Chapter 10

我到飞机场的时候要托运我的行李。我怕我的行李会超重因为我带很多衣服。我想带上飞机一个包。飞机场的服务员给我以张登机牌，说我“一路平安”。 我一直走对我的登机口。哎！ 我忘了给我表姐说再见，谢谢。我一边等飞机，一边看书。飞机应该十点钟起飞，可是天气下一点雨， 所以飞机一点晚。我到日本的时候，我阿姨，素数会等我。我飞机来了。 再见！

Chapter 9

我不喜欢住一个地方太长的时间。我想去旅行看其它的地方。 我想学别地方的文化。我打算明天出去。因为我要电脑，我不要用旅行社。 我上网买一张单程机票去日本。我已经有我的护照。我不要在日本定旅馆因为我上网找到好人给我跟他们住。我会在纽约转机。我要窗户坐字。我要八点早上去到机场。我表姐会送我。我很紧张，还是我也混高兴。我没去过日本。 我很想看有名的首都，Tokyo.

Chapter 8

的公寓有很漂亮的运动场。我怕旁，所以我一定要去做运动。 我喜欢跑步，可是，我也喜欢打网球。如果运动场没有别人，我可以游泳。我有一点怕淹死， 所以我不太愿意去游泳太来。足球太南，我想提高我的水平所以别人不会笑我。我担心没有人会想我跟他们打美食足球。我很喜欢，但是，加州没有很多人跟我一样。最后，跑步最简单。我计划每天去做半天运动。哈哈哈

Chapter 7

加州太好了！一言为定，我想拌去加州。 我先要看报纸找广告出租公寓。我不想住我表姐太远。 我想可以在公寓走到我最喜欢的饭馆儿。我找到很便宜的， 很近的公寓。 公寓已经有家具。太好了。公寓有两个我市，医个卫生间， 还有医个客厅。客厅里有一张饭桌，两套椅子， 还有一长沙发。一月是两千人民币。我不要给押金， 因为我不会杨宠物。 我真很高兴！我找到新的家。

Chapter 6

我昨天晚上在医院的时候跟的医生克定我身体好的时候， 会去看电影， 跳舞。我有力气， 但是我想等后天先打电话给她。我想给她好的印象。 我要打扫的公寓。我准备好以后，去商店买花送给她。我花很多钱。 我希望她会喜欢我。我打电话给她，但是她给我的号码错的！我很伤心。为什么她要左怎么样？我以为她跟我一同，可是我错了。我也不舒服，但是这次我心疼。

Chapter 5

我今天早上起床的时候， 我肚子很疼。我觉得我昨天吃坏。前天的糖醋鱼没做好。 我夜里上厕所很多次。我一定要看病, 我的肚子越来越疼。疼死了！医生检查以后告诉我吃两片肚疼药。她没办法帮我。 她不可以给我打针。我表姐赶快去药店用我的保险买药因为我太懒。我要躺下休息一下。为什么我乱会生病。真很糟糕！我不会在回那个饭馆儿。

Chapter 4

我表姐上完暑期班。她很聪明，很用功。她上班的时候，压力很大，所以她想开舞会。我的老鹏哟回来的舞会。 好久不见。她以前很可爱。现在，她长大了。我上网脸书（facebook)， 看到她的照片。她又高又漂亮。今天还是她的生日。我来加州以前已经计划看她， 所以我已经买好她的礼物。我想送给她一长老的找片。真很可爱！我希望她会喜欢。

Chapter 3

我吃完饭想看加州的中国城。 我去过纽约的中国城，想知道如果加州还比纽约好。我的表姐，小兔在 San Francisco 住。她想带我去，但是 她要打工， 所以她给我一将地图。 她说从的饭馆儿往南走。 我过三个路口以后 往右拐。 我一直走，中国城会在左边。我回到很可爱的商店。 我想买各礼物给我表姐。我买玩东西又哦了，所以我买点水果。我买一些苹果，梨，和西瓜。这个西瓜很重。 我不能带给我表姐。

Chapter 2

我到加州的时候，很哦。我的好朋友，小笑，带我我一个很小的中国饭馆儿。我们到的时候，好像没有位子了。 这服务员带我们去最后的桌子。 我们店一旁素饺字， 亮碗酸辣汤，一旁家常豆腐，还要一旁糖醋鱼。我们说服务员不放味精。 我们只要冰水。我们也说服务员请块上菜。这菜真很好吃。 我想说给师傅谢谢。 下次我想点的红烧牛肉 和 一盘凉拌黄瓜。 我网带我的反卡。 我朋友说没关系， 他帮我肤浅。

Chapter 1

这个秋天，我想多去公园散步。我在电视上看到的天气预报。下个星期的天气真不好。下个星期会下雨，下雪， 真糟糕！可是，我可以去公园滑冰。滑冰很好玩儿。冷的天气不错，但是我更喜欢暖和的天气。Texas 不但太热， 而且很不舒服。加州的天期非常好。 加州不但那么漂亮，而且有很多我的朋友。我刚才在网上找便宜的机票去加州。

Hurray for the Beijing Olympics

I can remember sitting on the couch with my father, after eating a large meal, and watching the television screen intently, anticipating which country was to host the 2008 Olympics. The bid went to China, and I must say on that moment I was very proud and happy for my country of origin. When China announced it's dream come true, it was as if a new world was being open to them.

