Blog 8 The Great Love of Severus Snape

    This morning, I watched the movie Harry Potter 7. I rather like this series of science fiction novels which aroused my interest of reading. The movies adapted from the novels are inspiring and exciting as well. However, the tears filled my eyes when I saw Professor Snape was going to die and staring Harry in his eyes.
    Severus Snape is one of the main characters who appears in the entire series of the novels. With oily hair and a hooked nose, Snape seemed to be considered as a villain all the time until the end. In the sixth novel, he murdered the venerable headmaster of the magic school, Albus Dumbledore, with his own hand. All the evidences proved that he were a loyal servant of the Dark Lord. However, as the mystery was solved ultimately, Snape became a great hero who endured unimaginable pressure and lethal hazard in order to serve as a spy for the just. He executed the command of the headmaster to kill him when he was going to die naturally. I believe everyone that have read the novel is moved by Snape's genuine love which lasted for a lifetime.
    Severus Snape lost his heart to Harry's mother, Lily Ivans, when he was young. In the magic school, this originally close friends parted because of the divergence of the ambitions. Snape was attracted by the dark magic and became a Death Eater, who serves for Lord Voldemort. Therefore, he lost the chance to become the mate of Lily. Lily got married with James Potter.
    The Potters were killed by Lord Voldemort and Harry Potter survived. Snape determined to protect Harry for his mother, Lily Potter. He spied on Voldemort and obtained his trust. No wonder this was an arduous job, because Voldemort was a skillful and bloody wizard who could even read the minds of other people using magic! I suppose it was Snape's everlasting love and determination that protected him from exposure. I appreciate his stamina to endure the hostility of others. Only the headmaster knew his secret and made plans with him. In the end, Snape was killed by Voldemort and failed to live until the coming success.
    Although this is not a true story, I am still deeply moved by Snape's courage and lasting love. Maybe we don't have opportunities to experience such an unforgettable love. At least we can confront the life and people around us with our kindness and responsibility. These will help us achieve our life goals. 

Blog 8 Look back on the past

      Time goes really fast.  Last Friday, we said goodbye to Prof. Chew who have taught us Mathematics for four months.  Like all of my classmates, I couldn’t stop clapping my hands to express my gratitude to him.  Moreover, as the first draft of our research report is submitted, it seems that we have to commence preparing for the final presentation, which indicates the intensive English bridging course will also come to an end soon.    With regard to this blog, I would like to look back on the past five months, since it is really the most special period for me.

      I can still remember the days in Beijing before coming to Singapore.  When my parents were busy packing my stuff, it seemed that the atmosphere was filled with sadness and anxiety besides excitement.  To tell you the truth, at that time I was really worried about leaving my family and friends to stay in an extreme new country.  However, everything turns out to go smoothly afterwards. With the help of MOE officers, hostel aunties, befrienders and my dear friends, I began to adapt to the new life here.  Although many situations were utterly disparate from what I had conceived, I managed to solve most problems and fully enjoyed the beautiful scenery in Singapore.  After the period of adjustment, I finally realize that the worries I had before were totally futile, because no one can predict the future, not to mention worrying about it.  Hence, albeit it is quite common for us to be afraid of unknown things, what we can do is only to focus on every moment at hand. 

      As for study, it is undeniable that during the bridging course, I have really learned a lot.  Yesterday I watched the videotape of my first oral report, which was about subconscious.  I could still recall my stiffness at that moment.  Fortunately, I am able to stand in front of the audience more confidently without reciting the exact words on my scripture now.  Furthermore, although I am still struggling with the essay writing, thanks to the large amount of practice, I am equipped with the basic skills of academic writing.  In addition, as I have mentioned in Blog 7, with the experience of carrying out a research project, I have learned how to work in a team as well as how to communicate with others.  There is no doubt that my English have been improved a lot owing to the intensive bridging course.

      As I try to reach back, I find that the past five months are really rich and meaningful.  Being able to come to Singapore is not only a gift that life offers me, but also a golden opportunity which provides me with chances to explore a new world.  Hopefully, I will make the most of this opportunity so as to be the best that I can be.  Finally, I want to say thank you to all of you who keep company with me and I am really grateful for your help. All the best for you!

Blog 7:What the Science Center Journey Reminds me of

   After the progress test 2 this Wednesday, we went to Singaporean Science Center for our second learning journey.  After the journey, almost everyone think this journey is very interesting. However, I do not think so.  When I saw the amazing IMAX, I did not feel amazed; when I watched the surprising pictures, I did not feel surprised. 
    The science is not so emphasized currently.
     I still remember when I was a child, I was so curious about this world.  I loved visiting the science center,  researching the  principle and asking numerous questions.  At that time, I strongly wanted to be a scientist, neither a business man or a banker.  I was just curious about everything including science.
    However, after I grow up, I find that the knowledge is not so emphasized by our world.  There are seldom people who would devote all they have to science and spare no effort to trace the truth beyond the shallow surface.  The aims of the most researches are money and fame or the preparation of the future money and fame.  Who care about your curiosity?  I envy the day in the ancient Arab when many people there tought that truth was the only thing they would trace. I have even heard a person said that never became a technician and a PhD because they were poor and their lives were difficult, but actually he is a successful technician.  I feel so sand that our world traces such 'truth', the truth of money and fame.

    Recently, we are choosing our major.  We are at a critical point of our life.  I have thought for a long time and considered numerous factors.  Eventually, I choose computer engineering as my major.  The simple reason is that I am very interested in both software and hardware.  Once I also had a dream which was not about computer but practically great and at that time I was full of power and enthusiasm.  Unfortunately, I gave up, because after I learned a lot, I found that the realization of my dream could be a disaster...

