Issue: What most human beings really want to attain is not knowledge, but certainty. Gaining real knowledge requires taking risks and keeping the mind open-but most people prefer to be reassured rather than to learn the complex and often unsettling truth about anything.
Knowledge is considered indispensible in human beings’ daily life and the development of humans, society and the world. Why is it indispensible? What I believe is that knowledge is not only for supplying certainty and that human beings want to attain knowledge not only because of the desire to obtain certainty, but for their own development as well.
Knowledge is primarily used to offer certainty. Human beings need the sense of safety and security when they are striving to live in the world and survive competitions between each other. The fast way that is available for one to assure and prove that he is right is to rely on knowledge which is thought to be greatly convictive. On one hand, each of us has been convicted by knowledge since we are given birth to this world; we learn a great deal from books and classes. The knowledge that is invented and discovered by our ancestors turns to be our invaluable wealth so that we successors do not need to recognize and define the world all over again from the start. We learn to define the world continually after our predecessors. On the other hand, knowledge offers us the sense of safety and security. When worried about what to do next after preparing the apparatus in a chemical experiment, open the textbook and you will get to be confident to take the next step.
Moreover, we human beings are pushed to learn and master more and more knowledge so that we can go further and further on the way to the future. Only by mastering and understanding all the wealth passed down from the old generations, can we young generations stand higher and achieve more accomplishment. For one thing, individuals need knowledge to equip ourselves up so that we can survive the competitions between human beings and live a life of higher standards. For the other, the development of the whole human world requires the support of knowledge. Just as the great scientist Isaac Newton said, “If I have seen further than most men, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” Without knowledge of different fields, it is impossible for humankinds to develop.
In conclusion, human beings want to learn knowledge, as far as I am concerned, not only for certainty, but also for self-growth and development.
It is my 21st birthday in my life today. I have been planning to make my own cake and hold a party with my friends for a long time. But when the day really came, I decided to change my plan.
Since I just came back from my travel yesterday, I was so tired that although I got up at 9 o'clock in the morning, and could not help yawning and feeling the headache that I fell into sleep again at twelve and did not wake up until 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
Beside the exhaust I had got from the travel, I also had to do some study, as a result of which, I found it hard to leave any time and strength for my birthday party. I decided to compensate some time at the first period of the next year.
Although my party plan failed, I am still happy and glad that I have got my friends' blessing back from China, my friends abroad in America and Europe, and my friends in the dorm. I also received some lovely presents from them. Mom bought me a glorious necklace and Dad a watch. My favorite teacher also said "Happy birthday" to me, which made me extremely intoxicated.
A birthday without a birthday party can also be fantastic as long as you have friends and relatives and teachers to wish you "happy birthday".
(239 words)
After the Christmas Eve, I started off on my four-day travel to Okinawa on December 25th, accompanied by my Vietnamese friend who came to Japan in the same season as I did and two friends of her. Our flight arrived at Naha Airport in the evening, after which we directly reached the hotel we reserved ahead of time by monorail. It was a large room of four people use with four beds and perfect appliance such as a television set, a fridge, a microwave, and so on.
The next day, we were all excited to go to the well-known Aquarium of Chiyura-umi which, though, is seated extremely far away from Naha and took us about 2 hours to go there by taxi. The priority of a four-member travel, at that time, seems to be prominent, since the cost we went by taxi could be cheaper or at least equivalent to the cost of bus, which enabled us to look around more easily and comfortably. The Aquarium is said to be the largest(some say the third largest) and the first in the world. We were more than shocked to see the giant shark of about 10 meters lenghth swimming in a tank of 3 floors height. We also enjoyed looking at the colorful and wonderful corals and fishes of various kinds. We felt as if we had been to another world with mystery and fantasy. We also watched a fantastic dolphin show, which was full of surprise and joy. The Aquarium is also composed of an area of beach and little houses of various special animals. We walked along the charming and gorgeous beach of white sand. Facing the endless and vast sea, feeling the sea wind blowing swaying on our chins, the time seemed to have stopped and any worry or sadness or sorrow just had no way to invade people's brain.
After the two hours looking around the Aquarium, we went back to Naha and visited the International Avenue where I bought myself a cute winter skirt to be my birthday present. We saw and bought some local desert and decorations which reflected the culture of the Okinawa, as well. We all chose to have Soki-Ramen as our dinner which the taxi driver recommended to us. I thought it was the most palatable food that I had had since I came to Japan.
The third day turned out to be wonderful as well, when we went to the Castle of Syuri where the king of Ryukyu Dynasty is said to live. Ryukyu is the ancient name of Okinawa, and it had been an independent country from Japan before it was conquered. As a matter of fact, the nation used to be heavily contacted to China since, as far as I have learned, the Tang Dynasty. That is why Okinawa looks very much alike to the south of China. The first second when I saw the city of Naha, it reminded me of a Province in China named of Yunnan. And still that is why the food in Okinawa appeared to agree with me such a lot. The taxi driver told us that Okinawa, in practice, has its own language, completely different from Japanese. When two local people come to talk with each other, they would rather use Okinawa language than Japanese. The Syuri Castle is not so large as Kumamoto Castle. However the characteristic of it is its color: every corner is almost in red, from poles to walls. It is just a world of red when you enter into it.
Afterward, we went to have a journey of glass boat, which is made by glass at the bottom and though which, we can see the fish and corals and anything in the sea. The journey was very enjoyable and the world bottom seemed to keep varying. We played and took photos after we came back to the beach and enjoyed ourselves a lot. I picked up shells and put them together so that I could take a photo of them to the memory of my journey to the beautiful and interesting trip. I did not take any of them back since I thought that it was to the beach where they belong.
