Self- Assessment of the diary

Yichen.Li
English II IS
Jennifer Guarino
12.16. 2015
Before this assignment, I never thought I could write more than 2500 words. This assignment is a big challenge for me to write a fake character who studied in the same school with a book's main character that I read. It must be hard to write a fake person's daily life. Everything about her I need to create, and my plot needs to be followed with the book's plot. It must a big challenge, but Ms. Guarino said this assignment is a not a big story, it divided into several small events. Obviously, the small events are easier to read than a big event. So she makes this assignment easier to write. I am satisfied about the main character that I create. I think she is the unique one. She was different with Sookan. Sookan was a student who studied in American, but she's a Korean. Two different cultures must be influenced about her studying and her life. But Marin, my main character, is a Native American. She never met with another country's people. Everything about Sookan is new for her, but also attracts her.  They studied in a university, for a girl they wanted to know many things rather than studying.  So in my diary, I wrote my details about Marin's daily life, because she was not Sookan, and she was not a student who came from another country. So Marin's daily life must be more interesting  than Sookan' s. For 5 senses, I payed many attentions on hearing and seeing. When Marin came to university, she saw the buildings. She made a new friend in college because her new friend saied hello to Marin. For touch, she found a beautiful cloth that was very soft because she touched the cloth, so she knew this cloth was soft. But for tasting and smelling, I did not write many details, I just wrote in candle lit dinner and Christmas dinner. Marin must write some details in these two important dinners. Other dinners were average, nothing happened, so Marin would not write something in her diary about the average dinners. I used first person to write because this is a diary. I wrote details in her daily life. Many things happened in her daily life, but her thinking I just could guess because I am not a girl, and boys did not write diaries in our daily life. So I did not know that would a girl write what did she think in the diary. I just payed attention on the description part. Even though I still had many faults in the grammar parts. Ms. Guarino took three or four classes for us to revise our grammar mistakes, but I thought I still had some faults in grammar. I always start a sentence with“ I ”, she told me to change this habit, I cannot use it for my every sentence. So I think “ I ” is the biggest error for me. For the word count, I wrote many word, I could not count how many words did I write, but when I wrote more than 2500 words. I stopped because I began to ask myself should I write so many words. Should I delete some words? I thought a few minutes, then I began to read my diary. I wanted to know if I am a reader, what do I want to know and what do I want to pass to read. And Ms. Swift also said to me that the self-criticism is important to a writer, he must know what do the readers want to knows from your story. So if I evaluate my diary, I would give my self an A-, I still need to do many study on Grammer, but I think my plot is very attractive for readers.

Writing center

Yichen.Li

English II IS

Jennifer Guarino

12.14. 2015

This is not the first time I met Ms. Swift. Because I have writing class, and my writing teacher told me that I needed to find Ms. Swift to revise my paper.  Last time, she gave me the advice about how I can revise my paper. She said that I wanted to tell more things to readers, but my english writing skill was not good. My sentence would always make the readers confused about what did I want to say.  And this time before I went to the writing center, I read my paper twice times, because I did not want to Ms. Swift be disappointed, and I was not a person who wanted to do the wrong things twice time. So I asked my roommate to read my diary, and then asked him that can he understand my thought clearly. When my roommate said it is OK, then I went to Writing center to find Ms. Swift. 

She did not read all my diary, she just read my first and second paragraph, and then she said I am glad that your writing skill became better, and your sentences are more clear. I am happy to see that. But there’s one more thing you should figure out. I think your english teacher may tell you. It’s called the comma splice. See your first and second sentence, you use many comma in it, but we know that we use comma when we think next sentence must have some connections with last sentence. If you read carefully about your sentences. You would notice that there’s not enough connections between each two sentences, so at this time which means you need to use period to end this sentence and to begin a new sentence. And your diary is not vivid, even thoughI can understand why are you trying to say. But your diary does not have a point to attract others. Why they want to continue to read your diary, because of interests. Your diary must have some vivid details. “But this is not only your fault, many foreign speakers have this problem.” She said to me.  Then I asked her a question about grammar, “ Why we say go back to dorm, and we have to say go back home. Why there’s no to in the latter sentence. Does the latter sentence have any special part?” She answered:” Well, there’s no special part in it, but I am glad that you have this question. For this question, my answer is that it is just an habit when we use it. Because native speakers always say it, so they would not be strange about it, but you are a foreign speaker. You need to learn everything from the native speakers. If you have your free time, you could read a magazine. It’s called National Geographic, there are many beautiful pictures in this magazine, but your goal that read this book is not seeing the beautiful scenes. You need to see the explanations that are next to the pictures. After you read their explanations, and then you can try to write your own story about that scenes. When you finish your story, you can compare your story to their explanations. You could see why their explanations are better than yours. It’s not only the grammar or lack of words. It shows how they use english to describe things. One magazine you can watch for one month, it is useful in order to improve your writing skill. 

