Journal #27 Many thanks in Thanksgiving

First at all, I guess that we don’t need to write the journal during the big holiday. However, I am so wrong…. Too sad.

Thanksgiving is a traditional holiday in US to give thanks to God at the conclusion of the harvest season. In the end of this year, I would like to give my thanks for my parents, my friends, and myself.

My parents, who support me with their entire heart and love, provide the budget for me pursuing further education. They always are my IRON backup for all the decisions I made. Thank you for giving me so many things not only the money but also the big big love!

My friends, sure, they have been here with me all the time. We laugh, cry, and share the most emotional feelings together. Thank you for bring my life joyful and happiness.

Myself. I worked so hard this year. I did, saw and felt so many things in this year. Thank myself for tasting the sweet and bitter in this year.

Journal #25 Research Paper…

We choose “Coptic” language for our research paper. Our group found out 3 books in the library and each person took one for research. The research paper is very difficult for me because I do not have any linguistic background. I have no idea how to start this research so I google “Coptic language” and find a very good website. This website contained much information about Coptic language such as history and definition. I also go to the wikipedia looking for some information. I am happy because there are many useful recourses, but I still need to read all and try to organize the information.

Journal #24 Scary Story

When I was young, the most popular games was playing “pen spiritual”. The “pen spiritual” or “money spiritual” game is just like the “OUIJA Board” in U.S.. We needed to prepare a paper, which wrote several words such as “Yes”, “No”, or some numbers, a pen or money, and 2 or 3 people. The pen spiritual can tell you the fortune and all most everything you want to know. We played it a lot and in every where, even in the school and had a lot of fun. However, since this spooky thing, I never had this kind of games until now.

One day, my sister and I came back from school in afternoon and we felt very boring, so we decided to play the pen spiritual together. We prepared the pen and paper, and started calling the spiritual to answer our questions. Everything seems quiet and peaceful until my sister asked the spiritual his last name. He circled one of the letters and we felt scared because he must be someone died in front of our house, and his funeral was still running at that day. My sister and I tried to send him back but it was difficult to send him back. We were terrified by the spiritual a lot. Finally, we send him back, but we were exhausted and tired. After this case, we never played such kind of games.

Journal #21 Manage Your Time

Most of the students think that there is never enough time in the day and they are busy in multiple tasks such as study new knowledge, building the relationship with friends/professor, and earning tuition from part time job. There are too many things need to do in the college. However, you only have the tiny time to accomplish all the tasks. If you know how to use your time effectively, your college life will be colorful. But if you do not know, then your college life will probably be black-and-white. You can write down your own schedule, prioritize the lists and try to say “No” in some situation in order to deal with the pressed time.

First, using calendar with plenty of space to record assignments, lists and appointment would help you organizing what your should do and when you should do. You can see all the to-do things in the calendar in order to effectively manage your time. For example, you can check your calendar at the beginning of the week, and you can know which task you should do first. If you find out that there is a party in Saturday, you can reorganize your task in the week and try to finish your homework before the happy day.

Second, prioritize your list and tasks. Take the “big-picture” approach. Look over all you need to complete and decide what’s most important. Which assignment is due first? Which is the most difficult? Which cost the most time to finish? For example, if you have 3 journals, one boring reading, and one proposal due to this week, you will need to decide which one is the most important and calculate how much time you need, then decide which one will go first.

Third, say “NO” in some situations. Sometimes we take on too much. Whether it’s extra courses, job responsibilities, or extracurricular activities, consider how important each is to you before agreeing.

All for all, effectively managing your time is difficult but important skill for college students. For me, the best ways to manage time are these 3 tips. If you can apply all these tips in the daily life, you will make a successful college life.

Journal #20 Speaking more than one language is a great advantage

Most of students go aboard pursuing higher education not only earn the approval or credits but to learn another language. The world today becomes flat according to the technology development such as internet and advanced transportation. How to improve your own ability in order to follow the trend? Speaking more than one language is a great advantage to improving our ability and view the brand new world. Also, people can find the better job; learn more things in different language from variety resources and the most important broaden our horizon and open up our mind to receive the new impact.

First at all, when you speak more than one language, you definitely can find the better job. Most of the top businesses need to connect to the different country such as their manufactories in Indonesia, India, or Mainland China. To expend their fingers they need the people who have ability to communicate with others. If you can speak more than one language, you get more opportunities to get into the companies. In addition, you might get the better payment than other people because of your unique ability.

Second, you can learn more different things from other resources. If you understand another language, you can get to see and to know more things than the people who only know one language. How can you learn the newest knowledge when the numerous books, magazines, and journals are printed in the language you don’t understand? On the other hand, if you love to play the games, most of the games are only available in their original language such as English or Japanese. How can you understand the instructions if you don’t understand those language?

