ESL Level 6 Fall 2008

The view of the book

2008-12-08T08:21:00.001-08:00

Our group prefers to read the second book than reading the first one. Because of the second book give us a deeper effect. The story approached our life. Both of our group members are daughters in our families. We also have the similar problems. Sometimes we really do not how to communicate with our mothers. We can find something useful in this book that how to solve the relationship between mothers and daughters. We learn about different culture and traditions.

Red Azalea

2008-12-08T08:17:00.000-08:00

Red Azalea is a real testimony of political power in China during the Mao period. It was a really sad fate. This book talks about Anchee Min’s life in school, in Red Farm and in the film studio. Then, love was forbidden, and work was very hard. She survived hardly in the communist party regulation.

The Joy Luck Club

2008-12-08T08:11:00.000-08:00

A beautiful and mesmerizing story about the life of four mothers passing down their Chinese superstitions to their daughters. This book will give you a lesson of love, hope and courage.

Funny in Farsi

2008-12-08T08:07:00.000-08:00

Hilarious and charming. “Fanny in Farsi” is a book which will make you travel to your childhood full of adventures. In a humorous way she talks about her frustration trying to fit in a new culture. The book is full of surprises, sarcasm and irony. Each page is unpredictable, but always interesting.

Reflection

2008-12-08T08:02:00.000-08:00

The Joy Luck Club is about some Chinese stories that happened long time ago in one of the most important and difficult moments for China, the war against Japan. Mothers experiences are sad with full of tears, and they suffered so many pains that they have more expectations on their daughters. However, they make great efforts to get through the sad period.

cause & effect essay-The Shaking of the Chinese Family Planning Policy

2008-11-18T12:39:00.000-08:00

Some experts predicted that human society will disappear due to the uncontrolled growth rate of the population in the future. After the Second World War, the population of the world grew at a high speed, especially in China. When the Second World War was ended in 1945, the population of China was just 550 million, but ten years later, it had grown to 660 million. The government of China realized that the large population would push the country to another bad situation after the war. Therefore, the government decided to run the Family Planning Policy immediately in 1960. All of the Chinese people had been involved into the new “war” by the government; it was a war between the traditionalism and the national policy. Since I was born in 1979, my family had fought with the Family Planning Policy for at least 15 years, and we were changed a lot by that.

First of all, the Family Planning Policy made our lives looked like an action movies. My mother has the thirth prenancy in 1978, and her life looked like escaped criminal’s until I was born in 1979. The government began to push the Family Planning Policy very hard in 1978. They created a team which was consisted of some strong men for catching the women who had a third pregnancy, and sent them to the hospital to get sterilized. When my mother realized that she has a third pregnancy, she escaped from our small town on a dark night to avoid being catch by the government. She went to her mother’s town, and hid in a small room which was full of wood and death branches. She never went outside in those days, and my grandmother took care of her daily needs. Unfortunately, the government realized that my mother was hidden by my grandmother, but my mother was smart. She escaped to another relative’s home before the government team came to catch her. Finally, my mother finished her running in the hospital for my birth. She was my hero. Yet, that just was the beginning of the “war”. Because I was an unexpected product according to the policy, I didn’t have an offical identity. It means I did not exist in China. Then, it was my father’s turn. He used money, his society relationship and everything that he had to get my identity papers. As a result, I got my identity, but my family lost a lot. It also affected my family daily life in the future.

Then, as a punishment of the Family Planning Policy, my parents began to experience the hard time in their career. My father was a smart man, and he worked very hard. He was always standing out in his department where he had worked for several years. Everyone considered that my father should replace the old manager who was going to retire in couple months. However , it failed to become true. A few days after I was born, the old manager told my father that the department decided to decrease my father’s salary 40% for each month as a punishment for the extra baby, and it would last for a long time. The worst news was my father had lost the chance to be promoted to a manager. I can’t image how disappointed my father was when he got this bad news, but he was powerless. The punishment did not just occur in my father’s career; it also affected my mother’s. My mother worked almost every day even thought she just got out of the hospital. She didn’t’ say anything against the policy, but more punishments came at the same time. The group leader said that she would just get 50% of her normal salary due to the extra baby, but she needed to do the same work. Of course, she had to accept it because she had three children to feed now. All of those punishments hit my parents heavily. However, they had not been beaten down.

Finally, the effects of the Family Planning Policy came straight to me because we had to face the problems with my education. I needed to go to elementary school when I was eight years old, but the president of the school said that I had to wait for an available position since they had to hold the positions for other children who were not an extra baby. My Dad knew that he had to do something about that . He went to visit one of his comrades in arms who were in a very high position in the government. This man was powerful and the problem was solved easily by him, but he still could not put me in the normal list. My tuition was higher than normal. My father said it is fine,and he just wanted me had good education. However, I knew that my parents bore the higher tuition for my education until I graduated from high school when I was eighteen. After I worked for couple years, I decided to college for a better degree, and something really surprised me. I found that my situation had been changed. I didn’t need to pay extra tuition anymore. I didn’t know how it was changed. I just know that it disappeared quietly from our lives, and my family had come back to the normal life again.

The Family Planning Policy hit my family like a rainstorm since the day I was born, our daily life, my parents’ career and my education were disturbed badly, and then, it disappeared from our lives quietly like a ghost. However , I still can feel the shaking of my family in the rainstorm of the Family Planning Policy today. In the past, I thought the Family Planning Policy was an unfairness, but today, I have realized how important the policy has been for our country. The population of china has grown to more than 1.3 billions in 2008. It is 20% of the population of the world. Some experts have described the population of China as a big bomb for the country, even for the earth, and it looks like it will be worse in the future. The only one exit for china is the Family Planning. Consequently, I hope the Chinese people will support the government to maitain the Family Planning Policy. That will help the government to create a good society in the future for our citizens. I believe that is an important thing we should do for our offspring.

Short synopsis.

2008-11-17T15:46:00.000-08:00

The movie ‘The Noise in my Head’ its an interesting story about Laura, a journalist in her mid 30’s that had complications with several men that surround her life. She invites an eighteen year old runaway kid to stay in her house until he accommodates his situation with his uncle that was supposedly molesting him. As a result, it starts a complex situation in which Laura makes her life complicated because she cannot be alone. It seems that she has emotional problems with every man that emerges in her life because she wants to be their woman, their everything. As a result of all this sentimental chaos, Laura started to realize that she must change her daily life and subsequently she became a teacher which would help her to overcome her emotions. I’ll recommend this movie because it is not the typical love story, and it makes you realize that you also have a noise in your head.

Movie review - Let the Right One In

2008-11-17T12:16:00.000-08:00

When you are twelve years old, you probably did not have a problem with making friends. You probably had plenty of them...unlike the main characters Oscar and Eli of the movie "Let the Right One In". Oscar is being bullied and bitten by a group of his classmates. Because he has no courage and no friends to protect him, he has to tolerate the violent behavior of the classmates until he meets Eli. The only thing they have in common is that she has no friends too. Once they met, they became best friends even though Eli had a big secret. She was a vampire.

Though the main characters are teenagers, I would not recommend the movie “Let the Right One In” for children to watch. It does contain violent scenes. However, it might be interesting for an adult because of its deep idea of true friendship.

Lost In Translation

2008-11-17T11:54:00.000-08:00

Lost In Translation

It is really hard for one person to figure out the way of life in another country. Since I was born in a traditional Hindu family, it is hard for me to learn about the lifestyle in the US. From the day I landed in America until now, I have been experiencing culture shock. There were many things that I had to change, and changing one of the most important things that you like is really difficult. Eating habits along with the difference in food was very hard for me. It is no wonder that everyone loves their tradition, but this doesn’t mean that one should forget about it. Was I supposed to change the food, my eating habits and adapt to the change? This was a big question mark on my mind.
Food is important part in my culture. In the Hindu religion, people have been following the rituals of worshipping the cow for centuries. This was followed from the ancient ages. Since I am a Hindu, I also worship the cow, and therefore eating beef is totally prohibited in our culture. Since I arrived here, I have been reading all the instructions before buying the food to make sure it doesn’t contain any beef products. There are many cases when I have bought something and had to throw it away because it contained beef. For example, one day I was hungry, so I thought about buying food at Mc Donald’s and asked for the chicken burger. When I was trying to eat the burger, I happened to call my brother. He told me that they grill the chicken and the beef in the same grill without cleaning it. I felt awkward and I threw away the burger. My brother scolded me not because I was eating the chicken burger, but because I threw it away. He told me that you have to adapt with the culture that you are living in. In US, I have been eating beef unintentionally, which is hard for me to believe.
The habit of eating is another important part of my culture. In my hometown people eat with their hands and not with a fork, spoon or knife. How would you mix rice, lentil soup, vegetables and pickle with fork, knife, and spoon? If you are able to mix those items while eating, would it taste the same? As for me the taste will be totally different, and I haven’t had the guts to ask people here to conduct the experiment. I have heard that Americans don’t like the habit of eating food with their hands. For the sake of not being embarrassed in front of those people, I have started eating with fork, spoon and knife. It is different from my culture, which I follow, but I still love my tradition.

Finally, eating dinner together once in day with my family is the most important part of my custom. Once a day all our family members sat together to eat dinner. In the beginning, my mom would be serving all of us and then my sister and I would serve the food. These meals were precious movements for all of us because all of the family members would be together. This is not possible for me in America because my parents are not here. Some people in America don’t give priority to the family, which is different from my culture.
Most people are proud of their society and they would never want to change it. To change the best part of your culture is even more difficult. I think I still keep some part of it, because I haven’t changed the food. Have I done the right thing by changing my eating habits, and adapting the American way? I hope people around me are the audience; I leave the question for them to answer. It is hard for people to survive in a new environment without adjustment and people should change according to the demands of the new lifestyle. There are certain parts of the tradition, which people have to change otherwise; it will be hard for them to move on with their life. It is good to learn about the new culture, but people should also try to preserve their own culture for their identity.

Beautiful

2008-11-16T14:16:00.000-08:00

This movie is named Beautiful. The director of this movie is Juhn Jaihong, who is from Korea. It was made at beginning of 2008.it’s kind of love movie. The main actors are Su-yeon Cha and Cheon-hee Lee. This movie named Beautiful that woman is very beautiful, but she felt that was unlucky, even miserable. Her male friends want to got her, they are around her because she is beautiful; and her female friends envy her beautiful. They regard her as enemy. Therefore she try to destroy her beauty.In this movie, the Character Su-yeon, she tried to affiliate with different men. But she knew that they want to get her because she is beautiful, they don’t really like her. After that, she was like crazy and she didn’t eat anything. Then she met a police, who had fallen in love with her for long time. Because he was really care of her, so she wanted to marry with him. Finally, she found that he still in order to her beauty and he was cheating her, and then she killed him

Beauty is a mistake?

2008-11-15T14:04:00.000-08:00

All storys began around her beauty. A beautiful girl should have a nice life. But unlucky, all disaster are cause of her own beauty. She may not think what will happen in future. Some awesome things were waiting for her. Her life was damage and she had to lost her life in this event. It is really regrettable ending.

Movie "Beautiful"is made in South Korea. It was made in 2008. The director is Juhn Jaihong. The main character is a pretty South Korea actor--Soo-yeon Cha. She acted really good in this movie. She brought us into the movie's world and enjoy ourselves in this hour.

The story began in a cafe. A beautiful girl was sitting here and waiting her friend. Some students though she was a star actor and asked her give them a sign name. Everything was perfect in her body. The face,the skin and the body were perfect. But she never though her beauty is held at fault. When she met a fat girl in a park, they talked a few minutes. At the end of the meeting, the fat girl said a strange words" beautiful girl always dead early". What will happen? A admirer follows her home and assaults her. Her life was damage. All the disaster were following with her.

In this movie, the actor really had a great action. At the beginning of the story, the actress still had a nice life. She was beautiful and rich. She can do everything if she want. Because of her beauty, all the men willing to do everything for her. She was a luck girl. She had a perfect face and body. Everyday, she dressed pretty clothes and walked elegantly. Men gawked at her, women spited her. But after the disaster happened. She can not accept the fact, she found that all the faults were held by her own beauty. She began to break her curse. She wanted to break her perfect body, she tried to eat so many food or did not eat anything. At the end ,she want to has a life of debauchery. In different parts of her change, the actor had different performance. We can through her clothes , make-up and action that feel how change in the actress's heart.

After I watched this movie, it really give me a big image. Beauty it not really good in our life. Sometimes , it can help us do something easily. But everything should had a limit. If a thing over its limit. It may cause a disaster. And this movie showed us when you love someone too much , you may hurt him or her. When you really love someone more than yourself, you will not only want to protect him or her but also want to own him or her. When the possessive instinct become more and more strong, you may damage him or her. I recommend that you can watch this movie when you have a free time. This movie is only a story about a beautiful girl. And the story may have a little exaggeration. But you have a long thinking after you finish.

2008-11-15T12:29:00.000-08:00

Who is the real hero?

In one of the states in United States of America there is a family who had a pride of their own. They are happy and love each other desperately, and they are the family of cops. Everyone feels safe when they see cops around them, but what about those kinds of cops shown in the movie who rob the store? It is a big question that strikes my mind.
Director Gavin O’Connor with the star Colin Farrell, Edward Norton, John Voight, Jennifer Ehle, and John Ortiz released a movie in 2008. The movie showed the two different sides of humans and cops are none other than “Pride and Glory”.
The movie compares the two cops of the same family, one demonstrates the truth and loyalty, and the other demonstrates lies and betrayal. Edward Norton is a cop who is loyal to his job, family and who believes in doing the right thing right way whereas Colin Farrell is casted as his brother in law who betrays the family, the police department, and his wife. In summary, this movie talks about the corrupt cops who gets in trouble and finally has to pay back by giving his life and leaving his family alone.
In the movie, there is a scene when Ray finds out that his brother in law is involved in the corruption and killing his mates. He then tries to convince the brother in law to surrender and leave the happy life, but again his brother in law betrays him. This part interested me a lot because at this point Ray thought of the family and the pride they shared for so many years, and from nowhere, his brother- in- law ruins all the pride and glory which their father have built.

I would like to recommend this movie to adults because

I think this movie tries to provide knowledge to adults about what pride and glory really is and how it can be ruined with in a flash of a second. When one watches the movie, it seems like nothing happened, but after the movie is over, one will find out the real meaning of “Pride and Glory”. I really liked the movie because it tried to explain the cause and effect of the person who follows the truth and the person who follows the lies. I also liked it because in a family if one family member commits any mistake, then it affects all the members of the family. For example, in the movie the mistake was committed by Ray’s brother- in-law and that ruined the family and the pride which required a lot of years to gain. I give the movie 3 stars.

