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.
Monday, December 8, 2008
The view of the book
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
The Joy Luck Club
Funny in Farsi
Reflection
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.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
cause & effect essay-The Shaking of the Chinese Family Planning Policy
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.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Short synopsis.

Movie review - Let the Right One In

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

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.
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. Sunday, November 16, 2008
Beautiful

Saturday, November 15, 2008
Beauty is a mistake?
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.
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. 
Friday, November 14, 2008
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.
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?

movie review-

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.once review

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.*****
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Movie Review-Two Lovers

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

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.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Movie Review-Two Lovers

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

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.


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.