Third and the most important, you will have open-minded and broader horizon than others. Because of the internet and convenient transportation, the worlds become flat. Everyone can easily connect to outside their country also people will receive more information outside their country. If you can understand their language, you have the better chance to understand their life and value. Since you become more flexible and comfortable listening and receiving other’s point of view, you will become more open-minded in different aspects.

In short, speaking more than one language is a great advantage for people. You can find the better job, know more things and have the open-minded. In nowadays, the world becomes a global village, all the people should learn second or third language in order to connect to the new changing world.

Journal #19 Halloween Party

My favorite costume must be Sally, the rag doll. She is the one of the characteristic in Nightmare before Christmas and very lovely (for me). Also, she is a little creepy because of the sutures in her face and every where. However, because of the tiny budget, I will choose the prisoner costume. The first reason is the price, and the second reason is I don’t need too much make up also it is easy to move. Sometimes when I wear the skirt, I will feel very uncomfortable because I can’t have the big move and need to aware every second.

Journal #18 Expose??

First, I did not understand what I should write. Is that about my shifting emotion? Or is that about anything? I am so confused.

Why am I confused? It is because of the unclear title or my poor understanding of English? I think it might be the second one. Sometimes I got confused about others and in that time, the misunderstood happened. We came from different countries, had different background and culture. Some cultures prefer do things straightforward, some prefer do things ambiguous, and some prefer do not say anything. What is the type for me? I don’t know because it depends on different situation. Sometimes I prefer straightforward, sometimes I prefer ambiguous, and rarely I don’t say anything. Why? It’s depends. OK, I think that I am way out of the topic. Finally, I got confused in this journal.

Journal #16 The Bourne series

I love all kinds of movies but my favorite types are action and thriller movies because they are really make me stop my breathing. “The Bourne series” is my favorite movie not only the character, Matt Damon, is a sweet handsome guy but also the exciting plot.

Matt Damon is one of my favorite actors (actually, I love all the handsome actors such as Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Keanu Reeves). Matt was a very clever boy. He went to Harvard in 1988. However, he did not graduate from Harvard because he dropped out of the university to pursue his acting career in LA. The most famous part in his fabulous life must be the film “Good Will Hunting” which developed by Damon and Ben Affleck, his close personal friend. This film also received nine Academy Awards nominations, earning Damon and Affleck Oscars for Best Original Screenplay. Damon was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for the same film. For me, Damon is a successful actor and also a clever man. He has the guts to drop the class from Harvard, to pursue his dream, and to persist for years.

In this movie, Damon as Jason Bourne, attempts to discover the truth of his identity. Along this trip, he found out several secrets belongs to CIA and the government, also, he found his true love, Helena Kreutz. However, Helena Kreutz was be killed by an assassin so that Bourne restart his trip to find his true life. All the series are easy to follow and the tones are all about the great action sequences. So many moments really struck me as awesome, and the 3 parts of the series can’t separate.

In short, The Bourne series is my favorite movie. I strongly recommend this series if you are interesting in the action movies.

If You Could Visit Any Place in the World, Where Would You Go?

If I can choose one place to visit without considerate the budget and anything else, I will choose Egypt not only because it’s distinguished monuments but also the richly historied. First at all, the most famous monuments in Egypt must be the Giza pyramid complex and the Great Sphinx. The Giza pyramid complex contains several small pyramids, and hundreds of mastaba tombs of civil and religious functionaries of the Fifth and Sixth Dynasties and the mysteries always surround with those pyramids. In addition, the Great Sphinx is a large half-human, half-lion statue and it is one of the largest single-stone statues on Earth. The Great Sphix was built by ancient Egyptians in 3^rd millennium BC. Second, the history of Egypt is the longest continuous history in the world; also because Egypt was governed by several foreigners, the fusion culture makes Egypt more attractive to the world.

Journal #15 Memory

The history class is always boring. I sit on the chair without any interested and stare at the textbook. The bald teacher is using his unique and vividly gestures with some spits to descript the Qin Destiny. “Disgusting.” I think, and it really makes me disgusted. Outside the classroom, the students have the physical class in the playing field. The teacher who is the most handsome one in our school encourages his students to do the advanced exercise. I can even hear his charming voice speak out loudly “GO!GO!! I know you can do that!” The students encouraged by their sweet teacher and hit the great score. “Good job!” I murmured and wish I am the one of them. The boring history class was continued, the bald teacher’s exaggerated gesture was continued, and my daydream was continued.

