Self-Assessment of my project

       After finishing my whole project, I felt a huge accomplishment; no matter how good or not it is. : )

       

       First, I gave myself a B+~A- for character because I used the character which was the original character in this book, Ellen, becuase I did not want to break the original plot by adding a new character. In my opinion, the book wants to tell us Sookan was the only unique one because the author must mention that if there was another Asian student, who was very excellent and hard-working, but there was no hints about that, so I thought I should not add one character which from my country, although it will be much more easy to write. As a result, I chose Ellen, a native American. It was a big challenge for me because I needed to think in the way of Americans, and the things I wrote needed to follow American cultures. I still have many things to improve, but I think I did a good job for my first time, So I give myself an A for choosing the character, and a B for developing the character.

      

       Second, I think I wrote many details in my project, but most of them were visible details, and all of them belong to the "see" in the five senses. Although I had other senses in my writing, I still need to add more other details to make them become as much as the "see" sense, so I give myself a B- for this part.

      

        Third, the narration, description and reflectiong. It was the part which I satisfied most because each of my diary has told what happened clearly and included tons of characters' feelings. And the emotions of my character were versatile, so it makes my character become very vivd and interesting. Some of my plots were chosen from the book which were the original plots, but I changed my focus from Sookan to Ellen, and I think I was pretty successful of this changing part. Then readers can see a different world from Sookan's. They could see what Ellan saw, and they can feel what Ellen felt. I also wrote many descriptions, such as the descriptions of environment, the descriptions of characters' actions and the description of characters' feelings and emotions. That makes my writing more readable, so I give myself an A for this part.

  

       Fourth, I give a B for the clarity and correctness part because I do correct many mistakes before I hand it, and I think I still have some mistakes but not that much.

 

       I spent a long time writing this project, and I rewrote three times in order to make it better, although it was still not as perfect as I expected. I do improved my description part and grammar. I really hope my English writings will become as beautiful as my Chinese writings. 

Writing center reflection

           I went to writing center to find Mrs. Wrzosek. She read my first blog which was Ellen’s diary on Sep 1st. She did not say that I had any strength. After reading my diary, she told me the most important thing for was that I needed to be more realistic.

           Firstly,  I was pretending that I was Ellen who was an native American girl; it was hard to write because all the thing I wrote need to accord with American culture, and I am not an American, so all of the American cultures were differ to me. I needed to know more about American cultures before writing, if I want to do a good job. For example, in my diary, I wrote that Ellen’s parents prepared a big meal for her in order to celebrate the coming of her college life. Her mother cooked turkey, vegetables and apple pie. Mrs. Wrzosek told me that this meal was more likely to be the Thanksgiving meal. Actually, Americans families do not celebrate it like this. They are more likely to set a BBQ party. I finally realized that there were many this kind of mistakes in my writing, so there was a long way for me to go to correct all these errors.

           Secondly, the things which happened in my diary needed to fit my background setting. The whole things were happened in early 19th century, although there were not many foreigners in a country, they still knew how they looked like by reading books. It was true that the technology had not been well-developed, but people lived in that time already had a quite clear vision of the world they lived. I wrote that Ellen wondered how Sookan looked like in the first diary. “Golden hair? Blue eyes?” were not realistic. Mrs. Wrzosek said that Ellen probably wondered what food did Sookan eat, and did Sookan also eat hamburgers in Korea? Thousands of years ago, the nature already decided what people from different areas looked like; it because of the environment, climate and culture, so it was a kind of common sense or general knowledge for Ellen to know what did Asian people look like. 

           Thirdly, Mrs. Wrzosek said if it is hard for me to write as Ellen herself, I can create a new character who is from my country and come to America to study same as Sookan, but I think in Gathering of pearls, the author wanted to express that she was the only foreigner from Asia in her college, so all the things of which were different from Americans were very attractive for native students. Because of this I do not want to add another Asian students, so I think I probably will continue writing through Ellen’s vision, and I will pay more attention about the content and try my best to make it become more realistic. 

          Thanks Mrs. Wrzosek a lot. Now I probably know how to write this diary. I might want to cannel many of the plots which I already wrote down and add more things. There is not so much time left, so I need to work harder in order to finish my diary. 

Definitions

Look up the definitions of comma splice, run-on sentence, sentence fragment, independent clause, and dependent clause. Post the definitions on your blog along with an example for each term.

Comma splice: 

• 1.
  A comma splice is the use of a comma to join two independent clauses. ( a kind of grammar error)
  For example: 
  I ate vegetables today, he ate meat.
  
  
  run-on sentence:
  2. An ungrammatical sentence in which two or more independent clauses are conjoined without a conjunction ( a kind of grammar error)
  For example:
  I went a park today with my friends I took many pictures then we had a picnic we were very happy.
  
  
  sentence fragment
  3. Some groups of words of phrases stand independently but they are not independent clauses. ( a kind of grammar error) 
  For example:
  Until you fall asleep.
  
