LAST journal

Wow…finally, it is the last week of the semester! Time goes so fast.

I still remember the day which is the first composition class, and we created our own blogs and thought why do we have to write this every week?

Oh…too much homework

 ohhh…in- class writing again!!

ohNo…today is presentation day!

I believe those will be our murmur every week! At the beginning of the semester, I once hoped that tomorrow was the last day of this semester; however, now I’m kind of miss the time when we get along together. I believe ALP is only the access to the university or graduated school, whatever, for everyone. I think everyone has a more important and desirous goal or dream which you guys want to reach.  Maybe, most of us will feel that we are stuck in this program because we are still struggling with the access to go the university. For me, it might be true; however, this program is where I set up the foundation of my English ability.  The only thing I hate about this program is that I have to get up veeerrrrryyyyyyy early! Otherwise, I am kind of like it because I really learn a lot from this program.   

So, good luck to everyone. Wish you guys have a great summer and receive good news from school!!

Also, good luck to our professor, Sean, your baby most will be very cute, smart, and healthy! And I have ever heard that the one who is going to be a father will always be kind to his students’……………………………….............................................................................................................................grade!!

Journal 17: Baraka

Some of scenes which make me impressed are the scenes portraying poverty.  The first scene leaps to my eyes is a huge garbage mountain with lots of women and children dressing poorly and slatternly and picking up something which they think are useful.  When a garbage truck just dives in that place and prepares to dump a truckload of “new trash,” all of the women and children will flock around new trash and eager to find what they want. 

Before these scenes, there are a series of scenes shows the development of industrialization. People wear good cloths, work in very crowd streets, and take crowd subway every day. Having enough food is not a problem anymore, so people begin to develop other industries to make lives better.

The scenes which describe industrialization followed by the scenes which portray poverty contribute to a strong contrast. It is hard to imagine that the difference between the rich and the poor could be so great.  Those women who picking up trash may even not know that there is another society which is completely different from the place they live.  After seeing this film, I believe that a major reason which causes those poor countries to become poorer and poorer might be us, developed countries.  We want to make our countries richer and more advanced, so we sacrifice the poor countries.  International companies set up the branches there and also bring the poor countries pollution and give their citizens very low salaries. We use our advantages to take everything we want from them and dump every problem to them.  Help might be the most efficient way to relieve their difficulties.  Donating money could not be the best way; helping them develop agriculture or helping them establish education system may really mean “help” for them.   


I commented on Sylvina's blog.

Summarize/paraphrase

Rash, W. (April 27, 2011). Verizon 4G Outage Keeps High-Speed Network Customers in the Dark.

Retrieved April 27, 2011, from http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobile-and-Wireless/Verizon-4G-Outage-Keeps-HighSpeed-Network-Customers-in-the-Dark-670603/

The Verizon Wireless 4G LTE data network shut was shutdown today, and this crash makes the Verizon Wireless 4G users cannot access to the Internet.  Until late of the day, the data system still has not been fixed, and Verizon indicates engineers have not found what the problem is. It is hard to believe the most new and famous connectional technology suddenly did not work (Rash, 2011, para.1). However, the main reason making Verizon customers feel unbelievable is that Verizon uses only a few and brief message which be posted on Twitter Website to tell the users this information. Because of the way Verizon deals with the emergency, lots of customers claim they are glad for the survival of Verizon. The author argues the motivation of company uses Tweet as access to the public when the spokesman can have an official statement to explain what the problem is (Rash, 2011, para.5). The public speculates many possibilities of the crash of network.


I commented on Ella's and Thuy's blogs.

A letter to parents

Dear Mom & Dad:

How have you been recently?

I’m pretty good actually although school is busy! 

I just want to let you know that I got a boyfriend recently. I knew that you will feel a little bit weird that I tell you this because I usually will not tell you something about my relationship status. Therefore, the main reason that I want to tell you is that he is not Taiwanese, Chinese, or even Asian; oppositely, he is American. He also studies at the same university as me. In fact, we have been dating for a period of time, and we talk about getting married recently. I understand that you feel shocked, worried, and a little bit angry maybe. You may think that we come from two totally different cultures which will cause lots of problems to our marriage in the future, one of which is opinions of his parents, and I may not intend to go back to home after graduating. I concede that different backgrounds definitely make us have some disagreements of certain perspectives, but he has a very good temper and is always willing to communicate with me whenever we disagree with each other. Also, his parents don’t live in California; if we got married, we would not live together with his parents. The bright side is I can find job here; we all know that the working environment here is better than that in hometown.  I am really used to living in the US.  Now my English ability improves a lot because we need to communicate in English.  I take marriage seriously, so I will meditate on getting married with him thoroughly. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about me.   

