Disguising My True Feelings About Knots and Lashings

 

    Last Saturday, I went to the Baseline Community Church with our Boy Scout Troop to review skills we needed to know for the Camporee, which is where individual patrols from different troops compete against each other on knots, lashings, and other technical knowledge. I like going to Boy Scout meetings, but ropes are the part that I dislike the most.

    After finishing the review of the last first aid skill (how to treat a rabid animal bite), we moved on to knots and lashings. Jacob, our patrol leader, led us to the grass outside the church. He pulled out six pieces of nylon rope from his bag and gave one to each of us. My main reason why I dislike this skill is because of the complicated turns, loops, and hitches that complete each knot and occupy a lot of brain cells. Since my memory is pretty bad , I usually forget the knots I learn fairly soon. The thin ropes are hard to control and always bite into my hands. As Jacob started to teach us a new knot, the bowline, my brain started to become fuzzy. But I concentrated hard, for I knew knots and lashings is one requirement in becoming a Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and eventually, Eagle Scout. I also understood how important ropes are, because they are part of setting up a tent, building a bridge or signal tower, pulling logs and many other things. These thoughts became stronger, and pierced through the fogginess that clouded my brain and it started working properly.

    Soon, my brain started to cloud again. I looked around at the other scouts, who seem to be engrossed with the knots and were showing no sign of dislike at all. I didn’t want to be the only scout that disliked ropes, so I forced myself to continue pretending.  It was all going pretty smoothly, until Jacob started teaching us a super complicated knot, the taut-line hitch. I knew I couldn’t disguise my feelings any longer, so at first I thought I could go to the restroom to skip this knot, but Jacob stopped me by saying, “This is an important knot, because you will be using it to build a tent.”  I was smart enough to stay, for I knew this was a crucial  hitch in the Scouting skills.

    Once again, I got myself boosted up by thinking about the Camporee competition, because the theme was ”Knowing the Ropes.” It would be a shame if I made the patrol lose when the inspectors at camp asked me a knot that I didn’t know. So I continued doing the knots and lashings, filling my mind with the other fun activities at the Camporee, which really helped me disguise my true feelings.

    I don’t know whether I will like ropes in the future, but I really don’t have any passion for them right now.

We Want Organized Salad Bars

     Does your school have a disgusting lunch salad bar? Our school does and it’s becoming worse and worse. From my experience, salad bars are supposed to consist of several different items, each put into a small plastic bowl for each student to take one serving. But at our school, the salad bar items are put in large square containers for students to serve themselves. Most of the older kids can easily serve themselves, but the younger Kindergartners, and first and second graders, still haven’t really gotten the hang of scooping food onto their trays. So, we upper graders only get the items that the lower graders messed up.

     Since the food is messed up, it destroys our appetite, and we usually  don’t take anything from the salad bar. But the aids notice and tell us we have to get at least two items from the salad bar to be fit and get nutrition. We agree, but most of us just nibble a bit off the corners and throw the huge amounts of leftovers away. By doing this, it is wasting food, so this is something I would like to change, not only at our school but at all the other schools that have disorganized salad bars.

    There are two ways that I think will work out the best. These two ways both have advantages and disadvantages. The choice depends on what the school prefers. One option is for the lunch person to fill reusable individual trays with fresh vegetables, fruits, and the main dish for the students. This way it will be cleaner, save the students the extra line for the salad bar, and let them start eating directly. If all the students finish their portion, then the nutrition will be enough. One disadvantage is this option requires more labor. The school will need at least three people serving the lunch or the line will become terribly slow and many children won’t have time to finish their meals. Also, some picky kids might waste food and throw everything they don’t like away.

    The second way, in my opinion, is the better way. The school can have one or two lunch servers start preparing small servings of different items into reusable, small, square bowls about ten minutes before lunch and lay them out onto a table. This way, the students won’t touch anyone else’s food serving and the younger children don’t have to worry about the serving spoons. This organized way doesn’t require a lot of workers and the salad bar isn’t likely to be messed up. By doing this, more students will start to take the salad, seeing that it’s very clean. It might be more tiring for the workers in the lunchroom after the children are finished eating because they need to wash the dishes. But, I have thought of a way to deal with that problem. A layer  of cling wrap could be put on every tray and the students can rip it off when they are finished eating.

    I think that many children and young teenagers will be glad by this change, no matter
 which option the school chooses! 

