Thursday, May 15, 2008
That's Interesting!
Write a short piece for the category "That's Interesting." Choose an interesting person or event in your life to write about. Please do not write about the place you visited and wrote about in last week's travel journal! Also, avoid writing about any cultural event that you wrote about in a previous assignment for this course.
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Learn Something Interesting
What Interests You?
Do you know what will make you happy? Learning something that interests you would. If you persist in whatever activity you like, you will achieve something in that field. In other word, the more you practice, the more satisfied you will be with your hobby. Then you may be surprised by an unexpected reward.
Have You Tried Ice Skating?
In the year 2000, I attended the ice skating group in the Dogwood Pavilion Senior Centre. At first, I couldn’t convince myself to move a step because I was afraid that the thin blade might cause me a serious injury. However, I saw some seniors who were older than I by more than twenty years. It prompted me to take them as an example, especially as I had tried roller skating as a teenager, so I decided to test my ability.
Scared by the Slippery Ice?
When I stood up with the ice skating boots on my feet, I realized it was not as difficult as I imagined. Then I stepped in the rink fearlessly.
“Wow!” My legs slipped up as my body clung to the rail. I was scared although my hands held onto the rail tightly. My legs still couldn’t stand steadily until someone grabbed me. Then the chairman of the group came to help me walking along the edge of the rink. Many of the members suggested that I should take a course. Then I realized that times had changed since my youth.
Ice Skating, Anyone?
I joined a class which had already finished two out of eight lessons. Fortunately, I could skate a little bit after falling a couple of times. On the other hand, a lady in the class who was younger than I by at least twenty years walked timidly instead of skating. Her style encouraged me, although I do not take pleasure from other’s misfortune. In fact, the course and her problems helped me to build up my confidence. Therefore, I improved my skill very soon.
Persistence Pays!
Later, I came back to the skating group and skated smoothly. All members were not only surprised, but they also complimented me often, especially the chairman who used me as an example to encourage others. Once I skipped the skating because I had to finish a school assignment. He questioned me if somebody made me unhappy. I appreciated his consideration and tried to attend every session thereafter.
Unexpected Award:
A few days before Christmas, I visited the group on the last day of the skating session after I came back from Taiwan.
“Are you coming for the party?” the chairman asked.
“Yes, that’s why I am here,” I answered.
During the party, while I was talking with others, I heard the chairman describing someone’s skating story to the party that was like mine. I tried to pay attention at that moment.
“Suzanne, would you please come here.” He gestured.
“Your improvement is amazing.” He handed me a certificate of merit.
I was astonished by this incident.
Learning something that interests you will make you happy. You will be satisfied with your achievement and may be surprised by an unexpected award.
The Bonfire for Ancestors
From August 13th till August 16th are called “Obon” period in Japan and very important four days for everybody. In old time, those people who worked year round without days off could take holidays on New Year and “Obon” only. Nowadays, whoever away from home takes this occasion to see relatives in home town and causes traffic jams all over the place known as “migration of people” before the period.
Based on Buddhism, this period is the time to respect for ancestors. At dusk on August 13th, peoples make bonfire in front of their houses to “well come home” for dead sprits and they stay with family for three nights. On August 16th, sprits are sent away by “Okuribi” which mean “bonfire for farewell” before midnight.
The most well known event of “Okuribi” is “Gozan Okuribi” which held in Kyoto. “Gozan “means five mountains and people make “Okuribi” on the slope of mountains, creating large ideograph with pine touches. It is awesome moment to see those fire letters in the dark night on the sky. Each year, more than 100,000 tourists visit to see this event.
Kyoto is, as you know, the ancient city of Japan and national treasure house along with many famous festivals. “Gozan Okuribi” is one of them but for Kyoto citizen it is not a festival but the wholly event of a tribute to the memory of their ancestors. They buy touches, write their ancestors’ names on, and hand them to preservation society. The society look after the event and right after the day of “Okuribi”, they start to prepare for next year with many volunteers.