Prior to this class I had never seen the Beijing opening ceremony. I had seen the Olympics and watched as China triumphed and gained the most gold metals, albeit through cheating. You have to admit the Chinese really wanted to succeed and show to the world how awesome of a country they had become.

The first chance they got to do so was at the opening ceremony. It was spectacular. The massive amount of money seemed well spent. They technology was far advanced, more so than I have ever seen before. And the numbers of people performing bordered on the obscene. 15,000 performers were placed in the show, none of them were repeated. Only in China could this be done, like director Zhang Yimou said, China definately has the man power. An example can be exhibited by the fact that man power, human power, was used to generate and move the Chinese typing blocks.

The show was truely a spectacular show, one that I believe no other country could live up to. The show instilled a Chinese national pride in me that I didn't really know existed. Yes, I am Chinese; however, I believe being born and raised in the West has brought me different ideals and values than the traditional ones brought over from the old country by my forbearers. I believe this opening ceremony and the Beijing Olympic games in general brought Chinese all over the world this same pride. However, despite being extrememly prideful that China is seeking and being granted international recognition, I can't help but remember all the totalitarian moves the government made in order to ensure the success of the Beijing Olympics. Thousands of people were displaced and forced from their homes and car driving was restricted in order to reduce air pollution. Other conflicts include the brutality with which the Chinese government used to suppress Tibetan protesters.

Sometimes I wish I was just ignorant and didn't know the whole situation of China's authoritarianism. I really do. The ceremony was beautiful, but the lenghts to achieve such a success was not justified.

Ai Weiwei's Artwork Travels, Despite Detainment

Ai WeiWei’s art is in New York but he isn’t. Ai Weiwei hasn’t been seen in over a month, since Chinese authorities took him into custody. In this article, the author talks about her interview with Ai before the Beijing Olympics. It is obvious, though frequent blogging, that Ai is adamant in his belief of freedom of speech. His art also conveys his bluntness (i.e. dropping the Han Dynasty vase; conversion of valuable antiques into works of art). As we discussed in class, much of his art represents the government’s destruction of priceless pieces of cultural sites for more modern edifices. Through his art, Ai Weiwei illustrates the facts of Chinese society, which is probably why he's being detained

http://www.npr.org/2011/05/01/135812530/ai-weiweis-artwork-travels-despite-detainment

Hero

Hero is a story about a nameless, at first, hero that has slain the three most deadly assassins and because of tat granted an audience with the emperor. The emperor wants to know the whole story of how this Nameless defeated all three of these amazing martial artists.

As the hero is recounting the story I was awestruck. It seemed like I didn’t blink the entire movie. Her is one of if not the most beautiful scenic movies I have ever seen in my life. No matter where they were, dark, light, any color, it was all so breathtakingly beautiful. I in all honesty can say that every scene of this movie was picture perfect.

Though the filmography was amazing and stunningly put together the music also played a huge part in the film. The blind man playing the guzheng (I think that is what it is called) to the violins and cellos. Even the leaves in the fight between Mood and Falling Snow play music. It always set the mood for the fight about to occur.

The story cannot go without being mentioned. It holds its own against the beauty of the scenes and music. You soon realize that you cant trust anything you see or here. One story is a lie, the next a fantasy. The characters go through development as well they go from being mindless warriors to people with personalities. You get to know how they work, their bravery, love, and passions.

The way the story is told is an art style in itself. The story progresses and we see the same individuals fighting each other but in a progression of certain colors. Red symbolized chaos and passion, blur was unity and perfection, white for purity, truth, and vastness, and green for enlightenment and youth. Each relating to their story and how it pertained to what really happened.

There isn’t a bad thing I can think of about this movie. It was a treat for both Martial arts fans and general moviegoers. I cannot express how beautiful this movie is, every frame is perfect and gorgeous.

This man lives in an egg...made of grass.

http://www.switched.com/2010/12/09/dai-haifei-solar-powered-mobile-egg-house-grass/

What happens when a Chinese architect decides he is done wasting his money on the high cost of rent? He builds himself a solar-powered, bamboo egg covered in grass for $1000. Nifty! Unfortunately there is this thing called the Chinese government, and it isn't very found of Dai Haifei's new living arrangements (too environmentally friendly I assume). Haifei's mother and father considered buying their homeless son a house, but they "would have to make payments for 300 years to do so." Maybe he could move in with the old woman who lives in a shoe? Haha :)

China leads the way with greener cars

http://ecocentric.blogs.time.com/2011/04/20/how-china-can-take-the-wheel-on-electric-cars/

With China already doubling the United State's expenditure on green research it comes at no surprise that the country is spending massive sums on developing electric cars. "China is committed to spending $15 billion on building and selling electric cars...." , which is definitely an impressive number. Decreasing the use of oil is definitely an important move for the largest country in the world. The most obvious is environmental reasons. With increasing oil prises, dwindling world wide reserves, increasing number of Chinese drivers, and increased overall demand for oil in China this move is important for economic growth and security.