CHANGE

2008-11-14T21:02:00.000-08:00

In 1997,a child who left her mother for a long long time returned to her mother’s arm. Hong Kong was a small island situated in southern China. In the wake of the Opium War in 1840,Hong Kong had to be control by British .Until 1997, British allowed to return Hong Kong back to China. When the British flag was lowered in Hong Kong’s government, everything had changed not only in Hong Kong but also in my family.
After Hongkong’seturn,my family communication had a big change. About fifteen years ago, my mother remarry to a Hongkong man ,and they had a baby boy. After one year,my mother and my brother immigrated to Hongkong. From that time,I couldn’t usually meet my mother and brother. Because then,Britain was still Hongkong’s government. Both of China and Britain didn’t allow chinese people stay in Hongkong for a long time,also it’s very difficult to apply to Hongkong. It made me feel helpless in this condition. I felt I lose my family forever. But to my surprise, China advance some policy ,and said that china would do their best to let Hongkong return to China. Finally Hongkong returned to China in 1997. From that time,Chinese people communicated to Hongkong’s people more and more easily. And I also went to Hongkong more easily. I felt I find my missing family again in the Universe. I couldn’t find a word in a dictionary to explain my feeling.
Followed Hongkong’s return,China and Hongkong had a more close-knit economic relationship, my family’s finance also had change. When my mother lived in Guangzhou—my hometown, my family’s financial status was low. Because my mother was single parent and she work in a factory, my family’s revenue was less. We couldn’t buy anything except these were useful in our daily life. Until my mother remarried, my family’s financial status just had a little changed,but I didn’t like this change. Even though we had more money,but I lost my family. Money can never instead of family! Till Hongkong returned to China, I just felt my family finance had a really change. Because we could went to Hongkong easily and stay in Hongkong for a longer time, my mother decide to open a small store which sold delicious snack. After that, my relation who live in Guangzhou often went to Hongkong and help my family’s business. With their help, my family’s financial status had changed. We could buy somethings which we liked. We could travel to someplaces which we liked. We could do something which we liked. I like a person who was bound with a strong rope was rescued. Follow Hongkong’s status become better,our finances have really improved.
However,when my family enjoyed our change, our some relation who lived in Hongkong couldn’t accept Hongkong’s change. They were afraid they will lose their own things when the government had change. They chose to immigrate another counties that they could elude to live in Hongkong under Chinese control. But after they immigrate to another counties, their life was not very good. They had to speak and listen foreign language. They couldn’t accept other culture and custom. In addition, now China become more and more strong in the world. My expatriate relation repented leave their own country and their home town—Hongkong. Because the bad things which they thought didn’t happen. Instead of that, Hongkong become more palmy under Chinese control. Suddenly they understood children should never leave their mother if they could. Such as Hongkong, she returned to her mother’s arm when she could do. Now most of my expatriate relation are changing their mind ,and they chose to come back to Hongkong. After Hongkong’s return, their life and mind had change again and again. I thought my Hongkong’s relation had a biggest change in this event.
Change
In 1997,a child who left her mother for a long long time returned to her mother’s arm. Hong Kong was a small island situated in southern China. In the wake of the Opium War in 1840,Hong Kong had to be control by British .Until 1997, British allowed to return Hong Kong back to China. When the British flag was lowered in Hong Kong’s government, everything had changed not only in Hong Kong but also in my family.
After Hongkong’seturn,my family communication had a big change. About fifteen years ago, my mother remarry to a Hongkong man ,and they had a baby boy. After one year,my mother and my brother immigrated to Hongkong. From that time,I couldn’t usually meet my mother and brother. Because then,Britain was still Hongkong’s government. Both of China and Britain didn’t allow chinese people stay in Hongkong for a long time,also it’s very difficult to apply to Hongkong. It made me feel helpless in this condition. I felt I lose my family forever. But to my surprise, China advance some policy ,and said that china would do their best to let Hongkong return to China. Finally Hongkong returned to China in 1997. From that time,Chinese people communicated to Hongkong’s people more and more easily. And I also went to Hongkong more easily. I felt I find my missing family again in the Universe. I couldn’t find a word in a dictionary to explain my feeling.
Followed Hongkong’s return,China and Hongkong had a more close-knit economic relationship, my family’s finance also had change. When my mother lived in Guangzhou—my hometown, my family’s financial status was low. Because my mother was single parent and she work in a factory, my family’s revenue was less. We couldn’t buy anything except these were useful in our daily life. Until my mother remarried, my family’s financial status just had a little changed,but I didn’t like this change. Even though we had more money,but I lost my family. Money can never instead of family! Till Hongkong returned to China, I just felt my family finance had a really change. Because we could went to Hongkong easily and stay in Hongkong for a longer time, my mother decide to open a small store which sold delicious snack. After that, my relation who live in Guangzhou often went to Hongkong and help my family’s business. With their help, my family’s financial status had changed. We could buy somethings which we liked. We could travel to someplaces which we liked. We could do something which we liked. I like a person who was bound with a strong rope was rescued. Follow Hongkong’s status become better,our finances have really improved.
However,when my family enjoyed our change, our some relation who lived in Hongkong couldn’t accept Hongkong’s change. They were afraid they will lose their own things when the government had change. They chose to immigrate another counties that they could elude to live in Hongkong under Chinese control. But after they immigrate to another counties, their life was not very good. They had to speak and listen foreign language. They couldn’t accept other culture and custom. In addition, now China become more and more strong in the world. My expatriate relation repented leave their own country and their home town—Hongkong. Because the bad things which they thought didn’t happen. Instead of that, Hongkong become more palmy under Chinese control. Suddenly they understood children should never leave their mother if they could. Such as Hongkong, she returned to her mother’s arm when she could do. Now most of my expatriate relation are changing their mind ,and they chose to come back to Hongkong. After Hongkong’s return, their life and mind had change again and again. I thought my Hongkong’s relation had a biggest change in this event.
In fact,our family is changing everyday. But after Hongkong’s return, most of conditions in my family had change. It was a great chang for my family. Without Hongkong’s return, I wouldn’t have a happy family time with my mother. Without Hongkong’s return, my family wouldn’t have our own business, and we wouldn’t do many things which we like to do. Without Hongkong’ s return, my relation wouldn’t immigrate to another counties,but they also wouldn’t have a chance to know how nice Hongkong’s future is! If I have one more chance to choose if Hongkong return or not. I will still say “Of course! Why not!” I still support Hongkong reture to her really mother’arm. I know Hongkong will develop more and more prosperous under Chinese control in the future.In fact,our family is changing everyday. But after Hongkong’s return, most of conditions in my family had change. It was a great chang for my family. Without Hongkong’s return, I wouldn’t have a happy family time with my mother. Without Hongkong’s return, my family wouldn’t have our own business, and we wouldn’t do many things which we like to do. Without Hongkong’ s return, my relation wouldn’t immigrate to another counties,but they also wouldn’t have a chance to know how nice Hongkong’s future is! If I have one more chance to choose if Hongkong return or not. I will still say “Of course! Why not!” I still support Hongkong reture to her really mother’arm. I know Hongkong will develop more and more prosperous under Chinese control in the future.

What Just Happened?

2008-11-14T17:29:00.000-08:00

In Hollywood, what will happen in the few days of a producer’s life while he is filming a movie? Does it reflect his ordinary life that influenced by his career? This movie tells you a realistic scene of those incredible days. This is an interesting movie with dramatic stories. However, there are some bad words and sexual scenes in the movie that only for adults to watch. I recommend this movie because of its impressive but conflicting ideas that we think about the life of a famous film producer.

movie review-

2008-11-14T13:25:00.000-08:00

What have you espected in this halloween? Blood? Fear? Screaming? Or do you want to play a game? Welcome to Jigsaw's game. This is a game for survivak. You have a chance to win the game to survive and discover who are you really are, but if you don't make a correct choice, your game will be over. Now, let's start the game.

This is the 5th version of series. The company choose DAVID HACKL to be the director at . They hoped that he could bring some freshness to the movie. The casts consists of Tobin Bell (Jigsaw), Costas Momdylor (Hoffman, the continuator of Jigsaw), Scott Patterson (Petter Straum), Mark Rolston (Erickson) and Betsy russell (Jill, Jigsaw's ex-wife).

The story continues from . Everybody was killed in Jigsaw’ game (including Jgsaw), except two detectives Hoffman and Petter. Petter doubted that Hoffman had some relationship with Jigsaw, and then he chased the tracks that he found. Hoffman was aware that petter was tracking him and Jigsaw. He made a plan to set Petter up. At the same time, Hoffman was still making Jigsaw’s game to kill people. Could Petter stop Jigsaw and Hoffman?

This is a scary and bllody movie. The scary music, screaming and blood especially make the movie really be horrific. However, I was very interested in the part that behide the bloody story. It is about the human nature. Some people didn’t cherish their life or did something wrong to hurt others but without punishment. Jigsaw would catch them and test them in his game. If they had changed, they would make some correct decisions and would survive. Otherwise, they would be killed in the game. It was alarming for people.

I like the series,especially its plot and the significance that behide the blood. I believe that some people really exist in our world to do wrong things but they will never stop themselves. The reason is they think nobody will know about it. Jigsaw is the nightmare for those people. Another reason is the plot always suprises me. That is why I recommend the movie to my classmates.

once review

2008-11-14T12:18:00.000-08:00

The film opens with of the man trying to earn money as a street singer, and his singing voice which is flying over a gloomy night in Dublin nowadays. The music immediately gains our attention and drives us in the movie and creates the atmosphere. Suddenly a gawper drug addict robs his earnings, and the busker( Glen Hasard), chases after him to get back his profit with all his strength. This determination to get back his due immerses you in the core of the poor Dublin atmosphere.
I deeply recommend this movie for everyone who loves music. This co-ed duo is a piece of art and leaves you in peace afterward. The best soundtrack I have heard. The simple movie is a musical performance. It is a beautiful film with a small amount of money (because it takes place on the street with not very famous actors), but a great amount of spirit.*****

Movie Review-Two Lovers

2008-11-13T22:32:00.000-08:00

This is a romantic love movie. It has light and pop music, which touches you heart deeply. Also, the actor’s acting is excellent. You can feel his thoughts without language. Moreover, you will be fascinated with the two beautiful actresses, one makes you feel warm, another makes you crazy.

If you are in love with somebody or you want to find a lover, I recommend that you watch this movie. You will cherish and hold your lover more tightly after this movie. This is the movie talks about love others and be loved.I give this movie five stars. I hope you won’t miss such a good movie.

Movie review - THE SKY, THE EARTH AND THE RAIN

2008-11-13T09:48:00.000-08:00

We sometimes experience feeling sad or happy about one of the repetitions in daily life. Ana lives in a rural village in Chile with her grandmother and her bedridden mother. Her uneventful daily life and the beauty of nature appear quietly on the screen.

Children might not be able to stay in their seats more than fifteen minutes, or they will soon fall asleep. If you like looking at impressionist paintings and photos of nature, it should be a great movie for you. However, the movie cannot pay back if you expect a dramatic story and scenes.

Movie Review-Two Lovers

2008-11-12T20:35:00.000-08:00

A broken hearted man, Leonard shuttles between two ladies after attempting suicide. One is his neighbor, Michelle who has a married boyfriend, and the other is Carol, his family friend’s daughter. He can manipulate the two ladies fluently without trouble, but he loves Michelle the most. He is disappointed when Michelle does not show up at their important dating.

It is an adult’s movie. I would recommend to the people who are falling in love to see this movie.It implies that being loved by someone is more fortunate than loving. And it’s no picnic having love triangle.

2008-11-11T21:44:00.000-08:00

Under the Blood
There is a famous phrase saying that “if you want to be good student, you have to suffer”. This phrase refers to how people have studied hard, but in1968 the Mexican government took it as kill the students. The Mexican student movement happened in 1968 while Gustavo Diaz Ordaz was president. University students wanted to change the policy and end the repression from the government in order to get a better education. Those changes were not proper to the government’s eyes. In contrast, students had public meetings and they tried to convince the government that their proposal would be beneficial to university education. However, the Mexican government ordered a massacre of students who had a meeting in Tlaltelolco Plaza, Mexico City, ten days before the 1968 Summer Olympics. Thousands of students were in meetings and they were hitting by special police group. The Tlaltelolco Massacre had consequences in education, the economy and social safety that affected many families.

The education level of universities was affected by the event because the curriculum changed, and many students had to abandon their studies. The massacre caused transitional changes in the professional education because the level of education became low. Even fifteen years later, when I was a university student the methodology of study was lacking in knowledge because the ideology was under the influence of rebel groups. Consequently, today Mexican universities protect the rights of education. Many professors said that the students thought that school’s policies were concentrating in political issues. As a result, many students suspended their studies. They preferred to seek justice than focus on finishing their studies.
Another effect to massacre was the Mexican economy changed the Mexican lifestyle people and whole country suffered the consequences which led to economic crisis of 1970’s. Due to Massacre, the Mexican government lost credibility from other countries, so the economy became weak and the prices rose. Every family felt that crisis and my family’s economy was not the exception. For example, my father’s wage was the same while the expenses increased constantly. In addition, my mother got a job, but their incomes were insufficient to run the household. Subsequently, one of my older brothers had to find a part time job for several months. At the time many students decided desert the schools. They had looked jobs and that caused unemployment. Consequently, families cut their incomes and the economy suffered a financial collapse. In fact, The Tlaltelolco Massacre was one of the causes of the peso devaluation in 1970’s.

In addition, the student massacre brought insecurity to most Mexicans because the government persecuted young people after of the event. Even though they were not students, they suffer that effect. Some of them were persecuted inside their homes also. Consequently, many students became delinquent. For example, they stole and they were arrested. Others were arrested and they never went back to their houses. For instance, one of my uncles was arrested for a few days and my whole family was worried those days for him. In fact, my grandfather got diabetes and my mother said that he was sick due to my uncle’s arrest. Thus, that kind of situation influenced people to blame to government.

The Tlaltelolco Massacre was an event that left a mark on Mexican history and it was recognized as a transitional event of student history. Besides, as a university student that massacre of course it was not necessary because I think there were other ways to find solutions to the conflict. Moreover, the Mexican society suffered education, economic and social safety consequences. That event was the beginning of autonomous universities and civil fights of young people. Nowadays, many people who were university students, at that time, recall that massacre in Mexico. They are still disappointed with investigation’s results because they think the results was distrust.

The Devaluation of the Peso

2008-11-11T17:05:00.000-08:00

The panic that the devaluation of the peso left in the people of my country is still remembered as the worst financial crisis in México. Apparently, the Government did not know how to run the exchange rates that were going out of control in December 1994. By that time my mother was ready to accomplish her dream and become the owner of a house, one for which she had fought very much. The devaluation not just affected certain people, it also affected my family. As I have said the devaluation of the Mexican peso created for my family several serious situations because my mother lost her job, her house and we experienced severe economic problems.

With the devaluation of the peso, my mother lost her job in a well-known Mexican company that used to sell houses. She had worked there for over five years and her objectives were mainly to obtain experience and learn as much as could be possible, so then she could offer my brother and me a better quality of life. She was in charge of taking people into the area that was still under construction, so customers would know where they were going to live. The construction area required a lot of labor and workers. That is why lot of business closed as a result of the bankrupt economy. They also reduced their staff and employees, and therefore, they dismissed my mother. However, the devaluation did not affect my mother’s willingness or her desire to work. Of course she knew how to handle our situation very well and started to created flower arrangements to sell them in different local offices. That is how we begin accommodating our routine, little by little. My brother and I were helping my mother to create different and colorful flower arrangements so that then she would sell them while our situation was recovering.

Another effect from the devaluation of the peso was that we lost our home, along with our memories. It was December when my mother went to the Central Bank to sign a loan so that we would finally become the owner of a place we thought would be spending the rest of our lives. After three days, she received a letter in which she was notified that the price of the loan had increased, and it was higher than the original amount. My mom did not pay so we would have to leave the house. Without a job, my mom could not afford such a quantity and eventually the Mexican Central Bank kept our home. The devaluation of the peso caused many more problems that affected our family for the next following months.

Although three months had passed after the devaluation, my family and I were hardly surviving. Unfortunately in those days I was beginning to present symptoms that would be a long illness. For that my mother had to talk to specialized doctors the severity of my problem, and these searches included expensive exams. As a result of my mother’s effort and after various studies, we got to know the severity of my illness. Mom had done the right things to find out that my symptoms were no more than tachycardias and not convulsions as we had thought. Moreover, the economic crisis forced us to sell the majority of our things in order to permanently solve our economic situation. Even though the devaluation left us with a hardly any income, we overcame the devaluation of the peso. We managed to overcome this situation in a very unique way, working hard and growing together.

The devaluation of the Mexican peso left my mother without a job, left our family without a home and with a lot of economic problems. Despite these experiences, the crisis did not harm our relationship within my mother, my brother and me. If we had to go through everything again I would not hesitate because I had learned a lot from that crisis. After more than ten years since the devaluation, it’s still tough to understand how a single mother could face such a situation. I am sure it was because her love as a mother was the engine that made her look for another job and another home. In addition, she would work hard to avoid the same economical problems as we had before.