     In the future, what I should do is to survive and try to make a change.  Anyway, I will do my duty.

blog 7

Recently I read a book called FCD(the fifth chinese daughter), which I found is very interseted. Here I would like to write my impression of the book.

As many readers have found, a paradigm which is used to interpret generational conflicts in Asian American texts often marks first-generation immigrants as traditional, backward, repressed and oppressive toward their children and their second-generation American children as progressive and liberated. Thus, generational conflicts or differences are often caused by cultural differences between parents (who are considered very Asian) and children (who are more Americanized). But in FCD, things appear to be different from what we have anticipated, at least, it is not the only thing the writer would like to convey.

On the one hand, as the specific background of this novel, it’s inevitable that the “Chineseness” seed rooted in the ground of American democracy is not that easy to grow. From the very early time in Jade Snow’s life, respect and order were the key words in generational relationship. Parents took it for granted that thoughts of a little girl did not matter (She did not voice them). And as the unquestioning obedience was demanded, in many cases, voicing equals to disrespect and challenge to the authority. Even at 5 years old, Jade Snow had learned the meaning of discipline. she would otherwise be whipped because she had knocked older brother’s hat off in fun, or she took a small piece of cloth from clothes factory,or she did not come home at promised time.
What impressed me most is the conflict caused by new slippers which Jade Snow bought with her earnings. According to Daddy's request, who lived and worked with a strong self-discipline, all the members in family were expected to dress up perfectly once he or she got up. A casual style of clothes was unacceptable in father’s mind, in another word, it’s unnecessary to own a pair of slippers at all. Though slippers had never been specifically forbidden, when she wore them at homeshe was still given a lesson and asked to go to public library to look up and report the definition of slippers to Daddy. “Slippers: A kind of light shoe, often and typically one which may be slipped on with ease and wore in undress…” Daddy put emphasis on “undress” and again the unshakable authority of the patriarchal role father led was reinforced. Although we think this plot to some degree ridiculous today, it was from physical and mental punishment that children in Wong’s big family gradually learnt what was proper and what was improper at that time.Thus, all the people either adults or children would be gurarnted act their own roles dutifully......
There are much more I can tell you about the book, but I think only you read it yourself, can you really enjoy the book!

On Tuesday, we hold an interesting class debate. All of us are divided into 4 groups except one time keeper and one chairman. My debate topic is that should women bring up a child alone because she does not want to get married. We are in the opposite part. At first, we think we have a little bit advantage because the situation may not be accepted by boys. However, the results are out of my expectation because we were defeated by the pros at the score 1:8, which was a surprising and amazing outcome to me. During our debate, we can be obviously divided into two parts—prepared and not prepared. We can easily find that prepared people were reading the article he or she got from the internet and the unprepared person were debating his opinion falteringly. Therefore, the performance was not good enough and maybe a little boring. But the most unacceptable thing is the outcome. I really want to know how does the judges assess the debate and what is the standard of their assessment?

Recent Story

Recent story 

Recently, our group members are occupied with our final research, which is really a new assignment I have never referred to.  Having changed the topic for many times, including how to buy an airline ticket and travel programs, we eventually make sure the final one, qualification of ideal mates.  By the way, I should say that the path towards the final one we are all consistent with is so uneven, especially the brainstorms we suffered.

       Before we started to do the survey, Mrs. Choo had given us much helpful advice.  I cannot remember how many times we have corrected and improved our questionnaire.  At last, Mrs. Choo gave us a complete chart with all questions, which seemed clear and might make readers feel the questions a few.  I showed my roommates our questionnaire and they all thought highly of our way, which is our mentor’s contribution.  We all appreciated our mentor’s high working sprit.  In addition, I have heard of some in other groups couldn’t come into a consistence.  And they sometimes even argued.  On the contrary, I am glad our group always keeps a good harmony and everyone devote to it.

What impressed me is the time when we asked others to help us do the surveys.  At that noon, we ate at arts canteen.  Even when we were having lunch, everyone was trying to look for those students who might be willing to help us.  The moment some students sitting next to our table finished eating, Shuzhi suddenly stood up and asked them to do a survey.  Fortunately, they accepted.  Meanwhile, the rest of us burst into laughter, because we were still eating and Shuzhi’s sudden action really surprised us.  Actually, most of students and professors would like to help us, which moved us. 

       And now, we are busy with our interpreting about every part.  I believe our research will be ultimately great one.   

Blog 7 Something Not About Debate

I intended to talk about something about debate, as Ms Lim suggested.  But at the moment I was going to write something down, I changed my mind, because I realised that I’m not good at it.  I’m not qualified to say something on debate.  The advice I shared in the class was just searched from the Internet.  It sounds reasonable and useful when first heard; for me, however, it isn’t ‘useful’ since I don’t know how to ‘use’ it.

This reminded me of a Chinese saying: it is far more difficult to embroider than to watch someone do.  It means when you watch some doing something, you think it’s easy; however, when you do it by your own, you may find it is very hard.  The saying and the thing I mentioned in first paragraph look different, right?  But essentially, they are the same.  Sometimes, you only know some skills theoretically, but you actually don’t know how to apply them; you only know how it comes out, but you actually don’t know how to make it come out.

This is a common problem that our Chinese students are facing (Otherwise the saying wouldn’t come from China ;)  Of course, I have to admit this fact: although I’m a typical representative of this kind of students, here allows many exceptions. ).  After coming here, I realised this problem even more strongly.  So how to solve it?  I have to ask myself this question.  It is not easy to give a simple answer for anyone, I think, especially for one like me that was stuck in this problem.  Maybe I only need to train myself more and try to change myself and use different ways of thinking.  Do you have any solution?

Ps: maybe that I can’t find the answer is because I’m not good at debate.  Many people think that good debaters are also good at solving problems.  If it is true, I think I’m in a vicious circle!