Continuing with my story at the fancy restaurant, we began to eat when everyone arrived. My brother and I both agreed that one of the waiters that asked if we wanted anything to drink looked like Andy Lau expect that his face/nose was a bit longer. The food came in small proportions one after another. I remember that we had some abalone , tiger fish, scallop, chicken, shark fin and some others. Donovan was playing around and accidentally spilled food on himself. After the food when we were all full, my brother and i started playing around with donovan and melissa, well sorta trying to make them behave.
Donovan and melissa had been hiding behind curtains and having races across the hallway. The uncles and aunt didnt approve of this so we had to take pictures. There was a few pictures with my brother, Adrian, donovan and i. They insisted on making a raising the bar picture, making me the one all the way on the right. On the second raising the bar picture, Adrian tip toed, but was still shorter than me, and i held donovan up so that he was the tallest of us three. Everyone took the family picture and donovan blew the candle for my grandma's sister's birthday cake. We parted our ways and went back to the house in Causeway Bay. But before leaving my brother and i took some mint tipped tooth picks. Our reaction when we saw it was " wahhh super fancy i want to bring some home!!" When we got back to the house, we were greeted by Love and Jessica. That day was wayyy too long from waking up early to go to Ocean park to the party at the jockey club. In two days i would have to pack up and go back to America, the place far far far away.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
ENGLISH FINAL!!
8.
A blog is a place where you can write down ideas, memories, opinions, or even the most random of things. You can get a mob of followers and even "stalk" your friends, making your experience more amusing. Comments that strangers or buddies provide can be encouraging or hurtful to you, but helping the long run. My first year having a blog has been interesting because I gradually chagned. On my statement of purpose, I stated that I would write about my hobbies, vacations, and goals. So far I only wrote about a recent vacation that I experienced, I like being able to slowly write it chapter by chapter. Using this new system will be something I will try to continue even after the school year.
A blog changed the way I write by having more freedom in what I write. It is unlike normal school subjects, where we have to write about a certain subject or pages. Writing beyond the minimum amount of 300 words is never a problem because of being able to write whatever I want. In blogging you do not have to impersonate someone like in history class, write formulas for math or science, or even attempt to translate a foreign language.
Being one of my weaknesses since elementary school, writing is something I have limited confidence in. Blogging has changed the way I think about writing because English class does not seem as terrifying as earlier years. Back in middle school, English class was a class I never understood because of the grammar ... adverb proposition, conjunctions, and others. Those words were so foreign and scared me every time I saw them because we would be forced to analyze a sentence. Now with blogging we do not have to worry about these minor things and let our thoughts flow naturally.
3.
Many people get comments about how interesting or horrible their writing is but I get simple comments from my English teacher. One feedback an audience gave me that helped me with writing was that how much detail is actually necessary. The first comment that I received on my blog was, "OK, Nathan. Here's my question. When you're telling a story like this, which details are important to leave in, and which aren't? This feels like you just wrote whatever you remembered about your trip, as soon as it came into your head. But it doesn't seem to me that the taxi driver's shorts, for example, have much bearing on the main point of your story, which is to talk about your whole trip. So think next week about what to LEAVE OUT to make your story get to the point more clearly." This comment showed that I usually write with too much unnecessary detail that lowers the quality of my writing. When I first read the comment, my reaction was that why can't a long story about my vacation include small details and information? The main point of the trip was more like having memorable events that I felt like sharing. Apparently, I felt that the taxi-man was important in my story as he gave me my strong impression when going to Hong Kong. These kinds of comments give an idea of what people expect from my narration.
After two more blog posts, I received the comment, "Dude, your memory of this trip is pretty fantastic! Are you working off notes? Did you take a journal with you on your trip, or something? The ordered detail is pretty impressive." This made me deeply feel proud of myself because I did not take notes and it was purely from my memories. It told me that I improved in writing. The idea of having a diary did not come to mind when I went there as a main focus to have fun. It felt like an encouragement that I should keep writing and what I was writing is right. This feedback helped me reflect on my changes on my blog. I was amazed that I progressed, even though I only subtracted a little amount of off topic details. With the idea of getting to the main point, most of my blog points concentrate on one event that happened in Hong Kong and I do not have to stretch it into continuous blog posts.