Chinese Style Miracle

2008-11-11T09:25:00.000-08:00

Chinese style miracle

There is no doubt China is now a super country. The world economy can’t function without china, and most countries hope China can lead the world out of the “banking storm” it is in now. In 2008, China held the most successful Olympics games many countries are interested in the Chinese style miracle. However, thirty years ago, China was only a poor country, and many people died of hunger. How did China become a great economic country? If you ask Chinese people, they will answer that was Xiao Ping Deng reformed and opened the Chinese door to the world in 1978. He created the miracle, which helped the Chinese economy rapidly increase for thirty years. Xiao Ping Deng changed Chinese education, people’s ideas, and my family history. More than ten years after Xiao Ping Deng died, the effects of his change are still being felt.
One of the most obvious changes in post-communist China is the education. There is a famous Chinese saying, “Growing trees need ten years, raising talented man need hundred years”. China has always thought education is very important position in life, but during The Chinese Culture Revolution, Qia Sheng Zhang which handed a blank examination paper in a competition became a hero. Nobody liked to be teacher, and nobody liked to go to school. Xiao Ping Deng recovered the education system. He thought the technology that would build a new China.Therefore; he improved teachers’ positions and rebuilt students’ beliefs People started to recognize the significance of education. Students studied hard at technology and at various subjects. He also rose “Science and technology constitute the primary productive force, the strategy of revitalizing China through science and education.” So Chinese science and technology suddenly changed and gave prominence to china in the world. . Some of the inventions of china, include Chinese space boat flight to the moon, strong rocket technology is the first in all countries of the world.
Another effect of the “reform and open” was people’s ideas. Xiao Ping Deng had a famous sentence “whether black cat or white cat, which can catch mouse, is good cat”. It is a good portraiture for “reform and open”. The sentence has affected Chinese people too. Chinese people didn’t think labor, farmer and solder were the priority career. On the contrary, they started to think business economy was the most valuable, so many people started their own a business by themselves, and they opened all kinds of companies. People’s style life changed, they didn’t compare communist and capitalism which was the best. On the contrary, people came together, and started talking about the opportunities of business. That is ten billion people, eight billion businessmen. Almost everybody became a businessman.
Similarly, my family history had changed due to the reform and open. My family first lived in a village. Our generations were one of the farmers since they moved to the village. After Chinese reform and open, my mother owned a small business, my father retired ahead of schedule in order to help my mother manage her business. Later on, my parents saved a lot of money, and they bought an apartment in a city. Then, my family gave up the farm and moved to the city. We became city residents. My two older sisters and I graduated from university and had a good career, and we all had good income. My family said goodbye to poor and had a good life. Comparing my family’s is life twenty years ago to now, it is like heaven and earth.
The Chinese reform and open is perhaps one of the most momentous events of the twentieth century. Doors opened, capitalism entered, education recovered, and people swept away the old economic plan and welcomed the new market business, anticipating a life full of opportunities and freedom to make their own choices. Nowadays, Chinese nation is running on the way of great rebound. Xiao Ping Deng really changed China’s destiny. He created a Chinese style miracle. According to most history specialists, the twenty-first century will be a Chinese century.

Thailand Political

2008-11-10T21:18:00.000-08:00

Thailand under Military Coup
Thailand has multi-party system. The most popular is Democratic. The first one is Parkprachatipat which is the under leader of Apisit Wetchachewa, another one is Thai-rak-thai it is the under leader of Thaksin Chinwatta. In 2005, Thai-rak-thai had selected seats over the other party and became the first to set up the government. It is important that Taksin was the first candidate to run his campaign. The problem was we knew Thaksin government was corrupt. He used his power to put in policies. He get the benefit to his family and own business. He sold his company (Telecommunication) to Singapore without Tax. He changed the laws for support his family. He gave the share holder to his daughter. Taksin government was the first stay for a full four years term. After that we had to do election again, but the election was cancelled after military coup while Thansin was in NY. The government under military coup affected the country in many ways

The first effect was the stress in my family. The relationship in my family was not good because everybody was stressed out. My family worked in business for long time. We have an own business. Business was growth up. We had a lot of customers. When we order products from supplier we got credit almost 60 days to pay. After political crisis, when we order we had to pay cash or chek right away. When the military coup in change government the consumer products price was high. People didn’t want to spent money. We had to use money that we kept in the bank to support our business. It made big damage to my family and my country.

The second effect, the political caused the economy down. Before this situation happen the economy of Thailand was growth up. We had tourists visit Thailand more than one million per year. People had jobs and good income. Thailand the land of smile in Southeast Asia also have many attractive places for tourists. We have beautiful place and good tastes of food. After military coup we were attacked by terrorists. The tourists anxious to visit Thailand because international reporters are warning about traveling to Thailand. Everything shut down because effect from the political crisis. People lost their job they didn’t have enough money to spend.

Finally effect, we lost safety & security. Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand. Most of the tourism came to Thailand because they want to come to visit Bangkok. Bangkok never ending traffic. Pollution and bright lights and you can enjoy in the city without crime all night. If you get lost while you were travel you can ask everybody. Then after a military coup the state of emergency that was happened. People fear to going out. We also saw military man around the street. One week after political crisis we have state of emergency. People weren’t allowed leave to the house after 8:00 pm. In many provinces especially south of Thailand was dangerous. We had many places damaged by crime.

Two years have passed since that situation. It is not easy to forget that day. We got stress in my family. Our business fell down and we lost a lot of income. It did not affect only me and my family but it affected our country. The economy was down many countries don’t want to make and investment in my country. Many companies layed off employees. It is not secure for people to leave out anytime. The political crisis made city in trouble. The political crisis was the worst experience in my life. We are all waiting to the politicians to solve problem so Thailand can return to “The Land of smile”

The Cultural Revolution of China

2008-11-09T20:00:00.000-08:00

From 1966 to 1976, were the hardest ten years of China. During that time, people couldn’t study, and the party, state and the people were the worst since the founding of frustration and loss, it’s called Cultural Revolution. It was originated by President MaoZedong, the chairman of the Communist Party of China, on May 16, 1966, officially as a campaign to rid China of its “liberal bourgeoisie” elements and to continue revolutionary class struggle by mobilizing the thoughts and actions of China’s youth. Mao was trying to close the China that made the civil war. The Cultural Revolution influenced my father especially like his education, his future job and his childhood.

The Cultural Revolution influenced my father because he couldn’t study during that time. During the Cultural Revolution, young people from the cities were forcibly moved to the countryside, where they were forced to abandon all forms of standard education in place of the propaganda teachings of the Communist Party of China. At that time, all the people were playing, singing or performing all day in the school, so no one could study at that time. If you studied, people would feel you are strange. But my father told me there were also some people studying stealthily. When they went to school, the school just taught them theories what Mao is right and how Mao is good, so my father didn’t learn anything during that time. Moreover, they recited Mao’s thinking or words all day; this was the education during that time. My father told me he always studied at night，so people would not see or find him. He used to tell me joke that he broke a lot of chairs because he was seating too much time for studying. So my father had a really hard time during the Culture Revolution.

In other words, the Cultural Revolution influenced my father’s childhood. He was a student during the Culture Revolution, so he should have had free time to play with his friends; he should have been seat in the big classroom studying. Instead, he had to work after school because China was pool at that time, so all the people had to work for country. Nevertheless, my father had to care his young brothers who are my two uncles. My grandmother always told me my father was hard-working and exhausted at that time because it was already night after works, and then he began to study. So his childhood just like this, it was so different from my childhood that I don’t need to work. That’s why my father always said you have a good time, you should study hard. Every time when he talks about his childhood, he could talk for a long time because he had a lot of feeling like he missed a lot of chance to study during the revolution. Later, when he was twenty years old, he wanted to join the army, but during the revolution, people from capitalist family were not allowed to join the army. Being a soldier is my father’s dream, but his dream didn’t come true due to the revolution.

The revolution also influenced my father future because after the Cultural Revolution, the china was chaos. At that time, everyone was looking for job. Nevertheless, you have to be good at studying. That means there was less chance to get job. So there were a lot of people couldn’t find job at that time. My father said that his friend who just knew an English word found an international job because most of people didn’t know how to speak English. During the revolution time, my father didn’t learn anything at school, but he could find a job because he studied at night at past time. Nevertheless, he didn’t like it. After that, he studied again and continued education program. I was born at that time, so he not only took care of me but also studied.

The Culture revolution influenced my father a lot in my many ways. The Cultural Revolution is the chaos time of china. Maybe much eldership hates the Cultural Revolution because it broke many people’s dream and future. Nevertheless, I asked my father that do you hate the revolution, and he said “no, because we have no ability to change the events or histories of country. I don’t hate this revolution because it changed me a lot: it made me being strong.” So a lot of people were influenced by the culture revolution, also it made a lot of people strong.

Gray Days

2008-11-07T21:16:00.000-08:00

How would the world be with out any religion or beliefs? Plutarco Elias Calles was the president of Mexico from 1924 to 1929; he included to our constitution a law called “Calles Law.”He sent his troops to close more than seventy convents and most of the churches in Jalisco and other states. In this law, he obligated priests to stop celebrating mass and preaching the word of god. This law tried to separate people from the Catholic Church, but this didn’t work the way Plutarco intended. Priests didn’t stop celebrating masses; they manage the situation making clandestine mass. This eventually provokes the death of twenty-nine priests in five states of Mexico. This conflict lasted four years from 1926-1929. After 80 years there are still some consequences of the incident; many Mexicans families including my own. And the effects of “Calles Law “are still felling.

My great-grandfather lost his land, which was the livelihood of the family. In fact, he didn’t lose his land. The troops from Calles took most of it. They settled in my great- grandfather’s house for three days. According to my grandfather, those days were humiliating, and the grayest days they ever had. The troops obligated my great-grandmother and her daughters to serve them. This wasn’t the hardest part; the hardest part was to hear them being disrespectful to my great-grandmother and her daughters, my grandfather said. The days were gone and as they were the land too. My great-grandfather was devastated. The land was the only livelihood people had back then and still these days. Once my mom and dad got married, they suffered from the struggle of “Calles Law.” There was no land that my great-grandfather could give to my dad, so he could build our house. For this reason, my dad didn’t have any other choice than go to the US to work and send some money to my mom. Land was the only way my family could survive.

Another problem that happened during La Guerra Cristera was when Calles’ troops took my great-grandfather’s cattle. In those days, cattle was an essential way of life and still is fundamental for people who live in farms like my family. Cattle and land were the only livelihood people could have back then. Calles’ troop had a mission, which was to scare people and make them feel fear, so they could stop following their religion. Most people didn’t refuse to follow the word of God. For this reason, the troops took their cattle. The government thought this was the only way they could get people scared. Most people didn’t stop following their beliefs, even though there were soldier killing people and priests who refuse to follow Calles’s law. If this conflict hadn’t happened my dad wouldn’t have had to travel to the US to send some money to my mother, so she could start building our house and buying some land and cattle. As a consequence of La Guerra Cristera, my mother, my siblings and I only have the opportunity to see my father once a year. My dad wanted to earn enough money to buy our livelihood which was land and cattle.

The last effect of the Calles Law in my family was that they line in fear. The assassination of priests was increasing. La Guerra Cristera stared for this reason just to kill priests who preached the word of God. The priests refused to follow Calles Law because they thought it was absurd to stop believing in God for political reasons. They started making clandestine masses in people’s houses or hiding in the mountains. On one occasion, my great-grandfather and family were in one clandestine mass, when the troops interrupted and took the priest and tortured him. They made him walk barefoot on sharp stones for hours. After there was no more blood to bleed and the troops made him climb a “mesquite,” a big tree. These trees are covered with sharp thorns that penetrated into his already cut hands and feet. This just makes his pain twofold intense. The troops obligated the people to watch the priest who was about to die. The priest was tide up his own rope and while he was doing this, the soldier never stopped blaspheming him. He died forgiving them. Those were his last words. After seventy years of his death he became a saint, my favorite saint. Year after year, I always go to visit him at to his church, which has incredibly grown year after year. It’s a personal satisfaction to see that his pain wasn’t in vain; faith was always there. He never lost it.

After almost a century of La Guerra Cristera involving the government and people’s beliefs, my family still has some problems of the conflict. Although the government tried to repair of the damage by removing the Calles Law from the constitution, People didn’t receive their land back, not even the cattle. Nowadays, my family and I are working in the US to buy the land that once was ours. After gray days, light comes again to illuminate our life. That is what faith is all about. Unfortunately, the Catholic Church is declining day after day because priests are not doing anything to maintain it. It’s ironic to have priests willingly to give their life for God in order to keep faith alive.

Immunization of Epidemic Tsunami

2008-11-07T17:57:00.001-08:00

Immunization of Epidemic Tsunami
“Is she your eldest daughter? Where is she from?” My mom’s friend asked her when we met on the street in Chinatown, Chicago. “She is from Canada”, my mom answered without hesitation. In fact, I was from Hong Kong visiting my mom on vacation .This conversation happened on May 5, 2003. What happened? Why did my mom lie to her friend? It was because Hong Kong was one of the cities where the epidemic SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) had an outbreak. No one wanted to contact someone who came from Hong Kong or mainland China in that moment for fear of infection. During the SARS outbreak, Hong Kong was like a deadly city. Every day I got news from the TV, which reported about the spread of SARS.-They talked about how many people were infected, who died in which hospitals, and they taught citizens how to protect themselves in their daily lives. My social life was limited because no one desired to hang out except go to work. I just discussed the current news with my friends over the phone. This SARS disaster devastated Hong Kong citizens for almost nine months. Similarly, it had great influences on my job, family and the socioeconomic conditions of the city.

During the SARS outbreak in Hong Kong, all the medical staff acted as a main role in this disaster. I was the one in this role too. I worked as a frontline nurse. At that moment, the overcrowding of patients occurred in every public hospital. As a result, there was a shortage of manpower in my hospital, and the hospital’s atmosphere was tense. My workload was heavier day by day, and I often worked overtime. After I finished a day’s work, I felt listless and didn’t desire to do any chores. Also, it was stressful to observe all the new instructions and guidelines for wearing masks, gowns and hand washing. Moreover, I sometimes lost my appetite and often suffered from insomnia. I lost weight quickly. Anyway, I was pretty serious about my job as all my colleagues were. No matter how hard it was, I was content with my job. In my unit, we often received numerous consolations and encouragements such as greeting cards, food and gifts donated by some citizens, celebrities and organizations

In addition, the prevention of the SARS was the dominant topic we talked about in my family. We made ourselves Chinese herb tea as well as did exercises to prevent SARS or prevent the disease. My mom called me frequently from the U S. “How many SARS patients have you contacted today?”, “You better quit your job now.” She said repeatedly every time we spoke over the phone. She was worried because she had heard some frontline medical staff were infected and died of the SARS .Nevertheless, my husband consoled me in different ways from my mother. He urged me to eat more healthy food and sleep more to increase my resistance. On days off, we went hiking or swimming in small islands to relax and breathe fresh air. He was proud of me being not a “fugitive soldier” and still continued to perform my work in this dangerous situation. However, I never talked to my family. I had even treated a patient who was suspected of having the SARS at an isolation room for a four-hour haemodialysis treatment. As a nurse, it was inevitable that I had to treat all kinds of patients.

Furthermore, on the socioeconomic level, it impacted the economy and also changed the behavior of most people. The economy went from good to worse. During the SARS period, some peoples’ lifestyles changed. They seldom dinned out or went shopping to eliminate the possibility of infection. Moreover most peoples’ expenditures were low due to a ripple effect of the poor economy, and a lot of people lost their jobs. On the other hand, people were alerted about the importance of environmental sanitation of the community. As a result, I could live a clean and hygienic neighborhood then. The new habit of using serving chopsticks has been extending from restaurants to almost every family since the SARS epidemic.

