Volunteer work

I went to a senior’s home with an organization to do some volunteer work for elders. We met with each other in front of a primary school’s gate. Then we went into the senior’s home. When we got into it, I saw a lot of elders between 70 years old to 95 years old. They looked very happy because of our visit. I saw that the garden of the senior’s home is beautiful and when we got into their rooms, I thought their rooms were tidy and clean.

Then we began to work. I looked after an old lady and she seemed 80 years old. First, she appreciated me that I could come to visit them. I said you are welcome. And then I asked the environment of the senior’s home and some basic condition. I got very satisfied answers and I felt happy too. Then we just chatted and I told her some interesting things that happened around me. She always laughed happily. She also told me some thing about her family. She said her husband died few years ago, and she had 4 children but they all did not want to look after her. So she was sent to the senior’s home. When she said these, she seemed very sad and almost cry. I consoled her immediately and I encouraged her to have a positive life. After that, I helped other elders to make the bed and cleaned the rooms. And before we left, all the elders there prepared a song for all of us.

I really learnt a lot from this experience. In this organization, some people had many volunteer experiences and they knew how to take care of the elders. So I knew how to do better next time from their behaviors.
During the process, I enjoyed helping the elders and chatting with them. I learnt how to look after elders and I thought I would be more respect the elders in the future. I also found a lot of adults ignore their parents and just sent them into senior’s home and never care about them. I just couldn’t believe that how could they so cruel and had they ever thought that their parents looked after them carefully when they were young. Let them had education and expected them to be a successful people. So after the process, I also felt really distressing deplorable. On the other hand, I saw the positive side of the society. That is more and more people joined the volunteer work and help the people who need help.

This experience gave me a deep expression. And it effected me a lot, at least I knew we must pay more attention on elders because they donate their effort in many aspects at past. Although their actions are slow, we can never ignore them and we must respect them and be kind to them. I will attend more volunteer work like this and help more people.

Physical activity

The physical activity that I want to talk about is tennis. As we all know that it is not a very simple sport. It needs some skills and a plenty of practice. I had a coach called Mr.Chen, he is a very kind man and very strong.

I remember the first class I played tennis. Mr.Chen taught me some basic skills and actions. For example, the way to held the racket and how to control my tennis racket. Then I tried several times but I even couldn’t let the ball to go right position. And I tried my best to control the ball, but it still didn’t “listen” to me. I thought maybe tennis was not fit me. When I just wanted to give up, Mr.Chen walked to me and told me that I shouldn’t be so worry because it is just the beginning and I haven’t practiced enough. He said just calm down and insist practicing the tennis. He believed me that I could. Suddenly, I became to trust myself and didn’t want to give up anymore. In the next few days, I practiced a lot and followed the way that the coach had taught me. After a week, I almost could control the ball very easy. Mr.Chen praised me and encouraged me to insist playing tennis.

I learnt a lot from this physical activity. First, I learnt a sport. It can be my strong point and a hobby. Secondly, I learnt a spirit called insist and never give up. It is also a very important quality for me and a very helpful characteristic. Thirdly, I learnt the importance of sports. Sports bring us a lot of energy and a healthy body. Sports also can give us some good qualities.

During I played tennis, I always be very energetic and positive. I listened to the coach carefully and patiently. I practiced hard and followed the way that Mr.Chen had taught me. Although every time when a class over, I felt really exhausted, I still really happy and satisfied because I enjoy the process of playing tennis.
I think there were many benefits for me. For example, I had more hobbies and I can show others that I am a sporty girl. On the other hand, playing tennis can make me stronger and healthier. It can also shape my body and make me more charming.

In conclusion, this physical activity really fit my personal fitness goal because I want to be a sporty and energetic girl. I want me to become a girl that not only have good grade but also very healthy. Playing tennis just can help me to get my goal. And I want a healthy lifestyle, do many sports is the way that I can approach this kind of lifestyle. So I will insist playing tennis and do more sports to be healthier and happier.

