TREASURES
Spring Has Sprung Ji Wang Locascio It is truly a breathtaking experience to watch the wonders of spring as it begins to reemerge. The vivid arrays of colors burst into display with their inherited beauty, arousing and satisfying my sense of sight. The aromas that fill the air with fresh scents uplift my emotions and let me know everythi
My Favorite Things Filiz Culculoglu My favorite things are always changing. That's why I can't say which is my favorite one. Besides I like to give away my favorite things, especially to someone I love very much. Other favorite things are too painful to keep, for I fear too strong a connection with any object. Nevertheless, I could say that lately I have had a strong bond with pigeons. I am not obsessed with them, but I feel love for them. Part of me feels that I am like a pigeon. In other ways, I am drawn to them because they are amazingly strong, always with us, and yet unattainable. In wintertime some good people feed them, and they accept the help. Pigeons survive day after day through long difficult winters even though they look so fragile. Their shape is simple, but graceful, and their colors range from almost black to whitish gray. I also feel both fragile and strong. Pigeons allow you to look at them, but never to touch them. They are always ready to fly away if they feel uncomfortable or in danger. I guess part of me is also ready to fly away if something makes me feel uncomfortable. I see pigeons in front of buildings, on chimneys and on ledges. Pigeons are city birds. They like old places. Maybe they even understand art or appreciate beauty, and like me they prefer to be close to historical buildings. As the wind can bring strange stories, pigeons carry mysteries. When I was in Turkey, a pigeon came from nowhere into my room. It was so strange because there wasn't an open window. It didn't allow us to touch it, but it didn't go away although we left the window open. The pigeon stayed with us for three days before it flew away. After it left, I felt a painful loss in my heart. I thought it was carrying the soul of my father who had died ten years before. Maybe for some, it is not a true story. For me it's true in a mystic way. Perhaps this final reason is why pigeons are my favorite.
Money: My Favorite Thing Tammy Tam (Xiao Zhu) My favorite thing is money. I can use it to make me happy. I can use it to buy things that my kids want. When my kids are happy, I feel happier, and I love to work for money. I'm a waitress. I make tips when I work. The more money I make that week, the more money I spend the next week. Even my kids feel that way, but my husband always says something to me when I spend a lot of money. He tells me not to spend all the money that I make, but I enjoy it.
What Can Make Me Happy by Megumi Yamashita To be happy is one of the basic and important elements in our lives. Now I know exactly what can make me happy. When I achieve all I am expected to, I am the happiest I have ever been. In other words, I am satisfied by what I have done. The scale of my achievement is very small. For example, I applied to Ameritech because I needed my own telephone number, I ventured to a new place on the CTA, I walked about Lake Michigan for one and a half hours, I read ten pages of an English book in one day, or I cooked better than the day before. In these cases, it was most important for me to do or achieve these things by myself. If somebody helps me, my happiness dwindles in half. Everyone gets his or her own happiness in different ways. In my case, if I feel a great interest in something, I will fight my way forward, and my happiness absolutely will be waiting for me. Guess Jian Fu Lei Hi, everybody. I'm Jian Fu Lei's favorite thing. He is my owner. At first I don't want to tell you what I am. You have to guess. But don't worry, if you can't guess the answer, I will tell you at the end. Don't you think it is funny to le
Big Things Danijela Dedic I always liked big things. That's how I fell in love with America. I love large in every way. I love big streets, big buildings, big stores, big autos, and big homes. Now, let's talk about food! I think the American people have the biggest portions of food in the world. I can't ever finish. The ice cream portions are enormous, but I love them. That is the only thing I can finish. I also want to be part of the big dreams, big Hollywood stars, big money and big action. I am very ambitious. I am going to be famous, rich, spoiled and unhappy. In the end, I'll live in a big country, have big money and a big home, but I'll complain every day how I have no time to enjoy my life!
It Is Better to Give Than to Receive Wen Chai Last year, I was a housewife in Malaysia. My life was very boring because I did the same things everyday: cleaning house, watching TV, going shopping, etc. All of my friends thought I was so lucky because my husband gave me everything I needed. They asked me, “What do you want?” When I called them to talk about my life, I felt lonely because nobody understood me. It was very hot last summer. I remember it was a sunny day. I felt so tired although I hadn't done anything. I just wanted to sleep. I knew I would waste the whole day if I went to bed at noon, so I decided to go shopping. It was my favorite thing to do at that time. I saw an ad that said “Salvation Army, Hopeheaven Center for Special Children.” I had an idea. I wanted to be a volunteer for the Salvation Army. I told my husband of my decision. He agreed with me. He said, “You will feel better when you can do something for other people.” “I think so.” “ But it isn't easy work to take care of these special children. Think it over carefully.” “I know it is hard work, but I have confidence I will do well.” “OK! Try to do well. I believe in you.” The next day I dressed like a professional woman. I went to this center to start my new life as a volunteer. It was the longest day of my life. I realized how hard the work was. All of the children in this center had mental illness. I needed to teach them how to express themselves and their needs and how to use the toilet. Most of them couldn't say one complete sentence. One of the children didn't know how to express himself when he wanted to go to the toilet. His parents hoped we would teach him. I taught him to make a sign whenever he went to the toilet. This work made me very tired and very dirty. I wondered whether I would succeed in teaching him. The second morning when I came to the classroom, the boy's parents were waiting for me. They said, ”Oh, teacher, my son knows know how to make the sign of the toilet! How happy we are! Thank you very much.” “Not at all. I just did something I should do.” “This is a small gift. Please take it.” It was a beautiful card. It is the most beautiful of all my cards. I realized that when I give, it is better than just receiving. Never Too Late to Be YoungAlice L. Jay Full of pep and energy. Very lively young woman. Never stay put in one place. Slim, skinny-bones like a stick. Always running like in marathon. Never walk, but only skip and hop. No matter what she eats, She never gains an ounce. Quiet as a mouse. Thinking like a quiz kid. Fast learning no matter what. Good memory for she never forgets you. The more she learns, the younger she feels. The older she studies, the more knowledge she gains. She never can walk like an old lady. Perpetual student all her life. Exercising in line dancing, Tai Chi, and Belly dancing Will keep her body limber. Never get old when her mind is full of ideas. She can always be young as she grows old. She never ages but only gets younger. Arthritis does not keep her from moving. Nothing can stop her from being young. Nothing can stop her from aging. Never too late to be young!
