80th birthday & 60 years marrige

On the first day of new year, my grandparents decideds to celebrate their 80th birthday.
The 80th birthday is a big day than any other birthdays in Chinese tradition.
That's why they chose January 1st to celebrate because they think it's a good sign for the whole year.
 At that day, the whole family all come back from wherever in Taiwan to celebrate for their parents' and grandparents' big day. I haven't seen all of my relatives being together like this, not even in Chinese New Year. Since my grandparents have eight children and each of who have two to three children, than you can see how big my family is.

The grandchildren are not all in this picture yet.

My grandpa proudly said that they have lived for 80 years and have married for over 60 years.
I have to say the marriage over sixty years is super rare in the marrige nowaday.
The trend that people get married in their middle or late thirties, and the rate of divorce is getting higher and higher every year. People may only have three or four anniversary at most.
So, I think sixty years marriage can be kind of miracle, and also a type of triumph for these two people.

They wave like a president and a vice president.

I guess they must feel fulfiilled and joyful from their shinny smiles.
The happiness for them maybe just like this with family and lover when they are old.
When we look for happiness on grades, on high-tech, on power, on money, the happiness
of them is much simpler and pleasing.
What kind of life do we want when we are eighty years old?
What we are looking for can bring us everlasting happiness?

grandpa was kissing grandma

 
Or we just need
OXOXOXOXOX
(a kiss and a hug)?

year of doom

Finally 2012 begin!
This year is so mysterious since the legend of doom is popularly
discussed. According to ancient Mayan calender, the world will
come to the end in 2012. There is even a movie called "2012" to
depict this event.

Not only Mayan calender talked about the end of day, but also

Bile talked about the judgement day, which means the second

coming of Christ and end of time on earth. When talking about

doom, they have something in common. Both of them say there

will be many signs to warn human about the coming of doom.

For example, there will be unusaul disaster happened like floods.

When the tsunami happened in South Asia and Japan and unknown

reason that lots of birds and fish died suddenly at the same time, people

immediately associate with doom. 

Indeed, the situation of earth is getting worse.

The climatic anomalies and extinguishment of species worry humans,

who may think "Maybe I am the next one to dissapear on earth."

People are in panic and fears everytime someone claims that he predicts

the exact day of doom.

 One of famous events in Taiwan is that Mr. Wang said the doom day is on 2010, May 11 that earthquake would triger tsunami. Then, many people bought container-house in Puli as refuge. Some say this is ridiculous and unbelievable, but this event does reveal the fear of doom in people's heart.

 I don't know if 2012 is the year of doom, but I believe that doesn't matter at all

as long as I live without regret. In stead of guessing all day, I rather to make good

advantage of my time and cherish what I have now. If tomorrow is doom day, I hope

I will feel satisfied and proud to say "I enjoy my life without regrets!"

What if the doom is coming soon, are you prepared to take it?

Christmas

When December comes, Christmas followed.
In this month, the red and gree decorated everywhere you can see. The songs of " Jingle bell" and "We wish you a merry christmas" are never failed in Taiwan. If you are a christian, you must familiar with "Silent night, holy night" and "Joy to the world".

The candy cane, christmas socks, bells and christmas trees are sold in stores. The children are waiting for Santa Claus and his reindeer in dreams. The parents are shopping for presents and pretend as Santa.
Everyone seems looking forward and busy with this holiday.
But while some say christmas is a joyful day, some say that is just a commercialized holiday.

We usually celebrate with family, friends or lovers to have a good meal (maybe with turkey) and share happy moment. Like other holidays, christmas is always a hustle and bustle, then some people may feel lonely in this situation if they can't have fun with others. There's a clip that describe christmas for them is meaningless but another lonely working day. After all the celebrations are over, everything would as same as before like nothing happened. This arrangement is called " Xmas I don't know such a thing".


Although there are some negative comments, christmas still one of my favorite
holiday through whole year. I not only like the joyful atmosphere and pleasing
presents but also was thankful on this specail day for two reasons.
First of them, christmas for me is a day full of love because of Christ, and this day
reminds me to memorize his love for human beings.
Second, christmas is almost at the end of whole year, so I used to look back of past
to see what I've fufilled and how many lovely people in my life.
For me, I think love and appreciation are the meaning of christmas.

For children, christmas means gifts and tale of Santa Claus.
For college students, christmas means parties and fun.
For christian, christmas means salvation.
For parents, christmas means  losing money.
For workers, christmas means another busy working day.
In this holiday, what does christmas mean for you?

Midterm week

Every time there comes a exam,students almost have a zombie face.
For one reason, we have no play time. We need to say goodbye to facebook, television, and shopping.
For another, we feel exausted to study all day. We stay up late, and do our best to cram as more as possible.The last but not least, no one enjoy the exam.

I have to admit that I think tests and exams help students' study in some way.
Those tests push us to catch up and see how much we learn.
Unfortunately, those exams are gradually equal to the score－a number to decide passing or failling. Under the pressure of exams, there's little pleasure left.

I think I like to LEARN, and enjoy learning.
But, I really don't like the pressure of exam.
When we learn what we want, learning something new is exciting and pleasing thing.
For exmple, I love my seminar class.
I soak myself in the class discussion, and sometimes I even want to extend one more hour.
Though I like the seminar class so much, I still have a serious headache when thinking of its exam.