Journal #13 Hualian

Hualian is located on the eastern coast of the island of Taiwan, facing the Pacific Ocean on the east and bordering on the Central Mountains which is the backbone of Taiwan. The administrative district of the city is mainly on the alluvial plain of Hualien River and its tributaries Mugua River and Meilun River. Therefore, the whole area is very flat. The famous scenic spots in Hualian are Taroko National Park and the East Coast. In addition, Hualian is called “marble” city because of the rich deposit of marble.

Journal # 14 How to raise the children?

When I was a child, I love the TV series: The Cosby Show. From the show, I got my first impression in US family—free, cheerful and happy. Children can directly express what they want to say and discuss it with the entire family as well as they have their own room and private spaces. Also, they should get responsible for their own choices and earn the money if they want buying something they like. The parents in US treat children as a real adult and that is amazing me a lot. Parents train their children to make their own decision even the hardest one as well as educate their children about how to be critical thinkers.

When I grow up and came to the U.S., I realized that not all American parents are perfect like the TV series and they still have some struggles in raising a child. I personally prefer the way which the US parents foster their child and it really improve children’s responsibility and independence. In my country, Taiwan, grade is everything. The parents push their children persuade higher education also the higher scores but they never think about children’s need and characteristics. The parents sometimes give too much attention in the grade instead of encouraging their children to think. Finally, some of the children in Taiwan do not think critically and too depend on their parents. I am glad that my parents raising me with love and free. I can do whatever I want but their principle is “do right things at right time and be responsible to your choice”.

Journal #12 In the Park

Sunday afternoon, the weather is perfect to wander in the park. The grass is green and damp with dewy. The birds sing the unknown song. Everything seems peaceful and eases. I see three kids playing the ball full of energy and their naïve smile brings me happiness. One boy wears blue shirt and white stubby like the cerulean sky and white cloud, the other boy wears pastel green and pastel pink stripe polo shirt just like the trees and bright flowers, and another girl wears dress with lavender just like angels fall in the earth. They play ball, chasing each other and laugh loudly. The parents sit on the grass and chat with each other. What a wonderful afternoon it is.

Journal #11 Winter

What is my favorite season? Umm I would say summer when I was in Taiwan, because I love the sun burning my skin and swimming like a fish in the ocean. But now, I prefer winter because of the white, silent, and restored wonderland.

I saw snow last winter in U.S. and that was my first time seeing real snow flying from sky to ground, from heaven to Earth. The snow looks as the fur, the feather and the wing of angels. The noisy world suddenly turned off all the voice when the snow comes. The only sounds I can hear was from the snow lightly hit the surface of all units on the earth. The sounds of snow and rain are totally different. The sounds of rain are arbitrary like a bully battering strongly. There are full of tense, stressful and nervous. However, the sounds of snow are delicateness like the cradle song mom singing beside of me. There are full of joyful, peaceful and restful.

Journal #10 Thank you!

Who is the most influenced person in my life? I don’t really know because in the different stages of my short life, there always has someone who affecting me a lot. I remembered the teacher who taught me how to enrich life, the boy who taught me about love, and the friend who taught me how loyalty and honesty are. Every single person I met affect me not only their behavior but their unique characteristics. I saw a clerk who smiled brightly like sunshine offering customers the most kindly service in the coffee shop and I know how to enjoy the job. I saw my friend who did everything to accomplish her dream and I understand that everyone can achieve their dream by persistence and endeavor. However, the most important person in my life who brings me such powerful influence must be my father. My father doesn’t push us a lot. He allows us doing whatever we want to but his principal is having responsibility to ourselves. We need to take all the risk of what we did. He always treats others with his heart and honesty, and never gives up while facing the most difficult situation. He is my hero!

Journal #9 The most powerful weapon--- ExGirlfriend

First, I know this journal supposed be posted last week, and I cannot get any score on it. However, I really want to write down something really interesting and amazing opinion from me and my sister. (So.. Mrs. Russell, If there is a free journal this week, Can I waive the journal???? Please~~~)