 

Trip to San Diego

        Last summer I went to San Diego with my grandma, mom, my mom’s friend’s family, and a real estate agent who is also our family friend. We drove there in our minivan and the agent’s sedan. The relaxing drive in the spacious van was about two hours long. We had planned to show our friends Sea World, San Diego Zoo, La Jolla Beach, and the Old Town during the two days there. Also my mom’s friend had placed an offer on a farm house in Temecula, and that was the reason our family agent came along. So we went there to check it out on our way to San Diego. The land area was huge, and we picked lots of organic fruits, and ate some of them right away. The peaches were especially delicious and my grandma and I snuck some extra ones into the car for later.

          We went to the San Diego Zoo on the same day we arrived at San Diego. Since we didn’t have much time, we just took a bus tour. On the tour, we saw lots of animals like hippos, tigers, lions, pandas, hogs, boars, wolves, birds, monkeys, flamingos, and lots more. After that we took a walk to get a closer look at the animals and see some other unusual animals that the bus could not get to. During the walk, we got lost for a while and couldn’t find the exit, so that kept my impatient mom waiting. When we finally found our way, it was pretty dark, so we went to a famous seafood restaurant at the harbor close to La Jolla Beach. I had fish steak and raw oysters for the first time, which, surprisingly, tasted very delicious. The first day was so packed, when we got to our rooms at the Sheraton Hotel, everyone fell asleep within seconds in our fluffy and welcoming beds.  

          The next morning, everyone woke up feeling very refreshed and energetic. We agreed that we didn’t want the typical breakfast of eggs, bacon, and pancakes at hotel, so we wandered to the harbor. As we paced along the countless stores and restaurants, we were tempted to buy many delicately made trinkets. Finally we found a small cozy café. We found a seat outside, and the cool ocean breeze blew gently on our faces. I ordered fried squid rings, fresh tuna sandwich, and a bowl of homemade clam chowder with some crunchy crackers. I put the three packs of crackers for later, because intuition told me they would become useful. My friend, Cherry, who was also my mom’s friend’s daughter, and I sat on the high stools, and watched the seagulls peck around the crumbs of food littered on the ground.

When I was watching the seagulls, I obstructively picked up half of my squid ring, and tossed it to the gulls. At first, the gulls were alarmed, but they soon figured out it was food and scrambled over one another. Their skirmish was so hilarious, Cherry and I doubled over with laughter. Our parents came over to see what was so funny, and soon joined in the laughter. After I had finished my fill of the meal, I tossed the rest of the squid rings (3 or 4) one at a time to the crowd of waiting seagulls. Soon the snowy white birds had almost covered the whole cement block, and attracted many passersby. Finally, when we finally ran out of food to feed the seagulls, we left the restaurant happily, although the storeowner’s angry glare dimmed our spirits a bit as we walked out.

After leaving the restaurant, my mom decided we were going to La Jolla Beach. While we were walking to the beach, we came upon another group of seagulls. That was when I remembered the three packs of crackers I had in my pocket. I got them out some to Cherry, and started feeding them as we did at the café. They seemed to love the crackers, and got so close to me, I could pet them. When Cherry and I ran out of crackers and started to walk away, the seagulls followed us. But we just ignored them, because we wanted to see how far the birds would follow. It was not until when we reached the beach did they leave us alone. The beach was as cool and refreshing as the breeze. Cherry and I would stay in one place with the waves coming upon us as my mom took a picture of us. But I always got scared and ran away before my mom could take a nice shot.

Around 10 o’clock, we drove to Sea World. We first went to the Shamu show, which, in my opinion,is the best at Sea World. Of course, we had to get rain ponchos before going, for the show contained four killer whales doing tricks and splashing us with their powerful tails and fins, which was the most fun part. The 20-minute show ended, leaving our ponchos soaking wet, but our bodies dry. After we got out of the jumble of people, we examined the map. Seeing a roller coaster, my mom’s friend immediately set out toward it. At first, I volunteered to stay behind and guard our stuff in an attempt to not get on the roller coaster. But they all encouraged me to go and gave me no choice. So, I joined them, and entered the cart. Before I was even ready, the cart lurched and zoomed off. I barely survived that ride, and as we got off, I felt sick. But soon, I recovered and went visiting the different rides and tours of Sea World.

