Class reflection

As the end of this school year was coming, I looked back to the beginning, I found I have learned a lot on this English class. In this year, I finished reading six books and also studied poem. From the first book The Girl with pearls earrings to the final one We were liars, I read books of different topic and style which covers non fiction, fiction, religion, mystery. This whole year class changed my way of reading. I usually read book quickly but didn’t think deeply about author’s language and the meaning of some sentences before; as I read more books on the class, I gradually keep the habit of taking notes when reading, thinking about key sentences, connecting each separate plot.

Sometimes, I had hard time on writing essay. I feel struggled on choose the right word to show my idea, during most of time I have to use almost right word. Also I need to improve on incorporation of a variety of sentence styles. When I read the essay I wrote, I will feel some sentences are repetitive, I use too much same coordinating conjunction. And I need to learn how to connect each paragraph by sharing same points, because the paraph transition in my essay is usually really sharp.

Among the books I have read in this year, My favorite book is Me and You. This book doesn’t contain a lot of difficult word which helps me reading. And especially the touchful ending makes me always remember this book. Nobody can understand Lorenzo except the sister Olivia, even his parents though he was not normal child. No one cares about Olivia, she always lives lonely. Only Lorenzo and Olivia can understand each, promised and supported each other. When I read this book, I felt I can’t stop reading it. I want to know what happened between Olivia and Lorenzo, I want to know if they would have dream life at the ending. The plot really attracts me a lot.

In this summer, I want to read the book Divergent.It is young adult dystopian novel. I have ever watched the film which makes me be desired to read the novel of it. It has similar theme with other young adult book such as The Maze Runner and The Hunger Games. These stories will make me not feel bored when reading. I also think the book that similar to the girls with pearls earrings would be a good option for me. This historical novel has very strong plot which makes me search and study a lot of information about that artist, that period of time and that art painting after I read the book. I like studying the history by reading the story of it. 

Play about murder and inheritance

In this weekend, I watched the spring play Bone chiller in black box. I feel it was a mysterious play when I first time heard the name of it. When I walked into the black box and got the brochure of introduction, I can make sure it is. On the cover of brochure, there is a large picture that show kind of message in both painting and letter ways. The stage was redesigned perfectly. It looks like an old but rich style house. The play started with scary lightening sound and the butler walked onto the stage slowly and the mirror on the wall reflect that butler which all makes me feel this play may be mysterious and a bit scaring. I guess that there will be a murder. But after the character kindergarten teacher appear on the stage and began to show, I changed my mind. Although it has a mysterious theme which is about murder and inheritance, it can be showed in a funny way. Her speaking almost made all audience laugh loudly.

The play talks about that a rich man who were murdered by someone, but he left a huge amount of inheritance, and he wrote the message of who can inherite it in mystirious code. His friends and families came to his house to find the truth. But during the process of finding, two people were killed. At last, they find the two people who are killer.

I feel the sound system of this play is really good. It makes me feel that I'm surrounded by mystery. And every time the killing was happened, or actors said funny lines. The sound will appear in right time which makes us laugh a lot.

Ghost or imaginary

I think Mirren, Johnny and Gat are Cadence's imagination. Firstly, I don't believe in ghost. Then in the book, the author writes that, Cadence got injury in that accident and had mental problems. She can't remember what happened in that accident. So in this condition, I think Cadence may have imagination due to the injury. When Cadence set the fire then she found other liars were still in the house. She was extremely sad and scared, and felt guilty. Then want to make this family be better but finally she destroyed it. I think this kind of serious sadness may cause Cadence have imaginary of liars. Because she didn't want them be died. She lived in her imagining world, she imagined that they were still alive, and the whole family relationship got better and better which is what all four liars hope. And the last reason is that, in the book, there are only conversation between Cadence and liars. But liars never talked with other family members in summer seventeen which means other people can't see them. And when Cadence once asked Carrie about how was Johnny. Aunt Carrie didn't know what she was talking about. If they are ghost, everyone in this island can see them. But they couldn't. So according to above reason, I think Johnny, Mirren and Gat are imaginary. 

51-70

When cadre saw liars, they lied to her and said they went too see firework and doughnut shop.

Cadence was hit by migraine much worse than before.

The fire was happened in summer fifteen. Four liars did it.

Aunts argued to each other again for inheritance.

Aunt Bass want to inherite the house.

Gat told about her girl friend Raquel to Cadence.

Questions

1. What weird things happened during chapter 30 to chapter 50?

2. What did Gat mean by saying cadence doesn't know him?

31-40

 31. Cadence gave away her childhood art and botanic prints. She talked with Mirren about the email and roll she send to her. Buy Mirren said she never got that doll.

32. Cadence met Gat and they walked to the perimeter again. Gat asked cadence to start over again. Although cadence as mad, she still loved him. She said yes to Gat, they started over after lunch.

33. They had lunch in new clairmount. Granddad led cadence to visit the new house. The house is clean, open and opulent. Granddad didn't want to talk about old life and stuff at all. And when cadence asked aunt Carrie about how was Jonny yesterday night. Carrie seems didn't know anything which is really weird.

34. Cadence asked Taft and Will what happened in last summer, but they always avoid answering her questions because they said that will cause her headache. Bonnie and Liberty went through cadence stuff and found drugs in her bedroom.

35. When four liars are gathered, Johnny mentioned something in summer fifteen, Mirren suddenly stopped him and said they shouldn't talk about that. Johnny smiled at cadence nervously later. 

36. They played tennis. Johnny and Cadence won. They talked about her European experience and blue toilet. 

37. Cadence's mom are happy cadence takes up tennis again. Cadence recalled a night on two weeks before the accident. All three aunts wanted to get the expensive Boston house from granddad and they argued.

38. Four liars talked about their motto. Taft's is "Drugs are not your friend." Mirren said:"Be a little kinder than you have to." Gat's is "Do not accept an evil you can change." Cadence's is "Always do what you are afraid to do."

39. Cadence kissed which is what she afraid to do and Gat kissed back her. Then he pulled her away. Cadence said this is the starting over. But Gat said that she didn't know him.

40. Cadence told a fairy tale. It's about King, three daughters and a mice. Cadence is the tiny princess and Gat is that mice. The king didn't want they fall in love. But at last, the tiny princess left the palace, traveled and married with mice.

events

Cadence said that she got a pile of fairy tale books from her father. Then she made her own fairy tale which is about a king and her thre daughters.