When we came back to the hotel that day, it was the last night for us to stay in Okinawa. My friends decided to hold a little party for me in advance since my birthday was two days away and I could be with two of them that day. I was really moved and they were so kind. We bought snacks and a small cake in a convenient store nearby. We drank and ate and had fun listing to the Filipino girl talking about her religion, as the other three of us are all non-believers. She said her dream was to be a preacher and told us a lot about her religion, which we had never known before, so that we were all interested in what she was talking and kept asking questions. It was like another world to us, as well as a story. It was the first time for me to hear something about the world of religion and found it interesting.
Yesterday, we came back by the air. Thus I think I have finished all my journey in Japan this year. It is supposed to be my last destination during my stay in Japan this time. Although there must be many more resorts of beauty and charm, I do not think I have any time to travel any more before I go back to China. Anyway, I am satisfied that I had finished traveling the main regions and cities in Japan, and if I can get a chance to come to Japan again, I would like to visit the other parts of Japan.
(975 words)
Issue: The primary goal of technological advancement should be to increase people’s efficiency so that everyone has more leisure time.
With the highly speedy development of science and technology including the inventions of television sets, computers, mobile phones, etc, the pace of human beings’ everyday life has become faster and faster. However, what is the primary goal of technological advancement? Is it just for gaining people more leisure time?
The technology advancement is aimed at bringing people convenience. Direct technological use of communication and transport demonstrate that the convenience in human’s everyday life could hardly come into existence without the utilization of technology. The long distance between the Oriental and the Occidental which cost 2 months or more in the old days not takes only 3 or 4 hours simply by plane which can fly you over the sky. Our ancient, who might never get to meet each other without a contact by a post mail at least one week ahead of schedule, will be stricken dumb with astonishment on seeing us getting touch with each other, chatting with each other over cell phones and even talking while watching each other over the internet. To decide when to hold a meeting just seems to be such a simple case that we do not have to trouble to prepare any letters or envelopes.
The technology advancement makes great contribution to promoting people’s efficiency. The assembly line developed by Ford proves one of the most significant primary purposes of technological advancement: to promote people’s efficiency. It soon spread quickly and came into utilization in all types of industrial production. From then on, the time that people spent to think and order things made-to-measure was cut off to a large extend. Moreover, it can not be more normal that one just decide what to wear by strolling around the stores and deciding which to buy.
Is leaving people more leisure time a primary goal of technological advancement? I am afraid no, or at least, it is not a primary one. It is true that on the one hand, theoretically, since the efficiency of production is promoted, taking less time on making products of the same amount, people seem to have more chances to get free time. However, on the other hand, the amount of products requested to make gets larger, people get more meetings to hold since it is easier to make contact with others and save the time to concentrate on the work, time appears to be precious than ever since the pace of all humans are getting quicker. To achieve making people have more leisure time at most is a subordinate purpose and as a matter of fact seems to be of great difficulty to realize in the modern time.
In conclusion, the primary goal of technological advancement should be achieving convenience or efficiency but hardly be to let people gain more free time.
This year's Christmas seems very special and important to me, since I have never attached such great importance to Christmas as in this year. After all, it is my first Christmas abroad to me, celebrated with my foreign friends. Christmas is not so important to us Chinese as the Spring Festival, although some of the youth are into it very much and although each year of the last 20 years in my life except for last year when I was far away from my parents, I could get a secret present from Santa Clause. However, when all your friends are looking forward to the coming a certain festival, when gorgeous lights are put up in every corner of the streets, you will naturally get to expect it. We held a little party today on the first floor in our dormitory, with all the things we made by ourselves.
Sachi, my dear Vietnam friend, with whom I will start off to Okinawa for a four-day travel tomorrow, made extremely delicious and palatable Vietnam Spring Rolls and salad. Two of my Korean friends supplied us with Korean Kim-chi, which proved to be rather popular. I made Eggnog for the first time, which is considered to be a special beverage for Christmas. I was really happy to find that it turned out to be popular among us.
Our 4 Japanese friends also joined us, one of whom made us a big strawberry cream cake, which was after all eaten up by us. Although the party did not start until 8 o'clock late in the evening, we still had a great time talking with each other and enjoying the food and drink.
While there will still be a real Christmas party tomorrow evening where people will change presents and have alluring food and drink, obviously, I can not take part in it, which is really sad, because of the Okinawa trip. Our departure is at noon. Sachi and I will meet another two girls, one Vietnamese and one Filipino at Fukuoka Airport. I hope we can enjoy ourselves there in Okinawa. It is said that it is extremely beautiful with clear and beautiful sea and interesting culture, and that is why I have been looking forward to the trip all the time. At first I thought I would never be able to visit the charming place any more during this one year in Japan, since it appeared to be no time. But then, when I got to know that my journey to Vietnam and Cambodia was canceled because of the trouble visa problem, I realized that it could be a great chance for me now to take a visit to the fantastic resort, as Sachi was inviting me to go with them.
It seems that I have to go and pack my baggage now, since I have done nothing about it.
Watching the crowd from up in the special chair, George felt just like a lifeguard. He looked through the binoculars. There was a lot to see at the beach.
This curious little monkey seems to enjoy his break to the beach very well. He meets and gets to know a girl named Betsy. He had a great time playing games, watching down from the place of lifeguard and distributing crackers to gulls. Enjoy yourself to this small but warm story and have a joyful rest with Curious George.
Today, people remember Samuel Adams as one of the fathers of the American Revolution. His determination to free the colonies from British rule helped start the war that gave birth to the United States of America.
