My favorite American soap opera- CSI

I like watching American soap opera when I start learning English. There are several kinds of soap opera such as comedy, police, doctors and so on. I particularly like CSI the most. I remembered that I fell in love with CSI after watching it. CSI is standing for Crime,Scene and Investigation. There are three main series of CSI and they are New York, Miami and Las Vegas. Each series has its style and a lot of interesting stories. I am always fascinated by it every time, especially its complex story. I often watch CSI of Las Vegas and the main leading actor of the lab is like a scientist. He is a thoughtful and smart person. The main leading actor of Miami's lab is like a detective and the way he catches bad guys is very heroic style. The main leading actor of New York's lab is in between of Las Vegas and Miami. I like to watch it not only the leading actors but also fascinating stories. I admire criminalists because they need to have professional knowledge. It is very impressived by these stories which how they find out evidence to catch bad guys. I often watch it on Saturday and Sunday night and it is a good way to relax.

My Resolution of 2010

It is the last day of 2009 and I would like to make my resolution for 2010. My first resolution of 2010 is to study harder for Japanese. I go back to campus to study this year, so have a chance to learn Japanese again. Actually it is not my first time to learn it, but I forgot it totally.I was quite disappointed to myself, but I am much better after few months. I think this is a good chance to learn it again. At first, I would like to spend more time to practice the basic of Japanese phonics and writing every day. Then I would like to practice listening. And I also need to pay more attention on my Japanese class. I think these ways can help me improve my Japanese.

My second resolution is to practice driving and I can drive without worrying. I got my drive licence few years ago, but I was afraid of driving. Although the traffic is convenient, it is more convenient when you travel to far places. First, I need to start practicing driving near my neighborhood. I have to be brave to drive first. Then I can practice to drive to school every Sunday. If I can do it then I think I won't be afraid of driving. After that, I would like to travel to Kenting by car. If I can do it then I am successful. I would like to try harder for it and I hope all my resolution of 2010 will come true.

Weather

Weather is quite important to me. I am a person who is influenced by the weather easily. Especially I particular don't like cold weather such as winter or rainy season. I don't feel energetic but blue in cold weather. The most important reason is that I don't feel comfortable because my hands and feet are iced cold then I will be in a bad mood. I used to like winter because of an atmosphere of peace and clam but I change my mind as I am getting old. Now, I like spring and summer much. I like warm and sunny day because I feel full of vigour and vitality. It has been freezing these days and I quite can't stand it even I have a thought maybe I should travel to Australia or New Zealand because it is summer now. However I like Christmas and New Year in the winter. Although it is cold but I can feel happy and joyful during these holidays. It is supposed to get together with your family. It also means spring is coming soon after winter. I think I am looking forward to welcoming spring next year.

Important Reasons to Have a College Education

Going to school to get education is an obligation and responsibility to us. Especially when you are becoming an adult, it will help you to build up a well character or relationship, and it also gives you a further idea for your career at school. A college education is important for these reasons. The first reason is that it prepares you for a career. We have more opportunities to learn different subjects when you study at the college which provides you more time to learn more skills. For example, you study Accounting then you learn lots of knowledge about it such as booking and taxing. It helps you to get a job to be an accountant after graduating form the college. The second reason is that it builds up your interpersonal relationship. We all know relationships are important to us not only at school but also at work or in the society. We start developing our relationships with our classmates and even our teachers or professors. It is a good way to learn and develop it. For example, you have a good relationship with your schoolmates then they might help you when you are in trouble. The last reason is that it helps you to get a further graduate school. After college you have some choices to make. For example, you want to work then you can look for a job, but you want to keep studying then you can apply a school to get a doctor degree which is required to graduate form a college. In conclusion, a college education can help you to prepare your career, build up your relationship and have a further studying.

To Pursue a Healthy Life

Nowadays, there are many people want to pursue a healthy life because of busy working schedules and presser of working and living. Eating healthy food and taking exercise daily are good ways to be healthy. There are some ways to help you to maintain and improve your health. The first way is to have a regular routine. For example, you should go to bed early and get up early, too. Don't stay up late and miss an alarm clock to get up late. The second way is to do exercise regularly. We know exercise is important to us not only increasing energy but also improving weakness. For example, we go jogging every morning or do aerobics or yoga two or three times per week. The most important thing is that you do it regularly and do it at least 30 minutes per time. The third way is to have a healthy diet. Most people usually can't eat in time because of their busy work, so they usually skip one meal or like to eat fast food such as hamburgers, fried chicken, or fried chips. These foods don't provide enough nutrition but much fat, salt and oil. You should eat all kinds of food to help your health. For example, you need to eat vegetables, meat, fish and fruit every day and don't skip any meals per day then you will have enough strength to work. It also provides healthy nutrition to you. In conclusion, you need to have a regular routine, take exercise constantly and have a nutritious diet are the best ways to have a healthy life.