My Idea of Beauty (Murphy) Danijela Dedic Beauty is a total sensory reaction; therefore, to consider people or animals as beautiful is simply impossible because beauty entails something that appeals to all five senses. True you say this idea of beauty sounds too clinical, but it is my definition. People are usually poor examples of beauty. It is almost impossible to find a person who appeals to all five senses. That is why fashion magazines are so wonderful. In them, you find beautiful people who are exciting to look at, and you imagine they smell wonderful, taste sweet, speak in sexy voices, and have soft tender skin. In reality, the people in these exciting photos may not be so beautiful. In the middle of their forehead, there could be a great big pimple, which is removed by a computerized touch up before the photo is printed. Also, reality can be the opposite of everything you imagined. They may smell like dragons, taste like lemons, sound like frogs and feel as smooth as crocodiles. People may think that peacocks, skunks and tigers are beautiful, but have you ever pet a peacock, smelled a skunk, or touched a tiger? Unless you are Sigfried or Roy, touching a tiger may be harmful to your health; smelling a skunk may be hair-raising; petting a peacock may be less enjoyable than you think. They are not very friendly. What I truly find beautiful in the purest form is the banana split. It looks so inviting with its three scoops of vanilla, caramel and blackberry ice cream topped with fluffy white whipped cream, lightly sprinkled with nuts, and covered with steamy hot fudge. Between its inviting looks and the fruity smell of the fresh cut banana, I can hardly wait until my spoon sinks into the beautiful construction. The lovely chime of the metal spoon hitting the glass bowl tells me I have a spoon full of the delicious substance. As the spoon enters my mouth, I taste the cool ice cream mixing with the hot fudge, the sweet banana floating on smooth whipped cream, and the crunch of nuts. Most people think they have a sense of beauty. It may be true since beauty is said to be in the eyes of the beholder. Is it just in the eyes of the beholder or in all five senses?
Peanuts Ji Wang Locascio A substitute for meat Is sometimes needed in place of the things I eat. Maybe if I eat enough peanuts, I'll develop the memory of an elephant, The agility of a squirrel, And the cleverness of a monkey. They provide a supplement protein And are fun to eat. I like them roasted or toasted With honey or salt. I can see no fault. In a can or a bottle, In a bag or a pouch, Peanuts are a habit, I can't live without.
Clouds and I Ji Wang Locascio The clouds seemed to touch the earth today. The backdrop of their mist and the way They surrounded the skyscrapers and with a twist Gave wings to my imagination. I was swept away On this foggy day By the splendor of the falling sky. The thoughts we shared the sky and I Will always remain As pleasure to my brain. I'll remember how and why The clouds almost made me fly.
Joys of Christian Music Young-mi JoungDo you have any difficulty in starting a conversation with someone new: If you say “yes,” try asking questions about music. For an easy example, “What's your favorite song?” or “Who's your favorite singer?” Then you will sense that you are leading the conversation smoothly because almost everyone relates to music in daily life. I'm also a person who is surrounded by music—my parents love to listen to opera, my sister is a great pianist who listens to classical music all the time and my brother has fallen in love with popular songs. Like them, I have had opportunities to taste a variety of music and what I like the most is Christian music. I'd like to share with you the three joys of listening to Christian music, which can't compare with those of other music. Christian music gives me power. While I clean my house or I do exercise, I definitely need to have Christian music, and I feel that the music develops my efficiency. Also, I start the day with cheerful Christian music, such as, “Praise and Worship Song” or “Hosanna Integrity Song,” and these songs encourage me. Whenever I listen to the music, I feel that the music whispers to me, “Cheer up. You can do whatever you want to.” It's hard to explain the confidence and energy from the Christian music. Several years ago, a scientist in England proved that the plants which listened to gospel songs grew three times better than the plants which had listened to rock music. Like those plants, I too grow strong. Christian music comforts me. Since I have lived alone in the U.S., I frequently feel lonely, and I miss my family who are in Korea. What can help or cure that situation? Like a real magic, Christian music takes those feelings away Christian music makes me be closer to God. I'm the kind of person who wants to be a faithful Christian, but it's not easy to be like that because of my laziness and other causes. However, since I have listened and have sung Christian music, I find myself trying to read the Bible more and pray to God more. I showed three valuable joys of listening to Christian music. I'm sure you also can find more joys from the music than I did. I hope nothing changes my passion for Christian music which gives me power to do well, gives me comfort and makes me closer to God. CHANGES
My Friend's Cotton Clothes Hui Tang Janne was born in a small town in Shan Dong Province in the northeast of China. After she got married, she moved to Beijing, where I met her. She was very shy. With her strong Shan Dong accent and simple cotton flowered dress, she looked like typical country folk. Janne had a very beautiful voice, and she taught singing in a Beijing elementary school. She liked to sing, and in fact, she won a lot of praise for her singing. However, she was dissatisfied and wanted to change something about her life. One time, she told me, "Hui, I don't like teaching children. Some students make me angry. I have to change my job and my life." She didn't want to be an elementary school teacher. She dreamed of becoming a professional singer. "Why did you choose this job?" I asked. "My husband arranged it for me when I came here. I had no choice." I felt sorry for her. Maybe she could be a popular singer if she were not a simple school teacher. One winter vacation, our school organized a trip to the south of China. The scene everywhere was beautiful green hills and clean blue lakes. Janne had never before seen such beauty because both her hometown and Beijing are located in northern China where the view is dull because of lack of water. Not only nature, but also people are more colorful in southern China. In the south of China, the people wear more fashionable and colorful clothing. Janne was attracted to the scene and excitement, and she didn't want to return to Beijing. However, she had to go back since her husband was in Beijing. Janne changed after her trip to the south. She threw out her simple cotton clothes and replaced them with others which were in vogue. She looked beautiful, but she and her husband began to quarrel about money. She spent a lot of money buying clothes, which made her husband angry. She became a fashionable and beautiful woman. She used to tell me, "If you look like a villager, nobody cares about you." Then she tried to change her job. Although she could not find another job, she participated in all kinds of singing competitions, hoping that one day she would become a famous singer. Two years later, Janne got pregnant. She was delighted about having a daughter; however, then she had to go home as soon as she finished her work every day. She had to take care of her child and had no more time for herself or her dreams. When I met her again last summer, I was surprised by her appearance. She looked older. Some bleak traces appeared on her face. She no longer thought about changing her job or becoming a singer. She lightly told me that she felt she was very common and that she realized that her ordinary life was real life. I looked at her and felt a little bitter and sorrowful for her. People can change life. Life can also change people.