Samuel Adams never abandoned fighting against the British on behalf of the colonies. It was because of his great efforts that the colonies finally strove to get free from British rules. He chased liberty and right throughout his life and supported the Revolution. His is memorized as an outstanding patriot and statesman filled with courage and perspiration.
by Matt Doeden
illustrated by Tod Smith, Keith Wilson, Dave Hoover, and Charles Barnett Ⅲ (116 words)
It's important for Latinos to vote. Only then will things change for us.
If we're full of hatred, we can't really do our work. Hatred saps all that strength and energy we need to plan.
I'll sacrifice myself to remind our people that this struggle is about dignity and values. Violence is not the answer.
Having grown up in a family of farm work, Cesar Chavez knew very well about the life of farm-workers, which prepared him well for his further fight for farm-workers. However, what distinguished him was the ideas of ways of fighting. He advocated to fight without violence which turned out to cause hatreds that ultimately could make things complicated and worse. He would even like to risk sacrificing himself to persuade people into non-violence. Thanks to his outstanding ideas, more workers were able to earn what they deserved and the organization he made hopefully kept growing. The famous Great Delano Grape Strike was sponsored by him and proved to be an excellent work in history.
by Eric Braun
illustrated by Harry Roland, Al Milgrom, Steve Erwin, and Charles Barnett Ⅲ
(192 words)
An invisible boy together with his invisible dog, and his two fiends, one reads lips and one good at figuring things out, have established an interesting and mysterious organization called Invisible Inc. aiming to right wrongs.
That day, the invisible dog prepared to take part in the Dog Show suddenly disappeared which made his owner pretty sad. Thus came the chance of the Invisible Inc. After all, who was the sneak thief? Could Max still make it to join the Dog Show? Try this little but interesting and exciting story and find the truth by yourself.
It had been a typical day in Ms. Frizzle's class. Now we had only one problem. Would anyone ever believe us when we told about our trip?
Do you believe that a trip around the solar system will be true? Yes, it will. A fantastic school bus trip to the solar system was enjoyed by all the little kids, led by the school teacher, Ms. Frizzle. From the inner planets including the Sun, Mars, Venus and so on, to the outer planets like Jupiter and Saturn. The readers are taken together with these kids to adventure around the Solar System, managing to get acquainted with those gorgeous planets. Have fun in your trip by the school bus and tell me your own story!
When you get your skateboard, you can come for a ride with me.
The little girl forgave a friend of hers, who played her skateboard without her agreement, showing her understanding to him. She, Anna, got her cool skateboard with the money she earned by doing little jobs besides from her parents. Tom was so fascinated by it that he put his foot on top of it, and however unfortunately hurt it a little. Anna taught her friend to be more independent and support himself so that he could buy one by his own cash instead of blaming him.
This is a good story to teach children how to forgive someone, how to get along with each other and how to grow.
(127 words)
After seeing this place, I will hate war for the rest of my life. There's so much pain in the world. There are so many people to help.
Women must not be content until they are as independent...as men are!
The declaration should read,"Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and the security of person."
She struggled through the sadness of losing both of her parents in the first years of her life. She became the first lady of the US, helping her husband to survive the nation out of the Great Recession. She paid her care to and helped the poor. She attach great significance to the fair treatments on women and men, the white and the the black. She worked as an American delegate for the United Nations, and helped write the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, advocating the fair right to life, liberty and the security of person. She devoted herself and her whole life to the career of humankind and became the First Lady of the World.
by Ryan Jacobson
illustrated by Gordon Purcell and Barbara Schulz
Before me I saw a new world opening in beauty and light, and I felt within me the ability to know all things.
You are so used to light, I fear you will stumble when I try to help you through the land of darkness and silence.
The public must learn that blind people are neither geniuses nor freaks. They have minds that can learn and hands which can be trained. It is the duty of the public to help them make the best of themselves so that they can win light through work.
Without Helen Kellen, the successful and outstanding representative of the deaf and blind, you will never know how brave and courageous can human beings become. And thanks to her, we get to know the world of the deaf and blind, starting to pay attention to and care for them. Moreover, we can be encouraged to live in this world with hope filled in our heart. She behaves like a lighthouse on a cliff, showing us how precious the light is and leading you to go through the darkness.
She has left us valuable heritages of her perspiration and courage she held to struggle out of the adversity and her charity for the blind and deaf.
by Scott R. Welvaert
illustrated by Cynthia Martin and Keith Tucker
The day before yesterday, December 18th, almost all the members of the English Lounge got together to celebrate the coming Christmas, holding a party of 36 people. It is my first Christmas Party in Japan!
We really had a great time, having tasty foods including Japaneses as well as western ones suck as pizza which is apparently one of the favorites of everyone , and great beverages, playing interesting games and talking with each other.
We were divided into 10 groups for the game by picking a card casually. The ones who have got the same number on the card consisted a group. I was in the No. 8 group. There were 12 questions totally and the group who has got the most questions answered correctly would win. We tried our best and fortunately enough, we got all the 12 questions right and got a little present.
The last section of the party was to get and open the Christmas presents for which we were asked to prepare and put the present under the Christmas tree ahead of time. The person who we were to get present for was decided by picking lots and was kept secret. It is called "Secret Santa". I opened my present which was a cell phone strap as soon as it was transmitted to me from the Santa, Bill, who is an American boy.
I really enjoyed myself in the party, looking forward to the advent of Christmas.
(249 words)
With a strong will, George Washington managed to lead the 13 colonies people to unite together, fight and beat the British side, and ultimately established the United Nation of America.