All in all, the SARS had profound influences on my job, family and the socioeconomic conditions of the country. In fact, all crises have the painful memories. Still, I experienced this epidemic tsunami as if I got some immunization from it. The stress, tension and social economic frustration were similar to a virus invading my body. However, the close relationships, mutual concern and the positive lessons in our society are as if I got a vaccination to protect me in future.

2008-11-05T12:49:00.001-08:00

People’s Revolutionary Act. 2006

“The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall.” This quote was written by Che Guevara a famous communist and it holds very true for those uneducated people in my country that started the revolution in 2006. The death of the Royal family in 2001 was the starting point for the Maoist rebels. The Maoist rebels became active which caused the civil war in Nepal. The newly appointed king was unlucky, so despite trying to maintain peace in the country, he was unsuccessful. On the other hand, Maoists took advantage of that and fooled the uneducated people for the sake of peace to start the revolution along with other political parties. Relationships are easy to break, and hard to make no matter what. I have let down my family members a lot, but the revolutionary period gave me a time to re-construct a bonding which was drowning. There is always more profit for a seller than the buyer, and this holds true for countries around the world. The revolution had a profound effect on every person living in the country, and my family cannot be separated from them.
After the revolution started, the king declared a curfew for all parts of the nation, so people were not allowed to go out from their residences. My parents were also scared and they always kept an eye on me. Whenever I had a chance I used to go to my cousin’s place, but many times they caught me at the door and I had to go back to my room. The relationship between my family and I was like flesh and bone, without one, the other part didn’t exist. My parents had to go to work because the government and the non-government organizations were not closed. They used to lecture me before going to work and many times I was so scared that I asked them not to leave the house. It was always in vain for them because there is a famous quote which people say “work comes first”.
The mental pressure always horrified the people including my family, and me. The tear gas, the gun shots, and the scary news about the people dying always horrified me. Though I was mentally scared, I was also equally frustrated staying at home and listening to the news. Since there was no other job to perform my sister and I used do the gardening, cleaning, and the household chores because we knew that our mother would be dead tired after coming back from work. There used to be discussion everyday with my parents when they got back from work. My parents used to tell me that they were the bees running after sweets. Pollution from the burning tires, thrown stones, and smell from garbage cans which was not picked for many days made people sick. Hospitals were full of sick patients and injured people. There were fewer water supplies and the electricity went off frequently. Many unusual events occurred during the period of revolution, but family bonding became solid as a rock.
Finally, the revolution made everyone unsatisfied especially to the people who ran businesses because the economy of the country was collapsing. It went down as the gravity of the earth pulls down the objects when thrown up in the sky. Though my parents have a good income, they were also shocked because the price of all the goods sky rocketed. There were no fresh vegetables, and the stocks of other goods were almost finished as broadcasted by the news. People were legally allowed to shop twice a day, and people used to utilize that time going to work, and returning to their destination. It is true that, revolutions always had an effect from the rich to the poor and the difference is that some people suffer more whereas some people suffer less. In the revolution my family and I suffered less, but the love between us grew stronger.

At last, the day came when the king gave all the power to the political leaders.

The apple was forced to fall but under what circumstances? Is the question unsolved? The king was removed from the Royal Address, and there was joy for those uneducated people who had no idea about the meaning of democracy. On the contrary, educated people were sad because they knew the difference. They knew that during the cold session everyone wants to sit near the heat, but during warm session no one cares. The revolutionary period was really painful, humiliating, and sad for all the educated people but the relationship between my family and me has grown and developed up to heights that I could never have imagined.

Collapse 1991

2008-11-02T20:56:00.000-08:00

I grew up in the biggest country in the world – Russia, but seventeen years ago it was much bigger and it was called Union of Soviet Socialists Republics. It was strong and powerful, but too big and too multinational to keep everything under control. In the year of 1991 the Soviet Union collapsed. It sank as a roller-coaster car very fast and all the way to the bottom. The collapse was caused by numerous reasons like the decline of the economy, the desire of numerous republics to be independent and an inefficient government. This collapse was a significant event which affected in different ways the whole country and people who lived there.

The most significant affect of the split up was the general crisis in the country. The economy was affected the most. The prices were liberalized and went out of the government control. Basically they were in hands of individuals in power who managed the prices the way they wanted. In addition, the country faced a demographic crisis. The number of birth declined immediately because people were scared about their and children’s future. On top of that there were constant conflicts between republics that wanted to exit the Soviet Union. Of course, the USSR government did not want to let them separate because there were investments and projects made in the territories of those republics. That is how Russia lost its major navy base after separating with Ukraine. That was also one of the reasons of the ten-year conflict in Chechnya where a lot people were killed and injured.

The collapse inevitably affected my family as well. A lot of companies and factories could not handle the crisis and they had two choices. They could either close down or save money by reducing manufacturing and firing employees. That happened with my mother too. The factory where she had worked for years had hard times, and they had to lay her off as well as a lot of other employees. It was a big shock for her and for the whole family. I will never forget that day when she came home after work, sat on a chair and started crying. She could not believe that it had happened to her. My father was able to keep his job. But the construction company he worked for was municipal and was getting almost no financial support from the city. Consequently, the workers were not paid either. He was one of the supervisors in his company and he had to deal with the pressure and whining from the co-workers. As a result, those negative emotions were brought to the family and caused even more conflicts.

All those crucial changes in the county put a lot of stress on my family. As a six year old child I did not feel it much, but I remember the constant tension and conflicts between my parents. I recently found out that my father was depressed because he could not support the family as he had done it for years. In addition, my mother had to sacrifice a lot when she decided to start her own small business. That seemed the only way to make some money though it completely contradicted my father’s ideology of a wife’s duties. Losing a job, not getting paid, inside family conflicts, a new political system and price liberalization brought more stress to our family and a feeling of insecurity.

In fact, the collapse of the USSR significantly affected almost every citizen. A lot of them lost their jobs or businesses, fell into despair or depression or even lost someone they knew in armed conflicts between some republics. It was a truly hard time for my family too, but we made it through the crisis and overcame those challenges. The roller-coaster car eventually went up. The rough times are left behind, and they have never been discussed between me and my parents. We do not like to bring up old bad memories; however, they will never be erased from our minds.

The Deadliest Earthquake

2008-11-02T15:48:00.000-08:00

Tangshan earthquake which was the Deadliest Earthquake in China changed many families’ lives. How did it change? In 1976, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake happened in the city of Tangshan, in northeastern China. It happened without any omens, and broken residents’ dreams. At that time, my grandparents and my father lived in the city of Tangshan. According to their memories, there are more than 240 thousand people were killed in that terrible event and about 100 million were injured. My families are survivors during the earthquake. Some old houses in their region were flattened, though nobody were killed or injured. However, the disaster has a big influence on my family in three significant areas: economy, education, and the health.
First, the Tangshan earthquake affected the economy of my family. Most of the houses collapsed. All the people dared not to go to stay in their houses. So many tents were built outside. My grandparents and my father had to live in the tents for many days. They also had to deal with not enough water, food, or electricity. It was very painful. My grandma said," thirty years has passed but it was like happened yesterday." Because most of residential buildings and industrial buildings were completely destroyed, so my grandparents moved to another city where I had lived for eighteen years before I moved to the U.S. I always said that I’m lucky. If my grandparents didn’t move to another city, my father and my mother would have never gotten married.
Next, the Tangshan earthquake a the education of my father. My father was only thirteen years old at that time. With so much damage, my father couldn’t go to school for study. While education is important, my father couldn’t receive the education because of the earthquake. It almost damaged my father’s dream. He wanted to be a teacher when he was young. He liked teaching and wanted to help students with their studies. The earthquake changed my father’s lives. Now, he is a doctor. He said that he wanted to save more people’s life because he saw many people lost their life in the earthquake. He hopes that people cherish their lives because many people wanted to be alive but couldn’t.
Then the Tangshan earthquake affected the health of my family. The members of my family had psychological trauma from then on. They were afraid of the disaster. They were survivors and they didn't want to undergo that kind of disaster one more time. They don’t want to see the separate with the relatives. After the earthquake, they also thought the buildings would collapse for a long period. They couldn’t sleep well and dare not stay at home. Now, my grandparents are calm when they talk about the earthquake. However, the memory won't disappear even with the passing of time.
Now, the city of Tangshan is beautiful. It was been rebuilt and everything isdifferent. Although this kind of big earthquake hasn't happened for the past few years, aftershocks happen frequently. That is always the case. Nevertheless, no matter what influence the earthquake brought, the slump of the economy, the sadness, or the psychological panic; in the face of a natural disaster, The Chinese people never feel despaired. We are still filled with courage. We are full of hopes and dreams.

The Corner

2008-11-02T08:30:00.000-08:00

There’s a saying in poor Chinese families that when a man gets to the top, all his relatives rise to high positions. I do believe it, and I have been practicing it for many years. Maybe some of the adolescents who were born after the 1980s might not think that there would be differences between the city and country. However, people living in the country do hope that someone in their family can get out for their dreams. In the meanwhile, those working in the cities have responsibilities to the whole family. The Economic Opening of China has changed the lives of most of the Chinese in cities. Nevertheless, the village children still open their eyes widely to the skyscrapers for their curious feelings. It happened to me when I was sixteen years old. My father traveled to America and stayed here. His working in the US changed the route that my family was supposed to walk along.

As a boy at that time, I felt like I was a released prisoner when my father told me that there would be no farming anymore. Each year, when the harvest time came, I couldn’t help remembering the times I worked in the field. It was true that poor children had to work with their family when they reached the age of five. As for me, I first held up a farming tool when I was seven, and I wouldn’t forget that I cut my finger a few minutes after I walked into the field. After the first attempt, a lot of work came and pushed me down. Thus, it’s so easy to think how happy I was when my father left for America. The standard of living in my family had changed. I didn’t need to bend in the rain, I wouldn’t blame the evil sunshine, and I wouldn’t cry over the work in a mountain of sugarcane.

I should be thankful for my continuing studies after middle school since my father came to America. It was uneasy for a poor family to afford to educate their children. Many children in the village had to stop their studies after middle school, and then they left their homes and worked in strange cities. I didn’t have to drop out because my father traveled to America when I was in middle school. My family could afford the tuition and living expenses of my studies from the time he left. Although I still complain about the incident that happened years ago when my parents broke my hope the moment I got into a better school, I felt lucky that I got into high school and university after that. In my career as a student, I learned a lot that my childhood friends lost the chance to learn. It was all about fate and chance, I thought as a boy who was born in the country.

The most important turning point for me was the immigration of my family after my father’s arrival in the U.S. It totally changed my life, from a country youth to a man living in a big city. For most of the people in my hometown, living in a foreign country is better than everything. However, for us, we are behind the start line and beginning to walk across it. If my father hadn’t taken the opportunity of travelling here, I would still be walking on the road beside the hills or working hard in a factory, but now I’m faced with the avenues filled with cars. The smells that come out from the cars do not depress me, nor does the noise of the running trains make me upset. What I am supposed to do is appreciating and enjoying my new life.

There are many times when people walk to the corner. Most of them may change everything because they step on new roads. I still believe that life is easier when someone is the pathfinder before you and keeps on going in front of you. If someone asked me why people desire to immigrate to foreign countries, I would tell him a story about a crying boy in the field, a depressed student holding a certificate, and a whole family looking forward to reunion. Also, people in the cities should take a glance at the corner of the world. There are so many begging voices that they have never heard before. I dare to say my father’s coming to the US has played an important part in my life. At least, thanks to my father, I can breathe in the crowd that is full of new faces.

Expensive Deadwood

2008-11-01T09:54:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard of “Mottainai”? This is the Japanese word when people throw out things that can be usable. This common sense idea has developed in the country where the natural resources are limited. In 1997, the international convention was held in Kyoto, Japan which warned the world of an environmental crisis, and made us aware that we needed to prevent dangerous effect to our planet. After that, the Japanese government established recycling regulation countywide in accordance with this protocol. The regulation targeted to absorb Greenhouse Gas, like CO2. It made Japanese people much more conscious about daily waste. Our family realized that we had to change our way of life because we could no longer conceal garbage in our country or around the globe.

At the beginning, we started separating garbage for recycling which reduced burnable or concealable garbage. Every single household had to buy several designated garbage bags for separate categories. To sort them according to materials confused our family much more than we had expected. For example, there were both reusable and non-reusable materials in plastic. In addition, we had to crush cans and plastic bottles, and rinse every container in order to deduct recycle process and cost. In my home town, we placed the garbage bags in front of every house at night on the scheduled day. If we made mistake sorting or did not crush cans inside of the see-through bag, we found the bag left on the street the next morning.

Second, there was big change of domestic products in Japan. Besides the development of an incinerator, most Japanese manufacturers started to develop green conscious products. Most of them were designed to minimize using energy. For example, Japanese automobile manufacturers developed the first hybrid car that minimized using gasoline with its electrical engine system. Also, these cars can reduce exhaust gas which is a main factor of global warming. In addition, an electrical manufacturer developed a new washing machine that needed 20% water compared to earlier models. I did not want to use the water for washing my clothes due to feeling dirty. However, most the water conservation washing machine cleans the water in its system. Soon I realized how manufacturers made an effort so that consumer could economize on water by using it, and how much water we had wasted every day taking baths.

Finally, the new regulation affected our fashion and scene on the streets in Japan. All the public garbage bins were changed to categorized types everywhere. The bin was long, like a bench on the streets because there are five or six categories in one set. Fashion also changed, especially in business occasions because the government focused on electric consumption to cool offices by air conditioners. Most congressmen including the Prime Minister stopped wearing ties and jackets; then, they replaced their long sleeves with short sleeves in the summer. They named this new style “COOL BIZ”. Many retail shops started selling business casual clothes. On the streets in the summer, I began to find more white than the black and gray of the past. My father wore a black suite in the summer only for funerals.

Japanese people are still struggling to separate the three materials - the plastic cap, a bottle and its paper label of a bottle after drinking water. However, this bothersome law has forced us to buy our own canteens for drinks for good. In addition, it has changed our culture, not only our way of live. Japanese people always say every small action makes a difference, and these will help to save our planet. The new regulation soon became our family’s habit. When I came to the US, I felt uncomfortable throwing out garbage all together. In fact, recycling and reuse cost a lot of money. Sometimes, it is more expensive than manufacturing new products. However, we should manage the limited resource of the globe where we are living because our waste does not disappear even when we incinerate it.

ROBIN HOOD OR PINOCCHIO

2008-10-31T16:10:00.000-07:00

Anyone who has read “A Hundred Years of Solitude” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez knows the history of the civil wars in Colombia since the nineteen century. As a result of many years of social conflicts in Colombia, an organization called the National Liberation Army (ELN) was founded in 1987. The ELN was inspired by the Cuban Revolution, and it was relied on the strategies of Che Guevara. This group was an expression of resistance against the government and the unequal society. The ELN wanted to be Colombian’s Robin Hood. Their vision was to protect the poor people, fight against the oligarchy, and develop an equal society. Unfortunately, as the years passed, their dream of a socialist country become just a mask to hide their dirty purposes of richness and power. They started dealing drugs, kidnapping and killing people for money. The ELN became the image of our country in the world. Everywhere, Colombia was synonymous with guerrillas and drugs. They painted the history of Colombia with red and black and with blood and death, affecting my family in several ways.

The ELN caused a massive movement of farmers and indigenous from the land to the cities. They needed a big army to fight, so they forced young people to join them. As a result, families started moving to the cities afraid of losing their members and their lives. They also needed places to stay and food to eat, so they used violence to make people leave their farms. Around the cities you could see Indians barely dressed asking for money, and breast feeding their babies, with three or four children by their side. On their lands, they used to have everything to live, sown fields and animals. In contrast, they were lost and hungry in the city. This situation created a lot of poverty and insecurity in the cities. Some members of my family were victims of this. For example, my grandfather used to have a very rich coffee farm in Armenia, a coffee city of Colombia. Ten years ago, the guerrilla group forced him to leave his land and his cattle, so they could set up a drug laboratory. Last year, he turned 98 years old. He always talks all about everything he left behind. He feels nostalgia and sadness. He was a very hard worker all his life, and suddenly he couldn’t work on his land anymore. He was lost. In his heart he always keeps the hope of living there again, the only place he can call home.