Dancing Club activity

I am a member of dancing club. The reason that I join this club is that I really like dancing and I enjoy dancing, especially New Jazz. When I was in Grade 3, I used to learn tango for several months. After that I didn’t learn any dance until last summer time. I went to learn New Jazz with a friend and could control some basic skills.
The first time I went to the dancing club, I remember there were 2 girls led us to dance. They taught us some basic actions and let us practice. Because I used to learn New Jazz, so I could help others to practice. And many girls wanted me to teach them. I told the mistakes that they made so they could do better.

Our club always had activity on Saturday afternoon. I went to it on time and almost never absent. I loved to learn more skills and actions. They made me excited and energetic. So every time when club had activities, I always very happy and active.

During the club activities, I not only learn many dancing skills but also made a lot of new friends. On the other hand, dancing is a kind of sport and can make me healthier and full of energy. Also, it can make me slimmer and shape my body. After every time the club activity finished, I felt really exhausted but still happy and satisfied.
As a GCA’s student, I do not only need excellent grade, the health of our body is also very important. We must to be a student who do excellent jobs in every aspect.

The club’s strengths are many. For example, it can make us heathier and slimmer in a healthy way. We don’t need to do more exercises to lose weight. And it’s a hobby for me and a strong point. I can use it to show others how active I am. There are also some weaknesses of the club. For example, people in it are too many and some of them couldn’t learn well because the leaders couldn’t take care and pay attention to anyone. Although they tried to do that, they had not enough energy and ability. And some times, the members in the club had different ideas. Some wanted to learn easier actions but some wanted to learn difficult ones. So the leaders were really hard to decide what to teach. It was a problem of the club.

There are also some benefits to the GCA. Dancing club can show others that GCA is a sporty and active school. The students in it are all very energetic and positive. They have many hobbies and are all different.
In conclusion, I love dancing club. But I also like many other sports and activities. So in the future, I will join more different kind of clubs and make me more active.

Work in a restaurant

I worked in a restaurant called “Dan Feng Yu Lu”. This restaurant offers the service all day and likes kind of a teahouse. I used to eat there and I thought the waitress’attitude were very good. So I want to do better and give customers good impression.

First I wore the uniform and the manager told me some skills about how to deal the problems that happen suddenly. Then I began to start my work. There were some people in one table said they want to order. I took several menus and walked to them. They looked at me and asked if I am the waitress there. I said no and explain the reason why I pretended to be a waitress. They smiled and be more kind to me. I finished my first task very fast and successfully. Suddenly someone shouted why his dishes came too slowly and he had something to do later. I walked to him immediately and said sorry to him. Then I told him that I would help him to tell the kitchen faster and let him not too angry. He realized his attitude was really bad and said he could wait for a while. Other waitress were all praised me and said I was really clever. After that I offered service to a lot of tables and seemed that they all very satisfied with me .

Before I went to work, I was expected and excited. I imagine a lot of situation in my mind and felt a little bit nervous. During I working, I felt active and full of energy. I almost forgot everything except customers. I need customers believed me and I must pay attention to all the corners and focus on every detail that could make the customers more comfortable. I always need to work with other waitress together. We must cooperated well. For example, after I recorded customer’s orders, I needed to tell other waitress and let them to tell the kitchen and we couldn’t do everything by ourselves. Also, I met many kinds of customers. Some were kind and some were mean. But I couldn’t just judge them but I needed to offer the service to them. I must learn to bear a lot. After I finished my working day, I felt relaxed but very exhausted and even couldn’t move. But I felt happy and really proud of myself. I learnt a lot whatever the working skills or the way that how to communicate with others. This experience was really helpful and useful to me. This was the first work I got and in my future I will get a lot of different kind of works and I must learn to fit every job. That’s an important skill that I learnt from this experience. I also knew that not the society fit you but you must learn to fit the society. I hope I can get more experience like this and learn more that can help me to be more intelligent.