3

May 1st.

We had a Mass in the main chapel to have a funeral for Sookan’s mom. Sister Reed arranged everything. I did not know what could I do, so I followed after Sister Reed. Everyone dressed up, so was I. I could see that Sookan could hardly keep from crying. She is a strong girl, but she’s just a girl. This thing was too huge for a girl.

May 3rd.

The final exam was coming. I had no time to play games, and no time to chat with my friends. I went to library to review. I liked the atmosphere in library; It is quiet and peaceful. I began to understand why Sookan liked to go to library after class, because this is the only peaceful place in the college campus. If I had enough time, I wish I could stay in library forever.

May 20th.

Time was fleeting. I could not stop time’s step, Sookan payed all of her attention at studying, Bengi had a girlfriend, so everyday he came back to dorm after 12 o’clock. I became lonely as same as when I went to this college first time. I did not like to waste my time on playing. I began to wear glasses and read some books from Renaissance. I began to understand why mom or my ancestors always said the difficult time can not hurt you, but it just can make you to grow and become strong.

May 31st.

This was the last day of my freshman year. I learned a lot in this year. I had good friends. I could not guess what will happen next year, Sookan could not predict that she will lose her mom after she went to America. Bengi could not predetermine if he will have a girlfriend in his first year of college. I also could not predict if I will like to study, like to exchange ideas with professors. My mom would be happy to see my change.

Definition of some proper nouns

Comma splice

A comma splice is the use of a comma to join two independent clauses. 

Ex: I went fishing, I went mountain climbing, I went back my home. 

Run-on sentence

A ungrammatical sentence in which two or more independent clauses are conjoined without a conjunction. 

Ex: Now it’s almost five o’clock time is not enough for us to play. 

Sentence fragment

Sentence fragment is a group of words that look like sentence, but are not. Lose subject or verb. 

Ex:On Saturday, will go back home. 

Independent clause

a clause in a complex sentence that can stand alone as a complete sentence

Ex: I like reading books in my free time. 

Dependent clause

a clause in a complex sentence that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and that functions within the sentence as a noun or adjective or adverb

Ex: Because he lost his phone last Saturday, he decided to buy a new phone. 

Semi-colon

Semi colon is a punctuation mark that separates major sentence element, it can be used between two closely related independent clauses, provided they are not already joined by a coordinating conjunction. 

Ex: I needed to finish three paper and two assignments today; I even did not have free time to drink coffee.

Gathering of Pearls, from another character‘s perspective

Today I finished my first year of college. When I finished my final test, then I figured out that time can not be traced back. Time never stops. But what did I do this year? Did I do anything meaningful? I began to ask myself.  When I went back to dorm, I automatically sat down on my chair and opened my diary, wanting to write today’s event on it. Suddenly, I had an idea that I could use my diary to know what did I do this year. I became excited and opened my diary up, landing on the first page where I began to record my college life.

September 1st.

Today I went to my college school, Finch college. Where was so big, the buildings were so huge. I had my first friend in college, his name was Bengi. We were in the same dorm room and I thought we could accompany with others in next four years. We slept in the different rooms until we finished managing our luggages. I hoped I can become mature in this college, will I?

September 3rd.

Bengi and I became the best friends because we were in the same dorm. Today Bengi said I would become a couch potato if I continued to stay on the sofa. Because I was lazy so that I didn't do any exercises when I sat on the sofa. So he took me to the shop in order to buy snacks and supplies. But when we ate ice cream, I saw a beautiful Korean girl. I did not know her name, she was talking with Ellen and their friends. She was not too tall but she was the most unique person in their group.

September 9th.

Today was the course selection day, Bengi and I went to admission office to meet Sister Casey in order to select our courses. In the first college year, I would have six courses that contained many tests and many assignments. I was jealous about Bengi, because he just needed to spend his time on computer science and painting. He just had two courses this year.

September 10th.

Today we had a mixer. There were so many handsome boys and beautiful girls, but no one was in my favor.  So I came back to dorm to clean my room. But when I finished cleaning my room, I went into Bengi’s room, his room was amazing. My room could not be compared with his. I walked into my room and continued to clean and manage it. I needed more time to fit in with the college atmosphere.

October 18th.

I had begun my first semester for almost two months. Now some classes were easy some classes were not. Fortunately I had the same class with Sookan, that beautiful Korean girl’s. But I did not talk with her very much, not only because I was shy, but also because she ran quickly to library after class. Was score or studying very important for her? Or in Korean culture, was studying the most important thing? I didn’t know Korean culture, I just could guess.

October 20th.

We had candle-lit dinner today,I disliked that I need to wear suit for dinner. But I saw Sookan served for the kitchen stuff. Even she wore the uniform, the white starched blouse, black straight skirt, and low patent leather pumps. These things can not hide her beauty. When dining hall was transformed into a dark place, but firelight shadows began to shimmer and dance around the room, I was fascinated from Sookan when she smiled, which showed she liked this peaceful and meaningful movement. She was so pretty.