Cadence started a project. She give away one own things, she has given away grand's photo, her pillow and brushteeth kit.

Cadence always ask her mother what happened during that summer. Her mom always tell her truth but she can't remember it. So cadence decided to write it down.

Cadence wanted to go to the beechwood island for summer vacation. But her father wanted to take her to Australia. Cadence grandfather went to visit her, and he looks thin. 

First, Cadence talk about her own fairy tale about king's three daughters are swallowed by the dragon. After an argument, Finally Cadence will go beechwood island for four weeks and then stay with her father in Colorado for a week.

Cadence cleaned up her room. And then she gave away a travel toothbrush kit and gat's olive jacket. She tried to convince herself she didn't love gat any more.

Cadence got a call from Taft. He asked her if she is drug addict. Cadence said no. Then Taft told her he thought the house cuddledown is haunted. Cadence tried to comfort him that it's just the wind blow through house.

Cadence and her mom took motorboat to the island, first she saw her aunt Carrie. And she found clairmount is new, many things are changed. Her mother asked her to be normal now. Cadence saw four liars.

Cadence saw littles, will and tart, liberty and Bonnie. Later when she saw granddad, he called her Mirren although he said he know she is not Mirren.

Cadence met four liars. She stared at gat but gat didn't quite look at her. Cadence don't want they feel she is sick. At last they all decide not to clairmount dinner.

Vocabulary

Glamorous P.39

Adj.

Having an air of allure, romance and excitement – charming

Book: it is hardly glamorous the way Mummy and I quarrel now that Dad is gone. 

Stagger P.30

V.

Walk as if unable to control one's movements

Book: I’d stagger from the table or collapse in quiet shameful agony.

Recuperate P.32

V.

Regain a former condition after a financial loss.

Book: Mummy took me home to Vermont to recuperate.

Villainous P.32

Adj.

A villainous person is very bad and willing to harm other people or break the law in order to get what he or she wants.

Book: they always look villainous in the dark of the evening.

Heroine. 39
N.

The main good female character in a work of fiction

Book: When she’s there, her pale skin and watery eyes make her look glamorously tragic, like a literary heroine wasting from consumption.

Agony 30
Adj.

Intense feelings of suffering; acute mental or physical pain

Book: I’d stagger from the table or collapse in quiet shameful agony.

Ivory 28

Adj.

A hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses

Book: inside, it is full of original New York cartoons, family photos, embroidered pillows, small statues, ivory paperweights, taxidermied fish on plaques.

shore 32 n.

the land along the edge of a body of water

Book: There are big rocks in off the shore, craggy and black.

hilariously p31

Adv. marked by or causing boisterous merriment or convulsive laughter

Book: covertly,  hilariously, behind Granddad’s black while he drove the motorboat. 

stunning p27

Adj. strikingly beautiful or attractive

She was a stunning woman, even when she was old. 

pitiful p36
Adj.

inspiring mixed contempt and pity

Different from my pitiful voice messages, these were charming, darling notes from a person without headaches.


collapse vt. an abrupt failure of function or health
12“I’d stagger from the table or collapse in quiet shameful agony, hoping no one in the family would notice.”
Giddy vt. having or causing a whirling sensation; liable to falling
11“Johnny, Mirren, Gat, and I snuck glasses of wine and felt giddy and silly.”
embroidered adj adorned with embroidery
11“Inside, it is full of original New Yorker cartoons, family photos, embroidered pillows, small statues, ivory paperweights, taxidermied fish on plaques.”
Surpasses 
V. distinguish oneself
16“Eventually she surpasses her employer in skill and her food is known throughout the land”




(n.)Taxidermy: the art of mounting the skins of animals so that they have lifelike appearance
 11“Inside, it is full of original New Yorker cartoons, family photos, embroidered pillows, small statues, ivory paperweights, taxidermied fish on plaques.”
Page 28

Quarrel: an angry dispute
15“It is hardly glamorous the way Mummy and I quarrel now that Dad is gone.”
Page 39

Constellation: an arrangement of parts or elements
8“I was glad Gat didn’t try to sound knowledgeable about constellations or say stupid stuff about wishing on stars.”
Page 21

Snorkeling: skin diving with a snorkel
11“WHEN I WASN’T bleeding, and when Mirren and Johnny were snorkeling or wrangling the littles, or when everyone lay on couches watching movies on the Clairmont flat-screen, Gat and I hid away.”
Page 30

Stagger: an unsteady uneven gait
11“I’d stagger from the table or collapse in quiet shameful agony, hoping no one in the family would notice. Especially not Mummy.”
Page 30

Traumatic: of or relating to a physical injury or wound to the body
13“Migraine headaches caused by traumatic brain injury.”
Page 34

infectious adj caused by infection or capable of causing infection


collapse vt. an abrupt failure of function or health

Giddy vt. having or causing a whirling sensation; liable to falling

embroidered adj adorned with embroidery

16“Eventually she surpasses her employer in skill and her food is known throughout the land”

12“I’d stagger from the table or collapse in quiet shameful agony, hoping no one in the family would notice.”

11“Johnny, Mirren, Gat, and I snuck glasses of wine and felt giddy and silly.”

11“Inside, it is full of original New Yorker cartoons, family photos, embroidered pillows, small statues, ivory paperweights, taxidermied fish on plaques.”

Glamorous P.39

Adj.

Having an air of allure, romance and excitement – charming

Book: it is hardly glamorous the way Mummy and I quarrel now that Dad is gone. 

Stagger P.30

V.

Walk as if unable to control one's movements

Book: I’d stagger from the table or collapse in quiet shameful agony.

Recuperate P.32

V.

Regain a former condition after a financial loss.

Book: Mummy took me home to Vermont to recuperate.

Villainous P.32

Adj.

A villainous person is very bad and willing to harm other people or break the law in order to get what he or she wants.

Book: they always look villainous in the dark of the evening.

Heroine. 39
N.

The main good female character in a work of fiction

Book: When she’s there, her pale skin and watery eyes make her look glamorously tragic, like a literary heroine wasting from consumption.

Agony 30
N.