7.
Writer's block is a natural thing that occurs to everyone eventually. Depending on the subject, you will run out of ideas to express no matter if you wrote 100 or 1000 words about the subject or question. Learning to get past this challenge can be difficult or easy depending on what you are writing about. With the freedom from a blog, usually you would not get writers block because of you can write from different points of view. When you get stuck from writing from your point of view for example about the French Revolution, you can talk about how the king, nobles, or clergy reacted. Through this process, many more paragraphs can be formed because some people liked the revolution and some passionately hated how their way of life was changed.
I tend to get stuck when writing because in my heads, I feel like there is nothing more to say. This can be easily solved if I have a little conversation with a group of buddies. When chatting ideas can connect from other experiences that you had and inspire you to write more. The problem with having nothing to say can sometimes be why are we doing this? Is it just because you have to or because you want to? So in that process, thinking, I try to meet the requirements if there is any or write some more views and experiences. The problem with writer's block is that it often causes me to go offtrack when writing about a certain question. With the help of blogging, we are allowed to go off track as long as acquire the 300 word minimum, making me grateful for this factor.
A blog is a place where you can write down ideas, memories, opinions, or even the most random of things. You can get a mob of followers and even "stalk" your friends, making your experience more amusing. Comments that strangers or buddies provide can be encouraging or hurtful to you, but helping the long run. My first year having a blog has been interesting because I gradually chagned. On my statement of purpose, I stated that I would write about my hobbies, vacations, and goals. So far I only wrote about a recent vacation that I experienced, I like being able to slowly write it chapter by chapter. Using this new system will be something I will try to continue even after the school year.
A blog changed the way I write by having more freedom in what I write. It is unlike normal school subjects, where we have to write about a certain subject or pages. Writing beyond the minimum amount of 300 words is never a problem because of being able to write whatever I want. In blogging you do not have to impersonate someone like in history class, write formulas for math or science, or even attempt to translate a foreign language.
Being one of my weaknesses since elementary school, writing is something I have limited confidence in. Blogging has changed the way I think about writing because English class does not seem as terrifying as earlier years. Back in middle school, English class was a class I never understood because of the grammar ... adverb proposition, conjunctions, and others. Those words were so foreign and scared me every time I saw them because we would be forced to analyze a sentence. Now with blogging we do not have to worry about these minor things and let our thoughts flow naturally.
3.
Many people get comments about how interesting or horrible their writing is but I get simple comments from my English teacher. One feedback an audience gave me that helped me with writing was that how much detail is actually necessary. The first comment that I received on my blog was, "OK, Nathan. Here's my question. When you're telling a story like this, which details are important to leave in, and which aren't? This feels like you just wrote whatever you remembered about your trip, as soon as it came into your head. But it doesn't seem to me that the taxi driver's shorts, for example, have much bearing on the main point of your story, which is to talk about your whole trip. So think next week about what to LEAVE OUT to make your story get to the point more clearly." This comment showed that I usually write with too much unnecessary detail that lowers the quality of my writing. When I first read the comment, my reaction was that why can't a long story about my vacation include small details and information? The main point of the trip was more like having memorable events that I felt like sharing. Apparently, I felt that the taxi-man was important in my story as he gave me my strong impression when going to Hong Kong. These kinds of comments give an idea of what people expect from my narration.
After two more blog posts, I received the comment, "Dude, your memory of this trip is pretty fantastic! Are you working off notes? Did you take a journal with you on your trip, or something? The ordered detail is pretty impressive." This made me deeply feel proud of myself because I did not take notes and it was purely from my memories. It told me that I improved in writing. The idea of having a diary did not come to mind when I went there as a main focus to have fun. It felt like an encouragement that I should keep writing and what I was writing is right. This feedback helped me reflect on my changes on my blog. I was amazed that I progressed, even though I only subtracted a little amount of off topic details. With the idea of getting to the main point, most of my blog points concentrate on one event that happened in Hong Kong and I do not have to stretch it into continuous blog posts.