 In the afternoon, we left Sea World, and rode to San Diego Old Town. We looked around old shops selling “ancient” decorations and trinkets. Cherry and I told our parents we were hungry, so found a unique Mexican restaurant to have dinner. There, we ate delicious Mexican style lobster served in a bucket, beans, and the Mexican rice.

This was a fun getaway with my mom and her friend’s family. They returned to China after this trip. I hope they liked this vacation as much as we did.

 

My First Propeller Plane Ride

 

        I had my first propeller plane ride in mid-October last year. When we got there, Pilot Dave welcomed us inside the office by the Riverside Airport. He told us the plane was fueling. We couldn’t wait to see the plane, so Dave led us to the parking area. A white aircraft was parked in the middle.  “Is that the one we’re going to fly?” I asked with excitement. It was a two-person plane with big windows and windshield, and two comfortable cushioned seats in the spacious cabin. Under the complicated instrument panel with many buttons and wires, two throttles emerged for each person to control the propeller speed, direction, and height of the plane. The plane was about 7 meters long, with a wingspan of 9 meters. Dave told me the aircraft was called the Skycatcher. I wanted to catch the sky immediately! Mom was a bit worried and asked if there was enough gas for a 45 minute-long flight. Dave said a full 24 gallon-tank would last for 4 hours. Here we go!  

     After the door was latched, I put on my sunglasses and fastened the seat belt. Pilot Dave asked me to put on headphones to talk because of the loud rumbling and vibrations of the powerful engine. When we were all set, the engine sprang to life, and he drove the plane to the ramp and took off. I felt excited and a bit nervous. The adventure began.

        In a few minutes, we had already climbed up to 4,000 feet and were increasing speed. Pilot Dave allowed me to touch the throttle in front of me and pretend to fly by myself. We flew south, and then two huge lakes and lots of hills caught my eyes. The moving cars on the freeway, trees in the parks, and buildings all looked like toys to me. I heard the deep rumbling of the engine, and the humorous voice of Pilot Dave beside me. The weather was nice and clear, and even without AC, I felt cool because of the holes in the windows that allowed fresh air to come in. Luckily, I didn’t throw up in the aircraft, and all I felt was joy.

        On the way back to the airport, I also asked some questions, such as what kind of fuel he used to fill the plane, and how high or fast it could go. Dave told me the speed could reach as high as 219 kilometers per hour, and could fly about 15,000 feet above the ground. And I was impressed to hear that the normal 80 minute-drive from the airport to Temecula takes only 15 minutes by plane, with no traffic or speeding tickets to worry about.

         Finally, after 40 minutes in the air, we sighted the landing strip. Soon, we zoomed toward it and landed smoothly. Mom was upon me immediately after she had finished taking her pictures. She hugged me and asked if I liked it. I told her it was a ride that words simply could not describe. Pilot Dave also gave me an aviation badge to remember this ride. I told Dave that I definitely would recommend this flight to anyone who also has interest in flying!

 

Looking At Me, 10 Years in the Future

 

As I stepped into the time machine, I set the date to March 31, 2023. When I pressed Start on the keypad, the complicated machine started whirling madly. Suddenly, I found myself in a bright red telephone booth. Slightly dizzy, I stepped outside the telephone box and onto the busy streets.
 

Across the street, there was a giant building, so tall the top was lost in the puffy clouds. At the base, there was a huge screen, which was about to put on the latest news. I caught a glimpse of the time before the news started. It was 12:20AM, the exact time I had left the time machine and entered into the telephone booth. Hurriedly, I cast about to find the person I had set out to find. Finally, after 5 minutes searching, I finally found him.  It was I, ten years older.
 

    The future Justin had just stopped at the red light on a crossing. I was surprised at how similar we looked. We had the same chubby face, and friendly smile. The future me wore a loose jacket and airy sweatpants. The only big difference was I had become so tall in ten years. I was easily six feet, and I stood out in the crowd. No wonder I didn’t see me at first. I was searching for a medium-sized person that blended easily into the crowd. I asked someone nearby where I was. He looked at me like I was a weirdo, said it was Cambridge, Massachusetts, and hurriedly walked off into the sea of people. How unusual, I thought; it was the exact place where Harvard University was. Hastily, I started to follow the future me, for he was moving again. We walked a couple more blocks and the future me enter the gates of Harvard. So, I was right; in the future I was going to attend Harvard!
 