October 22th.

Today was Saturday, which was a boring day, I decided to go to downtown to buy some snacks for next week. When I walked in front a shop, I saw a beautiful black dress in the front window. The dress was so pretty, but for a man, I should not be attracted from a dress, but I was thinking about Sookan. This dress was small for American girls, if Sookan wore this in Thanksgiving, what an amazing thing! But the price was too high, I decided to do some part-time jobs to earn money.

October 24th.

Today was freshman election week. We needed to elect many committees. I saw Sookan’s roommate, Ellen nominated for the dance committee. She was pretty but I still thought Sookan was prettier than her. I elected Sookan to join in to the student council. She would not refuse this opportunity because every student wanted to serve on the student council. But she rejected, her excuse was that she did not have free time to do it. Was that scholarship very important for her? After she finished her speech, I can not find where was she, I even can not talk with her for several seconds.

November 7th.

Today I went to the library in order to review and prepare my Greek and Roman Culture quiz for next week, this subject was the hardest subject I had ever met. I like math numbers, I did not want to learn what did my ancestor do in the past, I wanted to do something that my offsprings can remember rather than I remembered my ancestors’ contributions. I did not like history.

November 12th.

Today’s weather was good, I had noting to do, so I decided to go to gym to play basketball with Bengi, his jumping was incredible. I can not believe this guy chose computer science instead of sports.  But he did not tell me why, I did not ask him. I thought I would ask him why he did not choose sports until he wanted to tell me.

November 25th.

Greek and Roman culture quiz score was published, I got a good score, 84. But when I asked Sookan what score did she get, she said 82. I can not believe why she always studied in library but the result was that she just got a lower point than me? But I felt nervous when I talked with her, did she notice that? I believed the answer was no.

November 28th

We had a short vacation from last Saturday to this Wednesday. This vacation also must be a boring vacation. Bengi went to another college to meet his old friend, Tom. Also Sookan went to New Jersey with Ellen. I was lonely in the dorm. So I went to the downtown in order to find some part-time jobs to earn money. I got a job about washing dishes, I could earn $17 per hour. And I worked from twelve clock to 4 clock, and the restaurant owner served me a bowl of noodles. It was delicious when I ate after I washed more than hundred dishes.

December 6th.

Today was not a good day. When I got up, Bengi told me that Sookan was fainted in the library. I can not calm. I just wanted to know if Sookan was all right? But Sister Reed rejected my request, she said Sookan needed time to recover. Anyone can not interrupt  her. I just can see her sleep peacefully.

December 7th.

Because Sookan fainted yesterday, but I have a quiz on my psychology subject. I can not concentrate on my paper, my mind was full of Sookan, so I answered vaguely and now I got B’s on my paper, but I did not care about it, my average score was A. Sookan was still in lethargy. When can she awaken?

December 8th.

Thanks of the god, she woke up, and Sister Reed said she was all right. I wanted to tell Sookan that I cared about her a lot. But when I saw her face, I forgot everything so I could not say anything, I just putted a bunch of flowers in front of her night stand when she fell in sleep. And then I went to library, found a seat and began to review my test.

December 24th.

Tomorrow will be the Christmas, so today my mom came here to pick me up, she looked tired but I did not have any solution to solve her pressure. And I knew my mission was to study and then found a good job that had high salary then my mom’s pressure would be reduced.

January 1st.

Everything was good, new year, I made a new year resolution. Same day last year, my mom, my dad and I celebrated new year in our home. But a drunk driver crushed a trunk then killed my father, then I lost my dad, my mom lost her husband. I wanted to kill that drunk driver but unfortunately until nowadays, the police did not find him. Did police have known what they did?

January 3rd.

Today I ate dinner with my brother, Misaya. Now he studied in China, because of Chinese New Year, he went back home, and I came back home to have dinner with him. He was tall and his blue eyes were also attractive for me. We talked about last year’s events. Then he asked me what I wanted to do in the future, I did not answer him because I was confused with what I could do. I needed time to figure out.

January 3rd.

When I came back to the school, and I met Sister Casey, she told me that yesterday  Sookan cooked a very delicious Korean dinner and invited all her friends to celebrate. Wasn’t I her friend? Why did not she invite me? I regretted that I went home so early otherwise I would not have missed this meaningful dinner.

January 9th.

Last Greek and Roman Culture test score was published, because Sookan fainted, so she needed to meet the Greek and Roman culture professor to let her take a makeup exam. I got A- on this test, a satisfactory level. Even though I got this score on my history class, I would still think finance was my best subject.

January 14th.

Everything was incredible today. First, I didn’t get up until 9:00 o’clock. Then my roommate still slept, I didn’t care about him, because I had classes in the morning he did not. And in the afternoon, Sister Reed called me to go to her office to talk about my study. She said if I could make the top three in the math competition, she would give me a special gift. I should try hard.