7.
Writer's block is a natural thing that occurs to everyone eventually. Depending on the subject, you will run out of ideas to express no matter if you wrote 100 or 1000 words about the subject or question. Learning to get past this challenge can be difficult or easy depending on what you are writing about. With the freedom from a blog, usually you would not get writers block because of you can write from different points of view. When you get stuck from writing from your point of view for example about the French Revolution, you can talk about how the king, nobles, or clergy reacted. Through this process, many more paragraphs can be formed because some people liked the revolution and some passionately hated how their way of life was changed.
I tend to get stuck when writing because in my heads, I feel like there is nothing more to say. This can be easily solved if I have a little conversation with a group of buddies. When chatting ideas can connect from other experiences that you had and inspire you to write more. The problem with having nothing to say can sometimes be why are we doing this? Is it just because you have to or because you want to? So in that process, thinking, I try to meet the requirements if there is any or write some more views and experiences. The problem with writer's block is that it often causes me to go offtrack when writing about a certain question. With the help of blogging, we are allowed to go off track as long as acquire the 300 word minimum, making me grateful for this factor.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Quickwrite : Writing Groups
Working in groups has it's positive and negative things, it can help you from being stuck but can also distract you. I do not really have writers block except for when I am writing quickwrites. Working with your peers can offer different points of views. Your peers can be from different backgrounds or even thinking different from you. Classmates can come up with ideas that you knew but you did not remember them.
I can try to share some of my ideas about that particular subject when we are in a group. I might result in giving my random comments but i guess it will work out. Looking for errors in their writing can be an option but I am not the best at it.
Discussing our ideas with friends can be more convenient because you would have more to talk about even if there is some fooling around. If the group was with people you did not know as well, there might be awkward silence and no work gets done. Some people might get left out or one person tries too much.
The rules can be for everyone to participate and not just sit there. Another rule can be to respect your groupmates when they are talking.
I can try to share some of my ideas about that particular subject when we are in a group. I might result in giving my random comments but i guess it will work out. Looking for errors in their writing can be an option but I am not the best at it.
Discussing our ideas with friends can be more convenient because you would have more to talk about even if there is some fooling around. If the group was with people you did not know as well, there might be awkward silence and no work gets done. Some people might get left out or one person tries too much.
The rules can be for everyone to participate and not just sit there. Another rule can be to respect your groupmates when they are talking.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
hong kong part 12
After we were reunited with them, sweat was running down our foreheads. In the car, the little fans felt useless and longed for getting back home. When we did get back home, everyone took turns showering and getting ready for a birthday party that my grandma's sister was holding. My brother and I felt left out because no one told us that we needed formal clothes. So i wore a bossini t-shirt and bought a pair of pants from Sogo last minute, my brother had a Hawaiian shirt that he had brought along. Melissa and Donovan had trouble changing, they were having fun playing around with Love.
We left the house about 4 or 5 oclock, i kind of forgot. I did not go one the car with my brother and mom, I ended up going on the car with my grandma's sister and my cousin. In that car they questioned me quite a lot, some were about why i am so tall. The first reaction my cousin had was, " whoa so pretty" when he saw the birthday person. She had blue glittery pants that stood out a lot. We were first to the restaurant even though uncle dereck left before us. I sat down, and the waiter kept asking if i wanted anything to drink, so i just said water because i wasnt sure if i could get soda. Slowly the relatives started coming and eventually uncle dereck and them did too. I asked my brother why they took so long, and they told me they went to go get the birthday cake at this one bakery.
There was couple bowls of chips on the table, so Melissa, Donovan, my brother and I slowly finished them off. The only person that i remembered that talked to us was our distant relative that owned Honeymoon Desserts. She seemed amazed that my brother and I were from my grandma's side of the family and somewhat told us stories. She kind of supported us eating chips even though we were about to have a big dinner soon.