    During the few moments of my distraction, the almost 22 year-old me was lost from sight. Quickly, I ran into the school grounds and looked about. I caught a glimpse of my older self walking into the main hall. I immediately followed at a trot. A flutter of a cloak told me that the future me had entered Advanced Biology Class in the lab. I silently opened the door a crack and squeezed myself in and hid under an unused desk. For that day’s lesson, the biology class was cutting open a frog, taking out some of its vital organs and examining them. Quickly the teacher gave directions and allowed the class to start. I seemed to be the only one that was having success. All the other students were squealing with disgust. My partner, which seemed to be my friend, and I were the first ones to finish, and now, the teacher wanted us to help him file some documents. We agreed willingly, and started at once. As I watched myself, we filed the papers in a neat, organized way. I could tell the future me had done this many times before. A fierce type of pride coursed through my body as I watched, both at my skills in biology and filing papers. Finally, an hour later, the lesson ended, and after all the students had filed out, I squeezed through the door once more. My 22 year-old self was walking with big strides, and hastily I followed.
 

    We were now walking for several blocks into the downtown area, and the future me enter a Starbucks shop. When I walked in I saw my older self in a Starbucks uniform. I felt so happy, for working at Starbucks as a part time job had appealed to me.  A few minutes later, a couple that seemed very familiar came in. They were my parents, 10 years older. They bought some coffee and had a quick conversation with the future me. I caught some of the Chinese words in the conversation, like, “is that the beginning of a potbelly there, dad,” or, “we’ll look around the downtown area, and come meet us at the restaurant, darling!” After seeing my parents, I suddenly missed my parents, wanting to hug them tightly.  So silently, I ghosted out the store, without anyone noticing.
 

    Quietly, I returned to the telephone booth, dialed the date 3/31/13 on the number pad, and the time machine brought me back to reality. The things I learned today were very satisfying and I was pleased. As soon as I got  back, I ran into the kitchen and hugged my babbling mom very tightly.

Worthy Lines

 

    We’re bound to be in some kind of line throughout our life. One of the longest lines I’ve been in was at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai. I was visiting all my cousins and relatives during my summer vacation, and my mom set a day aside to visit the Expo.

    While we were examining the Expo exhibit list, the one that popped out to me was the Future Car Show. I immediately made my decision and stubbornly stuck to it. My grandma and mom quickly agreed  because they were also fascinated by future cars.

We set off at a brisk pace, and when we found the building, there were already hordes of people waiting. The air  was stiflingly hot, only to be increased by the body heat of the “armies” of guests. The line was moving so slowly, I could hear a snail saying, “Ha! I beat you, slow pokes!” Although I brought my PSP, the sun was so brilliant all I could see was a black screen.  I soon gave up and chatted with my mom about plans for the rest of our stay.

It was all going smoothly, until about 30 minutes later, when a couple sneakily tried to cut us in line while we were busy talking. But barely anything escapes my mom’s “eagle eyes,” and they were caught red-handed. At first, they tried to bluff it through, but Mom was a spectacular arguer, and she asked the other bystanders, “Didn’t we all see that these people cut us in line?” There were loud “Yeahs,” and, “Yeses.” With that, the couple gave up and returned to their old position. When we got closer to the door of the building, I became overly excited. But, when we walked inside, there was another waiting line. Even though the line was short, it seemed to be unmoving. I started to become impatient, and finally, when I was on the verge of blowing up, a manager ushered us inside into an open theater with a wide stage.

    The show finally started and  they put on a movie. At first, I was alarmed, because our seats started to move to the motion of the future cars, which seemed to hover a few inches from the ground. After we got used to the movement of the seats, my grandma, mom, and I started to enjoy the movie. Not only did they show future cars, but they also showed advanced ways of parking, with machines lifting the cars up to their spaces in the parking lot, with a private glass chamber for each. After the movie, some of the actual future cars paraded on the stage. They had peculiar shapes, with wide windshields, throttles instead of steering wheels, and, like in the movie, didn’t have wheels and seemed to hover.

    The 45 minute show ended after the car parade. Although I had spent more time in line than I did in the actual show, I thought it was worth it. Now we have some kind of idea about what the cars could look like when I am older.  Even though my legs were tired, I wanted to see another interesting exhibit!