February 1st.

Ellen was..engaged? Peggy announced this news I can not believe my ears and eyes, I saw a large diamond that sparkled on her left hand. Why would Kyle want to be engaged with Ellen so early? We were just freshman. And I noticed Sookan looking so lost. This was an incredible news for a traditional girl. I hoped that the news would not let Ellen continue to influence her, Sookan could not accept it.

February 5th.

Finally Ellen extended engagement until she can finish her college. Which sounded great. But I saw that Sookan went to the library earlier and she did not communicate with Ellen frequently. I always observed sadness in her eyes. Did they argue something? I could not believe, Sookan was very docile and understanding. Ellen might have done something wrong first.

February 6th.

I saved the enough money to buy that dress. But when I went to that shop and after I paid the money, I found a question—Where should I put this dress? In my closet? Impossible. So I asked the salesperson that I was allowed to put this dress here until March when I would pick it up. She agreed and I could not wait when Sookan wore this dress. This dress was made for her.

February 19th.

I received a gift from Sister Reed, because I got the champion in the math competition. The gift was a painting. It was beautiful and meaningful gift. I appreciated Sister Reed’s gift . And we talked about my studying. And I went back to dorm and chatted with Bengi. Finally he would not only pay all his attentions on his computer to do his researches.

March 3rd.

When I went back to that shop and I wanted to take that dress, but a woman said she gave that dress to another girl, then she returned my money. Who bought that dress, and what should I give to Sookan? I have already invited her to this mixer. I walked on the street for several times but I did not find a solution.

March 4th.

Sookan was fantastic. Now I knew who bought that dress and why that woman wanted to give the Sookan this dress because she’s the only one can show the beauty of this dress. She was so stylish. The black dress and the white pearls, which all showed the beauty of Sookan, she was the queen today, but why she danced with another man, I did not have courage to invite her to dance, then, she and Ellen and Kyle were disappeared, I can not find them. Was I too fearsome?

March 14th.

Freshman year was drawing to close and the last exam was closer. I had many pressures from my subjects. But I needed to get a good grades, I would not let my mom disappoint. But fortunately, today Sookan gave me a painting that she drew. It was pretty. Blue sky, white clouds, and green grasses, which showed her positive attitude and also showed she loved the freedom. I would treasure this painting.

March 15th.

Sister Casey told me that if I do not come back to home these days, would I do somethings for school, then I went to her office to find something that I can do. In the end, I chose to help register the students and give tours of the campus next day. This job was easy and I can get the credit from it.

April 4th.

I’ve got a cold yesterday night. When I got up, I felt the cold that took it out of me. All I wanted to do was to sit about doing nothing. So I told my Sister Reed that I could not come to class today because of cold. She said everything will be ok. And when Bengi came back, he took some medicine for me. I slept after I ate the medicine, now I felt much better.

April 16th.

I saw a priest came into our college, but he wore strange clothes that was not same as the clothes that the American priest would wear. And I saw that Sookan talked with him a lot. I thought they were familiar. If my thinking was true,why Sookan cried when the priest had gone? Because of missing?

April 17th.

This event must be a bomb, Sookan’s mom was dead. When I ate lunch, I saw that her eyes sockets were red. A words didn't say during lunch time. So after lunch I asked Ellen, they were roommates and they were the best friends, she would know what happened on Sookan. My mind drew a blank when Ellen told me that Sookan’s mom went to the heaven. I knew this thing was overwhelmed for a girl who went to another unfamiliar city for studying.

April. 20

These days I got up so early, I went to library in order to accompany with Sookan, I wanted to reduce her pressure, she was just 18 years old. But I can not find her in the library. In the Greek and Roman culture class, she looked lethargic and unhappy. She was optimistic but now she was very depressed and in despair. I did not how to help her. I just gave a bracelet to Ellen, I wished she could give it to Sookan but please did not say my name. I just wanted her to be happy.

May 1st.

We had a Mass in the main chapel to see off the Sookan’s mom. Sister Reed arranged everything. I just wanted to help Sookan, so I accompanied with Sister Reed to do everything. Everyone dressed up, and I could see that Sookan could hardly keep from crying. She was a strong girl, but she’s just a girl. This thing was so huge for a girl.

May 3rd.

The final exam was coming. I had no time to play my games, and no time to chat with others. I went to library in order to review, I liked the atmosphere in library, quiet, peaceful. I began to understand why Sookan liked to go to library after class, this is the only peacefully place in the college campus. If I had enough time, I wished I could stay in library forever.

May 20th.

Time was fleeting. I could not stop it’s step, Sookan payed her all attention in studying, Bengi had a girlfriend, everyday he came back to dorm after 12 o’clock. I became lonely as same as when I went to this college first time. I did not like to waste my time on playing. I began to wear glasses, I began to read some products from Renaissance. I began to understand why mom or my ancestors always said the difficult time can not hurt you, it just can make you to grow and become strong.