  
  Independent clause
  4. Independent clause is a kind of complete sentence which has subject and verb.
  For example:
  I am a student.
  
  
  Dependent clause
  5. Dependent clause was made up by several words or phrases and can not stand independently.
  For example:
  When I had lunch in the afternoon with friends.

Diary 16 Dec 26th

Dear diary,

Dec 26th

     Christmas was gone. I went outside early today. A huge snow came to my town last night and left a white peace world behind this morning. Maybe it was one of the Santa Cluse's gifts. I remembered when I was a little girl, my favorited was playing with snow, making a snow man and joining a snow fight with my friends. I usually thought I was too old to build a snow man and have a snow fight but why? I really want to experience my childhood again, so I called Sookan to go outside. She was shocked by the amazing snow scenery in front of her. We decided to build a big snow man together. When sun was level with the western horizon, we finished. We lied on the snow, looking up to the blue clear sky, a feeling of peace came up to my mind. What a beautiful day. 

Diary 15 Dec 25th

Dear diary,

Dec 25th

      Dinner last night was very delicious. The party was awesome. Everyone came and they loved Korean very much. Sookan was so good at cooking. The man who gets married with Sookan will so lucky. I also asked Kyle to come to the dinner. He liked the food either. After dinner we sang songs and played the game. After the end of the party, I went out to walk with Kyle. We talked many things about our future. We wanted to marry with each other. We wanted to travel around the world together, watch movies together and do everything together. I wanted to grow old with him. I deceided that I was going to tell my parents that I was dating with Kyle. Hope they will agree.

Diary 14 Dec 24th

Dear diary,

Dec 24th

       Tomorrow is Christmas. I went to supermarket with Sookan and buy something which were needed for the super Christmas dinner. I was really proud that I can help Sookan to cook traditional Korean food. There were many things in the supermarket and they hang Christmas decorations everywhere. Everyone knew Christmas was truly coming. Every customer seemed so happy because the biggest festival. They held several plastic shopping bags and hurried to  their cars. Sookan stood for a while in front of the shelf of the Korean souce. There were light of sadness shining in her eyes. I knew she misses her home, missed her mother and her friends. I held her hand quietly, she was shocked and turned to me surprisingly with tears in her eyes. She huged me and whispered thank you in my ears

Diary 13 Dec 15th

Dear diary,

Dec 15th

   

       Time passes by in the blink of an eye, it is already December. I already spent 3 months in the college. I already can fit the rhythm of the college and hand everything well. Sookan said that she want to hold a big Christmas dinner party and invite me to taste some Korean food which were made by herself. I was so excited because I really wanted  to try Korean food. Here was the chance for me to try. Poor Sookan she can not go back home and spend Christmas with her family. They must miss her a lot. I also want to buy some gifts for Sookan and Kyle. I can not wait the coming of Christmas. 

Diary 12 Nov 30th

Dear diary,

Nov 30th

     The Thanksgiving break was going to end. Sookan and me needed to go back to school. My parents prepared a big dinner for us. A fully roasted turkey with orange crisp skin was on the table and I even cold see transparent golden oil drops shining on it. It smelled so delicious. My mother cut down some pieces of chicken and handed them to Sookan and me. She was so gentle. Sookan was very pilot, she said thank you twice to my mother. I was thinking that I did not want to leave my warm sweet home but I had to. After dinner, I talked with my parents for a long time. The conversation was normal and topics were just the things which happened in my college. They liked to listen those things. 

Diary 11 Nov 23d

Dear diary,

Nov 23rd

    After a long sweet dream, Sookan and me woke up in a beautiful bright morning. Today, I decided to take Sookan to do some sightseeing around my house. Although there weren't too many things to see.

    We had some milk and bread which were prepared of my parents. As soon as we rushed out of the door the fresh air blowed our faces. What a fresh day! I hold Sookan's hand and she was a little bit shy but I liked the emotions on her face it was cute. As long as we were walking on the quiet road right in woods, Sookan told me about her sister and something she were struggling with. I told her that she need to have her own life and do not alway follow her sister because her sister might wrong. We need ourselves to decide what is right or wrong. 

    At the end of the road, there was a clear river. The fishes in the river even can be seen. I touched the water, it was cold but I loved the feeling of nature. Sookan reached down and also touched the river. We lost in this moment of relaxation.

Diary 10 Nov 22nd

Dear diary,

Nov 22nd

     Thanksgiving is coming, I am so happy!! Sookan was sure that she will go to my home to spent the Thanksgiving with me! And she will bring her hamboks which are those beautiful long dresses. She told me that I can wear the deep blue one to show my parents! I was so happy. I can not believe my ears! I am sure my parents will love them!

      When we arrived at my home, I introduced her to my parents. I think my parents liked Sookan, no one did not like Sookan. Sookan was so tried these days, she worked so hard without break. I felt overwhelmed about her everyday doing list. Her had the full schedule whole day and her coures are difficult. I can not imaged that a foreigner choose such difficult coures for herself! 

