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Scar on My Index Finger
“Hey! Beautiful girl!”
“Whose daughter is that?”
“The boss’s daughter,” someone answered as loudly as possible. That way, the others were warned in time when they spotted me coming.
In 1960’s, sugarcane harvest was like an annual festival in the south of Taiwan. This activity benefited whoever was involved. The government sent many workers to reap for manufacturing sugar. The villagers nearby cut the leaves off the top of sugarcanes to feed their cattle. My family had income from some portions of sugar. So the whole field was filled with people from many villages.
Farmers could grow white sugarcanes but could not keep them. The secret government inspectors sometimes patrolled to enforce the law. My appearance was also a kind of spying, for people might conceal some sugarcanes inside their sheaves. Therefore, at 15-years of age I was big enough to be my father’s assistant.
To avoid them, I decided to hide in the bush. In order to clear a space, I tried to remove the long grasses with a sharp sickle.
“Whoa!------my goodness,” I cried out with an agonizing pain. The blood gushed from my index finger, sweat dripped off my forehead, teeth gnashed hard in my mouth. Although I pressed the wound, the blood oozed like a leaking pipe. I could see my muscle protruding which was frightful.
They loaded the sugarcanes on the flatcars waiting for the locomotive to transport them to the factory.
The family had to take turns watching; my shift was the early evening. Eager to see my father, I felt the time went too slowly, especially when my wound thumped.
The scar has always reminded me of that painful experience. Since then, I have been very careful whenever I cut something.
296 words
Deer Lake Park
When I need to be outdoors and choose a place to go, I often vote for my dear Deer Lake Park.
Deer Lake Park in Burnaby, is a place of natural beauty, with a vivid wild life. It is also a heritage place and a home to a popular art center.
Deer Lake Park is indeed a pearl among many parks of greater Vancouver because of its unique features and arrangement. It is not too big, but at the same time, very spacious and includes a pretty lake surrounded by the old trees and natural amphitheater landscape.
Although being only minutes away from noisy streets, visitors can enjoy the intimate atmosphere and watch the wild life around the lake. Every time I visit this park, I find old and new inhabitants: fish, birds and animals. Some of the sights are seasonable, such as the sign of spring and warm weather is a gathering of turtles on the old half-sunk tree. The sign of summer and fine weather is “fish that is jumping” and making its way between the water lilies in full blossom. During each season, you can often meet George, the blue heron, who is the signature of Deer Lake Park, since you can recognize its image on the Deer Lake Park’s fliers. The lake with the park is a home for many birds, such as seagulls, ducks, geese, pigeons and crows. Living together, they give people a good example of a peaceful coexistence. It is a real joy to watch them and feel that they are not afraid of you. During these moments, you truly want top feel yourself a part of Nature.
Deer Lake Park is not only a pleasant place to visit, but it is also a historical center. This area contains one of the Burnaby’s best-preserved heritage Edwardian homes and landscapes. Two of such establishments are Burnaby Village Museum and the Art Gallery. You can make a special tour on these heritage buildings and enrich your knowledge about our historical past.
Deer Lake Park is greatly valued as a well-known cultural center. First of all, in the heart of Deer Lake Park there is a Shadbolt Center for the Art. It is a modern and spacious building, which accommodates theater and art studious along with dance, music, and art classes. In addition to indoor cultural events, (performances, concerts, and exhibitions) there are many outdoor activities. The natural amphitheater landscape is a natural concert hall that is a home for the annual Vancouver Symphony Orchestra concerts and Blues-and -Jazz festivals.
Deer Lake Park is a very dear place for me because of its intimate natural beauty, the possibility to be tete-a tete with nature and its historical and cultural importance. When I need to be outdoors and choose a place to go, I often vote for my dear Deer Lake Park.
460 words
My Home Town
My home town ,Peking, is a famous cultural city in China. Our community is one of the cultural area in Peking.
In the east, the boulevard stretches along the central axis of Peking is famous for their commercial. There are many theaters and cinemas there. The unique "cultural avenue" is only a block away in the north from our community. The troupe of Peking Opera and The national corps de ballet are in the south.
All of the shops at the Cultural Avenue sell antiques, books, Chinese stationery and music instruments. Every item is connected to traditional cultural, so it was named after "cultural". Most of the shops deal with curios. They are quaint, bright and clean. Each exhibits the antiques as a galleries: the master's ancient paintings and calligraph hanging on the walls, porcelains and the curios showing in their red-sandalwood cabinets. The Scholars and the rich are their main customers.
After my lessons, my classmates and I often went window shopping. The clerks welcomed those "young customers" too, for the clerks were very relaxed. One transaction a day, or a week, even a month was enough for those shops. The shop assistants liked to talk with us and told us how to appreciate the master's works. The "window shopping" was the most enjoyable thing after junior high school. I was edified by these people and I have benefited a great deal from them; some were the connoisseur in their fields.