    Actually, from my experiences, most lines are worth waiting in.  Of course, if the activity isn’t worth waiting for, not a lot of people would go, and there wouldn’t be a line at all. So, trust me; when you see a long line for something, most likely it’s for something interesting, and it’ll be worth it, as long as you have the patience!  

Grandma, mom and I standing in front of China Pavilion  

        

Technology, Life Necessity

 

Nowadays, we are more addicted than ever before to the computer in our daily life, like keeping in touch with family and friends, doing research, and looking for entertainment. But since there are so many types of technology, in my family, we only use a few that are the most helpful and entertaining to us.

My family has a tech tool called Skype. It is an internet service where people can see each other while talking. I usually use this to chat with friends and families in China and Taiwan. On Skype, I can show them new presents I got for Christmas or birthday, and the trophies I won from golf and piano. Talking to my grandparents will also make us much closer than before. We also share special and exciting events with them and also show them pictures and videos. Chatting occasionally to my friends in China makes it not so strange when we meet each other during the summer. It preserves our friendship and makes it stronger.

Email is a similar technology that helps us get connected. But unlike Skype, email uses words and attachments, like pictures and videos, to reach those people who are not online at the same time. My mom also uses email to share valuable coupons with her friends. This new technology basically replaces the “snail mail” for keeping in touch with others and saves us money on stamps.

To me, one of the most important tech tools is the Internet, which I use for online research.  I use it to complete school projects like the Ancient Civilization Report that I am working on now. Sometimes, when I need a picture, I usually click the icon on Images to find the right one. I also read the recent breaking  news on the computer. Online research also allows me to buy stuff, like the PSP, clothing, and books, for a better deal. There are also recipes on how to cook delicious dishes. Sometimes when mom has no idea for cooking, I can help by just googling.

    Computer and iPad games are the most fun to me of all technological entertainment. From my experience, computer games are better than iPad games because there is more variety and Apple products have too many restrictions for downloading. Also, some of the fun shooting games can’t be played on the iPad because it doesn’t have a keyboard or mouse. But an iPad can be taken virtually anywhere. I love both.

    Many more high technology tools are widely used in my life. But computers affect me the most and I am grateful for it.

Television: Better or Worse

Many people, including my mom, don't allow their children to watch a lot of television because they say it is not educational. But this totally depends on people's opinions and what kinds of shows they watch.

Of course, if the only shows you watch are cartoons and movies, it wouldn't be educational. People will gain nothing but fun and fat from lying on the sofa for hours when watching these kinds of shows. But those are not the only kinds of shows on television. This type of show is educational for sure.

News channels, like ABC, NBC, Fox News, and CCTV, keep us updated on world and national events, news, and hot issues. For example, when I watched the President’s Debate on NBC at the end of last year, I learned about some of the national issues that concerned people and that the candidates promised to improve. Also, on some of the sports channels, they tell us about numerous games, including soccer, football, golf, tennis, and swimming. We can also watch the Olympics, and see which country is in the lead with medals.

Food shows are also educational. My mom loves food shows, and she always writes the instructions for recipes down. If I have to learn to cook when I grow up, these food shows can teach me to cook various dishes. Many people have learned to make delicious meals that they never thought existed, from watching these shows. They are a very good platform for people who love food.(That’s me!)

But what I’m saying doesn’t mean that some cartoons and movies aren’t educational. A few of the cartoons I watched have many useful morals. Movies can also widen people’s minds.

In all, I think that television is still considered  educational. But even so, this is just an opinion, and I am open to any suggestions.

Letter to Professor McGonagal About the WIzarding Fantasy Experience

Dear Professor M. McGonagall,

   

    Thank you so much for inviting me to the Wizarding Fantasy Experience at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I had always thought of learning magic when I was little, and now, this dream is coming true.

    During my stay here at Hogwarts, I would like to have Harry Potter as my roommate. I admire his loyalty, determination, and bravery, even in the tightest spots. I also hope to learn from Harry how to conjure a Patronus. It might be useful if I go to Diagon Alley, or Azkaban on the Civic Experience. Harry might show me his miniature dragon he got from the Triwizard Tournament, which I am very interested in. I also would like to find the Weasley’s flying car that Harry and Ron Weasley crashed onto the Whomping Willow and try what it feels like to be in an airborne car.  And riding Harry’s broomstick, the Firebolt, which is one of the best brooms in the wizarding world, is also on my wish list. Harry could also give me a few tips on how to play Quidditch, especially as Seeker or Beater. Harry and I will be compatible because we both have an easygoing nature and a sparkling sense of humor. Moreover, I like adventures, and since I figured Harry would have a lot of those, I would like to have him as my roommate.