Never Too Late to Change Your CareerAlice L. Jay Skinny bones, energetic, talkative woman. Does daily breathing exercises like Tai Chi. Water aerobic exercise every day. Fast runner on a running team. Walked three miles before breakfast. Teaching ESL, to read and write English. Could not restrain students from speaking their own language. Students talked at the same time during class time. Classroom was always in chaos. Most students were foreigners. Her students could not understand English. Some students were daydreaming. Her students did not pay any attention to her. Some had headphones on all the time. Some were reading magazines. Many students were talking to each other in their own language. One day she said to herself, “I am going to be a Registered Nurse.” She was tired of being a schoolteacher. Why should she be a teacher when nobody was listening to her? She had her master's degree in Education. She had been teaching for the past twenty years. Now, she can be a Registered Nurse. Besides, nurses can make more money than teachers. Never too late to change your career!
Love in a Handful of FruitBing Bing Li It has been five years since my mother passed away. Not only was she a mother, but she was also a strict teacher to me. She didn't smile too frequently, and she would give me a lecture when I made a mistake or didn't get a good grade. Therefore, I was afraid of her when I was young. Sometimes, I even thought that she didn't love me at all. Until..... In the summer when I was 18 years old, I was admitted to Wu Ye University, Jiangmen. It is located in Guangdong City in the south of China. Studying in the university was my earnest wish; however, the school was far away from my hometown. I had to be a boarder to study there. I was not really happy while thinking I would leave my parents to study after summer. At that time, my father was not often at home because he was always on a business trip. My mother worked at a real estate company as a sales manager. Every day my mother left home at 7 a.m. and came home and 11 p.m. when I was deep asleep. Sometimes, I stayed up to wait for her to come home so that I could see her and talk with her, even for just a few minutes about my unhappiness about leaving to another city. However, every time she came, she just said, “ Why didn't you go to bed?” Then I had to go back to my room without a word. I felt hurt and hated her for treating me like that. Days were passing by. There were 10 days left in summer. My mother was busy all day preparing the daily necessities for me, such as a blanket, a quilt, towels and so on, which would be needed in my school life. I was happier because I knew that my mother still cared for me. She just didn't express it with words. The day she walked me to the train station was rainy. In the morning, my mother brought me to the train station. She was quiet as usual. I didn't know what she was thinking. When we reached the train station, many parents and their children were waiting for the train to school. I noticed that many girls were crying, and their parents were comforting them. I envied them, but I knew that I couldn't do the same thing because my mother always taught me that I must be strong and bravely face whatever I had to face. I had to remain silent because I was afraid that I couldn't keep back my tears once I talked to my mother. “I wanted to buy some fruit for you just in case you need something to eat on the train. Just stay here,” my mother said, unexpectedly. “Yes Mom,” I said. Wordlessly, my mother turned around and headed for the store. The store was a 15 minute walk from the station. It was easy to get there on a fine day, but it was a rainy day. The rain was pelting down, and my mother was walking uneasily with a small umbrella. A few times, the small umbrella was almost blown away by gusts of wind. Gazing at her receding figure, my eyes blurred with tears. My mother came back when I was lost in thought. She was drenched from head to foot. She handed me some oranges and apples which had been imported from California. Those fruits were expensive for us at that time, but my mother still bought them for me just because I liked to eat them. “Why are you crying?” My mother asked. “Nothing.” I said, concealing my feelings. My mother seemed to know what I was thinking. She patted my shoulder and said, “ There's nothing to be worried about. Take care of yourself and try your best to do well in your study. You are our pride, always.” I was pleasantly surprised because it was the first time that my mother praised me like that. I raised my head and saw my mother gazing at me, with tears in her eyes. The tears made her eyes look like bright stars. “I will, Mom,” I said, choking with sobs. After that, I had to get on the train because it was time to leave. The train started to move. Looking out from the window, my mother's figure became smaller and smaller, but the fruits in my hand became heavier and heavier. It wasn't the fruit at all. It was the deep love from a mother to her daughter.