Last week, my sister and I just gossip one of our friends. He (or just call him “Mr. B”) had a girlfriend 2 years ago and this girl (Ms. ?) really hurt him so much. Mr. B works in U.S. but Ms. ? works in Taiwan so that they don’t have much time to get together. As the result, Ms. ? has fair with other guys in Taiwan, but Mr. B doesn’t know that. One day, Ms. ? came to U.S. visiting Mr. B and she used his computer chatting with the guy who has fair with her in MSN during Mr. B took the shower. Unfortunately, Mr. B is good in computer (his major is computer science and girls, don’t do the same thing if your boyfriend good in computer!) and catch her tail. However, he decided forgiving her at that time. I mean at that time because the same situation happened 3 times. “3 times” That’s amazing, right? Mr. B somehow can’t accept her faithless and then they broke out. That’s the end of the story? Of course NOT! Ms. ? still has good connection with Mr. B and ask favors from him when she needs. Mr. B always do everything for her whatever she asked. The same situation happens every where and Mr. B isn’t the only guy who can’t refuse exgirlfriend’s request, also, this situation really makes a lot of trouble between couples. How will you do if you find EXgirlfriend calling your boyfriend and asking for favor?? For my, maybe I will feel upset about that and question my boyfriend and maybe I will kill the girl, HA, that’s human nature. How about you, my dear classmates?? Leave me commends!!

Journal # 8 Too Young To Remember

When I saw this topic, I spend almost 20 minutes trying to recall my memory from long time ago. Finally, I got the memory back. Otherwise I might leave this journal become a blank one.

September 11, 2001, 10pm. It was a normal day. I waked up, ate something for dinner and prepared for going to work. I turned on the TV, and saw the plane flying through the buildings. “What’s that?” I asked my sister and mom. “The terrorists attack U.S.” They really have guts to do that, I thought, and the U.S government will take vengeance for it. I went to work as usual and my colleague said that the world war 3 might begin because U.S. had under attacked. At that time, I had realized that Taiwan may in a very dangerous situation (I always response slowly than others). Mainland China might attack us in this period of time because our protector-U.S. couldn’t help us. I called my mother and told her my concerns but she did not take it serious. Then, I called my father who worked in mainland China and told him my concerns and he promised me that if he heard something weird he would call me as soon as possible. Finally I felt much better however there still some darkness part in my mind. I still worry about the war coming and the world situation so I turn on the TV all the time, even I was in the hospital, I also turn on the radio to get the newest information.

Thank God the war doesn’t come and Taiwan is still Taiwan. According to this tragedy, I know that all things happen in the world will affect our life even it happened far away.

Journal #7 Other Way to RunAway

I saw dead people at work place all the time. I was a nurse (or you can say “used to be”, ha) before, so I thought this is a normal process in all creatures in the world. People die because of the illness, getting older or the accident. For me, I can’t bear with people dead accidentally because it is too sad for me for the unexpected death. However, my aunt who died unexpected and I feel sad about her lost.

My aunt was a traditional woman who had 6 children, 5 girls and 1 boy, and had a husband without any responsibility. She did everything she can do to earn the money paying for daily life expense but her husband always kept drinking. However, my aunt never complained and she always thought that her husband was too young and might get change someday. I remember that day when the bad news came. It was a cloudy day. The telephone was ringing sharply, not like the usual sound. My mom picked up the phone and started crying. I was just 7 or 8 years old, and never saw my mom crying. She hung out the phone sadly and talked to my pa. My parents then took us to the hospital. When we arrived hospital, my aunt is on critical and then passes away soon. My aunt killed herself with poison when she knew her husband betrayed her.

Since today, I still feel sad but that maybe the other way she can escape from such situation. I think.

Journal #6 Right Time or Right Decision?

I personally don’t think there is a right age for marriage. It depends on the people, different circumstances and what relationship they have. The age seems the least important thing in getting married. Some of the couples married in their early 20’s and still have wonderful marriage. However, some of the couples married in 30’s even older but they are finally divorced.

From my point of view, to get married needs three reasons. First, you love him/her and He/she loves you. Second, you are getting ready for the new relationship with contrast, and third, you have guts, then, you two can get married! Congratulations!

Journal #5 Conquer the Fear

My life was changed since my first day came here. For me, came to the United States not only broaden my horizon but learn a lot of things during this period of time. Everyday I wake up with pleasure and exciting because I know all the things are brand new and need to adjust myself to fit into this new land. How they communicate to others? How they eat? What is the popularity here? I am just like an eager baby try to expend her hand to touch, to feel all the new things coming to her. However, sometimes I feel frustrating and disappointed especially when I faced the problem that I can’t deal with. I remember that last year, I need to call the wireless company to figure out how to connect to the internet. I was new here and my English wasn’t good, so I spent 30 minutes explaining my problem and finally the person who talked to me said that “Miss, can you find somebody who can speak English to talk to me?” I was so upset and want to go home. I was useless here and I can’t do the small thing even just made a phone call. However, past is past. I conquered my fear and stayed here for almost 1 year. I changed my views in this period of time and felt brave enough to face all new challenge. I thought that are the rewards that U.S gave me.