      I showed the hambok to my parents. Their surprising face made me feel happy and Sookan said I looked pretty in this blue hambok. She even gave this valuable hambok to me!!! What a expensive present! I was so happy. 

      We spent a happy time during the dinner, Sookan seemed that she liked my mother's cooking. I was glad. I really hope she can get enough rest this Thanksgiving. 

              

Diary 9 Nov 12nd

Dear diary,

Nov 12nd

        I can not wait to go home and see my parents for the Thanksgiving. I missed them so much. Today I went shopping and I bought a silk scarf for my mother. It was blue and very soft. I thought my mother will love it very much. Then I walked up stairs I saw a very nice gray shirt and I thought it will fit my father very much so I bought it either. I really like shopping especially buy presents for my parents. I need to be well-prepared for the Thanksgiving to make my parents happy. Maybe I will write a little card and put into the present box.

Diary 8 Oct 28th

Dear diary, 

Oct 28th

 

    Today I had lunch with Sookan and Marci. Sookan rarely had lunch with us because she was always very busy with her study. We sat at the round table which was near to the door. We ate chicken and vegetables. Sookan seemed not very like them. She told us the way Americans cooked was quite different from Korean. She liked the Korean food more. And she introduced many Korean dishes to us but I did not remember any of them. The only thing I knew was all of them were delicious. I really hope I could try Korean food by myself. 

Diary 7 Oct 20th

Dear diary,

Oct 10th

      The mixer party  is coming, I really hope that Sookan could come with me and Kyle but she was always very busy with her study. Although I invited her for several times, she still can not come. After all, she said that she will spend the Thanksgiving break with me. I was so happy about that. I am going to introduce her to my family and let them know the nice girl who I always talked about.

       I always do not understand Sookan and her sister. Why her sister always gave Sookan that heavy burden. Sookan alreay became a very excellent people. Her sister knew nothing about the life here because she had never experienced before. Why she always wrote Sookan letter about rebuking her. Why Sookan always listened to her? Sookan is my friend, I do not want her to feel sad about what her sister said, but we grew up in the different environments I am not sure if she can understand. I wanted Sookan to join me, to join those social activities because she needs them! College life is not only study. 

Diary 4 Sep 30th

Dear diary, 

Sep 30th

    Today is the last day of the first month. I really like the life here. I went the dancing party tonight and I also invited Kyle to go with me. There were many people. Every girl wore beautiful long dress, boys all wore handsome suits, and they looked wonderful. The musics were energetic and the lights were wonderful. When the colorful light spots shone on the wall and the floor, the dancing lobby felt like a wonderland. I lost. Kyle hold my hands he looked super handsome and he said gently" May I dance with you? Beautiful lady?" I felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest. How attractive he was!

Diary 3 Sep 15th

Dear diary, 

Sep 15th

      Everything was very good. I already could follow the rhythm of the college life. I made many friends here. Luckily, my coures are not very difficult this year. I am so glad I can have my own free time. Overwhelmed by the tons of homework is so not me.

     Now I only knew a little about Sookan. She was from Korea, and she had a very nice mother. She had siblings, some bothers and one elder sister. Her sister was very strict and always asked Sookan to work as she wanted, but I think Sookan should have her own life and make decisions by herself. I can control my life fortunately.

 

Thanksgiving paragraph (diary entry)

Dear diary,

        Tonight, I went to watch the NBA basketball match. Celtics vs. 76ers. 

        Although, I did not know much about the basketball, the atmosphere here impressed me a lot. I was so excited. A surpring news was, I could go down stairs, stand in front of the team and sing the national song with them. It was a perfect experience because when I stood so close with those super tall player, I felt that my heart was going to jump out of my chest. I even could feel their breathe. The lights went down and the song can be heard every corn of the gym. Everyone was so excited, they shouted and cheered after the song. Definitely, they were waiting for the start of the game. I took picture of the players and I really appreciated by their high level skills.

        After the singing the song, I went back up stairs. To my surprise, my seat was located at the back of the gym, the most back. Everything became small suddenly. Actually, I was glad that I could see the whole gym clearly by sitting here. To experience everyone's feeling, to exprience players' energetic and to experience the exciting atomsphere. I was so proud I was one of the audiences. 

              Nov.25, 2015

Thanksgiving break

           I went to Boston with school this Thanksgiving break. It was great and I enjoyed it very much. The fun things that I met during this Thanksgiving break could separate into three points.

           First, Boston was amazing, I love this city. I do not know why when I arrived at this busy city and saw the crowed streets, tons of restaurants and the colorful lights everywhere I was so excited. Maybe because I spent a long time studying in the quiet beautiful countryside.(Actually, not very long time but I just felt so) In Boston, the buildings made people feel overwhelmed but I loved this feeling. When I lied on my bed and looking outside the window, the lights of the cars were shining in the night, gold, red, green and white. It was wonderful, I felt I was so small and I got involved in this busy city and disappeared in the dark. 