An Unforgettable Heartsick HolidayLin Zhen Feng Every year has so many holidays. Every holiday commemorates a story or celebrates some happy occasion in our extraordinary Chinese culture. I am only sad about the holiday on the fifth day of May in the Chinese lunar calendar. It is the Dragon Boat Festival. That day commemorates a well-known poet. As the name implies, on that day there is a boating competition. Originally that was an extremely delightful festival. Every family eats good food and drinks excellent wine in a happy reunion. However, that day is a heartsick day in my family. Four years ago, on the fourth day of May, my grandfather was in a joyous mood. He pushed an empty pushcart and walked hurriedly to the farm to harvest watermelons. He did it because I liked watermelons very much. I was always at school and went back home once a month. As my grandfather knew I would come home on that weekend, he pushed the heavy watermelons home from the farm. He thought that when I got home I could enjoy those watermelons. Thus, he forgot his weariness. As he pushed the heavy cart that midnight, my grandfather was very tired, dizzy and in pain. On the fifth day of May, in the afternoon, when I was attending class, my mother called me. I still remember my mother's voice. “Hi, this is Mom. Hurry up! Come home!” I could hear she was crying. I knew something bad had happened to my family. I asked, “What happened? Is something wrong?” “Yes, your grandfather was dizzy and now is in critical condition.” “No!” I couldn't believe it. I had just worked with him on the weekend before; we fed the cows together, and we talked about a lot of things. My grandfather was very strong last weekend. I heard my mother crying on the phone. “Come home, see your grandfather for the last time.” Then I rushed to the bus station and took the first bus home, but unfortunately, when I got home, he had just died. At that time, I felt as if the ground was pulling me down. I wanted to die too. My hardworking grandfather did everything for his descendants. He toiled for me, but what could I do for him? My heart hurt a lot. I used to live with him when I was a little boy. However, after I went to school, I just cut out a lot of time of living with him. I felt very guilty about it. He was gone anyway. When I was looking at my grandfather's watermelons, my eyes didn't have any more tears, and my heart was destroyed as if a bullet had shredded it. On this holiday, I just know the only thing missing is my grandfather. I wish he were here still living with us. We could try his watermelons together. I can never forget my grandfather and that day: the fifth day of May.
The Saddest Experience Jessica Gao I often come back to that time in my dreams, and I find myself in tears when I awake. Time goes back to the night on July 16, 2000. I was standing in the middle of the lobby of the international airport with mixed feelings. The airline to LA from Guangzhou, China was going to depart in an hour. It was time to enter the security examination gate; people were lining up in two rows and moving forward. All my relatives and friends and my husband's were saying farewell to us, but I was so pathetic and sensitive. It seemed everything had been reiterated in the last several days, but actually I still had a lot of words I had not said. When my father embraced me tightly, I realized that there would be oceans and mountains between my parents and me, and it would be hard for me to go back home from now on. I had no chance to spend a special day and night with my father anymore. There were thousands of things I wanted to do again for him: give him a back massage, prepare a dish, have an idle talk or dance with him, and so on. He who accompanied me in every period of my previous life–-childhood, adolescence, and adulthood –-was not only a father but also a good teacher and close friend of mine. My heart that seemed to have been torn in parts was sharply pained during these days because I would leave him soon. I could hardly say even a word, and neither could my father. My mother grasped my hand and said, “Take care of yourself. Don't worry about us.” Many sweet memories which I had spent with my mother came to my mind at the same time: singing in the candle light, watching stars on board a boat, doing daily chores with her and so forth. I regretted that I had had so many quarrels with her because of different thoughts on many problems, although we love one another deeply. Actually, she was really a woman who I should respect because she always forgot herself to help her children. When I was lost in my memories, my husband reminded me to move toward the security examination entrance. I couldn't choke back my tears. I tried to look at my parents and wanted to keep the scene in mind permanently for further reminiscence. But the tears dimmed everything. I wiped them away quickly, but the scene still appeared in an indistinct way. I turned my head back again and again, and at last I walked backward till they disappeared from my eyes. Their laughing and words were still loud and clear in my head like echoes, but I couldn't see and touch them anymore. When would I dance with my father again? When could I have dinner with my mother once more? How could I take care of them? In dreams! In dreams . . . A poet in my country said, “The saddest experience in one's life is to leave his people.” I do think so.
My Father's Daughter Loi Lam It is hard being my father's daughter. Everybody expects me to be special or perfect, and I was just an average high school student. I am average now too. I often wonder how my father ever had a daughter like me. I mean he is so special and so good at everything he does. In elementary school, he was class president and a favorite student of the teachers. A hard living situation forced my father to give up his studies to take care of his father, my grandpa, who is a patient beyond cure. One morning in spring in 1988, I was daydreaming in Chinese class one day when my teacher announced a Father's Day essay contest for the whole school, “I hope we will have a winner right here in my Chinese class,” she said. The school has allotted appropriate funds for this Father's Day essay.” After school I walked home, thinking about the essay I would write. My father is a mechanic, I would start. No, I wouldn't do that. His whole shop and maybe even the whole town saw my father as an excellent mechanic, but that was not the way I saw him. I got home and went upstairs to my room and started to think about what I would write. “Hmmm, how did I see my father not as other people did. I saw him sitting with me in the dark when I was a little girl and had a nightmare. I saw him teaching me how to fix the faucet. I remember how he hugged me for hours when my pet dog was hit and killed by a car. When I started to cry, he told all the kids that I had a bad allergy.” These were the things I was going to write about my father. To me, he wasn't just a good mechanic. He was my father. I wrote about all these things and put them in my school essay. I handed it in the next day and paid attention to the announcement that the winning essays would be read in the school the following day. All the parents were invited when the day came. I sat silently in my seat in the classroom. When the third prize was announced and it wasn't me, I was relieved and disappointed at the same time. The second prize winner was announced next. It was I. I stood up. My knees were shaking, and my heart was pounding like a drum. I was gratified I didn't have to read my essay in front of all the parents and my classmates; in addition, I didn't think my voice was firm enough to read. I noticed my father blowing his nose. Tears were running down my mother's cheeks. I was pleased with myself sitting between my parents. “I feel you have an allergy too, Dad,” I tried to joke. “Girl, this is the proudest moment of my life.” He nodded and cleared his throat.