    I know for the professor part, it only says to select one, but I hope I’m allowed to pick two of my favorite professors.  I would like to work with you for Transfiguration, and Professor Flitwick  for charms. I picked you because it would be excellent if I could just transform anything instantly to a fried egg, which is my favorite food, when I am hungry. I also would love to see you transform into a cat and back, which fascinated me. Transfiguration would allow me to get almost anything I wanted. This could become a very useful skill in the future. I want to study with Professor Flitwick  because of the Cheering Charm. I could do it for myself when I was unhappy or furious. I am always wondering what it would be like if I overdid it. Laugh or giggle hysterically? I would also like to learn the Summoning Charm, which would allow me to get things that I forgot or needed. This way, I wouldn’t have to walk great distances to get it.

    After much internal debate, the one field trip I would most like to go on is the Diagon Alley Walking Tour, with the side trip to Knockturn Alley. I would love to visit Apothecary to see all the different types of potion ingredients. It would also be great if I were allowed to visit the Gringotts Bank, which has always fascinated me, especially the ride underground to the vaults. I’d also like to buy some books from Flourish and Blotts to take home on the subjects that interest me the most. I might even get the Monster Book of Monster as a “pet.” The best part of the field trip is to Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes. I can bring home the tricks as souvenirs to share with my friends. I also look forward to going to Ollivanders, where I might even be able to get a wand of my own! Oh, I can't wait now.

    Once again, thank you so much for inviting me to this Wizarding Fantasy Experience, and for all the arrangements! 

 

Sincerely,

Justin Wei

My Dad

 

     One person I greatly admire is my dad. There are many reasons why I admire him, but I will share with you the main three.

     My dad is a very courteous and kind person. Unlike some people I have seen, he always gives a generous amount of tips to the servants at restaurants. He told me that they earn tips only and we shouldn’t be mean to these hard workers. Every time Anna, our housekeeper, comes, he treats her as a friend and occasionally chats with her nicely. At my dad’s company, he treats all of his employees like people of equal rank. Because my dad is such a nice boss, the supervisor who works for him also brings his daughter and son to work at my dad’s company.

     My dad also has a very stable business of running his own company for almost 25 years. He makes decent money so that we have a comfortable life. And I can have quite a few after school lessons, such as golf, tennis, art, writing, and piano. His well organized schedule makes work fun for him, and he always saves some free time for our family activities like tennis, golf, and swimming.  

     My dad has good living habits. He brushes his teeth at least three times a day. He eats very healthy food and encourages us to eat lighter food with fewer oils, MSG, and fats. He always teaches me to check the nutrition facts when buying food.  He walks every morning for more than half an hour and swims 20 laps to keep fit. For reading, he urges me to read out loud sentences that are well written and then to remember them. He also washes all the dishes and cleans the stove every evening, no matter how busy he is.  

      In my opinion, my dad is the perfect gentleman and role model. I think that I am very lucky to have him as my dad. I hope that when I grow up, I can get a good stable job, and a loving family, just like my dad!

 

Dad and I at Suzhou Garden 2008

 

Bike riding to Ali Mountain in Taiwan 2012

My First Time Skiing = Embarrassment or Fun?

 

       This winter, I  attempted one of the hardest sports for me in my life, skiing. Before going skiing, I had thought that I would  get the hang of it quickly, though there was always little doubt nagging me in the back of my mind. But after a while, the nagging became annoying and I got mad at myself. I stubbornly closed the door on such ideas and continued to make my last preparations for the following day. When I arrived on the mountain, I realized that this sport literally chilled to the bone unlike the other new sports I had tried, like golf or tennis. My clothing became soaked by snow within minutes of skiing. And the first few moments were so embarrassing, I could have stuck my head under a bed and blubbered.

       My first time skiing was with my Boy Scout Troop at Big Bear Lake. I wanted to earn the Snow Sports Merit Badge, which every scout said was very fun. My friend Darren and I, along with our parents, arrived at Big Bear Lake early in the morning. Mr. Garth, our Scoutmaster, and several other scout families were already there. As soon as we rented our equipment (the stiff boots are so annoying!), Darren and I set out toward the powdery snow. I wasn’t the least bit worried about failing in skiing, because I thought it would be easier than me eating an egg and I love eggs.