We left the house about 4 or 5 oclock, i kind of forgot. I did not go one the car with my brother and mom, I ended up going on the car with my grandma's sister and my cousin. In that car they questioned me quite a lot, some were about why i am so tall. The first reaction my cousin had was, " whoa so pretty" when he saw the birthday person. She had blue glittery pants that stood out a lot. We were first to the restaurant even though uncle dereck left before us. I sat down, and the waiter kept asking if i wanted anything to drink, so i just said water because i wasnt sure if i could get soda. Slowly the relatives started coming and eventually uncle dereck and them did too. I asked my brother why they took so long, and they told me they went to go get the birthday cake at this one bakery.
There was couple bowls of chips on the table, so Melissa, Donovan, my brother and I slowly finished them off. The only person that i remembered that talked to us was our distant relative that owned Honeymoon Desserts. She seemed amazed that my brother and I were from my grandma's side of the family and somewhat told us stories. She kind of supported us eating chips even though we were about to have a big dinner soon.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
hong kong part 11
Still on the Upper part of ocean park, we were really hungry at the time. Hoping to find the Mcdonalds that was on the map, it was very far away. In the end my mom and uncle derek went to buy some noodles and rice. The tourist food wasnt that great, it was really hot, and i was scared the fan might die out. My brother and i were given twenty five minutes to ride the rollercoasters. After that we went to a cafe to have a drink. When we got there, May's mom, uncle derek, donovan, melissa were already waiting and full. I ordered some drink that was a mix of orange and 7 up, then trying out my brother's red bean with ice cream drink. It was getting late and we needed to be home by 4 because of an important party that my grandma's sister is having for her birthday.
On the way down, it was decided by the adults that we use the train this time and not the gondolas. Once in the room to wait in line, there was a mass amount of people there. When a train arrived people would rush , run, and crowd around the line, even pushing others. I felt the humidity , holding the fan didnt help, so i felt the sweat drip. We were finally in near the part where you walk in one by one. My mom and brother was watching the other people there and copied them by sneaking beneath the poles. This was dangerous, but my mom said someone pushed her and said, "hey! i have kid here." Having a child is not the biggest thing in the world because my brother and i are still under 18. My mom should had said, " hey there is four kids near me."
So my mom and brother were separated from us. We met them up at the when we arrived a train later than them. The feeling i got was like we were running away from the police, so everyone was in a big RUSH.
On the way down, it was decided by the adults that we use the train this time and not the gondolas. Once in the room to wait in line, there was a mass amount of people there. When a train arrived people would rush , run, and crowd around the line, even pushing others. I felt the humidity , holding the fan didnt help, so i felt the sweat drip. We were finally in near the part where you walk in one by one. My mom and brother was watching the other people there and copied them by sneaking beneath the poles. This was dangerous, but my mom said someone pushed her and said, "hey! i have kid here." Having a child is not the biggest thing in the world because my brother and i are still under 18. My mom should had said, " hey there is four kids near me."
So my mom and brother were separated from us. We met them up at the when we arrived a train later than them. The feeling i got was like we were running away from the police, so everyone was in a big RUSH.
Friday, December 11, 2009
hong kong part 10
After changing the date for couple days, we finally got to go to Ocean Park. This place is a theme park, but only has 1 roller-coaster, mainly a zoo-like place. There are four pandas that are given by China. In the morning we got fully prepared for this trip, with mini-fans and drinks because the news said it would be super hot. We left the house, the trip there took a short while. The indicator that showed us we were near was a big balloon that was at the center of this theme park. We found parking, and auntie May went inside to claim the entrance tickets.
We were able to come for free because their family had a year season pass and since it was one of the family member's birthday, there was free passes that month. I have never been to Ocean park so I hoped we could come. Waiting for Aunt May, my mother took pictures while my brother, melissa , donovan and i looked at the map. There is a UP the mountain and LOWER mountain part to this resort. The mini-fan was quite useful in the heat. We went in and walked around until aunt may's mother came in and met us. She followed us the whole day since she had nothing else to do.