Intense feelings of suffering; acute mental or physical pain

Book: I’d stagger from the table or collapse in quiet shameful agony.

Ivory 28

Adj.

A hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses

Book: inside, it is full of original New York cartoons, family photos, embroidered pillows, small statues, ivory paperweights, taxidermied fish on plaques.

shore 32 n.

the land along the edge of a body of water

Book: There are big rocks in off the shore, craggy and black.

hilariously p31

Adv. marked by or causing boisterous merriment or convulsive laughter

Book: covertly,  hilariously, behind Granddad’s black while he drove the motorboat. 

stunning p27

Adj. strikingly beautiful or attractive

She was a stunning woman, even when she was old. 

pitiful p36
Adj.

inspiring mixed contempt and pity

Different from my pitiful voice messages, these were charming, darling notes from a person without headaches.


collapse vt. an abrupt failure of function or health
12“I’d stagger from the table or collapse in quiet shameful agony, hoping no one in the family would notice.”
Giddy adj. having or causing a whirling sensation; liable to falling
11“Johnny, Mirren, Gat, and I snuck glasses of wine and felt giddy and silly.”
embroidered adj adorned with embroidery
11“Inside, it is full of original New Yorker cartoons, family photos, embroidered pillows, small statues, ivory paperweights, taxidermied fish on plaques.”
Surpasses 
V. distinguish oneself
16“Eventually she surpasses her employer in skill and her food is known throughout the land”




(n.)Taxidermy: the art of mounting the skins of animals so that they have lifelike appearance
 11“Inside, it is full of original New Yorker cartoons, family photos, embroidered pillows, small statues, ivory paperweights, taxidermied fish on plaques.”
Page 28

Quarrel: an angry dispute
15“It is hardly glamorous the way Mummy and I quarrel now that Dad is gone.”
Page 39

Constellation: an arrangement of parts or elements
8“I was glad Gat didn’t try to sound knowledgeable about constellations or say stupid stuff about wishing on stars.”
Page 21

Snorkeling: skin diving with a snorkel
11“WHEN I WASN’T bleeding, and when Mirren and Johnny were snorkeling or wrangling the littles, or when everyone lay on couches watching movies on the Clairmont flat-screen, Gat and I hid away.”
Page 30

Stagger: an unsteady uneven gait
11“I’d stagger from the table or collapse in quiet shameful agony, hoping no one in the family would notice. Especially not Mummy.”
Page 30

Traumatic: of or relating to a physical injury or wound to the body
13“Migraine headaches caused by traumatic brain injury.”
Page 34

10 Vocabulary

stunning: extremely impressive or attractive

Soaking: extremely wet

Stagger: walk or move unsteadily

Agony: physical or mental suffering

Hilarious: extremely amusing

Barrier: a fence or other obstacle that prevents movement or access

Shore: the land along the edge of a sea

Craggy: rough

Recuperate: recover from illness

Pitiful: deserving or arousing pity. 

We were liars

We were liars is a book written by E. Lockhart. It describes the mysterious event happened in Beechwood island and how the main character Cadence found the truth. The characters in this book are from a old-money family--Sinclair. This is high social class family, they are incredibly rich, handsome, athletic and tall. The narrator and main character is Cadence who. Cadence's grandparents are Harris Sinclair and Tipper Taft, they have three daughters--Carrie, Bess and Penny. Carrie's children are Johnny and Will. Bess's children are Mirren, Liberty and Bonnie, Taft. Cadence are daughter of Penny. 

The whole family went to private island-beechwood island every summer. Parents call four young children liars--Mirren, Johnny, Cadence and Gat. Gat is Carrie's boyfriend's nephew. The story starts with that Cadence's father left her and her mother, go with another women. Gat and Cadence were fell in love for a short time. I feel the reason is that Gat is not the member of Sinclair's. So he is always a outsider, he can't be in part of their life even he also comes to the island in summer.

This book reminds me of another young adult book that is called Gossip Girl. Similar as We were liars, teens in that book are rich, they lied, and there is also one outsider boy who is not belong to their rich world but tried to join in their group. In We were liars, four children always lie. I feel like the reason they lie is to hide the fact of this family. Rich family always have some secret that can't show to people, for example, they debted, the family relationship is bad; but as a member in that family, they have to hide it, because they Sinclair's . They have high self esteem. They have to lie to hide the truth of family, they have to smile to someone in the family who they actually don't like to take with. They must pretend to have a perfect rich, high social class family.

Assignment 2

Assignment1

Three questions

22. As a reader, I don't think their dream will be forever existed in the world beyond the cellar. Olivia hopes that in the real world she can never ever take drugs, and there will be someone who cares her and stay with her in life; Lorenzo's dream is to became one of his friends group, because he doesn't want to be lonely any more and actually do what he wants to do. In the cellar, only Lorenzo and Olivia, who are really similar to each other. Both them are lonely, stuck in life. When these two people meet, they can creat a dream world they like. But the real life is more hard than their dream world; when they go out of the cellar, when they live in the real world, they may find more difficulties. Olivia can't control herself of taking drugs, she may can't find anyone who can understand and stay with her. Lorenzo many still have some problems on beliving and getting on with other people. When they realized the dream can't be accomplished, it will extinguish them. Olivia promised Lorenzo she won't take drug again; Lorenzo promised her they will meet each other again. Although this is a promise with a 14-year-old boy, I believed that this is important to Olivia and it can support Olivia for a long time to change her life--not taking drug and finding friends she loves and understand. Though at the ending, Oliva's hope was extinguished and she was dead because of over does; but during these long ten years, promise with Lorenzo is the only support and power to make her live in this world for longer time.

24. I think the reason of the author chose to sandwich Lorenzo's coming of the age between the bookends of the Cividale del Friuli chapters from ten years later is to attract readers and showed the closed relationship between Olivia and Lorenzo. Because in the very beginning part, author mentioned the name of sister, Olivia and the piece of paper folded in the wallet of Lorenzo which is written by her ten years later. This makes readers to think, who is Olivia and why Lorenzo saved the paper for that ten years. The last chapter changes the tone and the central message of this novel. Because it tells readers the ending, Olivia was dead because of over does. If writer doesn't write this part, readers may think Olivia and Lorenzo kept their words and had a better life. But actually the writer showed the truth, the real world is not same as they think it would be.