Journal #4 Blue Monday Blue (beware! this article contains inappropriate words and gray feelings)

Monday morning, six o’clock. I wake up with severe headache. “sh#t, I shouldn’t drink too much!” I murmured. I opened the window. It was a heavy rain outside. I remembered that one day, in English class, Stephen said that if we want to describe the heavy rain, we can use “rain cats and dogs.” And I don’t know why it’s so complicated. Could we just say the big rain, the huge rain or something else? I went to the bathroom and started to brush my teeth. “Why should I go to work in this @#$ heavy rain and my brain is going to explode” I muttered. After I washed up, I took some Aspirin and hoped the hammer can stop hitting my head.

How can I forget the very first time when I heard the term “blue Monday.” It really describe how I feel right now precisely. Usually, I feel bad since Sunday morning and end at Tuesday night. It’s quite a long period of time, right? At Tuesday night, I just realize that the holiday is gone, is dead, and is disappeared. I will work hard on Wednesday and Thursday, and then on Friday, I am exciting about the coming holiday, and than it’s Saturday, Sunday. Finally, it’s Monday again. “Just like a big big circle.” I thought. “And it never ended.” I can’t stop thinking the vicious circle in this time and it’s really bothered me. “Can I do something to stop the vicious circle?” I looked myself in the mirror and ask again and again. Suddenly, something appeared behind me. I looked at the mirror carefully, it is a girl who has a pale face and long black hair and she approached me quietly. My heart was pounding, my breath got rapid, and my body was shakied. Is that true? Or is just my imagination? Or I am so sleepy? Suddenly, the girl talked to me. “Hey, are you done? It’s my turn.” And the girl is my sister.

Journal #3 What the weekend!

I am so happy about the free journal! Sometimes it’s hard to answer the complicated questions.

This week was our first week, and I already felt the stress. In Friday, I listed all things and homework in my note book and it’s HUGE!! As usual, I arranged all the things during the 3-day long weekend, and finally, as usual, I failed. Ha!Ha!

On Saturday, I supposed that I finished my second journal and started the third one but I didn’t. On Sunday, I supposed that I accomplished the third journal and began the other homework but I didn’t. On Monday, mnnnnn… I should concentrate my all focus on the homework!! HA!!

This long weekend, the weather is too hot and the air conditioner did not well function, so my sister and I decided to go to my friend’s house near the Marina del Rey beach. The temperature there was so wonderful. We went to beach, enjoyed the sun and soaked in the sea all the afternoon. It was amazing! I forgot all the homework and stress when I lay on the beautiful sandy beach with blue sky and cool wind. We also went to the great Vietnam restaurant and had great Pho!

In the end of the weekend, I realized that the summer was over and the busy fall was coming. That means I have a lot of challenges to fight and have no time to waste! GOGOGO!!

Journal #2 Be brave to be a writer!

The meanings of Didion and Ellis’s words are the same- we don’t think that our thoughts, life, even ourselves are as important as others, so we fear to exposure our feelings as a writer.

We write down something important to us, and just for us, not for somebody else. The boy next door who teasing you, the very first kiss, and even the small yellow flowers beside walkway. Maybe the trivia things did make any sense for others, but it all my unique memory and it all belong to me. I agree with what Vanessa said- writing is more powerful than speaking. It’s meaningful when you write down a little note and put it under the coffee cup than you just say “I love you” to your love. The meaning of writing not only to remember, to feel, but to express your truly mind.

Journal #1 The begining

Can I find something else to do other than writing? Reading, yes. Listening, yes. But writing, big nono!!

I don’t really remember when I became afraid in writing, even use my first language, I also feel scared about it. For me, writing is like a kind of a serious business. If I wrote down something, it will keep forever and ever, like the evidence, and maybe one day, someone will arrest me because of the piece of the paper, put me in the jail because of my writing, and stay in the jail until I was 80 years old. OH! I need to stop think about the bad things at all!

In one hand, writing is a good way to keep story alive. We know history, geography, mathematics, and science because of someone wrote it, recorded it, and saved it. If no one loves writing, we will loss a lot of fun in reading others’ story and learning new things. Moreover, we can’t read “People” for entertainment!! In the other hand, we can know ourselves better throughout writing. We need to sedate our mood first, and start to think. Every word, sentence and paragraph has their own meanings, and you need to have a good organization skill to pull them all together as well as become a good article. In fact, the writing is much the same as Zen philosophy.

Actually, I prefer reading than writing for one reason- I am not a good writer, and it’s easy to read than to write. However, I know my destiny, and I can’t avoid this kind of writing things, so that I decide to face it, fight it, and conquer it with my whole ambitions.