       As soon as our Merit Badge class started, I proved myself wrong about how hard skiing was. The first time I tried to ski to the counselors and the other scouts, I zoomed down the slope too fast, lost my balance, tripped over a fence, and crash landed in front of them. The Scouts tried unsuccessfully to mask their laughter and ended up snorting, much like pigs. I tried to look dignified, but that’s really hard when you’re sitting, half buried by snow and entangled in your own legs and skis. This just made my fellow scouts laugh even harder and hurt my feelings even more. Now, I was loathing and regretting doing this, but since I signed up, I had to finish. Finally, to my relief, the lesson started. Luckily, I wasn’t the only one who was bad at skiing. But soon, I started to get the hang of it, and pulled ahead of some others. Now I was thinking I had some hope in skiing.

       Toward the end of the lesson, I had become an experienced beginning skier and had also successfully gotten the Snow Sports Merit Badge. But the hills we were on were beginner levels, and now I was ready to try harder ones. I was almost scared out of my skin when I saw some of terrifying slopes. The other scouts also gasped, so I think they felt the same way I did.  I was sure I couldn’t make it down in one piece. But , miraculously,  I made it, although I stumbled a couple of times. After I got used to the slope, I sped down the hill with more ease. It felt so good to rush down through the snow on my skis. We finally stopped in the late afternoon when it started to drizzle, but I still felt that I hadn’t had enough yet.

       After we got in the car to go home, I was satisfied about my day. It had gone well, although there were some “slight” embarrassment. But I still think that skiing is more fun than embarrassing. My first attempt at skiing was a success!

A Letter to My Friends in Shanghai

Dear Dandan and Yangyang,

    How are you doing? How was the winter break? I hope this letter finds you two as snugs as bugs in a rug.  

    This winter, I spent a lot of time skiing. The first time I went skiing was with our Boy Scout troop at Big Bear Lake. Before that, I had only known how to sled. We set out very early and  when we got there, it was freezing cold outside. Luckily, I had followed the Scout Motto, “Be Prepared,” and brought my thick puffy jacket along. Our equipment made us look like little polar bears as we ran to the thick, white, powdery snow. I thought skiing would be easy as pie, but I was proved wrong. The first time I tried, I tripped on my own skis and ate a mouthful of snow. The fall was so hilarious, I joined the laughter because of my clumsiness. I was like a fish out of water.

     I didn’t want to be the worst skier in the troop, so I learned really fast, and, in an hour’s lesson,  I was level with the rest of the Scouts. I learned the standard position of how to ski and turn. And I was right about skiing being a piece of cake after all.

     The most fun part was the afternoon free skiing. We were allowed to try the bunny hill one last time before proceeding to a steeper slope. When I saw the more challenging hill, it frightened the living daylights out of me. I know you guys would have felt the same. Actually, after I zoomed down at “sonic speed,” it wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be. Our patrol leader, Jacob, challenged me to a race. But he jumped the gun and accidentally fell into a nearby bush. At first, he remained motionless and appeared dead as a doornail. Then, as if by muscle spasm, he bolted upright. It was so exciting! I also did a couple of stunts on the snow ramps. You will be so shocked by my skill!

      Okay, you two, I shared my ski experience with you, now the ball is in your courts. Tell me something worthy! I know that writing puts you between a rock and a hard place! But there’s no escaping! Report back soon!

 

Your Friend,

Justin W.

PS Check out the pictures I attached.

Snow Valley at Big Bear Lake




Naam and I ride a lift onto a higher hill




Mount Baldy on 2013 New Year Day




Free skiing at Mount Baldy




Yangyang, Dandan and I

Yangyang and I




This picture of Dandan and I as we play the Xbox 360 Connect
was taken by the Xbox

Disappointment At Piano Contest ...

 

     I clearly remember the day I went to a piano contest for the Bach Festival last March at the Claremont Community School of Music.  For that contest, I prepared a Baroque style piece called the Gavotte in g minor. Many contestants from Pomona Valley attended the Festival and I was really worried and nervous.

     Fortunately, I felt that I had played well. All of my notes were accurate, except for one thwarted note. The audience, including my mom, applauded with enthusiasm after my performance. I went outside to get some fresh air and waited until the award ceremony at 12 o'clock. Time flew past and before I knew it, I was walking with all the contestants into Andre Watts Hall for the Award Ceremony. I was thinking that I might get at least a third place trophy. Finally, I had received an ...

