is no ability for us to work following our minds. In a word, although both poets used different events in their poems, their purpose was the same, which is, everything has to follow the natural rule, without exception. The nature doesn’t change for everything.
Comparing with both poems, both poets agree that all creatures in the world has to obey the natural law. In “Mechthild of Magdebury,” the poet said, “Each creature God made must live in its own true nature; How could I resist my nature that lives for oneness with God?” we can make a connection with the beginning of this poem. Accoriding to a fish and a bird, God has set the natural law already when God made all creatures. Thus, it is impossible for all creatures to disobey the natural law. Likewise, Pang said, “an ordinary fellow who has completed his work.” Although Pang didn’t say who work, it was obvious to see that his work means God’s work. Even though this is a wrong prediction, it is a truth that people have to obey the natural law. According to the relation between the mind and the world, absolutely, the natural law can’t be chagned by people’s mind.
In conclusion, both poets agree with each other. Namely, all cratures live in the world, and have to follow the natural rule, without exceptions.

Different people have different opinions about being useful. Thus, being useful depends on the position where people stand on. It can be useful when you judge one thing from on a position. However, for the same thing, it can be useless when you judge it from another position. In a word, the standard of judging a thing is undetermined.
Being useless is being useful. In the English One class, Professor Fox is going to use the same grammar book which is used last semester. In this grammar book, all these grammar exercises were done by the students who were in Professor Fox’s class. Taking the grammar class is just to repeat doing the same thing. It is undoubted that repeating doing the same thing in this new semester is boring, and it is useless. Certainly, all students know the grammar mistakes in the grammar book because they did that before. Also, they can look for the grammar mistakes immediately when they do the same grammar exercises. However, we should consider our situation, that is, can we make the same mistakes again when we do the same grammar exercises. For the ESL students, I am sure that they can say that they don’t make the same mistake anymore. Hence, we have to notice the real purpose of repeating doing the same grammar exercise. The reason why we do that is to avoid making the same grammar mistakes in our writing again. In this case, we have a deep impression when we repeat doing the same grammar exercises. Absolutely, this is a good way to avoid making the same grammar mistakes. Hence, being useless can turn into being useful. It seems that doing the same grammar is boring and useless. However, it is useful because we don’t make the same grammar mistakes after repeating the same grammar exercises.
Being useful is being useless. We all know that education is very important and useful. There are many poor people in China. In order to get out of poor, for the poor people, the only way is to get as high education as they can. It is because high education can help poor people to earn more money. In this situation, most people just focus on working hard at school, but they ignore extracurricular activities. In 2006, there were many high school students graduating from their high school. It is very difficult to enter a college in China. In order to celebrate graduation, a group of graduated students rented a big boat and went to a tower locates in the center of a lake. A tragedy came to them. All of them fell into the lake, and they had never learned to swim. As a result, all of these graduated students died in the lake. Within this group of graduated students, all of them worked hard at school, and they had high education. However, they could not do anything when they fell into the water. At that moment, their high education couldn’t pull them out of water and save their lives. Regarding this tragedy, we can think about what high education do for those graduated students. Ironically, there were some people without high education on the boat, and they could swim. Ultimately, they survived.
Comparing the group of high education students and the group of low education students, it is not difficult to see about being useful and being useless. Those high education students lose their lives, but the low education students were still alive. Hence, in a certain situation, usefulness can be uselessness, and uselessness can be usefulness.
Above all, it is difficult to determine about usefulness and uselessness. Both usefulness and uselessness depend on the situation that people are facing. Different situations can cause different results.

Ⅰ. Introduction:
Asians have their tea and Europeans have their red wine. Today, Americans can feel beverage, too-coffee. Do you like coffee? What kind of coffee you like best? As we know there are different kinds of coffee, such as American coffee, espresso, mocha, French vanilla etc. But all of them contain one thing that is often consumed in the form of coffee which is called caffeine. Some people drink coffee because of the good taste while others drink it for the caffeine as a stimulant.
Coffee is our beloved beverage. Moderate caffeine intake will benefit our health. It also brings a lot of pleasure into our life. Caffeine will increase our cognitive functioning and improve our mood; it against fatigue and improve our memories; It can also reduces the risk of Type 2 diabetes and Parkinson’s. Now, I want to ask you a question: How many cups of coffee do you drink everyday? Thirty Years ago, some researchers in Harvard University pointed out that each cup of coffee contains about 107mg caffeine. Increasing the amount of caffeine you take in over 300 mg (which is equal to 3 cups) per day may give you "caffeine problems". If you are a heavy coffee drinker then you should really pay attention to it.There are four major effects:
1. i. The first effect is on your teeth. Excessive caffeine will stain your teeth and change your teeth’s into a darker color which will affect your beauty. If you are a smoker or an alcohol, you will have a worse situation. Today, many people emphasize their physical image then this is a little part you should care about.
ii. Caffeine is an acidic drug. Caffeine molecule will attach and erodes the teeth. Taking over 300mg caffeine per day has the same problem of taking 13 candies at a time. That will improve the risk of cavities, especially if you put more sugar in your coffee.
2. The second major effect is on cardiovascular system (which is the heart function)
i. The normal heart beat is 60-100 times per minute. Some survey showed that excessive caffeine intake will increase the rates of heart beat to 110-120 times per minute. For example, My aunt she has a heart disease, she told me that after she drink a cup of coffee she will feel her heart beat rapidly increase in 2 hours. If she drinks two cups she will feel uncomfortable. In this case, it will easily cause heart attack. That’s very dangerous to the people who have heart diseases.
ii. Also caffeine can increase blood pressure. Those people who have hypertension should avoid it.
iii. It will prevent the calcium absorb and cause osteoporosis which will weaken your bone hardness. That’s why senior people are not recommended to drink coffee.
3. The next major effect is disturbing biological clock.
i. Caffeine stimulates the nerves and makes us get exciting. Sometimes it may help us to improve our mood and keep us awake while we are working or studying. But having too much caffeine will lower our quality of sleeping which can affect the next day work performance. Buker John, a Doctor of Jusmen Hospital said that excessive caffeine will prevent our deep sleeping by the stimulant. Also it can affect our mood and make people feel irritable, angry or anxious.
ii. Caffeine is a diuretic chemical. That makes your urine more product than usual. Increasing frequency of using bathroom. Therefore, night urination disrupts the sleeping pattern.
4. The last one is counteractive of withdrawing caffeine.
a. Large amount of caffeine intake makes people addicted. Similar to smoke, it makes your health trouble, you will feel tired and not have energy if you don’t drink it.
b. Caffeine withdrawal can give you headaches. This occurs between 12 and 24 hours after last intake of caffeine. It usually lasts for one to two days. Some people may have a longer headache.
c. You will also feel muscle aches like after a long distance running.
Ⅲ. Conclusion:
As many people drink coffee today, we should be aware that decreasing caffeine intake is very important to our health. Large amount of caffeine intake will affect the beauty of our teeth, causes hypertension and heart disease, affects our mood and biological clock and gives serious counteractive effects of withdrawing caffeine. Although everything has its good and bad sides, we should never ignore the harmful aspect to our life.

Do you like to wear a mask when you get along with people? People don’t want to show their true feelings to others. They want to protect themselves because it is full of evil in the world. In “We Wear the Mask,” Paul Laurence Dunbar shows that people hide themselves by a mask. Hence, I also have two masks. I switch my mask when I deal with different kinds of friends.
In “We Wear the Mask,” Dunbar shows that people put their true faces under the masks. Dunbar said, “We wear the mask that grins and lies, it hides out of cheeks and shades our eyes.” In this quote, it obviously reveals that people don’t show their emotion in public. As we know, we show our feelings by our eyes and cheeks. According to our eyes and cheeks, people can see our feelings. Once the mask covers our eyes and cheeks, other people can’t predict our internal emotion. Additionally, Dunbar mentions that people had a smile on their faces but the smile was with “torn and bleeding hearts”. “Torn and bleeding hearts” should be shown by crying. In this case, it completely proves that people put themselves behind the cover, and don’t want other people to know their true emotion in their hearts. They use fake masks instead of their true faces. It is not hard to see the purpose, which is, wearing a mask can help people to hide their feelings. Other people can just see the smiled mask, but failing to see our true feelings.
In my opinion, I agree with Paul Laurence Dunbar said. I find that I also wear a mask when I get along with some of my friends. I have to admit that I was hurt by a few of my friends. Hence, in my mind, there are two definitions of friend. One is true friends, and the other one is unreal friends. I was very friendly to all my friends, and I made friends by my honesty. Nevertheless, some people pretended to be my friends. When they wanted to get my help, they wore a mask. They said that I had to help them to do their homework because we were true friends. Once I wanted to get their help, they played games instead of helping me. Plus, they still wore a mask, they disguised to be very busy doing their homework. In fact, I knew they didn’t want to help me. At the beginning, I was very disappointed to them because I asked myself how they dealt with me like that when I need their help. Eventually, I also learned to wear a mask when I dealt with these friends. Anyway, I still like to try my best to help my true friends because I still believe that I have true friendship. I should not stop making true friends due to those unreal friends. When I felt unhappy, my true friends comforted me. They helped me to rebuild my confidence. I trust them, and take them as my close friends. Thus, I also wear a mask.
In conclusion, it is not achievable that people hide their true feelings under masks. It just makes more and more people wear masks. Wearing a mask just makes people hurt each other.

People should help each other. It can bring happiness to people. Also, that is also what people should do because people have responsibility to devote for their society. In “To Be of Use” by Marge Piercy, and “The Quest for Integrity” by Hanold Kushner, both authors agree that people should help others.
In “The Quest for Integrity”, Kushner mentions that there was a fire breaking out on December 11, 1995 in the factory complex of Malden Mills. Although no one lost lives, the economy in the city was devastated. It was close to Christmas, and there were many people losing their jobs because of the fire. At that moment, Aaron Feuerstein rebuilt his plan, and gave money to his employees, even though he didn’t have any jobs for those employees. Also, Feuerstein says, “I have a responsibility to the workers and an equal responsibility to the community. It would be unconscionable to put three thousand people on the streets and deliver a death blow to the city of Lawrence.” In this quote, it completely shows that all people should support their community because the community consist of all the people. We are parts of our community and we are living in the community. Hence, helping the community is to help other people.
In “To Be of Use,” Marge Piercy shows helping others by a metaphor. Piercy says, “Greek amphoras for wine or oil, Hopi vases that held corn, are put in museums but you know they were made to be used.” In this quote, Piercy mentions the use of Greek amphoras and Hopi vases. Just as Piercy mentions, the Greek amphoras and Hopi vases are made to work for people. According to working for people, it shows the value of the Greek amphoras and Hopi vases. The word “but” shows that putting the Greek amphoras and Hopi vases in museums loses their value. It is because they can’t work for people anymore. Thus, it is easy to see Piercy’s purpose, which is, helping others is important because value is shown by helping others. Otherwise, Greek amphoras and Hopi vases are valueless. Likewise, in “The Quest for Integrity,” Kushner mentions that his friend’s wife got pregnant and wanted to eat chocolate at 3 o’clock in the middle of a rainy night. His friend spent the whole night looking for a chocolate bar with almonds. He didn’t reject his wife’s request because he loved his wife and was excited about her pregnancy. Kushner describes his friend: “He was happy for the opportunity to please her.” In this quote, to love people is to help, and to help people is happy. In other words, helping others can bring happiness to people. Hence, both authors agree that it is necessary for people to help others.
Comparing what Shalom mentions and my experience, it is a little conflicting. Kushner states that Feuerstein is a respectable person because he helped those unemployed people. As a mensh, he had to deal with the temptation in his mind. The reason why Feuerstein helped others was because his conscience won over temptation. Helping others completely proves the success of conscience. However, I think it is a little conflicting with my experience. I was good at math and science. Some of my classmates came to me and wanted me to help with their homework. I was glad to do that, even though I was busy. I didn’t care that they didn’t say thanks to me after they finished their homework. Nevertheless, when I had some problems, I thought some of them could help me to resolve my problems, but they refused to do that. The reason was that they were busy playing games. They pretended to be my best friends when they needed my help. They played games instead of helping me when I needed help. From then on, I didn’t waste my time helping those so-called friends. I have learned to say no to those so-called friends when they need my help, even though I feel a little guilt sometimes. I just give my help to my true friends now.
In conclusion, it is necessary to help others in our lives when we have enough ability. However, helping others has limits; that is, you must make sure that you have enough abilities to help others.

All people desire to be happy. However, there are not a great number of people understanding happiness. In “Quest for Human Happiness” by the Dalai Lama, he points out that happiness is not just being satisfied with sensual things, but also satisfied with emotion, and sprit.
In “Quest for Human Happiness,” the Dalai Lama discusses his experience in the Western world. In his view, he thought it would be full of happiness in the Western world because the Western world was developed countries. The advanced technology and wealth would make the Western people feel that they had happiness. However, the truth was not as good as what the Dalai Lama thought. The Westerners were also experiencing mental suffering, and they were unsatisfied with their living. The Dalai Lama said, “But when I saw in the bathroom, through a cupboard door which was slightly open, an array of tranquilizers, and sleeping pills. I was reminded forcefully that there is often a big gap between outward appearance and inner reality.” In this quote, “tranquilizers,” and “sleeping pills” are the best proof to show the Western people have mental suffering because they get peace by using tranquilizers and sleeping pills. Even though those Westerners are living in the developed world, it is not peaceful in their minds. Enjoying the advancement of technology and living in the modern society don’t mean that people are into happiness. Thus, real happiness includes mental abundance.
In my view, I totally agree that happiness includes physical and mental abundance. My hometown is in a remote area, and it is very poor. It was a lack of material things. When I was young, I knew nothing about advanced devices, such as cell phones, computers, MP 3. When I saw those devices in my hometown, I desired to have those devices. After I immigrated to New York, I bought all those devices. The feeling of owning these devices was wonderful. At the same time, I also had lots of pressure. I had to deal with the language obstacle. Facing the high housing prices, I was also anxious that it would be impossible for me to buy a house in New York. If I were in my hometown, I would not have the language obstacle, and the housing prices were not as high as in New York. Thinking of these problems, I feel hopeless for my future. I am scared to live in developed country. However, I have no choice. No matter how difficult my life is, I have to struggle with the hardship, and I am sure that I will be happy after experience suffering because I will be mature after suffering from the hardship.
In a word, merely material satisfaction is not real happiness. Real happiness also includes mental peace. Material development just satisfies the sense, but not mental harmony. In order to achieve real happiness, one must have sensual satisfaction and mental peace.

All people have desires. These desires hide in people’s mind, and they are shown by people’s behaviors. Hence, people should control their desires, and how to make use of their desires. If people can do that successfully, it could bring advantages for people.
Desires can make people get great improvement. I was born in a poor village which was far from a city. My parents lived in an old-wooden house. The house was very small because there were only two small bedrooms, a bath-room, and a kitchen in that small house. At the beginning, it was fine for us to live in such a small house. Gradually, I grew up and it was time for me to go to school. My home was far away from my school. It was impossible for us to live in that small house. Also, I had to have a studying room for me to do my homework when I went to school. In this situation, my parents wanted to buy a big house in a city. In order to make this dream come true, they worked hard and saved money to buy a big house which located in the city. We can try to make an analysis. My parents had a house in that poor village. In fact, they should be satisfied with what they owned. Thus, dreaming of buying a house in a city can be greedy for them because they didn’t satisfy with what they had. However, seen from another position, if they didn’t have greed, they wouldn’t have motivation to work hard and save money to buy a house in a city. Then I didn’t have a good opportunity to go to a modern school in a city. Hence, it obviously shows that my parents made use of their desire. The desire of buying a house in a city promoted my parents to work hard, and their life value is shown by working hard because there were not too many people buying such a big house in a city in that poor village. My parents just lived a simple life as they had lived in that poor village. They were satisfied with owning a house in the city.
People should control their desire, and should not be controlled by their desire. In “The Lower Self,” Kham mentions a dialogue between a dervish and a wealthy merchant. The wealthy merchant wanted to work hard every day in order to get more and more money. The dervish said that the wealthy merchant was a beggar because he never stopped begging to the God. In his mind, there was nothing but money. It means that the wealthy merchant never satisfied with what the god sent to him. He was poor and controlled by his greed. Thus, he was a slave of his greed. However, the dervish was content with what he got from the God. He could control his desire, and he was a master of his greed. Comparing a slave and a master, it is easy to see who is wealthy and who is poor. Although the wealthy merchant had a lot of money, his heart was empty. Also, the dervish didn’t have lots of money but his heart was rich.
According to my parents’ experience and the story, we can see that all people have desires, and all people need desires. Just like my parents, they could make use of their desire, and let their desire turn into energy to achieve their life value. However, the wealthy merchant never controlled his desires, and the result was the more he got, the more he lost. His life fell into running after money forever.

Education has an important role in life. However, in “Quest for Human Happiness” by the Dalai Lama, he points out that environment has a big effect on education. In other words, education still needs good environment. Hence, environment also plays an important role in education.
In “Quest for Human Happiness,” the Dalai Lama states the importance of educating children. Here, education means not only to teach children skills or to develop children’s knowledge, but also education means to lead children to have correct values in their minds. Also, the environment also has an important role in education. The Dalai Lama said, “when a caring and compassionate atmosphere is absent from the home, when children are neglected by their parents, it is easy to recognize their damaging effects. The children tend to feel helpless and insecure, and their minds are often agitated.” This quote obviously shows that environment is playing an important role in education. Children are easily affected by their family environment, and they need their parents’ care. Parents have a big responsibility to offer a good environment to their children. Otherwise, their children will have negative values in their minds. Thus, it is not difficult to see the Dalai Lama’s point, which is, educating children must have a good environment.
I totally agree with what the Dalai Lama said. Environment has a significant role in education. In China, there are two thoughts about education in people’s mind. There are lots of surviving children in Sichuan. Many children think education is useless in China. They don’t want to go to school anymore. Also, they don’t have money to continue their education due to that earth-quake in May, 2008. On the other hand, many students think education is important, but the importance of education is different. They focus on how to earn more money by using their high education. After those higher educated students graduate, it is very difficult for them to get a job. If parents have money, they give money to government officers. After giving money to government officers, those officers help students to get a job. Once students get a job, they will try best to earn money by different ways. If parents have no money, the graduated students have no job. In China, the government doesn’t give students financial aid, and students have to pay tuition by themselves twenty thousand Yuan each semester. In this situation, many students can’t afford their tuition. Even though some students pay for their tuition, they borrow money. Once they have no job, they have no ability to pay back their debt. Thus, education is useless in many students’ hearts. They want to work instead of continuing their education.
In a word, education is very important for people. Good environment is an important factor to educate people well. Hence, parents have to offer a good environment to raise their children. Otherwise, it is impossible for children to have good education in their childhood.

The world is full of confusion and sorrow. However, both Lao-Tzu and Wu-Men point out that confusion and sorrow come from people’s mind. In other words, there is no confusion or sorrow in the world.
LaoTzu states that people fall into confusion and sorrow because they don’t realize the source. The misunderstanding of source shades people’s wisdom. Thus, Lao Tzu said, “Each separate being in the universe returns to the common source. Returning to the source is serenity.” This quote obviously shows that everything works from a rule. People don’t understand the rule since they fall into confusion. The only way to understand the rule is to put your heart at peace. Once people put their heart at peace, they could step out of confusion. In this case, people will have clear thoughts to analyze the turmoil of beings.
Wu-men stated the natural rule. Nature always follows the rule, and it doesn’t change for any other factors. Wu-Men said, “Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn, a cool breeze in summer, snow in winter.” In this quote, “flowers,” “moon,” “breeze,” and “snow” belong to nature. They keep turn during the four seasons, and they never disappear. In this case, it is easy to see the poet’s purpose. Nature can’t be affected by people’s mind. Although the feelings about the four seasons depend on people’s mind, the four seasons just follow the natural rule, not people’s feelings. Likewise, Lao-Tzu mentions that the source follows a principle, without following people’s mind. Lao Tzu says, “If you don’t realize the source, you stumble in confusion and sorrow.” In this quote, it is clear that confusion and sorrow can shade people’s thoughts. However, the source doesn’t follow people’s mind, and people can’t change the source. Thus, both Lao Tzu and Wu-Men agree that people’s feelings just influence people’s mind, but not nature or the source.
Comparing my experience to Wu-Men, I agree with what Wu-Men said. Wu Men said, “If your mind isn’t clouded by unnecessary things, this is the best season of your life.” In this quote, the attitude toward the four seasons relies on people’s minds. Even though the season is the best season, the best season is still the worst season when people feel unhappy. Similarly, when I failed my English exam, I felt upset. I turned the heat to 70 degrees, and I still felt pretty cold in that winter. However, I understood that the truth couldn’t be changed anymore. The only thing I could do was to study hard. The failure couldn’t be changed by my upset, but it could be changed by studying hard. Just like what Wu-Men said, the season could not be changed, but people’s attitudes towards the four seasons could be changed.
Hence, both Lao Tzu and Wu-Men agree that putting people into confusion and sorrow is people themselves because people misunderstand the natural rules. If people understood the natural rules, they would not be put into confusion and sorrow.

nature

In the world, everything has to follow nature, without an exception. In “Mechthild of Magdeburg,” the poet mentions that all living things follow their nature. Otherwise, they can’t live in the nature which doesn’t belong to them.
In “Mechthild of Magdeburg,” the poet points out different livings have to live in their own nature. All fish has to live in the water, and all birds can fly in the air. Acoording to these facts, it is obvious that all livings have their own nature. In their own nature, they have ability to live in their own nature. Also, the poet mentions that God made all creatures in the world, and these creatures had to live their own environment. At the end , the poet asks a question: “How could I resist my nature, that lives for oneness with God?” According to the descripiton which fish and bird live in their own nature. Hence, the poet asks this question at the end of the poem. It is not difficult to see the poet’s purpose. All livings have to live in their own nature, and it is impossible for them to live in the nature which doesn’t belong to them. Although people are smart, they are still made by God. They still have to live in their nature, and can’t live in the nature which doesn’t belong to them.
In my opinion, I totally agree that all livings have to live in their own nature. In this modern world, many people think that people are so smart that people can solve all problem by making use of their intellidence, such as people don’t fall in air when they take a plane. Certainly, it is undoubted that people can do that. In fact, people still depend on a plane rather than depending on themselves. As we know, without a plane, people can’t fly in air. However, birds depend on themselves. They can fly any time, It is not necessary for them to depend on any modern machines. Likewise, people can swim but they can’t live in water. If people stay in water for a long time, they will die of lacking air because they don’t have ability to exchange oxydgen into water. However, all fishes can live in water. They can exchange oxygen into water.
In a word, all livings have to live in their own nature, and all livings have ability to live in the environment which they belong to them. Their abilities are liminted in their own nature. Leaving their own nature, they can’t live.

hcy's act

In order to achieve better grades, you have two options. One is to offer study skills workshops, and the other is to hire more tutors for all academic subjects and offer longer in the tutoring center. In my opinion, the second choice is better than the first one because it is more acceptable for students.
First of all, in a college, college students must deal with lots of homework, and their homework from different academic subjects is very hard. In this case, it is necessary for students to get help from the tutor center in their college. For example, students have no idea to solve the problems when students deal with math problems. At this moment, students need a tutor to help them. If without tutors’ help, students have to spend lots of time on those problems by themselves. In this case, if they are lucky, it is valuable to spend such much time. If they are unlucky, they can’t solve the problems. It means that they waste a lot of time to do invaluable things. Hence, hiring more tutors can help students to save their time and do effective work.
Second, hiring more tutors also helps those tutors. As we know, there are lots of tutors having Bachelor Degree in our community. These tutors also want to get a Master Degree. If the college hires more tutors, they can get benefit, too. When the tutors help those students to solve problems, the tutors are reviewing their previous knowledge. The tutors have to take different tests if they want to get their Master Degree. It also helps those tutors get a good grade in their tests because they have a chance to review their prior knowledge when they help students.
Of course, to offer study skills workshops is also good for students to get a good grade. However, this option is not as good as the option of hiring more tutors. As we know, college students have to know how to control themselves and how to manage their time to do their homework because it is their personal business. Even though the college students get help from offer student skills workshops. It doesn’t mean that this workshops offer help for students to finish their homework. For instance, if the students don’t know how to deal with math problems, it doesn’t make sense that they know the deadline. It is because they still can’t solve those math problems, and the problems are still waiting for students. Nevertheless, hiring more tutors can help students to finish their problems on time, and they go to look for help from tutors, it means that students know how to manage their time already. Thus, hiring more tutors is more meaningful than offering study skills workshops, and it is more acceptable by all students.
In a word, hiring more tutors can offer help to both graduated students and ungraduated students. Offing study skills workshops is not as effective as hiring more tutors. Hence, I hope the money should be spent on hiring more tutors instead of offering study skills workshops.

梧桐夜雨寒风至
相思在心无了时
秀色满园空欢喜
红颜如月映天地

In “The Problem That Has No Name,” it mentions that there is lots of dissatisfaction for women. Women have to take care of their family. They don’t have too many opportunities to work outside. It seems that it is extremely unfair to all women. Many women have high education, and they only work at home. Their final occupation is housewives. Thus, there are many women having psychological problems or mental problem. They can’t share their unhappiness with their husbands, and they even can’t get help from psychologists. Now, the stature of women is higher than before. Women have rights to vote and make decision. However, the new problems come out, that is, there is too much decision for women to make since women have rights to vote. It is because men leave both family and political decisions for women to make. Above of all, it really seems to be difficult for women to make such lots of decisions. In this case, let us imagine switching the role between men and women. Let men do everything instead of what women do. If so, who can guarantee that men don’t have the same problems as women? Hence, this imagination is valueless. Also, men can’t be pregnant or breast feast babies due to physical limitation. The only way to solve this problem is to sacrifice. In order to maintain marriage, no matter men or women, both of them have to sacrifice some rights or taking some responsibilities. Thus, there is no unfairness for men or women in marriage. For men and women, they should not care about what they lose in their marriage. If they care, there is going to have lots of problems. Love must include tolerance.