26. I would view this novel as a tragic story because of Olivia's death. Before I read the last ending part, I tried to believe that Lorenzo and Olivia will have a dream life in the future, they won't be lonely anymore, Olivia won't take drugs, they will see each other again. But the ending makes me feel that this story is tragic. I think Olivia's death means that at last she was disappointed about the life, she can't find anyone she loved and understand, she can't control herself of taking drugs. The real life is much harder, not as wonderful as her dream world. And the environmental description in he ending such like: pale sun, blowing cold wind gives me a sense that Lorenzo also didn't achieved his dream, maybe he was not as desperated as his sister, but he also can't keep that promise.

Haiku

Dancing is boring,

I don't want to do it again

Let me play tennis,

School day is boring,

I will go home in the break,

I miss my dear friends.

No biology,

Life will be much better then,

I love CS more.

three questions

If your were Lorenzo, what would you do when that man show rude attitude to mother during car accident?

Why does Olivia came to find father's money if she hates him?

If you were Lorenzo, would you help Olivia?

Sister

When Olivia was younger, she was incredibly beautiful, but now she is not in good shape. She is the daughter of father and a dentist. But after they divorced, Olivia hated her father because she thought that father didn't love her at all. She is independent, she doesn't want father's help though sometimes she was in trouble because she hated him. Also she was really smart, when Lorenzo refused her to stay in the cellar, she began to yell that Lorenzo was hiding there. She knew how to use Lorenzo's lie to help herself.

Chapter 5 summary

Lorenzo hide in the cellar and had fun alone. Later he got a call from his step sister Olivia. He lied to Olivia and said that he was in ski week. When Olivia came to the cellar to find something, he was alarmed. He try to hide in the corner, but finally Olivia found him. Olivia asked him to help her find a box. Aftern Olivia left, Lorenzo found a letter from Olivia to father. Olivia came back, she asked Lorenzo to let her stay one night in the cellar, in return Olivia wouldn't tell anyone Lorenzo hiding there.

Chapter4 summary

When Lorenzo stayed in cellar, he recalled the car accident in Corso. When driving, Lorenzo and his mother listened to music, talking about dress and living in the country. Lorenzo felt happy with her. But when his mom tried to drive car in the parking place, she actually drive into a Smart car. The left mirror of that car was destroyed. The owner was angry and rude to his mother. He said a lot bad words and made her lay on the cobble to check the mirror. Lorenzo sat in the car and watched what happened. He felt angry on that man, but he was full of fear. He can't undo the seatbelt, can't move. At last, Lorenzo was almost fainted.

Chapter 4 question

The incident in chapter 4 is that Lorenzo and his mom had a car accident. When mom drove on the crowded street, another smart car drove into her car. The left mirror of that car is destroyed, the man in that got off of the car and was rude to Lorenzo's mother. He reviled her. Lorenzo tried to undo he seat belt and go out to argue with that man. But he lost the rage, he was overcame by the fear. I think the importance to Lorenzo is that he realized he was not that brave to face the annoyance and protect his mother.

Summary

Lorenzo didn't go to the ski week, he stayed in the cellar without telling anyone. He enjoyed his holidays a lot and felt like he was the only survivor in Rome of alien invasion. He slept for a long time and waked up till his mom called him. His mom didn't know the truth and asked about the ski week, Lorenzo lied to his mom and pretended to be in cortina. She cared about her son, and asked to talk with Lorenzo's friend's mother. Lorenzo tried to come up with a proper excuse to avoid that and kept the lie.

Me and you-Lorenzo

I think Lorenzo is a little bit different from other children, because he always stay alone and do not want anyone bother him. But I like him as a character. Especially for his thought of imitation.“I was like a sardine in a school of sardines. I camouflaged myself like a stick insect on dry branches. And I learned to control my anger.” In the school, to take away the bullying and avoid bothering, he camouflaged and controlled himself.  “I wore the same things the others wore.”“I walked like them, with my legs wide apart.”“I mimicked them discreetly” Although this way can't make him become an outstanding student,  Lorenzo looks like a normal student who is same with everyone else in school. I feel there's nothing wrong with his such kind of thought. Because in that environment, though sometimes we didn't want to do it as others, but imitation can protect ourselves. If we can't change it, pretending to be same kind of person is the best way to avoid troubles. 

musical night--spelling bee

"At the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. My parents keep on telling me. Just being here is winning." The lyrics with pretty rhythm always went around in my mind during the whole last weekend. Everyday afternoon we gathered in the black box for the musical rehearsal. When the three-day show was end, I felt tired but excited at that moment. This is the first time I dance in a musical, and Spelling Bee is an interesting musical.

Music and lyrics of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee are written by William Finn. Spelling Bee is a word spelling competition, in the game, spellers will spell some difficult words. In the musical, there are six spellers, they all have different personality, family story and techiniques. But they are eager to win the competition. For example, Olive brings the ductionary to the competition, Barfee uses his "magic foot" to spell words, Leaf is not confident and she can't believe that she can spell. Finally Barfee wins the competition.

Spelling Bee reminds me the first play I watched in black box in last season, Galileo Galilei. There are more scientific and historial plot in that play which is different with Spelling Bee. I was serious when I watch it. But Spelling Bee brings much more fun, and I felt relaxed when watched it. There are many jokes in the musical, and audience can interact with actors. During the show, many reaches as audience were invited to go on the stage to spell words. This can make audience pay more attention and be interested in the show instead of feeling bored.There are also some touched scene in this musical. Such like "I Love You" song. The singer put all her emotion in the song and the background painting of India is a important setting for this song.

5 books

1. Divergent

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

2. Flipped

    A love story between a young girl and boy.

3. The notebook

     In 1940s South Carolina, mill worker Noah Calhoun and rich girl Allie are desperately in love. But her parents don't approve. But when Noah returns to their small town years later, they met again.

4. And then there were none

    A criminal novel, In the novel, ten people are enticed into coming to an island under different pretexts.

5. The kite runner

 It tells the story of Amir, a young boy from the Wazir Akbar Khan district of Kabul, whose closest friend is Hassan, his father's young Hazara servant.