           Second, the activities were interesting. I joined the many activities of the school trips, such as visited the famous park and museum which I forgot their names, went to watch the NBA basketball match, went to do some shopping, played bowling games and ate hot pot. Each of them was very great and I enjoyed them a lot. For example, the NBA basketball game. I saw those famous players so close and I felt that my heart was going to jump out of my chest. They were so tall and their skills were so well-developed. The fans were amazing, they shouted and cheered so loudly. Besides, the hot pot was so delicious, and I finally experienced the Chinese food. I just wanted to say, long time no see.

          Third, the people here were friendly, especially the teacher who led the group and took care of us here. She always cared about if us felt good or not. She offered us sandwiches for breakfast and gave me snacks to eat. She brought us to eat hot pot and gave us a chocolate cake!! It tasted really nice! She helped me a lot and made me feel warm in this strange city. 

          In a word, I love trip. It's an amazing experience.

          

Diary 9

Dear diary,

     Oh my god, I can not believe that Sookan lost her mother. She must be so sad and shocked. Poor Sookan, who was with Sookan? She was not strong enough to accept this truth. She needed some one to comfort her. Oh my, I think she needed me! How can I help her? It was too heavy.

      I told my parents about that, they were so sad about Sookan. Why such good woman left us so early? It's unfair! Her mother was so nice and gentle. Sookan must gonna be mad. I need to come and find her. Maybe let her to spend a few days with me. Will she be better? Oh my god, do not hurt Sookan any more. I think Marci will be so sad either. Everyone will be sad because all of us loved Sookan. Sookan was a good girl. She needed help.

     Then I went to find Sookan with my parents and Kyle. Many people were already arrived. Sookan looked so sad, her face was pale her eyes were red she was still likely to cry. I huged her, but she pushed me away for a second. I understood she was so sad and she needed time and space to cure herself. I wanted to stay with Sookan so much, but my parents told me just leave her alone. 

     The funreal ended. We said goodbye to this great woman.

             xx.xx.xxxx

Diary 8

Dear diary,

       We had a amazing party today. You know what? Sookan came to this party and she was so beautiful!! She was so shining!  I can not believe she was the person that I used to know. She wore a grace black dress which made her look really cultivated. Her hair was glossy. Oh my god! I was so proud of her. She also wore a beautiful pearl necklace which is white and delicate. 

       I introduced Tom, Kyle's roommate who was tall, gentle and handsome to Sookan. They seemed talked very happily, I was so glad. Actually, I really hope that Sookan could join this kind of social party more because she was a really attractive woman. She should show her off and it was good for her to have a boy friend because she was just a girl she needed someone to take care of her and made her life much more happier. Luckily, Tom seemed that he liked Sookan a lot. Maybe they will become good friend. 

      I danced with Kyle, he was gentle as usual, the suit fited him well. I really enjoyed it.

              xx.xx.xxxx

Diary 7

Dear diary,

     I had a deep talk with my parents as what Sookan told me. Surprisingly, they showed that they understood me. They worried about me just because they cared about me. I moved a lot. I finally understood them a little bit better. They told me that they thought I should finish my college first and my grades were going down because of I spent so much time dating with Kyle. They said I can still be with Kyle and he was a good boy. If some day I will marry with him they will be glad. 

     My mother did some preparesion for my marriage. I was so happy. I was happy with my parents and happy about that I can be with Kyle. I felt so thankful for Sookan she helped me a lot. The relationship between me and my parents were much more better. Sookan was a vise friend. I felt sorry about I argued with her that day and I really hope I will help her either one day.

    

         xx.xx.xxxx

Diary 6

Dear diary,

         I was so sad because I told my parents about me and Kyle and I wanted to marry Kyle. I argued with them because they did not agree that. They always said I am to young to have a boy friend. I do not want to explain this to them and I do not want to talk to them. I think they could not understand my feeling, never, ever! I just want to elop with Kyle and start our own life. I love him so much, I can live without him. I was so mad, I do not know how to solve this.

         I told Sookan that I wanted to elop with Kyle, she was shocked and argued with me. She said I was so naive that I did not think about my parents and what will happen if I just elope with Kyle. She also said that I need to talk to my parents for real, and I need to express my feelings I should not just say nothing with them, or they can not understand my feeling neither. We yelled at each other, I felt so sad. But when I thought about what she said. I thought she was right. I need to have a long deep talk with my parents. I need to try for me and for Kyle. 

       I felt that Sookan was very nice, she did care about me. I should not yell at her. I felt so bad, I thought she will forgive her but I do not know how to face her and how to let it go. Everything will be fine. Now Ellen, go to sleep.

                 xx.xx.xxxx

       

Diary 6 Oct 13th

Dear diary,

           Today, I hang out with Kyle and did some shopping. We spent a nice day today.  I want to introduce Kyle to my parents and bring him home because I love him so much and I also want my parents agree me to date with Kyle. But now, I can only introduce him as he was a normal friend of mine because I do not want my parents think that our relationship improved so quick. 