May 31st.

This was the last day in my freshman year. I learned a lot in this year. i had good friends. I could not guess what will happen next year, Sookan could not forecast that she will lose her mom after she went to American. Bengi could not predetermine he will have a girlfriend in his first year of college. I also could not forecast that I will like to study, like to exchange ideas with professors. My mom would be happy to see my change.

Diary entry

11/22/2015 Monday
Today I went to banff with my brother. Banff was the most beautiful park in Canada. But it was not crowed because today was Monday and Canadian thanksgiving day was not same as the American thanksgiving day. So I can not eat turkey these days. When I arrived to Banff, i was surprised. It was snowing, everything became white under the snow. There was a lake, but it was frozen I could even walk on it. Then I saw a mountain near the lake, when I stood on the mountain and took a look at that lake, it showed different colors under the sunlight. So beautiful. But the weather was so cold, we just played four hours and then we went back home. But snow-covered landscape was too beautiful. If the temperature increased, I would want to go there to see the mountain and lake without snow, which must be totally two different landscapes.

Holiday in Calgary

This vacation was wonderful, I went to Calgary and stayed with my brother. In my vacation, it did not have the meaning of the morning. Because I always woke up at 11:00 o'clock. And in the evening, we bother were lazy, after we finished our dinner, we went to our rooms and did our own things. But there were some interesting part in his trip. On nov.23rd, we went to banff, because Calgary was snowing, everything became white, and the lake was frozen, I could even stand on that lake. Near the lake, it was a mountain, no very tall. But when you stood on this mountain and you looked that lake, you could see that lake had many colors, which was colorful. And after two days, the temperature was declined to subzero. We decided to go fishing. My brother told me that because the weather was so cold, I needed to wear more than two clothes and more than two pants. They could help me to against the cold. But went fishing, this thing was so boring, you just needed to hold the fishing rod, and stayed there, waited for your prey. You could not do anything during this time. But the result was so good, I got two fish, and my brother got three fish. This trip was amazing except my phone screen was cracked. Also because of the temperature, I thought my hands were frozen, I could not control my hands anymore, the phone was released from my hand to the ground.
In general, I love Calgary, but the temperature was not suited for me to live there, it was so cold.

View of the Novel

View of the novel

Novel, until nowadays, I just read three different types of novels in English. One is Station Eleven, one is Gathering of Pearls, one is from here to where. 

Before I read Gathering of Pearls, I thought Station Eleven was the best English novel in my mind. But in my own thinking, I added some my own thinking into it, every young people like to read science fiction stories. For station eleven, it is a novel that has fictional parts in it.  After I read Gathering of Pearls. I did not only think, oh I finished read this book, I finished my assignment. But also at the same time, I wanted to know what will happen in the Sookan’s second year, third year, what will happen when she finished her college studying, will she come back to Korea, or because her mom died, there was nothing fascinated for her to go back to Korea, so will she stay in America to find a job and will she date with Tom? All the things I wanted to know.  

One of the most attractive thing for me is that what will Sookan do after her mom died? Even though in the ending she have already said she should forgive her sister, Theresa. But will it be easy? Two different thinking ways and two different cultures will make Theresa hard to understand Sookan. But also Sookan lived in America, she wanted to become independent rather than stayed behind her sister, but her sister wanted to control Sookan, so this conflict would make Sookan’s college life become difficult and interesting.

And also I was interesting in Sookan’s relationships with Ellen and Marci. Ellen and Marci had the most obvious personalities in American culture, so because of these two main characters, Sookan wanted to learn American culture and joined into the local people. But for me, I think Sookan wanted to live with Marci more than Ellen. Fist, Marci had the same personality with Sookan, shy, did not want to communicate with others, disagreed with her parents, wanted to become independent. These personalities were same as Sookan. And Sookan went to Marci’s family, they both cried and watched the sun set. For the young people, they must have the closer friendship. If we turned our vision to Sookan and Ellen. Ellen wanted to elope with her boy friend, Sookan wanted to explain to her to cancel this thinking, but Ellen did not listen to Sookan and they argued a lot. In the ending, I just knew Ellen talked with her mom about the marriage. And because of Sookan’s mom death, the conflict between Sookan and Ellen was never referred. And in the Sookan’s eyes, Ellen was a star in the night sky, talkative, positive, have organization ability. Which were too far to Sookan to pursue, they were fiends just because they were the roommates. In Sookan’s heart, she must think Marci was better than Ellen. 

In this year, for Sookan, it really happened a lot. Learned American culture, had many American friends, went to the mixer, her mom was died, this thing was overwhelmed for a young lady. But she was still pursuing her dream, she wanted to combine the American culture and Korean culture together to find her own thinking. She liked a Ugly Ducking, she just waited a day then she would become the swan. Before that, she needed to become a oyster,  the hurt can not poison her . Difficult times just can make her rich and strong. 

