Cold Current

Have you noticed that this winter is much colder than in the past? There have been several cold current passing by Taiwan so far, and every time it made the temperature drop sharply. As matter of fact, I can not stand cold weather, so I particularly do not like winter. Moreover, there were lots of serious natural disasters which endangered our lives and environment, sucha as flooding, tusinami and drought. It is not hard to draw our attention to climate change because the climate issue is worldwide.

Global warming contributes to climate change significantly which is the biggest problem for every one in the world. We all know it is because of the greenhouse effect. Due to making too many greenhouse gases which is carbon dioxide( CO2) by people, a lot of people in the world suffer now by the heavy snowing and the severe cold current. There are several factors  affecting our environment, such as pollution, depletion of nonrenewable energy sources, deforestation and damaging the Ozone layer. As a result, it damages our environment badly and greatly. Climate change dramatically is a very good example for us.

I think everyone has a responsibility for it, so we should stop hurting the earth but protect our environment. For me, doing recycling ,saving electrical energy and avoiding wasting food are the basic ways to help our environment. If everyone can aware of the impact of climaate change on our environment, I believe the earth might be getting worse slowly and decreasingly.

Ginger(薑)

Do you know what is the magic medicine for poor people in ancient times? Have you heard that before? The answer is ginger. I would like to introduce this magic medicine, ginger, for you. Ginger is a spicy, pungent root. Commonly used in cooking and it is also used in many traditional medicines. It is also often called " ginger root." There are lots of  kinds of ginger, such as fresh ginger and dry ginger. In the past, when poor people were sick and  they do not have money for medicine; therefore, ginger is best medicine for them. It is cheap and it also can cure some illness. Especially, ginger tea is used to cure the common cold and the flu as well as assuage stomach aches and promote better function in the digestive tract.

My family often cooks ginger soup for curing the common clod, especially when it is the initial period of the cold. Actually it is quite easy to cook, and you just  need to follow several steps. First, you have to wash dry old ginger and smash it into some pieces. Second, you put some water and smashing ginger into a pot then you start to boil it . Third, after boiling it for some minutes and lots of bubbles come up from the bottom of water then you add some brown sugar into the pot.  Last, you have to cook it for few minutes and it is done.  I had a lot of ginger soup this winter because of  preventing cold and curing the cold, too. I would like to recommend ginger for your best choice because it is not only curing the cold but also the best ingredient in the winter; for example, you can make rice wine chicken, medicinal ginger duck and ginger soup with glutenous rice dumpling.

Winter Solstice

Yesterday was twenty-second  December which was also winter Solstice. Winter Solstice is the most important solstice of twenty-four solstices.  In ancient times, winter solstice is a reunion day of a family; therefore, it is also called " Little New Year" which means Xiao Guo Nian in Chinese. It  is the day of the shortest day time and the longest night time. It is also symbolize much bright and hopeful of farmers after passing winter solstice, for the day time will lengthen and the night time will shorten day after day.

Traditionally, Chinese people usually eat glutinous rice dumpling in winter solstice. Some Chinese people even prepare Medicinal Ginger Duck, Rice Wine Chicken or Four Herbs Chicken and so on for Winter Dietary Supplementation on that day. My family  has our own special recipe of glutinous rice dumpling for winter solstice. We are the same as the most people eating glutinous rice dumpling and rice wine chicken. However, we cook sweet balls of glutinous rice with salty soup, dry shrimps and Tonghao cai which is a kind of vegetables be used to cook for hot pot. It is kinda different taste from other people's cooking. I loved eating our special glutinous rice dumpling when I was a kid; moreover, it is also my Mom's special recipe. Evey time when I eat it then it reminds me of my mom. I do dislike to eat glutinous rice dumpling of peanut and sesame flavors with sweet soup very much because it is always too sugary. Next time, why do not try my family special recipe. I believe you will find out it will be very tasty for you because there is a balance flavor which mixes saltiness and sweetness. You might like it much.

Boy A

I knew this book, Boy A, from a blog by accident. When I browsed the blog, I found an article which is introducing the move of Boy A. Then I have just discovered that it is filmed by the book of Boy A. After reading it, I really want to read the book and watch the movie, as well. Last week, when I  returned the books which I borrowed from Xinchuang Library, I saw the book, Boy A, on the shelf. I decided to borrowed it immediately.

The story is about a boy who is from a middle-class family, but he doesn't have much attention fromm his parents, especially his father. It is because he is questioning whether he is his son's biological father or not. As a result, boy a makes a bad friend and they skip classes very often. One day, they meet boy a's  classmate, Angela, they accidentally kill her but in fact boy a is a helper not a killer. Two kids finally go to jail and since it they give them  new names which are boy a and boy b. When boy a is 24 years old ,he finally is released from prison but boy b is committed suicide in the jail. They give boy a a new identity and helps him get a new job and new life. However, his mysterious past troubles him a lot and he finds out it is not easy to escape his past. One time, he saves a girl from a car accident and it has changed his life again since it.

It took me about two weeks to finish reading. After reading, I felt quite overwhelming because of the story. It made me question myself and my believing. I do believe people should be punished if they break laws no matter how their ages are. However, Boy A gives me a different thought of it. He made a big mistake when he was a kid and he paid for it in prison for more than a decade. After getting out the prison, he learns a lesson and wants to be a good person. In fact, there is no second chance for him because most people believe he is still as bad as a killer long time ago. When I think of it, it is a contradiction. Some people may learn a lesson but some may not. However, the question is that  how do we know, how do we believe and  who should we believe?