Uluru-Ayers Rock of Red Center

Uluru named Ayers Rock is the hugest independent rock in the world. It is also a sacred place to aboriginal people. It is famous because its beautiful red color changes by the sun in a day. When I decided to visit Northern Territory of Australia, it is a place I must see in person. I think it is worth to spend time and money on exploring there, and you can also experience their special aboriginal culture.

There are two ways to visit Ayers Rock. One is to climb to the top of the big rock, and the other one is to walk around Uluru's base. I chose to walk around the big rock because Anangu traditional owners prefer if you don't climb to the top of Ayers Rock, and I respect it. Our group got up in the very early morning because we didn't want to miss the beautiful view of Uluru in. Not surprisingly there were already lots of visitors there when we arrived. I took some photos of Uluru, and I was very surprised to see the view when its color changed by the sun. I also very excited to see it in person. It took me about two and half hours to walk around it, and you were also amazed by walking to see it closely. It was a pity not to understand the explanations of the signs because of my broken English. If you want to know aboriginal stories and arts it is the best way to know by the signs. When I travel this is the only thing I feel pity, so that is why I want to improve my English better. It is rare to see such a huge rock, especially in the desert, and I am glad to take this tour to experience this beautiful place in person. I am still missing it sometimes.

Kings Canyon of Red Center

My second trip was from Alice Springs to Adelaide about 6 days. I spent two days to visit Kings Canyon, Uluru and Kata Tjuta which are located at Kata Tjuta National Park. Uluru named Ayers Rock and Kata Tjuta named The Olgas are the most beautiful and famous landscape in the desert of middle Australia.

The first place we visited was Kings Canyon. When I saw it at the first time, it was very spectacular. I was almost attracted by the Amphitheatre. We had a walk to visit around Kings Canyon. To be honest I didn't know I could do it or not, but I was glad I could do it. We took about one and half hour to complete the walk and it wasn't a very easy walk because you had to go up and down along the rocky road. It was a very impressive experience to me because I challenged not only my physical extreme but also my mind extreme. When I live in Taiwan I don't have many chances to do outdoor activities, so I hesitated a bit to join the tour at first. I am not a athletic person especially I am the only Asian in my group, so I just hope I could do my best. It was really amazing when you were there in person to see these amphitheatre with endless land. I am really touched by the nature and I think that is why I like Australia very much.

Alice Springs

Alice Springs is in the south of Northern Territory and it is also a big city there. There are lots of famous spots near Alice Springs, so it becomes a popular famous town. When I arrived at Alice Springs, I felt it was a hot place and a remote town with only a few people. I got an extra free day,so I decided to explore this town alone. I remembered my first meal I bought at McDonald's

because it made me feel not very nervous to be there. And then I started my day tour. I took a bus to visit School of Air which was about five minutes driving from downtown. It was amazing when you saw it in person. There are many kids to go to school difficultly because they are far away form home to school therefore they built School of Air to help kids to educate by air and Internet which is convenient and cheap. There are lots of kids benefited by it. I also visited the famous house but I forgot the name of the place. I signed my name on the notebook and I found I was the first Taiwanese to visit there. Before dark, I visited Anzac Hill where is a memorial place to memorialize the wars. It's also on the top of Alice Springs, so you could have a good view there. Al thought Alice Springs is remote and small but it is a historical town.

My Trip Darwin To Alice Springs

Before coming back to Taiwan from Australia, I planned a long trip form Darwin to Adelaide alone. It took me about two weeks, and I also met a lot of friends who were from different countries which gave me an unforgettable experience and memory.

My first trip was three days from Darwin to Alice Springs, so I flew form Melbourne airport to Darwin airport. When I was on my way to the airport, I was happy and excited without being nervous, until I arrived at Darwin I started feeling nervous because I really felt I was alone. The trip of three days includes 3 nights camping, 3 lunches, 3 dinners, 3 breakfasts and National Parks fees. I visited Litchfield National Park, Katherine Gorge and Mataranka Springs, Waters Pub and Devils Marbles and Alice Springs. The first day was very unlucky because I waited for my tour guide to pick me up and she was very late. I thought I was going to be stood up by her. Finally, I get on the bus and felt much at ease. I remembered Deveils Marbles the most because it was the first time I slept outside on the big rock only with a sleeping bag. Actually I am afraid of the dark and I don't know what made to be so brave. One third day, I had a little accident which I stripped on stairs at dark. Maybe because of it, everyone in my group knew me and gave me a warm care. Northern Territory of Australia is very beautiful with the blue sky, less people, special landscape and some wild animals. It was quite an adventure to me.