For me, an international student, I recommend others to read this novel, very realistic and attractive. Also this is a novel that talks about when a Korean girl went to American and studied in America alone. I am also an international student, so i would have the same feeling with Sookan. I really recommend other students to read this novel. 

The ending of Peter Pan

When Captain Hook jumped from the window, I felt this story was sad, for many people, they think Captain Hook was a bad character, opposed with Peter Pan, but for me, I had a different think about Captain Hook, he was a good person, always teaches his followers how to act as a pirate. And if you compared his clothes and his followers' clothes, you will see his clothes are very orderly. Even though he was bad, but when he died, I think I will cry for this person. But also the ending was that Wendy and her friends went back to their home, and Peter Pan promised he will see her every year. But Peter Pan lived on the Neverland, he can not grow, just a little boy, but his friends will grow, will become mature, at that time, he will lose a group of his friends, how sad and how helpless for Peter Pan.

Peter Pan Review

Forever Peter Pan, Forever dream. 

When I knew I need to watch the drama about Peter Pan that was performed by my friends, my classmates. I can not believe that. Because in my childhood, I've already seen the Peter Pan's film, it was very interesting, many actors, amazing plot and the beautiful scenes. It was a wonderful product, but at the same time, it also showed that it needed to cost many money on it, many people, many times. So in the beginning, I can not believe that my friends can perform this mission, so I hold a suspect attitude to go to watch this drama. 

Because of their restrictions of places, of people. They add more communications and more actions to make up the restrictions of the places. But Mrs. darling and Mr. Darling gave me a new feeling about this story. And I think, Mr. darling, which John performed was amazing. Also they performed that, Wendy,John, Michael were under a huge pressure, so that was why these little children wanted to learn how to fly and then to escape from their homes. 

The plot was interesting, it did almost not make me feel boring. Peter Pan, I forgot who performed, she was really suited in this character, never wanted to grow up, always wanted to play without any pressure. She had already replaced the Peter Pan from Disney version to her. If I said Peter Pan was the most important character in this whole story, Mr. Darling was the most important character in the top half plot, so the Captain Hook was the most important character in the bottom half plot. They lead is to follow them, they could control our mind about the plot development. Captain Hook, compared with his followers, he always dressed up and stand straight. When he died, at that time, he stand the window and said he figured out he did many wrong things in the past. But, he did not have time to fix them up. So in the whole story, for me, the most influential character was Captain Hook.

In the ending, my friends did not revise the ending, it follows with the film, Hook died, Wendy and her two friends came back to their home and they became mature. But for Peter Pan, he did not want to leave Neverland, he just stayed on the Neverland and took Wendy to there every year. 

Peter Pan and their friends were great, but my friends were also wonderful, after I watched this drama, I can hardly wait to watch their next drama.  

Vocab No.3

Mannequin N.
A woman who wears clothes to display fashions. —Fashion model
A small, black velvet purse hung on the shoulder of the mannequin.

Second-hand Adj.
Derived from what is primary or original, not first hand.
I had purchased second-hand textbooks from upperclassmen at a fraction of the original price.

Animatedly， Adj.
Viable, very vivid.
Many of our classmates were there, with drinks in hand, talking animatedly.

faltered V.
Be unsure or weak
Marci! Mrs. Gannon faltered, I jus want you to look pretty for your formal dinners at the dining hall.

Impulsive Adj.
Do things suddenly without thinking about them carefully first.
She would acknowledge that I had done something impulsive, but would say that it was okay.

constrained  Adj.
Lacking spontaneity, not natural. Not comfortable.
I had always felt constrained there.

Gregorian chant N.
A liturgical chant of the Roman Catholic Church.
A Gregorian chant program is scheduled for June, and students will be coming from around the world.

Pearl N.
A smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster. Mush valued.
The pearl necklace and wishbone pin would really stand out against the black velvet.

Elope  v.
Run away secretly with one’s beloved.
We are going to elope, she blew her nose and hurled the box of tissues onto the floor.

Taciturn Adj.
Uncommunicative and don't always talk with each other.
I would write to each of my taciturn brothers, even though they had never written to me.

Sobbed V.
Weep convulsively.
I pulled the covers over my head, and sobbed unit I fell asleep.

Pouch N.
A small or medium size container for holding or carrying things.
In a silk pouch that Mother had made was her thin, white gold wedding hand.
Listlessly Adv.
In a listless manner.
As I stared forward listlessly, little Sarah snuggled up against me, and whispered into my ear, I love you.

Hymn N.
A song of Praise to God.
I was comforted by their huh-pinched hymns reverberating in the domed chapel.

Fainted V.
Sleep without any thinking.
You fainted two days ago and you have been here ever since.