The ELN, also had an economic impact in my family. I belong to a trader family. Some members of my family work trading fruits and vegetables and others trade with cattle. The guerrilla group used to charge a fee to farmers in order to protect them; if people resisted to pay, they would kill their cattle, burn their farms, or in the worse case, kill them. Basically, they wanted to protect people against the same guerrillas. It can be very confusing to understand, but basically the rule was “if you give me money, you are safe”. Sometimes the fees were so expensive that most of the businesses worked to pay those fees. Consequently, some members of my family lost their businesses.

Finally, the ELN had an impact in the way my family lived, spent time and took vacation. They were the owners of the roads in Colombia. My cousins and I used to spend every vacation on our farm, climbing trees, helping grandpa to select the coffee, giving food to the animals, chasing squirrels, drinking fresh milk every morning and taking showers in the river. We were there in complete happiness and freedom. When the guerrilla group appeared in that region we weren’t able to travel there anymore. We took pains to give up our vacation. We were trapped in a cage. We were forced to spend every vacation in the city. People weren’t able to travel by car anymore because of the risk of being kidnapped or killed. In fact, when I was nineteen years old, my best friend was killed by the guerrilla group. He and his uncle were traveling by car from one city to another when suddenly, they saw the guerrillas. The guerillas asked them to stop, but they didn’t. They knew they would be kidnapped. Subsequently, the guerilla started shooting at them; thus, my friend died at the age of seventeen. After that, his family decided to move to United States, and they have been living here ever since.

Although the ELN is still part of my country, in Colombia the situation is quite different now. We have a strong president named Alvaro Uribe Velez. He took the power in a moment when the guerrilla group was the king of Colombia. The ELN was the owner of towns in Colombia. The Colombian army could never enter on those places; thus, they became the most dangerous places of the country. The president returned the sovereignty of our country to the people above every place of Colombia. In addition, he is motivating guerrilla members to leave that life and go back home. Also, he is working on programs to help them to adjust to a new civil life. Colombian citizens are trying to keep him in the power since he has been the only one who returned the faith to our country. Now we can travel everywhere, other countries are investing in Colombia, more people are traveling to our country, and this year for the first time, my grandfather was able to go back to the place he loves the most, his home.

Who Am I ?

2008-10-30T10:31:00.001-07:00

Who Am I?

No torture, no shot, no illegal arrival, I’m just but a daughter of a very smart admiral. In fact, my dad was promoted to admiral and led the Indian Ocean based fleet in 1987. At the same time, the Iran-Iraq war broke out and gave the French navy, a significant role. The French president at the time, Francois Mitterrand, visited the French forces several times, and my dad had the opportunity of being highly exposed. From that time, my dad made an impressive take off, and he ended up being Joint Chief of Staff for four years. As my father had become of the most prominent military leader in France, it had created a fantastic environment for my whole family, but on the other hand, I have felt that my personality and my identity have been weakened.

During those ten years, which my father served as a top member of the French government and military, I had numerous opportunities to mingle with very prominent people in fantastic places. I lived with my family at “ecole militaire” which is a tremendous public mansion in the seventh district in the heart of Paris. It was a dream. There was a large staff with a few cooks ready to please us, and several servants, and a very efficient laundry women who were there just to serve us. There was a big difference between my family’s life before that time. Besides, at this time, we had a lot of private dinners with Mitterrand, and I never felt shy. I felt very comfortable speaking with him like a common person. I had a strong interest in all he said and I enjoyed mingling with many famous secretaries. By the way, I also remember a great cocktail at the Elysee palace where my father gave a high French reward to Colin Powel, and I had a great time chatting with him. As a result, I loved this new life in this new world because it was fun and exciting.

The second effect of being in this new world was that it allowed me to be very well at ease in those kinds of environments, and this helped me to develop an open-minded approach too. Therefore, I’m like a fish in the sea in every new situation. I feel no fear, no apprehension when I walk into a party and I don’t know anyone. I usually introduce myself with pleasure, and I love to be interested in people’s lives. I’m an easygoing person, and it helps me in many situations. Moreover, it has created a strong desire to discover new people in different contexts. When my husband was sent to work in the USA, I was delighted. It was a good opportunity to discover a new world. I was not afraid at all, and I was so happy to share this experience with my kids. Also, I didn’t want them to be stuck in a comfortable Parisian life and standing in our cocoon forever. In fact, I think I have this kind of attitude due to my father’s career, which has allowed us to be open with everyone, and I also want my kids to benefit from this lucky advantage.

On the other hand, when I was in France there were some disadvantages to be the daughter of my well-known father. I always was viewed by my father’s name, and I never knew if someone was interested in meeting me or getting closer to my father. This has been a deep frustration for many years and maybe the most important motivation to leave my country. I remember when I was twenty-two, I had some young navy officers who invited me for a cruise in Greece, but I didn’t know if it was for me or for getting closer from my dad. I was in love with one of them, but even with him, I was not sure if he was a suitor for my name or for me. Moreover, being uncertain about who am I for others has helped develop a dangerous lack of self-confidence. I have always been proud of my father, but at times I need to know who I am, and I remember that every so often I felt stupid living with a smart guy who has a very strong desire to succeed in his life. I deeply love him, but I had never felt that I am not good enough to be close to him.

To conclude, my dad is the fifth generation of naval officers in my father’s side, and most likely the smartest one and most aware of the political and strategic stakes. As a result, he had taken a career, which gave us a fantastic opportunity to belong to a powerful society with a comfortable life style. However, I have always wondered who I really am, and It helps explain why I had been so keen to leave that environment and experience a brand new country where I would be totally free of his legacy. Starting from scratch might be a good solution to answer my question, and I have already found relief through this thought process.

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The Chinese American Railroad

2008-10-29T17:03:00.000-07:00

The Chinese American Railroad
When you are on an American railroad today, do you ever think about who built it? Most laborers came from my hometown, which is well known as being “China’s First Homeland for Overseas Chinese.” One hundred years ago, my hometown was affected by war and natural disaster, so it was hard for people to live in that situation; at the same time, America was a developing country, which needed a lot of cheap workers for the railroad construction. As a result, many strong young men signed a long-term labor contract for the American railroad. They couldn’t write a letter back home because they lacked education, and there was no telephone in the past; thus, most of them left and lost communication with their Chinese families. My great-grandfather was one of the people who kept away from his family by the American railroad for good. My great-grandfather’s choice has had a deep influence on my family throughout the generations.

At the beginning, his choice let my great-grandmother become a strong and lonely single mother. After her husband left, my great-grandmother became the head of the household. My great-grandfather didn’t send back any money, so she had to work very hard. Even though she was pregnant at that time, she worked day and night. If she stopped working, her children and old parents would have nothing to eat. Also, this change made my great-grandmother feel lonely. At that time, women wouldn’t remarry even if their husband died. It is traditional woman’s thinking. Although my great- grandmother knew that it was hopeless for her husband to come back, she would live lone the remainder of her life; thus, sometimes my great-grandmother glanced at the window at night and wept in silence.

In addition, my grandfather had a hard time during his childhood and adulthood without his father. My grandfather began to help family when he was eight, and he escaped from school twice a week. When his classmates were learning with their fathers, he was going to catch fish and sell them. As a result of this, he had bad grades in primary school and didn’t finish it. It was hard to find a job without education. And he has worked as a fisherman until now. In addition, it was hard to find a woman to marry. In our small village, everybody knew that he was bought up in a single family. Even in an arranged meeting with a woman from another village, she also knew it by investigating. It was an honor to have a father in America, but it was not an honor to have an American father that didn’t come back. Finally, my grandfather met my grandmother who has also never seen her father’ face. There have been many children in single families because their fathers left for the American railroad at that time.

Finally, this history lets me cherish my new life in America and my family in China. It was not easy for the early Chinese who lived in America. The railroad workers like my great- grandfather were called “Small Pig”, which means they sold themselves to the signed contract. Compared to my great grandfather’s life in America, I feel lucky now. I have a better life to be an American Chinese. I have a chance to have a good education; thus, I cherish my life and work hard for my dream. Moreover, because of my great- grandfather’s influence, my family is afraid that I will do the same thing as my great- grandfather. They call me every week to make sure that I don’t suddenly disappear, and remind me that I am a Chinese girl who has family that misses me in China. Learning from my great-grandfather’s story, I have never lost myself in a big city. In my heart; I have always lived in a small town with my big family.

Today, when I am on the American railroad, I think of my great-grandfather and his effects on my great-grandmother, grandfather and me. It may be not have been a good choice, but my family has never blamed him. In my great-grandmother’s heart, he will always be a gentleman, and in my grandfather’s heart, he will always believe that he is a good father. Although I don’t know where he is now, he is always in my heart.

Being Muslim in America

2008-10-26T12:58:00.000-07:00

Being Muslim in America:

Life in the United States is wonderful, but when it comes to practicing another religion it is not wonderful as it sound and not easy like being Buddhism, Judaism, or Muslim is hard because when you move to another country you need to keep your culture and religion. Practicing the Muslim religion is not easy as it sound especially when you are somewhere where the majority of people are not Muslim. One of the problems is praying and reading the Qur’an which needs at least at least three hours everyday. Second is Ramadan which you have to fast for forgiveness and other things. Third will be the celebration after fasting.

Praying and reading the Qur’an is part of the Muslim religion the most important part where we have to read the Qur’an all our life until we finish it, but sometimes even if we were done, we can still read it as many times we want. Prayer means, addressing, making a request, asking for help. In the Qur'an, prayer is also described as turning to Allah with all one's soul or the acknowledgement of one's weaknesses and limited power before Allah's infinite might, and asking for help from Him. In the Islamic religion, we have to pray five times a day. But in the United States you can’t do all that because most of the people don’t read the Qur’an, and it’s hard to find a time to seat and read it. Praying you can do it but you do it while you at home because you don’t really see a lot of Mosques here and you can’t really pray five times a day when you are in the United States because you have other things to do. When you come home you have to pay what you didn’t pray because that what is recommended by the Qur’an.

Ramadan is a part of the Muslim religious observance that takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calender, in which participant Muslims do not eat or drink anything from Dawn until sunset. Fasting is meant to teach the person patience, sacrifice and humility. During Ramadan Muslims ask forgiveness for past, pray for guidance into the future. Its is so hard to practice Ramadan in the U.S.A because everywhere you go people eat and when you fast you not suppose to see food or even think about it and imagine in the train or a public place you can’t tell people to stop eating just because you fasting. It is also hard because when the sun set and it’s time to eat, some people are working at that time and can’t come home to eat with their families because it’s in the Qur’an that at that time we need to share our food with friends and family.

Events of Ramadan are the must fun part of being Muslim, one of them is the Islamic holiday the one that marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the first day of the following month. It happens after twenty-nine to thirty days of fasting. It is the Festival of Breaking the Fast, a special celebration is made. Food is donated to the poor, everyone puts on their best, preferably new clothes, it is actually the best day because you can get three to four new outfits, and people prays in the morning, followed by visiting relatives and friends, give and receive money from others. It’s a day you can get free money without doing anything; it’s like Halloween to Americans but with money not candy. In America, we don’t celebrate the Islamic holiday anymore because you have to go to school, and it’s not a big holiday because the majority of people are not Muslims; however in Guinea it’s a holiday people don’t go to work and school; as a result we don’t have anymore free money and more new outfits and can’t visit friends and family.

Muslim individuals and families live around the world in many different countries and practice their faith in similar ways. Cultural variations such as type of dress may vary, but fundamentally Muslims are governed by the same principles found in the Qur'an. In America it’s hard to practice it but everywhere you go; you have to find a way to respect and keep practicing your religion but not only your religion but also your culture. So that is even if America is not a perfect place to practice the Muslim religion we still have to keep practicing it and don’t lose our ancestors cultures.

Struggling in the new culture

2008-10-23T07:30:00.000-07:00

Struggling in the new culture

Every country has its own culture, so the cultural differences must exist between any two countries. When I studied foreign cultures and local customs from the book in Jimei University for the first time, I was very unfamiliar with them and I couldn’t adjust to the ideas. If you immigrate or transfer to a new country, maybe you will spend one month or more getting used to the daily life of the country or local customs. When I touched American life for the first time, I also struggled in the difficulties to conform to the different cultures in this new environment

When my family first came to America, we had some difficulties with eating habits because American people usually like eating meat such as chicken, beef, and some other food which has a lot of fat and calories. While the food of our country is lighter. We often eat vegetables, seafood and fruit. American fast food is often fried and cooked without a lot of taste. And Americans like different kinds of sauce which is made of tomato and onion. When they eat food, they mix sauce toghter and then put it on the food, but ours is not. We don’t have so much sauce. We just have some simple seasoning like salt, low sodium. Then we put them inside and eat directly. At the beginning, I nearly had nothing to eat because the meat was so greasy. Also I didn’t like the sauce very much because it was so sweet. And I didn’t like the food style or the taste.
My family also had a hard time getting used to paying taxes and the tips when my family first came to America. One day, my uncle took me to the restaurant to have dinner. When we finished, my uncle paid the bill. And then I took the receipt to have a look. I found that the first line was subtotal—the price of food, the second line was tax, the third line was tips—for the server and the last one was total. I didn’t know why consumers have to pay the tax and tips at that moment. Then my uncle told me that we must pay the tax here when we buy anything. In addition, every year we may pay some tax for the federal statetaxer because it is an American law. As for the tips, it is a kind of local customs in America. On the contrary, we don't need to pay taxes and tips in China. At the beginning, I could’t accept to pay them. Every time I bought something, I only saw the original price. And when I paid the bill, I just found that it was very expensive to buy one thing. So I would spend some time considering to buy it or not.
We also had some difficulties in accepting that there were not so many activities here. And I found that American people don't have a lot of activities in the spare time. They only have some big dinner with their family members and have some parties with their best friends or barbecue. However, in China we have a lot of activities. We usually go to KTV to sing songs and dance crazily. Every day when Americans go home from work, maybe they will stay at home and they will not go outside, but we like to go shopping at night, and we can go to the house of our friends or neighbour. We know of our neighbour and get on well with each other. Maybe in America, some neighbors don't know each other. Maybe I was in a new environment and I was very unfamiliar with it, and I have been in America just three months, and I haven't had many friends here. So I have felt that American life was a little boring and uncomfortable because I didn’t have a lot of entertainment, and I couldn’t relax myslf through taking part in the activities.
Despite all these challenges, I have slowly begun to adapt to American life style more and more. And I have overcome some of the difficulties about the cultural differences individually, especially when one person touch the culture of a new country for the first time, it will take he or she more time to struggle or conform to it. In my opinion, new immigrantes should try their best to adapt to the differences in a short time instead of complaining about it because every country has its own history and origions. . No matter which country we live in or visit, we should study how to respect it’s culture and customs.

Soul Visit

2008-10-22T20:52:00.000-07:00

One of many holy days that are commemorated in Mexico is The Day of Dead, “El Dia de los Muertos.” Mexico is recognized for its unique tribute to the dead people world wide. Mexico has specific places which are typically recognized for its celebrations that usually last three to four days. During these days the city of Mexico and other states are visited by people from other countries. This is a celebration that not only happens in Mexico, but it’s also celebrated in other countries for catholic people. This day, The Day of the Dead, has a special meaning for my family and me, which is a tradition that had been passed through the generations.

The commemoration to our dead starts with a celebration. One of the first things we do on The Day of Dead is go to church. Usually, my family and I go to church early in the morning. We listen to the mass where the priest name people from our family that had have already died. After the mass is done, we pray. This ritual is usually followed from the oldest member of the family; in this occasion my grandmother will guide us. The cemetery is also important. On this special day, my family and I go to decorate our relative’s graves with flowers and candles. All this is part of the celebration. This is a tradition that I definitely want to keep; if I abandon this part of the culture, I will miss the most important part of it.