Miss you.

 

Cindy



I commented on An's and Motaz's blogs.

Analyzing an Argument

Felton, N. (2011, April 12). Coffee can be healthy. The Daily Titan. Retrieved April 22, 2011, from

http://www.dailytitan.com/2011/04/12/coffee-can-be-healthy/

The author tries to convince us that dringking coffee is beneficial to our health.  This argument belongs to the claim of value.  It takes some studies to support the claim. It indicates the majority of studies states benefits of the comsumption of coffee rather than disadvantages. Joe Vinson,  PH.D., a coffee expert at the University of Scranton, states drinking about two to four cups of coffee a day would cause health benefits, one of which is the prevention of cardiovascular disease. Also,  according to an experiment conducted by American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,  people participating the experiment who drank four or more cups of caffeinated beverages daily, most of which were coffee, and 53 percent lower risk of heart disease. The study also shows drinking coffee will contributes to some health benefits of brain, heart, cancer, and diabetes if people drink coffee moderately. Therefore, the author concludes coffee can be healthy.
I think the argument is valid. The author lists some studies which are conducted by an expert and a professional institution can be trust. Hence, I agree with the argument.

I commented on Andy's and An's blogs

Second annotation

Varnum, R., & Gibbons, C. T. (2001). The language of comics :Word and image. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi.

This book is edited from Rabin Varnum and Christina T. Gibbons. They collected some articles from other authors who are have much more experiences about drawing cominc books or creating animated films.  The main point of the book is to describe how words and images make some meanings when they are combined.  It indicated how to express certain critical meaning or some important issues or humor by facial expressions and descriptions of sound. It helps me to understand what the characters in the animations usually do when they try to imply ironic meanings.

first source-Annotated Bibliography

Ling, C. (2009, August 20). Kids should be allowed to watch TV. New Straits Times,17.  Retrieved

April 13, 2011, from ProQuest Newsstand. (Document ID: 1837399841).

This is an article from newspaper.  The author is Chok Suat Ling.  He indicated that for those who growing up in the 1980s, cartoons are created definitely for children, so those films are always full of happiness, clean expressions, and straightforward meanings.  Most of adults do not watch those because they feel most of contents express lots of opinions which they off course have already known as the adults.  The cartoons were meaningless for adults at the time.  Since when, the children are gradually becoming to spew dirty or impolite words which were only said by adults before.  The cartoons are full of violence, sexual issue, or any adult issue now.  Now lots of animations are designed for the adults, and the children even cannot understand the meanings of those. Many experts hope the children can watch those in company with their parents. That would be a trend for cartoon.

Research topic

I am into animations so much! Therefore, for my research topic, I wanna research animations.
Most people think animations are created for children. I  only partly agree that.
"Up" is one of my favorite animation movies. I brough my niece, 6 years old, and a few her friends to see that movie. At the and, almost every female adult cried because lots of plots were emotional and we understood what these plots want to express. However, my nicec and her friends asked me: why do everyone cry?  Children feel that this movie is happy becuase the goal is achieved ,and the process of adventure is exciting. That are reasons children like this movie, but these are very different from what adults feel. 
Many animations imply deep meanings which are concerned about adult issues or real social problems, or some of them involves adult humor.  All of these absolutelty cannot be understand by just 5 years old kids.  So, actually, animation reflects real society. Another one, SpongBob is also a very popular animation seires in US, but it actually includes lots of adult humor which children cannot get. Some of this adult humor are not suitable for children.
Therefore, I want to use "Up" as a case to deeply understand what points about adult issues or social problems this animation reflects, or I could use "SpongBob" as a case to research how SpongBob reflects adult humor.  I haven't decide yet.

Spring break

Spring break!!  After a tired and exhausted half semester, spring break is the best gift I received. 

I remember that I went to Chicago to visit my friend during the spring break in last semester.

Traveling there is really fun; however, because the schedule I arranged was too full, I had no time to finish the homework, so I did homework until 2am in the last day of spring break!  It’s so tired. After the spring break, all I want to do was sleep.

Because of the last experience, I arrange a much more relax schedule, which is four days Las Vegas trip!  I have been to Vegas twice few years ago.  However, Vegas will vary every year.  

It will have new hotels and new building there.  I heard that there is a new shopping mall located in Las Vegas Blvd.  I still remember when I went there first time four years ago, my sister and I needed to drive two hours to an outlet which is fat away from the Las Vegas Blvd to shopping. 