Xu, xionghui
Phil 14
Professor: Parsons
11/3/2008
Considering both John McCain and Barak Obama’s policy proposals, I can point out that their policy proposals have benefits. According to analyzing taxation, energy, social security, it is good for economic rebuilding and growth.
“For all Mr. Obama’s efforts to emphasize an approach that calls for minimal military involvement in Iraq, his plan is in one respect more ambitious than Mrs. Clinton’s. While Mr. Obama said he hoped to withdraw all American combat forces within 16 months of taking office, his plan states that American and allied troops should be prepared to return to Iraq and protect civilians if there were genocidal attacks.” [1] I totally agree with this opinion. Keeping the military in Iraq is an unwise method. For me, as a Chinese immigrant, I am sure to say that it is because this situation, keeping military in Iraq, appeared in the Chinese history. As we know, it is a big expense to keep the military in Iraq chronically. Also, this expense is unnecessary, it wastes the tax. The goal of sending military to Iraq is to protect Iraq. The best way to protect Iraq is to teach Iraq people how to protect their own country, not sending American military in Iraq chronically. No matter how rich the United States is, it is impossible for the United States to keep the American military in Iraq forever. That is a big waste of taxation. Hence, it is absolutely right that Mr. Obama hopes that all American combat forces should come back to hometown. This is a good idea to save expense for military, and to save taxation. Especially, in this crisis, American is in a big suffering. Withdrawing all combat forces is necessary. Just like what Mr. Obama said, if the genocidal attacks were broke out, the American troops and allied troops have been being already to prepare to return Iraq and protect the civilians in Iraq. This proposal is good because not only it saves the American’s tax, but also the government can make use of the saving to deal with this economic crisis.
For the social security, “although Mr. Obama’s economic approach comes wrapped in his conciliatory rhetoric, it is in some ways more aggressive than that of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, his rival for the Democratic presidential nomination. He has called for shoring up Social Security by raising payroll taxes on very high earners, while she has not. He also favors a permanent tax credit of up to $1,000 for families in the bottom 90 percent or so of the income distribution, which makes his package of middle-class tax credits significantly larger than hers. We have to disaggregate tax policy between the wealthy and the working class or middle class,” he said. “We have to be able to say that we are going to at once raise taxes on some people and lower taxes on others.” [2] I totally agree with this kind of tax policy. In the United States, the distance between the wealthy and the working class or middle class is very bigger. Although it seems to be unfair to those wealthy, it is necessary to carry out this tax policy. We can predict what would happen if the distance between the wealthy and the working class or middle class is getting bigger and bigger. Obviously, it is easy to make a prediction, that is, the social security is getting disorderly. In order to be survivable, poor people may get their benefits and the guarantee of living by illegal activity. Also, those wealthy and middle classes have ability and duty to keep society peaceful, and keep the social security. What they do is helping to reduce the distance between the rich people and the poor people. Thus, no matter for governors or the wealthy, to reduce the distance between the wealthy and the poorest is essential. The tax policy raised by Mr. Obama is going to reduce the distance between the wealthy and the poor people, and it is helpful to remain the social security.
For the energy, Mr. Obama said:” Six hundred thousand Americans have lost their jobs since January. Paychecks are flat, and home values are falling. It’s hard to pay for gas and groceries, and if you put it on a credit card, they’ve probably raised your rates. You’re paying more than ever for health insurance that covers less and less. Fast-track a plan for energy made in America that will free us from our dependence on Mideast oil in 10 years and put millions of Americans to work. Crack down on lobbyists once and for all, so their back-room deal-making no longer drowns out the voices of the middle class and undermines our common interests as Americans. And yes, bring a responsible end to the war in Iraq so we stop spending billions each month rebuilding their country when we should be rebuilding ours. Doing these things won’t be easy. But we’re Americans. We’ve met tough challenges before, and we can again.” [3] I am sure that this plan should be efficient. As I know, the source of the war in Iraq is oil. The spending for rebuilding Iraq is billion dollars each month. The United States is suffering from the economic crisis. Thus, we need to make a budge to use this spending. If we rebuild our country, we don’t need to depend on the oil from Iraq. As Mr. Obama said, there are still six hundred thousand Americans losing their jobs in the Unite States. Solving the big labor is to create jobs as many as we can. We can predict that the government creates more jobs for unemployed people, doesn’t need to pay for that unnecessary spending in Iraq. The Iraq war can be end temporarily. Most importantly, the United States doesn’t need to depend on Mideast oil. Hence, considering these above benefits, Mr. Obama’s energy plan should work, and benefit for economy and save taxation.
For the health plan, “The advertisement asserts that the McCain plan would require “cuts in benefits, eligibility or both.” In his speech Friday, Mr. Obama added that “it would mean a cut of more than 20 percent in Medicare benefits next year. But Mr. McCain has not proposed benefit cuts, though he may find it necessary to make his plan pay for itself. Rather, Mr. Holtz-Eakin said Friday that Mr. McCain would fill any budget hole in the plan through a variety of changes that would leave seniors with “exactly the same benefits.” And he pointed out that Mr. Obama supports many of the same changes.”[4] I really don’t agree with Mr. McCain’s health plan. As what Mr. McCain said, he would fill any budget hole in the plan through a variety changes that would leave seniors with “exactly the same benefits.” Here, I should ask a question “How does McCain fill the budge hole in the plan?” I think the answer would be use taxation or other government incomes. This is really self-contradictory. As we know, The United Sates is suffering from the economic crisis. So far, the government is trying best to reduce the unnecessary expenditures, and make good use of the taxation to overcome the economic crisis. Of course, Mr. McCain said that he would fill the budge hole in the plan. As I mentioned above, the government save the taxation from sending military to Iraq, collecting more taxation from the rich, and collecting taxation from those who just get jobs from new jobs. I think the way which McCain fill the budge hole is to use those money. Thus, I totally disagree with Mr. McCain’s health plan. That is a waste of taxation.

[1] http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/02/us/politics/02obama.html?pagewanted=1
[2] http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/02/us/politics/02obama.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
[3] http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/18/us/politics/18oadbox.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
[4] http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/19/us/politics/19health.html?scp=5&sq=Obama's%20health%20policy&st=cse

Today she came back to BC campus. I saw her, but she didn't see me. I followed her and wanted to talk with her. However, I didn't do that because I said that I would not see her anymore. Finally, I took the No.2 train and went home. This was really a good beginning. It was becasue I didn't care her anymore. At this moment, my heart had been being occupied by studying and working. Maybe I am getting mature, or getting indifferent. Anyway, this is my way.

芳草綠樹白鴿，
石橋池塘鐘樓.
校道秋風松鼠，
烏雲密布，
寂寞人在書室。

There are a lot of immigrants living in United State. In the poem “Immigrants” by Pat Mora, and “Race at the End of History” by Ronald Takaki, both authors agree that immigrants focus on education and can mix into America. Pat Mora mentions immigrants hoped their children remember their mother language, but Ronald Takaki illustrates the diversity between immigrants and Americans in work.
Education is important in immigrants’ heart. Mora says: “speak to them in thick English, hallo, babe, hallo, whisper in Spanish or Polish when the babies sleep.” In this quote, although immigrant parents don’t speak English well, they still try their best to teach their babies English. According to the word “thick”, it is manifest that immigrant parents hope their babies can learn English well. When babies grow up, learning English well makes them get high education. Similarly, Ronald Takaki illustrates that Asian American send their children to the school. Clearly, parents put education on an important position. Otherwise, they don’t send their children into the school and get education. In addition, Ronald Takaki mentions two examples that Chinese labors break the strike in 1870. However, in the nineteen century, the Asian Americans know that they have low welfare dependency rate and they combat backlash against immigrants. They show they are good Americans and good citizens. In this case, we can realize that not only the Asian Americans work hard, but also they still care education. If they don’t have education, it is impossible know that their welfare dependency rate is low and they can’t against those who discriminate immigrants. The Asian Americans do that because they have knowledge. Knowledge comes from education. Hence, both authors agree that education occupies an important position in immigrant parents’ heart.
Immigrants can mix into American society. Mora states that immigrant parents raise their babies as well as American parents. They wrap their babies in the American flag, and give American food and American doll to their babies even the babies use American names. Noticeably, immigrants hope their babies can grow up in the environment which is good for babies to mix in American society. Likewise, Takaki say: “to accept that we come with different faces and different names, like Garcia and Takaki. We are all American, and we should not have to explain or defend out citizenship every time we jump into a taxicab.” Obviously, in this quote, Americans accept those immigrants, and don’t discriminate those immigrants anymore. In addition, Americans treat immigrants as Americans, and immigrants can get along well with Americans. Hence, both authors agree that immigrants can live as well as Americans in U.S.
In “Immigrants”, Pat Mora mentions that immigrant parents whisper in Spanish or Polish when they babies sleep. The immigrants parents still worry whether their babies are alike their ideal children and fine Americans when they grow up. It is because they teach babies both mother language and English. It is noticeable that immigrant parents hope their babies not only can speak English, but also can speak their mother language. However, Takaki mentions that many Asian Americans have college degree or higher education, but their wage is not comparable to their skill level and their level of education. Also, in 1870, the planters made use of Chinese labor as an example of obedient and hard-working labor to break the strike. Until 19th century, immigrants got high education, and combat those Americans who against immigrants. Finally, Americans admitted that immigrants are also Americans. However, Mora doesn’t mention whether immigrants can be treated as Americans or not.
In sum, both authors make an agreement that immigrants can mix into American society. After they finish education, they can be as successful as Americans. Thus, in order to be as successful as Native Born Americans, Asian Americans work hard. Furthermore, at the standing point of working hard, Asian Americans also think that education occupies an important position.

開學前的心情

8月27號是大學開學的日子。我此刻的心情似乎是古井無波，又似乎是充滿了無限的憧憬和熱情。在這3个月的暑假中，我沒有怎麽休息。我在BMCC上課，在summer section 1，每天上完課都去學游泳，可以天天看見Jen，她游到哪裏也游到哪裏，爲了追逐她，我也就這樣學會游泳，而且通過Jen，又認識兩個新的女孩子叫May和Gwen，Jen是我當年剛上大學認識的女孩子，想當年剛入大學，感覺一個人孤零零的，幸好她主動過來陪我一起坐，也許認識久了，我露出了我一些放蕩不羈又似乎接近無賴的面目，每當下課都經常逗她玩，她走一步我就跟一步，她跑我也跑，弄得她哭笑不得，所以她很討厭遇到我，但也許天意弄人，我和她總是每天都在某個地方不期而遇，因此，她老是說我跟蹤她，老是問我爲什麽每天都會遇到我，說一見到我就討厭我，再見到我，她就覺得更傷心。我也夠無賴，我說： “們注定有緣相見，上天注定我們要見面，你又何必要逆天而行弄得自己那麽不開心呢？不如認命，順應天命不是更好嗎？你今年要畢業了，我又剛好回來BMCC上課，不是最好的證明嗎？所以看開點啦！”
這次在游泳的時候，通過Jen而認識Gwen，她還算漂亮，有點酷，她看到我對Jen那麽糾纏不休，第一次見面就對我大呼小叫，說：“人家不喜歡你，你爲什麽老是跟着人家啊？她不說出來是不想傷你的自尊心，大家見面説說話不是很好嗎？”我當時聼了真是覺得莫名其妙，原來她以爲我在追求Jen。也許第一次被女孩子這麽說，感覺還蠻新鮮的。而且我也覺得她蠻有膽色和挺講義氣的，爲了朋友而對一個不認識也不了解的男人大呼小叫，不怕我是一個大壞蛋。關於這點我倒是挺欣賞的。於是我也不甘示弱地向她解釋：“我不是追求Jen，我只是因爲看到她見到我就跑，這樣很好玩，所以見到她跑，我也跟着跑。”聽到我的解釋，她也覺得無所適從，還有另外一個女孩子（Lily）也說我很討厭，以爲我也是在追求Jen，還說男人要有骨氣，叫我轉學。而當時Jen也馬上插了一句說我已經轉學了。聽到這裡，Lily說我的說話邏輯很怪，說的話都是似是而非，不想和我説話。但又覺得因爲不理我會可憐，所以可憐之人必有可恨之処。面對這些我都一笑置之。我也對她們說這是我的風格，我想怎麽樣就怎麽樣。
對於May，我倒是很仰慕她，她沒有因爲我對Jen這樣而對我有所偏見。而且還和我做朋友，和我一起吃飯，一起打籃球，一起游泳，一起去圖書館，一起復習，老實說我這段日子和她在一起真是覺得蠻開心的，記得和她一起打籃球，總是我贏，但是她的身體好柔軟哦！我看着她做一些瑜伽動作，哇，她真是好厲害哦！而且她居然還能一口氣做40个仰臥起坐，因爲我的髖部扭傷過，所以我只能做到20多个。我在BMCC真的是有點習慣了她在我身邊的日子了。想到要囘BC，不知不覺有點莫名的失落。不過還好，我這學期只上4天課，所以我有空我都會去BMCC見May。
囘想到回到BC，YY走了，她去了Long Island University，覺得有點孤獨感，不過無所謂啦！也許我明天又可以認識新的朋友了。而且我這個學期會有很多reading，我也打算一個人清清靜靜地呆在圖書館裏學習，而且我還有work study，學習和工作一起既可以學習又可以賺錢，我還計劃每天上完課都用圖書館的電腦練習聽力和口語，聼一小時的新聞。這樣回家以後就不開電腦，用心復習，不像以前那樣天天上網聊天了，這樣既可以節省時間，也可以節省不少電費了。而且用電腦也是很傷神和傷身的，把精力轉移到學習上，趁這學期的課都是10點的，所以要早睡早起，恢復以前大陸時候的早讀習慣，來到美國也懶惰了，不像以前那麽勤奮了。突然感到歲月不饒人，畢竟我現在年紀也不小了，大學也第三年了，要是再不提升一下聽力和口語，到大學畢業以後就追悔莫及了。
好了，還是那些信念，好男兒志在四方，天涯何處無芳草，男子漢何患無妻。愛情和女人只是人生的點綴，可以被她們吸引，但卻不可以因此而沉迷。好好學習，豐富知識，真心待人，努力工作賺錢，自然會有窈窕淑女和我相匹配。雖然YY和May不在我的身邊，而覺得孤獨失落和不捨，但地球仍然在轉，世界仍然在變化，我的生活依然要繼續，不能因爲她們而黯淡失色。這才不失我客家男兒的本色。
該睡覺了，養足精神，以飽滿的精神去迎接新學期到來。

關於YY轉學到LIU的一切事宜都是已經塵埃落地了，兩個月的忙碌結束了，我也該功成身退了。在此刻沒有功課也沒有什麽忙碌的事，我應該覺得很輕鬆的，但是不知道爲什麽我卻覺得很累，很想休息卻無法休息，似乎感覺有點空虛，記憶好像被抽干了，一片空白，覺得我自己現在好像什麽都不是，一無所有，一無所知，身邊似乎一個人都沒有，感覺好孤獨，好寂寞，難道因爲自己太孤僻，還是什麽原因啊？這種感覺好怪啊！爲什麽經歷了2个多月的緊張暑假學習生活會這樣呢？沒有一絲絲興奮，沒有一絲絲充實。這種情感真是好奇怪哦！我似乎有一些東西沒有想通，想透徹，但是又不知道是什麽。也許感覺這種東西真的是很抽象，也許根本無法用語言來表達。又或者是因爲持續了2个多月的忙碌，讓精神狀態都處於緊張中，如今突然閒下來，所以難免會出現精神上的真空期。哎，無所謂啦！還是躺在床上，閉上眼睛，靜靜地聼自己的呼吸和心跳頻率。好好睡一覺，養足精神，明天起來看書，反正那個professor借了好幾本書給我，我都還沒有看，不過老實說，不知道是我的理解力不好，還是書太深奧，好像讀完以後感覺仍然是無從理解。哎！算了，還是不想那麽多，再過一個禮拜就要開學了，好好休息一下，迎接新的學期，而且新的學期會很忙，有很多閲讀，因爲修了18个學分。大學也就剩下這兩年了，這最後的兩年也許就是最痛苦的兩年，只要咬緊牙關熬下去，日後定有春光現。

orientation,功德圓滿

今天本少俠代徐女俠參加了LIU的orientation，所謂的“orientation”就是相當於中文所說的新生招待吧！真是讓我畢生難忘啊！ 早上7點鐘就起床，梳洗完畢以後就坐車去LIU了。因爲我的實踐觀念一向都是比較趕早，所以離8：30還有20多分鐘，我也不浪費時間，因爲要練習閲讀和累積新單詞，所以一直都有讀報紙的習慣，看看美國發生什麽事了。今天的新聞真是莫名其妙，居然有大學的領導呼籲降低青少年在大學校園喝酒年齡，從21嵗降到18嵗。而且還居然美其名曰是替青少年減少壓力和降低交通事故，這種法案居然也敢提出來，也有事實去支持這種想法，真是佩服得五體投地。看完報紙以後orientation終于開始了。我居然幸運地拿到了VIP的入場卷，當然啦！Early birds can catch worms.（早起的鳥可以捉到蟲子）那些黑鬼給了一個背包，哇！很大，很不錯。

（在此特別向徐女俠強調一下，我們可是有君子協定説好了禮物歸我的哦！可不能出爾反爾，來和我搶哦！還有，我為你付出了那麽大的代價，也應該得到一點回報啦！）

拿了背包以後就去吃早餐，看來還挺豐富哦，有coffee，牛奶，巧克力，哈密瓜，木瓜，菩提子，草莓，曲奇餅，鮮橙子汁，蘋果汁。正所謂“三軍未動，糧草先行。”不先填飽肚子又哪裏有力氣去辦事呢？於是我樣樣都拿了一小堆，結果就變成了一大堆，坐在圓桌上慢慢地享用。也許剛過完生日，桃花運不錯，我周圍來了一大群女生，哇噻，就只有我一個男的，沒關係啦！既來之，則安之。我喝了那些果汁，覺得很不錯，就拿了一瓶放在那個背包裏，手上又拿了一瓶，這樣就可以防備呆會口渴，沒水喝了。一桌子的女人似乎沒什麽話題，居然拿我來説，問我幾嵗，是否single，我說是，旁邊那個還在做手勢，使眼色。還和我要e-mail address和電話號碼。更要命的事情來了，就是身邊的兩個女人不知道是昨晚沒洗澡還是有狐臭，居然噴了很濃的香水，我的鼻子對香水一向都很敏感，兩种濃郁的香水混合，真是想吐啊！好不容易熬過去了，離開那個室内籃球場，卻忘記了拿那瓶果汁，（哎，我還沒有開呢！真是浪費啊！不過沒關係，幸好我在背包裏放了一瓶，也不吃虧。）終于開始進入教室和那个光頭professor說廢話了，我就純粹當作是練習我的聽力和模仿他的表達能力好了。也許早餐喝太多牛奶，所以人有三急，要上洗手間了，於是匆匆忙忙跑去men‘s room，正準備解手時，卻走出一個女人正在對著鏡子化妝梳洗，看得我尷尬極了，以爲自己走錯了洗手間，說了聲sorry，就急忙跑出去，出去以後看到了門上的標誌和字母，明明就是男洗手間，怎麽女人跑進去了。真是豈有此理，佔用男士洗手間，簡直是罪大惡極。沒辦法，雖然自己有道理，只好等那個女人磨磨蹭蹭搞定以後才進去了。過了好一會兒，那個女人才出來，sorry都不說一聲就走了，簡直離譜。算了，我是好男不和女斗。去完廁所又囘到教室聼廢話了。好不容易熬到10：30，那個leader就帶大家去參觀校園，介紹校園的各個地方和一些tutor center。 遊歷完校園以後，就開始吃午餐了。午餐似乎不怎麽樣，只有麵包，三文治，一些餅乾，小西紅柿，生菜，可樂，還有礦泉水。我夾了一大曡小西紅柿和麵包和三文治，吃完以後又來了一管可樂來喝，雖然說這些東西吃不飽，但是全部吃進去也有點飽。吃完以後，更可怕的事來了，也怪自己多事，扮演什麽gentleman啊！居然幫她們把碟子收起來扔到垃圾筒裏去，一桌子的女生都說我是gentleman，幾個女孩子來向我握手道謝，居然有一個來抱我還在我臉上親了一下，搞得我尷尬死了。但過了一會兒，我仔細想想，我現在不是xxh，而是xyy，怕什麽，就算我怎麽胡作非爲，以後也算不到我的頭上啊！而且在吃東西的時候，我又拿了一個小一點的背包。

吃完lunch，下一項就是尋“寳”，也就是要我們去剛才遊歷過的地方，讓我們記住以後有麻煩的時候在哪裏可以找到我們需要的幫助，這個容易啦！因爲我之前在LIU的校園裏溜達過，再加上剛才那個leader帶領又遊歷一番，我當然可以很快就找到了。雖然贏了卻只拿到了鉛筆。最可惜的是沒有拿到那個“$150”的買書卡和$5的地鐵卡，我覺得很愧疚，在此特地向徐女俠道歉。但是我已經盡力了，我的ticket number沒有對中那個數字，所以徐女俠也不能怪我了。 今天的orientation就這麽結束了。不過收穫還真不小，拿了2个背包，一個拿來當書包，一個拿來當旅行袋。要知道在這裡買兩個背包也不便宜啊！當我把那張VIP的入場卷丟了以後，我才突然想到，實在太可惜了，我還可以在下禮拜二再用一次，去吃免費的早餐然後也拿兩個背包送給徐女俠。可惜被我BC的時候丟了。徐女俠，對不起啊！希望你原諒我。不過我知道你一定會原諒我的。 在此感謝徐女俠的信任，雖然為我帶來一系列的痛苦，但是看在兩個背包的份上，我就花戾氣為祥和吧！也祝徐女俠在人生路不熟的LIU，每天都過的開心充實，逢忙碌化輕鬆。學業進步。也許我可以幫你做到的就是這些了。不過我能力所及的，一定義不容辭。青山不改，綠水長流，願大家共同進步。有空我會去LIU看望你，在BC寂寞的時候我也會想念你，我會到我們以前在一起看書，做作業的位置看書和做作業，也會去用你之前喜歡用的那台電腦。也會像以前一樣坐在草地看書或者坐在草地上發呆。和你在一起的一點一滴都會印在我的腦海裏。我不敢擔保我身邊會有新的女孩子出現，但有一點可以肯定的，就是對你的一切是絕對不會忘懷的。

期末考試結束了，也就是意味summer school結束了。經過這兩個月，我的心真是好累，真的好倦，什麽都不想動了，好想躺在床上睡一覺。把那些煩心的事情都抛到九霄雲外去。
幻想一下如果我不來美國，我現在會有這些煩惱嗎？在大陸，我在幹什麽呢？想來我現在已經大學畢業了，開始工作了。不過在大陸讀大學也不容易啊！至少學費真的很厲害，再加上生活費，住宿等等的日常開支，那就是更加百里加斤了。而且在大學臥虎蒼龍，高手如云，出來以後能否找到工作也很難肯定。一個月的薪水多少就更加不敢預測了。似乎如果沒來美國也一樣要面對這些壓力和煩惱哦！
那就再幻想一下如果我在大陸也沒有讀大學，那現在在幹什麽呢？我記得我在家鄉還有好幾畝田地，還有一口魚塘，一閒房子，也許像那些沒有讀大學的人一樣已經結婚生子，成家立室。男人嘛！當然要有養妻活兒的責任啦！現在應該都在割禾，曬穀子了，然後又開始插禾，插完禾苗以後呢？穀子也曬乾了，把穀子碾成米，一畝田可以產出壹千斤的白米，可以拿去賣，也可以留下來自己吃，市價一般最低都是一百斤米可以賺九十九塊錢哦！而且最高可以把價錢擡到一百三十塊，這樣粗略地計算一下一畝田似乎有一千多塊的收入哦！魚塘呢，可以用來養養魚，還有菜地可以用來種地，豬圈用來養豬，雞圈用來養雞。這種生活真是自給自足哦！自己的房子不用交房租，也不用擔心天價般的房價無能力買，不用交水費，因爲可以去挑井水，既乾淨又無污染，挑水還可以鍛煉體力，最多要交電費和煤氣費，因爲不可能像過去一樣點煤油燈，也不能像過去一樣跑到山上去砍樹拿來當柴燒。這種生活似乎看來很愜意啊！日出而作，日落而息，就像以前在大陸讀書讀陶淵明寫的《歸園田居》
“少无适俗韵，性本爱丘山。 误落尘网中，一去三十年。 羁鸟恋旧林，池鱼思故渊。 开荒南野际，守拙归田园。 方宅十余亩，草屋八九间。 榆柳荫后椋，桃李罗堂前。 暧暧远人村，依依墟里烟。 狗吠深巷中，鸡鸣桑树颠。 户庭无尘杂，虚室有余闲。 久在樊笼里，复得返自然。”還有劉禹錫的《陋室銘》
山不在高，有仙则名。水不在深，有龙则灵。斯是陋室，惟吾德馨。苔痕上阶绿，草色入帘青。谈笑有鸿儒，往来无白丁。可以调素琴，阅金经。无丝竹之乱耳，无案牍之劳形。南阳诸葛庐，西蜀子云亭。孔子云：“何陋之有？”在此刻，我似乎很消極，真的很嚮往上面說的那樣。
不過我可以嗎？不行啊！也許我還是要像孟子在《生于憂患，死于安樂》中所說的：“故天将降大任于斯人也，必先苦其心志，劳其筋骨，饿其体肤，空乏其身，行拂乱其所为，所以动心忍性，曾益其所不能。 人恒过，然后能改；困于心，衡于虑，而后作；征于色，发于声，而后喻。”這些都是當年在大陸讀初中和高中的時候，要背誦和默寫的文章，當年為了應付考試，拼命地燈下苦讀，到現在也無法忘記，就像滲入皮膚，融入血中，要默寫的時候就像本能一樣地默寫出來。人生煩惱識字始，認識了字，然後又要知道那是什麽意思，知道了什麽意思以後又要想應該怎麽做。正所謂，學海無涯，人生在世，短短數十寒暑，又能學會多少，懂得多少呢？爲了記住這些東西，當年嘔心瀝血，都不知花了多少心血和精力。然後考試以後又需要知道更多，這就是所謂的欲望永無滿足。
但是，人生開門七件事，柴米油鹽醬醋茶，這是無論誰都是無法逃過的，這是鉄一般的事實，即使是莊子的《逍遙游》，其中也提到：“适莽苍者，三餐而反，腹犹果然；适百 里者，宿舂粮；适千里者，三月聚粮。”逍遙？真的是那麽逍遙嗎？真的覺得有點自欺欺人。
當然如果我沒有來美國，待在鄉下，我的學識和見解是絕對無法和今天的我相提並論，可以說是螢火之光根本無法與日月爭煇。又怎麽懂得用電腦，又怎麽會上網，聊天，視頻和其他的電腦操作等等呢？也無法接觸廣泛的知識，無容置疑是一個目不識丁的文盲，一個面朝黃土背朝天被人看不起的莊稼小子。其實被人看不起又怎麽樣呢？就像《天仙配》裏說的：“树上的鸟儿成双对,/绿水青山带笑颜，/你耕田来来我织布，/你挑水来我浇园，/寒窑虽破能避风雨，/夫妻恩爱苦也甜，/从今不再受那奴役苦，/夫妻双双把家还。”那些都市人的鄙視和輕視又有干系呢？反而簡簡單單平平淡淡的生活似乎比這熱鬧繁華的都市裏的物欲橫流，爾虞我詐，虛情假意實在的多。我雖然討厭那些都市生活，卻無法擺脫。或許只能戴上面具，用虛假的自己去面對。真是諷刺和無奈，内心討厭卻無法擺脫。也許這就是人生。

什麽是友情，什麽是親情，什麽是愛情？它們存在于這個世界上嗎？我真的懷疑它們是否是真實的。懷疑它們的不存在似乎顯得我太過於偏激。好，退一步來説，就當作它們存在，那它們存在于我的生命嗎？父母之親情也許是父母的生命延續，而我也不過是繼續承擔延續的責任，其它的血緣親情真的有嗎？友情不過是人與人之間相遇，產生了所謂的友誼，愛情也不過是親情的一部分，男女之間的結合，然後是親情的延續。除了父母的親情，我似乎依稀感覺存在，其它的血緣親情，友情，和愛情，我根本就無法感覺它們的存在，甚至感覺我幾乎是一無所有。我幾乎不想見任何人，一點激情，興奮的感覺都沒有，幸好還有一絲生存的意念，否則真是可以說是了無生趣。感覺這個世界都是充滿冷漠的，我的真心付出，真誠相待，只會徒遭傷感，沒人愛我，沒人喜歡我，沒人幫我，居然如此，我又何須在乎那些人呢？我又何必去稀罕那些所謂的愛，所謂的喜歡，所謂的幫助呢？我應該做的是更加地愛惜自己，如果這個世界上連自己都不愛惜自己，又有誰會來珍惜我呢？也許這就是人性吧！我活著的目的是什麽呢？是為自己生活得更好，什麽為囯爭光，回饋社會，報效祖國。関我什麽事呢？我只為自己。不去欺負人家，不被人欺負，人不犯我，我不犯人，人若犯我，牙嵫必報。

Today I am very frustrated because of my Business class. My frustration comes from my confidence. I thought I could challenge myself, so I learned how to be a leader. All my group mates are female. Of course they support me, and become my advocators. At the beginning, I tried to arrange assignment. I put all people into three groups, finance group, market group, and manufacture group. In this case, everyone had got to work on their assignment. They need to look for information surf online. In this whole process, I claimed all my thoughts to all people, and all of them understood my target and shared their thinking with me. It is because I always like to work individually. This time is a big change for me. Everything moved smoothly. Nonetheless, barriers always like to prevent me. I actively promised to make a presentation in the class, even though I know my pronunciation is not pure. It is not because I like to show off, but I want to practice myself, and challenge my limitation. It is also a good opportunity to enhance my bad accent and poor listening. Within the presentation process, I didn’t feel that nervous, and I had eyes contact, body language. Let my audiences understand what I am talking. After my presentation, my professor and classmates asked me some questions and what my solutions to those problems. My professor and classmates made me feel shameful. I don’t know whether they are international people or not. Nevertheless, their speaking was so fast that I couldn’t follow them. Let us image that how I can answer questions if I didn’t understand what the meaning of questions. I was voiceless, standing up there at that time.
According to this presentation, I realize that I must focus on my speaking and listening. No matter how much progress I made in my writing, my listening and speaking are still weak. Voiceless is the best evidence to prove my disadvantage skills. However, thinking from the other position, I really made a progress because I changed my style---always working individually. Anyway, at least I had courage to challenge myself. Although I feel frustrated, I know my disadvantages, and I have courage to confess my disadvantages. Just like Chinese”知恥近乎勇.”