Enrique's Journey

This is the book I bought it after reading the outline at once. Few years ago, I went travelling in Australia alone and I brought it with me during all my journey there. I'm really touched by the story and it also gives me a different thought, maybe gives me some encouragement when I was alone there.

The story is about a young kid looks for his mom and he starts his journey form his home town, Honduras, to America alone when he is only sixteen years old without enough money and an official visa to complete the dangerous journey to go to America and stay with his mom. After reading the story, I just knew that there are over thousands of children do the same thing to take a chance to go to American illegally and some of them don't make it even to die or send back to their home town. Most countries of South America are in poor economy, so there are many people have to left home to work in USA in order to make more money to support their family. In their story, the young kid's mom left home to work in USA when her son is five, after 11 years past, her son misses his mom so much then he starts his journey. The author is Sonia Nazario, the young kid's mom works at her family as a maid. When she knew the story, she decided to write it. She interviewed the young kid and some people who helped him before and she also experienced the most dangerous part which is the death train in person.

When I read it, I feel not only touched but also sad, too. I think it is out of my imagination because we haven't been in a such poor condition and we haven't kept away from our parents. Especially when I was alone travelling in Australia, I felt deeply sad and sorry to these young kids. I think I am really lucky.

A Person Who Has Made a Difference: Teacher Tina of ELICOS

Teacher Tina was my third teacher of ELICOS when I studied English at Box Hill Institute. She is a Greek and she immigrated to Australia with her family when she was a little girl. She is also a very religious person. She was a housekeeper and she studied English at a university after her children grew up. After that, she has been an English teacher for oversea students at Box Hill. I met her when I was in the middle intermediate English class and she was my class teacher. When I was in her class, she always paid lots of attention to oversea students compared to other English teachers. I think it is because of her religion, so she always shows her kindness and passion to the students. Especially she always tired different ways to teacher English to make it more fun and interesting. All of the students in my class liked her very much. Luckily , I had more time and chances to know her. Some of my classmates and I were invited to her house to have afternoon tea or dinner. She cared about not only our studying but also our adjustment in Australia and our health condition. Before going back to Taiwan, my Taiwanese friends and I visited her holiday house for two days. Teacher Tina and her husband gave us a very warm welcome and took us to visit some famous spots which made us be impressed and we all appreciated her kindness. For me, she is not only an English but also she is like an elder who really case about us and give us lots of helping. Because of teacher Tina, I could have a lot of improvement of English and adjust myself in Australia well without homesick. She is really a great teacher and kind person. I have to say thank you to her.

Learning a New Language

I started learning Japanese few months ago because it is a main course I have to take it at school. Actually it is not new to me but I totally forget it althought I have learned it when I was a college student. Learning a new language is quite a challenge to me now becasue I am not a full time student and I am much older to learn it by memorizing it. I still can remember that the first time I learnt English when I was a junior high school student. It was a subject to me for benig a student and I wasn't interested in it. At beginning of learning English, I didn't learn very well and I couldn't memorize A-Z both capital and little letter in order. When I was in grade two of junior high school I liked to listen to English songs and movies then I made a little progress. After that, English is not only a subject to me but it was more interesting to me. Especially, when I watched movies or listened to songs and I understood them then I was very happy and it made me want to learn more. I think learning a new language you must find the interests and motivation to attract you to learn and that will be the best way to learn a new language. I hope I can find the interests when I learn Japanese. Also hope it is not only a subject to me but a useful language.

The Kite Runner

The kite Runner is one of my favorite novels. I read this book few years ago and then I fell in love with the story. I have read this book two or three times and it gives me some different though and ideas each time. This book opens my eye to Middle East countries, and it helps me know what's a real life there.

It is a story about two children, well to-do teenage boy Amir and his very royal Hazara servant Hassan, who are growing up together, and then they separate because of the war and misunderstanding which makes him thinks of it sometimes. Actually Hassan is also his father's son and he knows that after he grows up when he is in USA. Because he feels guilty, and Hassan's son is in danger, he goes back to his country, Afghanistan, to save his nephew. When he goes back there, he faces lots of challenges and difficulties to save his nephew. He also forgives himself and feels reliefs by this journey.