Decoration is also fundamental for The Day of the Dead celebration. A traditional altar would have seven steps in white, and each step represents levels of the soul that they must pass to reach their final destination. We place a photograph of each of our relatives that have already passed away. We also, adorner the altar with flowers that have a particular meaning. White represents the sky, yellow represents the earth, purple represents mourning, and finally the official flower that represents the custom the most, marigolds. Usually, the boys and girls from the family contribute to make the banners, which are made in different colors and styles, for example, angels, birds, and chalice. They all hang up on the ceiling around the walls. Candles and food are also part of the decoration; we light a candle for each photograph on the altar. It’s so important for me to maintain this celebration in order to pass on to my children, this way it will be worth my grandmother hopes to continuo the custom.

Finally, food is an indispensable part of this custom, which is the most colorful and enjoyable part of this celebration. Next to the photograph on the altar we put the favorite food of the person who has died. Includes enchiladas, tamales, fruit, vegetables and sweets. In addition, beverage beer, coffee, tequila and water are also placed on the altar. Water purifies the soul, and would make the path for the soul more clearly to his or her destination. That’s what my grandmother believes. Moreover, “Pan de Muerto” bread of dead is always place on the altar and not removed until the ritual is totally done. The most common shapes of bread are round. They also have colors that represent the bones of a body. In my family is a tradition to give visitors who came home during the celebration a loaf. In this case my grandmother gives a loaf to each of the visitors. It will maintain the hope of maintaining our family together as it should be even after death.

As a result, a day that should be sad for others because it is full of memories of our dead relatives, for my family is a moment to share feelings. Although most people question why is a there a celebration for a person who just passed away? For us, is a celebration for the souls that come to visit us and stay with us only for a day. A vast celebration that has been in hour family for decades must continue to go on to the generations. As an alder daughter I feel more pressure to follow the costume as closes as possible because my family believes that if I do it, my siblings will too. However, this is significant for me even though my siblings have decided not to follow it. A celebration for The Day of Dead is gratitude, a commemoration for them to be with us. After all, we will all die, which is an
irrevocable truth.

Old Wisdow is at Home

2008-10-22T05:55:00.000-07:00

Old Wisdom is at Home

It is hard to imagine when you have to separate from your family simply because they can not take care of you anymore or you do not have any relatives. A few days ago, I watched the news which announced that every year the number of seniors that live in nursing homes increased in this country. In America, sometimes it is normal that seniors live there because their family does not have time to take care of them. Also, the seniors may find more affection in those places. However, the Mexican people believe in the familiar union, so most of Mexican families try to remain together. When I was young I met my four grandparents and I learned many things from them. One of the things was dealing with and respecting the family. Mexicans have the tradition to look after the older members of family. My grandparents taught me how it is important live with seniors, and it is one of the most important, Mexican traditions.

Mexican seniors are respected a lot of because they know many things and they can teach their descendants. Sharing experiences is one of the reasons the grandmother and grandfather lives with their sons or daughters. Before my grandmother died, she lived with us for several years. She taught my mother and me how to make traditional handcrafts. This knowledge helped my mother open a store where she sold many items that she made herself. I also remember when my sister was sick and the doctor’s prescription did not cure her. My Mama Grande that was how we called her, made herb tea and my sister got better. Moreover, she was the best cook. She was always in the kitchen helping my mother to prepare the meals. How I could forget the chicken soup which she prepared on those rainy days. The seniors often have a lot of experience and wisdom which make the life easier.

Often, the seniors need to love of their family when they grow old which is another reason they should receive attention of their progeny. Experts in psychology say that people who stay alone even though they are younger, they are more prone to depression or suicide. Mexican people prefer to live with their grandparents than take them to a nursing home. Frequently, if one of both dies, the other would live with one of the descendants. Because they need talk with someone else, they should not live alone. In my country, if somebody takes their seniors nursing home, it appears they do not care about them. In these cases, the old people think that they are nuisance to their family. My Mama Grande shared many things with me before her die. One of the things was that she did not like to be alone because she always wanted to talk with someone. She remembered my grandfather which made her sad.

In addition, the most important reasons for grandparents should be stay with their children because they always will be part of the family, but not only when they are able to help. Sometimes old people are a good support to their son or daughter and they always will take care of them. However, when a grandfather become unable to do many things like walk, clean or eat themselves, they become a nuisance to family members. Consequently, the relatives or progeny do not care about them. I know some seniors at nursing home are happy because they have created a family with others. Nevertheless, my family thinks that every member of the family deserves love, attention and care until her death. These customs unit the family more, and I believe that these thoughts are common among Mexican families.

I know that family is one of the most important issues in all countries, but it is hard to follow you own customs in another country which is not yours. However, some Mexican families try to forget the traditions and customs. My family has grown a through our grandparents’ experience, and I learned that the wisdom is at home. Moreover, it does not matter if the seniors do not have kinship with you because they can teach you a lot of things. Nevertheless, the immigrant people often assimilate customs of the countries they live; after all, every person is free to keep or give up his own background, but his custom of watching over our elders will always be a part of my new American life.

How to adapt to different culture

2008-10-21T18:16:00.000-07:00

How to adapt to different culture

Many people aspire to come to America because America is the developed country in the world. But if you are really living in America, you will find that it’s not easy for a foreigner to live. I think language, food and festival are the key that need time to adapt to the different culture.

The language is important obstacle if you live in the new country. When I first came to the United States, I couldn’t understand people saying as if I went to the new world. I went everywhere with my electronic dictionary like everyday, when I want to say something, I use it to translate from Chinese to English. But sometimes it made me awkward because some words you can’t translate. I remembered one day in class teacher let us to make a topic, and my classmate tell me a topic, I think it’s not good and a little laughable. I translated into English and tell her “this topic is stupid.” She suddenly got angry. I don’t know what happened because in China, it’s just like joke means not good. But in America, it’s more serious. So I apologized to her and I feel so embarrassed. Sometimes your language can’t say by translation in different country; you have to know their culture and said their language.

The food is the part of culture and can reflect food culture of a country. When you ask someone about culture of country, they will think about the food of this country first. I was living America for sometimes I have to eat American food though I like Chinese food. There are many restaurants in America, but I still can’t find a traditional Chinese restaurant. If you really want to eat traditional Chinese food, I think there is only one way and that means going to China. But I ate the traditional food one time in America, because my mother cooked for me last mouth when she toured in America. When I ate my mother’s cooking as if returned to my hometown. It reminded me a lot of interesting things at the time of my childhood.

The festival is also important part of culture. People who come from different country have different ways to celebrate festivals. It’s like some Chinese festival American do not celebrate. Last year, I had to go school on the Spring Festival in America because Americans doesn’t celebrate it. That day made me feel lonely and yearn for family. And in china we do a lot of things for preparing Spring Festival such as hanging up couplets and lanterns, and making dumplings and fireworks. I live in America now, I also celebrate American Festival. Last Christmas day, my friend who is American took me to his grandparents’ house and celebrated Christmas. It was a big party and a lot of people got together eating just like Chinese Spring Festival.

Adapting to a new culture can be difficult, maybe need time to fix the culture. The culture is the symbolizing of a country or a nation, so it reflects history of a country. It’s like I am Chinese, so I eat Chinese food, I speak Chinese and I celebrate Chinese festivals. If you want to adapt new culture, you need more time to know the culture and solve the obstacles what are hard parts of cultures for you to fit.

Lost in Translation

2008-10-20T15:47:00.000-07:00

Lost in Translation

I received My Visa for The United States and bought the ticket come to America. America is huge and it has different culture and language. I wasn’t worried at first until I came here. I was confused. I found many different problems when I lived here. I have to bring my own language, culture and custom to America. I have many friends come from many countries. I learned how to communicate with other people. I’m not confident when I talk with American people. In the same time, I have encountered many problems with communication, culture and respect in America.

Being respectful is an important thing for Thai people. In Thailand we have to respect people who older than us. When we go to school every morning, we have to “Wai”. This means we have to put two hands together and bow our head to the teacher. We have “Wai Khru Ceremony” on the first semester in school. At on that day all of students at my school have to go to the hall and do an activity together. The students bring flowers to teachers and pay our respect to them and say “thank you”. In America, I think it is difficult to do this kind of activity because we have many students that are from different countries.

Thailand Festival and New Year Thai style is what I miss most. When I was in Thailand, I worked in Bangkok. I had to come back to my home town every New Year to celebrate it with my family. I have a party with my family in New Year Eve. We cook dinner and eat together before New Year comes. In the early hours of the morning is when we celebrate the first day of New Year. Hundreds people in my hometown present food and flowers to the monks. On opposite side of the road we have to stand behind the table. We start at 6.00 am. Everybody prepare food for the monks. Each monk has a person to help them prepare for the festival at the temple. After the monks finished eating their food, they have to bring food to poor people. I think this activity makes people in our community join together. When I came to the US, I didn’t celebrate New Year Thai style anymore because New Year is celebrated differently.

The last important thing is communicating with other people. Before I came here, I learned English language at school. When I came here, I found it very different. I started working at a Thai restaurant. There are many times when the customer wants me to explain the food on the menu but when I tried to explain they were still confused. I was very upset that day. Thai language is not the same language anywhere else in the world. Often times people think Asian speak the same language. It’s hard for me to explain to people that we speak different languages.

Many times when a person wants me to explain something about my country and I try to explain but sometimes it doesn’t work. It’s hard for them to understand me. When I work at the Thai restaurant, I find many grammar mistakes with my co-worker. All of those problems are happen when you move to another country. I have to learn more how to improve myself in different ways and adopt to my new life.

CHAMPAING SHOWER

2008-10-20T12:51:00.000-07:00

Imagine a group of people throwing champaign at each other’s bodies, eating grapes with complete focus and concentration, and running around the neighborhood with their luggage. It may sound a little crazy or weird, but that is the way some Colombian’s people celebrate the New Year. If you are Colombian and you live in another country, you may have to sacrifice the most part of your New Year traditions. We called these traditions “Agueros”. When I just came to Chicago three years ago, I decided to forget about my traditions for the New Year. I was in America, and I wanted to enjoy an American New Year’s celebration. I didn’t have any family here, so I went to my friend’s house. I was waiting for that day with excitement. When we got there, I was completely surprised to see everybody doing different things but celebrating, at least not the way I thought. I still have the picture in my mind. Most of the people were playing video games, talking on the phone or watching TV. They didn’t have any music at all. It was just one word to describe it “BORING”. That was the most boring night of my life, and at that point I wished I could be at home celebrating with my crazy family and doing weird things. Last year, for New Year’s, I decided to take the plunge. I was in Chicago celebrating with my husband and some friends at home. I decided I was going to have fun and keep my traditions for good luck during the holiday.

The first tradition says that you should eat twelve grapes, and with each grape you eat you make a wish for the New Year; it can be about money, health or love. Before twelve o’clock, I separated the twelve grapes for each person. I also packed my luggage and I put a champaign bottle on the table ready for the toast. At twelve o’clock, I explained to everybody about the grapes, and I thought everybody would be really excited about the idea of making wishes. They just had to eat a grape and make a wish, easy. When everybody had their own grapes, I was really surprised when some of the guests told me they didn’t know what to ask for. They basically had everything they need. I couldn’t believe my ears. In my country, people spend most of the time praying to God in order to get things and wishing they could have everything they don’t have. I was really confused; I didn’t know if think that these people were so happy about their lives that they just couldn’t ask for more, or if they were so selfish that they couldn’t think of the rest of the impoverished world. That day I felt really bad. Everybody was looking at me like “why are you so dissatisfied with your life that you need to eat grapes and make wishes”?

After my first failure I decided to keep going with my plan. The second tradition says that if you pack a bag and run around your neighborhood with your bag, you will travel a lot during the next year. So I put some clothes inside my bag, I took it and I went out alone. I knew nobody was going to follow me. I did it while my husband was trying to find a place to hide, so he didn’t have to give explanations of my behavior to anybody. When I went out I saw everybody staring at the window looking at me and maybe thinking “this girl is really weird”. But the hardest part wasn’t the public embarrassment; it was all the snow outside that made it hard to walk. It was also so cold that after ten steps, I went back home. I wonder why I didn’t travel anywhere this year!

The third omen says that if you get some champaign on your head or body after the toast the next year you are going to have a lot of money. I decided to give everybody a glass of champaign for the toast. At that moment I wasn’t going to do anything different than drink my champaign, wish a happy New Year to everybody and go to bed. Everything was fine until I decided that it would be so much fun if we could get some champaign on our body for prosperity. So I took my glass and I dropped the Champaign on one of my friend’s head. You don’t want to know what happened that night.

If you think those things are not weird enough, let me tell you that we also hide coins in plants for prosperity, fill our pockets with coins and bills, wear yellow underwear inside out, hide potatoes under our beds, boil aromatic plants and we clean our houses with that water. We also mop our house from inside to outside while we pray, and if you want to find your soul mate the next year, the first person you have to kiss on the New Year has to be the opposite sex. After my experiment I learned that “when in Rome do as the Roman’s”. I have decided to keep my traditions just for my family celebrations in Colombia. I also decided to ask for less and feel more thankful for all the good things I have in my life. I feel so lucky just thinking about the people who love me and the ones I love and care about. I can’t ask for more love, health and wealth in my life.

My Decision

2008-10-20T08:36:00.001-07:00

When I decided to move to another country my intentions were never to abandon my roots I just open a new page in my life that would help me become stronger to achieve my dreams. The fact that I would be another resident in the new city made me ask myself all kind of questions. How I would be able to interact with people in my own language? How could Christmas be from now on? Being in a different place, would I be able to find the typical food? Therefore, I will have to force my self and learn the new language. In addition, I will have to understand that I would be celebrating every 25th of December far from home. And, that I would have to adapt my self with the new cooking styles different from mine. As a result from my decision I am still adapting into several situations, the new language, the Christmas event and the topic food are still hard situations to put in practice in the new country.

First, the new language I was facing has put me through very different moments. It has been very hard to communicate with others. At first, I could not understand what the new world was offering me. Wherever I go, everyone I tried to talk with and every thought I wanted to express was an inability to communicate. It is a slow mental-process in which I still have to absorb as much as information I can in order to exercise my brain. So then soon I will be speaking fluent the language and I’ll be closer to my goals that would send me towards new opportunities.

Another matter I have been facing every year is the classic Christmas Holiday, and that it should be spending with the whole family. It is hard sometimes to find this perfect time, because it is frustrating not be able to get together with my relatives. Despite the remoteness, I decided that I would be helpful to create unusual activities. Thus along all the decorations, my family and I we try to adapt this excitement day in our annual event playing board games and putting up the lights. Even more so, this holiday makes people realize what we all have, and makes me feel thankful to have my brother and mother by my side.

Before moving, food was also something I thought about. Where I ever would find the elements, flavors and dishes that I find back home? The preparations of the new cooking styles were very different mainly because I still cannot find the exact flavor of the typical food. Evidently another effect that emerged was the income I have to spend in order to find the exact topics. For instance, vegetables are much more expensive than in my country. Nowadays it is just the matter to grasp the procedure of every plate so I can feel the original and natural taste from back home.

The fact to move into another country was the best decision I could have done, because I am learning new things of how to handle life no matter the place. In fact what surprise me more was how people appreciate more life when they are far away. Gradually, I am still assimilating the result of my decision, even though I have been living in the country for about two years. However it may be, I am still learning the language, I will always yearn for the day I can reunite with my family and celebrate Christmas, and I am going to look forward for the day I can taste my traditional dishes again.

My Family Traditions

2008-10-20T08:36:00.000-07:00

Having moved to the United States in the beginning, I didn’t realize how different my life would be. I had been living in Russia for twenty years before I decided to change my life completely. For me moving to the United States was equal to moving to a new planet. I had to go through a lot of adjustments in cultural differences. I have made new friends, changed jobs and schools and found new stores to shop in. However, there is one thing, which I will never find a replacement. It is my family. Both of my parents and my elder brother are living in Russia. Though we constantly communicate with each other, there is something we are unable to carry through phone or Internet, something valuable and irreplaceable - our family traditions. There are a few of these traditions and habits that I have lost or changed since I came to United States.