今天終于大功告成了。
這個月來我真是忙得不可開交，要上summer school，要寫paper，要做research，要看很多書，要幫YY忙大學的事情，還有自己大學裏學分的事。真是痛苦啊！
其實在這些事情裏面，只有幫YY忙大學的事不是自己的事，其實我完全可以不必做，但是我還是攬到自己肩膀上了。我都不知道爲什麽。在我的定義裏，能算得上是真正的朋友，老實說沒有幾個，和YY相識也不過就是5個多月，她現在暑假囘大陸去了，下學期就要轉學到Long Island University了，她媽媽收到錄取通知書，打電話告訴在中國的YY，而YY就叫我幫她，她把她的所有資料都給了我，叫我全權幫她搞大學的事，而且向我承諾回來以後一定好好報答我。面對她，我真是覺得無從選擇，不是我貪圖她的報答，我堂堂男子漢，根本不稀罕這些所謂的報答，也許正如她所說的，我是很傻，而且傻的可愛。而她自己呢？就跑囘中國到處去旅行。我的理智告訴我，這是她自己申請大學的事，不関我的事，我沒有必要插手，也許我總是太感情用事，她居然把我當朋友，信任我，我當然不能不幫她。爲了幫她辦理大學的事情，我一個人跑到LIU去，在Financial aid office，bursar office，register office，pharmacy department排隊，好幾次都還沒有吃午餐，站在那裏等，而且冷氣又開得大，凍得我渾身打哆嗦。當我正在挨餓受凍的時候，她就在中國睡大覺，真是“同人不同命”啊！還要跑到她家裏去見她媽，問她要稅單和一些個人資料。用完以後就馬上歸還。她媽也說多虧有我，不然都不知道怎麽辦才好，YY可以認識到我，得到我如此真心相待，真是她的福氣。
仔細想想，我插手這件事究竟是對還是錯呢？插手的原因無非是因爲YY的信任，結果是得到她媽的肯定和感激。老實說，從理智出發，我覺得似乎沒什麽意義，但是從情感上出發，卻覺得很欣慰，畢竟她是我的好朋友，能幫到朋友也是一件很快樂的事，而且可以鍛煉我辦事的能力。還有一個人經歷多了，經驗也會變得豐富起來，這也是對自己的一種歷練。
今天終于幫她把所有的事情都辦妥了，選課，註冊，搞fafsa，所有東西都順利通過了，真是謝天謝地，遇到的那些都不是華人，不懂中文，不然一看我的名字和人都知道貨不對版。還有在填寫資料的時候都覺得很緊張，因爲我是以一個女孩子的身份去填寫，我必須告訴自己我就是XYY，真是痛苦啊！
現在想想爲了那所謂的信任和讚揚，把自己累成這樣，值得嗎？也許這是西方拜金主義的影響，無利不起早。總是把自己的利益放在第一位。我不過是普通的平凡人，當然不例外，我也有自私的時候，自私的想法，事不關己，己不勞心。但是我相信當我做事的時候，我卻不會那麽做。
也許這就是我傻的原因，太過於投入自己的感情。雖然我似乎現在有點後悔這麽做，但是我敢肯定如果讓我再選擇一次，我還是會那麽做。

There is a great number of immigrants in the world. In “New York’s Two Great Waves of Immigration” by Nancy Foner and “the Rise of Transnational Communities” by Alejandro Portes, both authors agree that immigrant look for good future and bring economic development to both home and abroad. However, Foner still mentions that the second generation doesn’t follow their parents, but prefer to the land where they were born.
In order to look for good life, immigrants leave their homeland. Foner states that immigrants can’t find a good job in their homeland even though they have high education. The poor countries can’t help those high-level people to fulfill their aspiration. It’s impossible for high level graduates work in lower-status jobs. In this case, these high-level graduates leave their homeland and go to the other countries which can offer a good opportunity to match their high education. Similarly, Porte states that entrepreneurs go to other countries and look for new immigrant investors. With the help of new immigrant investors, they can sell their goods. Meanwhile, they can bring back what they need, such as fabrics and needles. Hence, immigration can bring good life for those immigrants. According to immigration, immigrants can get what they need and what they want.
Immigrants still keep in touch with their home. Foner says: “Technological changes have made it possible for immigrants to maintain more frequent and closer contact with their home and have changed the very nature of transnational connections.” According to the description, it’s clear that immigrants leave their home, but they still care their homeland and have close contact with their homeland. Technological changes support convenience for immigrants to keep in touch with their home. Likewise, Portes states in the old days that peasants couldn’t make a phone or hop a plane to check out what was going on at home. At present, such communication can be convenient for immigrants to keep a contact with their home. In this case making use of advanced technology can help those immigrants to keep closer communication with their homeland. Also, closer communication brings many good opportunities to enhance economy.
Although both authors agree that immigrants send money back to homeland, Foner points out second generation does not follow their parents. Foner states that parents earn money in U.S, and they send money back to homeland. However, the second generation was born in U.S. and they are orient to people, institution, and places. The second who send money back to parents’ home is minority. On the other hand, Portes points that immigrants build their base of property in U.S, and they send money back to homeland and operate factories. They bring advanced technology to their poor homeland. Portes doesn’t mention whether or not the second generation follows what their parents do. Hence, both authors agree parents keep in touch with their homeland, and send money back to homeland.
Above all, immigrants want to get a good life by immigration. They still keep in touch with their homeland. When they earn money, they send money back to poor homeland. Also, they bring advanced technology for poor homeland. However, Foner illustrates that immigrants’ second generation become Americans because they were born in America.

the sophomore year

Time is flying, and no one can stop it. I have studied in BC for one year already. During this year, my experience is abundant. The experience includes happiness and suffering. It is unavoidable for me to grow up, and this is a sufficient process. Although my heart is hurt, I still adopt my continuous education, not give up escape. At this point, maybe I can say that I am a rationalist because I deeply notice the importance of education.
In the fall 2007, BC was an unfamiliar place for me. I may be an unsociable person, and my personality is between outgoing and solitary. I didn’t make too many friends in BC, especially foreign friends. Maybe we have different background, so a lot of time we have no communication with each other. In BC, I just have two female friends, Joanne Wong and LamSinyun, XuYuanyuan. In fact, for me, the definition of friend is two people can share emotion, or secret with each other, and help each other. Hence, I don’t have too many real friends, and I don’t need, either. Above all, that was my making friend experience. It is time to talk about my learning experience. In this school, I began to do my paper because I had never written my paper in BMCC. Hence, at the beginning, I really didn’t know how to do that. I emailed MZ and asked her how to do that, but she ignored me because she was also busy. One of her students told me that she was surprised that I still didn’t know how to deal with a paper, especially for a college student. That was really a beat for me. I thought why my close friend dealt with me like that. I told to myself: “ok, no one helps me. I must help myself. If I don’t help myself, it is real that no one can help me.” Hence, I spent a lot of time on studying in BC library. I finally got B for my paper according to my continuous effort. The most difficult classes for me were philosophy class and art class. Anyway, I handled both classes by my effort.
For spring 2008, I have encountered xuyuanyuan in my English class. She is also a working hard girl. We go to the library everyday because the library is really a good learning environment for us. We use computer and read the books in BC library. Honestly, I was fond of her and adore her. She trusts me and I helped her to revise her English essay. However, she will leave BC and transfer to LIU. Anyway, we had a good time in BC, and that is unforgettable memory. In the second semester, the most painful experience was that I got NC. It means that I failed that class, but NC is better than F. It was because NC would not affect my GPA. It was so painful for me to get this result. Fortunately, YY called me for several times and solaced me. I am very grateful to her, and I am full of rejoicing because I have such a close friend like her. Having a close trustable friend is also a fortunate for me. Although I failed that class, let me know I have such a close friend. I felt comfortable.
The following semester will be full of challenge for us. We will still stay in touch and study hard even though we are in different college. I make a wish xuyuanyuan and me that we will be successful in future.

There are a lot of immigrants in the world. The transnational ties make the world closer. In “New York’s Two Great Waves of Immigration” by Nancy Foner and “The Rise of Transnational Communities” by Alejandro Portes, both authors agree that immigrants leave hometown for making a living and bring advanced technology to their home countries. However, Foner also mentions that most of the second generation doesn’t ties to their parents’ homeland.
Immigrants want to make a better future. In “New York’s Great Waves of Immigration”, Foner mentioned that many immigrants couldn’t find jobs which match their high education. They couldn’t fulfill their aspiration in their homeland. In this case, these educated people left their countries. They wanted to achieve their goals at abroad. Obviously, immigration was the only way for them to make their dream come true. If they stay in their homeland, it is impossible for them to make a good future. Likewise, in “The Rise of Transnational Communities”, Portes stated: “they make use of their time abroad to build a base of property, and then travel back and forth to advantage of economic opportunities in both countries.” According to this word “base”, it is clear that these immigrants have no money before they immigrate. If their homeland has good economy, it is unnecessary for them to leave their home land and build the base of wealth. Hence, these immigrants wanted to make a bright future by immigration.
Immigration brings the advanced technology to their home land. Portes states that the immigrants in Brooklyn, New York, learn to use new technology to supply clean water for their home land. They learned in New York, and went back to their home countries. Also, they also raised money for this water project. Here, obviously, Mexico didn’t have a clean water supply, and didn’t know how to make use of the new technology. However, the immigrants moved into New York, and learn the advanced technology and let new technology work for their undeveloped home land. Similarly, Font state: “Thanks to modern communications and air travel, a group of Mexicans in NY involved in raising money to improve their home community’s water supply was able to conduct meeting…when they leaned the new tubing had been delivered.” According to this description, it is clear that Mexican need new technology for water supply. Without the help of immigrants, they absolutely couldn’t complete this big project in the undeveloped countries. Thus, the advanced methods are brought into by immigrants at abroad.
In “New York’s two Great Waves of Immigration”, Foner stated that most of the immigrants’ second generation didn’t follow their parents. They were born in NY. Also, all ethnicity can be expressed in NY. They prefer to living in NY, and don’t send money back to their home land. Here, it is very clear that the assimilation process makes a big effect. It makes most of the immigrants’ generation mix into NY. They don’t keep close touch in their parents’ homeland. However, Portes stated that Colombia and Dominican immigrants in NYC wanted to vote in election in their respective countries and got support from their home governments during the 1970s and 1980s. Clearly, these immigrants love their homeland and want to keep in touch with their homeland. Even though they are in abroad, they still miss their homeland. Hence, the second generation is different from their parents, and they prefer New York.
Above all, both authors agree that the immigrants wanted to make a better life in abroad, and they still keep frequent contact with their homeland. It is the best evidence that they bring the new technology to their undeveloped homeland. However, Foner states that most of the second generation doesn’t love their parents’ homeland as well as their parents. They lose touch with their parents’ home land.

今天突然好想念YY，就去她的空間看她的童年回憶錄，看到了YY的一些童年回憶，她的童年過得真是色彩繽紛，說真的我對自己的童年回憶卻很陌生，甚至有點空白。
嚴格來説，我幼兒園和小學是沒有朋友的，幾乎沒有什麽開心的回憶可言，那些人不和我玩，我剛開始讀書的時候，什麽都不懂，所以老師教的我都學不好，媽媽也沒什麽時間教我。語文老師還當衆說我蠢，說我笨，智商低，腦子不好使。我還記得有一次我的數學作業做錯了，當時數學老師點了我的名字，然後把我的作業扔在地上，而且我記得那次還是下雨，滿地都是濕漉漉，髒兮兮的，我的作業本就被老師扔在地上，又濕又髒，一本新的作業本可以說就那麽完蛋了，而且老師還用紅筆在我的臉上划了一下。因爲客家話的緣故，許和屎是同音，雄和蟲也近音，輝和飛也是同音，老師還當衆嘲笑我說：“屎也會飛。”我的那些所謂的同學呢，都在哈哈大笑。我的名字是我父母幫我取的，我當時真是難受極了。因爲沒有人教過我分辨左右，在體育課，老師和學生都是面對面的，因爲老師說左轉，站在他的位置來説，左邊就是我的右邊，很多時候老師說向左轉或向右轉，我都搞錯了，還有立定跳遠，我的動作要領掌握不好，總是單腳跨過去，看到我做錯了，老師都是動不動就打我，當時真是好痛啊！但是我沒哭過。而且我的同學都欺負我，他們都叫我屎蟲子，說我是吃屎長大的，我面對那些嘲笑我不敢還擊，我也沒敢告訴我爸媽。於是我努力學習讀書，終于在期末考試拿到全級第一，那時候我才有一點自豪成就感。我知道我並不比別人笨。也因爲我考試成績好，一些所謂的同學，就假惺惺接近我。因爲我知道老師佈置作業都有一定的規律，每天上午放學以後我會猜到老師會佈置什麽作業，所以我都提前做完，那些接近我的人個個都來問我老師會佈置什麽作業，然後拿我的作業去抄。老師似乎發覺到這點，就說不許先做作業。那些人以後每天老師佈置作業的時候都在老師面前說我已經把作業做完了。然後讓老師來批評我。我當時真是百口莫辯。我幾乎想要哭，但我沒有哭過。隨著年齡增大，那些人還是來欺負我，打我，終于有一次，我爆發了，我把那個欺負我的人打得鼻青臉腫，直至把他打到流鼻血，噴到衣服上，滿地都是血，我才停手，直到現在我都不敢相信我當時那麽小就已經這麽狠了。
說到這裡，我記得我在six flag，坐過山車的時候，當車上到最高點然後突然高速往下沖的那刻，我當時也有小時候打人的那種感覺。也許我潛意識裏真的隱藏有一股兇殘，連我本人也不知道，只有受到某种刺激的時候才會表現出來。
回憶這些童年往事，我想問一下自己爲什麽那個時候面對那些嘲笑不懂反駁，反抗呢？就是因爲那些人是老師嗎？還是我的性格問題呢？還有，那些人配當老師嗎？這麽對一個六七嵗的小孩子，不要作爲一個教師，就是普通人，難道他們不懂得將心比心，換了他們自己，他們會有什麽感受呢？難道真的像Henry說的那樣是中國的教育問題嗎？當年中國是1978年恢復高考，那些老師也許是大學畢業又或者是高中畢業，而且我那裏又是山區落後地方，真是素質問題嗎？
我也懂得一些道理，海納百川，有容乃大，往事如煙，隨風而去，不復存在，我也不想滿心都背負那些多不開心的往事，但是做起來卻很難，特別是這次我看到YY的童年回憶錄，那些事又再次浮現在我的腦海，揮之不去。我不想去恨，因爲滿心裝滿那些不愉快，我永遠也會不愉快。但是我卻無法做到一個完全開心的人，所以我永遠也不想見到那些曾經欺負我的人。或許只有等到我有了自己的事業和成就的時候，我才會回去我的老家，甚至去見一下那些曾經羞辱我的人。我不知道我這樣會不會太偏激，不過無所謂啦，就像胡景濤說的：記住日本侵略中國，不是為了記仇，而是爲了更好地激勵自己。
還有一點就是范仲淹提到：“不以物喜，不以己悲。”我很想知道那些人說寵辱不驚，究竟是他們認爲他曾經也是高高在上，所以他們可以對那些羞辱不放在心上，還是那些人在受到羞辱的時候仍然可以談笑風生，不以爲然呢？記得韓信在曾經受一些無賴的跨下之辱，那是因爲敵衆我寡，忍一時之氣，保百年之身，然而當了元帥以後可以說是用兵惡毒，絕不給生還之機。我不知道這是野史還是正史。但有一點可以肯定人很多時候因爲經歷過某些事以後，爲人處世都會在不知不覺中改變。

Children are human’s future and hope, so we should focus on how to praise children. In “The Singer Solution to World Poverty” by Peter Singer and “A Modest Proposal” by Joanthan Swift, both Singer and Swift discuss how people treat children. In both of the essays, the authors show how benevolent people care about children but Singer shows how to solve the problem of the large number of children.
People should protect those innocent children. In “The Singer Solution to World Poverty”, Peter Singer mentions: “The boy was too old to be adopted—he will be killed and his organs sold for transplantation…. In the morning Dora resolves to take the boy back.” We can see that the boy’s fate is to be dead. In order to save this boy, to take the boy back is only what Dora can do. It is obvious that Dora doesn’t hope the boy gets hurt. Hence, Dora saves this innocent child. Contrarily, in “A Modest Proposal”, Joanthan Swift states: “A child will make two dishes at an entertainment for friends, and when the family dines alone.” It is obvious that how cruel the people are. Swift suggests to kill excess children as food on their table. The children are poor. The children are innocent, and they have right to live in the world. However, no one can save these poor children. Swift states that being eaten by rich is those poor children’s fate.
People should donate to those who are poor. In “The Singer Solution to World Poverty”, Peter Singer mentions: “Therefore, for a household bringing in $50000 a year, donations to help the world’s poor should be as close as possible to $20000, the $ 30000 required for necessities holds for higher incomes as well.” According to this description, it is clear that people just need the necessary cost for daily life. For the money to spend not just on necessities, people should also donate to those poor who need help. However, in “A Modest Proposal”, Joanthan Swift mentions that poor people sell their children to rich people for food. These poor people get money by selling their children. Obviously, it is unfair for these poor children. As parents, it is their duty to raise their children. Even thought for those unknown children, people also should adopt them if they have enough ability to do that. Nevertheless, in order to get rich and save money, Swift suggests that poor parents should sacrifice their innocent children.
Although both authors show people have different attitudes toward children, they still illustrate that people are kind to children. In “the Singer Solution to World Poverty”, Singer mentions: “After Bob gave up saving the child, many people thought what Bob had done was wrong.” According to this reaction, we can see that people still care about the child, and people consider the importance of the child’s life. Likewise, in “A Modest Proposal”, Joanthan Swift mentions what his advantages of his scheme are. The advantages are to prevent abortion, and to stop murdering bastard children. It shows that all children have right to live in the world. The benevolent people protect the poor children, even though the children are unborn and bastard children. Hence, it is clear both authors agree to help those poor people.
Eventually, according to the two readings, both of authors agree to help those innocent children and poor. The distinction between both authors is the way they help the children. Peter Singer requires more people to help people by donating money, but Joanthan Swift considers the fact that poverty is caused by the number of children and suggests to lessen the number of children by eating those poor children.

final project about cold war

The emergence of the cold war was not a sudden event, but it was an inevitable result. That was because there was a chronic conflict between the United States and the Soviet. The conflict was existent before the end of World War 2. After World War 2, the conflict was deep. Thus, the cold war was product of the conflict between the United States and the Soviet.
. Both the United States and the Soviet just cared their benefit even though during the World War 2. “The main goal of Roosevelt’s Soviet policy was to enlist the aid of the Soviet Union in checking and later defeating the Axis powers. In the thirties, Roosevelt recognized the Soviet government, took the first steps toward military collaboration with the Soviet at a very low level, by offering a military liaison and the construction of a battleship, and encouraged the Britain and French to conclude an alliance with the Soviet Union. But Roosevelt’s effort to create a collaborative relationship with the Soviet Union was blocked by anti-Soviet hard-liners in the States and War Department as well as isolationists in the Congress who opposed American involvement in Europe’s military affairs. Roosevelt also was hampered by the appeasement policies of the British and French and by their unwillingness to work with the leading communist country against the fascist powers. In their defense, however, the British and French were unwilling to stand up to the Axis without American support, which was not forthcoming. Nevertheless, when Stalin did not obtain from the Western powers what he wanted, a military alliance and a free hand in Eastern Europe, he turned to Hitler and signed the infamous Soviet-German Nonaggression Pact.”[1] According to the information, we can see both the United States and the Soviet Union just focused on their benefits. The Soviet Union wanted to get more benefit from the United States, and the United States didn’t want to over use their aid to help enlarge the Soviet Union.
Both of the Soviet Union and the United States hold back each other, and didn’t want to let other side have more power. “Winston Churchill, in a speech delivered at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, declared that “from Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.” There were, he said, certain facts that could not be ignored, including the Soviet domination of Eastern Europe and the Transformation of East Germany into a procommunist state. The nations of Western Europe, he warned, particularly France and Italy, were being undermined by “Communist fifth columns.” He did not believe the Soviets wanted war with the West, but he thought they desired “the indefinite expansion of their power and doctrines.” To meet the Soviet challenge he called for a greater degree of cooperation between the Untied States and the United Kingdom, including the British Commonwealth.[2] In this case, Soviet Union wanted to expand the communion power to the west Europe. In order to protect capitalism, of course the Union States and the Union Kingdom treated the expansion of communism as a serious challenge. Hence, they tried to stop the spread of communism.
“America’s “declaration of Cold War” was issued on March 12th, 1947. ever since the end of World War 2. Britain had supported the government of Greece in its attempts to suppress a communist insurgency. That uprising, at first internal in nature, was soon supported by Yugoslavia, and by February of 1947 the British found themselves unable to bear the financial and military burdens involved in aiding the Greeks. The U.S State Department, led by George Marshall and Dean Acheson, worked with President Truman to formulate to a policy that would assist not only Greece but its similarly endangered neighbor, Turkey. Advised by congressional leaders to take his case to the public, Truman did precisely that, addressing a joint session of Congress and a nationwide radio audience on March 12th. Truman asked Congress for legislation to permit the administration to step into the protector’s position being vacated by Great Britain. Following the suggestion of Senator Vandenberg, he identified the communist threat as a global one, applicable not to Greece and Turkey but to Western Europe and Asia as well. This policy, which came to be called the “Truman Doctrine,” set the stage for U.S aid to regimes that were threatened by communist insurgencies throughout the Cold War era.”[3] It is obvious that Truman declared his doctrine was to deal with communist power. Marshall didn’t want communalism spread into Western Europe, and didn’t hope Western Europe was frightened by Soviet Union.
In 1947, after Marshall came back from the Soviet Union, he realized that it was necessary to give aid to promote European economic recover. On June 5, Marshall made the European Recovery Program. This was known as the Marshall Plan. This program was not only to benefit the United States, but also it helped to rebuild European economy and to prevent the Soviet Union winning the 1948 elections and the development of communism. Let the communism not threat those countries which need help from Union States.[4] According to appearance of the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan, there was a connection between of them. The United States didn’t want communism develop into Western European, and didn’t want Soviet Union enlarge communism. Also, the U.S was the strongest Capitalism country. It was essential to protect their foreign markets and impede the spread of communism.
The communism was impeded by Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan. The Soviet Union also had other plans to deal with the Marshall Plan. That is the founding of the Cominform. “The Soviet had installed a series of “friendly” governments dominated by communists. …….in order to respond this threat (the Marshall Plan), and to provide for closer coordination parties to a special meeting in Poland in September of 1947. There Andrei Zhdanov, the chief Soviet spokesperson, called for the formation of a new international organization to advance the interests of communism. The result was the establishment of the Communist Information Bureau, or Cominfor, with its headquarters in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.”[5] Hence, the founding of the Cominform was caused by the Marshall Plan. It was anti-Marshall Plan. The Soviet Union wanted to continue to spread the communism.
Above all, it was clear that 1947marked the beginning of the cold war. The conflicts between the U.S and the Soviet Union were existent before the end of the World War 2. Both of them created a Grand Alliance was just to defeat German and got aid from each other. Even though in the World War 2, the U.S and the Soviet Union were in Grand Alliance. They still had different conflicts. After the end of World War 2, the threat from German was disappeared. It means that the Grand Alliance was end. “The Soviet withdrawal from Iran appeared to confirm the wisdom of the tougher U.S policy. In the face of a resolute stand by the U.S and Britain, the Soviets demonstrated that they would back down. Years later, Truman said the administration’s response to the Iranian crisis was the first of a series of initiatives that, as he put is, “saved the world. This crisis also marked the end of the Grand Alliance.”[6] This was the best evidence which prove there was no any “friendship” between the U.S and the Soviet Union. Their conflict was deepened. In the following, the Truman Doctrine, the Marshall, and the founding of the COMINFORM were the produce of the cold war.
[1] Cold War: The UNITED STATES AND THE SOVIET UNION, 1917-1991
2. Footnote: Ronald E. Powaski. Cold War: the United States and the Soviet Union. 1917-1991. New York Oxford (OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 1998)
3 In-text citation: Roosevelt’s Wartime Diplomacy: An Assessment (P63)
[2] Bibliography: Kenneth L. Hill COLD WAR CHRONOLOGY SOVIET-AMERICAN RELATIONS 1945-1991
Footnote: Kenneth L. Hill COLD WAR CHRONOLOGY SOVIET-AMERICAN RELATIONS 1945-1991
Incite text: 1946 March 5 the Iron Curtain (Page 14)

[3] Bibliography: Edwar H. Judge, Hohn w. Langdon: The COLD WAR: A HISTROY THROUGH DOCUMENTS
FOOTNOTE: complied and Edited by Edwar H. Judge, Hohn w. Langdon: The COLD WAR: A HISTROY THROUGH DOCUMENTS
In-text-citation: The Truman Doctrine 11947 (P24)
[4] : complied and Edited by Edwar H. Judge, Hohn w. Langdon: The COLD WAR: A HISTROY THROUGH DOCUMENTS
In-text citation: The Marshall Plan 1947 (P26)
[5] In-text citation: the founding of the Cominform, 1947 (37)
[6] Footnote: Footnote: Ronald E. Powaski. Cold War: the United States and the Soviet Union. 1917-1991. New York Oxford (OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS 1998)
In-text cite: The decline of the Grand Alliance (P 70)

It is wrong that people don’t save money when they are rich. In “Who Speaks for the Lazy?” by Arthur Krystal and “The Grasshopper and the Ant”, both authors agree that people should be hardworking to store for future life, but not lazy. However, Arthur Krystal has different opinions about slothfulness, that is, where laziness comes from.
Being lazy and not making a plan for the future can bring bad results to people. In “The Grasshopper and the Ant”, when the winter comes, the grasshopper doesn’t have any food in the house. The grasshopper has to borrow food from the ant because the ant prepared food for the coming winter. In this case, we can see that this is really a good example to prove the difference between laziness and working hard. The bad result is that the grasshopper has to beg for food when the winter comes. Likewise, in “Who Speaks for the Lazy?”, Krystal mentions:” I had no bank account …Sometimes I moved from one city another simply because I had a chance to house-sit or because a friend offered to put me up.” It is obvious that without store can bring a lot of inconvenience to people. Krystal just wanted to be a house-sitter, and Krystal moved from one city to another city. This is a bad outcome being caused by lazy people to prepare for the future.
People should work hard. In “the Grasshopper and the Ant”, the ant has food in the house. It is because the ant worked hard when the weather was warm. In this case, we can see that it is not essential for the ant to borrow food from others in the winter because the ant is not lazy. Thus, the ant didn’t need to suffer from hunger in winter. Similarly, in “Who Speaks for the Lazy?” Arthur Krystal illustrates: “I had plans: I was going to write big fat novels and make potloads of money. But what good is ambition without energy? It’s nothing more than daydreaming.” Obviously, we can predict that Krystal also agrees that working hard is necessary. Working hard is unique way to make a good plan come true. If people do not work hard, no matter how excellent the plans are, the plans are still nothing, and do not come true. Hence, it is essential for people to work hard.
Both authors point out the disadvantages of laziness. In “the Grasshopper and the Ant”, the author mentions: “Singing, were you? How delightful! Well, now you can dance!” According to the ant’s words, it is obvious that the author satirized the grasshopper. The grasshopper didn’t prepare food for the winter, and just abandoned himself singing. However, Krystal points out the reason why people are lazy. In “Who Speaks for the Lazy?” Krystal illustrates: “laziness was thought rise from natural contluence of mind and body. The lazy suffered from melancholia, or an excess of black bile, which in extreme cases kept them from finding solace in spiritual devotion.” By the words “suffered” and “melancholia,” we can see that lazy people don’t want to be lazy. It is because being lazy is also a suffering for them. It is not completely their faults, but that is just a mental ill.
Above all, both authors admit that people must work hard, and should not be lazy. Laziness brings people into big troubles. However, Krystal mentioned that some people are lazy because of mental problems.