Spelling Bee summary

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a musical, music and lyrics are written by William Finn. Spelling Bee is a word spelling competition, in the game, spellers will spell some difficult words. In the musical, there are six spellers, they all have different personality, family story and techiniques. But they are eager to win the competition. Olive brings the ductionary to the competition, Barfee uses his "magic foot" to spell words, Leaf is not confident and she can't believe that she can spell. Finally Barfee wins the competition. There are 24 songs in the musical, with dancing in some scenes. In this show, audience can interact with actors, audiences are invited to go on the stage to spell words. The show includes some funny plots and touched plots.

Haiku quiz

1. Three lines. Five syllables in the first and the last line, seven syllables in the second line.

2. Japanese culture.

3. Sweet scented gentle,

    Confetti sent from heaven,

    With a floating breeze.

4. Spring turns winter's side,

    Nature comes transforming alive,

    Bees buzz, hope for brides.

5. Daffodil, tulip,

    Flowers blossom in green lands,

    I love spring so much.

    

    Sunshine is so bright,

    I see buds in that large field,

    Spring is confortable.

6. Write something unexpected, a surprise for readers.

Three haiku poems

Dancing is boring,

I don't want to do it again

Let me play tennis,

School day is boring,

I will go home in the break,

I miss my dear friends.

No biology,

Life will be much better then,

I love CS more.

Haiku poem examples

An afternoon breeze

expels cold air, along with

the fallen brown leaves.

Cherry blossoms bloom,

softly falling from the tree,

explode into night.

The warmth on my skin.

Fire falls beneath the trees.

I see the sun set.

Summer here again.

Music plays sweetly, drifting.

And life is renewed.

A winter blanket

covers the Earth in repose

but only a dream

An ocean voyage.

As waves break over the bow,

the sea welcomes me.

An old silent pond...

A frog jumps into the pond,

splash! Silence again.

 

Autumn moonlight—

a worm digs silently

into the chestnut.

 

Lightning flash—

what I thought were faces

are plumes of pampas grass.

Slowly, graceful wings

Lift skyward; as you lift me

Friends always, grateful

Essay: Do you gather your pearls?

                                                         Do you gather your pearls?

    “Women are like oysters. Just as an oyster takes an irritating grain of sand and creates a pearl around it, a woman can take a painful experience and enrich herself by creating something precious from that pain.”(Choi132) Have you ever heard about such motto? This is from the book Gathering of Pearls which is written by Sook Nyul Choi. It's a story about an international student's life in an American college. Sookan is a Korean girl, she went to American college alone for study. This book is like a journal, it includes everything of her college life, it includes happiness and difficulties in Sookan’s life. The cover of this book is impressive. A girl who wears a black dress is sitting on the floor and gathering pearls with background of pink flowers. The pearls in the image represent strength. The process of gathering pearls is like overcoming difficulties and becoming stronger when she is growing up. The flower represents Sookan herself. After a long and cold winter, flowers will blossom in the spring; same as Sookan, when she experiences a long and hard life, she will be enriched with enormous wisdom.

    Sookan had a hard life in the college. She took many difficult courses in first year, "I signed up for world literature, world religions, Greek and Roman culture, and early European history."(Choi18) She studied early in the bathroom on everyday early morning and spend most of her night in the library."It was five minutes to four o'clock and I had to get up to study."(Choi 73) She studied hard to catch up others in the class. As an international student, I can understand why Sookan did this. Paper, essay, test, projects, those are what I work hard on every night. I need to spend much more time on the reader than my classmates do because of the language. Same as Sookan, we chose difficult class and try best to do everything as good as other students because we don't want to disappoint families and we want to show everyone that we can do it. Too much work brought her health disease. “Suddenly, my head starting spinning, and I felt a sharp pain in my stomach.”(Choi74) She was also under a huge pressure that is from her sister, Theresa. Because Theresa always can't understand her and wanted to control her life which is making her become a nun and work with her together. Sookan is struggling with the traditional Korean culture and desire of being independent. The most bitterness is her mom's death, she lost the most important person and even couldn’t stay with her at the last moment. These difficulties are challenging Sookan all the time in her life.

    Although life is full with pain and bitterness, Sookan overcame difficulties and became stronger. Courses are never easy to Sookan, but she always keeps working hard instead of give up for its difficulties. To keep working is a long and hard process. Families are not always around her, she has to bear the huge load of study. Load can push a person to be better. For me, I have same experience. Under the load, I can find all of my potential, be used to difficulties; and then I won’t be afraid of them or give up anymore. I think pressure from family can destroy someone, but Sookan has begun thinking about her own future, "But now,I was slowly beginning to feel that I didn't always have to obey my sister. Just because she was older didn't guarantee that she had the right answer for me."(Choi130) She knew what she want. Sookan felt pain about being disobeyed to her sister, she couldn't agree with her sister in many ways; but with mother's support, she became acceptable to her sister. “It was my responsibility to try to understand her as a human being. I was older now. I had to realize that no one was infallible. I could respect Theresa without obeying her blindly.” This is a necessary process for someone to grow up; everyone has shortcomings, being acceptable to others is important in the society. And this will make Sookan become a mature woman who is full filled with wisdom and tolerance. Mother is the most important person to Sookan. Mother’s death hit Sookan a lot but this fact also forced her to be strong at that moment. “I would do as she wished for me. I would gather my pearls and forge ahead.”(Choi163) These are all tough times for Sookan, but she remember what her mother told her and follow it; she forges ahead instead of being depressed. The process of gathering pearls is like growing up, Sookan collect strength as pearls to overcome the tough time.

   The cover of Pink blossomed flowers is not only a cover, flowers also represents Sookan. Flowers will blossom in the beautiful spring season after bear a whole cold and harsh winter. In that cold winter, some flowers will be died, but some flowers can fight with the chilly winter and finally show their beauty to the world. “Tough times are the times when one gathers one’s pearls.”(Choi163) Tough time is like that chilly winter. Some people will be stuck by the difficulties in their way and give up, but some woman can take in the misery and bitterness and then turn them into precious pearls instead of letting them hurt us. Sookan's mother always hope Sookan can become this kind of women. Difficult times will finally make the Sookan enrich with love, understanding and wisdom. That will be the time for beautiful blossoming.

