celebrate2100t

Meng Ting, Lian

English 2100T

09/24/2018

2nd Draft of Mid-Autumn Festival 

My childhood was one of the most unforgettable times in my life. Since I was little, I lived with my family members. The moment I felt most happiness is when the whole family got together and celebrate Chinese festivals. In China, the four major traditional festival was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and Dragon Boat Festival, Spring Festival, and Ching Ming Festival. People maybe know more things about the spring festival in China, but I want to give more details about the Mid-Autumn Festival in China.

Every August 15th at night, me and my family sit together on our house’s balcony and watch the moonlight together. That day was called: Mid-Autumn Festival. I still remember that day our house just had a power outage, everything is dark but my heart is bright and warm because they all surround me and made me feel safe. We took out the red candle and light the candle to pray that next year we would still be together. I lay on the balcony floor, my grandmother brings a little table, above the table, there’s a lot of food on the top and obviously, the most important thing is the mooncake. We sit together and listen to the story about the Mid-Autumn Festival. It has been said that, at this time, the gods of the moon (called Chang E) will miss their loved ones and look forward to a reunion. Therefore, every August 15th, people watch the moon and the moon always seem like a big round circle. It means reunion. Listening to the story told by my parents, gradually, I fell asleep.

Nevertheless, throughout the history of the Mid-Autumn Festival, it was a long story to tell. Mid-Autumn Festival began in the early years of the Tang Dynasty and began popular in the Song Dynasty. During that time period, the Mid-Autumn Festival is not about celebrating the reunion of families but it was a festival about commemorating ancestor and this festival was only for emperor because emperor represents the son of god, when he commemorating ancestors, ancestors will protect him and his people. Later on, ancient nobles and ministers began to follow the emperor. Lastly, nobles and ministers passed this festival into ancient people’s life. However, when the festival passes into people’s life. It becomes a turning point of the festival, people treat Mid-Autumn Festivals as a festival that celebrates the harvest and expresses joy because they knew after celebrating the Mid- Autumn Festival, the fall season will come soon and fall season was the time for people to collect all their crops and fruits and each family will gather together to collect their own crops. Over the time passes, Mid – Autumn Festivals become a festival celebrating reunion and harvest.

Furthermore, there are many traditional activities in the Mid-Autumn Festival. Such as watching the moon or give the moon a salute and also people will prepare lots of the foods to worship the moon god; guess a riddle (one of the most popular activities people play); eating moon cake; drink Osmanthus wine; create a lantern and hang the lantern on the line, so when people pass every place and look up, it seems like all the stars shining on the sky etc. The traditional activities of the Mid-Autumn Festival were deeply loved by people and later became one of the four traditional festivals in China.

In most Chinese people’s minds, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a festival full of joy. It can make many people reunite on this day. It represents good wishes and hopes. Mid-Autumn Festival is not fully popularized in the world. I also hope to pass on this joy and let more people understand the culture of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Professor. Cambridge

Meng Ting, Lian

English 2100T

09/16/2018

Mid-Autumn Festival Similarities

My childhood was one of the most unforgettable memories in my life. Since I was little, I lived with my family members. The moment I feel most happiness was when the whole family got together and celebrate Chinese festivals. In China, the four major traditional festival was Mid-Autumn Festival and Dragon Boat Festival, Spring Festival, Ching Ming Festival. People maybe know more things about the spring festival in China. However, I want to give more details about the Mid-Autumn Festival in China (…remain popular throughout the nation’s history.). 

Every August 15th at night (held in conjunction with the lunar calendar…15th day of every month were festival associated with lunar calendar), me and my families sit together on our house’s balcony and watch the moonlight together. That day was called: Mid-Autumn Festival. I still remember that day our house just had a power outage, everything is dark but my heart is bright and warm because they all surround me makes me feel safe. We took out the red candle and lighten the candle to pray that next year we still together. I lay on the balcony floor, my grandmother brings a little table, above the table, there’s a lot of food on the top and obviously, the most important thing is the mooncake. (…celebrations were given fruits and vegetables.) We sit together and listen to the story about the Mid-Autumn Festival. It has been said that, at this time, the gods of the moon (called chang e) (HATHOR– “gods of sky”) will miss their loved ones (these ceremonies served as manifestations of the divine in human existence) and look forward to a reunion because her family was not live in the sky. This was the reason why that every August 15th, people watch the moon and the moon always seem like a big round circle. (a celebration of a new moon) It means reunion.(visible manifestations of their belief) Listening to the story told by my parents, gradually, I fell asleep.