美國的4周年生活

光陰似箭，日月如梭，歲月猶如滾滾的長江一去不復返。帶走了什麽，留下了什麽，值不值得，又有誰知道呢？不知不覺在美國生活了4周年了。從lesp高中畢業一眨眼就兩年了，然後在BMCC呆了一年，又匆匆忙忙地轉到了Brooklyn college。想當年，在lesp的時候，認識了一個東北女教師———min zhao。當時可以說是那麽親密無間，下課和午餐都經常呆在一起，或者聊天，或者問她問題，趁她懷孕經常偷喫她從家裏帶來的核桃。覺得那段日子真是很愜意啊！她自認是看着我思想和學習成長的人。認爲我是一個很有上進心，很有耐心，很溫柔體貼，很細心的男人。但進入大學以後，見面機會少了，各自有各自的生活際遇，感覺大家見面時的話題少了。雖然經常發郵件保持聯係，但是感覺大不如前了。似乎應了那個新生的名詞“熟悉的陌生人。”聼起來似乎真的很矛盾，很滑稽，很不合邏輯，但是生活往往都是這樣。也許叫“君子之交淡如水。”不多不少有點傷感。但是記憶中的人是永遠不會變的。她曾經給我留下了美好的印象。所以我依然
記得她留給我的印象和教過我的東西。


進入大學以後，也許學的東西多了，也開始變得難了，壓力也大了。但是也同樣像以前那樣去克服那些困難。通過努力，還真是戰勝了不少挫折。雖年齡增長，看問題的也開始不同了。BMCC的時候，很努力地把GPA保持3.0以上，然後轉到Brooklyn college，有點小小的成就感覺得真的不錯哦！也許因爲這點成就感，開始有點驕傲，不喜歡像以前一樣被女孩子大呼小叫，人似乎開始變得有點孤僻，也不完全孤僻，不過可以肯定的是不如從前了，因爲上課的時候有很多東西還不是很懂，所以沒有像以前高中雙語那麽活躍。不過也難免啦！有時候覺得很奇怪，我發現我在大學認識的都是女孩子，和男生都是比較少交往。所以可以說圍繞在我身邊的女孩子。有人說我是孤僻，有人說我是樂觀，有人說我是無聊，有人說我傻的可愛。究竟我是哪類人，我自己也不是很清楚。不過無所謂啦！不過最近大陸的一位友人說我來了美國之後變了很多，我說我學會控制自己的情緒，而她說我有時我的冷靜會讓我變成一個令人害怕的人，甚至是冷血的人。我想我還不至於那麽厲害吧？如果我真是這樣的話，那我倒是有點成就感哦！但我想我不是。今天有个女孩子說我很無聊，因爲我每天都要去她的空間，在她的空間留言，也許是她心情不佳，讓她覺得我有點煩。很奇怪，我居然有一丁點難過。按照我的性格，我會生氣，但是對於她，我似乎沒有那種生氣的感覺。老實說，她給我的印象蠻不錯的，有著眼光的氣質，有上進心，樂觀，也很勤奮。不過這些優點還不至於另我感到震驚。記得和她一起去唐人街和Broadway，在街邊買豆腐花，然後拿着到公園裏坐着吃，那是我第一次在這種沒有桌子的環境下吃東西，感覺怪怪的，本來想和她一起去以前做工的餐館坐着，吃的比較舒服，但是她說這樣很失禮我嗎？後來傻乎乎陪她一起坐在那裏吃，吃完後在公園旁邊照相，我的攝影技術不錯的，但她卻説她她的狀態不好，那些照片不漂亮。現在回憶起來，還真是有點幸福的感覺哦！她最讓我震驚的是我和她一起在唐人街買壽司的時候，我問她干嘛在唐人街買壽司回去，她說：“這是給她外婆買的。”我說：“你外婆不會在Brooklyn 買啊？”讓我震驚的回答 “老人家總是那麽節省。”她說。讓我覺得感動。從那一刻，我似乎對她動心了。讓我動心的不是她的美貌，她的氣質，而是她那份孝義。面對我不是真心喜歡的女孩子，我會不理她是否開心，但面對我真心喜歡的女孩子，我卻開始在乎她的心情好壞。這也許就是爲什麽我沒有向她發脾氣的原因。雖然認識她不久，但卻有種相逢恨晚的感覺，可惜她很快就要轉學到Hunter，我有點不捨得，但是那裏畢竟是她的選擇，她問我意見，從私人感情出發，我希望她不要轉，因爲她答應要和我一起pass English 1 class，一起上English 2。但是從理智出發，那是她的選擇，她應該有她自己的主見，作爲朋友，我應該給的是支持。雖然我會難過，但我不能只為自己著想，那麽自私。我的目標是在2010年畢業，現在唯一可以做的是就是珍惜和她到期末的每天相聚，努力pass所有的課，拿到學分。也許以後沒有機會在一起，甚至不會再見，但至少現在有一段美好的回憶。有人鼓勵我去對她說，認爲喜歡她就去挽留她。但是我卻不那麽認爲，換角度來説，是我要走，她會不會開口挽留呢？如果她開口挽留，我會為她而留下嗎？我的答案是不會，即使我心裏再怎麽那麽難過，不忍，我也會同樣會選擇離開。而且她也叫我和她一起轉學，但我的答案是不行，因爲我這兩個學期好不容易修的學分到了那裏，絕對會大打折扣。我在BMCC已經白白浪費了18个學分，是那些ESL和reading沒有用的學分，所以我要在4年畢業，從現在開始就絕對不可以浪費任何一個學分，現在我可以說是沒有寒假和暑假了，我都拿去上課了。就好像當年在大陸我可以毅然放下一段感情，現在我一樣也可以放下。只要這些感情和我的學業有衝突，我都會選擇學業。也許這就是爲什麽我朋友說我變了，變得理智，變得冷酷，甚至讓她們覺得有點可怕的原因。她們認爲我太過於偏向于理智。而且大陸的朋友認爲我住在美國就會什麽都認爲美國是對的。記得最近中國的西藏獨立閙得沸沸揚揚，美國說中國怎麽樣怎麽樣，而中國又說美國歪曲事實。面對于兩個我無法判斷的事情，我只能保持中立，既不支持美國，也不支持中國。例如六四運動，在中國的網站搜索是一片歡呼雀躍，而在美國的網站卻是很多流血畫面。那究竟哪個才是真正的歷史呢？還有在這裡可以看到星島日報上出現大陸一些群衆暴動，政府派出地方武警鎮壓，居然開槍掃射手無寸鐵的人，但是我在大陸的時候卻從來沒有聽説過，那些星島日報都是中國人創辦的，那我應該相信誰呢？1950年的抗美援朝，中國的歷史是說美國侵略朝鮮，而這裡的歷史卻説朝鮮先去惹事，然後才引起美國進攻的。那究竟是誰對誰錯呢？我根本不知道。以前曾經讀到過一篇文章提到盡信書不如無書，我們應該抱有懷疑的態度去看待事物。在我們面對事物，做出選擇和判斷的時候，千萬不能受主觀的情緒所影響，否則我們很容易失之偏頗。在中國，共產黨給人看的東西很多時候未必是真的，因爲中國大陸的傳媒都是受政府監管控制的。所以我們不能因爲受所謂的愛國情緒影響，認爲共產黨說的都是正確的，如果是這樣，那麽二戰時候，法西斯的支持者也是愛國的，他們希望通過戰爭把德國帶離困境。因此，很多時候我都學會冷靜分析，控制自己的情緒，不讓自己的主觀意識誤導。雖然這是很難的，但是我依然要去嘗試，就像我上大學，的確是很難，但我依然要去努力拼搏奮鬥。
這就是我在美國4年，讀了大學以後的體會。

The spring holiday is beginning now. Nevertheless, I don’t think I have so much relaxation. Despite I don’t have any assignments. I know the quietness is just before the coming of suffering. After the vocation, there are only three weeks classes left. It means that the semester will be over in three weeks. I didn’t do very well in my sociology midterm exams. I know my listening is so poor. I understand what my professor said in class. Nonetheless, when I take notes, I can’t catch up with him. If he says a sentence, I can follow him. After one sentence, I can’t follow him. I really don’t know how to solve this problem. The only way I can do is that I record what the professor said in the class. When I go home, I listen to the record again. I sense that it is not a really good way to improve my listening. So far, I have no choices. I must take notes by this way.
Today I find I did a rather stupid thing. I added Columbia Universal for my electricity bill. The electron bill is over $100. It is trickery. I thought it was just a program to save energy, and I would save 12% electricity. At present, I got a lesion. I should not be so confident. There are lots of tricks in New York. From now on, I don’t believe those commercial phones from conEdision or Keypam anymore. It is so suck. This lesion is so costly. It costs me $100. My heart is painful, crying, bleeding. I almost want to kill that woman who called me. According to this painful lession, I found there are lots of traps in New York. From now on, I won't believe other people easily.

In the article “Marriage and Love”, the author, Emma Goldman, argued that marriage is unfair to women. She is a realist. In her opinion, marriage is merely an economic arrangement and insurance pact. Women devote her name, privacy, self-respect, and her life to her marriage. However, man have more freedom than women, almost no limitation to man. In marriage life, women lose her life-long independency, becoming a parasite, getting uselessness. Also, it is not necessary for women to know anything about her husband, and women’s education and trainings are limited because marriage is their final goal. They don’t have rights to pick up their lovers. The luxury of romance is not sensible. The moral lesion is that a man must have firm financial responsibility to support his family and take care his wife. After getting married, a woman reduces their craving, weakens her health and breaks her spirit. She must work at home, born her husband’s children. The women’s position is just like workers. It is not because women love their husbands, but because their husbands offer wealth and home for them. In this case, women are getting reckless, clumsy, and dependent.
Regarding love, it is great power. Nothing can subdue love. All people need love. Without love, all people are poor and desolate. Love produces marriage. Women give birth to children and become mothers because of love. Their children are the reason why fleeting life against death, maintain life. Love is the true parents, and it makes people continue their reproduction.
In “Vow; Sabeen Ali and Hash Mian” by Joann Biondi, published January 13, 2008, Ms Ali and Mr Mian’s marriage are arranged by their parents. However, they didn’t get married immediately. They continued their education until finish their college. After they graduate, they began their career before marrying. They also leave each other because of their jobs.
Ms Ali and Mr Mian’s marriage is arranged. Ms Ali still has college education and goes to work outside. She can be a wage worker. Not only she works outside, but also she works at home after she gets married. Working outside is not only because she needs to relish her youthful freedom, but also because she needs to build firm finances. It is almost the same as Marx’s critique of labor.
I don’t agree what Emma Goldman mentioned. She said that marriage is just an economic arrangement and insurance pact. It is because marriage is consisted by husband and wife. True marriage is built on love. When they get married, they must love each other. They should have a thought how they begin and maintain on their marriage life. Both of them have responsibilities to make an effort for their marriage. Of course, marriage life is not absolutely the same as love. Love can be not sensible, but marriage life is practical. Marriage life is not only moonlight and kiss, but also need firm finances. Just like what Joann Biondi mentions, Sabeen Ali and Hash Mian had became close friends. They talk easily, bonding over a shared love of reading, music and travel. Also they send email to each other, and strengthen their love in college. After graduated, they leave each other because they need to work in different places. It is not only they respect each other, but also they can build their future finances after getting married. Similarly, Emma Goldman mentioned “Romeo and Juliet risked the wrath of their father for love.” It is because they have love, then they don’t care the wrath between their fathers. Conversely, in “Marriage and love”, Nora and her husband divorce, even though they have been marriage for 8 years and they have children. There is no other reason. It is only because there is no love between them. Nora just treats her husband as a stranger. Hence, marriage is not merely love. Love is the seed of marriage. Marriage is the production of love. Love and firm finances are two important facts which maintain marriage. Without love, finances can not maintain marriage. Likewise, without firm finances, love can’t either continue marriage life. At the same time, love is expressed by marriage.
Also, I don’t think marriage as an institution could be reformed to accommodate Goldman’s criticisms. After marriage, women can still work outside. Of course, for some certain reasons, women can not work outside because they get pregnant or need to take care of their children. However, it will not last for a long time.

In the world, almost everyone must work. However, the meaning of work is different for different people. In the article “Less is More” by Barbara Brandt and the article “Work, Labor, and Play” by W.H. Auden, although both authors focus on work, they still have some dispute on work.
It is necessary for people to relax. In the article “Less is more”, Brandt mentioned that Japan began to realize the disadvantages of working long time without relaxation. It was a big social problem in Japan causing stress-related illnesses and even death. Hence, Japan Government considered this serious problem, and encouraged to short the working hour and gave enough time for people to relax. According to the social problem in Japan, we can see that it is very harmful that people who work long time without enough relaxation. Similarly, in the article “Work, Labor, and Play”, Auden also agreed that people need more relaxation. Auden illustrated “He is therefore more likely to take too little leisure than too much. Workers die of coronaries and forget their wives’ birthday.” According to this illustration, it is obvious that how serious the problem caused by working long time without enough relaxation. Both authors pointed that the death reason is caused by working long time without relaxation.
Also, both authors admit that enough relaxation make people work efficiently. Brandt illustrated: “This new policy would not only give America’s workers more time to devote to our families, friends, and personal and community lives, but would also provide benefits to employers in increased efficiency and productivity, reduced accidents and absenteeism, improve morale…..” By this description, we can see that it is very essential that people need enough time to rest in order to work well. After rest, people can work better than before. Likewise, Auden had the same idea that people need time to leisure. Auden mentioned: some workers do some jobs which they don’t like. They hope they have more time to relax. After relaxation, they can work more efficient than before. Thus, it is obvious that workers need enough time to relax after they suffer from their work, especially for those who compelled.
Although both authors agreed that relaxation is essential for people, they have a dispute. That is, the technology whether to reduce working hour or not. Brandt illustrate: “……microwave ovens and frozen dinners that merely enable us to adopt a similar frantic pace in out home lives so we can cope with more hours at paid work. It is clear that technology doesn’t help people to reduce working hour. Oppositely, the modern technology increases working hours. Nonetheless, Auden disagreed with Brandt, and illustrated that technology help people to increase productivity and to less working hour. There is much leisure for workers than before. Thus, they have a dispute that technology is helpful to workers.
According to the two articles, both authors show that all people are suffering from their work. They have long working hours and less leisure time. Hence, the way to work efficiently is to give workers more relaxation.

I haven’t updated my blog for a long time. I might have been getting lazy. Or I am very busy recently. To be honest, there are long readings waiting for me. They are from “People, Power, Political” and “Shaping of The World”, and English class. I am getting a little bit nervous because I must finish such many readings. Especially, I realize that I must improve my reading speed and comprehension because I have a lot of misunderstanding after I finish my reading. I am also worried about the English class, and I am not sure that whether or not I pass the final. I must read two articles during the English exam. The exam hour is only 2 hours. I timed myself before, and it took me 1 hour and 7 minutes to finish the essay. The essay is based on my comprehension after I read both articles, and compared with what both authors are talking about, write down my understanding and analysis. Oh my god! It means that I must finish one reading within 50 minutes. How can I do that in the short time? I have no choice, and I must do my best to do it.
I ask myself if I am getting stupid or the classes are becoming harder and harder. According to my analysis, the course is getting difficult, and my intelligence is also improving, but the speed can’t catch up with the hard level of courses. I really don’t know how to identify college life. Either my college life is wonderful or is so dark.

Wealth can affect the standard of people’s behavior. In other words, people’s behavior is determined by wealth. Rice people don’t need to be limited by lacking of money, and poor have to be limited by lacking of money. In “Down and Out in Paris and London”, George and Boris are the best evidence which proves the relationship between wealth and the standard of people’s behavior.
When George had a job, he never went to pawnshop. The clerk in the pawnshop also looked down upon George, but George couldn’t say anything to the clerk and only accepted the clerk’s disrespect. At this point, it is very obvious that money determine the standard of George’s behavior. If George had money, it was unnecessary to go to pawnshop for George. The reason why the clerk could disrespect people is because all people, come to the pawnshop, are poor and need money. Otherwise, it is impossible that the clerk is such rude to customers. Hence, it is clear that the standard of the behavior of the customers and the clerk determined by who has money and who has no money.
“My new clothes had put me into a new world. Everyone’s demeanor seemed to have changed abruptly. ……Clothes are powerful thing” (129).George wore old clothes in London and someone called him a mate. This is an unrespectable call. We can make a prediction easily. George just changed his clothes, the treat from people were totally different. All people just respect what George wore. In the other word, if George wore new clothes, then all people respect him. Therefore, the clothes stand for money. George wore old clothes. It means that he didn’t have money. At this point, we can know that people’s behavior is determined by money.
Regarding on the other character, Boris, his experience better proves the money and the standard of people’s standard. When Boris had money, he could go to drink in Bar, even though he had a lot of mistresses. When he didn’t have money, Boris wrote a letter to his mistresses to borrow money. For a man, he could look for a job and earn money by work. However, Boris wanted to borrow money from his mistresses, and none of his mistresses wanted lend money to him. According to Boris and his mistresses, we can know the function to affect the standard of people’s behavior. For the mistresses, there was no problem to have sex with Boris when he had money. None of the mistresses wanted to help Boris when he had no money. The mistresses just cared about if Boris had money or not. Also, as a man, it is really shameful Boris went to borrow money from his mistresses. He was a man and could earn money by working. Poverty forces Boris to borrow money form his mistresses. Thus, money affects the standard of the mistresses and Boris’ behavior.
According to the above example, we can see that how important the money is. It can affect the standard of people’s behavior. The standard goes high when a person has money, and the standard goes low when a person has no money. Also, the other people’s attitude is also different, which is affected by money. The amount of money is big, the attitude is good. Oppositely, a person has no money, other people’s attitude is bad.

The name of the picture is "American Gothic". A man and a woman are standing in the front of a house.
It is about sunset in the fall, and no cloud is in the sky. There is a two floors house in a farm. The house is made by wooden, and the wall is white. There are two potted flowers on the left corner. The window is close and the blinder is pull down. The wall on the second floor is triangular, and the window in the wall is like a rocket. There is a red house besides to the white house, and the red house is also made by wooden. Behind the white house and red house, a great number of tall trees are grown by people. These tall trees seem to be usually pruned because the top is round, and no messy branches. Hence, we can predict that this is a farm.
There is a bald man standing in front of the white house. His eyes are black He is bald, wearing a pair of old fashion eyeglasses. The man has a long and wrinkled face. His eyebrow is very dark, and without wrinkle on his forehead, but some wrinkles are on his both temples and cheeks. His nose is not big, and his mouth is close. His two lips are folding. The man is wearing a black coat and a white shirt without collar. Also, the coast is worn out because the color is faded. Then look at his right hand, he is clenching his right fist, and holding a sharp pitch-fork.
There is a golden haired woman standing next to the bald man. Her face and nose are a little chubby. The eyebrow is very thin and light. Her hair on her head is apart and sag. She has blue eyes, and her skin seems to be yellow, soft and smooth, without any wrinkle. However, she is frown, so her skin on her chin is a little wrinkled. She is wearing a white undershirt with white collar. There is a little ornament in the middle of her white collar. Also, she is wearing a dark red apron. The apron has wavy embroidery. Hence, we can make an inference that she is a housewife.
According to the description of environment, the bald and the lady, we can make a prediction that violence is coming. The man has a strong jaw, clenching his right fist, and holding a sharp pitch-fork. His appearance is aggrieved. Also the lady’s appearance is serious, and doesn’t show any pleasure at all. Thus, we can completely infer that the old man want to protect his benefit by struggle.

天行強健，君子以自強而不息

很久沒有寫過中文了，今天算是“心血來潮”想寫一些東西。這幾天不知道怎麽搞的，情緒似乎很低落。話説新的學期開始了，應該萬象更新，但是我一丁點興奮的感覺都沒有。我也不知道爲什麽會這樣，我這個人一向都是嘻嘻哈哈慣了，生性也算是濶達。但是這些天也不知道怎麽說，内心似乎泛起一絲絲的孤獨與寂寞。上星期五被hou chengyu大呼小叫一番之後，心緒就一直覺得很低落。我打電話也沒有人接，li kui發生這種不幸，我雖然嘻嘻哈哈，但是我心裏也一樣很難過啊！我是一個大男人，難道也要我像一個女人一樣哭哭啼啼嗎？這像話嗎？
這個學期我選了6節課，星期一要上5節課，而且是從早上8點開始上，也許經過一個學期沒有上那麽早的課，有點變懶惰了，而且經過winter class，雖然拿了B+，但根本沒有什麽真才實學，還有很多概念是一塌糊塗的，所以感覺好累啊！還有，這個學期沒有課是和Joanne一樣的，sinyun的上課時間也和以前不一樣了。現在只剩下我孤零零的一個人。朋友再多，知心的一兩個就夠了。可這學期卻不能像上學期一樣，星期一三五有Joanne，星期二四有sinyun，一起打鬧，一起看書，一起玩笑，我為她們帶來開心，也為她們帶來不開心，感覺那些時光好愜意啊！令人好懷念啊！突然想起sinyun對我的評價，我雖然有點坏，但也不是完全的坏，也許是因爲性格的原因。
哎！我真是應該靜下來好好想想，海納百川，有容乃大，說起來很容易，做起來真的好難啊！曾經有liang tingting罵我是白癡，jiang xiuyun說打我是我的榮幸，看得起我。雖然有點生氣，但是因爲當時的場合而一笑置之。我雖然不是出類拔萃，來自窮鄉僻壤，我沒有他們大城市長大的人見多識廣，但我撫心自問，我也是自己不斷努力向上，不斷學習完善自己，我也同樣熱心地幫助她們，我爲什麽要她看得起啊？她們幾個女人算什麽東西啊？我當時干嘛要和她們客氣啊？還不是因爲從小就被人輸入“能忍則忍，忍一時，風平浪靜，退一步，海闊天空，能忍人所不能忍”的思想。但是隨年齡增大，似乎脾氣也開始漸長了。想起MZ曾經和我開玩笑說我被女孩子欺負是因爲我容易被人欺負。雖然是一句玩笑，但是現在想來，我爲什麽要給那些女人欺負啊？我爲什麽要給她們出氣啊？我就爲什麽不能向她們反擊，向她們發脾氣啊？大不了不和她們做朋友，誰稀罕啊？
當然我也想過爲了幾個女人而不開心，值得嗎？她們不值得我不開心啊！我也想過大不了不再見她們，有什麽了不起的啊？我沒有她們也不會活不下去。然而，我又學習要以中庸之道處事，凡事不能太過，要適可而止，我很怕那些想法會讓我變得心胸狹窄，目光短淺，然後變得沒氣量，變得孤僻，我從來就沒有性別歧視，既然如此，我最多不再見那些女人就是了。
哎！還是躺在床上，靜靜地什麽都不想，好好睡上一覺，為明天的緊張學習而養精蓄銳，那些情感不過是鏡中花，水中月，我的真正價值在於我為我的前途奮鬥付出多少，那才是我真正的魅力，而且我相信冥冥中自有緣分會牽引一個懂得欣賞我，關愛我，值得我真心相待和相濡以沫的伴侶出現，我現在根本沒有必要為了這些女人而不愉快。

I haven’t updated my blog for a long time. Maybe I am getting slothful, or college life is totally different from high school life. I can’t be like when I was in high school write blog everyday. Recently, my emotion fall into the lowest point and my heart feels very cold.
Yesterday was the first day in the new semester. I should be very happy. Nevertheless, I saw li mu, who is a girl I don’t want to see. I don’t know whose problem this is. She didn’t like to talk to me and work with me. I was also very stubborn that I didn’t talk to her, either. Who care? She thought who she is.
When I came home, I received hou chengyu’s phone. She told me that she had visited li kui because li kui had a traffic accident. He is staying hospital. I was blamed. At the beginning, I didn’t know what had happened to li kui, and xiao yu didn’t say clearly, either. She just said that li kui is sick. I was still laughing. Hou chengyu asked me if I treat li kui a friend, and how I could laugh hearing this bad news. Honestly speaking, I didn’t know li kui’s condition was such terrible. If I know, I couldn’t laugh.
I felt very frustrated. I asked simyun what impression I gave her. She said: “you are always happy, sound a little conceited, always like to joke that I don’t understand, not so gentlemen. Especially, last time, you made me fall down, but you didn’t ask me if I am ok. Then you ran away.” Hearing these words, I am very upset, and I also feel that I am an evil man.
I went back to BMCC. I saw Kitty in BMCC. I found that we didn’t have anything to say. Maybe it is just like what min zhao told that some people are temporary friends, and some people are life time friends. Thus, I don’t want to see any other people.