           I spent so much time dating with Kyle and my GPA went down. I was a little bit worried but not too much. I just wanted to be with Kyle forever, actually I do not care about my grade that much but I do not know if I tell my parents my mind they will support me or not. I think I should spend my college life to know more about the world and know more people because social life is very important. I think I did a good job in this part. 

          

                            

           

Diary 5 Oct 10th

Dear diary,

Oct 10th

     

     The relationship between Kyle and me was much more closer, I enjoyed the time I spent with him very much and I even wanted to marry him. I know it was a crazy thought but my mind told me that. 

    Sookan was different from me, she was a hard-working student. I think the most important thing in her world was study. Unbelievable! She was always very busy, she got up so early everyday and when I saw her in the campus, she was always in hurry or she was reading a book. Sometime, when I walked pass a classroom during the lunch period, I always saw Sookan keeping notes. I wonder if she had time to have lunch! She went back to dorm very late, always a few minutes before lights out. Although, I really wanted to talk with Sookan and hang out with her, she did not have time to do so. 

    

               

Diary 2 Sep 2nd

Dear diary,

Sep 2nd

      Today I met an amazing person, and she was my roommate, Sookan!

      When I was sitting and talking with my teacher, a beautiful girl which looked like a faery entered the lobby.  She wore a traditional Korean custom long dress named hambok. She was so shining and grace when she wore hambok. I was so proud that she was my roommate. She looked quite different with us. She had long black hair, yellow skin and beautiful black eyes. The volume of her voice was so low, it seemed that she was not that talktive and she was a little bit shy. She traveled about 24 hours from her home to our school! It was an unbelievable long time! That's why she looked very tired. 

      She told me that the hambok was made by her mother by hand. Her mother was amazing! And she also said she didn't like wearing those hamboks in public because it made her feel awkward. She did not like to show her difference but I think she should because those differences were good, they made us who we are. Haha, after all, what a cute girl. I like her! 

     

             

Diary 1 Sep 1st

Dear diary,

 Sep 1st,

   Tonight, my parents prepared a big party for me to celebrate the coming of my college life, It is wonderful. The foods were so delicious. We had BBQ at the back yard, and we invited our friends and neighbors. It seemed like a big festival. They were so nice, and I loved them so much~ I really glad to see the happiness on my parents' faces because of me. I think they were proud of me. 

  Tomorrow is the first day of my college life, I am so excited but also a little bit nervous. I can not wait to see my new roommate, as far as I remember, her name is Sookan. What a strange name! She is a Korean girl. I have never met a Korean girl before; I just knew about people from other countries in books. How will she look like? Brown hair? Dark eyes? Does she eat as same as us? Hamburgers? Hotdogs? I am sure she is a nice person because my mind told me that. I think we must become good friends! 

    

                

Gathering of Pearls

                                            The book review of gathering of pearls

      Gathering of pearls is a good book for international students to read. It talks about a Korean girl named Sookan came to American university to study by herself. She met many problems, but she solved all of them finally. She was a smart, nice and strong girl and I learnt many things from her experiences.

       Firstly, I learnt that we need to keep working hard in order to achieve good scores. As the saying goes, “No pain, no gain.” Everything will be better, if you pay time and energy on it. Sookan did a really good job. She focused on study. She got up very early to study everyday and she was always the last student left the class because she wanted to write down all notes. She went back dorm late. She kept doing that day by day and every teacher liked her very much because no one could say no to an extremely hard-working person. I saw diligence and burrow on her. This kind of sprit is valuable and it is necessary for each student. For high school students who are at the age which is the best time to study, hard-working is one of the most important things. Sookan is a perfect model for us, so this is one of the reasons that I will recommend this book to others.

       Secondly, although Sookan was a little bit shy and afraid to communicate with native speakers in a new environment, actually, she was really good at communication. She was good at making friends and made other people like her. It is called personal charisma. She did not show this kind of ability clearly, but she did have that. She was polite maybe it was because of her original culture, so every teacher liked her. Sister Reed even seemed Sookan as her own daughter and gave Sookan a valuable pearl necklace. Sookan respected others and she was very friendly and warm-heart. She was good at accomplishing others and she was always nice to others, so her classmates recommended her to become the student chair during the election, even though Sookan knew a little about her classmates. Sookan was a good friend. She was wise and cared about others' feelings. She could give her friends correct adivses and helped her friends solve problems. She made two very good friends because of her personality. And her friends helped her a lot when she was in trouble. So this book also taught us how to communicate with others and become friends with them. Society is very important for everyone, so that it is good for us to read this book and see how Sookan deal with this kind of problems. It gave us a lesson.