This book briefly depicts the whole life of the famous general commander during the Independence War and first presiden of the US, George Washington. However at the same time, the main incidents in his life are displayed clearly and vividly, showing his bravery, intelligence and great ability.
Always remember to call on Invisible Inc. when help is nowhere to be seen.
The little boy named Chip happened to become invisible when exploring caves with his parents and falling into a well. His best friends, Justin reads lips and a girl named Charlene is very good at figuring things out. By taking the advantage of Chip's turning invisible, they started a company named Invisible Inc. aiming to help people out who are trapped in problems.
Their first case was to solve the theft of the property of school rubber ball and managed to bring the truth to light. Who says children detectors are not cool?
by Elizabeth Levy
Illustrated by Denise Brunkus
（122 words）
Father, why don't you say grace over this barrel of meat? That way we don't have to spend time praying at every meal.
Benjamin Franklin, famous for his lightning experiment and the Declaration of Independence, showed his wit and unique way of thinking when he was still a child. He was a printer; a writer leaving people useful information like "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise"; a scientist having invented the Franklin Stove, the lightning rod, and bifocals,etc; and a founding father proposing that "the colonies should unite. A union will make us strong" and writing the Declaration of Independence.
"I can learn more by the use of the ear than the use of the tongue." This great doer devoted himself and his whole life to the people and to the establishment and development of the US.
by Kay Melcisedech Olson
illustrated by Gordon Purcell and Barbara Schulz
The friends of little Marvin are so jealous of him, for Marvin has got a job to take care of the dog of his teacher while she is away for a one-week business trip, during which, however, the aged dog passes away. The mood of the little boy changes, from nervousness and pride to sadness and perturbation. He feels afraid that when the teacher is back, everything will be over. So what will happen after the teacher's back? Will she blame him? Can Marvin still get paid? Please enjoy the book and find out the answers by yourself.
Sati, my vietnam friend and I went to the house of a Japanese old lady named Matsusima, who I teach Chinese to, to hold a very little party together with other two friends of Matsusima's, one of whom is Chinese and also studying in Gakuen University. We Chinese made dumplings together and Matsusima made many kinds of Japanese traditional food including Oden, Sushi and Salad which are all my favorite.
To my surprise, the other Chinese girl according to what she said, I might have met in another party, which I did not remember very clearly. In fact, she is elder than I am, as old as one of my cousins who plans to get married next year, in which I hope I can manage to take part.
The Oden and salad were really tasty. We talked a lot and had a lot of fun together.
The media is considered a product of science and technology development, which is advancing all the time. The media, a double-edged sword, can have positive effects on the everyday life of mankind as well as negative ones. The influences of the media on cross-cultural interaction, at the same time, turn out to be complicated.
1.Functions of the media
1) Function of communication
We have to admit that apparently the media plays a role of great significance in communicating and conveying information on cultures and situations of various nations and regions on the earth. Especially during the modern era, when globalization is developing at a high speed and a country could hardly survive without communication or trade with others, media has been an indispensable conveyor. It provides opportunities to different nations and areas to get to know more about each other, as a result of which, it hopefully shortens the ‘distance’ between states, tightens the relations, and promotes the level of globalization. It helps people to understand and comprehend the outside world and broadens people’s horizon.
I still remember the interest and fun, when I was a child, brought by a popular Chinese TV program called “Zhengda Zongyi” (also called “Zongyi Daguan”), which took the audience together with the producer to ‘travel’ throughout the world via the live program. It displayed to us audience a great number of fascinating sceneries and amusing discoveries in other parts of the world. At that time, it appeared to me a magic conveyor which acquainted me with interesting information and knowledge.
2) Function of propaganda and affecting people
The function of introducing views and results of exerting influence on people’s thought and life style can be realized by two ways: what to convey and what not to convey.
After the World War Two, in the context of intensification of liberalist nations and communist nations, one of the first programs of the NHK was American-made movies, the purpose of which was to propagate liberalism and ultimately reinforce the strength of liberalism. On the other hand, little was introduced about the communism to Japan via media. Thus the life style of Japanese changed a great deal, from outfits to food to way of thinking.
The propaganda of various parties on TV during the Japanese election this year, I believe, made a great contribution to inform the nations and put forward the election.
2. Problems existing in the media and media report
1)Divergences: what is the reality?
Just like a tool, what kind of effects that the media may exert depends on how people use it. Originally, people who use the media tool are always standing in different status, living in different nations with diverse situations, having different experiences and opinions and speaking and thinking from different visual angles. As a result, the communication of information is more or less affected and limited by individuals who operate it. Thus come the divergences. Moreover, as audience, you may never manage to know the real truth, though different media are busy arguing with each other.
I found it ridiculous when I saw and heard that China is a country of one-party rulein a Japanese newspaper, once in my Japanese class and once from the CNN news report on line, which is in practice not the reality to us Chinese.
When it comes to the “Gyoza” issue, things seem to become more complicated. Several Japanese fell sick because of having had Chinese export dumplings so that “made in Japan” is written on almost all dumpling plastic packs now. However, on the other hand, in China, after it was reported that problems might be in Chinese companies at first, according to a series of investigations, it was said that when the dumplings had been exported to Japan, they were in a good state and definitely no harm to human health, but it was the Japanese side who had the dumplings stored for about one year until they remembered and repacked them and put them into the market which was the reason why Japan again permitted Chinese dumpling export to Japan. As far as I know, nobody in Japan has any idea about the report which the Chinese side considered to be the truth. Now it comes to the key question: which is the reality? When a Japanese student and a Chinese one meet to argue about this incident, I am afraid they would hardly come to a conclusion since both sides ironically have the evidence: the media. Unless you are one of those who have taken part directly in the investigation into that case, the reality is far beyond you.