   Sookan has changed a lot and grow up during the one year in American college. Before, she had hard time on the study, obeyed her sister blindly, met a lot of difficulties in life and felt painful. Now, everything goes better; she do nice work on the study, has own goal, became independent and acceptable to her sister’s shortcomings and still forge ahead after bear the mother’s death. Sorrow and bitterness make Sookan get precious experience from life. These help Sookan to become a independent, kind, confident woman. There are a lot of people still fighting with the difficulties in life, gather your pearls, wait patiently for the blossoming, everyone can be strong and accomplish dream.

Citation:

Sook Nyul Choi, Gathering of Pearls, Houghton Mifflin Company Boston, 1994, Print.

Epilogue

The class bell is ringing, I grab the book and rush into the classroom. Children are sitting in the group, as they see me, they smile at me. To see these children's pure smiling is the happiest thing for me everyday. This is the fifth year from I graduated from college, I don't obey my sister, I became an elementary school teacher and work at Mr. Bennett's children's school. Whenever I remember this, still feel guilty to my sister, I know I should choose to be a what kind of person by myself and now I don't think I'm doing wrong things. But Korean culture influenced me too much, I can't completely forget it. 

As soon as I graduated, I went back to Korea for one time, my little brother has grown up, my older brothers are busy working, my sister is working as a nun. We hugged together, I sobed even can't say anything. I know what to say, I have missed them so much after all I couldn't  see any of them in the whole four college years. My sister is so relieved that I came back, she told a lot about the nun work. I breathed deeply and said:"Theresa, I know to be a nun is the best thing for you. But I just think it's not for me. In these four years, I have thought a lot about the future. It changed my mind. I'm sorry I don't obey you, but I think being a teacher is better for me." My sister starred at me and was silent for a long time. She sighed:"I know something changed you a lot in America. If you had decision, just do it. I can't control you now, but I hope you are not swepped by the American culture." I know my sister was angry with me, "No, I'm not. I won't forget anything about Korea." She didnt respond and leaf tthe room.

After I came back from Korea, I went to Greece with Marci. Greece is such a beautiful and mysterious country. Marci took many pictures. In these five years, Marci tried to accept her parents. I sometimes went to Ellen's home, she has got married with Kyle. Ellen always tell me to find a nice boyfriend. This reminded me Tom. In the whole four years, he has ever invited me for many times to go out, but I have too much work to do. Sometimes I, Ellen, Kyle and Tom go out side together, I would more like to regard Tom as a nice friend. Ellen always complained this, she think we should be a nice couple.

Study guide 13-18

Chapter 13

1. Marci has a bade relationship with her parents. Because Marci have own interest, she likes classics; but her parents always want to control her entire life, ask her to learn photography, chemistry and work with Father in the company.

2. Marci gives Sookan advice that Sookan should tell her sister the truth about hard life in college and want to make own decision for the future life. And also suggests that Sookan needs to live her own life, not just imitate her sister's and be the kind of person her sister wants her to be.

3. No. Because I think Sookan is still a Korean girl; although she has realized that she can be more open and expressive since she got America, she has Korean opinion. In her mind, it's the obligation and duty to obey elders. National culture is usually not that easy to forget. So though Sookan has conflict with her sister, but Sookan won't do as what Marci suggests, she won't against her sister in that way as Marci against her parents.

Chapter 14

1. Sister Reed gave Sookan a string of cream-colored pearls with a platinum-and-diamond clasp. Because sister Reed's aunt asked Reed to make a special present of pearls on her behalf when Sister Reed came upon a truly extraordinary young woman. Sister Reed thinks that Sookan accomplish every school work and study well and Sookan is a extraordinary young woman, so she gave this present to her.

2. Ellen was engaged with Kyle and announce it in the college, but her parents were so upset and disagreed with that engagement, then Ellen has conflict with her parents.

3. Ellen's parents are upset and furious aboytvthat Ellen announced the engagement in school, they told Ellen to call it off and go back home.

4. I agree with Sookan. Because eloping is a kind of way to avoid the conflict. But engagement is an important event. If Ellen eloped with Kyle, she will have more conflict with her parents which causes worst result. Ellen should talked with her parents and try to solve the problem. And Ellen' parent loves Ellen a lot, it will hurt them if Ellen eloped.

Chapter 15

1. Sookan had positive emotion because she had a wonderful night, she enjoyed the college life, enjoyed herself and makes Ellen happy with that. She also had negative emotion because she felt guilty that she spent all of the money on the outfit even can't buy presents for families, and she thought if her sister knew this, she would say that Sookan has lost her values.

2. I would go to the dance party. Because this is the only one time in whole freshman year to have a break. And such kind of social activity is part of college life, it is important to a college student. And I don't want to be said as a bookwarm.

Chapter 16

1. Sookan has done well in study and school job, she got passing grades. She made friends with Ellen and Marci. She had her favorite art class, draw painting and gave to Marci and Ellen as presents. She bought present for her families.

2. At the beginning of the year, she felt nervous when she talked with others and have to study extremely hard. And she can't balance the time on job and study. But later, she did better. She can speak more in American ways 

Chapter 17

1. Father Lee told Sookan that her mother died in the first of May.

2. Sookan shouted, sobbed and can't believe it's true.

Chapter 18

1. She realized that growing up is like the process of gathering pearls. As her mom said, she should take that suffering, and create a pearl around the pain, not let the hurt poison herself. Come through those difficulties and sadness, turn them into pearls of wisdom, make herself stronger.

2. I would say to Sookan that: you are a strong girl, although mother's death gives you hurt, you must be stronger. You have done well in the first year, maybe next year you can choose some more difficult classes or classes you like. And enjoy your college life, study and job is not everything I college after all. And try to be accepting to your sister, everyone has disadvantage, but she is your sister, that relationship is precious in the family.

A story of International student adjusting to life at US college

Gathering of Pearls is the book I'm recently reading. It is written by Korean-American writer Sook Nyul Choi. It's a story about international student's life in American college. Sookan is a Korean girl, she went to American college alone for study. And in the school, she was popular and get friends with Ella and Marci. This book is like a journal, it includes everything of her college life. This is a special and interesting for me. Because firstly in some ways, we have common experience and also it's a book easy for me to read.