       Finally, the most important thing that the book wanted to tell us was life was hard, if we bump into troubles, we might be sad and hopeless, but we still need to be strong and move on happily. Sookan faced many troubles and sad things. She can not catch up the lessons at the beginning, she felt overwhelmed. She solved it by working harder and harder. She felt not good about writing letters with her sister because her sister was so strict and always made Sookan to follow her thoughts even her thoughts were not suitable for this new environment. Sookan struggled with that for a long time, but finally she chose to understand her sister like her mother did. To accept others rather than change them. She lost her dearest mother and she did not know it until she finished the first semester. She felt like it was the ending of the world, but she moved on and made her own decision to continue studying in America, to fulfill her dream. The things that Sookan had been through were heavier than others and maybe because it was in the book, but it taught people that we need to be strong enough to fight with our lives, to make it better by ourselves. This book encouraged us to smile to our lives, to turn the pain experiences into shining beautiful pearls. Everything will be ok. And those difficult time you have been through will only turn into steps, full your life and make you become to a better person.

      This book is perfect for people like me to read because it is not that difficult to understand and it gave readers many life enlightenments.

The ending of Peter Pan

         The ending of each character was different.

          For Peter and Captian Hook part, Peter fought with Hook and he won. Captain Hook wanted to explore the ship into pieces, but Peter stopped him. Actually, I liked Hook as well because he was a funny and unique character but for the whole play, it was good for Peter to win this important fight so that the lost boys and Wendy, John and Michael could be saved. It is a kind of happy ending.

         For Peter and Wendy part, they finally said goodbye to each other. It was a little bit sad because they did not want to leave each other. They wanted to be friends and stayed together forever. There was a kind of romantic production created between them because of everything they had been through together. I can feel their emotions through how they said goodbye to each other. All good things come to an end. The all things they left were the beautiful memories they gave to each other. I think Wendy will always remember the boy who lived second to the right and straight to the morning as the most crystal memory of her childhood.

Peter Pan

        one quiet night,a boy appeared. He was so vigorous and nimble. His name was Peter Pan, a boy who lived in Neverland and never grew up. He came to Mr. Darling' s home and became friends with those three children--Wendy, John and Michael. Peter took them to Neverland and had an exciting adventure. They met pirate Captain Hook and fought with him; they became friends with Indians. Finally, Wendy, John and Michael came back home after this wonderful adventure.

       I love this play very much. Some times it was funny and some times it was warm. The friendship between Peter and Wendy liked crystal, beautiful and twinkle; the friendship between Peter and lost boys was strong and warm, they lighted up my eyes. Peter was my favorite character. He was smart, brave and a little bit arrogant. He wanted to punish Tootles because he shoot Wendy; he saved Tiger Lili and became friends with Indians; He fought with Captain Hook to save his friends. He was the main character and he supported the whole story. Wendy was also important, she was a nice and gentle girl. She always wanted to be a mother to take care of others. She told stories to children and made them feel like she was a mother. They story was beautiful and the play brought me joyful.

        This play was much more meaningful for me. I was a little bit different than the audience because I was one of the cast. I joined the play myself. Although I was only a little character—an Indian named panther who wore very natural costume, inserted colorful features on the head and spread two blue lines on the check, and I just had three lines, I was very proud that I was one of the drama members because I can learn deeper about the play and knew more about the story. I had witnessed how characters were built. Felt more about characters’ mental activities. This was very important for understanding the play. The part which Wendy said goodbye to Peter impressed me a lot. Because it was a little bit sad and it showed how important they were for each other. They tore themselves away from each other. And the players were excellent. They showed the plot perfectly. I moved a lot.

       I  was the person who sat at the backstage “ watched” the play by my ears. It was a very different and fantastic experience. 

Vocabulary 11.12

1. mannequin     n.

A dummy used to display clothes in a shop window.

A small, black velvet purse hung on the shoulder of the mannequin.

2. second-hand   adj.
Things are not new and have been owned by someone else.

To save money, I had purchased second-hand textbooks from upperclassmen at a fraction of the original price.

3. animatedly      adv.
Someone who is animated or who is having an animated conversation is lively and is showing their feelings.

Many of our classmates were there with drinks in hand, talking animatedly.

4. faltered  v.

If something falters. It loses power of strength in an uneven way, or no longer makes much progress.

Flustered, I faltered, then hurriedly responded," yes, well I had a good time, too. Good night."

5. impulsive     adj.
If you describe someone as impulsive, you mean that they do things suddenly without thinking about them carefully first.

You are a bit impulsive and head strong at times.

6. constrained   adj. v.

To constrain someone or something means to limit their development or force them to behave in a particular way.

I had always felt constrained there.

7. Gregorian chant    n.

Represented by Gregorian Chant, it is a significant source of Western music in a sense.

A Gregorian chant program is scheduled for June, and students will be coming from around the world.

8. pearl      n.

A pearl is a hard round object which is shiny and creamy white in color. Pearls grow inside the shell of an oyster and are used for making expensive jewellery.