Honestly, I cannot gamble.  I don’t know how to gamble. Playing slot machines is all I will do in casinos. However, I like Vegas.  I enjoy getting around in every special hotel to see the decoration, take pictures, and enjoy special atmosphere which different hotels own. 

Also, I love to see shows and have dinners in buffet restaurants with friends.  

By the way, there is a Japanese buffet in Vegas is really good!

I am looking forward to this trip. Three more weeks, it’s spring break!

Wish we don’t have that much homework, please!!

Enjoy spring break!

I commented on Sophia's and Ella's blogs.

what would happen if animals could talk?

If animal could talk, I think the population in the world will drop quickly.  Now many people don't want to have a child because the child is a heavy burden. People don't want to raise a child with millions of dollars and then the child will yell at then, argue with them, and angry to them.  One important reason I think is the child will leave parents one day.  Childrene will compose their own families, and important roles for childeren could be their wives or child rather than parents. So, most of person would rather raise animals, such as a dog, cat,or rabbit, the most popular pets people raise, because pets always follow their hosts, listen to hosts, and pets won't leave their hosts except dying.  If pets can talk, the hosts can say how their feeling are to the pets if the hosts feel depressed or happy.  When people feel lonely, there is "a child" who can talk to them.  "A pet" will be similar to" a child" if a pet can talk.  Therefore, raising a pet which can talk to you, listen to you, and follow you is appealing. Try to imagine that having a child which don't need to give allowance, don't need to say sorry to other child's parents, and don't need to be anxious for child's future. How wonderful it is!!  So, there are less and less reasons for people to need have a child.

If animals can talk, I wanna ask them:
Do you really like people wear clothes for you?
Because I always see a dog wearing cute clothe with an uncomfortable face and body language.


I commented on Cyndy's and Andy's blogs

Advice

The ways my parents educates me is very democratic.  Recuring the process of growing up, I have never expericenced that my parents force me to do something.  That's why I will tell my parents when I meet some dilemmas or difficulties which I cannot resolve.  I could propse my opinion, what  I am concerned, or what  I suppose to do, and they will ananlyze the benefits and drawbacks and let me know what they will do if they were me.  So, I always do the decision by my self.  However, when I recur, I find what I decide to do is almost waht they suggest me to do!

My grades in junior high school are not very well. In my country, we need to take a entrance test which dicides whether you cant study in public senior high schools. Another way is I can apply to other high schools, but private high school's scholworks is heavy and they are not as free as public high schools.  I know I may not do well if I choose to take that test, but I do not want to study in private high school at that time.  Hence, I discuss with my parents, and they suggest me apply to private high school first.  If I don't want to study there, I still can take the entrance test. But this ways can prevent taht I do not get any premission from any school.  Then, I applied, and I decided to study in priveate high school.  Actually, I am so glad I choose my high school.  I still remember that I saw questions of the entrance test from the newspaper, and I cannot understand anyone question of the physics and chemsitry subject!!

When graduating from college, I found a jod smoothly, at the same time, my friends sent lost of resumes and got no responds. I was glad I choose Accounting as my major, which my parents recommended me to choose that and I accepted. I think most of time I will accept my parents suggestions except suggestions like "Sleep early"or " Don't eat too spicy"!! I tried but I really can't do it.


I commented on Cyndy's and Sophia's blogs.

American Food

American food for me means bread, hamburgers, French fries, or salad. Due to the McDonald which is the most popular fast-food chain restaurant around the world and originated from America, the stereotypical opinions to American foods from me are food which is fried and soda.  But that is just stereotype; honestly, I enjoy American food sometimes, especially omelet, and steak, by the way, the American steak is really good.

Chinese food is really different from American food, such as breakfast.

For drinking:

For American, coffee is essential for American breakfast. Milk and juice, such as orange or apple juice, are necessary.  However, Americans do not drink tea in the morning. In Taiwan, besides coffee and milk, lots of people drink tea for breakfast. Like me, I like to drink mike tea in the morning. If you travel in TW and buy breakfast in the breakfast restaurant, you will find out that many residents order milk tea or black tea, especially teenagers. The similarity is that we drink soy milk in the morning, and Americans do.

For entrées:

For convenience, we will eat bread for breakfast. However, for traditional breakfast, we will eat congees with some side dishes, such as eggs, but will not eat salad which many Americans eat in the morning.  

It is very interesting for me to experience different kinds of food. I enjoy brunch, which could sit outside of the restaurant with sunshine and chat with girls, and most of the brunches are American food. Also, I love to sit at the round table and have a Chinese dinner with my family.  As long as the food is delicious, either Chinese or American food is good for me.


I commented on Cyndy's and Thuy's bolgs.