2007 is over, and 2008 is beginning. I look back to 2007, thinking what I did in 2007. I asked myself what I did. A lot of events happened in the 2007, and let me feel excited, proud, regret, and happy.
Let me say happy circumstance first. I was accepted by three colleges. This was really a largest happiness for me. In fact, I have been being depressed since 2006 because I had not achieved my goal---go to 4 year college. That was my failure. Hence, according to my working hard, I ultimately reached my goal. Namely, I have been being a Brooklyn college student.
In BMCC, there were two girls falling in love me. I left BMCC but I didn’t say anything to them because transferring 4 year college was my goal. I am very stubborn and nothing can change my mind. I escaped from BMCC, and I decided not to go back to BMCC. Plus, I also made one of my close friends unhappy. I told her what I thought at that time. She taught me to be gentle to girls. She thought I had complained to her. She told me that she would not speak to me. From then on, she couldn’t response to my questions and I couldn’t get any advice from her. I felt very upset at that time. Fortunately, she didn’t really do that, and she also excused me. She made me understand that having a true friend is not easy.
Since I transferred to Brooklyn College, I didn’t have friends. Unfortunately, I saw three girls who I don’t want to see. It was because we had conflicts in high school. MZ told me that it’s impossible that I can please everyone, and if I don’t like them, I just ignore them and don’t talk to them.
I had to take art class. It involved nude female models. The professor taught about hazy beauty. Maybe my traditional thought is deeply in my mind. I couldn’t remember those nude portraits. I told MZ, and she told me that life is boring. Art can make our life colorful. I trust her and tried to accept those nude portraits. However, another problem was coming. I found those nude portrait stimulated my curiosity about sex, or sexual desire. I didn’t know how to explain. When I met some girls, sometimes I couldn’t help seeing their breast, waist, and hip. I thought what the size was. I felt guilty because my thought was very filthy. I kept on thinking what the distinction between nude and pornography, and how to define both of them. My emotion is pure and never involved sex. I told my confusion to some of my close friends. A girl told me that it is nature and normal that all men have sex desire, and it is an abnormal man without sex desire.
Luckily, I could control my filthy thought. I made friends with Joanne and Sinyun. I saw them everyday, and I couldn’t deny that they effected my emotion sometimes. Joanne is an introverted and traditional girl, quite, and a little shy. She doesn’t ask me questions actively, but she is very polite. Her smile is very sweet. I like her. We were in the same class, and she sat behind me. When I see her smile and hear her voice, I also feel happy. I am a little regret because I didn’t tell her that I like her. I worried that I scared her. For sinyun, she is an outgoing and cute girl. We didn’t have the same class. Maybe it was our fate. I remember I met her in Atlantic Av when I was waiting for the No. 2 train. The coming train was No.3 train. I didn’t get on the No. 3 train, but she got on the No.3 train. She was looking at me curiously that why I didn’t take the No.3 train. I knew if I took No. 3 train, I also need to get off at the Frank Av. Thus, I just stood and waited for the No.2 train. When I took No.2 train to Frank Av, I saw her again. I smiled to her. It meant that I catch up with you. Then we talked until we reached to college. We exchanged our phone number and email address. Her mother doesn’t allow her to date with a boy but we dated to skate on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas. She taught me how to skate. Maybe I am not smart since I was just able to walk but not slide. I was very happy when I was being with them. I don’t know whether to see them everyday like this semester. If Joanne and I have the same class in the following semester, I will tell her that I like her and woo her. It depends on our fate. If not, I will try to woo sinyun.

final essay

Cell phone users are getting more and more in the world. In the article “Our Cell phones, ourselves” by Christine Rosen and the article “Taking the offensive against cell phones” by Lisa Guernsey, both authors agree that the disadvantage of using cell phones, but cell phone use can’t be prohibited, and people use cell phones must be limited.
Using cell phone can be bad for healthy. In the article “our cell phones, ourselves” by Christine Rosen, the essay mentions that using cell phone too much can cause a big problem. Especially, if men always use cell phones, it can kill their sperms. Also, cell phone use contains a lot of bacteria. The more we use the cell phones, the worst for our healthy. Likewise, in the article “Taking the offensive against cell phones” by Lisa Guernsey, although Lisa Guernsey doesn’t mention cell phones can be harm for healthy, we can realize that Lisa also agrees with cell phones can be bad for healthy. Lisa illustrates: “The cellular industry is similar to the chemical industry 20 or 30 years ago. When these industries claimed that in order to have industrialization and progress, you must pollute the environment.” As we know, healthy depends on clean environment. If people pollute the environment, the environment directly relates to our healthy. Polluting the environment must effect our healthy. Hence, it is obvious that both authors accedes that cell phone use is not good for our healthy.
However, although both authors mention the bad result of using cell phone, cell phone use can’t be prohibited. In “Our cell phones, ourselves”, Christine Rosen mentions: “The CTIA noted that in 2001, nearly 156000 wireless emergency service calls were made everyday—about 108 calls per minute.” According to the number of cell phone users, it is clear that people use cell phone is frequent. Plus, cell phones offer a lot of convenience to people. Using cell phone becomes a part of life, and people almost rely on cell phone use. Hence, it is hard to prevent people from using cell phones. Similarly, Lisa Guernsey also points out cell phone can’t be prohibited. In “Taking the offensive against cell phones”, Lisa says: “in fact, the wild west of wireless communication appears to be coming to an end. It is time for rules, enforcement and new technology….” From the words “end” and “new”, we can see people keep on developing the new technology. New cell phones always take place of old cell phones. It is obvious that people need cell phones and are dependant to cell phones. Hence, both authors understand that cell phone use is unavoidable, and it is impossible to stop people from using cell phone.
In this case, both authors agree that people should use cell phone in certain place, should be limited, but not unhallowed. In “Our cell phones, ourselves”, Christine Rosen states: “98 percent of Americans say they move away from others when talking from on a wireless phone in public.” It is shown that people can use cell phones when they are in public. However, they must move somewhere to pick up their phones. Then they can’t disturb other people. Similarly, Lisa Guernsey also agrees that people can’t use cell phone in a limit area. Lisa mentions: “If people have to make or take a call, they must go to the hallway.” In this situation, it is clear that people must use their cell phone sometimes. But they can’t interrupt other people, and they can make a call or receive a call in a certain area which allows people to use cell phone. Thus, it is very obvious that both essay mentions that both authors agree that people can’t use cell phone in a limit place, but allow people to use cell phones.
Eventually, according to both articles, both authors points out the disadvantage of cell phone use. However, they know cell phones take an important in people’s life, and people use cell phones frequently. It is impossible to stop using cell phones, but using cell phones can be limited.

12.20.2007

Today I ultimately finished all my finals. I feel very exhausted. During these days, it was so horrible. I just reviewed the books again and again. Nonetheless, I still had a lot of misunderstandings. For the English exam, although I kept telling myself that I could do well because I had practiced a lot, I still felt unconfident. Before I took the exam, I was very confidant. I spent some time on reading the article but I didn’t take a lot of note on the paper. When I was taking the exam, I was in a rush because I also need to read another long reading. In the reading, I couldn’t find out anything comparison. I was very nervous, and I almost lost control. At that time, I also considered whether I should give up or not. However, I calmed my down promptly. I just read the article again, and found a contraction for both articles. Luckily, I found three similarities form both articles, and I finished it punctually. However, compared to those essays I wrote, I didn’t think that essay was very qualified. Regarding the art exam, this time I spent more time reviewing those images. Hence, I felt confident. For the philosophy, I was sure that I could get A. nonetheless, I reflected myself if I was really good at all these subjects. Actually, I thought I was merely a good test maker. I still had a lot of misunderstanding in the class. Especially, when my professors spoke quickly in class, sometimes I totally had no idea what they spoke. My speaking and listening skill are still poor, even bad.

Xu, xionghui
Philosophy 2.1
0291
Free will is we do something depend on my mind, being up to us. In a certain field, for example, we move our fingers, our fingers can move either to left or to right. When we decide to move our finger to left side, our finger moves to left side, not move to right side. When we decide to move our finger to right side, our fingers moves to right side, not to move left side. The motion of our fingers just follows our decision. We don’t need to follow other people. Even though we are asked to bend our fingers, we listen to other then we can also bend our fingers. If we don’t want to follow other people, we don’t move our fingers, and our fingers can’t follow others’ direction to move. Hence, we have free will. It is up to us to move our fingers.
Determinism is that everything is the effect of some cause or causes, or everything is determinate or to be determined. All things have their causes, no things have exception. For instance, a child touches the fire for the first time, the child must feel pain. His pain is from the fire. If the child doesn’t touch the fire, then the child doesn’t know the fire can cause his pain. In this case, the fire makes the child feel pain, and the fire is the cause of the pain. Thus, it is true that the child’s pain is determined by the fire. Before the child feels pain, the child has no idea how he feels when he touches the fire. After the child touches fire, it is determined that the child feels pain. Similarly, when people hear a noise, people must look up and see where the voice came from. It is obvious that people look up and see where the noise came from, which is determined by the noise. If people don’t hear the noise and people can’t look up to see where the noise came from. People don’t know what makes noise. Once people hear noise, people want to know what makes noise. It is determined that people look up and see what makes the noise. Hence, all things have particular causes. The fire determinates the pain of the child who touches the fire, and the noise is the cause what makes people look up and where the noise comes from.
The appearance of free will and the determinism is in a conflict. The free will shows that everything is up to us, and we can control everything follow our mind. We can make a decision what to do. Just like what we mentioned above, we want to move our fingers to left, and then we move our fingers to left. However, the determinism shows we can’t do everything follow our mind, or our decision, and we can’t control everything. What we do is determined by some causes, and is limited by certain causes. Everything can’t be what it is. For example, when a pregnant woman gives birth to a baby, she can’t control what she will give birth whether to a boy or a girl. Maybe she will give birth to a boy, or give birth to a girl. Thus, no matter whether to give birth to a boy or a girl, it is not up to her.
In fact, free will and the determinism are not incompatible. As we know, there are some similarities between free will and determinism. The free will is that everything is up to me and I can do it. I know what I am going to do and the result of what I am going to do. Hence, the result is determined by my free will. However, determinism holds that there is a fact of matter of what I am going to do before I make a decision. But I don’t know the result of what I am going to do. The result of what I am going to do is also determined by what I am going to do. The difference between free will and determinism is that free will is that I make a decision before what I am going to do, and determinism is that I don’t make a decision before what I am going to do. The reason why the initial appearance is misleading is that we ignore the free will has some limitations, and free will is not absolutely free will. For example, when a woman gets pregnant, giving birth to a baby or getting an abortion, it is up to this woman that whether the baby is dead or not. If she wants to give birth, she can give birth to the baby. If she wants to get an abortion, she can’t have this baby. On the other situation, the woman wants to give birth to a baby. However, she doesn’t know what she does can cause an abortion. It is determined that the baby will die. Also, although the baby’s life is up to this woman, the baby’s sex is not up to the woman. In a situation without any equipment, this woman can’t know the baby’s sex. The baby can either be a boy or a girl, even twins. If the woman wants to know the baby’s sex, she must wait until the baby is born, and this is the only thing she can do. Hence, waiting is determined before the pregnant woman decides to do. In a word, free will and determinism are compatible.

All people have their own encounter when they don’t have money. Hence, different people have different ways to deal with this situation---without money. In the book Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell and David Thoreau’s Walden, both authors shows they use different experience when they were in poverty, but they also show their optimism after suffering from poverty.
Different people have different idea to live when they are penniless. In the book Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell, George lost his job, and his money became less and less. However, he had to pay for his rent, otherwise, he would be sent away from the apartment by the landlord. Here, George used the usual way to solve this problem. Namely, he went to look for a job and continued to rent the apartment. It was a common sense that everyone does it like that. On the contrary, in David Thoreau’s Walden, he used his own unusual way to solve the problem to live. David borrowed an ox from his neighbor, and he went to cut down some tall trees for timber. Then David began to build his house by himself. In this case, he didn’t need to pay for rent, and he had his own permanent house. It is obvious that George and David completely used different ways to solve their problem to live. Although David’s way to solve the problem seems to be a little impractical in this society, he had his own house. Thus, no matter whether their ways are good or not, at least they solve their problem to live, under the condition of poverty.
Above, we mention that they solve problem to live by work. However, their attitude to work is totally different. In the book Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell, George was an educator, and he liked to work on for students or to be a writer. In order to earn money to pay for food and rent, he changed his career. He went to wash dish in the restaurant, and he even shaved his moustache for keep his job in the restaurant because his boss didn’t allow his employs to keep moustache. The pressure from life made him change his mind. He didn’t have any other choice, and he must shave his moustache. Nevertheless, in David Thoreau’s Walden, David had different attitude to work. He states: “I too had woven a kind of basket of a delicate texture, but I had not made it worth any one’s while to buy them. Yet not the less in my case, did I think it worth men’ while to weave them, and instead of studying how to make it worth men’s while to buy my baskets.” According to this illustration, obviously, David’s attitude to work was very risky because he just followed his idea to work. If his idea makes sense, then he could make money. Otherwise, his work didn’t make any sense, and he couldn’t earn money. Hence, both works show George and David have totally different attitude to work.
Of course, no matter how different people’s experience of without money, they still have some similarity. Compared to both of the book Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell and David Thoreau’s Walden, both of them show optimism. In the book Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell, George states: “Here is the world that awaits you if you are ever penniless. Some day I want to explore that world more thoroughly” (213). Throughout this expression, it is clear that George was very optimistic. He didn’t worry about falling in poverty again, and he wanted to know more about the amazing world. Likewise, in David Thoreau’s Walden, he also showed his optimism. He mentioned at the end: “Love your life, poor it is. You may perhaps have some pleasant, thrilling, glorious hours, even in a poorhouse.” According to what David illustrated, it is very obvious that his optimism to life. No matter how bad his life, he still enjoyed his life, including unhappy time. It can make life become meaningful and colorful. Therefore, George and David were very optimistic and it was full of hope in their lives.
Finally, according to the two texts, it is obvious that both authors have different experience without money. They use different ways to solve the same problem to live and have different attitude toward work. Nonetheless, no matter how bad their lives, both authors show they were optimistic to confront the suffering in their lives after they suffer from the bad condition.

Thanksgivng Day

I have not uploaded my blog for a long time because I am busy during this period. I have to finish a lot of readings, no writing assignment. Today is Thanksgiving Day, which is good for me to have a relaxation.
Yesterday I went to attend a party, which was held by American Asia for Equality to celebrate that a leader’s leave. Honestly, I didn’t know that lady, and didn’t want to go to the party. Just it was because some of my good friends were there. I had to attend. Unfortunately, I saw several faces which I dislike. I didn’t say hi to them. I ate a lot of food, such as dumpling, fried rice; some laomian is not that good. I was very full, and couldn’t move my body. I even wanted to vomit.
Until 7 o’clock, Jason zheng asked me to eat hotpot. Most of the guys were acquaintances, I just said hi to them, and picked up the menu to order. I just picked a little plate of beef with vegetable because I was very full already. I didn’t have too much talking with them. I just put the beef and vegetable into hotpot until it was done, then I ate the beef one by one.
Maybe what Jason said is right, I am not sociable. I didn’t have anything to talk with them. Most of them talked about games. I didn’t know what they were talking because I never play those games which they discussed. Jason always promoted to say something to them actively. Nevertheless, I asked what I should talk to them. Also, I had some little conflicts with two guys. For other guys, I have no common topic. Until 10 o’clock, all food was done, then we decided to go home. So this gathering was so boring for me. Or that was my problem, which I was unsociable. Anyway, I don’t care them. I have a lot of friends in Brooklyn College. I like Joanne Wong, Barbara Lin, and Sinyun lin. They are native speakers and my close friends. Talking with them is very happy to me. I can improve my English speaking, and listening.

In this world, all people are slaves, without exception. In fact, a slave is a person who has a desire. In order to achieve the desire, he or she devotes his or her body or soul to the desire. Both the book “Down and Out in Paris and London” by George Orwell and the article “A Day in the Life of ‘Salaryman’” by John Burgess show no matter whether a dish washer or a salary man, they are slaves. Their desire to live makes them become slaves, just their treatment is different.
All working people are slaves because they must obey their bosses. In the book “Down and Out in Paris and London,” George has little money, so he must work in the restaurant and be a dish washer. George states: “I don’t remember all our duties, but they included making tea, coffee and chocolate, fetching meals from the kitchen, wines from the cellar and fruit and so forth from the dining-room, slicing bread, making toast, rolling pats of butter, measuring jam, opening milk-cans, counting lumps of sugar, boiling eggs, cooking porridge, pounding ice, grinding coffee…….Besides this, we had to supply the staff with bread and coffee, and fetch the meals for the waiters upstairs. All in all, it was a complicated job”(62). According to this statement, we can see how busy George is. Almost all work should be done by George. The dish worker is the lowest class in the restaurant. Everyone can give George work. George is just like a slave. In the article “A Day in the Life of ‘Salary man,’” John Burgess describes: “his Japanese office worker who defers to his manager in the elevator, seeks advice on personal problems, and even volunteered for some heavy lifting one weekend when the manager was moving house.” By the description, salary man is also the manager’s slave because the phrase of “defer to” is the best evidence. Moving house is the manager’s personal business, but the manager asks the salary man to be a volunteer. The salary man doesn’t have any choice, and he must follow his manager’s order.
Also, all slaves have unfair treatment. In the book “Down and Out in Paris and London,” George illustrates: “Here, you, shave that moustache off at once! …… ‘A plongeur with a moustache---nonsense! Take care I don’t see you with it tomorrow.’(69)” George wants to wear his moustache, but he wants to work in the restaurant, he must shave his moustache. If he doesn’t shave, he must be fired. Keeping the job and keeping his moustache, he must choose one of them. Hence, Shaving his moustache is the only way to keep his job. In the article “A Day in the Life of ‘Salary man,’” Burgess states: “There is no privacy in Japanese office. Every phone call, every coffee break, is communal knowledge.” Privacy is one of the human rights. Everyone is equal and has his or her own personal secret. The law must protect legal privacy. Nevertheless, everything is open in the office. The salaryman has no privacy. It really damages human rights. They don’t have any option. Giving up his privacy is a way to keep his job. Hence, both authors show bad treatment to the dish washer and salaryman. Both of the dish washer and salaryman can’t disobey their company’s policy.
Different working people have different lives, and the hardship is also different. In the book “Down and Out in Paris and London,” George illustrates: “We were not free till time, but we used to throw ourselves full length on the floor, and lie there resting our legs, too lazy to go to the ice cupboard for a drink”(65). It obviously shows that the work for the dish washer is very difficult and busy. Even though they are thirsty, they don’t want to get a drink. It proves that they don’t have any energy. Their treatment is very bad. However, in the article “A Day in the Life of ‘Salary man,’” the treatment is totally different. It is much better than the dish washers’. Burgess illustrates: “Salayman loves his wife, his child, and family. …….. As 11 p.m rolls around, several friends are talking about going to a soap land, a type of bath house where young wor en suds up clients and offer sexual services.” Salary man still has leisure in the bath house after work. They can enjoy night life. Compared to the dish worker, they completely have no energy because of their hard work. Salary man’s treatment is more relaxed than the dish workers’ treatment. Although it seems the salaryman has good leisure, we can’t ignore that he loves his family, and it is a betrayal to his wife, his child and family, that salaryman goes to the soap land which offers sexual service. Nevertheless, that is business entertainment, and he must attend it. Both dish washer and salaryman’s hardship is different. The dish washer’s suffering is physical, but the salaryman’s suffering is mental.
Above all, both authors show all working people are slaves, having suffering. However, the treatment is different. George shows the dish workers’ encounter is very bad, and Burgess shows that salary man’s encounter is better, even though salary man is also a slave. They don’t have money without work. The desire to live forces them to become slavery. Thus, they have the same goal is to earn money to live, this common goal is the reason which makes them be salary.

Xu, xionghui
Boris is one of George’s close friends, and he is a waiter. Boris was a rich person when he was in Russia. His parents died in the war. Nevertheless, after the war, he had to leave the army and look for the other jobs. Boris’s nature was full of battles. “Boris always talked of the war as the happiest time of his life. War and soldiering were his passion; he had read innumerable books of strategy and military history, and could tell you all about the theories of Napoleon, Kutuzov, Clausewitz, Motlke, and Foch. Anything to do with soldiers pleased him” (23). According to these descriptions, we can see Boris should belong to the army; it is his honor to protect his country or invade other countries. Regarding the meaning of a good friend, he must comfort his friends when his friends feel dejected. He should know the reason why his friends are disappointed, telling his friends how to confront the problems, and helping to solve the problems. Sometimes, friends’ suggestion is good because friends can better analyze the situation. “‘Waiting is a gamble,’ he used to say; ‘you may die poor, you may make your fortune in a year. …… Boris used often to suggest that I should become a waiter. ‘The life would suit you,’ he used to say; ‘when you are in work, with a hundred francs a day and a nice mistress, it is not bad”(26). Throughout Boris’s words, George was still looking for a job for writing. However, his problem was how to struggle with the difficulty because he had little money. There was no news for his ideal job. Hence, Boris realized George’s conflict and persuaded George to give up his ideal job, because the most important thing was to deal with difficulty. George shouldn’t waste time waiting for his ideal job. The suggestion from Boris was very good for George because writing was George’s ideal job. Boris was helping George to make a clear decision. At this point, Boris’s advice is very good for George. It proves Boris is a good friend for George.

I am going to describe two Chinese paintings. They are ink and color paintings on silk. The title of the first painting is Chinese Official and the title of the second painting is Gaofeng Yuanmiao. Both paintings are displayed on the second floor, in the Brooklyn Museum. The first artist is Zheng Banqiao, in Qing, 1990. The second artist is Gaofeng Yuanmiao, in Ming Dynasty, Wanli Era, 1590.
The first painting is showing an old Chinese Official. He wore a court official’s purple robe and dark hat. He had white beard, and he was sitting in a chair. The chair was covered with tiger skin. The dark purple robe was reserved for high-rank court official, while the bird shown in the square badge at his chest was an indication of high civil rank.
The second painting is showing a monk. He was wearing a tan monk’s robe with surplice over his left sheaves, showing only his right thumb. His eyes were staring at front. He had long and white beard. His eyebrow was also long and white.
Both of the represented men in the paintings were in Ming Dynasty. They wore the same style of clothes. However, they had different hair style. The first painting documents the fact that a Chinese Official used to have white and long hair, while the second shows that a Buddhist monk cut his hair in the middle of his head, and his sagging plugged his ears.
Both of the painters were under the different dynasty. However, they show that the Chinese Governor and the monk were in the same dynasty. The clothes in the Ming Dynasty were tight and didn’t have buttons, and the clothes in the Qing Dynasty were loose and had buttons. Hence, this point shows both paintings have similarity.
These paintings show the two pianists’ different goals. The first painting’s goal is to show the Governor’s luxurious life and respectability: the court-official’s robe and hat, the bird in the square badge, to the chair covered with tiger skin. Everything shows his high rank in society. Moreover, his eyes are full of decision and discernment. The painting is about a governor’s power, and the traits which a governor should have. On the other hand, the painting of zhao, yongxian, shows a monk, without any decoration on his clothes, and the material is sackcloth. They are very simple nor do they show any sign of wealth and power. His face and eyes are full of hope, and show a monk’s benevolence.
By comparing these two works, we can see how two works can express different messages even if they are both from the same culture, made out of the same materials, and from within the same genre. We can therefore understand some developments in Chinese painting, and understand how paintings can show us different point of view within the same culture.

According to the reading and my analysis, it was not George’s fault that he became poor. The reason why he was poor was his bad luck, because no one wants to be poor in this world, including George. No matter how smart the person, without a good opportunity or good luck, he/she also becomes poor. Just like at the beginning of losing his job, he stated: “One day my English lessons ceased abruptly. The weather was getting hot and one of my pupils, feeling too lazy to go on with his lessons, dismissed me. The other disappeared from his lodgings without notice, owing me twelve francs. I was left with only thirty centimes and nothing to eat or smoke.” (21) In this situation, it is very obvious that George wanted to continue his job. However, his students didn’t want to work hard and continue to go to George’s class. Even though one student left without saying a word to George, and didn’t pay for George’s salary, what could George do with this bad situation? He couldn’t do anything to save his job. Although he was out of work, he still continued to look for a job by various ways. For instance, “Ten days later we made another visit to the office of the secret society, taking care to bring a parcel that looked like washing. And the secret society had vanished! The woman in the laundry knew nothing……” (50) George had a job appointment to the secret society, and successfully passed the interview. He went home and waited for the notice from the secret society. Nevertheless, the secret society tricked him. He even paid five francs; he still couldn’t get a job. Plus, by the description of “taking care to bring a parcel that look like washing”, we can see clearly that George took the job seriously. He couldn’t get this job and also was a victim. Above all, the reason of getting poor was not George’s fault because he was not lazy to get a job. On the contrary, he looked for job actively. Hence, George got poor just because of his misfortune.

Xu, xionghui
10.23.07
Most people earn money by working hard, so losing a job is the first step to being poor. In the book “Down and Out in Paris and London” by George Orwell, it proves that without a job people must go to poverty. George got money from teaching English lessons, but he lost his job. Also, he needed to pay his rent. Hence, he must get a job immediately. However, George was robbed by an Italian living in the hotel, and he just left forty-seven francs. It put an end to his plans of looking for work. After that, he wanted to get help according to looking for Boris. Conversely, George spent several francs on buying food for Boris. In this case, George had just little money. Plus, through Boris’s introduction, he was tricked by the secret society. Worse, he still spent money on smoking. Hence, his money got less and less, and became poor step by step.
George was suffering from his life since his students had dismissed him. George was worried about his lacking money. He felt very anxious and desired to get a job as soon as possible. “I explained that I had only sixty francs left and must get a job immediately.” (P 28) according to the words “only” and “immediately”, we can see that George was in the most difficult time. He needed to get a job right away, and couldn’t live any more without money. Furthermore, George also felt annoyed and helpless because he must pay for his rent. “Seventy francs for ten pounds’ worth of clothes! But it was no use arguing; I had seen someone else attempt to argue, and the clerk had instantly refused the pledge.”(P22) By this description, it obviously shows that George was in a bad condition. He knew that the clerk tricked him. The money for the clothes should be more than what the clerk gave. Nevertheless, George had no option because he must pay his rent by selling his clothes. Even though he knew the truth, he couldn’t argue with the clerk. Moreover, it was also a big shame for George to go to a pawnshop. He illustrates: “It was the first time that I had been in a French pawnshop.”(P21) The phrase “the first time……As I came in the clerk called with an air of offence, “Number 83—here!” and gave a little whistle and a beckon, as though calling a dog., it was really shamed for him because he had had a job and never went to a pawnshop. At this time, in order to have a little money for life. He had no choice and must go to the pawnshop. Also, he was an educator, but the clerk just took him like a dog. Hence, it is easy to know how George felt when he stepped into a bad life.

Ode to my PDA

My PDA has a square face
A skinny body
It has a mouth,
But no hands, no legs.
Speak welcome to me with a sweet smile
As lazy as a piggy
Always like to lie in my hand,

My PDA is a singer.
She can imitate all well-known singers.
Perform all popular song.
Let me out of anguish.

My PDA is my secretary.
She always arranges my schedule.
And reminds me to follow the schedule.


My PDA is a guider.
She leads me to surf online,
Traveling the world,
Looking for the paradise.
Searching the amazing earth.

My PDA is also a mean girl.
She never works
Without enough power.
No matter how I persuade her.

My PDA is my brain.
She keeps my unforgettable memory.
Such as poppy love, cute pictures, and love letter,
And so on.
Let me reflect those splendid past.