The first thing that I started to miss was the food. When I was little my parents used to take my brother and me to our summerhouse where we had a big garden. We went there almost every other day. At the time when we didn’t have a car, we had to take a bus there, which was crowded, loud and hot. By the time we got to the summerhouse, everyone was already tired, but there was the garden where there was always a lot of work to do. Our garden always provided us with fresh organic fruit and vegetables. That was the only type of food I was used to eating. When I came to the United States I had a lot of problems with grocery shopping. In the beginning I could hardly buy any fruit and vegetables because they seemed fake and tasteless for me. It took me a year to find stores and food that I like. Then I realized that nothing tastes like the food at home.

Another of our family traditions that I miss is the celebration of holidays when the whole family gathers together. One of the most remarkable is Easter. Normally it is in the end of April when the weather is warm enough to go for a picnic. According to Orthodox religion we color eggs, bake a special kind of bread and cook a sweet dish made from curd. And with these items and some other food we would go out of town for a picnic. On our way we always stopped by the monastery, where we prayed and swam in a saint stream with the extreme cold water. Then we went to a forest to have the first picnic of the year. There was something unique on Easter day. It was all about what we did and with whom. Now being away from my family and friends I realized that there was something spiritual about those days, something that I cannot find living in this country.

The most significant family custom was when we had a meal together. At the table no one could start eating his or her meal before our father sat down. If he was busy, we waited for him and he was always the one to have the first bite. It is a tradition that has lasted for generations in our family. And now living away from it, I still share the idea that everybody should start meal all together. I tried to bring in this tradition when I ate with my roommates or friends. However, I was never insistent. Unfortunately, it did not work out because as I have noticed, a lot of people become more self-concerned in the United States and they do not always care about waiting for everybody else.

These are a few of my family traditions that are very precious and impossible to replace. I am very proud of them because they help us to appreciate and respect each other and to be more united as a family. I am glad that I had those traditions because they made me the way I am right now. I am planning following our customs in the future as much as I can. Though I understand that it is impossible to maintain them a hundred percent, there are some that I won’t be able to forget. They are my connection with my family. And these days being away from home I miss my family and those things we used to do. But I truly believe that we will get together soon again. I am also looking forward to the time when I will have my own family so that we will cherish our own traditions no matter on which side of the world we live.

change

2008-10-20T08:32:00.001-07:00

Jim
Level 6
Sept13, 2008
Change

Stability is the most valuable thing in my country. I always thought my family was stable. Although I knew my life would change when I moved to America, I actually wasn’t aware that it would be so radical. Immigration would affect my three generations, and it would make me lose many things. It would not only change my employment, my home and my relationships, but also would change my language, traditional holidays and cultural values.
Language is the symbol of national status, but a changing language has made any transition to the U.S difficult. I’m from China and I have always spoken Chinese. When I moved to Chicago, I found I was surrounded by English; I immediately became a deaf and dumb person. For example, in my ESL classes, it was hard for me to understand the American language and it was difficult for me to make Americans understand me. English was our only form of communication, my teachers often said“Don’t speak Chinese, it is impolite.” In addition, without knowing English, I can’t find a good job and I can only live in Chinatown. My family’s language has changed; my mother still speaks Chinese, even though she is an American citizen. My daughter speaks English at school, and she doesn’t know Chinese well. I often need to use English to explain things to her; I have to change my language in order to communicate with her. I study English most of the time and sometimes I even forget my own national language, Chinese.
Another important symbol of national tradition is holidays. Everybody knows holidays can give joy and benefits and every holiday has different meanings and history. Chinese holidays are very different from American holidays, such as the Chinese New year and Mid-August Festival; these are the most important holidays for Chinese people. Every family member will come together during the holiday; it is a way of reinforcing family ties. However, in this country sometimes we have to go to school and work during the Chinese New year and Mid-August Festival. We can’t take a break and celebrate the holiday because it isn’t an American holiday, and No Chinese person can’t take off school or work to celebrate it. My family hasn’t gotten together since I moved to the U.S. We have begun to lose our holiday which used to bring us together.
Cultural values are probably the most important part of my life, but they have changed since I came to America. In China, a successful family is three generations living together. People treat seniors with respect and take care of they until them die. In addition, children always obey their parents. So, one day when I heard my mother say that “she will move to shield senior apartment” I was surprised. My mother explained “every senior-citizen likes to move to shield senior apartment in America, I need more space to spend my golden age.” What surprised us than more my mother’s statement was my daughter’s statement. One day, she said to my wife“my teacher tells me you can’t beat me. If you do, I will call the police.” After this statement, my wife and I found our family link has beginning to break.
My family and I have recognized that immigration has changed the status of my family. My family and I have heard many stories about immigrants from my sister, my mother and the last generation. We also get information from other relatives and friends about foreign life in America. The Chinese nation is a hardworking nation. Most Chinese people can adapt to any situation. According to American values, change is a good thing and change is linked to improvement, progress and growth. We don’t need to fear change. Like Chicago history, if there had never been the great Chicago fire, it wouldn’t be the third largest city of The US. We believe, my teacher said, “there is great rebuilding after a large fall. You should build a heaven and earth in a new world”.

change

2008-10-20T08:32:00.000-07:00

Meaning of Silence

2008-10-20T08:28:00.001-07:00

Most Japanese people are interested in how Judo has become similar to western style wrestling recently. Japanese and other martial arts enthusiasts love its thrilling competition when a player throws the opponent to the ground. In order to win by these dynamic techniques, the player holds his breath and waits a short period to grab his opponent’s collar. This is the typical style of Judo in Japan. New international rules in the Beijing 2008 Olympics viewed this short period as negative. Japanese people add value to a short pause and silence. Before I moved to the US, I did not expect that only Japanese people can understand importance of pausing and silence. Silence is meaningful in Japan because it is a symbol of respect; however, this custom has not been easy to carry out me over to this new country.First, Japanese people express politeness by a short period of silence. It is only for a half second. For example, if you have a phone call with an elder person, we wait a moment so that he can hang up the phone. We pause for a second before hanging up even with friends. When I moved here, I was afraid to answer the phones. American people always hung up the phone right away at the end of the conversation. I always worried whether I said something bad in the conversation. For example, in Japanese culture if your friend hangs up the phone like people in this country, it means that she is angry at you about something. It may mean the end of your relationship.

Second, the classrooms are quiet in Japan. A student only speaks when she gets her turn. The classroom should be calm, not disturbing or noisy. Japanese students usually solve their answers in their minds. American people say Japanese people are shy. In some point, it is correct. We are educated that we should think for a moment well before saying something. Students always sit at their desks with blank faces for a short second before they answer the question. If I follow that way in this country, a teacher might think I am not participating in the class. However, the students admit that they are participating in the class in Japan as long as their hands are raised.

Finally, in spite of the two above examples, Japanese women are afraid of silence in the washroom. To absorb that natural noise, Japanese women flush away right after sitting on the toilet. In most public washrooms in Japan, the recorded flushing sound comes automatically, like turning on the music when you get inside of the separated door. The Japanese government used to spend a lot of money on advertisements to convince women to discontinue this habit due to waste. However, they have not had any other choice but to install speakers in every separate lavatory throughout the country. They could not change the women’s principles even though they are conscious about green-friendly lifestyle. When I finally stopped flushing the toilets here, I thought that I had finally adapted to this country.

All these stories are just a few examples. I have faced a lot of misunderstanding because I kept American people waiting for me to act or respond. Japanese people are energetic even if they do not voice their opinions loudly. We understand a meaning if someone is silent briefly, and silence is not always a good meaning. To avoid pausing for a short period in Judo means losing part of the original Judo – 柔道 to alphabetical Judo. Consequently, this change tells us a short period of silence is significant only for Japanese people who are accustomed to its cultural behavior. Pausing and silence have been input into my brain and body, like always stepping into a room with left foot. For now, I keep these clock timing silences tucked away somewhere in my body as I recreate my US lifestyle.

Lost in the U.S

2008-10-20T08:26:00.001-07:00

As an immigrant, have you ever found that you have lost something after you moved to a new country? I left my country for the U.S. with misgivings in 2006, but fortunately, I live in Chinatown. I have felt comfortable staying in the Chinese community because everything looks almost like it did in China. I have lived in Chinatown for two years. Most parts of my life look not too much different from China, but I still feel strongly that I have lost something as a complete Chinese.

Food is the first thing that tells me that I have lost something in my daily life in the U.S.. I never tried any frozen food in my country. The first dinner that I had in the U.S. was on the first day I got to Chicago. The dinner was held in my parents- in-law’s house. I was so happy to meet my new family members and everything that I never saw before, except the new taste of the Chinese food. In fact, the food looked as nice as the traditional Chinese food, but the taste was really strange for me. I ate very less than usual at dinner that night, but I didn’t say anything about the food because I have good manners. My mother-in-law seemed to know that was going on. She explained to me that almost all food in the U.S. is frozen even though this is Chinatown. She agreed that the taste of the food is never as good as them in China. I realized that we all felt exactly the same. Anyway, I have to adapt to the new taste of the Chinese food in the future. However, even now, I still can’t adapt to the new taste of the food. I missed my home town’s food very much.

Language is another thing that makes my feeling lost in this country. I understand people’s talking if I stay in Chinatown. However, language becomes difficult for me if I left the Chinese Community. I have been a college student for tow years in the U.S., but I still feel nervous when I talked to the native people in English. I don’t like to talk with others even Chinese people. I clearly know that the main problem is my bad English. I hate to spend a lot of time to express a simple thing. I just want to escape out this situation and go back to my home. I realized that I have lost my confidence for the language in this new country.

The Chinese festivals are the most important thing that effects me feeling lost in my new immigrant life. Mid-autumn festival, Chinese New Year and Tomb-sweeping Day are the days that bring the Chinese family members gather together. I always remember those special days, even though my sisters were very busy, they always came back to celebrate for the festival days. My mother would be very busy preparing the big dinner, and we would have a lot of fun during the festivals. We liked to play cards, we singed, or we went to visit relatives. We had a lot of different ways to celebrate the festivals in China. However, I have nothing here now. I need to go to work even on Holidays. I just can say “Happy Festival Days” to my family and friends by phone in the special days. Living in the U.S. makes me really realized that how important the Chinese Festival Days are for me, and it also makes me feel lost in the new country.

I have found that my immigrant’s lives have taken something from me, and I am no longer a complete Chinese person as before. In the future, my children will be completely Chinese-Americans. Maybe they will never understand how my life is, but I will show them where they are from, so that they will know who they are. I think that at least they should know they have one part that belongs to the country of China.

Foreign Life

2008-10-20T08:20:00.000-07:00

Moving to another country can be the opportunity of a lifetime. It can be very intimidating to live among people who speak a foreign language,who have very different customs from your native country and who have a special way of life.When you immigate to a strange country,you just like a baby and you lost your parents.You need to do everything by yourself ,nobody can help you .As a consequence,when I immgrated to America,I had special foreign life.I tried something new and did something which I never do it before.
Language is one of special things in my foreign life.When I arrived to Chicago,I was surrounded with English.This city was very different from mine.I only saw all the foreigners and foreign language.Although I learned English many years ago,now I felt I am a dumb.I didn't know how to express myself.I felt I am drown in the sea, and I couldn't find a rope.Many adults find it different to learn a new language and prefer to find friends who speak their native tongue.But for me,I don't like this way of life.So I tried to speak to the foreigners and bought things by myself.I did everything by myself.Although I am already twenty-three years old,I still go to collegethat I can learn more English.Until now, I still speak broken English,but I can communicate with others.

Custom of foreign life is another special thing for me.When people move to another country as an adult,their home country's customs are already deeply engrained in their personality,sometimes making a transition very difficult.There is a small example in my foreign life.One day,I saw a big store beside Walgreens.I entered the store,and I found there were many old things.You know,I never saw a second-hand store before.To my suprise,so many old things were sold in the second-hand store,like clothes,shoes, furniture and toys.As a chinese people,I couldn't accept to buy used things.Because I always thought it's so dirty,and you never know who used this item before.When I throught the used things,I felt so many touch my body .But I couldn't know who they are!After this time,I talked to a American friend and told her what I thought about the second-hand store.My friend told me that the second-hand stores were very simple and popular in America.Because it's very environmenta that you use the used things.I very agree with my friend.Now,Unique is one of my favorite stores.On the one hand,I maintain the custom of my own country.On the other hand,I would like to learn and follow some foreign custom which I think it are useful.

living style is the most special things in my new life.Becauce my father has a new family in theU.S.I need to live by myself in America.It's very specical for chinese people that the children liveby themselves befor they marry. Because in chinese people opinion,children should live withtheir parents until they marry.Family is the most important parts in their lifetime.They always hope the whole family can live together and never separate.So before I immgrated to America,I never thought I will live without my family.Everyting is very difficult to do at the beginning.When I lived alone,I always felt lonely.And more and more questions were appeared.I
must cook wash clothes and clear up the room.I must do everything by myself.I never know how many work need to do when you live alone.But I really felt more and more strong after I live alone.I can handld many knotty problem by myself.

I had face many special problem in my foreign life,not only language.custom and way of life,but also so many things.It's really hard for a chinese who grew up in China.If I had never immgrated to America,I wouldn't have these special experiences.I wouldn't know how to talk with foreigners.I would't shopping at a second-hand store comfortable.I wouldn't have a chance to live alone.If I never like that.Those difficulty were really useful in my lifetime. I believe moving to a new country presents a greatopportunity to learn and improve yourself.

A Strange Life

2008-10-20T08:18:00.000-07:00

I come from China. I had been living in China for eighteen years before I moved to the U.S. It’s a long time. I was accustomed to the life there. I liked the sky, the air, the water and everything in China. Even though they are not better than that in the U.S. I still prefer that in China. Now, I’m living in Chicago, everything is different and difficult to control. I feel a little worried about that. It has been a hard period to assimilate into the new life in the U.S.A.
The transportation is difficult to adapt. The traffic is convenient in America. However, I felt that it was too much bother going anywhere. When I was in China, I could go everywhere by bike. I rode my bicycle to school, to the supermarket and wherever I wanted to go. It was very convenient because bicycle is the main vehicle. I enjoyed riding through the crowds. In contrast, if I want to go somewhere, I have to wait for bus and the train because I don’t have my own car. The waiting time is so boring that it’s waste of time. This problem puzzles me. I can’t go out by bike either because it’s very dangerous for me if I do that. I need more time to adapt myself to these strange circumstances.
Different studying styles are also hard to adapt. In China, I had to get up early to school and went home after dark. Our bags were too heavy to carry, and I had much homework to do. We were all very tired and feared we would get crazy one day. However, I learned a lot of things from the busy work. I used to spend most of time at school. I always studyed and played with my classmates. Now, I would enjoy most of my time at home by reading and sleeping. In fact, I feel comfortable now. I don’t have to get up early and don’t need to do a lot of homework, but I don’t know why I missed my past life now. Maybe I don’t know how to use my spare time. I had better learn to enrich my life in this new environment.
Cooking styles are the important part that difficult to adapt. I used to eat traditional food like dumplings, noodles, and rice all the time. Although we can cook ourselves now, the flavoring is not enough. I have to accept other kinds of food. Especially some food is eaten without cooking. We don’t like to eat that kind of food. We think that food should be cooked on fire before we eat them. I missed the Chinese traditional food like moon cake, rice dumplings. However enjoying American food has also been a educational interesting experience.
In a word, although there are many differences between China and America, I haven’t been able to adapt myself successfully in a short time. I will try my best to change my life, and will happy to face the problems in the future, but I hope that it won’t be difficult for me. Although these are different, they are both in one world. Now, I don’t go places by bike; I don’t spend all of my time at school, and I don’t eat traditional Chinese food all the time. However, I will miss my past life and keep it in my heart. I hope to be a competent person, who is living in a strange country and able to adapt to this new environment soon.

change

2008-10-20T08:14:00.000-07:00

A Different Mid-Autumn Festival

2008-10-20T08:09:00.000-07:00

How do you feel if you do the same thing in the same way
when it suddenly change? Is that good? No, I don't think so. For
me, I'm the person who likes being stick to old ways. I'm a very
traditional Chinese people. In China, parents buy new clothes
for their children before the Spring Festival. My parents also
bought me new cloth every year when I was small, but they
didn't buy me one when I was nineteen. I asked them for the
reason. “You're an adult now and you're no longer young.” My
mother answered. Then I felt sad and I was very unhappy,
because my habit had changed. I don't want to change it. In
fact, the way in which I celebrate my Mid-Autumn Festival has
changed since I moved to America.