2)Judge a forest with a tree
It is apparent that the report of the media has limitations in both time and capacity, which induces the one-sidedness problem. Each TV program has a limitation of time; every magazine has a limitation of pages. Owing to the limitations the changes of an issue that had once been reported may not be displayed to its audience newly, and at the same time, only a certain part, which is related to an incident, of a country or a region may be reported. Therefore, to the audience and readers, what is displayed before their eyes may probably be only one side or phase of a certain issue or a fraction of a nation, from which they are prone to define the whole issue or recognize the whole nation, especially when you read a report concerning an issue for the first time and just for once and without further consideration or doubt.
3)Questioning: incomprehension and understanding caused by media report
Like each family has its own stories, each country has its own situation, including social systems, social and political problems and particular history, etc. Incomprehension and misunderstandings thereforeare always resulted in by these factors between different cultures.
When an American friend of mine doubted and asked whether Chinese government really cares about its people, I was so stricken dumb with astonishment that it took me a few seconds to make sure and believe that that was the question. I was even somewhat annoyed by the question. At that time, I perceived that something that one might consider as ‘of course’ may seem impossible or unreasonable to another. He said that he had learnt from the American media that Chinese medical insurance and health care systems are lack of integrity and thus the Chinese are living in a bad condition. I realized that he and the American media had been judging China with an eye of developed country, with the development level of America, without considering the particular situation of developing China. My reply was “If China was as strong and as rich as America, we could do better.”
Media, the porter of information on different cultures and civilizations, can either deepen understanding, make and reinforce the friendship, or cause misunderstanding and arouse hatred between nations, intentionally or inadvertently. With the development of the world, how will the role that media plays in the cross-cultural interaction change and in what way will humankind use it are questions that need considering.
By opening the world atlas, I feel as if I were travelling around the whole world, which is the reason why I am fascinated by it.
I had never been captivated by the world atlas until I went to senior high school, where I was taught specific geography and told to read the atlas whenever I had time, even during the 10-minute breaks between lessons, since the geography exams would be based on the world map and could be rather difficult without familiarity. At that time, everybody in our class owned a little, thin but very specific and useful world atlas, which only cost as little as 4 yuan. To be frank, I felt at first somewhat hard and annoying to read it, as it took up my precious breaks. However, after many times of regional-map reading practice for the exams by myself, I found I managed to tell to which country this area might belong, only basing on the latitudes, longitudes and some certain shapes of rivers or lakes, which I regarded as the repayment to my efforts. I felt extremely glad that my efforts got repaid. Thus I was encouraged and inspired, and ever since then I found it enjoyable to read the world atlas.
The world atlas brought me a great deal of fun when I argued with my friends as well, on where a certain area belonged to or which river or lake the little shape was. At times we kept arguing until we got blue in the face and finally turned to the origin, the world atlas. One of my best friends was overwhelmingly skilled at recognizing maps, which influenced me a lot and thanks to whom I promoted my ability of reading maps.
However, after I graduated from my senior high school, I decided to throw the little reach-me-down atlas together with other outworn books since I believed I hardly needed to use it any more, for which afterward I felt regretful. When I went into my university, I found that life without a world atlas seemed to be discounted. As a result I rushed into a bookstore and got a new world atlas completely the same as the old one and returned to my little room with a sigh of relief.
A year passed after that and again I would have to move, this time, abroad. I discovered that I had got so many things to take with me that I once again determined to leave the atlas in China, which turned out to be a total mistake. The first book I bought in Japan was an A4 sized atlas named World and Japan Atlas with which I started my new life in Japan. I traveled a great deal around Japan: almost half of Japan, from the north of Hokkaido to the south Okinawa. What I was accompanied by was the atlas.
The atlas is mysterious and magic. It records different lands and various regions on which cultures of diversity are given to birth, and it can lead its readers to different parts of the world. When opening the atlas, you will feel the whole world.
Issue: A school or college should pay its teachers at the same rate in all disciplines, regardless of differences in salaries for related fields in the world outside of school. For example, entry-level teachers in mathematics and in the arts should receive the same pay, even if outside of school, math specialists earn a much higher salary on average than do specialists in the arts.
Our modern society is under an economic system of marketing, which indicates that it turns to be imprudent and unwise to assess salaries with a completely same standard, regardless of many others.
How much to pay teachers is supposed to depend on many different standards.
Firstly, salaries of teachers should take the work load into account. Teachers in different disciplines definitely burden various work loads. Science teachers are considered to do a great deal of effort to do research and experiment, which refers to hardship and perspiration. At the same time, the results of their work are attached to great importance, which refers to pressure, as a consequence. However, comparatively the work loads of teachers in arts are expected not as heavy as those of teachers in science. Therefore, teachers in science relatively deserve higher salaries as a return to their efforts and patience.
Secondly, salaries for related fields outside of school are supposed to have a connection with salaries of teachers, since they can become a way of assessment on the value of the studies the teachers are engaged in. Salaries outside of school suggest the value of a certain field, including whether it belongs to one of the most significant fields that do contributions to the development of our modern society and whether it is a vanguard of social revolution or development. Fundamentally, university and college studies are for the development of society. A high salary-paid field outside of school indicates a dominant value of this field, as a result of which, teachers making efforts in this fields are promisingly expected to earn a higher salary than those who work on relatively less-contribution-making fields.