Ai Weiwei

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2066367_2066369_2066464,00.html

The man who desecrated Pu'er tea (I don't think I will ever get over that lol), Ai Weiwei, has been put on Time's 100 most influential people list. This is undoubtedly going to be a great boost to his career. However the editorial commentary by Time only works to increase the American preconception of China as the authoritarian communist bad guy.

Chinese Farmer Swaps Crops for New Job Inventing Robots

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12418160

Chinese urbanization is continually taking people from the countryside to the cities. In this case, China is trying to support inventors, like Wu Lulu, by hosting competitions. The state is trying to take their growing economy to the next level: manufacturing to invention.

China's Middle Class Feels the Pinch of Rising Prices

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/13239004

As the standard of living rises in China, so do the costs, and many are not feeling any better off than their parents before them, despite having apartments and cars. The article also looks indirectly at a woman working in Shanghai unofficially - while it is not stated directly, the fact that she is sending money home so her children can go to school suggests she does not have a Shanghai registration card.

Hero

Zhang Yimou has created over a dozen films that are rich in their representation of Chinese culture and traditions. His film, Hero, is a tale about Nameless, a man who is planning to assassinate the King of Qin. It and is based on historical events that took place in 227 B.C. It is his first film in which he intertwines martial arts and the fine arts.

The use of color is a major technique Zhang Yimou employs in conveying the themes in the story. The same story is told three times in four different colors, each time from a different perspective. The first of the three versions of the story is told by Nameless and reveals how he tricked and defeated the other assassins. Black and red, the first two colors Zhang Yimou chose, are colors that represent evil. The predominant color in the beginning scene of the film is black. Lao Zi, the highly-revered mystic philosopher of ancient China, said “five colors make people blind.” Blind in this sense is equivalent to dark or black. The color black has significance in the first scene as it is used to convey deceit. Red overtones are also used to symbolize passion and danger.

In the second part of the film, the king tells his version of what happened. The king had encountered the assassins previously and created his story based on how the story would have played out according to their personalities. This sequence was shot in beautiful shades of blue which represent purity.

In the last section of the movie, the predominant color is white. This version of the story reveals events as they really happened. Therefore, white represents truth.

The thematic use of contrasting colors from black all the way to white not only effectively conveys the story’s central themes, but also results in a visually breathtaking and beautiful film.

One of the story’s central characters is the assassin, Broken Sword. He is driven by his desire for the king to create a unified country, “our land.” As the story unfolds, Broken Sword persuades Nameless to embrace his idea of “our land” and to abandon his plan to assassinate the king. The king of the state of Qin eventually became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 B.C. The movie plot builds on its concept of unity by having multiple stories that all come together at the end to form the truth. At very end of the movie, the color switches back to black and the king is pressured into killing Nameless. While this outcome is surprising, it adds a feeling of reality.

In Hero, Zhang Yimou skillfully and effectively juxtaposes fighting and art. He adds traditional Chinese music to the fighting scenes and even includes a scene in which students are doing calligraphy while the school is being penetrated and destroyed by thousands of arrows. Interestingly, while assassination is a central theme of the story, bloodshed is symbolically represented rather than overtly demonstrated. Zhang Yimou creates moments in which there should be a lot of blood and gore, but he chooses to only depict the bloodshed though droplets of blood falling off a sword to the floor. The only place in the film that shows the overt act of blood being drawn is the scene in which the assassin spares the king’s life and merely scratches his neck with a sword.

Hero is a very creative re-telling of the attempted assassination on the Qin King. It is artistically pleasing and action–packed, maintaining the viewer’s attention from beginning to end. The director’s imaginative use of color, music, and action stimulates the viewer’s imagination, resulting in a memorable film. This movie is considered a mile-stone in Chinese cinema and received international acclaim.

Facebook seeks to expand into China

http://www.themunchonline.com/business-news/facebook-seeks-to-expand-into-china-1.2214696

While Facebook may be blocked in China, that hasn't stopped it and the Chinese internet company Baidu from entering talks to expand into the market, by creating a similar social networking style website. While meetings between the two company heads have begun, no set date for the project has been announced. Such a project will also have to meet with the government's approval, and submit to it's strict internet laws.

Smoking Ban In Public Places Starts Today In China

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/223855.php

Legislation banning smoking in public places goes in effect today. Health officials hope to raise awareness of the dangers of smoking, as China's smoking population makes up 1/3 of the worlds smokers. Officials also cite smoking as contributing to 4 of the top 5 causes of death in China. Despite the extensiveness of the ban, some are saying it doesn't go far enough, as it does not ban smoking in offices, where it is up to managers to warn their employees of the dangers, but cannot stop them from smoking.