I agree that study can enhance the quality of learning.
And, study is a must for exam.
If we regard exam as one part of learning, would exam become more enjoyable?
Maybe one day the exam is no more the standard of score, then midterm week wouldn't be so scaring.

Priority seat

This week I took the bus to school as usaul.
The seats on the bus are alway not enough, but there comes more and more elders.
Though we had few priority seat, the elders were far more than that.

 Few years ago, if this situation had happened, we usually would see some youth are not willing to give the priority seat to these people.
Generally, they would pretend they fell asleep.
Even if few minutes ago they were having fun conversation.
Or, they would totally ignore the elders.
They may listen to the ipod, chat with friends, or look out the window.
I guess these young people may think why they have to give up the seat.
Accordingly, the school and government try to promote the virtue of giving the seat to who may need.

Gradually, we regard giving seat to others as a great virtue and morality.
Those who don't give up the seat will take the blame and public pressure.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db9mt6qEXWM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGthFh365es&NR=1&feature=fvwp
And some of them will see their face on the news or youtube with the big title: Person Who Doesn't Give the Seat.

Though giving the seat became a trend, a virtue and a moral behavior, some people may still feel embarassed when they want to give the seat.
So, recently there is another video to encourage young people to "Stand Up".

To finish the previous story I said at the beginning.
What happened when elders were much more than the priority seat?
At least five people on the bus stood up immediately and gave their seat to them, even though some of them were not on the priority seats.
I consider that people start to think maybe every seat could be priority seat.

We don't need to do something big like changing the world.
We don't need to donate a amount of money.
We just need to stand up and give the seat to those who need.

Hakuna Matata

Few days ago, I suddenly realized that I can't stop worrying!
I'm worried about homework, missing the bus, being late for the class, no gasoline in schooter, weather, laundry, fruits in the fridge, part-time job, school clubs, less break time, no time for family and a lot!!!

To worry something big and something small, but never worry nothing.
How can my life be fufilled with worries (like my Mom and grandma)?
Is this the sign that I'm getting old?
Well, no matter what kind of sign this is, they are the burden of soul.

Then I remind one song "Hakuna Matata" from one of Disney cartoons.
The title, spirit, and lyrics of Hakuna matata mean No Worries.

Listening the song, I feel relax and happy as in my childhood.

I ask myself why to worry.
There's nothing worth to feel worried after all. I'm just bothering myself.
Although that seems imposible to be free from worries all the time, we don't need to put unnecessary one on our shoulder.
We all know that worry can't fix the problem.


Unfortunatly, sometimes our hearts just feel uneasy.
Like the character in "Three idiots" said: "Our hearts are easily to be afraid."
What can we do when we feel uneasy?
That character usually say "All Izz Well " to himself.
All Izz Well in Hindi means all is well in English.



In my situation, I usually try to distract myself away from what I worry for a while.
For example, I like reading and listening happy songs.
I also do something ridiculous like screaming, rolling on my bed, or jumping up and down as  a mockey.
Sometimes in negative way, I would eat, sleep, and lay all the mess behind.
Anyway, all these things help me to calm down and think more reasonably.

So, how about you guys?
Do you usually feel worried?
Have you find the way to deal with that?
We can't avoid bad things, but we can choose how to get them over.
At the end, I want to say to you...
Hakuna Matata my friends!!!

war or peace

Saturday afternoon, I saw Seediq Bale, the popular movie directeded by Mr. Wei.
The movie was talking about Mona Rudao against Japanese.
They believe good warriors can walk through the bridge of rainbow into the ancetor's home.

The poster of Seediq Bale

One of the classic line said in the movie: "A real man can sacrifice his body, but he must win his soul."
While these brave warriors fight for their dignity for being a proud Seediq, they also face the great responsibility and threat of their people's life.
To die with dignity or to live with sham is the question my friends and I discussed about.
On one hand, this war seems to right to fight for, but the price is the lost of every single life. Does everyone except those brave warriors wants to sacrifice their life?
On the other hand, will keeping patience to endure all the insults  have civilization and safe in exchange or lose the dignity and pride of oneself?
This is a hard decision like the struggle of Macbeth's to be or not to be.

The following days after seeing the movie, the song "21 Guns" sung by Green Day can't stop singing in my brain.
Green Day- 21 Guns
some part of lyric said:
Do you know what's worth fighting for,
When it's not worth dying for?
Does it take your breath away
And you feel yourself suffocating?
Does the pain weigh out the pride?
And you look for a place to hide?
Did someone break your heart inside?
You're in ruins

One, 21 guns
Lay down your arms
Give up the fight
One, 21 guns
Throw up your arms into the sky,
You and I

When you're at the end of the road
And you lost all sense of control
And your thoughts have taken their toll
When your mind breaks the spirit of your soul
Your faith walks on broken glass
And the hangover doesn't pass
Nothing's ever built to last
You're in ruins

From the lyric the intention to against the war and seek for peace is obvious.
I try to think the first line"Do you know what's worth fighting for?"
If we know the answer, how much pain can we endure and does the pain weigh out the pride?

I'm not saying which way is definitely right for this difficult question, but I do think war is so horrible that can't be controlled by human. So, each decision need think twice before we do.
If what you want is worth to do, hold your belief and "just do it" !