My Roles in Life Xue Ming Mei People in general play many roles in a lifetime. My roles in the United States are different for my roles in China. For instance, I was not a college student in China, but I am a college student in the U.S.; I was a farm worker, and now I'm a salesperson; I did not make many of my own decisions, but now I have to decide on many things on my own. First of all, in my role in the United States as a student, it is easier for me to attend school. The tuition in the United States is less expensive than in China. When I was in China, I could not afford to play the role of the student. Children in China need to pay tuition from elementary school on. There were three sisters in my family who were going to school at the same time. Therefore, after I graduated from high school, my parents could not afford the tuition for me to continue studying. In the United States, on the contrary, I can pay my school tuition because of the many job opportunities. Consequently, I'm a student. Another change in roles that I have experienced is because of my getting a job in the United States. I was born on a farm. I often helped my mother take care of the responsibilities on the farm, working in the fields every day from seven to five. I can remember taking vegetables to the market once a week. Because public transportation was not available in my village, my mother and I walked about an hour with 100 pounds of vegetables to the marketplace. In the United States I have a new job and now play the role of the salesperson. Last but not least, the most important role for me is being a responsible daughter of my family. When I was in China, I did not make many of my own decisions. After my mother and I immigrated to the U.S., my father did not come with us. Because of this, we have to decide on many things on our own. English is difficult for my mother to understand. In order to help the family, I have to study and understand English well. This is so I can translate as well as give my own opinion during important decisions. Even though my roles are different from what they were in China, by the process of change I have grown to realize that no matter where I am, I will do my best in every endeavor.
LESSONS My First Bus Experience in Chicago (Murphy) Sepher Evoghli
It was the first time that I was taking the bus in Chicago to go to my English class. The day before, my brother had told me that I should take the Clark bus number 22. That was the only thing he had told me, and I thought taking the bus here would be the same as taking the bus in my country. So for the first time in Chicago, I got on a bus. First, I put $1.50 in the ticket machine and I took a seat. Then I saw that people were pulling something to stop the bus or to get off. It was the only difference I saw between my country's and Chicago's buses. I was on the bus for about 25 minutes. It was time for me to get off, so I pulled the handle and the bus stopped. I got up and waited by the rear door to get off, but it didn't open. I thought there was something wrong with the door. Then I heard something. It was the driver. He was saying something, but I couldn't understand. Then he began to yell at me to push something, but I thought he was saying to pull something. I took a look, I saw a red ball hanging from the bus, and I pulled it. Oh, my gosh! It was the emergency brake to stop the bus. The driver was yelling, “No! No! Don't!” While I was pulling harder and harder. Then an old man showed me how to push the door, and I did. It was easy to open, and I ran into the street. For a month after that event, whenever I wanted to take the bus, I checked the driver to make sure that it was not the same driver.
Asking for a Fork (Rios) Anna Malouk Piangpit My big problem in America is how to speak English better. I have many problems with my pronunciation. I have a big problem with the R sound and the L sound. One day I was having dinner with my friend, and I dropped my fork. I told my friend, “Chad, can you give me a fork?” Suddenly he said very loudly, “ What did you say Anna?” “Can you give me a fork?” I repeated. “You want? Huh? What did you say?” “ Fork just fork .” I didn't understand why he felt so excited about my question. Moreover, I did not understand why he didn't just give me a fork. It wasn't very difficult to do. So after I said, “Just silverware.” “Oh! You mean fork .” He said, “Yes,” and he started laughing at me. He explained, “I heard another meaning because your sound was not fork but a word with a bad meaning." I am still working on my pronunciation.
Never Too Late For Love Alice L. Jay Slim young man of six feet with brown skin He weighed 125 pounds and was on the track team. His nice personality made him popular. He loved to tell jokes like “Bozo” the clown. Slender, vigorous, lively, young girl with long dark hair. She was as talkative as if she was a news reporter. She stood in her stocking feet five feet seven. She was a joker, too, like a clown. They did not like each other when they first met. They grew up and went their separate ways. She had not noticed as time went by quickly. She was having the best time of her life. They still did not like each other as time moved along. High school days were over, and they had not dated each other. He married somebody else while she was still looking. He was married to the same person for twenty-one years. Finally, his wife left this earth. He was looking for someone who could replace her. Life must go on without the loved one. He had not been seen since his wife passed away. All of a sudden, he showed up at her doorsteps. He looked the same, but a little heavier and bigger. They saw each other occasionally, and their hearts grew tender. One day he popped the question; however, they were only friends. They continued seeing each other. Her heart beat fast as the days went by rapidly. They began to fall in love. Whenever they got close to each other, her heart skipped a beat. Never too late for love! That Lovely Green and Blue Planet Kasia Matuszewska The earth. It is one of the planets in the solar system, the third in distance from the sun. It is the only planet known to support life although some of the other planets have atmospheres and contain water. But how long will this beautiful green and blue planet support life? Will pollution destroy this planet? What about the environment? One day a small girl walked down the street. She drank her cola and threw the can on the ground. “Oh, that hurts me.” She heard the words but she couldn't see anybody. “Who said that?“ she asked. “You know me. I am the Earth. It hurt me.” If the Earth said these words every time, we would become deaf because of the deafening scream. Billions of tons of waste are thrown out annually. Solid waste is one of the biggest environmental problems. Everyday we throw out pieces of metal. We throw out tin from food cans and aluminum from soft drink and beer cans. We throw out glass bottles and jars, paper and cardboard. Most people don't understand that all these things can be saved and used again. As a result, our Earth can die. We should do something. In Great Britain, the waste material that people throw out of their houses is called rubbish or refuse. In the United States, it is called trash or garbage. The words may be different but the dictionary definitions are the same: “stuff that is useless and not wanted.” But are these words true?
