Iris – Oh No Test Time!: Forming a Study Group

I still vividly remember in my third year in  high school when I missed a lot of classes in math. When the mid-exam was coming up I panicked because I practically knew nothing about the subject!  Fortunately, I had two friends who were willing to help me out.  They had already formed a “study group” and I joined their group.  We discussed academic problems together and shared class notes. I could ask them any question I had about the class.

Apart from academics, we always went to the school STUDY ROOM together. And when any team member was faced with difficulties or felt frustrated, other members would cheer him/her up.  After two hectic yet highly rewarding weeks, I passed the examination with good scores!

I think this phenomenon of forming “Study Groups” depends on different situations. In fact, some study groups do not play a vital role on developing study skills and knowledge because members cannot focus on their lecture. why? As when friends come together, they often chat with each other or share pics rather than study.  However, when we decided to form a study group, we have strong determination to do well in study part. So our parents did not worry about us

Linda – Something I Want To Say About Pollution: Making Beijing Better

When you are in Beijing, do you feel some uncomfortable?  Well, the air is not fresh and temperature is high. You always feel hot.  When you want to relax yourself by seeing some “green,”  you only find some plastic bags here!  Yes, the reason that you feel uncomfortable is because of the POLLUTION in Beijing.

Beijing, the city will hold the Olympics, now has many ways to keep things from being wasted.

In Beijing there has an organization that organizes a  person who has car to drive fewer days than usual. Like “mei yue shao kai ji tian che” which means “every month drive your car less.”  This means that more and more people are realizing that we all have the responsibility to protect the environment.  We all have started to take bus and subway as much as possible.

Even the super market has stopped offering plastic bags freely. It can stop people from wasting them and this thing we call, “white pollution.”  Here is a survey to show 91.52% Chinese people are planning not to use plastic bags.

Every year, we plant trees and flowers to make our environment better and better. It can also prevent sands storms that come from the north.  So trees make the air fresher and prevent natural sand storms.

In these ways, I believe our city will become more and more beautiful. The environment here will become wonderful and without pollution.

So let’s hope and wait!

Linda – I Solve Problems: Chilling Out and Working Hard

How to face the problem of pressure? I often analyze, analyze and analyze and often end up over analyzing it whether it  necessary or not to analyze.

Some pressure, such as the pressure of study or finding a job is necessary processes in our lives. Other pressures, like school are temporary stresses.

One time we had an exam, a physics exam. I thought I took the test carefully.  But my score was 57, a very low score.  It made me upset and sad.  As a result I  doubted myself, my ability to even reach my other goals, and my ability to catch up with my classmates.  I felt nervous about this situation.

I told my mother my feelings, she said, “dear you know you are no longer a child. You should try to solve it by yourself. I’m sure you can!”

After hearing that I chilled myself out and began to feel that I could solve the problem by myself. I changed my attitude. Everyone has problems when it comes to their study. So I decided to settle it by working hard and paying more attention to my worst subjects. Several weeks later my physics score was 80 and my classmates and teachers said they liked the new Linda. Hearing that encouraged me a lot.

So guys, if you are facing pressure or problems. Please chill yourself first and analyze it. You will find that you too can solve it easily! Go for it!

Linda – Cleaning out my Books and Donating Some to Children in Sichuan

Last weekend I cleaned my room and I found that I had so many books!!! The books that you are seeing in these pictures are the books that I might need for study one day.

So I cleaned out my books and decided that the ones pictured below will be given to the children in Sichuan. Now I’m just looking for a chance to do something good. They are useless for me, but they must be useful for those children.

Steven – Finding out that Kelen also owns a GIANT HUNTER 2.0 Bike

During our last meeting when we talked about our blogs, I found out that Kelen was very interested in my bike -  I own a GIANT HUNTER 2.0.   So she was riding my bike after the meeting and you can see her doing that in the picture.

At last, she told me she also has a  GAINT HUNTER 2.0 bike!  I was shocked because I could not believe she liked riding bicycle as fast as possible like me!

This kind of bike is usually for boys, but Kelen has one!   I felt so shocked. I asked what the reason made her like the Giant Hunter 2.0 and she said because it was expensive…… Oops. Sorry Kelen!   That was her answer.

Now I really like biking and am good at it too.  I have never been scared on the road. Sometimes I will scare others if  I ride too fast.  That is why I own the GIANT HUNTER 2.0 because it can change speeds easily.

Bikes are easily stolen in Beijing, in particular  good and expensive bikes like mine.  Every time I double lock my bike and check if it is even a safe place to lock my bike.  It is my favorite pet. I do not want it to get lost. I would be unhappy if it were stolen one day.

Steven – My Favorite Restaurant is an Italian one in Beijing!

As a gourmand, I have been to most of restaurants around our community, and Pasta House(意粉屋) is on the top of my list.

I find lots of restaurants are the same, but when I walk into the Pasta House, I have a totally different experiences.

In Pasta House, there are beautiful pictures and cartoons of specialty food on all of the walls. In addition, there are some comfortable chairs. I like the seats farthest from window. If I sit there, it is quiet and I feel relaxed.   Now, many people enjoy reading books or having a little meeting in the cafe. Maybe it’s a interesting hobby.