Compare my life with Sookan, there are similarity and difference. When Sookan first came to America, she has language problems, this is also happened on me, on every international student. When she said answered Ella:"Yes, I don't like it." This sounds weirded for American girl Ella because in American way, it should be "No, I don't like it; or Yes, I like it." Just as Sookan said: "I was still thinking in Korean way. Everything seemed so different here-not only the language, but the way of thinking, too.” I can understand why Sookan said this. I also have this kind of experience. As a Chinese student, we have similar way of thinking, we have common point in Asian language. When I'm talking foreign student in English, I feel embarrassed and sorry when I made grammar mistake and confused them. And there's also culture difference. Sookan was taken aback by Marci's candidness because she showed that she didn't have a good relationship with her sister. Sookan thought she should obey her sister, although she didn't want to write letter. This is Korean culture, she can't refuse. If I'm Marci, I won't say how I had a bad relationship to friend who I first time meet with. Sookan chose many challenging course for her self because she didn't want to disappoint her families. This is real opinion. I decide by my self to study abroad, learn more things and improve myself. So I want to show that I can do this, I hope my families can be proud of me.

But in some ways, Sookan's experience is a bit different with mine. The background of Sookan's story is in 1950s. At that time, There were not as many international student as nowadays. Sookan was the only Korean student in school. She felt homesick and worried. And when she first got in the airport and found there was no body pick her up, she was anxious and full with fears. Her elder sister always talks with her like a parent and this makes Sookan have conflict with her sister and herself. But as time goes by, many things have changed. Because of better family and society conditions, nowadays many teenagers can solve problems in a calm way. They won't feel such desperate when they are in trouble. And in school, students can find more friends who are from same country so they won't feel such lonely. And in the family, elder sister or brother won't forced us to do something. Everyone is independent and has own opinion about the future.

Two thinking questions

How did Sookan feel when she lived in Ellen's home?

Why does Sookan's sister want Sookan to be then nun?

Gathering of pearls study guide 6-12

Chapter 6

1. Sookan's sister had made plan for Sookan, she think Sookan should work with her as a nun together, should write her letter and Sookan shouldn't be swept away by the America culture. But as Sookan arrived in America, she has know so many difference between Korean society and American society, friendship with Ellen and Marci also makes her realized she can express herself, became more open, should in charge of her own life. This is the conflict between Sookan's sister and her. Also, Sookan has internal conflict, she is struggling. She doesn't know if she should disobeyed her sister. Because in Korean culture, it's not right to let elder down. She felt guilty about this but still want to be a independent person. This is important to the novel, because conflict between her sister and her, internal sister are one of main parts of this book. It leads Sookan consider that what kind of person she will be.

Chapter 7 

1. Ellen thought the important thing to do is to check out the social scene.

2. On one hand, Ellen is a outgoing girl, she thinks Sookan should enjoy more social activities in college instead of doing too many extra works, to be like a diplomat. On the other hand, Ellen speaks openly and frankly, she has own opinion about the marriage, she know what kind of person she will be; this makes Sookan reconsider if she should be more open, independent and enjoy her college life, not follow her sister.

3. I think Sookan is right to listen to Ellen. Sookan is not a girl always obey the elder, for example: she insisted to study in America although her families didn't agree with. This means Sookan has own thought, she wants to be a independent girl. Then Sookan sister believes that being a nun is good, but this doesn't mean same thing to Sookan. Sookan will be a mature woman in the future, she should have right to decide what kind of person she will be.

Chapter 8

1. Sookan went to the little lounge next to the assembly hall to write the letter to her sister during the election, so she missed the afternoon attendances and got five demerits.

2. Yes, I think she made right decision. Because Sookan has too much study and works to do. If she didnt sneak out to write her sister letter. She won't have that much time any more. This will cause more conflict between her sister and her. Also her sister has wrote Sookan letter and said she hope to got letter from Sookan as soon as possible. To not make her sister so disappointed, Sookan has to sneak out and write a letter.

3. Sookan wrote about her babysitting job in professor's home and how she went on well with friends. And mainly said the difference between America culture and Korean culture she found. Such like: see men in the kitchen for cooking, the communication between different age groups is open, women are sociable and can express themselves. She felt American society is open, equal and individualistic than Korean.

4. I think her sister will be angry and disappointed when read the letter. Because she always hope Sookan can be a nun and do the work together. She thinks that's right thing to do. And she didnt want Sookan be swept away by the American culture. She believed that Sookan should maintain Korean culture, obey elders and do right things.

Chapter 9

1. Thanksgiving with Ellen's family is good for Sookan. Because Sookan found Americans show love to their parents in a more loving and lighthearted way. She got the gift of clipping and generous accomplishment from Ellen's mother. Also she had a good rest in Ellen's home.

Bad thing is that when Sookan saw Ellen's family, she became more homesick and miss her families a lot.

Chapter 10

1. Sookan's secret study spot is the bathtub in the shower room.

2. She felt stomachache and dizzy, at last fainted in the bath room.

3. Sister Reed told Sookan that she can go to Marci's house or be together with Marci and Ellen, but she can't take any books to Marci's.

Chapter 11

1. In Sookan's sister's letter, she showed the anger and disappoint to Sookan because she accept American culture with too much enthusiasm and she shouldn't lose Korean culture. In mother's letter, she felt proud with Sookan and let Sookan not be too stressed out. I think Sookan's sister always want  Sookan obey her plan and believes that being a nun is right thing to do in life. Sookan's mother has different view point, she can understand how Sookan struggling in new life. And let her enjoy more life, don't worry too much about home.

Chapter 12

1. Sookan cooked salad, sticky white rice and bulgogi-kind of marinated and grilled beef.

2. Marci baked brownies. Ellen brought a poinsettia, some cut flowers, red table cloth, napkins Christmas butter cookies, serving plates and phonograph.

3. Ellen, Kyle, Marci, the Bennetts, sister Reed and sister Casey.

4. The gathering is important for Sookan. Because this is the Christmas gift she made for everyone who takes care of her, encourages her, and helps her, include: Ellen, Kyle, Marci, the Bennett's. Sister reed and sister Casey. They make Sookan feel proud and happy in college. This Korean dinner represents Sookan's appreciation to those people.

gathering of pearls

Gathering of pearls

Chapter 1

1. Women in 50's always get married right out of high school or in college. Even many women went to the college just for finding a MRS degree--husband. Some women choose to learn more in college, but they were not taught mathematics and science. Women have to be a perfect mother and wife, this was the society standard at that time.