Optimistic Quote

I believe this quote encourages people to be optimists rather than pessimists.  I totally agree this quote.    Optimists consider anything from a positive side, but pessimists usually see things from negative side.  Therefore, optimists are easy to succeed because they know how to catch opportunities and then make efforts to reach their goals.  Also, most optimists enjoy facing challenge and do not afraid to work hard.  However, pessimists usually do not want to face and resolve difficulties.  When pessimists meet some dilemmas, they often choose to give up.  On the whole, I think I am an optimist. Although I feel depressed when I failed or stuck in some dilemmas, I only depress one day and I will try to solve problems I met and still make progress to the goal I want to reach.  As I took driving test first time, I failed with unbelievable reason.  It makes me so sad that day. However, on next day, I am very active in learning driving because I know I have to pass the test next time, otherwise I even cannot go to school.  Therefore, I think personalities of people can change. A pessimist will gradually become optimist if he is under great pressure to force him must to meet and accept challenges.  

I commented on An's and Angelica's blogs.

Birds of a Feather

I believe that good friend is the one whom you can say anything to her, no matter good things or bad things, ethical or unethical. Two of my good friends come from the same high school. I studied a private high school, so the rate for student whether can get into university is an only thing that the school cares about.  Therefore, students need to study at school from 7am to 9pm on week day so that we have lots of time to get together. That is the reason we can have such depth and close relationship between each other.

Wen, one of my best friends, studies in NY for master degree now. She is the first friends I made when I got into the high school. We are very similar.  In personality, we are all optimistic. Honestly, she is more optimistic than me.  No matter what bad things she meets, she is always depressed one day. When I see her next day, she is laughing and joking again just like she always did before. However, for me, I may need three to four days to recover. Then, our family status is similar, so our concepts of values are almost the same. This point makes us easy to get alone with each other and no pressure.

Julie is another of my best friends. She is very extrovert. When we hang out together, we can keep talking and talking and won’t feel tired.  We always have a lot of topics to discuss. She is a good talker. If we are invited to attend a party, we always can make new friends because she is really good at conversation.

I think it doesn’t matter friends are similar or different to me. We can be good friends because we all trust each other. Really miss them!

I commented on Angelica and Amy's blogs.

Getting around

Honestly, I really like to take public transportation system. It is very convenient to take subway and bus to everywhere I want to go in my country. Part of people still own cars, but some of them won’t drive cars to work because of insufficient parking spaces.  Most people prefer to take bus, subway, or taxi. By the way, taxis are full of every street in Taipei, the capital of my country. I always can see yellow taxis driving back and forth on the roads although it is already 1am.  Therefore, cars for residents living in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, are not what we must have to own.  Oppositely, if people living in US, especially in west coast such as LA, Bay Area, don’t have cars, it symbolizes they don’t have legs because they can’t go anywhere without cars.  It is true! That’s why people will feel how inconvenient here.  However, if living in NY or Chicago, off course, we can take public transportation system. Buses and subway are really convenient in big city east coast.

So, I have a car. It is a nightmare when I begin to learn how to drive.  I have driver license in Taiwan, but I had never driven after I got the license. I remember that, on the first night I came to us, my sister took me to a big parking lot to practice driving, and there is no car parked there because it was already off-hour. I drove 5miles, and I said OMG so fast!! It is still a joke in my family. However, now I have got used to driving. Actually, I like driving more than taking public transportation in US because I can control my time and don’t need to wait for buses.

I commented on Sophia and Cyndy's blogs.

Life's soundtrack

Still remembering two years ago, I was stuck in my work. 

I have been worked two years at that time and have gone through all of the miserable things twice which everyone working in the accounting firm needs to meet.  

I was so confused whether to choose working or studying. I didn’t know whether I could endure everything if I choose to work or whether I can give up “a good job” which is thought by others.  Occasionally, I just browsed the YouTube website and saw some Beyonce’s videos, and then I found that I have never heard this song before.

So, I clicked that video, “GREAMGIRL” leaps to my eyes and then heard the soft but strong voice from Beyonce.

When keeping hearing, I am breathtaking about the melody and the lyric. 

The melody of the song really attracts my attentions. Besides the rhythm, the lyric make me seriously consider the choice between working and studying.

One of the lyrics says that” I followed the voice you gave to me, but now I’ve gotta find my own.” During the time I grown up, I usually follow what my parents want me to do or what people usually do, such as choosing a major in college.

Most of people may say accounting is easy to find job, so I choose it.

When I was looking for job, my parents say big company is better, so I go there!  

When do I make a choice which is completely based on my own opinion?