In 1971, Max Spendlove, an American, came up with the idea that “There is gold in garbage.” Since he came up with his idea, many companies have found ways to remove the metal, the glass and the paper from our garbage. People should think more carefully about what they throw away. Then many things could be saved and used again. Much of the cardboard used in supermarkets for packing food and goods comes from recycled paper. So, next time you pick up a cardboard box, look inside. If the cardboard is gray, it is probably made from recycled newspaper. Who knows--maybe it's the one you threw out last year! Never Too Late to Learn EnglishAlice L. Jay Gray-haired woman with a slim figure. Big smile, giggles, devil's eyes. Mischievous personality. Winking at everybody. She was very talkative. She could never stop talking. She talked so much as if she were making a speech. She talked so loud that nobody could hear herself or himself talk. She walked with a cane. Sometimes she used the cane to protect herself. The cane helped her to walk. Also, the cane could help to balance herself. She was born in China. She went to school in China. She could read and write Chinese. Nevertheless, she never learned English. She had been living in the United States for 25 years. She had a hard time understanding people. She always said, “I can't learn English.” She thought she was too old to learn English. She could not speak to people. She could not speak English. She could not write English. It was hard for her to get around. She was a very intelligent woman. She only spoke Chinese to Chinese people. She always asked somebody to translate English into Chinese. She said, “I am in my 80's, and I am too old to learn English.” One day, she firmly said, “I am going to learn English.” She started learning to conjugate. She said, “I go, you go, she or he goes.” She said aloud, “Hooray! I am not too old to learn English.” Never too old to learn English! As a father, I Tell YouJun Jie Most parents do a good job of raising their children. I am a father, and I have experience raising children. I want to share my suggestions on how to do a good job for our children. Parents should be honest, responsible, patient and well mannered. As a parent, you are the head of the family. Your language and behavior influence your children. They listen to what you tell them, and they follow your actions, so don't lie to children. Teach and tell them the truth. Otherwise, when the children grow up, they won't be honest. I always teach my sons to tell the truth. Last Saturday, I went to Joe's barbershop in Chinatown with my six-year-old son Michael. After Michael got his change back from Joe, I noticed that there was one extra dollar. “ That's one dollar extra from Joe. What should we do?” I said to Michael. “ Tell Joe and give it back to him.” “Good job, son. We should be honest.” There is a Chinese proverb: “Plant squash, you harvest squash; plant peas, you get peas.” It means that you get back whatever you have put in. In raising our children, it is the same. If you are responsible for them, they grow up healthy and smart. In order that their children have a high level education, some parents send their children to private schools. Some of these parents have to have two jobs or work day and night to afford this. After school, parents spend a couple of hours with their kids helping them with their homework and playing games with them. These parents also go out shopping, camping and visiting museums with their kids on the weekend so that their children can learn more. I treat my sons exactly in this way. Kids are kids. They are little and young. Whatever they ask us, the parents, any questions, we should patiently listen to them and we must answer them without haste. When children make mistakes, most parents should be patient with them. They should never yell at them. From babies to teen years, children are gradually going into other groups in society. They must have good manners to deal with other people for studying, working, and living together. Most parents teach their kids good manners from when they are babies. Children are our future. If parents are honest, responsible, patient and mannerly, our children grow up happier and healthier.
Self Destruction Ursula Michalska He looked like a fearful mouse. When police came to put him into the car, he was shaking. I knew him very well. His mother died when he was 14. Since then, he had changed a lot. He needed attention, like a hungry small bird. And the more he wanted to be with others, the less the others wanted to be with him. From a popular, happy boy, he transformed into a weird, nasty bully. One day he took his father's gun, came to school and started shooting. He shot two people in the legs and arms, but I don't think he meant to do it. I can't forget his eyes. When police came to put his small hands into handcuffs, his eyes looked even more gray and more scared. I think that giving the same punishment to a young immature person as an adult, is highly unfair. Of course this young boy didn't commit a fatal crime, but he could have. His crime was the scream of a rejected young man who couldn't deal with fear and anger and being forsaken by his mother and friends. I remember what kind of person I was as a teenager. I couldn't control my emotions. I wanted to try everything that was forbidden, and more than anything else, I needed love and acceptance. To satisfy some of those needs, my friends used drugs, slept with strangers, drank tons of alcohol and then drove their cars. I saw my friends committing very serious crimes – against themselves. Self-destruction or destruction of the other people is only a small choice inside a young person's raging mind. As an adult I wouldn't make a third of the mistakes I made as a teenager. I think that punishment for adults and teens is supposed to be as different as the state of an adult mind and an teen mind. Maturity and immaturity are just words. But the same words with actions can decide about human beings future. I think that before punishing a teenager, people should look closely. Being a teenager is for me one of “alleviated circumstances.” Because of their young minds. Because of their immaturity. Penguin Saruul Ganbaatar When I was just a little five-year-old kid without any experience in life and without any responsibility, there was nothing else to do except play games. I went to a kindergarten, which was in a two-story white building, with plenty of toys inside. I loved to go to this place. My wish was to go there every possible day not only for the many toys but also for the teachers. They were mostly happy and extolling our kid minds. My teacher Sara was the best. I think I have to say that I was a little bit bigger in size than my friends. My cheeks were especially chubby. One sunny day I was playing, joking and having fun when my teacher came in and said, “You know. . .” “What?” “ You're such a funny boy that I can't stop myself from telling you something about yourself” “So what exactly?” “You seem to me....” I was impatient to know which she was going to tell me. “Come on tell me.” “Okay. However, do you promise me to not be angry after I tell it to you, no matter what?” Yeah, just tell me, quickly. I can't wait anymore.” “Okay. Honestly, you remind me of a penguin's cute little baby.” “Oooooh, really! Pengg...” “PENGUIN.” “Penguin. So what is it?”