In the U.S, the lantern is one part of the Mid-Autumn
Festival that is missing from China. I don’t bring the lantern to
go anywhere with friends anymore. I don't see any lanterns in
America. Actually, I want to buy one but I don't know where I
should go. In China, lantern is the character of Mid-Autumn
Festival. Lantern usually made of paper and bamboo or plastic.
There are many different shapes and colors of lantern. The
lantern can be animals, plants, buildings and many other things.
Children bring different kinds of lanterns and go around with
friends in the evening. It seems like a lantern world and it's
alive. All people can have fun during the festival.

In the U.S, mooncake is another different part of the Mid-
Autumn Festival that is missing from China. I don't eat
mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival. Mooncake is
another characteristic of Mid-Autumn Festival. Although some
groceries sell mooncakes in Chinatown.I ’m not in the mood to
buy them. Because people don't celebrate the Mid-Autumn
Festival in America.There's no atmosphere here.It's very
different from China.In China,people buy mooncakes and give
them to their relatives and friends. This is Chinese custom. I
can feel that the festival is coming soon.Mooncakes are to Mid-
Autumn Festival what mince pies are to Christmas.

Finally, dinner is the most different part of the Mid-Autumn
Festival that is missing from China in the U.S. I don't have
dinner and enjoy the big round moon with my family. Some
Chinese immigrants are very busy and they have no time to
have dinner together. Most people usually eat in restaurant
because they don't want to cook after working whole a day. So
by and by Chinese people in America gives up getting together
in some festival. I’m living in America by myself and I miss my
parents. I remember that I had dinner and enjoyed the moon
with my parents every Mid-Autumn Festival when I was in China.
I was full of happiness.

In conclusion, my Mid-Autumn Festival has changed after I
moved to America. I remember an idiom“never forget where
one's happiness comes from”. That’s right. I’m Chinese and I
cannot forget theChinese customs. Though I'm not living in
China, I still want to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in
America ,I’ll ask my parents or my friends to mail me a lantern
so that I can hang it in my house; I’ll buy the mooncakes and
give them to my friends as the presents; I’ll have aget together
with my friends in the evening of the Mid-Autumn festival.
Because celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival it’s a part
of my life.

American Dream

2008-10-20T07:51:00.000-07:00

In old China, people always said: “gold mines are ubiquitous in America.” Until now, the dreamers are still dreaming about gold-digging. Only we, the Chinese immigrants living in the US, know how difficult it is living in this foreign country. Sometimes people will think of who they were. The rest of the time, they have to face who they are. From China to America, people may be perplexed in this transition. Different environment, different cultures, how is it even possible to compare America to China? However, there’s one thing that is evident. For me, America is not a place for dreaming, it is a place for transformation---to change my life.

The first thing I lost is confidence. Perhaps I was just an ordinary person in my country, but I could live there confidently. I was familiar with Chinese common language. Besides, I speak three dialects. I dared to go anywhere I wanted. At least, I could communicate with strangers if I needed to ask them for directions. In addition, I was not bad in my classes, and I was about to graduate from university in two years. Then one day, I was told that I would immigrate to America soon. It was a new hope for me at that time. However, the surroundings were not as I expected when I stood on this new land. Even though I felt excited when I was listening to the foreigners who spoke English fluently, I couldn’t find any other word to describe my situation but confused. “Time will change this,” I thought. One year has passed by, but I’m still the same as I was someone who would like to be invisible in front of the ENGLISHs.

Joyfulness had been the term of describing my character by my old friends, but it wasn’t anymore. In China, I would be easily pleased by something insignificant. A boat trip or mountain adventure was enough to make me excited for days. My relationships between friends were as pure as water. Respect and concern for each other had maintained our friendships. I was looking forward to meeting new friends who would be as the fellows I met. Disappointingly, America is full of busy footsteps. School, home and workplace are the three parts of a complete circle. People walk along the circle every day, and so do I. Someone said: “there is a tiny thing called selfishness hiding in the innermost depth of heart of everybody.” Its philosophic theory made me think of the nature of humans, I just observed it a little wider with a magnifier.

My dependence on my parents is disappearing even though I’m living with them. The adults told me that I didn’t need to do anything except study when I was in China. Although I tried to find a part time job when I enrolled in the university in a strange city, I failed. As usual, I received money from my parents every month, so I didn’t worry about my living expenses living in China. Nevertheless, as an adult in America, I have to work. My parents are still the stanchions on my both sides. What I want to do is maintain a balance by myself. Thus, I work two days per week for my tuition and other fees. Students who work as me in China cannot afford those costs. Maybe these are the gold mines in Chinese dreams---you can be independent in America.

Adapting to a new world will never be easy as dreaming, but my life just keeps on changing. Provisionally, I lost my way as the captain of the boat in the storm. When the sun comes out, what has been lost may be found out again, or there’s something that I only want to let go. Sometimes I have found that I was somewhat like the gold dreamers. We are all looking for what we want no matter if it is a dream or real. In the transformation of life, people will always find a new direction for the future. I’m in the process of pursuit, and I have a dream that my life will be fabulous someday.

2008-10-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

Miles Away From My Country

There should be a dictionary about all the cultural differences in every country. It would help the integration process of the immigrants who struggle in their new lives. I have been living in Chicago for two years, and I still endure difficulties to understand the new customs in the US. I often feel myself as I have to walk carefully to decipher the way of life in Chicago. Every day, I can feel the weight and the power of my own French upbringing. Even though I love my life in America, I still feel very far away from my country regarding the translation of the language, the relationship with people and the eating habits.

The English language is an important adjustment in my life as a French immigrant in the US. That is why I try so hard to go through this different language because I just want to belong to the new world by understanding what is going on. Whenever I’m in a store and ask for something in a very simple way and the person a front of me makes a facial expression like she or he doesn’t know what I’m looking for, I always feel lonely and deeply disoriented. Even though I know that I’ m not bicultural enough to understand all the tricks or the wisecracks that I could hear, I just miss the way I used to shop in France, by subtlety sharing the language with people. I also struggle with the pictorial language of American English when people use some sports words and expressions in a totally different context. For example, the idiomatic expression “ kick off “ is to start the game in football and is often used in a regular conversation to say that you are starting a discussion. This way of speaking is really different from my traditional way of idiomatic expressions in France. Up until now, my lack of knowledge in this language has made the transition to life harder.

Relationships are another important part of adjustment in my life as a French native in America. I always wonder if all of the difficulties that I have mentioned above follow from my hard time with relationships with American people. One of the biggest basic’s approach is the common huge hug to say” Hello”, instead of the traditional kisses in my country, and this still makes me uncomfortable. Even though I often find American people more welcoming during the first contact than French people, I also find it more difficult to go further into the relationship with them. For example, I’m always surprised when one of my neighbors waves at me, and says hello because I don’t really know him or her but he or her pretends to know me by just being familiar with my face. In Paris it is really hard to imagine this kind of behavior. Nobody will wave at you if they don’t know you at all. As I said, it also seems very hard to break the first approach and go forward. I often feel people busy, and it seems to be more difficult to go over the next step with them. This is how I feel about my experiences with people in Chicago, but I still want to try to go further and share time with friends as I used to do in Paris.
Customs around food are probably the most important part of the adjustment as a French immigrant, and it could also be the one I’ m ready to change. When I tried to invite American people over for a dinner at my home, they usually are not ready to go for it. First of all, my French time schedule doesn’t match with the early American dinner. Also, they were not used to sitting for a long dinner with a starter, a main course, cheese and desert. Everyone sits at the table for a long time, enjoying the moment with wine and chatting late into the night. It is very common to invite friends over according to the French tradition, even during the week. It may be true that French people work less than Americans, and that is probably why they have more time to hang out with friends. In this case, I have really lost the translation between my country and America because my American friends don’t take time to cook at home and usually invite us iout to a restaurant and pay the bill. It’s a huge, cultural gap that still makes me feel embarrassed. However, I’m ready to move in an early dinner because it’s healthier and it easier to get up in the next morning.

Adapting to a new life is full of complexity, and each case is different. For this reason, setting up a dictionary about all the cultural differences could be impossible. It definitely takes time to adjust to cultural differences between French and American customs. I’m thrilled to work on it, and I like to open my eyes for something I even don’t know, the outcome. It makes me think differently and open my mind widely. After struggling, you adapt yourself and you can become a citizen of the world. I will fight for my kids and hope they will take advantage at this fantastic opportunity to discover several aspects of different cultures. It will be a great asset for their future.

My New Life, My Hard Time

2008-10-19T09:29:00.000-07:00

Imagine that you are a freshman in a new place. Do you think your life will be easy or difficult? For me, it is not easy. I came here four months ago. It was my first time leaving China.Although I am bombarded with the beautiful scenery here everyday, I feel confused as I try to adapt to the new environment. Living my new life in this city, I have had a hard time adapting my eating, shopping and living habits.

First of all, eating habits in this county are different from China. Many American live at a fast space and eat fast food. There are a lot of fast food stores all around such as Subway, Wendy’s and Burger King, which sell hot and cold sandwiches and other items. I ate this oily and greasy food in school for a few days. And I felt like vomiting. I usually buy refrigerated meat from a local supermarket, for it would take me one hour drive to the farm to get fresh meat. I miss my Chinese farm near my house which raises d chickens and harvested vegetables. I miss my mother’s vegetable soup and steam fish without fat. I miss the Chinese restaurant serves porridge with sliced thin pork or preserved duck egg in the morning. Most American food I eat now is more calorie and fat. If I pay attentions to what i eat, I can picture my future, what an absolutely fat girl i will be!

Not only eating, but also going shopping here confuse me. As a new immigrant, I can’t keep myself from comparing US goods to Chinese. I know people here earn more money, but I can’t control my mind sometime. For instance, an eraser is 1.5 dollar here, and in my mind it is 10.5RMB with which you can buy ten pieces in China. Furthermore, you must pay an additional tax for the goods. I had never seen the tax amount in my Chinese receipt. And some customer service is also different here. When I buy jeans in China, the sales person will adjust the trouser leg to suit me. However, all I can do here is turning the cuffs up again and again. Americans are usually talker than the Asians. Moreover, I hate the clothes here because of the simple design. In my eye, all clothes seem to be the same. The people here like sportswear, and I like Chinese delicate handmade clothes. Shopping is one of most interesting parts of life for some woman, and for me, it is hard to find a real good buy. When I do need something, I ask my best friend in China to ship it to me.

Finally, I must be independent, which I was not used to being in China, and this causes me many troubles. I am my parents’ only child. In china, I didn’t have any trouble under my parents’ good care .And now; no one cooks breakfast or wakes me up. I was late for school at the beginning. Most of my classmates go school on weekdays and work on weekends, and so do I. I feel too tired to do the homework at night after working, cooking and cleaning .Usually on my way home; I miss my parents who prepared the hot chicken soup waiting for me to come back. Although it is not an easy time for me to be independent, I know it is good for me. When a lion grows up, she needs to find her own kingdom.

As a new immigrant, I am not accustomed to eating, shopping and living in the American way. However, I love Chicago. I have a dream here for my new life. I don’t feel lonely because there are so many people who are in the same situation as me. Chicago is a mixed city with thousands of people arriving from different countries everyday. I do believe that after the period of adjustment, I will fall in love with the new environment. Maybe after several years, I will tell you a different story about how I love the life here.

Lost in Translation

2008-10-18T20:28:00.000-07:00

“Carol, would you like to be the fourth corner at my home? Alice and Ellen have been here” Josephine said happily. “Yes, I will be there in a minute” I answered without giving a second thought. “Carol, be quick” I heard other familiar voices echoed over the phone at the same time. They were awaiting me to play mahjong at that very moment. These conversations usually used to happen in the past while I lived in Hong Kong. Mahjong interlinks with social activities. It involves socializing, relationships and food. And it is a game for four players and requires skill, strategy and calculation as well as luck. That is why it is most people’s favorite hobby. Socializing, relationships and food are important parts of my life, but those have disappeared with my migration to America.

First, socializing is a significant part of society. Mahjong can be a role in our social lives. Mahjong culture is popular and ingrained in my home town, Hong Kong. For example, some families might have one or two sets of mahjong boards at home. Also, some restaurants or clubs often advertise bargain prices for one table mahjong (that means four people) with four dinners and a soup to attract their customers. Mahjong is also an essential character in wedding and birthday banquets and family gatherings. Most people come early to the party in order to play mahjong before the banquet starts. It interlinks with social and family activities. People can get to meet new friends by playing mahjong, and they might even become good friends. Usually, playing mahjong would take about four to eight hours. Talking, gossiping, exchanging current news, discussing about problems or business wouldn’t be absent while playing mahjong. Some people say “If the Hong Kong government prohibited citizens from playing mahjong, it would definitely have a riot or protest.” You see how deep this culture was influencing me as I grew up in Hong Kong.
Second, good relationships with people are a motivation of having a joyful life. My relationship with my husband’s side family and my friends are soaked with this activity. For example, mahjong highlighted my family gathering on my husband’s side .One of my brother-in-laws said that “Playing mahjong with my mom is respectful and obedient”. In fact, my mother-in-law really loves playing mahjong. She thinks that playing mahjong with her sons and daughter-in-laws brings her fortune and joy. Also, while we were playing mahjong with our friends, we would like to gossip about some celebrities, current news or family’s matters. And the final winner might show off her skill and strategy to the losers. This was just for fun. Moreover, the winner often paid the bill for our dinner. We didn’t need to go Dutch. Presently, I often receive calls from my contemporary mahjong friends who said that “Carol, can you hear the shuffling sound of tiles, would you desire to play with us……….Ha! Ha! ”. They frequently lured me over by offering their excitement and joy. They just pulled my leg. Virtually, I was really hungry for that second I would have played mahjong with them. I really enjoyed the moments we were together

Furthermore, food makes people happier. It could win many people’s hearts. Playing mahjong is also a favorite pastime of most people. Usually we would spend rather long hours playing this game. Food is one of the components in this activity. For instance, my mother-in-law always prepares our favorite snacks and gourmet dinner before playing mahjong. Occasionally, we would give orders to the nearby restaurant to deliver food and soup to us. Eating seafood and playing mahjong in a restaurant on the small island are the two habits that I often loved to do with my friends on weekends or holidays. However, now I can only find them in my memories, but now, I have found various delicious favorite ethnic dishes in America.
Because of my migration to America, the mahjong activity, friendship and food have faded away. Though playing mahjong exists in America, the style is so different from what we did in Hong Kong. Friendship can only be maintained by e-mail and phone call without meeting them in person .Some food can’t be found here. However, American steak could be substituted for some delicious meat in my home town. Hence, I believe that being “Lost in translation” is only a transitional period and is also a toll of my immigration. Now, I can breathe the fresh air, see the blue sky, drink the sweet tap water and study English with classmates from around the globe. It is interesting that so many classmates are from different nations. Nevertheless, while I have gained I have also lost. A good quality life is one of my pursuits. It inspires and pushes me to live in America, and it compensates what I have lost as well.