The German Restaurant

Some Grade 12 students led our class to a German restaurant called Secco on 2008.12.18 .I searched on the internet to see how it looks like and on pictures I could see that this restaurant is really quiet and beautiful.

When we spent a lot of time to find it and got there,it was really gave a deep expression on its construction.It gave me a feeling of that only elegant people would go there.Then we get into it,inside there's a little pub and upstairs is the place for meal.They put all tables together and many candles twinkled on the tables.

Then we began to order,in that day,there were only three kinds of dishes offer to eat.We not only ordered meal,many of us also ordered some drinks like Black Bear.It's the arrangement of dishes were different from China.The soup would offer first and then some other things and finally the dessert.We all had a great time there.Everyone seemed enjoyed the German dishes.

This experiment let me learnt a lot.I knew the different culture from different countries and I can accept many different culture.And as a GCA's student,I must be more international and know many different cultures of different countries.That's really important to me.So I will go more different restaurants to find more cultures and fill my knowledge.

Wu Weishan Cultural Figures Sculpture Exhibition

Ms.Hadley and Ms.Bartell led our class to Nanjing University to see a sculpture exhibition by Wu Weishan in 2008.12.4.An expert on sculpture.

In this sculpture exhibition,some of the artworks are traditional and some are contemporary.Because there are too many different artworks and they all represent different people or events.Some are traditional people and some are contemporary people.

My favourite artwork is"Confucius".The artist is Wu Weishan and he made it in 1995.The artwork's colour is a little bit green and it seems very smooth.Wu Weishan used a lot of rough lines in this artwork and Confucius' face looks very specific.Because he shows a lot of details for example the wrinkles.Very real and clearly.The subject of the artwork is Confucius and I see a lot of beard hairs are on his face and really long.

This artwork makes me feel magical because I can't imagine how Wu Weishan made this artwork and mention all of the details.So I realized the magic thar art has.When I first saw this artwork,I just thought about the traditional culture of China.Seems that this artwork can really remid me of Chinese culture.As we all know,Confucius was an ideologist.a politician and an educator.He effected the whole China even other parts of the world.For example a lot of Japanese words were came from China and a lot of countries have China town......Many countries started to learn from China since Confucius had some of his own ideas.He affected the culture and attitude of Chinese people.I think the artist's intention is remind us to never forget the traditional culture of China and remember we are Chinese!

I want to say that,I really like this artwork.Because Confucius can represent China and Chinese culture so I really admire him.When I saw the artwork I was shocked.Seemed that I can read someting from Confucius' eyes.He seems to tell me to study hard and never give up.He looked so kind and polite.Just like my grandfather.This artwork really interested me.The artist made Confucius' face so real and he worked on details so it seemed natural.I think other people might appreciate the artwork.Because we're all Chinese and Confucius is just a symbol of China.Everyone respects him!

In conclusion,this exhibition gave me a very deep impression.I really enjoyed it.They are all fatastic sculptures and I hope I can have many chances like this to enjoy arts in the future!

Guest Artist

Yesterday we met an artist called Mr.Zhao.He was specialize in gardening arts.First he showed us a wonderful video and it was really interested me.
Then he began his introduction. He sperated "yuan"in Chinese,it means garden in English.He also told us what does it mean in English,it means Eden and really beautiful.And now,the explanation in encyclopaedia is to use plants,stones,hills and water to make a beautiful designed living environment.Then he introduced us four main kinds of styles in Chinese garden:1.royal garden;2.private garden;3.temple garden ; 4.view garden.Finally his main topic was all about Suzhou'acient gardens.He called these gardens real history cuture.He also introduced some special things about Suzhou garden's art.He said they are all water and hills.Then he introduced some famous artist and their achievements.In the last,he showed us a video again.
To tell the truth,I didn't like this topic before I listened to Mr.Zhao'speech.But after that,I found garden arts are really interesting and I like it now.It is really a magnificent thing and made me suprised.Also I think the view of these gardens are fabulous,I love them!