Iris – Transportation in Beijing – Impossible to Avoid

The 2008 Olympic Game has been the most cheerful and anticipated event throughout Beijing ever since Beijing was rewarded the right to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games.

Now, let me to introduce transportation construction in Beijing.

For longer distance travel, basic public transportation around Beijing consists of taxis, subways, and buses. Taxis are conveniently available everywhere in the city, and taxi costs can quickly accumulate as it is by far the most expensive method of transportation.  People who don’t mind crowded conditions will do well for their travel if they use a combination of the subway and bus systems.

We can purchase an IC (Intelligent card) card and card readers are present in all subway entrances and buses.  The IC card can be used as a ticket for both bus and subway systems. They also provide another type of IC card for students at a lower price. Now my home is far away from my high school, so I live in the dorm during the weekdays and therefore there is no need to use transportation for myself.  My parents usually drive cars to work.

The subway is extremely fast compared to other forms of transportation as it can avoid traffic jams above and below. Buses on the other hand service every corner of the city, but it is impossible to avoid  avoid rush hour traffic congestions.

Iris – The Rush To Learn English: Beijing is Preparing for the Olympics

Beijing is a beautiful city of passion and people are getting ready for Olympic games. Through languages, we may communicate with foreigners. But to set good condition for communication with Westerns, we must learn English and speak English fluently.

Therefore many citizens are rushing to learn English these years. For example, now nearly 90,000 taxi drivers in Beijing are working hard on their English so that they will be able to communicate with foreigners in the near future. Moreover, some taxi companies have equipped their taxies with translation machines to help the drivers who know do not know enough English.

Currently many elderly people in Beijing have become enthusiastic for English learning, hoping do their best for the upcoming Olympics when large number of foreign visitors will come to Beijing.

We believe that speaking English during the Olympics could make foreigners feel more comfortable with their stay in Beijing.

I also think it is a good idea to study English in a country such as the USA. Most students in non-English speaking countries learn English from their secondary school and sometimes the university, which is the case in China. Although our spoken English is not usually of high standard, our knowledge of grammar is often quite advanced. This is certainly useful when students come to an English-speaking country to perfect the language. When we study abroad, there are opportunities to practice listening to and speaking with local people. We can experience the culture first-hand, which is a great help when trying to understand English.

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

Iris – Roots and Shoots: Becoming a Volunteer

There are many unforgettable memories in my life. The most significant memory I always recall is the experience of joining the Roots and Shoots (R&S).

This group is instituted by Doctor Jane Goodall. She is a famous researcher who studies chimpanzees. “R&S is an international hands-on environmental and humanitarian education program, with the goal of creating positive change—for our communities, for animals and for the environment.”

Although we could not solve such a big pollution problem, we can start from every little things. I joined this group 4 years ago and struggled to understand how to best protect our environment. As a member of Green Piece Group, we collected wastes regularly, such as discard bottle and newspapers, and then recycled them. At the same time, other two members and I started to advocate students to use packages and bags instead of plastic packages. Although we did not succeed at the first, the proposa; was accepted by most students finally by combining it with other strategies.

Due to good performance of works, my school presented me with the outstanding delegates to be awarded by Jane Goodall. I believed that this experience will benefit my future because I possess the desire to protect our planet.

Iris – Chinese Youth: Staring a Story From My Friend

Yesterday, my friend Ding Yuhan who studied at the high school of United States shared her experience of study abroad to me.

Firstly, I asked her what the difference is between education of China and USA. As a bi-cultural student, Ding Yuhan indicated that different teaching methods influenced different logical thinking. She then mentioned an illustrative example. In China, most students study for exams. Their motivations are propelled by teachers but not interests. However, American education tends to foster students’ potentials and then motivate them to study for interests. Students can ask questions without raising hands or asking after class. This flexible atmosphere always evokes creative ideas in the class. Furthermore, Ding Yuhan also explained common phenomenon of Chinese student study abroad. Although, they are always good at mathematics, physics and grammars, they can not solve difficulties when they face practical problems. This point actually exist at Chinese education. Therefore, what can we do and how can we change are topics we should think about.

Ding Yuhan also showed her interests in the music of Justin Timberlake. She prefer the singer’s classical songs rather that hits feat with rappers. We also talked about the significant experience we had. We both applied volunteers for Beijing 2008 Olympics. Unfortunately, I had to give up this chance due to the age limit and my study schedule. Ding Yuhan kept her dream and then became an qualified volunteer.

Ding Yuhan will have volunteer training courses after June. Apart from diplomatic skills , she also need to master related English vocabularies. When I asked what images Beijing citizens should have, Ding Yuhan answered ,“Smile is the best card of volunteers.”

I’m Iris – a young journalist and rock climber

I see my life as a mosaic. I found this word by looking through the dictionary randomly. Why? Because I tried to organize a rock band with classmates two years ago. We needed a name: a name to present our band, music and spirit. The story between the mosaic and me started….

I’m an enthusiastic person. I’m interested in several fields and have many hobbies. For example, rock climbing, piano and English speeches. I’ve also been a young journalist. As a result, I gained valuable experience and skills from these areas.

I’m also studious with my academic pursuits. I enjoy math and physics. The beauty of logic always intrigued me. Moreover, my study provides a solid foundation of knowledge.

Many seemingly insignificant things often evoke feelings inside of me. I like to jot down ideas and feelings, and in turn combine them into minute descriptions. Furthermore, I often feel compelled to write about horrendous events that are not well covered by newspapers. The reason is that some unsuspecting readers may get false information from the media. I was astonished by the news: severe damage of my hometown’s (Huzhou, Zhejiang province.) environment. I started to think about environmental protection. I therefore became a volunteer to protect the community’s environment and to also help disabled people.

Although we did not establish the band in the end, “mosaic” started to appear in my life. Every little idea and different aspect of my characters helps me to shape and enrich my future life into a big mosaic.