Sometimes I also want to be a girl who is brave to chase her dream. 

Therefore, I am here!  This song really encourages me to chase what I want to do.  

Recommend to one who wants to chase his/her dream! Be brave!

I commented on Cyndy's and Amy's blogs

Favorite weather

I really enjoy the sunshine.
I love the weather of CA. That is the main reason I choose socal or bay area to study.
In my country durning the summer, there is always sunny day in the morning, but it is too hot for me; however, in the afternoon, it will suddenly become thunderstorm lasting 3 to 4 hours.
The wearther in my country is very humid, and I will sweat only because walk for one minute.
In socal, even though I jog outside for half hour, I don't sweat.
The weather is dry.I like it!
Though sometimes my skin is too dry and I will feel scratched. I still enjoy the dry and sunny weather every day.
Everyday I wake up and see that it is sunny today, I will feel really good.
And the rest of the day, I will be in a good mood.
I rememvered that it keeps raining for 4 or 5 days on the middle of december, I feel so bad that time!
Driving is so dangerous durning that few days, and I just stayed at home and don't want to go anythere.
Wish everyday is sunny day!!


I read Leo and Sylvina's blogs.

FEARS

Every time when someone asks me what you do scare, the terrible memory will recur to my mind. Bee is the most horrible insect that I am afraid of. I still remember that I was 4 or 5 years old at that time. One day, my mom went to work and a baby-sister took care of my sister and me. I was very naughty and sneaked out to the balcony.  I do not clearly remember why I want to went to the balcony, and I only can recur that my arm was so hurt suddenly, and I cried piteously and loudly so that the baby-sister heard that sound. My arm was stung by a bee, and it swelled up. Now I can still feel how hurt it is! Therefore, every time I see the bees, I am so scared, and if I can, I run away or hide behind someone’s back.

Besides bees, I am also afraid of approaching new things. I am into trying new staffs, but before I try it, I will be a little bit scared. That’s why I must prepare completely to make myself less nervous and fearful.  For instance, driving is one of the fearful things that I have to overcome.  I have never driven in my country. Learning how to drive safely is the first class I have to take when I came to US.  If I can’t drive, I could not go anywhere including school.  Hence, I practiced driving around 5-6 hours every day before taking test. During the first few weeks after I pass the test, when I need to go somewhere I have never been, I check the route, roughly remember where I should turn left or right, and then set up navigation. These steps could make me have faith in driving. I believe no matter what happened, we can overcome as long as facing it!

I read an commented on Angelica and Thuy's blogs.

New Year's resolution

It's 2011! I haven't gotten used to write 2011 whenever I need to write the date.
New year, new wishes. There are lots of wishes and goals that I want to achieve.
Passing business writing exam will be the most important goal I have to achieve.
Master degree is the target.That's why I come here. I have already gotten tired of my work.
I enjoy the student life; however, besides the student life, I still wanna to study what I am interesting.

Exercising periodically is another New Year's resolution. I like exercise, such as jogging, yoga, and swimming.
I joined the membership of the school's recreation center last semester, but I rarely went there.
Every morning I told myself that I need to go exercise, but after class I told myself I can go there tomorrow because I'm so tired now! I wish I can go exercise frequently this year.

I love travelling. Last year, I went to Chicago, New york, and Seattle. Every travel is the valuable experience for me. I like travel with friends or family. We book the flight, rent the car, look for the hotel, arrange schedule by ourselves, wake up at 10, and go anywhere we want to go. It's really relax. I don't like to join the tour. So, I wanna go to Florida and Houston this year. I believe it will be a fun trip.



I read Hee and An's blogs.

It's about me!

My name is Cindy Lee. I am from Taiwan, which is a lovely country. Food is really delicious there.
I spend all my time in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan.
However, I love the weather in California more than that in Taiwan.
The temperature in CA always keep warm, but it is too hot during the Summer and always rains on the Winter in my country.
I come here to chase my master degree. MBA program is what I really want to study.
My major is Accounting in college, and I have worked in Deloitte, which is a accounting firm, as a auditor for two years.
What I realize durning these two years is auditing is a borning and routine job. That's not a job what i want to do for my whole life.
That's why I choose MBA for the master rather than M.S. Accounting. I feel it is too much accounting for me!
What do I do for fun?
I like shopping ( All girls like shopping!), watching movie, singing....
I also like to go to lounge bar with my good friends, having a drink, talking about someone's gossip, chatting with each other, and laughing. I enjoy that. It makes me relax.
Wish us lucky future because we are gonna go through a hard composition class!!


I read and made comments on Sophia Xu and Seng's blogs.