I grew up in the traditional quadrangle compound of Peking. When
you left home, there was no need to lock the door. The neighbours would watch out for you, even look after your baby as a sitter. On the holiday, you could taste two or three kind of dumplings that your neighbours made and wanted you to share.
In the hot summer days, after dinner, people enjoyed the cool outside. The adults gathered for chatting, playing the chess, or lay in the bamboo chair sipping their tea. At this time, I usually played hide and seek in the dark places with my friends. Or, we sit in a circle around a senior listening story.
On weekend nights, when the Chinese fiddles and the flute were playing from a temple nearby. The main aria of the Peking Opera began. I always arrived first and took a best place. Soon after, people gathered one by one, and the whole drama were on. I listened and watched interestedly and usually followed the melody in my heart. It is surprising that all the music instruments came from their shops and the actor's delineated faces were familiar, all of them were my neighbours.
This is my home town in the past. As the time goes by, things change a lot, but the remembers are still clear in my mind.
City of Doll
After the Second World War, my family moved to Fukuoka city, on Kyushu Island of Japan where I spent the happiest time of my childhood. This city is one of seven biggest cities and has a good fishing port. The city faces China and has a history of inversion. Even today, one can find one can find some evidence of fighting, such as stone banks on beaches. Based on its historical background and warm climate, people are rowdy or happy go lucky but inside they are so nice that one can never forget their kindness.
People in Fukuoka are very fond of festivals. “ Yamakasa” is one of three festivals in Japan and in July attracts more than 100,000 visitors. During that time, fifteen shopping malls make their own doll towers, 20 feet wide 50 feet high. On the last day of festival, eight neighbourhood groups race around the designated route while carrying a portable shrine. Twenty naked men (only shot underwear) rush to the goal and spectators throw cold water on tem, then worship with clapping hands. What an epic scene it is! It starts at 6 o’clock in the morning and ends at 7 o’clock, and is televised throughout Japan every year.
“Hakata doll”, with its 500 years history, is another famous souvenir. Made out of clay, they are formed into various kinds of human figures. Those are from two inches to two feet tall and sell five to five thousand dollars. On my way home from school, I would pass the street crowded with Hakata doll distributors and sometimes I could watch the doll makers painting dolls. Sitting beside window, I spend hours watching them do their job.
I lived in Fukuoka city for twelve years. My house was located near the seaside and I have good memories of playing with nature such as catching fish, digging clams, or picking sea weeds for food. After graduating high school, I went to Tokyo to find a job. Many years later, I returned to my home town to find cultural enlightenment had affected it. Instead of seaside, there are high rise apartments on reclaimed ground. Instead of streetcars, underground subways run across the city. To my comfort, Hakata doll welcomed me with a smile. After all, Hakata is my only home town forever.
Second draft 389 words
revision Cultural Differences for pbuzz:
Cultural Differences
Whenever I have a chance to meet some friends, relatives, or even strangers, I often find cultural differences between east and west. In general, most Asians focus on social status more than westerners. I prefer the western style.
Higher education and wealth are indicators of a better status in Chinese society. “Learning is the noblest of human pursuits,” is an ancient proverb. Therefore, many Chinese parents encourage their children to put all their efforts into study. They add, “You can find beauty and treasure in books.” People believe that diplomas and riches would help them to earn respect in society.
However, some people have over-reacted. Chasing a better social position has become the only purpose of their life. So, parents force their children to take several extra classes after school even at night time and the holidays. Then parents are also happier because children don’t have time to hang out.
In Chinese tradition, students appreciate their teachers by treating them to dinner in a restaurant on Teacher’s Day. During this event, parents often find themselves in a contest to establish their pecking order in educating their offspring.
Here are common conversations in many social meetings.
“Ha! Ha ha ha! do you know my son is in an advanced class?” Mrs. Chen boasted, and continued, “Our teacher’s son was in the same class.”
My daughter spends over one million Taiwan dollars (approximately CAD 50,000) each year on studying in Australia,” Mrs. Wong joined the bragging.
“I will let my daughter major in piano, and study abroad in the future.” Mrs. Tu tried to catch up with the Jones’s.
“Oh! Sorry, I have to pick her up from a piano lesson then drive her to English class.”
“My son won an award from the mayor when he graduated.” Mrs. Jeng said, but she complained that the teacher told her, “Actually, your son is not qualified to have that plaque. The honor is a kind of respect for your husband’s donation.”
The teacher felt the party was a show-off gathering instead of Teacher’s Day. The only thing to do was to remain calm, for the competitive spirit has been customary.
On the other hand, westerners like to talk about various issues, such as pets, hobbies, or sports. They sometimes talk about their work, no matter what kind of jobs they do, either in the field of technology or labor, People share their experiences in social activities.
Western parents seldom push their children to study as hared as Chinese parents do, so kids have time for other activities after school. If their children are excellent in school, they might mention it because the subject occurs in the conversation. Moreover, students contribute a certain amount of time to voluntary opportunities before applying to a university. Thus, family members have more time to spend together.
I prefer the western way of doing things.
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