Thirdly, salaries of teachers also have a connection with how much efforts the teacher did before he becomes a teacher, which also indicates how hard and significant the field he is studying on is and probably how much effort he will have to pay after he becomes a teacher.
If we pay teachers at the same rates in all disciplines, regardless of differences in salaries for related fields in the world outside of school and not taking other standards into account, it is probable that few teachers will be ready to stay in schools or colleges, and schools and colleges may have to face the loss of its staff. Therefore, a school or college should not be isolated from the outside world, and must conform to the economical rules of the world outside of school.
In conclusion, the amount of salaries is a way of assessment on teachers’ work and the values of different fields. It is not sensible to judge teachers and pay them at the same rate in all disciplines.
'Thank you,'said the fish. 'Now it's my turn to help you.'
A kind-hearted boy named Manu helped and saved a fish. In return for that, the fish, whose real identity was a powerful god named "Brahma", told the boy about the approaching great flood and how to survive the disaster, and thus saved all the people of the village. Now, you can see how important it is to give a hand to others. Maybe just as the saying goes, "Helping others equals helping yourself."
I, together with my friends of Korean, Chinese and Vietnam, all of us 11, set out at 6:30 in the morning last Sunday to take the high-way bus to take the Japanese Exam at Kurume University. It was still very dark at that time of the morning. The bus trip took us about 1 hour and when we got there early.
The whole exam, including 3 parts totally, lasted for 5 hours and 35 minutes, and excluding the breaks,3 hour and 45 minutes, which was extremely exhausting. The 3 parts were Vocabulary, Listening and Reading and Grammar.
During the listening part, there happened an episode; the student sitting beside me fell into asleep and made loud snores which was very annoying.
After we finished the exam, it was almost 3:30 in the afternoon. We did not arrived back at our dorm until 6:00 in the evening, when it was already full-dark and extremely cold.
Finally, this important exam is coming on this Sunday, for which I have prepared hardly, though I could not have as much time as other students including my friends in China. It is called Nihongo Noryoku Siken, and I have been preparing for level one, which is considered as the highest level. A lot of us exchange students are going to take this test, including all my Korean friends, one Vietnam student and another Chinese girl beside me.
Unfortunately, I did a very stupid thing that is I remembered that this exam would be held on December 6th, which is right, and yet until this morning I thought that December 6th would be Sunday. When I realized this mistake this morning, I felt myself very funny. On the one hand, I felt very stupid to have made a mistake like this. On the other hand, I was glad that now I have got one more day to get prepared for it.
I will try my best to deal with this exam.
(174 words)
Yesterday was the Thanksgiving day, for which my american friends made pumpkin pies specially on the day before yesterday and again yesterday again. As I hardly had enough time to cook with them together, it was still a lot of fun to watch how they made it while I was have my dinner.
It was the first time that I had got to know and watched the process of making a pumpkin pie by my own eyes, so it turned out to be very interesting to me, though it seemed to take a great deal of time to make it.
I got a bite of the ready-to-eat pumpkin pie from my friends two hours and a half later after I had finished eating my dinner and went back to my room. It was really tasty, delicious and palatable. I had my first piece of pumpkin pie of my life at the age of 20 in Japan!
Thanks to my friends for giving me a piece of Thanksgiving pumpkin pie!
What do you know about the fabulous mysterious Japanese traditional art--Kabuki? Want to know more about Kabuki and the life of Geisha artists? Why not give the movie Memoirs of A Geisha a try? The famous masterpiece is a 2005 film adaption from the novel written by Author Golden. Made by a great director and acted by glorious actors, it will definitely get you addicted.
This story will take you deeply into the outstanding world of geisha. You will be surprised at the difficult journey the young girls go through to become successful geisha, the agony they have to bear, and the happiness they enjoy . Yet at the same time, the alluring art of dance will be a feast for your eyes. You can hardly help watching it again and again, once you have finished it for the first time.
A masterpiece of film adaption of a novel with the same name
Well-known directors and producers, and outstanding actors
Themes:
Movie theme: Display the whole life experience of a geisha, the Japanese traditional art of Kabuki and life of the artists as Geishas and the change in Japanese society in the background of the World War
Moving parts: A little girl's persistence to become a geisha and to pursue her love, the courage and strength to live through hardship and challenges
The life of Geisha artists: Geishas are artists who have to live a life with agony as well as beauty, and can only be a half wife.
I had been looking forward to the trip to Cambodia and Vietnam in the winter vacation planned by my seminar professor so much that when I got to know that it turned out impossible for me to go any more this monday because of the time-consuming visa-application procedure, I felt extremely disappointed. I had always hoped to obtain more knowledge about the life there in the south-east area since I know little now and it seems interesting to me to get to know more about other places.
However, now it appears possible for me to go to Okinawa with my friends during the vacation, which was supposed to be unrealizable by my friends invited me because of the seminar trip.
In order to take the early express-way bus to Fukuoka to take my English examination, I had to get up unbelievably as early as 5:50 in the morning. Without having breakfast, I flied up my bike and hurried to the bus stop, where I wallowed my breakfast when waiting for the bus coming.
The express-way bus trip cost me about one hour and forty minutes, during which I felt sick and threw up twice, having my stomach empty up.
At the arrival of Fukuoka, fortunately I successfully found the city bus stop and reached the examination building safely, when there was one hour left before the start of the examination that lasted for 2 hours.
I was too tired after the exam to have my lunch and decided to go back immediately.
(135 words)
It was a fantastic day when we enjoyed ourselves in Miyazaki on October 29th. With beautiful scenery, tasty wine and delicious cheese, Miyazaki appears to be a fantastic resort.