This is a great but sad story to me, especially the author writes a lot of about relationships between friends and friends and father and son. You also can know some real lives of people there, and what people have and lost because of the war there. After reading this book, I really feel I am a lucky person who lives a place without worrying about continuous wars and short of food. World peace is the best thing to everyone and I really hope there will be no war in the world one day.

Being a Student Again

I was back to study English at Longhaw this September. To be honest I was very excited to be a student again. After few months, I found I am not used to being a student a bit. It has been a long time I am not a student but a worker. I guess I need some time to adjust myself to a new schedule.

The first day at school, I totally didn't know any person at my class, but I know some of them after few months, especially I also know some them are very kindly and friendly and they like to help our classmates. I think I am lucky to know them and I am also happy to be their classmate. I was also impressed to some of our classmates who were volunteer to do extra work for our class. Because of them, our classmates and teachers get along well and our class is also very united and hard working. The most important thing is that we have a very nice and great class teacher who always gives us lots of encouragement. Last week, I heard few classmates dropped out of school, it mad us feel a bit sentimental more or less. We are not like a full time student and most of us are working now, so we all have different difficulties or challenges which makes us more difficult to graduate. I am also much luckier than some of my classmates because I only work part time and I have more time to study or do homework but less money.

Although I sometimes feel tired or upset when I study at weekend but I am still glad I make this decision because I have learnt a lot so far and I also make some friends here. I think no matter what is be upset or tired you, you must think about " No pain no gain." I hope all my classmates and I can graduate successfully together.

Tasmania

Tasmania was my first trip to explore Australia when I studied in Melbourne. I went there with four Taiwanese friends for one week trip. This was my first trip as a backpacker and I have been loving with it since my first trip in Tasmania.

Tasmania is an island and it is located southeast of mainland Australia. There are lots of activities you can do there such as fishing, cruising, hiking, camping, diving,cycling and mountain biking. We actually took a mini-bus tour with a local guide. The first day, we flew to Hobart which is the capital city of Tasmania,from Melbourne. My first impression of Hobart was quiet and less people compare to Melbourne city. We stayed there for one night and then we started our tour in the next morning. The first day of tour was very unlucky because we almost stood up by the travel agency. Fortunately, we had an assistance by another travel agency and finally we started our adventure. We visited lots of national parks, towns and famous spots in one week. The most unforgettable places are Wineglass Bay of at Freycinest National Park, Dove Lake park of Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park and Tahune Forest Air Walk.

After one week tour of Tasmania I fell in loved with this beautiful island. It was a very short trip to me. We only visited some national parks and towns, and we didn't have enough time to explore each place. There is too much beautiful landscape attracting me; especially, the view is different in four seasons. I would like to go back there again and plan a long vacation there.

Being an English Teacher

Being an English teacher is one of my dreams and I came true it four years ago. English is my favorite subject and I have been studying it since I was a junior high student. I spent a lot money and time on it and I got a repayment from it which is making money by teaching English.

I got a new job as a full time English teacher after I quitted a job at the travelling agency four years ago. I was very happy to get a new job not only it's my favorite but also it didn't take a long to find it. At beginning I wasn't confident to take this job because I was worried about my English although I had been studying English in Australia for a year. After few weeks training I had much confident of teaching English because of my co-workers' helping and my hard working. I remembered my first class was a high level class and I was very nervous to teach them although they were just in grade 5 or 6 students of elementary school. Few months after, I felt I had much confident to teach them because I had well prepared lessons when I thought them. To be honest I had a lot improvement of English grammar,too, by teaching them. I teach and I learn, too.

One year after, I quitted a full time job to be a part-time teacher. I think I just simply like teaching. As a full time teacher not only teaching but also lot of paper work, telephone tests, planning big activities and cleaning. The most important thing is that I get a bit tired of pushing students studying. I think this is the problem to every teachers and I am still struggling it, too. Being a teacher I think we should be patient and enthusiastic but some how there are always some students make you lost your patience even worse you feel disappointed of you and students, too.

Be a teacher is not a easy job. I think all depends on your passion and patience. This is the job what I had dreamt for years and I am doing it now. It brings me some happiness and unhappiness, too. I just hope I can still teach with my passion and enthusiasm without worrying losing patience.

Studying Abroad

Few years ago, I had an opportunity to study in Australia. I had been studying English and living in Melbourne for a year. It has been a quite unique and an unforgettable experience to me so far. I learned a lot not only English but also life experiences which made me get more knowledge and mature, too.