Sookan and her life

Yichen.Li

English II

Jennifer Guarino

Nov.15. 2015

Sookan was a normally Korean girl, but because of her dream that she wanted to pursue higher level of education, she chose to study abroad to America to continue her studying. Which must be difficult for a Korean girl. Two different cultures and different life style, both made her feel distinct and weird in the group of American. In this College, she had many friends, especially Ellen and Marci. She was trying to accept American culture, and mix it into Korean culture. But when she was growing, she also had to deal with the problem from the Korean culture, she was confused; Has she changed so much in the past three months? 

Sookan was really at an impressionable age. But she had her sister, even her sister’s sentence was painful, but it was truly that Sookan should not be fascinated by the new world. After her sister spoke to her. She will figure out what is truly necessary for her. But her sister’s personality would be different with her mom’s. In Korea, it was not a big question, the younger should always listen to the elders. But when she arrived in America, everyone can have the free speech.  So she would begin to ask herself whose advice should she accept. And also she would figure out how could she mix up these two different cultures. Or she was doing this thing, in chapter 12, she tried to make a Korean dinner for her best friends, for her professor. I think in the end she may has her own understanding about these two cultures, and finally she must become independent. And she will continue to accompany with Ellen and Marci, first two friends she had when she began to study in America. Ellen was very talkative, outstanding, very attractive. And Marci, quiet, always stayed lonely, but she also has her own thought. These two different characters showed the two different groups of students, They are the miniatures for the whole students. I think for the author, she must have more than two friends, but Ellen and Marci, they both had the most obvious features. So the author wrote this two characters and they must accompanied with Sookan. She would not go back to Korea. Even thought she missed her mom, her brothers and many things in Korea very much. But the reason why he went to America because she wanted to pursue the high level of education, so in my opinion, before she finish all her studying in America, she would not choose to go back to Korea. If she chose to go back, her family will be angry about her giving up.  She missed her Korean family, because she missed her mom, and Sookan cared about her hardships. She wanted to go back to Korea to help her. Also the reason she liked the Professor Bennett’s family because the atmosphere, men and women are equal, both of them needed to do the housework. This different culture was very attractive for Sookan, but as the time moves on, she would understand the American culture, she would not be surprised and attracted by this atmosphere, so she would like her Korean family more than Professor Bennett’s. 

Time never stops, and Sookan would still pursue her life of education. She was a girl with insistence and dedication that went to america with herself, which these two features would support her to become successful in the future. But also her lovely personalities would also help her to make many friends. 

Capture the Before

Yichen.Li

Nov. 05. 2015

Capture the Before

Art, which means use pictures to express your opinion, and show them to the public. 

But today, I watched a different gallery. The artists used the old buildings and the light to remind us to care about the ancient building, we should not wait until they were destroyed or repaired again, then you would miss the original buildings. Cherish the time, do not wait until everything changed and you can not do anything for them. 

But in the beginning, I did not understand that why should we, the students studied the English should go there. I just took the doubt attitude to this gallery. Will it be amazing? What benefit will I get from it?  So I began to take a look to each picture.

There was a window on each picture. The light went throughout the window. The warm colors and cool colors stayed in one picture, but it did not make me feel strange, it gave a thinking about it should be two different types of colors. If the picture lose the warm colors, even though it was a place I walked everyday, but it would still gave me a sense of distance and long time ago. And if the picture lose the cool colors, the picture was not integrated. And it had many empty space, it divided the picture in two several groups, which made me feel comfortable and understood it’s space division easier. But at the same time, the designers explained their ideas. Which also made me understand why the Guarino wanted to us to watch this gallery. It did not only show these artists excellent photograph, but at the same time, they wanted to remind us to cherish the time, cherish everything that accompanies with you everyday, in the future, there will be one day you will lose them. 

For me, in China, I did not cherish the time when I accompanied with my parents. But when I arrived in America, and went to Cheshire Academy to study. I began to miss the time accompanied with my parents. For this gallery, it showed the same meaning. But after this exhibition, I began to think about what things should I cherish, my friends? The old buildings? Or  the things in China? All the things I need to cherish, at the same time, I need to improve myself to become better, leave no regrets.

Differences between Korean and America

In Korea, people always wanted to become normal. They do not want to look different with others.
In US, American wants to be unique; they do not want to look similar with others.
In Korea, I always needed to help my mom to do the all the housework. My brothers do not need to do everything
In the US, I can see the men and women can work together, not only women work in the kitchen.
In Korea, the younkers should to pay the bills; elders do not need to pay that.
In the US, people think that they just need to pay their own money for everything.
In Korea, parents decided the marriage
In the US, people can talk and decide the marriage.
In Korea, I just needed to study hard and then I can get the high scores.
In the US, I need to translate Korean into English, then make a whole sentence, and finally speak.