I would wear my cream silk dress and the pearl jewelry that Sister Reed had given me.

9. elope     vi.

When two people elope, they go away secretly together to get married.

I just want to elope and get our lives started now.

10. taciturn.          adj.
A taciturn person does not say very much and can seem unfriendly.

I would write to each of my taciturn brothers, even though they had never written to me.

11. sobbed.       v.
When someone sobs, they cry in a nosiy way, breathing in short breaths.

I started to sob.

12. pouch.      n. V.

A pouch is a flexible container like a small bag.

The pouch of an animal such as kangaroo or a koala bear is the pocket of skin on its stomach on which it's baby grows.

In a silk pouch that mother had made was her thin, white gold wedding band.

13. listlessly.     adv.
Someone who is listless has no energy or enthusiasm.

As I stared forward listlessly, little Sarah snuggled up against me, and whispered into my ear.

14. hymn.   n. Vt.
Hymn is a religious song that Christians sing in church.

I was comforted by their high-pitched hymns reverberating in the domed chapel.

15. fainted.    V.

A faint sound, color, mark, feeling, or quality has very little strength or intensity.

You fainted two days ago and you have been here ever since.

Capturing the Before

Capturing the Before

By spending a long time looking at those photos taking by these artists. I finally found out that these artists were not just taking pictures of the moment in the blink of an eye. They were using their cameras to record their life which included their emotions and experience. Some of their photos had blue and purple colors which made me feel deep, quiet and gloomy. And usually there were some windows in the photos and contained the white and golden colors which were the colors of sunlight. And those colors gave me the feelings of hope and warm. I do not know why that when I stood in front of some photos, they could remind me thinking about my hometown or missing some very important people. I think it is the magic of these pictures and it is the glamour of these artists. 

Here is one of my favourite pictures. This picture seems like the photographer stood in the shadow of the wall and faced the camera to the bright part. I can feel about the changing of the colors from dark to bright and it seemed the light is within touch. If I was in the picture this kind of feeling will push me towards to the bright side and my heart will fill with warm and hope.

  

After the storm

                          After the Storm

          Sookan, a Korean girl who goes to study in American college alone. Her life in American is hard but happy. She gets involved with different new culture, makes new foreign friends and gains more experience. And she also has some excellent personalities such as warm-heart, humility and hard-working which make her get into this new environment quickly. In my opinion, she will probably succeed her college study in America.

          Life is hard. Sookan will bump into some troubles defiantly but I believe she will solve all those problems.

          Firstly, now Sookan is not good at English, she can not get high grades of those difficult courses. She always needs to stay at classroom alone to write down all of notes. It takes her lots of time and this is an extremely hard work. She gives herself too heavy burden and actually she can not hand it well because she even doesn't have time to eat and sleep. It does harm to her health. But English can be improved through daily conversations. It means to communicate with native speakers more. So Sookan needs to be more socialize. And luckily she already starts to know about this, she finds that her life is tired and hard. She does not have time to join in the community activities and can not enjoy the college social life. So the thing which going to happen is, she takes a deep thinking of this problem and have a talk with both Ellen and Marcie. Ellen encourages Sookan to join more social activities and to experience real college life. She makes Sookan to join the second election and Sookan becomes the student councilor. Sookan gets more opportunities to talk with native speakers and to express her own ideas. As a result, her comprehension and expression of English improve a big step. Marcie does not care about the social life. She just suggests Sookan do not sleep so late and supervises her to have lunch on time everyday. Sookan does a good job on both study and life because of them.

            Secondly, she needs to gain money to support herself. She can not get money form her family because her family is not rich and she does not want to ask money form her mother. She works for the scholarship work everyday during the free period in the dining hall and she also does baby-setting for Professor Bennett. She works hard and everyone likes her. So I think then Professor Bennett wants to give Sookan more money for the baby-setting but Sookan refuses. But Professor Bennett still helps Sookan find an other job which is helping the librarian translate some Korean books in to English and they will pay for it. So Sookan does the translation work during the baby-setting and even talks about the book with Sarah and Jimmy. Then with those money Sookan can support herself and even send some money back to Korea.

         Thirdly, she still confuses with the different between Korean culture and American culture. She feels free to do things in the American way. She feels good to talk with older people equally in America but she still remembers to be polite and humility. She likes to introduce her own culture to others. She is a Korean after all, but she is still a mix production of two different cultures. She keeps writing letters to her mother and sister and she even gets in touch with her brothers and friends. She introduces her life here in America and tells them the things that they did not know before. She spends a lot of time communicating with her sister, although her sister does not change her mind, she still supports Sookan to make her life more meaningful through helping poor people. Finally the relationship between Sookan and her sister becomes much more better. And Sookan gets use to American life style step by step. Her life at here becomes truly happy and worthy.

           She will fulfill her dream someday.

      

           

Change

In Korea, I always bowed to say hello.