The first lighted up mountain letter is “dai” which means “great” or “big “and set fire to touches at 8p.m. , then 10 minutes apart ,rest of four mountains are illuminated by fire, carrying each different letter on their slopes. The event has a long history but the origin and meaning of letters are still mystery. Nevertheless, the Kyoto people feel the essence of Buddhism by seeing dying fire, and then join their palms together thinking the virtue of ancestors. By watching the last fire is vanishing into the dark sky, people will surely imagine that all sprits are going back where they belong to far, far away from this real world.
First draft 389 words
Victoria Day Adventure
Sometimes, one can discover new and amazing things at a very familiar and well - explored place.
I often go for recreation to my dear Deer Lake Park in Burnaby. Enjoying the nature, I kept in mind to visit someday Burnaby Village Museum –a Victorian heritage settlement which occupies substantial part of the park. I was planning to do it during some special event, such as Christmas celebration, because of more heritage traditions to watch and to enjoy. On Queen Victoria Day I was lucky to explore Burnaby Village Museum in unusual way.
Victoria Day Astonishment
After unexpectedly hot weather, on Monday, May 19, nature had a relief from the invaders by arranging rain in Vancouver. Nevertheless, my husband and I decided to spend some time in Deer Lake Park and enjoy our beloved place at rest. Strangely, parking lot was full; it looked like something interesting was expected in the museum. We noticed a group of musicians that were entering the backside gate, and asked them what was going on and how to enter museum territory. They answered that it would be Queen Victoria’s birthday celebration and we might enter with them, because the admission was free. Later, we found out that it was a mistake.
Her Majesty, Queen Victoria
So, instead of enjoying solitary landscape, we found ourselves in the middle of the heritage village, right in front of bandstand. There, in a beautiful gown, alive Queen Victoria was standing. A crowd of people, mostly in costumes of Queen Victoria epoch, surrounded bandstand looking from time to time at the tables with huge cakes decorated with blueberries and raspberries. Meanwhile, musicians started to play Victorian tunes to cheer the crowd up. Then, the master of the ceremonies announced the Queen’s speech and explained to the guests how to behave during the Queen’s procession: ladies should perform reverences; gentlemen should bow. Her Majesty, in a brilliant, witty speech, congratulated herself and “her subjects” on the occasion of her 109 birthday as well as her grand –grand- daughter’s, Queen Elizabeth’ II, 82 birthday. The solemn ceremony ended with our singing “God save the Queen” and the fire from the ancient, but in a very good condition, battery.
Wondering Around the Village
After official part, we went around the village, exploring every building. The village is organized as an example of typical for Burnaby of Victorian time settlement that includes houses, church, stores, bank, post office, school, cinema theater, carousel, and a tram station with the recently renovated tram. Things in the exposition are genuine from that epoch; they are skillfully restored by many devoted volunteers. We were lucky to spend four hours in the village which appeared to be a hidden treasure in our well-known park. We enjoyed watching children on the carousel, laughed at Charlie Chaplin’s “Gold Rush”, printed cards on the actual printing machine, explored beautifully restored tram and admired the active museum life which is mainly based on volunteers’ work.
A Happy End
Entering the museum unusually, from backside, we decided to leave it properly, through the main entrance. There, we were stopped by attendant who explained to us that the event was free only for volunteers and their families. It was great to find that people still were able to believe and trust, for she spoke very friendly to us. We paid agreeably our fees, and received two tickets for the free carousel ride. Surely, we will be back here on Christmas to ride the carousel that I was reluctant to ride this time.
Unexpectedly, on Victoria Day we discovered the hidden treasure in our favorite park and learned more about our Canadian history and traditions. It would be unfair to forget the roots of this holiday. While watching recently TV news, I understood that some people didn’t know about the idea and the origin of Victoria Day and considered it as a beginning of summer. Thanks to the Burnaby Village Museum and many others museums for keeping our history alive.
657words, 1 draft
A Stern Teacher
Professor Wu was a man of great
learning, my teacher of the course "The Strength of Material".
He was full of vigour, amiable usually, but very stern in the class. We all respected him and loved him very much.
In the course, there are many calculations. At that time, no calculator could be used, we did the work with slide rule or mental arithmetic. Although we all worked hard, he often scolded that we made too many mistakes and complained taking too much time. Sometimes we are a little bit depressed and discontented.