The bus trip was organized by the School International Center aiming to welcome the newcomers to the dromitory. Miyazaki is famous for its great Gorge, which turned out to fascinate us a great deal.
We started off at 9 in the morning. On the bus we did self-introduction. We had our lunch on a higher plain of a hill, while overlooking the charming scenery below, with little wind blowing by. The Gorge turned out to amaze, fascinate and entertain us.
(111 words)
Garnished with seeming palatable ingredients, the food got to be a typical of the Takumasai. It was the first time that I had managed to experience Japanses school festival.
Together with my friends in the dormitory, I hunted for alluring stuffs for my stomach, which impressed me a great deal, tasting different kinds of food, listening to lively band songs and taking lovely photos. There were so many types of delicious food that we felt it would have been great if our stomachs could have been much more bigger. The food impressed us most was named "agepan ice", which was a sweet bread with ice cream in the middle of it. We followed the long queue and waited for our turn for about 15 minutes, and yet we felt it worth a wait ultimately.
The Festival had been arranged to last for 3 days from October 30th to November 1st. However, on the last of the three days, it rained unexpectedly. After all, it was a really impressive and successful school festival with left me with a precious memory of Japan.
(183 words)
On Octber 30th, some of we exchange students, together with a few of our Japanese friends, entertained ourselves and the Japanese citizens with a shocking Zombie Walk.
Worn with dreadful make-up and weird costumes, for which we prepared for an hour or so, we started off from the dormitory, the destination of which was downtown. After the arrival at Karasima Park by the city train, the parade was set off. Our trip was straight along the Simotori and Kamitori, scaring and surprising people about. Not only did the people there screamed "sugoi", some of which even recognized that it was for Halloween, but, to my surprise, a girl shouted "kawaii".
We had a very good time there, ended with cute photos and films.
(125 words)
Issue: No field of study can advance significantly unless outsiders bring their knowledge and experience to that field of study.
In the present era when all kinds of advances are being made with a high speed, it turns out extremely significant for different fields of knowledge communicate with one another, in order to achieve progress of significant. No field of study can advance significantly without outside knowledge and experience.
Firstly, outside knowledge can do a great favor, for it can provide tools of research. This appears rather true when it comes to mathematics. As a basic research tool, mathematics has been playing such a vital role in the world of science, including physics, chemistry, geography and biology and so on and so forth, that no science is supposed to have further progress without the aid of math, since math can equip human with different kinds of way of calculating and researching. We can hardly imagine how Newton could work without math teaching him the way calculating.
Secondly, outside knowledge can supply different ways of thinking, since each field of study possess its own way of thinking and researching. When different ways of thinking and researching gather and communicate with one another, sparks are expected to come into being. Just as we need debate and discussion to provide people with chances to communicate with each other in order to see the whole appearance, not only a face, of a question or an issue, for different individuals have diverse opinions, various knowledge are urged to get across with each other to produce new ideas and outcomes. When anthropologists are striving to make the secret of human beings come into light, knowledge of history, philology, and even chemistry and biology prove to be significant assistants.
In conclusion, no field of study can advance significantly unless outsiders bring their knowledge and experience to that field of study, since not only can outside knowledge provide tools of research and study, but it can supply new ways of thinking and study as well.
The excitement and a little of panic when getting to know that a big potato is coming have been displayed vividly by the great author, by narrating the story of the President’s visit to the class of little kids. Humorous and intelligent President, smart but purified and cute children, this interesting story makes you feel bright and joyful.
Written by Louis Sachar
Illustrated by Amy Wummer
(76 words)
Issue: It is more important to allocate money for immediate, existing social problems than to spend it on long-term research that might help future generations.
Money, considered as an indispensible tool, is playing a role of great significance in our daily life, as well as in the development of our countries and societies. The allocation problem, as a consequence, proves to weigh a great deal in a nation’s development, and also the world’s.
Allocation of money for immediate, existing social problems is of such importance, on the one hand, that everybody of the nation is striving to thrive, as a matter of fact. Without money at hand, the nation would suffer from starving, disease or illness, etc, which in the practice is put on stage in some parts of the world. It is believed that money is necessary anywhere for constructions of national hygiene, education, electricity and so on and so forth. Money prepared for immediate, existing social problems is regarded as the guarantee to the prosperity, safety, stableness of a nation. National daily life is so supported and sustained by money that a national economy is assumed to be one of the most significant issues that should be put forward to the daily agenda
Not only should money be attached great importance to the immediate, existing social problems, on the other hand, it is supposed to be paid attention to long-term research that might help future generations as well, since a nation, say, the world, has kept developing successively .all the way today and is recognized to do so henceforth as well. Just as we spare no efforts to reverse the poor situation of environment hurt by ourselves nowadays in order to leave a more pleasant and better life to our successors, it is our duty, as well as our responsibility to take a notice to the long-term issues of any aspects pertaining to the development of us humankind, including our future generations. Therefore, long-term research that might help future generations cannot be too natural to be financed, which actually is paid a great deal attention to by most countries. In addition, as far as I am concerned, it turns out that everything we are enjoying today is based on the accomplishments of our predecessors, which determines that we are supposed to do researches and creations for our future generations as well.
To, sum up, money allocated for immediate, existing social problems, and that distributed on long-term research that might help future generations, are expected to be concerned about equally by nations and the world.
(429 words)
Issue: It is more important to allocate money for immediate problems than to spend it on long-term problems.
Our everyday life can not continue without money, as everything, either material or spiritual, we need to support our life costs cash, more or less. Therefore, the allocation of our money which we strive to earn for our livelihood turns out of great significance. People, who can not distribute the use of their money wisely, presumably cannot lead an easy and comfortable life.
