September 19, 2016 with class 603

        Starting from today, I participated in the evening program offered by the school with Wendy and Lisa.  Ho ho!  It was a valuable experience for me.  After the exam at the ninth period, I went to the school kitchen to take dinner with Wendy and Lisa.  It was my first time having dinner in the school.   I needed to eat enough so that I could be filled with spirits in order to study.   After the happy dinner time, we took a break for a while.

After dinner, we had to study in the classroom on our own. Tonight, I studied Chinese.  The article in Lesson 3 was written by Xun Kuang. I have learned a lot from this article. For instance, “The climbing of a height begins at the base.” “A man is known by the company he keeps.” “A Jack of all trades is master of none.” We have to devote ourselves to learning, carefully choose the learning environment, and most importantly, we had better never stop learning. Inspired by this article, I have more and more confidence in learning.

In order to promote my English ability, I take part in English reinforcement program every Monday, which helps me learn more about English as well as the current events.  The College Entrance Exam will be around the corner. I hope Wendy and Lisa can get good grades on the test and enter a good university.

阿富遊日本

June 2, 2016 with class 503

        Today, Andy and I prepared for the Science Week together.  First, we stuck a poster to the blackboard.  Second, we put bottles on the table.  I didn’t know what we would do.  And then, Andy put a water tank on the table.  Third, we put targets made of paper on the table.  Finally, we were ready.

        I asked Andy why we needed to collect a lot of plastic bottles.  Andy gave me one of the bottles, but he didn’t tell me the reason until he finished everything. He used a pair of scissors to cut  a bottle in half.  He saved the upper part of the bottle and cut a balloon.  He attached the part of the balloon to the bottle.  He pulled back the balloon.  Suddenly, he released the balloon and a strong wind rushed out of the bottle.  It worked like an air gun.  I was surprised.  Andy taught me how it worked and then I made an air gun.  I used the gun to shoot the targets.  I was very happy that I hit a lot of targets. 

June 1, 2016 with class 503

        From the twenty-third to twenty-seventh of May, students majoring in science held an event, called “Science Week.”  In this week, I participated in some scientific experiments and games, listened to a speech and looked at a show of dominoes. 

        On Tuesday and Wednesday, Wendy was in charge of a game.  In this game, we made a little boat with some small plastic bottles, tapes, rubber bands and straws.  We used Newton’s third law and some physics knowledge about potential energy switching to kinetic energy to make a current.   Then, the current pushed the boat.  I competed with other participants to see who could push the boat the farthest by answering Wendy’s questions about science.  This game inspired me a lot and improved my logic.

        The closing ceremony was on the last day of the week.  Wendy and her classmates set up a domino set.  They used some physics laws to let one wooden block knock down another one.  Then, the first domino knocked down the following one, which in turn caused another one down, all the way to the last domino.  I was amazed by the “Domino Effect.”  When all the dominoes were knocked over, I saw the word “PASSION” spelled out.   You could see how much work had been put into this project. Actually, they had been setting up the dominoes all the morning.  The reason why they used the word “PASSION” is because students majoring in sciences hope to encourage each other to have a passion for science and the unknown world.  

Carp went back to visit his hometown, June 6-12

May 1, 2016 with class 503

     Yesterday, I went to the library at school.  Andy kept telling me that the library is great, so I wanted to visit the library. I found the library has a wide variety of books, films, etc.

     I saw a lot of DVDs and I found Miyazaki’s DVDs.  I like Miyazaki because he has made many great animated films.  I was surprised that the library held his DVDs.   My favorite Miyazaki’s DVD is “The Secret World of Arrietty” and I found it in the DVD cabinets.  I decided to borrow it.

     Afterwards, I walked to the second floor of the library, where they store a lot of books.  I found a book that talks about Japanese food. 

 I read the book and was interested in one of the articles.  It is about udon noodles. 

The article is about the author, who went to eat udon noodles at a small restaurant.  The author discovered a lot of special dishes and was impressed by the delicious food. I started to miss my hometown. Fortunately, Taiwan also has a lot of delicious Japanese food, which can relieve my homesickness.

       Like Arrietty, who is well-treated by the actor, I am taken good care of by the students here. The thought of going back to my hometown makes me sad.  I am thankful to them for keeping track of what I have been doing here.  I can always look at the photos and think of what I have been through here.

April 24, 2016 with class 503

 I have been in Taiwan for almost a year.  I have eaten a lot of delicious food here.  Today, I tried to make Jiaozi (a kind of Chinese dumplings).  I bought the pre-made wrappers, then I prepared the fillings and finally I cooked on my own. 

        The following is the way we made Jiaozi.  First, add some seasonings like allspice powder, white sesame oil, soy sauce, rice wine, salt, ground ginger, and finely-chopped green onion to the ground pork in a pot.  Then, mix the cabbages (the cabbages have already been squeezed out of extra water with salt.  Sometimes, corns and leeks can be used in the place of the cabbages) and minced meat together by hand until they are thoroughly mixed. 

        After the fillings are done, we start to wrap dumplings.  I pick up a ready-made wrapper.  Then, I use a spoon to scoop out a spoonful of the fillings and put it in the center of the wrapper.  I spread a little water on the edge of the wrapper.  I fold the wrapper in half and pinch the two edges together, forming a half-circle.   A Chinese crescent-shaped dumpling has been done.  

        I can choose either to  boil or to steam Jiaozi.  These delicious dumplings are fast eaten up by me.   Indeed, food made by myself is the most delicious.