In the U.S., people wave to say hello.

In Korea, we didn't talk about our boy/girl friends in public

In the U.S., we feel free to talk about them in public and it is a hot topic.

In Korea, we looked after neighbors' child for free.

In the U.S., we can get money from looking after others children.

In Korea, there was a division of roles between man and woman.

In the U.S., the roles between man and woman is balanced

In Korea, I needed to obey what older people said.

In the U.S., I do not have to do if I do not want to. 

In-class writing

In-class writing      10.29

       Thinking about my own experience about the first time I came to study in America, there are some similarities and differences between Sookan's experience. 

       For similarities, we are both looking forward to making more friends, because we are both international students who are from Asia and speak exactly different language with English. Besides, it is our first year in a strange school,a strange country. We both felt lonely and overwhelmed. So making friends became one of the most important things for us. But at the beginning of making friends, I felt shy and afraid of talking to others because I worried that I would make mistakes of English pronunciation and grammar. And I think Sookan and I are both hard working. Although I do not have as much work as she does, I do give myself some extra practice after finishing homework. I want to get into this new environment as quick as possible and become to an excellent student. This thought is same with Sookan. 

       For different part, basically, we are from different countries, speak different languages and have different cultures. And I do not have siblings. Moreover, We are not live at same times, nowadays the technology is well-developed, I can use iPad to record teachers' notes in class, so that in a sense, my life here in America is easier than hers. I would not meet that much problems and I would not be that tired. For example, I don't need to copy the notes by hand after class and miss the lunch, because I can just take a picture; I don't need to send letters to my sisters or my parents every week, because I can just use my phone to send them a message.

Questions about Chapter 3-4

1. Why Maric didn't have friends, and why she was lonely?

2. Why Sookan felt sorry to Maric?

3. Did Sookan like her job?

4. What did Sookan's mother tell her in letter?

5. What did Sookan feel after reading the letter from her mother?

6. Why is Sookan's study life so busy?

About Author:

Korean is Choi's native language.  She said, "I now have two countries, my native country of Korea, and my adopted country, the United States. Through my writing, I want to bring to life the history and culture of Korea to share with all my American friends."Choi writes about her own experiences as a young refugee from North Korea during the Korean War through her heroines in her books.

The themes of her books are communism, freedom, international politics, and interaction among nations. They can be used to teach about socio-geopolitical events and historical realities of Asian nations, including how big powers affect the fate of small nations.

Year of the Impossible Goodbyes. New York: Dell, 1991, Echoes of the White Giraffe, Houghton Mifflin, 1993
Halmoni and the Picnic, Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 1993
Gathering of Pearls, Houghton Mifflin, 1994
The Best Older Sister, Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 1997
Yunmi and Halmoni's Trip, Houghton Mifflin, 1997

Name: Betty Huang
Period:G
Date:10.10
                  See the colorful world through words
      The world is beautiful and changeable and life is like music’s the odyssey. Although they made impressions, we still can not remember all of them. In order to keep these beautiful memories, people write them down. Some of people even do much better job who write a book and public it. So that their bright ideas, experience and imaginations are known by other people.
     I love reading. I really enjoy reading beautiful and fluent sentences. I am so amazed about how writers can describe an object or atmosphere in such beautiful way. The emotions of characters express through each word, it likes they use words to sing a silent song and repeats in my mind again and again. Somethings, I write down sentences which I think are really vivid and beautiful,somethings maybe just couple of words. I want to learn the way that other famous writers write, and try my best to create a new way by adopting those good customs and getting rid of the bad ones . So I also love writing. But the most difficult things for me to read and write in English is that I do not have enough English vocabulary, I can not understand all of the beautiful words, so that sometimes I can not understand how amazing passage the author wrote, and when I was writing, my thoughts come so fast and brief, I have to write them down in Chinese first, or I will forget them. Then here is the thing which makes me mad is the words or the sentences are translated from Chinese to English are difficult to understand, sometimes they even do not make scene. Then I will feel so disappointed. It is really sad that I can not express my feelings. And I always do good job in Chinese. So the drop experience makes me a little bit afraid of writing.
I have not read many of English books before, the first one is the Station Eleven for the summer reading. It is a novel and it talks about a huge disease cover the whole world like a disaster killed most of the people, and survivors lived in some small towns separated at different places. And there was a traveling symphony traveled from town to town to perform music.
My favorite book is a Chinese novel named the combustion boy. It talks about the dark childhood of a boy whose name was Lingjiang. He was seemed as a monster in his little town and he experienced bully, betray and gossipy when he was such a young boy. The only thing which support him is friendship. He had only 3 friends, and finally he lost them and died. When I read this book, it calls my sympathy. I cried a lot because of Lingjiang. I really want to enter the plot and become his friend who never leave him alone. If there still have one person love him or encourage him, he won’t die. This book makes me think a lot that I should care more about poor people around me and give more warm to them.