”Hmmm.............It's something you look like, and it's very sweet.” Although I didn't know exactly what penguin meant, I liked this word very much. I told every kid in the class “I'm “Penguin”- something hard to explain, but sweet and attractive.” Every one listened to my new nickname “Penguin” with big, round eyes full of surprise and wonder. “Wow. So you are Penggg. . .” “PENGUIN!” Later I came home, and I told my family directly, without any patience, all that had happened in kindergarten. I didn't omit a single detail. Firstly, my family members were listening to my story with serious eyes and controlled expressions. However, as I went deep into the story, their eyes became more and more smiling. At last, when I finished the anecdote with the word “sweet,” they suddenly began to laugh very loudly with one voice. I was laughing also and repeating happily, ” I'm Penguin, I'm Penguin.” After two or three minutes, when they finally stopped grinning, my mom with tears of laughter in her eyes inquired, “Do you know what penguin means?” “Well?” She continued to laugh as she got a thick magazine with lots of incredible, attractive pictures of dangerous and cool animals from a shelf and began to search for something. Finally, she stopped on a page with strange creations of nature, half bird and half mammal. “Do you know who they are?” “No” “So, they are. . .” she was still laughing quietly. “So who are they?” “Well, they are penguins.” All my huge imaginings about the word penguin disappeared immediately. I couldn't believe my eyes. How could my teacher call me that? At that moment I didn't find anything “attractive and sweet” in these strange creatures of nature. Feeling a huge sense of grievance against my teacher, I asked my father, “Tell her to never call me that again!” Now, I'm a college student and know much about the environment and the world around us. In addition, I see this story that happened to me as a very happy one. However, I still don't like penguins.
Gangs: A Nation Josefina Garcia One of the problems in my country is gangs. Gang members are taking away our peace. Gang members are a bad example for young children. We see gang members on the corner and gang signs on the walls. It looks bad, but we can't do anything about it. Sometimes it is scary to come out of the house because you get a feeling that gang members are going to chase you, beat you up, or shout at you. These kinds of things don't only happen in some people's neighborhood. They happen everywhere you go. You never know what can happen. That's why you have to watch yourself. Some teenagers join gangs to get respect, backup, power, or money, but some other teenagers join gangs because they have problems with their family or with gang members, so they think that joining a gang is the only solution. Joining a gang is not only getting together with a group of people. It's risking your life for a name or a “nation.” Nation is another word for gang. When a person joins a gang, they have to “bust out,” hang around in the street, “back up your boys,” watch out for each other, and do “drive-bys,” drive by a rival gang and shoot at them. To join a gang you have to get a “violation,” a group of guys hit you, or you could do a drive-by and kill a member of a rival gang. When some teenagers join gangs they start drinking and using drugs like marijuana, cocaine, acid, heroine, or “wicky sticks,” cigarettes with formaldehyde. All the drugs that I mentioned are bad for you, but wicky sticks are the worst because they kill your brain cells. You won't think right, and you start acting like a handicapped person. The family suffers very much when a member of their family joins a gang, especially the parents because they are scared to lose their kids. They sometimes don't even let their kids go out because they are afraid that a gang member will hurt or kill their kids. I'm going to tell you what my friend said, “To live in this world you have to watch yourself because nobody is going to do it for you.” He recited a verse that he made up. It is called, “What life is all about.” “En la vida todo es un juego. Aprende a jugar o perderas.” This means in life everything is a game; learn how to play, or you will lose. He said with everything he has seen, heard, and lived, he thinks that's the way life is. His name is Ramiro Alvarez. It's really sad that we can't do anything about it. We just hope some day they can think right that they are doing something that doesn't make sense. It's good that we have the law that if the police see a group of guys on the corner, they can lock them up. We hope too one day we can find more solutions or more laws for the gang members. I Caught Thieves in America Yin Ping Zhang I helped my friend to take care of his cart in a mall last September. It was a small cart in the middle of the mall's lobby. It was called Pokemon. Pokemon means pocket monster, a very popular Japanese cartoon character. My friend mainly sold Pokemon game cards, toys and backpacks. The most expensive card packs were holographic cards. Each one was worth $25 or more. My friend put all the holographic cards in two pamphlets lying on the table. It really attracted a lot of teenagers and even adult collectors. One day, only I stayed at the cart. There were two boys, who kept looking at the fascinating shining cards. They stayed on my left side for almost half an hour. I sat in front of the cash register because I need to key in the money amount for a small Hello Kitty clock. A couple that wanted to buy a Hello Kitty clock was standing behind my right side. I turned my head to tell the exact cost that they needed to pay. As soon as I turned back, I found the two boys were running in the direction of the exit. By my intuition, I felt the two boys had taken stuff from the cart. Without thinking or locking the cash register, I ran after the two boys as fast as I could. I shouted, “Stop! Stop!” The two boys ran even faster. I ran unbelievably in high heels. I kept running so quickly. They went through the door of the mall into the parking lot, but I didn't stop either. At that time, I had a very strong will to catch them. I yelled while I was moving. The two boys stopped running after three of us crossed the road. Then I caught up with them and found that they had really stolen two packets of Pokemon cards which cost $2,000. The younger boy (later I learned he was only nine years old) cried and walked toward me. “Madam, I'll come back. Do not send me to the police, please!” He held my leg and begged me. “OK, let's go back . . .”, I said. “I want to go to college, I don't want a record. Please don't send me to the police.” I was so exhausted and hardly said one word. A young lady from a car came to help me. She asked the boy, “How old are you? Do you know it is illegal to do this?” The boy cried more loudly. The lady and I held the younger boy, the elder boy, twelve years old, followed us. When we went back to the mall, a lot of Americans were standing in front of the mall. Some of them showed their thumbs to me. I felt I was a hero. I was so proud to be brave. The security guards from the mall were waiting for us. A few minutes later, a policeman came to the mall too. As I was not willing to sue them, and they were under sixteen years old, their mothers took them. Let their parents look after them. From then