Chapter 2

1. pocket money: a small amount of money given to children by parent.

    Honorific: a form of words to show respect.

2. When Sookan went to buy something for the room with Ella, she knew color coordination is important for Ella. Because she always choose something matching; when she bought curtain, she found a set of bright pink curtains and maching accessories and also her outfits matched right down to her nail polish and earrings.

3. Pay for tuition, room and board.

4. Sookan had to work fifteen hours a week in the college dining hall, earn good grades in all her courses and meet the social, moral, and religious standards of the school to maintain the scholarship.

5. Pay separately.

6. Sookan is from poor family and she knew how hard her mom work to give her small amount of pocket money so she never buy anything expensive and see the price tag before buy. Ella is from wealthy family, so she choose her favorite maching color stuff without worrying a lot about the price. Sookan lives in Korea, as tradition, she always respect to elder people especially when talking, she uses honorific term; and paid for friends when they are drinking soda. Ella is an American girl, she is comfortable to talk with elder students without worrying about the age difference, and paid separately when the bill comes.

Chapter 3

1. She took world literature, world religions, Greek and Roman culture, and early European history in the first semester. The most difficult one is early European history.

2. Marci is a girl who lived in the single room across the hall from Sookan and Ella. She is tall and thin, and very pale with straight brown hair. She wore no makeup and her clothes hung loosely. Sookan thought she is pretty in boyish way. Marci is really shy and likes reading, she lives in a single room and seldom talk with others. She is not as outgoing as Ella, but she also wants to make friends. So she tried to talk with Sookan. And she is very nice, she knew Sookan may miss the lunch, so she buys the sandwich and waits for Sookan. Marci is candid, she directly tells Sookan she has bad relation with her sister. And she tries to protect her friends when she knew Sookan didn't have time writing letter to sister but had to do so.

3. Babysitting for professor Bennett's children.

4. Sookan respects and is proud of her sister. On one hand, she wants to obey her sister because the older sisters asked to do and in the Korean culture, what elder people in family said is as important as parents; on the other hand, she really doesn't have time to write and feel sorry about that.

Chapter 4

1.melancholy: depressed

2. Because from the letter Sookan can feel that after she left hom, her mother worried a lot about her and her mom think herself is a helpless mother and feel guilty because she sent Sookan so far and she was so poor that can't mail a little pocket to money to her daughter.

3. Sookan's mother is a warm, kind, independent and she never complained the hardship, loves her children. She doesn't impose children or talk of filial duty; although life is hard, she never complain and always help people who are less fortunate. She is kind woman, she can be nice to mailman.

Chapter 5

1. Yes, Sookan enjoys babysitting. Because she got on well with two children. She read the book for Sarah; Jimmy corrected her pronunciation honestly and enthusiastically, Sarah fixed her hair which made Sookan look like a cartoon character. They had a lot of fun together.

2. In America, man also cook or help serving meal at home. But in Korea, every works in the kitchen such like cooking, surving are wife's job, sometimes daughter will help, but neither the husband nor brother will do those works.

3. Yes, I will do extra things. Because I want to give the professor a nice impression for the first time working. I think why Sookan do those works is that she appreciate professor Bennett. In Korea, babysitting neighbor's children doesn't need to be paid; but in America, Sookan can get some money to afford the book by doing babysitting, especially this is not a hard work, she had fun with those children. So she felt thankful to professor Bennett and wanted to do more things for them.

letter to sister

Dear sister,

I'm Sookan, I've been arrived in the college last week. I'm sorry that I don't write you a letter in time because I have course load. I'm really busy on studying and doing the job everyday. Everything goes well there. Sister Casey is a nice professor, she helped me a lot on the first day. I was worried at the beginning, I was afraid of being different with other students, but now I found they like me, they like talking with me and I get on well with my rommate Ella and Marci. Don't worry about me. Always love you and mom.

Facts about Sook Nyul Choi

She is a Korean-American children's story book author.

She was born in North Korea, during the Korean War, she fled to South Korea.

She went to United States for higher education, and graduated from manhattanville college.

She lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

She has two daughters.

She taught in the New York City public school.

Fairy tale of elegent princess

In the break I watched a film called Grace of Monaco. This is a French-American biography film about Grace Kelly. Nicole Kidman played the role of Grace in the film. In 1956, Hollywood star Grace Kelly got oscars and then married with Monaco's Prince Rainier III. During the six years life in Monaco, Grace still can't adapt the new royal life well. She felt upset to her new role-princess. In 1962, a six-months dispute between Prince Rainier and French president Charles de Gaulle occurred as well as Grace considered if she should return to Hollywood or to be a real princess to balance the relationship between Monaco and French. This movie is about conflict and how Grace choose.

Grace is a independent woman and has thought. She directly show her opinion about the politic crisis In front of the French president, this causes a even worse result. She remembered Ranier love her, because she speaks out what she thinks, that's may help her to be a outstanding actress, but not for princess. When she tried to rise money and support the Red Cross society, nobody stand on her side. The royalty life is not like what Grace imagined. She couldn't  do anything in Monaco and felt pain and lonely about this life. It uses many emotion expression in the film. Nicole Kidman did it well. A impression scene for me is that when Grace called her mom, the most closed person, her mom, even can't understand her. Grace felt desperate about her life and marriage. On one hand she tried to take responsibility for the royalty but on the other hand, she wanted to be back to Hollywood. Finally, when Grace decided to take responsibility for Monaco, but this movies became more like a fairy tale. 

Grace learned French, walked on the street and talked with people; joined in the social meeting; help Ranier to find the traitor in royal family. Everything suddenly goes well just like what happend in the fairy tale. After all in the fairy tale, politics can be such easy. In fact, about this this movie both of French government and Monaco royal family has declare the story In movie is not the truth. According to the historical facts in that period of time, "First Lady diplomacy" is obviously a faked story. 

Grace said her life is a fairy tale. It exactly is. She got success like what in the fairy tale, she has marriage with European prince, she also has the ending like a legend. I think it's not such important if she is a outstanding diplomat in the reality like she was described in the movie; for the people who doesn't know much about European history, this movie has been enough perfect.