Blog Entry #8 - Writing Focus

          By looking at her stout posture, most people would be stunned to know what a fragile woman mom is. At an age of fifty-one, she has been quite waned by hard work and sicknesses, revealing some gray hair that used to be perfectly sleeky black. Once I unexpectedly found mom staying up late in her office with one arm upholding her head and the other agilely scribbling hard on the paper. Looking at the calculator, mom’s forehead furrowed with intense concentration yet expressionless. Realizing that there was someone had been looking at her, mom peeked up as she met my eyes, forcing a benign smile and vaguely asked why I was still awake. Even if she did so, her gaunt oval face was cast with utter exhaustion through her deep worn out eyes, seaming with black wrinkled rings all way round; cannot deceive me. Her lips were pale and dry, making every word she said unclear and hoarse. I startled as I gazed at mom with disbelief: how old age could possibly change her that much… Still, mom’s simplicity and elegance always strike her out of any person. Purely putting on her blouse and skirt, jewelry not included, mom’s wholly ready for a new day. She is plain comparing to other women in common, but fabulously shines when she’s at work. Firmly short, every word she says are powered with genuine thoughts and great determination that can modify anyone without them noticing. However above all, mom’s varied manners allow her to fit in any situation or communicate with any sort of people is what I admire most about her.

Blog Entry #7 - "A Retrieved Reformation" - Vocabulary

          Out of the blue the sky turned gray, gradually spilling water down onto the roof louder and louder every step Billy had been proceeding towards the door. It flung open as Billy dashed into the house, staggering closer to the fire place where his father, Mr. Brown, had been waiting for him. The thought of his son being an alcoholic rake caused his father great anguish and disappointment, raising him from the sofa and shot his son an angry glint. As usual, Mr. Brown again repeated his tedious lecture with archaic sayings for a while until the kind heart of a father actuated him to give his son some clemency. Looking at Billy gently, he amiably put out his hand as if that would help rehabilitate his wild son, just too shockingly got swatted by the bottle of wine Billy had been grabbing sooner. Suddenly, an ominous silence came up, confusing Billy of what had been happening. Meanwhile, Mr. Brown laid deadly pale on the ground, elusively trying to find his consciousness.

Blog Entry #6 - Choices: Conduct an Interview

✿◕ ‿ ◕✿   An interview with Onica Yu ✿◕ ‿ ◕✿

 

1. Where were your parents born?

          Onica Yu: My parents were both born in the Philippines.

2. What are your favorite foods?

          Onica Yu: My favorite foods are burgers, steaks, and ceasar salad.

3. What do you most enjoy doing?

          Onica Yu: I most enjoy spending all my free time with my family and friends. Also, I love to go out of town or out of country.

4. Do you enjoy doing something only for yourself?

          Onica Yu: Uhm, I love to play sports like basketball and soccer.

5. What is most important to you in life?

          Onica Yu: The most important in my life are my family and friends because they're always there for me and I know I can be myself to all of them.

6. When did u come to Vietnam?

          Onica Yu: I came to Vietnam 3 years ago. I began school here starting 5th grade.

7. What is your mother language?

          Onica Yu: My mother's language is Tagalog. But she can also speak Chinese because my mom's side is a bit Chinese.

8.What is your religion?

          Onica Yu: My religion is Catholic.

9. Is your father Vietnamese?

          Onica Yu: No, my father is also Filipino. Both my parents are.

10. So why did your family move here?

          Onica Yu: My mom lives in California and my dad lives in Nha Trang. I'm currently staying with my aunt. My dad moved here to work for my uncle.

          Even though Onica Yu and I are from different cultures, in which she is Filipino and I'm Vietnamese, we do have several factors in common. 
          Onica Yu speaks Tagalog and English while I speak Vietnamese - but we are both Catholic. Onica Yu was born in the Philippines and I was born in Vietnam - but we both love burgers.
          Onica Yu is raised in a different culture from mine - but we love spending times with our family and friends.
          And Onica Yu is raised in a different culture from mine - still we enjoy playing sports such as basketball.
          We are from different cultures and might experience different things, yet we have similar responses to life. We speak different languages but we follow the same religion and interpret it in similar ways. We have different family backgrounds, still we do appreciate that. Last but not least, we are two distinct people with different characteristics and important things incident to our personal lives. Though, we still interact with each other to create friendship. Similarities help people come together, and differences help people to complement and appreciate each other.

Blog Entry #5 - "Hamadi - Vocabulary

1. It is extremely tedious of Ted whenever I meet him and he keeps on babbling about military matters.

2. Shakespeare's writings are too archaic for they were written a quite long time ago - in which subsequent readers would find the context hard to understand.

3. Jeff stared into space with dazed horror in his eyes, vaguely reporting to the police how the accident had happened in a sort of trance.

 

4. By inquiring my peers, I found out that none of them likes the idea of having homeroom in the next quarter.

Blog Entry #4 - "The Monkey's Paw" & "Aunty Misery" - Vocabulary

1. Katie amiably helped me gather the scattered books on the ground without hesitating that I hadn't shown any appreciation at all.

2. In the folk tale "The Wise Old Woman", it is presumptuous of the cruel young lord to think that old people are neither useful nor able to work for a living.

3. Jane's credulity amuses me for she believes that we are going to die in 2012.

4. Saigon people are well-known for their hospitality toward guests.

5. That ancient gnarled tree has been standing there for years; being a quite nice playground for the kids in the village.

 

Blog Entry #3 - "The Treasure of Lemon Brown" - Vocabulary

1. Jesse came up with an impromptu dialogue while acting on stage.
2. My little brother, who was at an age of seven, tentatively revved the motorcycle as I challenged him
3. He intently bumped into me in the hallway, and then strutted away, sniggering.
4. I probed the streets intently without knowing where I was.
5. An eerie ominous silence rose as the result for the argument between my dad and me.