However, throughout the history of the Mid-Autumn Festival, it was a long story to tell. Mid-Autumn Festival began in the early years of the Tang Dynasty and began popular in the Song Dynasty. During that time period, the Mid-Autumn Festival is not about celebrating the reunion of families. The mid-autumn festival was a commemorating ancestor’s activity (Festivals were designed to commemorate certain specific events) for the emperor. Later, ancient nobles and ministers began to follow the emperor. Finally, pass on the ancient people and become the ancient folk festival. However, people treat Mid-Autumn Festivals as a festival that celebrates the harvest and expresses joy because August 15th was in the mid of the fall, it was the time for people to collect all their crops and fruits and each family will gather together to collect their own crops.(particularly agriculturally oriented events…depicted growth) Over the time passes, Mid – Autumn Festivals become a festival celebrating reunion and harvest.

Furthermore, there are many traditional activities in the Mid-Autumn Festival. Such as watching the moon or give the moon a salute and also people will prepare lots of the foods to worship the moon god; guess a riddle (one of the most popular activities people play); eating moon cake; drink Osmanthus wine; create a lantern and hang the lantern on the line, so when people pass every place and look up, it seems like all the stars shining on the sky etc. The traditional activities of the Mid-Autumn Festival were deeply loved by people and later became one of the four traditional festivals in China.

In most Chinese people’s minds, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a festival full of joy. It can make many people reunite on this day. It represents good wishes and hopes. Mid-Autumn Festival is not fully popularized in the world. I also hope to pass on this joy and let more people understand the culture of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Professor. Cambridge

Meng Ting, Lian

English 2100T

09/11/2018

Mid-Autumn Festival 

My childhood was one of the most unforgettable memories in my life. Since I was little, I lived with my family members. The moment I feel most happiness was when the whole family got together and celebrate Chinese festivals. In China, the four major traditional festival was Mid-Autumn Festival and Dragon Boat Festival, Spring Festival, Ching Ming Festival. People maybe know more things about the spring festival in China. However, I want to give more details about the Mid-Autumn Festival in China.

Every August 15th at night, me and my families sit together on our house’s balcony and watch the moonlight together. That day was called: Mid-Autumn Festival. I still remember that day our house just had a power outage, everything is dark but my heart is bright and warm because they all surround me makes me feel safe. We took out the red candle and lighten the candle to pray that next year we still together. I lay on the balcony floor, my grandmother brings a little table, above the table, there’s a lot of food on the top and obviously, the most important thing is the mooncake. We sit together and listen to the story about the Mid-Autumn Festival. It has been said that, at this time, the gods of the moon (called chang e) will miss their loved ones and look forward to a reunion because her family was not live in the sky. This was the reason why that every August 15th, people watch the moon and the moon always seem like a big round circle. It means reunion. Listening to the story told by my parents, gradually, I fell asleep.

However, throughout the history of the Mid-Autumn Festival, it was a long story to tell. Mid-Autumn Festival began in the early years of the Tang Dynasty and began popular in the Song Dynasty. During that time period, the Mid-Autumn Festival is not about celebrating the reunion of families. The mid-autumn festival was a commemorating ancestor’s activity for the emperor. Later, ancient nobles and ministers began to follow the emperor. Finally, pass on the ancient people and become the ancient folk festival. However, people treat Mid-Autumn Festivals as a festival that celebrates the harvest and expresses joy because August 15th was in the mid of the fall, it was the time for people to collect all their crops and fruits and each family will gather together to collect their own crops. Over the time passes, Mid – Autumn Festivals become a festival celebrating reunion and harvest.

Furthermore, there are many traditional activities in the Mid-Autumn Festival. Such as watching the moon or give the moon a salute and also people will prepare lots of the foods to worship the moon god; guess a riddle (one of the most popular activities people play); eating moon cake; drink Osmanthus wine; create a lantern and hang the lantern on the line, so when people pass every place and look up, it seems like all the stars shining on the sky etc. The traditional activities of the Mid-Autumn Festival were deeply loved by people and later became one of the four traditional festivals in China.

In most Chinese people’s minds, the Mid-Autumn Festival is a festival full of joy. It can make many people reunite on this day. It represents good wishes and hopes. Mid-Autumn Festival is not fully popularized in the world. I also hope to pass on this joy and let more people understand the culture of the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Name: Meng Ting, Lian

English 2100T

Date: 09/06/2018

“Reading and Writing”

I have to be honest and say: “I am not a person who likes to read and write.” However, just like what I am doing right now, I stay in front of my computer and typing the essay about my writing and reading experience. I don’t like it, but I still have to do it because that’s my responsibility to complete my homework assignment. Throughout my six years of the learning experience, I have three significant experience that I can tell about how reading and writing affect me to become a literate person. It describes by only using three words: “Adaptation, Expectation, and understandable.”

Adaptation means “the action or process of adapting or being adapted.” When I first came to the United States, everything was strange to me. There are streets where I can’t name them, and people are sharing a second language that I don’t understand. In that case, I can only express my thoughts through gestures, which is very difficult. In order to adapt to the environment, my father bought me a book for twenty dollars. The content of the book is about how to communicate with people on a daily basis. I tagged each word and read the phrase repeatedly. Although I only learned a little bit, for me, I think I am one step closer to this country. At this time, I discovered how important it was for people to read, write, and communicate.