My PDA, you are my confidant.
But I know you will leave me,
For you are not my own possession.
I hope your next owner will tend you.
Like me.

philosophy 2

Xu, xionghui
Philosophy 2.1
0291
According to the third Meditation, Descartes states that his idea of God necessitates that God in fact exists. We can realize that the existence of ideas depend on the existence of God throughout what we read in the third Meditation. In the other word, the existence of God shows the ideas of God. Without the existence of God means that without the ideas of God. Now let us see the relation between the idea of God and the existence of God.
First of all, let us discuss where the ideas come from. Descartes states: “But, in the past, I have accepted as completely obvious and certain many thoughts which I later found to be dubious. What were these thoughts about? The earth, the sky, the stars and other objects of sense, But what did I clearly grasp about these objects? Only that ideas or thoughts of them appeared in my mind. Even now, I do not deny that these ideas occur in me. But there was something else that I used to affirm---something that I used to believe myself to grasp clearly but did not really grasp at all: I affirmed that there were things besides me, that the ideas in me came from these things, and that the ideas perfectly resembled these things.” (Page 177) According to these illustrations, although we have ideas of something, these ideas in us don’t belong to us, which come from something else out of us. For, these ideas in us are similar to something out of us. Not only we have ideas, but also those unknown things have the similar ideas. Descartes realizes this point---our ideas come from these unknown things, just like the ideas of the sun, the sky, the stars, and other objects. These objects are existent, and they appear in our mind. We can try to think about, without these existent objects, whether these objects still appear in our mind. It is very obvious that we don’t have any ideas of these objects. Hence, our ideas of subject come from something out of us, not in us. Our ideas depend on these existent objects, not from unreal or inexistent materials.
Second, we try to make a discussion on the existence of the God. Descartes states “I ought to ask myself, then whether I have the power to ensure that I, who now am, will exist a little while from now. Since I am nothing but a thinking thing----or, at any rate, since I am not focusing on the part of me that think---I would surely be aware of this power if it were in me. But I find no such power. And this very clearly shows that there is an entity distinct from me on whom I depend.”(Page 181) For these illustrations, people are nothing, and they just can use their brains thinking about those existent objects. They have no power to control anything else, include their thinking or thoughts, even though they came from this world or whether they will continue existing in this world or not. Hence, people are impotent. In this case, people pretend to be substance, and they should depend on some causes which are independent, existent, and powerful.
Also, Descartes describes: “Maybe this entity isn’t God; maybe I am the product of my parents or of some other cause less perfect than God. But, as I just said, there must be at least as much in a cause as in its effect. Therefore, since I am thinking thing with the idea of God in me, my cause----whatever it is true----must be a thinking thing having in it the idea of every perfection that I attribute to God. And I can go on to ask whether this thing gets its existence from itself or from something else. But it’s obvious from what I have just said that, if my cause gets its existence from itself, it must be God: having the power to exist in itself, it must also have the power actually to give itself every perfection of which it has an idea---including every perfection that I conceive of in God. On the other hand, if my cause gets its existence from some other thing, I can go on to ask whether this other thing gets its existence from itself or from something else. Eventually, I will come to the ultimate cause: God.” (Page181) Throughout these demonstrations, it is certain that people are just thinking things, and have ideas. Parents give birth to their children. Regarding the parents, they are also thinking things, and they don’t have any power. Just like the children, they also need to have some causes. However, no matter how we continue look for the causes, we still can’t find out the causes. Hence, Descartes make an assumption, step on the certain point “he is a thinking thing”, his cause must be a thinking thing because if that cause is not a thinking thing, then people are not thinking things. Moreover, the cause must get existence by itself, which has every perfection. In this situation, the causes can get existence of itself, but not other else. It is only God. Only God can get existence from Himself. He is the final answer which Descartes look for.
Above all, we prove that the god must be existent. Descartes states: “it’s not surprising that in creating me God put this idea into me, impressing it like a craftsman’s mark on His work. This mark needn’t be distinct from the work itself. Indeed, the very fact that it was God who created me confirms that I have somehow been made in His image or likeness and that I grasp this likeness (which contains the idea of God) in the same way that I grasp myself. For, when I turn my mind’s eye on myself, I understand, not only that I am an incomplete, dependent thing which constantly strives for bigger and better things, but also that He on whom I depend, having all these things in Himself as infinite reality rather than just as vague potentiality, must therefore be God.” (Page 182) Here, Descartes re-emphasizes that the God is all-powerful, and people are created by Him. In the process of creating people, the God also put his ideas into people’s mind, but the idea of God in people is infinite and just a part of the God’s idea. People just understand themselves and know the idea of God, which the God puts in their mind. For the other idea of the God in Him, people still don’t know. No matter how much the knowledge the people increase, it is impossible to be more than the God. Plus, people still need to rely on the God.
Finally, we can see the relationship between the idea of God and the existence of God. People has an idea of the God, and the idea of the God is from at the beginning of the God creates people. Hence, The idea of the God depends on the existence of the God. The existence of the God is necessary and must be significant fact which people have an idea of the God.

Xu, xionghui
Philosophy 2.1
0291
According to the third Meditation, Descartes states that his idea of God necessitates that God actually exists. We can realize that the existence of ideas depend on the existence of God throughout what we read in the third Meditation. In the other word, the existence of God shows the ideas of God. Without the existence of God means that without the ideas of God. Now let us see the relation between the idea of God and the existence of God.
First of all, let us discuss where the ideas come from. Descartes illustrates: “Although an idea’s cause does not transmit any of its actual or formal reality to the idea, and although an idea does not by its nature require any formal reality other than what is borrows from my thoughts (of which it is a modification), we should not think that the idea’s cause can be less real than the idea. Rather, we should think that each idea contains one particular presentational reality which it must get from a cause having at least as mush formal reality as the idea has presentational reality. For if we suppose that something is in an idea but not in its cause, we must suppose that something has come from nothing. And, however imperfect the existence of a thing that existents presentational in the understanding through an idea, that thing obviously is something and it therefore cannot come from nothing.” (Page 179) According to these illustrations, it can be very clear that where the ideas come from. When we form an idea in our mind, we need to get a cause out of ourselves because these causes are the root of the ideas and can’t be in ourselves. We should look for the causes out of ourselves if we form any ideas. Hence, these causes outside of us are existent, and ideas come from these existed causes. The ideas are as real as the causes.
Second, let us make a discussion of God. Descartes states “I ought to ask myself, then whether I have the power to ensure that I, who now am, will exist a little while from now. Since I am nothing but a thinking thing----or, at any rate, since I am not focusing on the part of me that think---I would surely be aware of this power if it were in me. But I find no such power. And this very clearly shows that there is an entity distinct from me on whom I depend. Maybe this entity isn’t God; maybe I am the product of my parents or of some other cause less perfect than God. But, as I just said, there must be at least as much in a cause as in its effect. Therefore, since I am thinking thing with the idea of God in me, my cause----whatever it is true----must be a thinking thing having in it the idea of every perfection that I attribute to God. And I can go on to ask whether this thing gets its existence from itself or from something else. But it’s obvious from what I have just said that, if my cause gets its existence from itself, it must be God: having the power to exist in itself, it must also have the power actually to give itself every perfection of which it has an idea---including every perfection that I conceive of in God. On the other hand, if my cause gets its existence from some other thing, I can go on to ask whether this other thing gets its existence from itself or from something else. Eventually, I will come to the ultimate cause: God.” (Page181) Throughout these descriptions, we can know people are thinking things and the thing which people think are relied on other things or causes. Here, we can continue to think deeply that where those which offer our thinking come from. However, this question can be infinite. Nothing can get its existence from itself, except the God. Thus, the God is infinite and the original cause, and must be existent.
Furthermore, the ideas are in our mind, and we ourselves also are things. Descartes states: “it’s clear that, even if everything that I used to believe about my parents is true, they do not preserve me. Insofar as I am a thinking thing, they did not even take part in creating me. They simply formed. (By “I” I mean my mind, which is all that I now grasp of myself.) There can therefore be no problem about my parents, and I am driven to this conclusion: The fact that I exist and have an idea of God as a perfection entity conclusively entails that God does in fact exist. All that’s left is to explain how I have gotten my idea of God from him. I have not taken it in through my senses; it has never come to me unexpectedly as the ideas of sensible things do when I those things affect (or seem to affect) my external organs of sense. Nor have I made the idea myself; I can’t subtract from it or add it. The idea must therefore be innate in me, like my idea of myself.” (Page 182) In this case, parent just gave birth to us, and they don’t give any ideas in our brain. However, we are thinking things, and our thinking must come from somewhere, or some causes. Just like before what I mentioned, the God is unlimited courses. Once our ideas are in our mind, and it means the God existent.
Also, Descartes declares that: “it’s not surprising that in creating me God put this idea into me, impressing it like a craftsman’s mark on His work. This mark needn’t be distinct from the work itself. Indeed, the very fact that it was God who created me confirms that I have somehow been made in His image or likeness and that I grasp this likeness (which contains the idea of God) in the same way that I grasp myself. For, when I turn my mind’s eye on myself, I understand, not only that I am an incomplete, dependent thing which constantly strives for bigger and better things, but also that He on whom I depend, having all these things in Himself as infinite reality rather than just as vague potentiality, must therefore be God.”(Page 182) It obviously shows the relationship between the idea of God and the existence of God. The God creates people, and put ideas in people’s mind. Then people have an idea of God, but the idea of God is not complete because it just presents one part of the God. Therefore, the idea of God must have the existence of the God. In other word, the idea of God can not be existent if without the existence of God.

I am going to describe about two Chinese portraits. The portrait of Chinese official and the portrait of Gaofeng Yuanmiao are displayed on the second floor, Asia and Chinese art room, in the Brooklyn Museum. The first portrait’s artist was an ancestor, in Qing Dynastic, and the second portrait’s artist is Gaofeng Yuanmiao, in Mind Dynasty, Wanli era. Both of the portraits are Chinese portrait, but the artists were in different dynasty. A Chinese governor, with white beard, wears a court official’s robe and hat, seating in a chair which is covering with tiger skin. The dark purple robe was reserved for high-ranking court official, while the bird shown in the square badge at his chest was an indication of civil rank. For the second portrait of Gaofeng Yuanmiao, he wears a tan monk’s robe with a surplice over his left sheaves, with only his right thumb showing. Both of the people in the portrait were Chinese, in Ming Dynasty. They wore the same style of clothes, and have the different hair styles. The first portrait shows that a Chinese official wear white and long hair, but the second portrait shows that a Buddhist monk cut his hair in the middle of his head, and his sagging hair plugs his ears. Both portraits show the people in the Ming Dynasty, in China. However, the artists were in the different dynasty, showing the same clothes style and the same materials. The first artist was in Qing Dynasty, and the second one is Ming Dynasty. Although they were in different dynasty, they showed the people in the portrait had the same clothes style. In China, the clothes during the Ming Dynasty differed from the clothes style in Qing Dynasty. Furthermore, both portraits were ink and color on silk.
Both the portraits showed different goals. The portrait of the ancestor showed a governor. The Chinese official is wearing the dark a court official’s robe and hat, and the bird shown in the square badge at his chest. The chair covered with tiger skin shows that governor’s luxurious life. Plus, the artist has not only represented the official’s physical characteristic, but also represented his personality---decisive and discerning. All of these show a governor‘s power, and the traits which a governor should have. In the opposite side, the portrait of Zhao, yon Xian, showed a monk. There was no decoration on the clothes. His clothes were very simple and didn’t show any wealth and power. His face and eyes showed a monk’s benevolence, and the traits which all people show admiration.
According to comparing the two works, both of the works are ink and color on silk. They are the same as the works, during Ming Dynasty and Qing Dynasty, we learned in the class. They also show the western and eastern cultures and a new development in Chinese paintings.

I went back to BMCC. It might be my fate because I saw her sitting on the long chair in the hallway, where we enjoyed the sea-sigh. I have lost in touch with her for several months. I headed to her and gave my greeting to her. I just said: “Hi, long time no see! How are you? Why are you here? Do you take weekend class?” after these questions, I didn’t know what I should say to her. It seems that I am getting benumbed. I was wordless. Looking at her, I didn’t have any excitement in my heart. Perhaps that strong emotion is weakening. It is very bewilder that why I have such a big change. Maybe it is just poppy love. Gradually, a lot of factors are changing. Hence, the poppy love becomes less important. Anyway, it is just a piece of experience in my life journey. Let it go! So far, the most important thing for me is my future. I wonder if I begin to be mature. Maybe I am confronting a lot of depression recently. I hope it can stimulate my potential, making me become motive.

I have been in the Brooklyn College for two weeks. Within the two weeks, I was very depressed because of my English class. Reading the book “the Disappointment Artist Essays” almost makes me become mad. Last Monday, my professor had an assignment, write about comparison and contraction for two essays that I read, in the class. In that class, I utterly didn’t know what to do because I didn’t understand what I had read at home. After the class, I went to talk to my professor actively. He told me that I must consider whether I should change my class or not, since his class prefers to those native speakers, if I continue to stay in this class, I might be failed. Sitting in that class, I understood what the meaning of “a chicken standing in a group cranes.” Those native speakers understand the context after they read the book. Be honest, I also spent some time to look up the words. Nonetheless, no matter how many times I reread the same page, I still didn’t apprehend completely. I consider that I did well in my ESL class, and thought that I could do well in the native speakers’ class. Eventually, I sensed that the distance of English level between native speakers and ESL students. Plus, I began to understand what MZ said to me “the world is large, and I should learn to see beyond what I am encountering. At this time, I feel that life is so amazing. Just like what MZ said to me, that is she told me last September. After one year, I just know what the meaning. Am I so stupid or what other reasons? Maybe I am much too confident. Life is full of beating, discouragement, frustration, and struggles.

After one week class, I feel a little frustrated, even scared. My professor has an assignment, it is about to read the book “The Disappointment Artist Essay” by Jonathan Lethem. I got the book from the English Department for free, and I must finish reading the first chapter, about 14 pages. In the process of reading the book, my confidence almost felt in the bottom. My reading speed is as slow as tortoise, maybe thirteen minutes 3 pages. Plus, there are a lot of new vocabularies in the reading, even for some easy words, when they put together forming a phrase. I utterly don’t understand what that mean is. Thus, in the three pages, I still don’t know what it is. I always reflect what I read, but it is valueless. The content can’t fill with my mind. The vacancy is full of my mind.
This is really a big shock for me, like a ton of stone, and I begin to doubt myself whether I will graduate in three years or not. I always think I am an optimist and usually encourage my friends to be confident. After encountering the big shock, my emotion is very down. Anyway, no matter how difficult, I still don’t want to give up because I disappoint many people if I do that. In addition, I can’t deny what I made great effort. In this situation, I am not desirable to get full GPA, but at least I must pass all classes.

the second day in The Brooklyn College

It is the second day for me in the Brooklyn College.
Today, my first period was math class in Room 238, in the New Ingersoll Hall. However, I made a mistake because I went to class in a rush. Maybe there is something wrong with my class schedule. Comparing with BMCC’s class schedule, I think BMCC’s class schedule is much better and clearer than Brooklyn College’s class schedule. I went to the Room 4150 in BOYLAN HALL. I spent half hour in that class. That professor asked me to check my name on the list. I couldn’t see my name on the list, and then I checked my schedule, realizing that I was in a wrong class. I left the room as quickly as I could.
After class, it was about 11 o’clock. I saw xu le in front of the BOYLAN HALL. Something was wrong with her financial aid but I couldn’t help her just asked her to look for help in the Financial Aid Office.
The second class was English class, which almost drove me crazy because I was like a kid in the class. My professor introduced three books and author but I never heard about them. Be honestly, even Chinese books, I don’t know too many authors. I think I need to read more famous books. Otherwise, I don’t know how I can pass this class. Anyway, it is just a beginning today. I shouldn’t be such depressed. Who am I? I am xu, xionghui, an indomitable man. Hence, Xu xionghui shouldn’t be beaten easily.

the first day in the Brooklyn College

Class begins today. I went to the Brooklyn College. This is the first day for me. Hence, I reached school early. All my classrooms are in the BOYLAN HALL. The first class is in RM 4145. Maybe I got used to use lift in BMCC, and I waited for the lift. When I was awaiting the lift, I saw a girl---wu yuanjuan, who I don’t want to see in LESP. We were in LESP and unfriendly to each other. In ESL 2 class on 2004, we began to dislike each other. In ESL 5 class, we were in the same group, and we couldn’t work together utterly. Luckily, MZ knew this situation and switched our seats, separated us in different groups. I graduated one year earlier than her. I thought it should be impossible to see her anymore. It was unimaginable that she was accepted by Brooklyn College and I could see her in this college again. It was really a big torture for me. Anyway, I just took her air, and pretended that I didn’t see her.
My first class was philosophy, about knowledge, reality and value. Honestly, I didn’t quite understand what my professor said in the class. Nevertheless, I think I must be interested in this class because it should be invaluable for me to look for existent-self value, adjust my mentality, and accept advantageous thoughts.
The second class was “Introduction to Art”. I don't have any talent about art, and uninterested in this class. The professor showed me those figures about nude human (who was a nude woman), and dog, said it is valuable for us to know how the history develops and how language developed. I really didn’t understand what it was. I think only the well-known picture---Mena Lisa, gave me the deepest impression.
This is my first day experience in the Brooklyn College.

say goodbye to my summer holiday

Today is the last day for my summer holiday. Within the summer holiday, it was too relaxed for me. I just finished reading the book “WAKE-UP CALL”. It is about 9/11 victims’ widows.
Meanwhile, I went to find two jobs my job was office clerk but failed, and I just worked in the BMCC computer lab. Although I could earn some money, it was a little bit dull. According to two-times failure, I made a summary for future. In American, if I want to make more money, there must be two necessary conditions. First, I must have college degree even higher education. Secondly, I must have adequate working experience in certain fields. There are two situations to earn big money. In this case, I must finish my college education. Plus, these are still two big weaknesses-----listening and speaking. The first time failed interview was because of my bad listening. I didn’t follow instructions. The second time failed interview was because my speaking was not influence. Hence, after the two failed experience, I must exert to enhance the weakness in my college.Class will begin tomorrow. My final choice is Brooklyn College. I pick up this college just because it is near my home. I am not sure whether what I choose is right or not. Just like what MZ said to me, no one knows the result. No result is absolutely right or absolutely wrong because seeming from different positions, I can see different outcomes. Thereby, I should not be hesitant, and what I can do is going to try to search what my option is right or wrong. In addition, it is unnecessary to feel regret if what I opt is wrong because life is an amazing trip. I am so young that I should go to experience. No matter what I confront, I just need to encounter.

22嵗生辰

心猿意馬二十載
赤子童心今猶在。
黃粱夢醒待何時？
脫胎換骨在今日。

曉看帘外朝陽現，
玉人何處觀星夜？
笑看牛郎與織女，
七月七日相逢時。

七夕

今天是千年七夕（070707）——中國的情人節。對這個節日似乎變得越來越陌生了。也許是因爲遠離中國吧，究竟是出於什麽原因我也説不清楚，那種感覺很怪，很抽象，似是而非的，簡直難以用文字來表達。時光飛逝，在平日，對往日的那份情感似乎開始了淡忘，我是一個很真實的人，我沒有甜言蜜語，也沒有花言巧語，我沒有對她說過什麽日思夜想和無限相思的話，因爲我覺得太虛偽了，想想也是我身処在美國，和大陸時間完全不同，白天要做工，或者看書，晚上睡覺，哪裏有那麽多時間去想念啊？但是情感這東西真是令人難以自製，今天因爲在QQ上出現一些七夕的字眼，不知不覺間，已經沉澱多時的記憶又重新浮現出來，那甜美幼稚的笑臉，纖細稚嫩的玉手，烏黑亮麗的秀髮兼帶一股淡淡的幽香，那一句句調倜的話語，那一幕幕的十指相扣，那一幅幅背對背依靠仰望星空的畫面，就像潮水般湧現，讓我好生懷念啊！讓人感覺近在咫尺，又似乎遠在天邊，遙不可及。
唉！還是不想為妙，也許在美國生活了幾年，因爲經歷一些事情，遇見一些人，某些人對我輸入了某些思想，思考的方式開始改變了，有時真的很懷疑這種思維是對還是錯，但是對錯總是令人含糊不清，就像佛家伽葉尊者說的“一念成佛，一念成魔”，對錯也就在一線之間，究竟哪邊是對，哪邊是錯。思前想後，都是一片迷茫，還是率性而為，走一步算一步吧！

“When you say something positive to someone, please don’t hurt his/her emotion.” This is the second girl, who reminds me to consider what I say to other people. I think it is necessary to reflect myself. Most of these girls showed me their homework and essay because they trust me. However, sometimes I really hurt their emotion and confidence seriously. If I stand on their position, how should I feel? I am sure I must be very upset. Just like when I was in ESL 2 class, that teacher was shuli wu. Sometimes I didn’t understand what she said, and didn’t do homework correctly or didn’t follow her instruction. She always said that I should not belong to ESL 2 class, and should go back to ESL 1 class. I am sure my heart and confidence were beat. I hated shuli wu very much. I don’t care what she said to me. That feeling is just like what those girls’ when I hurt their hearts. Today, my English listening and writing make a rapid progress. I find I become the other shuli, wu. I am really crazy. Maybe I am a little proud because of my little progress. I still have a long way in my life. Even for shuli wu, she is just an ESL teacher. When she goes to other subject, she must have a lot of unknown. Therefore, I must be patient when my friends ask for help or ask a question.

9/11 is a horrible day for American people. Many victims’ families want to make an anniversary to honor their relatives, loved, and friends on that day since 2002. It is 2007 now, and it is the sixth anniversary commemoration. The Mayor Bloomberg required the sixth anniversary commemoration to hold in the Zuccotti Park. However, the direct of the WTC United Family Group wrote a letter to Bloomberg and Gov asking them to reconsider, and let victims’ families make the anniversary commemoration in the Ground Zero. Yet Bloomberg rejected their demand and was not deterred, even though the victim families got permits from the NYPD and the Port Authority.
Honestly, this point is really better than China. If Chinese people want to go to Beijing or reject some unfair policies, they are prevented by policemen.
I am curious that why those victim families just want to make the anniversary commemoration in the Ground Zero. If they want to honor those victims, no matter where they are, they just think of those victims in their hearts. Is is very meaningful to make the pilgrimage to Ground Zero? I don't know but I empathize those victims because they are innocent. Anyway, there were many people burying under the WTC, but that is not a graveyard. The WTC should be rebuilt even though it should be higher and more beautiful than before because it shows that terrorists didn't frighten American people and American people stand up and fight with terrorism.

In the mid-night, I saw YB online. I haven’t seen her online for several weeks. When I saw her, I was very ambivalent. On one way, she is my good friend; on the other hand, she is a married woman. Should I keep some distance to her? Maybe several minutes, she updated her QQ zone. I entered her QQ zone immediately and read her update. The update “Day after day, I get lost in my marriage life. My smile is the root of your happiness, but you make me feel embarrassed. I don’t want to put you in trouble, and don’t want to put me in trouble, either. Someone told me to do something what I aspire but I can’t do that because of you. What can I do makes us avoid falling in trouble?”
According to read her update, I was hesitant because that is a business between her husband and her, not mine. After all, she is a married woman; she should negotiate with her husband, not me. Hence, I eventually decided to be offline, and kept silent.

I have been living New York for three years. Within the three years, I have never seen any living livestock, such as chicken, geese, and rabbits. Today, I went to a little store which supplies living chicken, geese, rabbits, and so on. When I entered the store, the odor almost made me vomit. Let me evoke the period when I lived in my hometown. My grandmother raised a lot of chicken in the open air. I usually fed those chicken in the morning or in the afternoon. Looking at the chicken eating was very interesting. Nevertheless, I also felt uncomfortable as I smelt the odor. Especially, when my grandfather slaughtered the chicken, he didn’t wash his hands and touched my face. In this way, there is a big dread in my heart. I always vomited when I smell that odor.
A long time past, I think I beat the dread already. In fact, I just forget it. When I smell again, I don’t feel comfortable. However, that bad feeling is not that serious.
Honestly, I steamed the chicken after being at home. Living chicken was so different from those frozen chicken because living chicken is fresher than frozen chicken. I feasted a lot.

My summer holiday has begun for a month already. At the beginning of my vacation, I wanted to look for a job in this summer. I went back to my college and asked for the Career Center counselor to give me a list of job search website. Also, I went to Family Life Center and got a list of job search websites. I used two pieces of paper to search jobs. One month is gone but I still don’t get a job. In fact, on June 22, I went to interview in a company in Wall Street. I almost fill all my information. At last, I should take a test about employee working ruler. I had two opportunities to deal with the test. That is the company’s policy. I should watch video before I took the test. Nevertheless, I didn’t understand what that secretary had. Hence, I didn’t watch video and did the test directly. The result was so bad. That secretary told me that I must watch video first then do the test. At the second time, I did follow that secretary said. I did the test again after I watched the video. The result was much better than the first time. However, that secretary told me that the accurate rate should be 80%, and she showed me to her manager. That manager told me the company policy, that is, each applicant has two opportunities to do the test and must get 80% at least, otherwise, the company can’t hire, if you are still interested in our company, you can apply again after six months.
Honestly, I didn’t feel that disappointed since I believe that I will find another job later. Today I finally realize that looking for a job is so difficult. In these days, I found a lot of jobs on website. Many companies need hire experienced employees, or must have Bachelor Degree. I just have high school diploma, even though there are a great number of companies hire employees whom have high school diploma but they require must have fluent English speaking and skillful. I know what my disadvantages. My English speaking and listening are not good. Plus, I don’t have too much working experience. At this time, I begin to feel a little frustrated, but not desperate. The emotion of helplessness is occupying my heart. I ask myself whether I can find a job after I graduate or not, and if my goal of working in a high class society is just a day-dream. My heart is very vacant. I don’t know what I can do, and I am not sure how I can fulfill my goal.

I wrote this poem for my previous friend, and I hope I can remind him not to abandon himself to his first love.
含香彌漫蓋蒼穹
盧芽綻放添新枝
愛已萌芽滿心田
我慾葬情問青天

On June 26, 2007, I, wearing my suit and tying my necktie, went to LESP commencement Exercises, in NYU because some of my friends were graduated. There was another reason for me to attend this graduation ceremony. That was because I hadn’t attended the graduation in 2006 when I had graduated from LESP. Hence, this time I was full of gaiety that I had a good opportunity to attend this graduation.
At the beginning of graduation, the Principle stood in the stage and made a speech to congratulation to those graduations. She said: “Congratulation, graduations, all of you will graduate from in two hours, and you will go to college. In future, no matter how long you want to walk and how high you want to fly, that will be your choice. Whenever you have difficulties, you can come back to our school. Our teachers and counselors will help you enthusiastically. The sky is limited but your intelligence is unlimited. Don’t think how many you gain from the world; you should think how many you devote for the world and our community.” After hearing these words, I felt very excited that I graduated from this high school.”
Honestly speaking, LESP is my first “home” since I have been in New York. Before I went to this school, I didn’t have any friends and I felt alone and scared. After I went to LESP, my heart was getting warm, and I rebuilt my confidence again. Especially my teacher, MZ, she helped me a lot, no matter for studying or life. Hence, I found that I depended on her so much. At the first semester I studied in BMCC, I felt lonesome and MZ wasn’t in LESP because of pregnancy. In this situation, I usually went back to LESP and looked for my friends because all my college friends were not Chinese people. In the second semester, I didn’t go back to LESP because MZ came back. I cared about what her opinion for me. I was afraid that she would say I hadn’t studied hard in college and made her disappointed. In addition, I need to take the ACT and passing the ACT is the first condition which I transfer to four-year College. Therefore, I must put the whole heart and all energy into preparedness.
After I passed my ACT, and accepted by three colleges. I wanted to share my gaiety with MZ because she is my close friends and favorite teacher in New York. Nevertheless, unfortunately, I found MZ and I were getting unfamiliar because we didn’t have so many talking any more. Maybe I hurt her emotion because I said some words which I shouldn’t say, or maybe both of us are changing. Just like what she wrote a comment in my blog, the world is large, I should see what I experience beyond me. Anyway, I will put her in my heart and she will always be my close friend. From now on, I am going to learn how to be undependable and try to confront all my difficulties by myself. I make a promise that I will not see her and contact her any more if unnecessary. Today, June 28, 2007, she is going to go back to China by plane. I hope she has a good journey and enjoy her holiday.
最後，我在此衷心地祝福她身體健康，工作順利，闔家幸福，青春常駐。

Mr. J's confession

“Any girl is nothing to me.” This was my strong belief, and I didn’t want to change it. I thought girls would be my obstacles so I always want to keep girls far away from me. Nevertheless, I changed my mind since I came across my confidant, Mr. X. Hence, I must be grateful to him genuinely. He corrected my wrong thoughts and led me to a bright way-------falling in love.
In fact, when I was in China, I was very interested in a girl. However, I knew I would emigrant to U.S. In this situation, I didn’t show my admiration to that girl. I found she had a boyfriend until I went back to China last year. I met her and just said hi to her. I realized that I was not as enthusiastically as before I had been in the same class. I became emotionless maybe U.S changes me a lot. I know nothing is more important than my bright future. Comparing to my future, everything is peripheral. Nevertheless, I came across a man, Mr. X. He is really a special man. We have some commons but we still have differences. He either acceded my position or against my position. His thinking is “girls can be very important and can be nothing.” When I knew him, I began to admire him and tried to learn from him. Maybe I was low-confident. I think I am poor, not handsome, and then no girls will love me. He told me that he was ugly and not handsome, either. I am very puzzled why he can get along with girls and let ABC fall in love him. I think I am smarter and handsome than him. I asked him this question. He said that he just treats girls sincerely and cared about those girls who have good temper and character. Actually, in the world, not all girls love those charming and rich men. Most girls love sensitive, caring, thoughtful, and brave men. Hearing his words, I reflect myself. Although I am not handsome and poor, I am absolutely a sensitive, caring, and ideal man. In this situation, I am a little remorseful because I missed a good shanghai girl. She showed her admiration to me. Unfortunately, I didn’t put her in my heart, even thought I blocked her on my MSN. At this time, she becomes other people’s girlfriend. Hence, I should forget her. Just like what Mr. X said, missing a good girl is pathetic situation but I believe firmly that I will come across an excellent lady in future. I just treat missing a good girl as history and an encounter in my growing process.
Eventually, I want to say thanks to Mr. X because he points a good direction for me. I will treat love, money, studying in an equivalent position in my life.