As far as I am concerned, on the one hand, allocating our money for immediate is considered definitely necessary, since we keep purchasing merchandizes everyday to fulfill our life. No money-allocation for immediate use, hopefully, may lead us to suffer from starvation and coldness, not to speak lack of education, which means an awkward situation with neither material wealth nor spiritual wealth. Beggars can be seen in almost every country. It is not hard for us to imagine what deters most of them from delicious food, decent clothes and comfortable houses with warm fireplaces is the lack of immediate-use money at hand. Distribution of money for immediate problems disables us to enjoy our everyday life.
On the other hand, however, money for long-term uses must be spared and prepared in advance. Cash and checks show their necessity when it comes to an economic crisis and problems of unemployment emerge or other emergencies related to use of money. Get ourselves ready for urgent problems, including get enough wealth, means a respect to and a care for our own life, which can be favorable and benefit ourselves ultimately.
To sum up, it is believed that attaching importance equally to both money for immediate problems and long-term problems weighs much in our daily life, to which we are supposed to find a balance.
Issue: Competition is ultimately more beneficial than detrimental to society.
Our world and our society have kept developing all the time since ancient times, mostly owing to the contributions of competition of all kinds.
On the one hand, competition encourages the impetus of individuals. We can hardly imagine how our society would develop but for competition. Take school education for instance, if there were no distinctions or judgment of well-done and badly-done, students would hold no aggressive consciousness, the consequence of which is almost all the students would not be willing to study. Without commercial competition, corporations would not be apt to invent new technology, improve skills and equipment, nor would they feel like perfect their management.
As a matter of fact, considering this situation, we human beings are always taking measures to reinforce competition, in order to inspire people to produce more material and spiritual wealth and heritages to make our life more convenient and our society advanced. The most representative one is the Nobel Prize, considered the highest award in a great number of fields, on behalf of the highest accomplishment. Scientists, chemists, writers throughout the world strive to chase this prize, which, in the practice, has brought us a society that keeps on going forward.
Competition also enables people to unite together to achieve a goal. Obviously, countries compete with each other. When a state is forced into poverty and weakness, the nations are expected to get united to thrive, with everyone sparing no efforts to find outlets and work hard. Sport competition is also a typical of this. When it comes to a soccer game, the athletes will coordinate with each other without doubt.
On the other hand, however, over competition may hopefully lead to detrimental consequences. We can hardly forget the harm that the over competition of Laissez-faire capitalism brought—the price did not fluctuated automatically according to the law of value, but was controlled by giant capital corporation Trusts. This led to a disorder in the market, the result of which emphasized the necessity of the control of government.
To sum up, in order to make our society develop in balance and smoothly, keep competition in an appropriate range is essential. Whether competition is beneficial or detrimental depends on whether humans are competing appropriately or not.
(385 words)
US director, Chinese and Japanese big stars, narration of stories of Japanese glorious traditional artists—all these alone can entitle the English movie “Memoirs of a Geisha” to be a masterpiece and a splendid success. The moving movie relating life of an elegant Geisha is a 2005 film adaptation of the novel of the same name, produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment and Spyglass Entertainment and by Douglas Wick's Red Wagon Productions, and directed by Rob Marshall. Fascinating top stars such as Zhang Ziyi, Ken Watanabe, Gong Li and Michelle Yeoh dedicated fantastic acting and expressed the characters’ internal feelings vividly.
Displaying completely hardships in life, jealousy between women, destruction of World War, love and hatred, persistence and fortitude, beauty of Japanese traditional art Kabuki, Japanese unique culture, etc, this well-produced masterpiece has moved and entertained hundreds of thousands of people, including me.
The little girl with grey eyes, sold by her parents and taken in by the proprietress of a geisha house, determines to become a geisha so that she can one day become a part of the Chairman’s life, after he—who keeps helping her later in her life—buys her an iced sorbet and gives her his handkerchief when she is crying. She turns into Sayuri under another geisha’s tutelage and her astonishingly successful debut entitles her to the most famous geisha in Gion, Kyoto. Despite the hardship she has to endure as a Geisha such as the pains of walking with high shoes and tightly combing of her hair and strict practice, jealousy from other geishas interferes with her life, and World War destroys her and other geishas' peaceful geisha life. After all the sufferings, again back to geisha life, her persistence and intelligence finally lead her into Chairman’s life. However, “To a man, Geisha can only be a half wife. We are the wives of nightfall. And yet to learn of kindness, after so much unkindness... To understand that a little girl with more courage than she knew, would find that her prayers were answered...can that not be called happiness? After all, these are not the memoirs of an empress, nor of a queen. These are memoirs of another kind.” A little girl’s great efforts and persistence in growing into a charming geisha for love strike my heart, and yet at the same time “being only a half wife” sounds such a misfortune and even makes me feel slightly painful.
“We (Geishas) sell our skills, not our bodies. We create another secret world, a place only of beauty. The very word Geisha means artist and to be a geisha is to be judged as a moving work of art…Agony and beauty for us live side by side. Your feet will suffer, your fingers will bleed. Even sitting and sleeping will be painful.” Sayuri is taught so. This distinguished Kabuki, the Japanese unique art. With fabulous skills that are entertaining, appreciated by the audience, geishas have to suffer from great agony at the same time. This movie led me to get to know Japanese Kabuki, at which I was amazed and astonished.
With marvelous pictures, changeable plots and beautiful music, this piece “Memoirs of a Geisha” strikes its audience. The aesthetic end leaves me with aftertaste…