I wasn't very nervious at Melbourne airport alone at the first day of Australia but excited and tired after a long flight. I lived with a single family and another oversea student who was korean. My homestay monther was very nice to us and she helped us to get used to living here a lot, such as opening an account in the bank, introducing environment and showing us locations. I adapted living in Melbourne soon without homesick but I still missed taiwanese food much especially I missed hot soup, hot noodles and hot pot the most in the winter. After few months I moved out and I lived with an Austrailian guy and a Chinese girl in a share-shouse. I was a bit sad to move out because of a tight budget and I was a bit nervious to live in a share-house because it's the first time I live with strangers who I totally don't know them at all. I didn't live there in a long time because they had a different schedule from me which was very annoying. The most serious problem was that my landlord's son had some mental problems and he was getting serious. I remembered the day I moved out there were few police officers trying to persuade him to go to the hospital. I think I was lucky to move out earlier otherwise I really didn't know what will happen to me. At last, I moved to live with a Thai couple who were friendly and they were students, too, so it made me feel confortable to live with them. I liked to live there becasue it was in a quiet area although it was a bit far to go to school by feet.

I had been living in different placese in Melbourn and each place gave me different ideas and feelings. I got a lot of experiences that I had never had when I lived in Taiwan. I think it is a good opportunity to learn and to experience different lives by studying abroad. No matter good or bad things what I had or learned which help me to grow up and to be more independent.

An unforgettable August

I had some bad news in August which were quite sad and shocked to hear. I was also sick ,too. It was a terrible month to me and it was unforgettable, too.

The beginning of August, I felt uncomfortable because of eczema of my hands and it has been annoying me for few weeks. The worst was there were some bubbles appearing on left waist of my body which was killing me. I went to see the doctor and I knew I got herpes zoster. I think I was very unlucky that time. It took me almost a month to cure it. I didn't sleep well, too, because it hurt my nervousness and made me weak. Now, I am paying more attention to my health. I don't work hard but I push myself hard. AS a teacher I get angry easily because of students' bad attitude of studying. After it, I learn I shouldn't push myself too much and I just need to do my best.

Near the end of August, I got a call form my friend's friend and she told me that my friend who was my classmate of vocational school, passed away few days ago. To be honest, I was totally shocking and speechless. I knew my friend get a blood cancer and she was in the hospital and she was giving a medicinal care. I still remembered our last conversations few months ago were I am waiting for her to go back home and I will visit her again. Losting a close friend is sadness, moreover, she's the only child of her family. I also feel sorry to her parents. I still think of her sometimes and I think of all encouragement she gave to me and her faithfully friendship and her justice but no sadness. I would be happy she is away form illness but I will miss her forever.

Three days after the bad news, I got another phone call from my college's classmate and she told me another bad news about our best friend. she got a gonad cancer which is the first period and she removed the gonad few days ago. What another shocking news to me! I only have two college's classmates we still keep in touch with each other because we all live near to each other then we become best friends. Now she is still in the hospital and she is fighting with illness. We still keep in touch with sometimes and she is much well than before. Luckily she doesn't lost her faith and her family stands by her. I wish all the best to her and hope she will get well soon.

After all the bad news, I realized that health is very important to us. We have so much pressure form our work, families and society or yourself and we should take it seriously. I think if we aren't healthy not only our physical but also our mind then we might not be able to live, not to mention to work or to make money. The most important thing is to be happy and thinking positive then you might keep away from illness.

Introducing Myself

Hello, I would like to introduce myself to you. My name is Irene
Zhang and I am from a big family. I am the third child of my family
and I have three sisters and two brothers. I used to live in
Taoyuan where is very near Lunghwa University of Science and
Technology but I am living in Xinzhuang now. I have been working
at travel agency as an accountant for several years but I am a
part-time English teacher now. My major is accounting but I am
interested in English very much. Few years ago, I had an
opportunity to study English abroad. I have been studying in
Australia for 40 weeks of ELICOS, so I become an English
teacher at Hess now. I like to read novels and watch movies,CSI
and travel channel in my free time. But I have been falling in
love with games of Facebook recently, especially farming and
running the restaurant. I like to play it not only because it is
creative and interesting but also I can practice English. My short
goal is to get a university diploma in two years and I can improve
writing and reading skill in order to succeed in scoring 800
TOEIC test. I am still working part time now, so I also hope I can
find out what I want to do or I can do as my career in the future.
My long goal is to study TESL abroad and to become an English
teacher of teaching adults. I hope I can achieve it someday.