I am accepted by Brooklyn College, Hunter College, and Baruch College. Honestly speaking, I should be very hyper. I don’t know how to express my gaiety. Nevertheless, there are still a lot of qualm and irresolution in my heart. YM emailed me the pros and cons of these colleges, just like what MZ taught me that no best college. Actually, MZ is right. Choosing a college is my own business. Hence, I must make a decision for myself.
All these colleges have their own characteristics. Hunter College is more for education and nursing, Brooklyn College is more computer science, and Baruch College is more for business. Hence, choosing the best college really depends on what my major I want to take. I find that it is very difficult to pick up a major which suits me. It is because I must pick up a major which connects to my career in future. I am a man so I am interested in being a nurse in future. Picking up education, when I look at MZ and YM, both of them have to check a lot of paper. It is really a big suffering. Regarding on business, I am not sure if I like business or not. As a businessman, I must have fabulous communication skills. Relating to communication skills, it is really a big obstacle for me because I am not that good at communicating with other people. Especially, my speech and pronunciation are so poor. Also, my character is not that sly. For computer science, it is a strange filed for me. I have no confidence whether to take this unfamiliar filed because it is really a big challenge for me.
On the other hand, I realize that I begin to like BMCC. Although it is not as good as those four-year colleges, after all I have studied in BMCC for a year. Maybe I am a sentimental man. There are a lot of happy and sweet memories in BMCC. It is a reason why I can’t make a decision quickly. Plus, I also think about my financial aid. In BMCC since I received four thousand dollar. Saving financial aid and learning are my purpose. I know that is too greedy. Anyway, to transfer four-year College is my goal. Although there are many sweet memories in BMCC, I will transfer to four-year College robustly. Consequently, comparing to my future, it is the most important thing in my life. Everything is peripheral.

我很久沒寫中文了，ACT就要來了，既緊張又興奮，緊張是因爲不知道能不能過，興奮是因爲自己聯係了那麽多，很希望在考試中初試鋒芒，所以想辦法讓自己變得鎮定，自信，才能進入最佳的考試狀態，突然想起mz，因爲上次失控說了一些不該說的話，現在有點後悔，但是想起曾經答應過那位ESL 5的女士要用人物描寫描繪一下她的花容月貌。可惜當時人物描寫方面非常弱，所以一直拖到現在也沒有寫。而最近在大學認識一些“可愛”的女孩，說起“可愛”還真是那她沒辦法，要把我培養成更加成熟，有風度，見多識廣的男人，還常拿一些亂七八糟的雜誌給我看，說要加強我的審美觀，教我怎麽欣賞女人，怎麽裝扮才顯出紳士的風度。哪种顔色配哪种顔色，常常問我她漂不漂亮，身材好不好啊？是瘦還是胖，和其他女孩子比，誰漂亮，誰的身材好？ 更恐怖的是拉我去陪她逛街，去看那些女士服飾，說這是培養我和女孩子相處的耐性和更加了解女孩子，哎！救命啊！真是被折磨死了。不過也很矛盾，因爲和她們在一起感覺很親切，很舒服，甚至有一種小時候媽媽的感覺，今天因爲她們，好像我的人物描寫技巧加強了一點。哎，真不知道是否應該感激她們！好，回到正題，就讓我淨掃靈臺，回憶一下那位女士在我記憶中留下的沉魚落雁之容，閉月羞花之貌。
與生俱來白裏透紅的美人臉，如玉般的的模樣，清水般的目光，淡淡的柳月眉，烏黑的秀髮，白皙的膚色，櫻桃般的小嘴，真是眉清目秀，秀外慧中，天生麗質啊！渾然就是白雪公主再世。不，應該比白雪公主有過之而無不及，甚至更勝一籌，人人都說女人頭髮長見識短，她卻是一個例外中的例外，從她身上卻閃爍著智慧的光芒。惠質蘭心嘛！一絲甜美的淺笑，那麽明媚動人，可謂是囘眸一笑百媚生，千嬌百媚，儀態萬千，足以一笑傾人城，再笑傾人囯。加上一副好嗓門，聲音總是恬美，簡直是酒不醉人，人自醉，（PS：這點我深有體會，因爲她的課總是令我昏昏慾睡）當然啦，國色天香啊！而且溫柔的眼神後面，把事情看得那麽晶瑩透澈，真是冰雪聰明。看她那倩倩玉手，毋容置疑是心靈手巧，上得廳堂，入得廚房，再欣賞她在玩滑板的照片，那楊柳細腰和婀娜多姿，小巧玲瓏的身段，燕瘦環肥，重一分太肥，輕一分太瘦，加上名字帶一個敏就知道是身輕如燕，身手敏捷，簡直靜若處子，動若脫兔，絕對是一個出類拔萃的絕頂高手。再加上一段多姿多彩的人生經歷，更顯出北方女子的本色和颯颯英姿，物以稀為貴，這才是她最難能可貴的地方，因爲男人統治世界，女人統治男人，幸好像她這樣的女子在這個世間是鳳毛麟角，不然普天之下的男士就失去地位了，換個角度，如果用鮮花來比喻，那她是一朵剛柔並濟的鏗鏘玫瑰，柔情似水，足以克制剛強，而且她也是一朵經歷嚴寒而綻放且釋放出幽香的梅花，那麽潔白無瑕，那麽神聖不可侵犯。（PS：特別是她使用的空氣清新劑，令我在兒童時代因爲生病爾被強行灌那些苦葯（八寳驚風散和濕熱散）的噩夢不斷浮現大腦裏，數次由於聞了那種味道，在午夜夢囘時，而驚醒過來，因爲一個人的嗅覺聞到的東西是終身難忘的）儅升級進入人生更高層次的時候，溫柔的笑容透露出慈母的慈祥。也散發了一個成熟女性具備的神韻，魅力和風采，記得曾經在去年BBQ的時候，她説她已經老了，陪伴在她身邊的才是美女，但是退一步說，她身上的那種魅力和成熟是那些乳臭未乾的小姑娘所欠缺的，如果那些所謂的美女是牡丹，那她絕對是不可或缺的綠葉，因爲牡丹再茂，也需要綠葉的扶持，所以即使她真的是老了，年過半百，那她也是徐娘半老，丰韻猶存，風采依舊，好一個賢良淑德的慈母啊！真是可敬可佩。再留意一下她的衣著裝扮，人家說人靠衣裝，佛靠金裝，她來一個反其道而行，淡妝素裹，反襯出一種出塵脫俗的優雅氣質，雍容華貴，端莊秀麗，多少庸姿俗粉在她面前都顯得暗淡失色了，因此，她是一個窈窕淑女，是一個傾國傾城的俏佳人，是一個絕色的女中豪傑，巾幗不讓鬚眉，真是只應天上有，人間難得幾囘見，遠在他鄉卻遇到如此良師益友，真是幸甚至哉！！！

PS: 在今年的BBQ，我又看見那位美女susan li（math teacher）原來有好多白頭髮就說她可憐未老頭先白，她馬上說以後不要上她的數學課，落在她手上一定要我好看，定把我折磨一番，唉，也不打聽一下我在那裏上課，於是爲了安慰一下這位math teacher，我就告訴她，我已經畢業是絕不會給她這種機會的，氣得她說不要讓她看見我，不然見一次打一次）記得曾經一個女孩子說這就是我的絕技——氣死人不賠命。

最近覺得很感嘆，人生變幻無常，有很多東西是很無奈的，也許是因爲YB的婚禮，每每想起她，心裏都覺得不是那麽痛快。特別是打開QQ看到她的頭像的時候，都還不能接受她已經嫁作他人婦的這個事實，打開相冊看到以前的合照，點點滴滴的往事拼湊起來猶如澎湃的波濤湧上心頭，浮現在腦海裏，揮之不去。
記得剛認識的她的時候是在MZ的sem B 班上，那個時候我也是初來乍到，並沒有怎麽和她交流，直到有一次MZ要同學之間各自拿一篇寫的essay給partner交流，讀了她的essay才知道她不是那種活潑開朗樂觀的女孩子，臉上的笑容並不是那麽多。當時對她的印象並不是那麽深刻，也許上天冥冥中的安排，讓她坐在我對面，讓我們每天都面對面，但是卻並沒有怎麽多交談，隨著一個學期過去，也沒有什麽深交，在最後一天一起逃課從教室溜出去閒逛，覺得很過癮很刺激。老天爺總是那麽喜歡和人開玩笑，我和她都上Summer school，她考過了placement test，順利進入ESL 5，而我卻被可惡的suli wu以作文是抄襲為由給了0分而沒有通過，被迫呆在ESL 4。
也許人生就是那麽充滿戲劇性，我們那個時候都沒有共同的課，本應該沒什麽機會再接觸，再進一步彼此了解，而偏偏在機緣巧合下，我們在圖書館再續未了緣，她要我幫她查閲單詞，而我也乘機和她要了QQ號碼，約她晚上有空一起聊天，記得當時並沒有馬上加她，而是過了一陣子才和她聊天，剛開始故意逗她。和她玩捉迷藏，讓她猜我是誰。她一猜就猜到我是誰，原來在我和她一起上課雖然沒有太多交談，而我卻在她的腦海裏留下了很好的印象，總是在臉上帶微笑，給她的感覺是那麽真誠，那麽樂觀開朗。因爲一個星期五，她因爲一些事情而令她很煩惱，很憂鬱，需要找人傾訴，而偏偏那時候，我剛好上QQ，於是我們開始聊起來，我盡力去安慰她，逗她開心，說一些我的往事給她聼，讓她的心情逐漸變好，我們也由此而開始結交。記得在MZ的班上，MZ在幫我們補習SAT的題目，YB總是看著我，MZ也真是的，笑話她老是看著我，弄得我們都很尷尬，她馬上低下頭去不再看我，我也把頭轉過去。
在接下來的日子，她準備申請大學，而我因爲counselor要我遲一年畢業，剛開始我沒有怎麽堅持，因爲沒有人幫我，我自己一個人也不知道怎麽辦，所以對申請大學的就一拖再拖。記得因爲後來換了couselor，她同意讓我06年畢業，YB約我到圖書館，幫我怎麽根據自己喜歡的Major找大學，記得那天上午和YM一起去time square玩，因爲借了Henry的相機，那是我和她第一次合照。
在lesp學習的最後一個學期，我們只有第四課Government是在一起的，mi yang規定每個人要每天拿一分AM New York來讀，那時我懶得去拿就只有拜托YB每天拿2份AM New York，甚至有時候要寫讀后感，我就索性去抄她的。也許快樂時光總是在人不經意閒悄悄地溜走，一轉眼就已經到了學期尾，我以爲我和她以後沒什麽機會見面了，也許是天意，她沒有考過English regent，所以要上summer school，重新考一次。當時我真的很開心，因爲還可以每天見到她。在summer school，我們經常在同一個group，一起寫essay，一起討論，那些時刻真是令人難忘啊！
分別的日子轉瞬即到，很快到了8月16日，那天是考試的日子，我們坐得很近，因爲這樣彼此在考試的時候可以有照應。我們一做完題目就一起很小聲地對答案，真的好緊張好刺激哦！要防著被監考老師發現，記得當時考完試以後，她好緊張，傻傻地念叨著：“佛祖保佑我，這次我千萬要考過，如果這次沒有考過，她就不讀大學了。”聽到她這麽說，我覺得她傻得很可愛，於是我就安慰她，向她打保票：“一定沒問題的，我考試的時候一定盡力幫你的。”我也做到了，幫她在考試找出了好幾道做錯的選擇題，告訴她我的正確答案。也許世事真是充滿戲劇性，到了最後，她的分數是77分，比我多3分，她比我幸運，因爲我後來聽老師説那些74分的人都是評卷老師的傑作，目的是要學生在大學繼續念ESL。我當時真的很傷心，很難過，一點自信都沒有，覺得很丟人，她卻反過來安慰我，讓我感覺一絲溫暖。
在大學即將開學的時候，我們都需要去各自的大學註冊，但是我們當時都沒有畢業證書，所以我們都紛紛趕回lesp找Wendy幫忙。不知道是教育局還是學校的電腦系統還沒有恢復過來，我們暫時拿不到high school transcript。當時只好勞煩Wendy寫了3封信讓我們拿到各自的大學裏去。當時YB因爲financial aid還有點問題，要我陪她一起去LaGuardia走一趟，記得當時下了大雨，本來我想拒絕她的，但是看到她對我的哀求，想到自己曾經去大學辦那些事情的時候對什麽東西都一無所知，就像是一只無頭蒼蠅一樣到處亂撞，所以經不起她的懇求，我最終還是答應和她走一趟即使我自己的事情還沒有搞定。儅我們到了LaGuardia，看到financial aid office外面排了一支很長的隊伍，她真好，要我先走去做我自己的事，不用留下來等她，聼到她這麽說，我很安慰，因爲她不是一個自私的女孩子，只顧自己的事情，而不顧別人，所以我當時毫不猶豫地留下裏陪伴她，幫她幫到底。她的問題解決以後，她又陪我到BMCC去。那時候，Admission office也排滿了很多人，她當時也沒有離開，陪我一直到我辦完所有事情。我當時只顧著去辦事，都沒有留意她是否肚子餓，只見她在Admission office在桌上拿糖果吃，我想當時她一定很餓了。於是我們打算到唐人街的餐館吃飯，記得在路上下毛毛細雨，而她卻沒有打傘，我怕她會感冒就拿出我的那把大雨傘。我們漫步在街上，我細細地打量著她的青絲秀髮，數顆小雨珠滑下來，我伸手為她輕輕地拭去，當時我留意到她嘴角上露出一絲淺笑。說真的，我不知道那一刻的感覺怎麽形容，一直以來在她身邊幫她，關心她，我不知道是否出於喜歡她還是對她出於友情去憐惜她。我和她進了一家餐館，點了幾個菜，依稀還記得是排骨，雞翼，粉果，等等。剛開始是我夾一個粉果和幾塊排骨，到了最後，她反過來夾給我，明知道我飽了還硬塞給我。想起來真的覺得挺有趣的。我們吃完以後，我送她去坐巴士回家，那是我們在2006年最後一次見面，我知道我們在不同的大學裏，有各自的天地，以後見面的機會可以說是微乎其微了。於是我送給她一串手鏈，親自幫她戴在右手。希望她看到這條手鏈會想起我，記得我。
在我們大學的第一個學期，我們都沒有見面，只是偶爾在網上聊聊天，互相訴説各自在大學的感受和互相交流各自在大學的所學。直到學期末，我們都完成各自的考試，就相約一起囘去lesp見面。半年沒見覺得她沒有多大的變化。因爲她，我回到lesp被MZ逮個正着，讓我寫一篇我在高中和大學學英語的經歷，幫助lesp的老師更好地幫助以後的學生提升英文。本來YB也要寫，她硬賴到我頭上，結果只有我一個人寫。
一個月的寒假轉眼即過，我因爲早放假所以也早開學，YB沒有我那麽早開學，我們又再次聊起來，我覺得她那時開始有點問題，她有點懷疑她自己所學的和所選的專業，問我關於選專業的問題，我感覺得出她有點迷失，其實我自己還不是一樣茫然，所以我們都在彼此安慰和鼓勵對方對未來要有信心和希望。
但是幾個禮拜過去了，我看到了她的QQ簽名，“緣也，功也，過也，到頭來都是空空的”我當時不以爲然，還笑話她是否看破紅塵。她說她對很多事情都已經看得很淡，原來在那時她已經決定不再去讀書了。我當時真的感覺如雷霆萬鈞，我不斷勸她繼續上課，不要浪費去年在高中的努力。可是我的勸阻還是無補于事，她最終還是選擇退學去做工，把所有的課都取消了，把書也送給了同學，還說過一段時間一個人去外州，我當時極力反對，一個女孩子孤零零無依無靠地去外州是多麽不容易啊！但她當時已經打定主意了，她覺得她失去一些很重要的東西，失去那些重要的東西任何事情對她來説都變得不重要了，她已經有決定了，至於決定是什麽，以後就會告訴我。鑒于我當時也要忙於應付ACT，根本無暇分身去勸她，只留話給她讓她走之前一定要告訴我，我要見她。
.直到5月18號以後，我知道我考過了ACT，我迫不及待地告訴她這個好消息，然而，她也給我送來一個好消息。起初問我：“是不是一個能保守秘密的人？”我說：“你應該相信我，只要你不讓我說，我絕對不會向任何人吐露半個字。”她問我：“如果我要結婚，你會不會來參加我的婚禮？5月27日那天有沒有空，想約我出來見面，還不許我問她以前的問題和向任何人提起她的事。”看到這個問題，我當時真是晴天霹靂，但遲疑了一下，馬上回應：“只要你叫我去，我一定到場。”當時她還故作神秘賣關子，要到星期五才告訴我，其實我當時就已經猜得七七八八了，當時我真的是忐忑不安，因爲我已經猜到她要結婚了，直到星期五晚上，我終于等到她上綫了，她終于向我說出她星期天要在唐人街在金橋酒店結婚。說真的我真被她嚇了一跳，她才比我大十個月，也就是說才22嵗，那麽年輕就要結婚。 於是我問她：“你喜歡那個人嗎？”但是她卻淡淡地說：“不要問我這些問題，曾經的已經過去，人不能停留在過去，現在的就是是新的，就要好好把握，我知道他會對我很好就行了，記得6點鐘在金橋酒店，我很想見到你，希望你可以準時到，因爲我除了邀請Wendy就只邀請你這個高中的朋友。”看到這些，我無言以對，我很躊躇不知道我應該去還是不去，作爲朋友，她那麽誠心邀請我去，我如果不去好像不禮貌，而且結婚對一個女人來説是人生中很神聖的一刻，但是她只叫我一個人去參加，也就意味著參加婚禮的人我都不認識。到時候都是福州人，人家說起福州話來，我都不知道在說什麽，簡直就是傻子一個。真是讓我進退兩難呐！也許MZ說得對，我是一個耳根子太軟的人，很多時候遇到女孩子會使我失去分寸。我最終決定去參加她的婚禮。
我準時來到金橋酒店，這場婚禮真是好不熱鬧啊！一走進去就看到了鄭陳聯婚的幾個大字，我站在樓下遲疑了一下，就直接到樓上去找YB，真是人靠衣裝，佛靠金裝，只見她穿著雪白的婚紗，臉上凃有金沙，嘴唇凃了口紅，真是好生艷麗啊！她看到我徑直向我走過來，我看著她走過來的樣子，先是呆了一下，然後忍俊不住，握著她的手笑起來，說：“嗯，好漂亮的新娘子哦！”她也笑著說：“謝謝。”然後領我到一張桌子坐下，低聲對我說：“你在這裡坐，不用和他們説話的。”唉，我最不願意的事情終于發生了，滿桌子的都是福州人，打牌的打牌，喝酒的喝酒，我真的好想一走了之，但是YB就在門口，她居然看到我，親自領我到這張桌子，我又怎麽可以這麽一聲不響地走了呢？這樣對主人家太不禮貌了。哎，坐在那裏真是折磨人呐！震耳欲聾的音響，滿桌子的酒味撲鼻而來，我只好靜靜地坐在那裏剝花生。好不容易熬到8點，客人都來得差不多了，我看新郎和新娘都在忙著和客人一起合照，我只想坐在那裏靜靜地等待婚禮的結束，但是新郎特地走過來，拉我到臺上和他們一起合照。沒辦法！只好卻之不恭了。
到了八點十五分，婚禮正式開始了。只見雙方的主婚人慢慢走上台坐下，然後輪到新郎和新娘隆重地登場，只見新郎挽扶著新娘走到主婚人跟前。還真是有一套，現在還玩那種老把戲，那個司儀喊：“一拜天地，二拜高堂，夫妻對拜。”然後點蠟燭，給祖宗上香，跪下祈求祖先庇佑這對新人夫妻恩愛，花開富貴，早生貴子，白頭到老。緊接著新人向雙方的父母和那些所謂的叔伯長輩敬茶，祝福公公婆婆，岳父岳母身體健康，然後給紅包，那些叔伯長輩就給什麽手鐲還有戒指什麽的。新娘子還要換婚紗，穿上旗袍，來來去去足足折騰了兩個多小時。最後好不容易結束了，那個司儀說：“這對新人由相識，相知，相戀，相愛到玉成好事，希望滿場嘉賓都一齊鼓掌，向他們致以最深切的祝福，祝福他們在人生的路上攜手同行，風雨同舟，事業更進一層樓，花開富貴，百年好合，兒孫滿堂。”我聼了那些話覺得很諷刺，尤其是聽到那幾個字“相知和相愛”。我心想：“他們才認識了多久啊？雙方又有多少了解啊？至於相愛，YB真的是真心真心地愛他嗎？”但是我也附和地笑了笑，拍拍手掌。過了片刻，新人和主婚人都過來敬酒，我根本沒理會那些人，只覺得那些主婚人身上帶過來的酒氣簡直要讓我嘔吐，於是我轉過頭去只對著YB，微微笑了一下，和她的酒杯碰了一下，以示祝福，同時也囑咐她不要喝太多酒，因爲她今晚沒有吃什麽東西，這樣傷身而且很容易會醉。
直到11點多，婚禮才開始閉幕。那些人都吃完抹了嘴，拿了一罐XO連招呼都不打就走人。我知道以後可能沒什麽機會見YB了，所以就留下來打算和YB道別一聲，也許YB因爲空腹喝酒有點醉意，也許進去換衣服，我等了很久，人都差不多走光了，沒辦法只好過去和新郎握手，祝賀他娶了一個好妻子，並叫他代我向YB道別。新郎也很客氣地向我道謝。我離開大堂準備離去時，卻發現外面下了大雨，也許是老天爺要我留下來向YB道別一聲，儅我在門口避雨時，YB下來了，換了一身黑色裙子和高跟鞋，真不愧是漂亮的新娘子。我真的很想走上前去和她道別，但是看到她和新郎手拉手走去酒店時，我遲疑了一下，還是不要打擾人家了。於是我呆呆地站在那裏目送YB離去，心裏默默地祝福她。直到她的身影消失于黑暗中，消失于我的眼簾。
這就是我人生中第一次參加朋友婚禮的經過，感覺這場婚禮就像以前古代的父母之命，媒妁之言，試問現在都什麽年代了，真的覺得很滑稽。但無論如何，YB是我的好朋友，我真心地祝福她擁有美滿幸福的婚姻生活。就像她說的，一個女人只要她的丈夫照顧她，愛她，疼她，小兩口好好地過日子就行了，那些美麗的愛情是很令人嚮往，但是一個女人真正需要的是平平淡淡地生活，有人呵護和關懷。現在想來YB真的好像不同了，也許她說的沒錯，百嵗光陰，渾渾沌沌轉瞬即過，那些激情也會隨著時光飛逝而變淡。
在婚禮的第二天，YB就發訊息給我說馬上就隨著她的丈夫去DC了，等以後有機會回來再出來見面。本來我還想勸她有機會繼續完成她的大學學業，但是現在看來已經不可能了，以後恐怕連見面的機會都沒有了。雖然我心裏感到很失落，很捨不得，但她說的很對，有緣自會相見，無論時間定得再久，也有到期的一天。在此，我再次深深地祝福我這位好朋友婚姻美滿幸福。也期盼著將來的重逢早日到來。願我們後會有期

an exciting day

It is a wonderful day. The following essays I posted on May 19 are all I did in this semester. I am so excited because I eventually pass the ACT. How exciting the news is! During these days, I was very vexed since I was so anxious that I couldn't pass the ACT. The possibility of dropping out of school in BMCC was extremely high. Myriad students without passing ACT quitted school. Confronting this nightmare, I was so annoyed, and I always asked myself whether I could pass the exam or not.
May 17th was the date for ACT. I tended to be calm. I remember MZ and YM told me that I had practiced a lot, and I should be confident. When I was thinking of their encouragement, I calm me down. Once I got my test booklet, I was so surprised that I was familiar to this topic. Maybe I practiced writing a lot this semester. My professor gave me two pieces of paper about 20 topics for ACT. It was really an ordeal because I almost finished 17 topics. The number of essays I did was the most in my class. Hence, passing ACT was deserved to me. Nevertheless, I just got 9 points. If I could get 10 points, I directly go to take English 201. It is so pity. Anyway, just like what YM said, writing is very difficult. Although I did a lot of work, there were still lots of fallacies in my essay. Hence, I should take English class sequentially.

5

Our college wants to attract more students to enroll our college. We have two choices which attract students. One is to give scholarship to students with outstanding academic performance. The other one is to reduce tuition by twenty percent. Honestly speaking, both of the options are attractive. However, I think the second option is better than the first one because it can cause more students to enroll our college.
First of all, reducing tuition by twenty percent can interest more mid-standing students to enroll our college. A lot of students do pretty good work in a certain field. However, they are not such rich that they can’t come to enroll our college. Most of students should consider whether they can pay for the tuition or not. On this way, a great number of students want to give up enrolling our college because of our tuition. If we reduce our tuition by twenty, it is undoubted that this is a big enticement to those students. They can think about their decision and don’t need to worry about the expensive tuition. Hence, reducing tuition is a good way to attract students to enroll our college.
Second, although giving scholarship to students with outstanding academic performance is also a good way to cause students to enroll our college, I don’t think it reach our goal to make students join our college as effective as reducing tuition. The amount of outstanding student is limit and it is impossible that all students can reach our college’s requirement. On this way, the option of giving scholarship just benefits to those outstanding students. Regarding on those mid-standing students, they can’t receive the scholarship. Then they don’t want to come to our college giving scholarship doesn’t belong to them. Which amount of students is big, outstanding student or mid-standing students? It is obvious that the mid-standing students are more than outstanding students. Our goal is to increase the number of students. Thus, giving scholarship is not that reaching our goal.
In conclusion, reducing tuition can better work for our goal which attracts more students to enroll our college. It causes many mid-standard students come to our college. Although these students are not so outstanding, they still can enroll our college and don’t hesitate whether the tuition is expensive. Then the possibility of joining to our college is increasing. On this way, our goal, which increases more students, can come true.