     Honorable Mention. I couldn’t believe what I heard. And a boy who had an obvious mistake had gotten a 2nd place. I was absolutely disappointed by the result, but I had to accept it. When all the parents were taking pictures, I couldn’t smile naturally. My mom was also a little disappointed, but she said it was better than nothing. We still went to have a premium seafood buffet to celebrate, but I could barely taste what I was eating and talked very little.  

     At my next piano lesson, I asked my teacher what had happened. My teacher couldn’t explain it really well either. She also agreed with me that the 2nd and 1st places weren’t that good. The best explanation she could come up with was that the judges probably didn’t like my style of playing this piece. But that didn’t make sense either because the judges’ comments were mostly positive. But she told me not to worry and said that I play piano not only to get a trophy, but to also enjoy playing music.   

     Since then, I have practiced even harder, and I still go to contests regularly. I keep my mind empty of the trophies, for I come to share the music with others. I have even been surprised by winning my 1st place trophies for the Classical and Contemporary Festivals! I have also changed my attitude toward piano. Now I enjoy playing it. Without any doubts, the piano brings me a lot of pleasure and surprises rather than disappointment.

 

Student recital on March 2nd, 2013

 

Trophies

 

 

Advice to J K Rowling

 

     J K Rowling is the author of the Harry Potter fantasy series, which is my favorite group of books. This series is filled with fantasy and magic I love. Even though there are seven books in the series, I feel that it is still not enough. Its ending also makes me thirsty for more stories.

    My advice to Rowling is that after Harry Potter’s three sons and daughters get on the Hogwarts Express, she could continue to write a less dark series about Harry Potter and his children. As far as I know, J K Rowling is still young (47 years old), and can still write more books for us to read.

      When Harry Potter was young, he was an orphan, and there was no family he could love. He was also put to live with his aunt and uncle, who treated him cruelly. But now, Harry’s children have parents who love them and are well-educated. Their lives would be much happier than their father’s.

    The series on Harry Potter and his three children can be about many things, but here is one idea. Aliens are invading the Earth and the muggles are losing the war. Then, with what Harry’s children have learned, they join the war against the aliens, and at the last moment, Harry and his old friends jump in and rescue them. There will be so many details that can be written.  In the original series, Harry Potter and his friends were fighting mostly to save their own lives, but now they’re fighting to save the Earth.

    It would be great to write a sequel to the Harry Potter series for both J K Rowling and her readers. Her fans will admire her more and she also can earn more money (although she has enough already). At the same time, she can enjoy the fun of writing!

John Flanagan (Author of Ranger's Apprentice)

 

         During the school year, I finished reading a series of books called The Ranger’s Apprentice, by John Flanagan. I know very little about this author, so I decided to do some research on him.

         John Anthony Flanagan was born on May 22, 1944, in Sydney, Australia. He has a wife, Leonie, and three children. Now they live in the Sydney beachside suburb of Manly.

Before John Flanagan was famous for his fantasy and adventure stories, he  did advertising and television commercials to make a living.   He also co-created a television series, Hey Dad, with Gary Reilly. He actually started writing the Ranger’s Apprentice Series in the 1990s to encourage his twelve-year-old son, Michael, to read and to show him that heroes don’t have to be big and strong. The Ranger’s Apprentice series was originally made up of twenty short stories. John Flanagan has often said that the character of Will was inspired by his own son. Will had lots of similarities to Michael, and that made the books more interesting to him. John Flanagan’s first book, “The Ruins of Gorlan” was published in 2004. He wrote eleven Ranger’s Apprentice books in all, and won the Australian Publishers Association's Book of the Year for Older Children and the International Success Award for Erak’s Ransom, which is the seventh book in the series. Now, these books are sold in more than twenty countries.  

This research has helped me understand more about John Flanagan’s writing. Now I know why the hero of the Ranger’s Apprentice, Will, is a small and skinny boy. It makes me believe that a hero doesn’t have to be big and muscular, but  has to have courage and determination. And most of all, I hope John Flanagan keeps on writing to inspire us to dream and believe in ourselves.

http://www.randomhouse.com.au/authors/john

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Flanagan_(author)

http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/john-Flanagan