And I didn’t know anything about Italian food before. But when I went to Pasta House, I realized that I loved Italian food.  I always eat too much to walk.  I don’t know what Chinese people think about Italian foods. I just usually eat with my mother.  I feel really good when I eat in the restaurant. I sometimes come here with my friends, or sometimes myself.
In conclusion, I love this restaurant. （Here is a picture of my favorite food, I found from internet. I forgot to take my camera that time. ((

Now there are a lot of western restaurants in Beijing.  Such as Mexican food, German food, French restautants, Korean restaurants.   Pizza and fast foods is the most popular in Beijing. You can see so many buffet dinner restaurants and cafes in Beijing.  But I like Italian ones because I like how cheese tastes.

Siqi – My Daily Life

I get up at 5:10. Because my home is far from the school, I have to get up early in the morning.  Sometimes I think it’s really difficult.

I then do morning exercises.  In order to have a good beginning of a new day, I  keep doing morning exercises everyday. The feeling after perspiring is cool and I believe that you will have a good day and be in a good mood all day.

Have breakfast at 6:00

I think that we should have breakfast. It is very important.
I leave for school at 6:30

I often listen to the music in the school bus.
then II study at school

I have lunch at school at 12:00.

You can have a break at noon.

I come back to the house around  5:30

I can see some cookies on the table *~*

Mom can cook well,really well…We have dinner at 6:30,

DO HOMEWORK AT 8:30!!!

I go to bed at 11:30

The schedule that I have told you about is totally determined by me!  Mom told me that everyone has to begin making their own decisions in life sooner or later. And there are too many young people who are let loose from their parents later on in life and then make horrible mistakes because they never had the experience of being on their own.

So she said she would give me my freedom early on.  From that point on I have always made my own rules; what time to get up, when to go to bed, when to do my homework, and who I select as companions and friends – these are all my own decisions.  After that, she told me, “Remember, this is a responsibility.  You’ll have only yourself to blame if anything goes wrong.”

Siqi – Atful Garbage with the Three R’s: Reducing, Recycling, and Reusing

My family always has been into recycling and reducing our garbage as much as we can. But in my opinion the most important of the three R’s is reusing. If you reuse garbage for a different purpose, you have eliminated the problem of waste altogether.

I always have been into art and the environment. But as every artist knows, supplies are not cheap, which is why I take what my family would normally throw away and turn it into a work of my creativity and art! Something I started doing a couple years ago was reusing cracker boxes and anything else made from the same thin cardboard. I cut it up and make smaller boxes in the shapes of a heart or star or even a butterfly. Then I would cut pictures into strips to cover them in bright colors. Last year I made lots of flowers for my friends as birthday presents. Not only was it fun, but I think it was special too.

I also cut the tops off empty soda cans and fill them with wax, making unique candles. I make my own paper from flyers and junk mail that turn an ordinary letter into something more fun to read. To go along with my recycled paper, I make envelopes from pages of magazines. I find an interesting ad or picture, fold the edges, and type the sides to make an envelope.

Other useful ideas: Clearly milk bottles make interesting candle holders, old calendar pictures make nice envelopes too, old toothbrushes can be boiled and bent into cool bracelets (not my idea, but still a good one); and even worn-out sneakers filled with plaster can be made different bookends! I’m sure there are a million other things you could do with just about any type of garbage. All you need is your imagination.  what do you do with your garbage?

Steven – An Interview with My Best Friend on how to Chose a Friend

I interviewed classmate Zhang Weiyao about making girlfriends.  Please listen to the audio recording of the interview here.

Zhang——–Hello, My name is Zhang Weiyao. I don’t have any English name）

Steven——-OH,NO. I know you told me your English name was Superman. HAHA………

Steven ——–Do you have some hobbies?

Zhang——–Hobbies? I have been summed up. First, we are in the high school. So studying is the most important thing.  That is my most favorite hobby. Second hobby, basketball.  Basketball is my favorite sport game! And I also like music and making friends.

Steven ——–Can you tell me about making friends? I mean do you want to make a girlfriend or boyfriend?

Zhang ——–I would like to say no matter boy friends or girl friends, they all play an important part in your life.

Steven ——-The kind of friends who can cooperate with you should be the a good friend for you to be with. But if you want to share your feelings, your happiness or your sadness, a girlfriend should be a good choice. Right now I do not have girlfriend. I have no idea about that matter now.

Zhang ——-I see. It seems that you got really good opinions about friendship. Thanks.

(Chinese Version)

Steven ——-他虽然不承认，但我知道，他有一个英文名字叫superman.

Steven ——–那你有什么爱好吗？

z——–爱好，我曾经总结过，高中现在应该的事情，一是学习，这是第一大爱好，也是最重要的。第二是打篮球，第三是交友，第四是音乐。

Steven ———你能仔细说一下，交友是grilfriend or boyfriend? 还是普通的，特别要好的，一生中的永恒的那种朋友？

z———-包括boy and girl friends.我觉得朋友，不管是男的还是女的，都是你人生中的极其重要的成分。

Steven ———–我的意思是，你是准备交女朋友呢？还是交一些志同道合的，十分能谈得来的那种朋友？

z———–志同道合的朋友，对于我的事业发展应该的比较有好处的，但是如果让我的情感变得更加丰富，应该交女朋友，但到目前为止还没有谈过恋爱，所以，应该是志同道合的朋友吧！

Steven ———–哦，看来我们的张伟尧同学还是说得很深刻。

Kelan – Watch My Guitar Playing Talents!

Click here to watch the video of me and my guitar! The camera will flip right-side up after 10 seconds.