In class writing

For many Chinese parents, eduction is a perpetual topic in their mind, especially for their children, they want their children to have the highest eduction under their protection. For me parents are no exception.
When I came to America, the first thing I felt that I was tiny, I was insignificant in this concrete forest. Now I think I agree with Sookan, she said the airplane was a giant bird, she felt uncomfortable. When she arrived in the airport, she felt she was tiny in this place. Same feeling. But at the same time I felt I was fortunate student, if I compared with Sookan. My mom accompanied with me, went through the airport, got our luggage and went to school. But when she first came to America. No one accompanied with her. She just can go through step by step with herself.  She was lonely, I was lonely,too. But our loneliness were different, she worried about her mom, her mom needed to do everything in Korea. And also she worried about her score. Because she needed her scholarship that helps her to continue to study in America. But for me, I would not be worried about these two things. I have a brother, he is very sensible, he could help my mom to do everything. And also I just need to continue to study in America, study deeply. I would not be as same as Sookan who studied many difficult courses in the first semester.
So I sympathize Sookan about her experience, but I also hope she could use her experience that transfers to the energy for her studying.

Discussion question about chapter 3 and 4

1. Teachers’ advices are music and studio courses, but why did she finally choose world literature, religions and some hard courses? Just because of tuition? 
2. Why did she didn’t say anything when she met Marci, silent to walk together to go to dining hall. 
3. Does she think baby sitting for Bennetts on Saturday easy or hard?
4. When they ate sandwich in a narrow path, they are silence, do you think this silence are as same as last silence, what did Sookan feel that Marci waited for her and did not go to dining hall?
5. Why they talked about their best time? And they talked about their best friends, do you think Sookan thought Marci is her good friend?

Sook Nyul Choi

The research about Sook Nyul Choi 

Yichen.Li

10.14.2015

Choi's native language is Korean.she was a refugee from north Korea and then she escaped from North Korea to South Korea. Then she migrated to United States because she wanted to continue to pursue her dreams. , so that is why she said I have two countries, my native country of Korea and my adopted country, the United States. She has two totally different cultures, so her writing style would be the unique, so she hoped she can use this writing style to share her own experience to her friends.  In her book, it is vivid to feel about the history, it is an autobiography. But may she did not want to stimulate herself so she change her main character's name to Sookan. Also her books were translated to several languages, so we could feel the influence from sook is very spectacular.  So every reader after read her book always said her stories reflect the politic , freedom, national interaction, she payed more attention on Asia history and also she talked about how the strong countries influences the small countries. 

500-word about Kevin

Yichen. Li
English II (IS)
Jennifer Guarino
Oct. 12. 2015
                                                        Never stop
       Growth is a perpetual topic in our times. But one indisputable fact is that people
are always willing to create their own world to express themselves. For me, writing is my way to express my pressure.
       Oh, sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Yichen.Li, a high school student who studies in Cheshire Academy nowadays. But my friends always said I am different, because sometimes I am shy, I do not want to talk with other people. But, sometimes I am very loquacious, I can communicate with others for a long time. So it depends on my mood. I studied english from when I was in primary school, because my parents, they want me to become successful and have the high position in the world, and also in that time, American Dream, which was the hottest words for my parents, even though today I can not understand what means success, what is success. But I am still pursuing my parents’s dream. So my primary school is an international school, it has the english class and english teachers, every week we need to practice and communicate with the foreign language teachers. And in that time, I was a good student in my class. And I had a good habit, reading books, but almost in Chinese. I like reading books in any types, whatever it is tragic or comic, or utopian. I like to follow with the characters in their books, try to guess their thinking, and learn how to write a good story. So in my Grade 5 and Grade 6, my Chinese writing always got the highest score. Every time I talked with my friends, they frequently thought math was easy and writing was the hardest. They thought writing is boring and wasting time, but for me, I thought it is easy, every character under my writing would be vivid and attractive for every readers. So I I think the reason why they don’t write the good stories probably because they did not communicate with their characters when they wrote their stories. They didn’t put themselves into the story.
        I have already said I like any types of story. But the most attractive type of book for me is the science fiction book, because other books, like history books, you can check the history to write your own thinking. But, for science fiction books, the writers are creating their own world, it must be real. So I always like to read the science fiction books, then I would know what did the writers want to tell us. Also Utopian, this type of books I also like reading. After disasters, calamities, what will we have? What will we do? Unfamiliar, so unknown things would also attract me the most.
For me, my favorite book in english would be station eleven or Harry Potter. These two, one is science fiction, another one is Utopian. For me, an international student, I prefer to read English or Chinese books. They both are the language I am using. And I dislike the poem, not many words, but it contains many meaning, I can not figure out what did the writer truly want to say.
        Time never stop, I never stop growing, my dream is not only having high position in the society, but also I want to know what is the meaning of success. There is a book, it said “Success means you hold the highest power, you are the richest person in the world, it means success. “For some people, it is success, but for me, it is not. I am looking for the real answer about success. May be I will find the answer in a book in the future. And I also need to improve myself everyday.

My favorite color is transparent.