on, I often think about juvenile delinquency all over the world. Who will be responsible for this? Parents are first. School and the whole society should pay more attention to giving teenagers education not only in school but also knowledge of the law. A Gentle Lesson Hiromi Fujioka A long time ago when I was six years old, my family lived in Mobara, Chiba, Japan because of my father's job. He was a sewer construction worker. Our house in Mabara was small and flat with a tiny kitchen, a small living room, and one small bedroom where we four slept. I loved to live there because all the adults were so nice to me, and whenever I went to the office, the building next to our house, they gave me candies and played with me. It was a palace for me, and I was a princess. One day, I went to a food mart nearby my house to buy some candy. The shop was where my mother went shopping for our dinner almost every day. The shop owner seemed to be stingy because I heard the office workers talking about it, and she never gave me free candy, so I didn't like her. I felt an impulse to lift the candy from the shelf. I tried to hide myself from the owner and took a chocolate candy quickly and nervously. Unfortunately the owner saw, and rebuked me, and told me I was a bad child. I felt so scared and ashamed for what I had done, but I didn't cry. While I was going home, I was so nervous and wondering if my parents would find out. They would be upset and get angry at me even though I apologized. When I got home, nobody was there. I was a little released from the nervousness, but there was still trouble in my head. When my mother came back home, I was taking a bath. My heart started beating violently. “Are you in a bathroom?” she asked me from the kitchen. “Yes, ma'am.” I responded in a weak voice. “Does she know what I did?” I thought. “I went to the food mart.” “It is certain she knows everything!” I thought, and I was upset. “What did you do there?” she asked me in a soft-toned voice. “ . . .” I couldn't respond immediately. There was a moment as if it were ten minutes, and I resigned myself to hide my crime and then I confessed, “I stole a chocolate candy . . .” “Why? Didn't you have money?” “I had some.” “So, why did you do that?” “I was just curious.” We were talking about it with the bathroom door between us. I started crying. “Are you crying? Why? Do you think it was wrong?” “Yes, I was wrong. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Ma'am.” I sobbed. “Well, you know you should not have done that, don't you?” “I know. I will never do that again.” “Do you promise?” “I promise, Ma'am. I promise.” “Wash up and get out of the bath quickly because a hot bath can make you dizzy, ok?” “OK Ma'am.” I was crying while I washed my body. I wondered if she was angry with me or not. I couldn't see her face, but her voice was calm and had a soft tone during our conversation; however, each word was so meaningful for me. She started to prepare dinner. I could hear the sound of vegetables being fried. After I took the bath, I opened the door, but I couldn't see her face. She looked at me and said, “Look at your face, no more crying, all right?” “But . . . Ma'am . . .” I wanted to try to say something but I couldn't. “You realized you were wrong about what you did, right?” I nodded. “That is very important for you.” I looked at her face, which was not angry with me. “Get dressed and help me to set a table for dinner.” During dinnertime, there was my mother as kind as usual. Since then, she has never spoken anything about the incident to me, and I have never done it again. I think maybe she didn't even tell my father about it at the time. She gave me an opportunity to think about what is right or what is wrong and to learn that anger, blame, and rebuke are not the way to discipline a child. When I have children, I will discipline my children like my mother did to me.
Preventing CockroachesDong Yun Huang Have you suddenly started seeing cockroaches in your kitchen, bathroom, or basement? Are you thinking about how you can beat them? We have many questions about cockroaches because it is in spring when they are more active. Insecticide is a basic way to control cockroaches, but one way is not enough. We should remove cockroaches' basic living requirements, such as water, food, and crevices.
Water is a very important requirement to cockroaches. These insects seem to like damp and dark locations. When faced with a cockroach infestation, it is very important to reduce the availability of water to these insects. You should try to fix drippy faucets and leaky pipes. Drain water from sinks and eliminate the water from pots. Cockroaches can get food in many ways. They can survive on a greasy wall or oven, or they can even benefit from egg shells, sacks of potatoes and pet food. Also, we need to wash our dishes, clear the counters, and sweep the floors before going to bed. In addition, we should remove the garbage from inside the home each evening. We should try to keep the house as clean as possible and reduce the food sources of cockroaches. Cockroaches like to live in small cracks. In a house, we might have some cracks around the sink, counter, or floor. These areas are the best places for cockroaches to breed and grow. So we must fix or caulk these areas. On the other hand, you can stick some cockroach bait into the cracks.
Spring is a humid and rainy season. It is a good time for cockroaches to breed. Cockroaches are one of the most prolific breeders in the world. It is so difficult to control all cockroaches. However, we can prevent cockroaches from potential sources for breeding. How Many Bags of Garbage? Dong Yum Huang Do you know how many bags of garbage you throw away every day? Do you know what kinds of things you throw away most? If you count, you will find that Americans are wasteful. Everyday, Americans waste a lot of paper, food, and plastic bags. Americans do not know they waste a lot of paper everyday. In the morning, I read the newspaper and then throw it out. In school, I do homework. If I think there are mistakes on the paper, I throw out the paper on which I wrote just a few words. |
ng is right. Behold! Behold! Spring has sprung with nature's delight. 
t you guess? All right, let me introduce myself right now. I was brought to his home from the store last year. He always likes to play with me. Maybe I look so cute because I have a round and brown body. When he sees me, he always hits me. Sometimes he hits me lightly; sometimes he hits me hard. Anyway, I like to be hit by him. We have been friends since he bought me. He likes to share his success with me. When he is happy, I also feel happy. He likes to put me in the basket. Can you guess what I am right now? Let me tell you: I'm a basketball. 
from me. In contrast, I feel sadder and more depressed by listening to popular songs when I am sad. One day, I got a letter from my mother, and I felt how she missed me after reading it. In the letter, she told me whenever she wanted to see me, she usually sang a hymnal song, “I Cannot Tell Thee Whence It Came,” and she could tell her sadness was lessened. Since I got the letter, I have sung that song, and I have had the same effect. Really, Christian music comforts me with sure messages and bright solutions for gloomy situations. 
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