All i remember mainly is that we went to visit the pandas and off to the UPPER part. When standing there watching the panda eat bamboo, i heard all these chinamen speak mandarin," so cuteee." I didn't really agree with them because one panda didnt look exactly black and white but black and gray. On the gondola way up, the silly kid Donovan was tring to open the door so that we would fall and die. It was a hard time trying to stop him since my mom's order was, discouraging words were not to be used in front of him.
We were able to come for free because their family had a year season pass and since it was one of the family member's birthday, there was free passes that month. I have never been to Ocean park so I hoped we could come. Waiting for Aunt May, my mother took pictures while my brother, melissa , donovan and i looked at the map. There is a UP the mountain and LOWER mountain part to this resort. The mini-fan was quite useful in the heat. We went in and walked around until aunt may's mother came in and met us. She followed us the whole day since she had nothing else to do.
All i remember mainly is that we went to visit the pandas and off to the UPPER part. When standing there watching the panda eat bamboo, i heard all these chinamen speak mandarin," so cuteee." I didn't really agree with them because one panda didnt look exactly black and white but black and gray. On the gondola way up, the silly kid Donovan was tring to open the door so that we would fall and die. It was a hard time trying to stop him since my mom's order was, discouraging words were not to be used in front of him.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
hong kong part 9
Back in ifc, my family and i where all carrying our luggages along with the bedsheets. My brother had really wanted to watch the new movie GI Joe, that recently came out. So we went to the theater that was there and it was turned out to be about 80 hkd per person. After some wandering around, waiting for time to go by, we went into the theater. The seats were very comfortable, and the interesting thing was that we got to choose our seats instead of finding one. The movie was an action one with a lot of explosions. My brother and I agreed that Storm Shadow looked a lot cooler but his enemy/brother Snake eyes was a lot stronger.
When we left the movies, uncle Derek picked us up and brought us back to Causeway bay. Since our main goal of going to Llama Island was to eat seafood, my uncle decided that we go to SaiGon to eat, a well known place. We dropped our stuff off at the house, and was glad for the air con. On the way to SaiGon, uncle Derek's son Donavan was being a retard again. In the car he was whining that he wanted shui mai, this dimsum food, he kept whining and whining. So midway on our trip we stopped, got shui mai at the local 711 store, and continued with our journey after a long while.
After many twists and turns, passing by the actor Liza Wang's house, we arrived there. My uncle informed me that the desert store Honey Moon Desert was owned by my grandma's sister's cousin. Very distant relative but it is still interesting to know who all my rich relatives were. I forgot the name of our restaurant but i remember we went out to pick our seafood first. Just picking the seafood was 700hkd and the fee for preparing would be 70hkd per person. The price of this dinner would be 1300hkd without the drinks or little snacks. When the waiters showed us our table, the first things i noticed was the roof. The roof was so short, i believe it was a 6 feet roof because when i stand straight i would feel my head hitting it.
When we left the movies, uncle Derek picked us up and brought us back to Causeway bay. Since our main goal of going to Llama Island was to eat seafood, my uncle decided that we go to SaiGon to eat, a well known place. We dropped our stuff off at the house, and was glad for the air con. On the way to SaiGon, uncle Derek's son Donavan was being a retard again. In the car he was whining that he wanted shui mai, this dimsum food, he kept whining and whining. So midway on our trip we stopped, got shui mai at the local 711 store, and continued with our journey after a long while.
After many twists and turns, passing by the actor Liza Wang's house, we arrived there. My uncle informed me that the desert store Honey Moon Desert was owned by my grandma's sister's cousin. Very distant relative but it is still interesting to know who all my rich relatives were. I forgot the name of our restaurant but i remember we went out to pick our seafood first. Just picking the seafood was 700hkd and the fee for preparing would be 70hkd per person. The price of this dinner would be 1300hkd without the drinks or little snacks. When the waiters showed us our table, the first things i noticed was the roof. The roof was so short, i believe it was a 6 feet roof because when i stand straight i would feel my head hitting it.
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