Once a time, he asked us to calculate the strain of a beam. The fourth formula of the strength of material is a sum of squares under the root. We all worked hard, and he walked around and checked. When he tapped your desk, that meant he found something wrong. We heart he tapped here and there, time again.
He got very annoyed. He ordered us stop and asked: "DO you know why you calculate so difficult?"
And then, he pointed one classmate to recite the square of the number from 1 to 10. That's easy to answer. He odered him sitting down.
Then he pointed another one to recite the squares of the number from 11 to 20. This one could answer up till the square of 13 only. And then he called one by one . Almost half of our classmares stood up, the numere still not up
to the squere of 20.
"How about the square of the number from 20 to 30?" Proffer Wu didn't call anyone of the others. He took a chalk, turned back and began to write on blackboard. Three minutes later, all the numbers were on the blackboard.
"you see, what you need is to have a thorough basic skills." He said no more and made a gesture--that's all of today!
We were all stunned. Someone sighed with admiration. What's an unforgetable lesson! Decades years later, I still remenber this lesson
and my lovable teacher clearly.
Ancient Beauty
In my childhood, when I looked at my grandma’s little embroidered shoes every time, I had a strong urge to try them on, but they never fit me!
To be found as Cinderella
“Grandma, why did you bind your feet?” I asked. “My mother bound them.” she answered. “Why did your mother bind your feet?” She looked at me and said with a smile: “Because small feet were beautiful. In the past, if a woman had a pair of big feet, no man would marry you!” Actually, grandma didn’t tell me that small feet were sexy to Chinese men at that time. “Three-inch gold lilies” were men’s laudatory term for women’s bound feet. Before a man promised to merry a woman, he would make sure that she had bound feet. Sometimes, he would ask the matchmaker to measure the feet of the girl whom he wanted to merry. If the girl’s foot size was larger than the provided one, she couldn’t be that “Cinderella” of the man. Women with big feet not only couldn’t marry men, but also they would felt ashamed in their lifetime.
The Origin of “Three-inch Gold Lilies”
Why women’s bound feet were called as “three-inch gold lilies” in the past of China? Most scholars deem that it related to Buddhism culture. In Buddhism, lilies were considered as noble and unsullied, and they occupied an important place in Chinese auspicious patterns. So, men liked to mention women’s bound feet in the same breathe with lilies to eulogise women’s small sexy feet. Also, Chinese like to modify something which were precious and wonderful with gold, therefore men put the word “gold” before “lilies” as “gold lilies.” That’s fascinating!
The Size of Bound Feet
“Grandma, did you feel pain when your feet were bound at first?” She didn’t answer my question. But, she smilingly looked at me with wise expression. For a while, she said: “Being beautiful need to pay price!” My grandma was a well-cultured woman in that time, and she was a student of old-style private school in her childhood and youth. Nevertheless, no matter how well-cultured or illiterate you were, rich or poor, a woman’s only hope was to bind her feet and wait for her man. By their feet, women played for high stakes for their lifetime happiness. They bound their feet smaller and smaller. Those fanatics of small feet graded bound feet according to the size. “Gold lilies” were smaller than three-inch; “Silver lilies” were smaller than four-inch. “Iron lilies” were
bigger than four-inch.
Small Shoes
What were really sexy were those small embroidered shoes. Usually, a woman had many pairs of small shoes, and they would change shoes several times a day. Morning shoes were embroidered with buds just ready to burst, and in afternoon shoes patterns, flowers were in full bloom. Soft sole red shoes were sleeping shoes. Materials of shoes were manifold such as silk fabric, cloth, and tarpaulin which were waterproof. Different patterns of shoes had different meaning. Patterns of the dragon and phoenix were for brides; patterns of mandarin ducks were for married women. Some soles had patterns of lilies on them; others included wintersweets. The shapes of shoes were varied. Generally, soles of small shoes were bent upward like a bow, and they were also called “bow shoes.” Some shoes were sewn with small bells. They would make sounds in walking.
I couldn’t tell why bound feet were beautiful in the past time of China, and I believe you also couldn’t explain why the skinny women are attractive nowadays in North America. Different cultures have different interpretation about beauty. After all, “small feet” was a part of interesting history of China. That’s ancient beauty in Chinese style!
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