Expectation means “a belief that someone will or should achieve something.” I had participated two times in English regent. The first time, I got a fifty-five on my English regent exam. The second time, I got an eighty-five on my English regent exam. You might question me about why there are thirty points gaps between two regent exams? It is because of my English teacher. When I was a Junior, I have a very “harsh” teacher in my English class. She let each one of us read at least one passage every day and write an essay included the first draft, second draft, and final by end of two weeks. I still remember when she gives me an article about genetically modified crops. I feel disappointed with her and can’t understand what does it have to do with the regent exam? However, when my exam score pops out on the website, that’s the time when I understand her contribution. In the unknown situation, my teacher helping me to set up an expectation for myself. She let me keep reading an article by increasing my level of comprehension. She let me keep write so I can improve my writing skill, remember writing format, and think critically. After many reading and writing, I finally got a high score. This experience tells me that you need patience in reading and writing, you have to have an expectation and goal for yourself (for example, the state exam requires a high score), and then through the small goals of each day (read an article or write an essay).

Understandable means “able to be understood.” Even though I pass my English regent exam. I still think my reading and writing skill didn’t good enough for me to stay at Baruch College. I said to my professor: “I think my writing is very poor.” my professor said: “No, don’t say that.” “writing is a skill, no one learns how to write with a pen when he is born.” Just at that moment, I feel understandable. Before that, I always thought that many people took these talents with them when they were born, knowing how to write more to grasp the reader’s attention or know how to understand an article from different angles. Therefore, I think that I am a failure. I don’t have those talents, I must write badly. But when the professor said this to me, I suddenly understood that writing and reading are a kind of skill rather than a gift of talent. They are the products that come out through practice. If I am willing to try, I will definitely improve.

In these three experiences, I learned some knowledge. Reading and writing are important to people’s lives. It helps people to express their ideas, so in order to express themselves better, we have no reason not to learn. At the same time, writing and reading is a skill that requires us to set goals, repeat exercises, and be patient enough to improve.

 

 

I have to be honest and saying: “I am not a person who like read and write.” However, just like what I am doing right now, I stay in front of my computer and typing the essay about my writing and reading experience. I don’t like it, but I still have to do it because that’s my responsibility to complete my homework assignment. Throughout my six years learning experience, I have three significant experience that I can tell about how reading and writing affect me to become a literate person. It describes by only using three words: “Adaptation, Expectation, and understandable.”

Adaptation means “the action or process of adapting or being adapted.” When I first came to the United States, everything was strange to me. There are streets where I can’t name them, and people are sharing a second language that I don’t understand. In that case, I can only express my thoughts by gestures, which is very difficult. In order to adapt to the environment, my father bought me a book for twenty dollars. The content of the book is about how to communicate with people on a daily basis. I tagged each word and read the phrase repeatedly. Although I only learned a little bit, for me, I think I am one step closer to this country. At this time, I discovered how important it was for people to read, write, and communicate.

Expectation means “a belief that someone will or should achieve something.” I had participated two times in English regent. First time, I got a fifty-five on my English regent exam. Second time, I got an eighty-five on my English regent exam. You might question me about why there’s thirty points gaps between two regent exams? It is because my English teacher. When I was a Junior, I have a very “harsh” teacher in my English class. She let each one of us read at least one passage every day and write an essay included first draft, second draft, and final by end of two weeks. I still remember when she gives me an article about genetic modified crops. I feel disappointed to her and can’t understand what does it have to do with regent exam? However, when my exam score pops out in the website, that’s the time when I understand her contribution. In the unknown situation, my teacher helping me to set up an expectation for myself. She let me keep reading an article increasing my level of comprehension. She let me keep write so I can improve my writing skill, remember writing format, and think critically. After many reading and writing, I finally got a high score. This experience tells me that you need patience in reading and writing, you have to have an expectation and goal for yourself (for example, the state exam requires a high score), and then through the small goals of each day (read an article or write a essay).

Understandable means “able to be understood.” Even though I pass my English regent exam. I still think my reading and writing skill didn’t good enough for me to stay in Baruch College. I said to my professor: “I think my writing is very poor.” my professor said: “No, don’t said that.” “writing is a skill, no one learns how to write with a pen when he is born.” Just that moment, I feel understandable. Before that, I always thought that many people took these talents with them when they were born, knowing how to write more to grasp the reader’s attention or know how to understand an article from different angles. So, I think that I am a failure. I don’t have those talents, so I must write badly. But when the professor said this to me, I suddenly understood that writing and reading are a kind of skill rather than a gift of talent. They are the products that come out through practice. If I am willing to try, I will definitely improve.

In these three experiences I learned some knowledge. Reading and writing are important to people’s lives. It helps people to express their ideas, so in order to express themselves better, we have no reason not to learn. At the same time, writing and reading is a skill that requires us to set goals, repeat exercises, and be patient enough to improve.