Having a New Haircut

I usually have a new haircut  two times per year and I think it is quite common for every woman. I had a new haircut first time this year was in May. It is because May is my birthday month and I usually get a special discount on my birthday; therefore, I often go to the hair salon in May. I also have my won hairdresser who is female and younger than me. I still remembered the first time I met her at the salon, and she was recommend by her staff. I usually do not trust a new hairdresser, but I decided to give it a try. Then I have become a regular customer of her since that. The second time I went to there was in November. It was because I wanted to change my look and mood plus my hair was too terrible. As a result, having a new haircut is a good idea to do.

There are several advantages for me to have a new haircut. First, it freshen me.I often feel like I am a new person after having a haircut. It is why I like to do it because it makes me happy and delighted. Especially, when your friends or family compliment you on your new hairdo, it really can make you happier. Second, it is also a good way to have a good mood.  If something upsets me or troubles me, I particularly like to have a new hairdo. When you have this bad mood, you want to change yourself or something. Having a new haircut is a good way to change yourself, and I found it works to me well. Furthermore, there are lots of ways to have a new haircut; for example, you can cut your hair short, you can have a perm or you even can dye your hair. However, there is a disadvantage for me, too. I usually have to spend a quite big money on it. I think it is a common problem for every women and I am not the exception.

Although I lost some money on my hairdo, I still like to have a new haircut. I think you only spend few hours then you can get a new hairstyle wiht a new look which is a good bargain. Furthermore, it is also a easy way for me to change my mood and have a new look. If you have something bother you, why do not  give yourself a try ?

Moi Nojoud, 10 ans, divorcee (我10歲,離婚)

The first time I knew this book, Moi Nojoud, 10 ans, divorcee, on Facebook, and  it was recommended by a studying group. When I saw the title, it did draw me attention because of the book name. How did it happen to a little girl and why came into my mind directly. After few weeks, I found the book in Xinchuang Library. I was eager to read it and wanted to find out the answers, so I stayed there to finish reading.

The story is about a girl, Moi Nojoud, from Yemen. She was forced to marry to a man three times her age by her parents and she was sexually abuse and beaten. At the age of 10, she asked for a divorce but her family disagreed with it. One day,  she went out to buy a bread ,and she decided to go to the court for a shelter and waited until a judge would listen to her. At last, she met a female lawyer who is helping women to overcome a taboo and against these unfair justiciary system to women. Because of her and other people's great help, she finally won the victory.

It is a sad story but it is common in Yemen. It is a kind of practice and it is a part of their religion, so there are lots of young girls who are under 18 years old are forced to get married by their parents. Most parents are poor  therefore they sell their children to their husbands. This is just one of examples. Because of Moi Nojoud, everyone knows  how terrible it is. I can just hope it will not happen again to other kids but I know it is hard to stop this kind of misery . I respect different practices and religions; however, I still want to call  for that everyone should be treated justly and humanely.

Voluntary Simplicity

Last Saturday, I learned a lesson about Voluntary Simplicity at the class and I found something interesting but  also contradictory.

Basically, Voluntary Simplicity is a way you live simply and also you are willing to do it.  Homestead is the most common for us to know. It is like a self-sufficient life which means you grow your own vegetables and fruits in your garden, and you keep chickens or other animals in your backyard. You also prefer buying used goods at secondhand stores instead of buying new things at the shopping malls. The most reason you want to have this life is to look carefully at your consumption habits. In other words, it is another way you want to protect the earth by homestead.

I kinda like this lifestyle but I also found it is a bit challenge for me. First, you have to have your own land which means you need a mount of money to but it. Money could be my first problem. Second, You need to plant your won vegetables and fruits, and have some animals that will be a problem for me because I have no knowledge about gardening and farming. Third, living simply also means do not use anything is related  modern technology appliances. In other words, I should not use computers, cell phones and so on. I am OK not to use electric furnaces, clothes dryers or watch TV, but some of appliances I still need them.

I think it still needs step by step to approach a self-sufficient life for me. Maybe I just only can start to buy used goods, avoid wasting electricity and plant some vegetables or fruits on the weekends in order to increase some experiences for the future homestead. Furthermore, it is also needed to do, for we should save and protect our earth.

November of 2010

November was a very relaxing month for me because I just quit the job and  I really became a full-time student. After three busy months, I really looked forward to having a life of a slow pace. Actually, I don't like to be extreme busy or free and that is the reason why I am looking forward to it.  At first week, I almost did not go out of my house except for school days on the weekend. To be honest, after  few weeks I felt I was a bit bored with no working life. Then, I started doing something which I stopped doing it for sometime, such as reading and blog writing. I had a mid-term examination but I did not get good grades on some courses.  Although I had much free time, I did not study hard due to not diligence. I also found out that I could not be perfunctory of English studying, otherwise I might keep this bad habit. Because of much free time, I also visited my friend often than before. My friend was facing a big crisis, and I was really worried about her. I went to the hospital to see her two times and her recovery from the treatment  was getting better and better. It was the happiest thing to know for me in November. Moreover, I visited Taipei International Flora Exposition with my classmates and it was beyond my expectation; therefore, I am looking forward to visiting it again with my family and friends.