ESL 095
Giving tips to workers is very ordinary in the United State. Even though customers don’t want to give tips, workers also ask customers to give tips. On this way, customers must give tips to workers. In my opinion, I don’t think customers should give tips to workers because customers paid for them already.
First of all, giving tips is not mandatory since workers can get salary from their employers. We must be clear why we give tips. For example, customers go to a restaurant and order food. Waiters service for customers, giving them water, introducing foods and passing foods. After customers eat up, waiters also need to clean the table. Hence, customers consider that they should give tips to waiters. Thinking the other way, as customers, we go to a restaurant. Servicing customers is that waiters’ obligation because waiters work in the restaurant. Plus, working in restaurant per hour has certain salary already. In this case, it is completely unnecessary that customers should give tips to waiters.
Furthermore, if giving tips, waiters don’t have steady income, and their salary can’t be ensured in each month. For instance, waiters, who can get tips everyday, work in a restaurant in Chinatown. However, waiters’ salary is only $300 for each month because workers have tips everyday. Hence, all waiters depend on tips. Please don’t forget the lowest salary is $ 1200 per month in New York. The employees just make sure that they can make money. On this way, employee can exploit workers. Regarding on employers’ salary, it is not the employers’ business that workers have $ 1200 per month, and it becomes employers’ business. If the business is good, the workers can get more tips. If not, workers’ salary is lower than $1200. That is because employers are unfortunate.
On the other way, giving tips encourages bosses to exploit employers and customers. In order to have salary at $1200 per month, employers must ask customers give adequate tips. Customers give tips just follow their willing. However, it is unfair that employers ask guests to leave adequate tips, and it breaks the benefits of customers. The bosses always get the most benefits.
In conclusion, customers shouldn’t give tips. Working for customers in a restaurant is workers’ job. The bill pays for workers’ salary already. Giving tips just supports employees to break the benefits of customers and workers. On this way, I strongly plead with all customers to stop giving tips to workers.

I am sad to hear that you divorce your beautiful wife. As a good friend, I want to persuade you to give up this false decision since it is so difficult to marry such an excellent and pretty wife. Otherwise, you will be remorseful in future. Thus, you shouldn’t abandon such a good wife.
First of all, I want to remind you to remember your experience that you felt in love. When you were in high school, you were always cool. You didn’t want to get along with other girls. Many girls pointed that you were too cool to get a girlfriend. Hence, no girls want to make friends with you. At that time, only your present wife admired you, and she didn’t care about what other people said，falling in love you. It was really difficult to do that for a girl. After getting married, when you were depressed, you lose controlled yourself and shouted at her. Nevertheless, she always stood behind you, supporting you, encouraging you. Thinking about your today’s success, can you say that you are still such successful if without her support? Hence, you should better love her and protect her, keeping her kindness in your heart.
On the other way, it is difficult to have a lover for a great number of men in China. Do you know why it is difficult? Chinese government carries out the plan of birth control. Many people want to have a son because of Chinese tradition. In this case, many people drop their baby once they know the baby is a girl. The amount of men is more than the quantity of women. That is the reason why many men can’t find their lovers. Hence, you should sense that you are so lucky that you have a good wife.
Truly, your wife may be do something wrong, making you feel unsatisfied. However, she shouldn’t make this decision of divorce. You must realize that you are a husband and father now, and remember what your wife did for you and what you should do for your children. Trying to think about your son and your daughter, your wife suffered from ten months of pregnancy before she produced them, how difficult she was! Especially your babies were not delivered vaginally but caesarean section. You made her pregnant and tortured for almost one year. Plus, she took good care of your children and parents. If you leave her, she can’t depend on you anymore, and your parents will lose a good daughter-in-law, your children will lose a father or a mother. Consequently, you should respect your wife and take good care of her, be responsible for your children.
Finally, I hope you can’t change your wrong mind which gets divorced to your wife because it is not a\ sage judgment. Otherwise, your family will be ended. You will lose your wife, her support, and her encouragement. Your children can’t grow up with parents. For you, it should be a big lost. As your close friend, I hope you can accept my suggestion, forget your decision and lead a happy life with your wife.

20

The State Department on Banking recently indicated that many college students were in major debt. So far, we have two options to solve this problem. One is to impose a $ 1000 credit limit on college students’ credit cards, and the other one is to provide a course that instructs students in the use of credit cards and debt management. Both choices can solve this problem. Nevertheless, I think the second one is more effective than the first one since it directs college students better use credit cards and debt management.
First of all, to instruct students in the use of credit cards and debt management can cause students to pay attention to this problem, using credit cards and debt management. Many college students can get credit cards but they don’t know how to use their credit cards. Once they get credit cards, they don’t focus on how much money they have and how much interest they should pay for. In this case, they think they have a lot of money, and they excessively use their credit cards. When they realize this problem, maybe it is so late that they must pay for high debts. This is a major reason that many students are in debt. Hence, instructing students in the use of credit cards and debt management is such a good method that reminding students not to overuse their credit cards and debt management.
On the other hand, imposing a $ 1000 credit limit on college students’ debt card is also a good method to prevent students overusing credit cards, but I don’t think it works as effectively as providing a course that instructs students in the use of credit cards and debt management. Since students don’t understand why limit on their credit cards, they have no idea how to use credit cards better in future. After they leave graduate from college, their credit is unlimited anymore. In this condition, they begin to excessively use their credit cards again. Don’t ignore that our goal is to address the problem which students are in debt. Limiting college students’ credit cards will lose the function after graduation, and the problem will appear again. Thus, imposing a $1000 credit limit on college students’ credit cards doesn’t work for people as well as instructs students in the use of credit cards and debt management.
In conclusion, both two options have a common, which is preventing students from being debt. Nevertheless, look further, to provide a course that instructs students in the use of credit cards and debt management can teach students to use credit cards accurately. After graduation, they will not be in debt because of excessively using credit cards. Providing a course that instructs students in the use of credit cards and debt management can work for people permanently, rather than limiting students’ credit cards temporarily. Consequently, providing a course that instructs students in the use of credit cards and debt management is better than imposing a $ 1000 credit limit on college students’ credit cards.

15

The local school board has received money to improve student health services and is trying to determine how to use it. We have two options. One is to institute a sex education program in the high schools, and the other one is to distribute free condoms to all students. Honestly speaking, both choices are good for students. However, I think instituting a sex education program in the high schools is better than distributing free condoms to all students because it can cause more students’ attention.
First of all, instituting a sex education program can provide more common sense about why people have sex. Many youths know nothing about sex and just follow their desires. They don’t know whether their sex is healthy or not, and they need to know more about safe sex. Making love is fantastic and pure. If youths just follow their desire, making love becomes impure. Also, safe and healthy sex can make a couple better get along with each other. Thus, instituting a sex education is essential, and let youths know the purpose of making love. Sex is not only for desire, but also for love and production. In other word, making love just for desire is unhealthy.
Furthermore, instituting a sex education is also to preventing pregnant, that is, avoiding conception. There are many methods of contraception, such as using a condom, IUD, contraceptive medicine. When adults use these methods, they should know about the advantages and disadvantages about using IUD. On this way, lovers must know which method the fittest for lovers is. Certain method has side-effects for lovers if lovers don’t pay attention. Hence, it is necessary that students participate in the sex education program because they need to know more about sex.
In conclusion, instituting a sex education and distributing free condoms have a common. That is, avoiding conception. Nevertheless, the first one is better than second one because it doesn’t only limit how to prevent pregnant, but also shows students safe and healthy sex. Let students treat sex accurately and understand making love doesn’t just satisfy sexuality. Consequently, instituting a sex education is the most effective way to keep teens healthy.

1

Our city got a large piece of empty land in our neighborhood. However, we have two options about using this piece of empty land. One is selling the land to a real estate developer to build a shopping center which will create new jobs and strengthen the local economy. One is building a park with an athletic field, a picnic area and a playground. Although both choices are good for the quality of life for the residents of our community, I think the second one is better than the first one since it can better enhance the quality of life in our community.
First of all, building a park with an athletic field, a picnic area and a playground can provide people a relaxed environment. As we know, millions of residences’ lives are full of pressures, and they need a place where they can relax. They can go to the park with an athletic field, a picnic area and playground. In the park, they many do sports in the athletic field, such as running, playing balance bar. For the picnic area, residences have a picnic during their holiday. It is really a good time that families or friends get together. They can chat to each other face-to-face. Regarding the playground, it is obvious that it is the paradise of children. Children can play in a safe surrounding. Elderly can kill time in the park. Hence, building a park shows us many advantages.
Furthermore, a park with many plants can release fresh air. All companies turn on air condition or heat. It is not very healthy that people always stay in this kind of surrounding. If this empty land becomes a shopping center, it is undoubted that the shopping center turns on air condition or heat. People go to the shopping center just as they stay in their company. The air they breathe is from air condition. Also, using too much air condition can cause greenhouse gases, damaging the atmosphere. Consequently, look further, building a park better than building a shopping center because building a shopping center also cause air pollution.
In conclusion, making the second option, building a park, can absolutely better enhance the quality of life. It supplies a good surrounding to people. People can relax in a park, do exercises, and breathe fresh air. Spending the spare time in the park can make people health, being far way from depression. If building a shopping center, it is just for some fashion people to go shopping, for those elderly or children, I don’t think it can improve the quality of the life. Thus, building a park is the best choice.

11

Our college has received money to improve services to student and must decide how to use the money. At present, we have two options, one is to fund a health clinic, and the other one is fund an AIDS prevention program. We must select one of them which is the best. In my opinion, the second proposal is better than the first one because all students need it so far.
First of all, funding an AIDS prevention program can tell students how AIDS is close to them. According to research, there were thousands of people get AIDS each year, and 20% of them were college students. It was just an approximate number because a part of students hadn’t taken an AIDS test or they were just AIDS takers. Confronting this bad situation, it is very urgent that our college must fund an AIDS program for students to lower the number of infecting AIDS. Otherwise, many students can’t realize that how dangerous they are and know nothing about AIDS.
Second, funding an AIDS prevention program teaches students to have safe and healthy sex. AIDS is a communicable disease that is spread from person to person through sexual contact. There are many students having unsafe sex or having sex with more than one partner. These two ways are primary ways to let students infect AIDS. In this situation, college students can realize what kind of sex is unsafe. When they have sex with partners, they know how to protect themselves and prevent AIDS. According to funding an AIDS program, a great number of students will be aware of the harm of AIDS. If we don’t fund this AID prevention program, all these innocents continue their unsafe sex. The risk of getting AIDS goes up constantly. Thus, we had better prevent AIDS rather than curing AIDS after getting AIDS. It can be a good method to prevent AIDS.
Furthermore, funding an AIDS prevention program supports information to use the methods of prevent AIDS. For example, students choose condom when they have sex, they need to know how to use a condom accurately because a condom is not the one hundred percent preventing AIDS. If students don’t know the right way of using a condom, they can still get AIDS. Using a condom can lose its function.
In conclusion, funding an AIDS is more urgent than funding a health clinic since many students need more common sense about preventing AIDS. In this situation, funding an AIDS prevention program is the best choice. Finally, thanks your patience to read my letter.

12

Our town has received money to improve services to residents and must decide hot to use it. So far we have two options. One is to build a new hospital, and the other one is to build a new elementary school. Both choices are good for residents. Nevertheless, I think the second is better than the first one. Let me explain the reasons.
First of all, residents don’t need to drive a long way to send and pick up their children due to building a new elementary school. As we know, some children live faraway from school. There are no schools near their home, and their parents must take a long trip to send children to school and pick up them from school. If we build a new elementary school in our neighborhood, it is unnecessary for residents to take a long trip to send their children and pick up their children. On the other hand, it can also avoid busy traffic because residents don’t need to drive a car.
Second, building a new elementary school can save residents’ time. Residents don’t need to go to work in a rush. For example, if children live faraway from school and without a bus or subway near their homes, residents must drive a car to send their children and pick up their children. As we know, schools begin at 8 o’clock, and this time is a rush hour, too. We can imagine that what happen all residents drive cars at the rush hour. It is obvious that residents must spend a lot of time on the road, and after schools over, parents also need to spend the same time to pick up children from school. Thus, if time is money, we build a new elementary school near our home; all residents can save a lot of money.
Furthermore, building a new elementary school can really save residents’ money and protect the environment. The price of gas goes up day by day. All the residents, whose home is far away from subway station or bus stops, must drive a car to send their children to school. If a new elementary school is built near their homes, the cars don’t need to spend extra gas because it is unnecessary for residents to drive a car to send children and pick up children. Likewise, building a new elementary school avoids unnecessary air pollution. As we know, the car can reveal heat and pollute air. If residents don’t need to drive a car for a long distance to send children and pick up children, it can absolutely protect our surroundings.
In conclusion, the choice of building a new elementary school is better than building a new hospital because it brings such many advantages to us. Residents can save time, and they don’t need to drive a long distance. Our environment can be protected, too. Hence, we should build a new elementary school rather than building a new hospital. Finally, thanks for your patience to read my letter.

9

Our college has a budget surplus and has to decide how to use it. So far we have two options, one is to buy additional computers for the students to use in the library, and the other one is to expand and modernize the cafeteria. We must pick up one of them which is benefit to students. In my opinion, the first choice is better than the second one since it can make more students to become more involved and active at the college.
First of all, it is essential to buy additional computers for students to use in the library. There are many old computers in our library, and many of them don’t work very well. A lot of software is missing in the computers. Many students usually complain that they can do their homework because of missing software, such as drawing a paragraph for math homework, no frontage in the computers, and so on. In this situation, many students can’t finish their homework once involving computers. Furthermore, it takes too much time to start a computer. Especially during the afternoon, many students keep a long line and wait to use computers. Starting a computer need 5 minutes at least, it is obvious that how much time we waste. Hence, we need more computers in our library.
Second, the most important reason is using these old computers in the library is not good for students’ health. The heat of an old computer release is much more than a new computer. In this condition, we can count the number of computers in our library, and image how the environment is in our library. If students stay in this kind of surrounding for a long period, the possibility of getting a cancer is very high. It is very obvious that how dangerous these students are. Nevertheless, these students need to finish their homework, and must suffer from this bad environment. Base on this situation, buying new computers is necessary.
In conclusion, we should improve the environment in our library. If we don’t do that, many students are in danger; and many students can’t finish their homework. Hence, we should buy more new computers rather than modernize and expand the cafeteria. At last, thanks for your patience to read my letter.

16

Our college is trying to reduce the number of smoking among students. We have two options, one is to prohibit smoking on campus, inside and outside of all buildings, and the other one is to provide a smoke-enders program. We must the most effective one. Although both choices are good, I think the second choice is more effective than the first one since it can better lower the amount of smoking students.
At first, providing a smoke-enders program make students realize the risks of smoking. Many smokers don’t know how dangerous it is to smoke. Regarding on male, when they get into a bad habit of smoking, the possibility of getting lung cancer is extremely high. For female, the risks of smoking are even larger than male. Female get into a bad habit of smoking, the possibility of getting lung cancer is as high as male. Also, for pregnant women, it is dangerous for baby because it causes damage brain. Also, when smokers are smoking, other people are suffering from second-hand cigarette. It is more dangerous than smokers. Consequence, no matter for male or female, if they smoke, they are in danger.
Second, providing a smoke-enders program can encourage smokers to give up smoking. When smokers give up smoking, they need a big encouragement and will power. During the process of giving up smoking, smokers are suffering because this process is an ordeal. When smokers can’t bear because of having no cigarette, they need people’s support. If they can see their friends are also suffering from giving up smoking, but still continue giving up smoking. In this occasion, they can get encouragement and continue giving up smoking. This is a pressure of companion. Thereby, providing a smoke-enders program can make a big group for smoke-enders. In this group, they have confidence to give up smoking.
On the other hand, prohibiting smoking on campus, inside and outside of all building is not as effective as providing a smoke-enders program. Don’t ignore that our goal is to reduce the number of smokers. Prohibiting smoking on campus, inside and outside of all buildings just works at schools. When these smokers go home or to other places, they still continue smoking. In this situation, prohibiting smoking on campus, inside and outside of all buildings doesn’t reach the final goal of lowering the number of smokers.
Above all, it is obvious that providing a smoke-enders program is much better than prohibiting smoking on campus since it can make smokers giving up smoking completely, not just at school. All students appreciate the harm of smoking, and they can encourage smokers to give up smoking. Thus, providing a smoke-enders program is more effective than prohibiting smoking on campus. Finally, thanks for your patience to read my letter.

12

Our town has received money to improve services to residents and must decide hot to use it. So far we have two options. One is to build a new hospital, the other one is to build a new elementary school. Both choices are good for residents. Nevertheless, I think the second is better than the first one. Let me explain the reasons.
First of all, building a new elementary school makes teachers better take care of children. It is true that most of little children are so naughty that they are hard to control themselves. Many times they need their teachers to remind them what they did is right or not. Hence, it should reduce the class size. However, in some schools, the class size is still too big. If children do something wrong, it is so difficult that teachers can talk to students one by one. On this way, teachers may ignore some students who just make a little mistake. It is unfair to those students, and they can realize what they did is wrong.
Second, building a new elementary school can provide big space to children. It is essential to augment the playground because all little children like to play games together. Let us imagine what happen that many children stay in a small playground. They don’t have adequate space to play games in the playground. If some children play basketball, they may beat other students and it is easy to hurt other students. On this condition, in order to prevent students from being hurt, teachers must ask students not to play a basketball. When the children grow up, they don’t like to play the basketball anymore. They are no longer interested in exercises because they have no enough space to do exercises as they were young.
Third, building a new elementary school can make parents save time to send children to school and pick up children from school. Many parents spend a lot of time sending their children to school and picking up their children from school because where they live is far away from school. Especially, during the rush hours, in order to send students or pick up students on time, parents may drive too fast because they must go to work on time. In this case, it is easy to cause traffic accidents. Hence, building a new school near the home, parents can send students or pick up students in a rush. It can be safe for parents and students.
Above all, we need a new elementary school than a new hospital because a new school brings such many advantage to us. Hence, we should rather build a new school than a new hospital. Thanks for your patience to read my letter.

2

The problem of an increasing crime rate is still existent in our community. Now we have a surplus and want to solve this problem. According to discussion, we have two plans; one is to hire more police to lock up criminals, and the other is to build a recreation center to keep young people off the streets and out of trouble. We have to pick up the best one. In my opinion, the first plan is better than the second one because it can work effectively.
At first, hiring more police has more power to deal with crime. As we know, our community is very big, and the number of police in each zone is limited. For example, there are two policemen at least in four streets. Nevertheless, due to the number of policemen, we have to ignore some streets. In this case, there are many crimes appearing in these ignored zones. Consequently, we need more police and have to hire more police. Otherwise, we can’t solve the problem of a rising crime rate.
Second, hiring more police can offer more jobs to those idle people. Most of criminal are idle people because they don’t have a job. In order to offer their daily expense, these idle people take a risk to challenge law. They grab wealth in the streets, or blackmail people. If we hire more police, we can offer more positions to these idle people. These idle people can get jobs and earn money to offer their daily expense, and don’t need to grab wealth, or extort people in the street. Hence, hiring more police can make use of the number of idle people to devote our community and reduce criminal, even prevent criminal on time.
On the other hand, building a recreation center to keep young people off the streets and out of trouble doesn’t seem an effective way. It is impossible for all young people to gather in a recreation center all the time. Not all young people want to go to the recreation center, and it is impossible to force all young people gather in the recreation center. If some young people don’t want to go to the recreation center and break law in the street. Building a recreation center becomes nonsense. Hence, this plan is not as effectively as hiring more police.
In conclusion, hiring more police can be the most effective way to reduce criminal in our community. Not only many idle people have jobs and can make money, but also the rate of crime goes down. At last, thanks for your patience to read my letter.

final essay

In order to encourage more students to enter the teaching profession, the education department has two proposals; one is to make a requirement of graduation for each student majoring in liveral arts to tutor students in secondary school for one year. Under the supervison of a college instructor, the college tutor would receive six college credits at no cost, and the other is to offer liveral arts majors a mster’s degree at no cost if they promise to teach at the local junior high or high school for a minimun of three years. Although both choices are attractive, I think the second choice is better. Now let me explain the resons.
At first, receiving a master’s degree in Education at no cost can interest students. As we know, there are many college students without finanical aid, and they must pay for tution by working. Many of them want to get a master’s degree. Nevertheless, they can’t affor the expensive tution. Hence, many college students give up this decision. Now, college offers a master’s degree for free. This is a good opportunity for students to make their dream, getting a master’s degree, come true. The college students can save a lot of money.
Second, teaching at the local junior high or high school can make students have more time to think about their future. After graduation, millions of students don’t know what job they want to get. If these graduated students can teach school, there are two advantages. One is the graduated students can share their knowledge with high school students; the other one is they can consider whether they are suited to be teachers or not. If yes, they can contiue teaching; if not, they can change their mind. Meanwhile, they can get salary during teaching at school, and they don’t need to waste time looking for a job.
On the other hand, it is unfair that making a requirement of graudation for each student majoring in liberal arts to tutor student in secondary school for one year. If the students don’t want to tutor in secondary school, in ordet to finish the requirement of graduation, they must follow this requirement. After one year, they look for other jobs. Wasting one year tutoring in secondary school is nonsense, and it just wastes time. Also, if making this requirement of graduation, it means to force students to do a job they don’t like. Don’t forget out goal is to encourage students, not force students. Thus, this choice is not fair.
Above all, the second choice is better than the first one since it supports a good chance for graduated students to get a master’s degree and save money. Plus, it doesn’t force students to be a tutor. Hence, this choice is acceptable. Finally, thanks for your patience to read my letter.

14

In order to punish students caught cheating, our college has decided to review its policy. We have two choices; one is to expel students caught cheating so that they can never return to the college, and the other one is to fail and suspend cheaters for one year. Although both choices can punish students caught cheating, I disagree with the first choice. In my opinion, the second option is better than the first one. Now let me explain why.
At first, to fail and suspend cheaters for one year can be a good punishment to students. There are many college students cheating in our college, therefore we must make some policies to punish these students. The policy of failing and suspend cheaters for one year makes college students lose one year’s tuition. It can be a good lesson for students, and it can effectively warn other students not to cheat. Otherwise, the result of being failed for one year can happen to them. In order to avoid the fate of failing for one year, college students must follow the policy, without cheating.
Second, failing and suspending cheaters for a year is a good opportunity for college students to reflect them. During the period of suspending, the punished students can remember why they are punished. They can think about why the bad result comes to them. It is very good for them after they are going to graduate in future. According to being failed, let them know they must pay for their cheating. Failing for a year is just a little punishment. If they continue cheating, the endless and big punishments are waiting for them.
On the other hand, the choice of expelling student caught cheating is much too strict and cruel. As we know, it is unavoidable that young people can make a mistake. The most important thing is that college students can realize the mistakes, and they can correct their mistakes. Young people should get a lesson from making mistakes. Otherwise students can’t be mature. Plus, after being punished, we still give the punished students a chance. There are no perfect people in the world. If carrying out the policy of expelling student caught cheating and let them never return to the college, the punished students don’t have a chance to correct their mistakes, and there are millions of college students breaking their dream of graduating from a college. Don’t ignore our college must help students to make their dream come true, not to break their dreams. Hence, this choice shouldn’t be carried out.
In conclusion, the second choice, failing and suspending cheaters for one year, is much better than expelling cheater making them never return to college because it gives cheaters a chance. Cheaters can get a lesson from mistakes. Thus, this choice can be acceptable to all students. At last, thanks for your patience to think about my suggestion.

Our neighborhood has received a donation to improve recreational services for residents. So far, we have two options, one is to build an outdoor community pool, and the other one is to build basketball, volleyball, baseball and tennis facilities. Although both choices are good for residents, I think the second choice is better than the first one because it can better service for residents.
At first, building the facilities can be suited for all people’s interests. As we know, different people have different orientations. It is impossible that all people just have the same interest. In this case, people need various areas to do sports. If building basketball, volleyball, baseball, and tennis facilities, for those who like to play the basketball, they can gather to play basketball. Regarding those who like to play the volleyball, they have a space to play the volleyball. Hence, all people have certain area to play their favorite sports
Also, we need the facilities more than an outdoor community pool. The space for all people do sports is so small that it can’t hold such many people. In a small area, there are many people doing different sports. Some people plays the basket, some people play volleyball, and some play tennis. How dangerous these people are in the crowd space. It is easy to get hurt. Thus, we must augment the sport area because if we don’t that, many people will be hurt.
On the other hand, although building an outdoor community pool is beneficial to swimmers, the choice has a hidden risk. There are millions of illegal immigrants in our community. These people didn’t take any immune shots. If these people have any infected diseases, they go to swim in the community pool. Let us image how risky people swim in the pool. All people are in danger. Especially, in summer, the disease is easy to spread. Consequently, we must realize this big problem. Otherwise, all people will be in trouble after swimming in the community pool.
In conclusion, people who need the facilities are more than those who need an outdoor community pool because all people want to do exercises. They don’t want to take any risks when they are doing exercises. Hence, the donation should spend on building facilities, rather than building an outdoor pool. At last, thanks for your patience to consider my suggestion.

Our community has a budget surplus, and two proposals have been made for its use. One is to give free flu shots to the senior citizens in the community, and the other is to offer a free trip to a baseball game for the youth in the community. We must pick the best choice. In my opinion, the first one is the best choice since it can benefit all people in our community.
First of all, giving free flu shots can keep people’s health. As we know, there are millions of illegal immigrants in our community. Most of them didn’t take any flu shots before came to United State. Especially, some people are from subtropics. If they bring the disease from their hometown, it is easy to spread. Our immune system is hard to defend. Also, senior people’s immunization is not as strong as young people’s. Thus, it is very essential to give senior people free flu shots.
Second, giving free flu shots is a good way to prevent flu. The virus of flu can revolute fast. Many people don’t pay attention when they have flu. They think their immune can kill the flu virus. Nevertheless, a lot of time, the immune system doesn’t work effectively. Hence, if all people take free flu shots, their immune system can defend flu disease better. Once, the virus enters our bodies, the immune system begin to work. Hence, people should take free flu shots before they have flu. Plus, a lot of people are poor, and they have no money to pay for flu shots. If people get flu, it is too late that they go to take flu shots. Hence, giving free flu shots can prevent flu effectively.
On the other hand, offering a free trip to a baseball game for the youth in the community is unfair for some people. It is impossible that all people in our community can go to join the free trip. Don’t ignore our goal is to pick the best choice to improve life in our community. If we pick this choice, it just satisfies to some people who can play baseball. For other people, they lose a good chance to have a free trip. Hence, the choice of offering a free trip to a baseball game just benefits baseball players. We should not pick the choice.
In conclusion, all people in our community need the free flu shots. It can keep all people healthy. For the other choice, many people can’t go to the trip. Hence, the best option is to giving free flu shots to all people in the community. Finally, thanks for your patience to think about my suggestion.