Linda – The Empty Streets Before the Crowds Came

Look at the cleanly prepared streets! Just waiting for the Olmpics. You can guess the traffic conditions . You can see beautiful scene everywhere. Here are some photos of below before all the crowds came to Beijing. The last picture is of my eating cheerios when I noticed the Olympics rings. There are signs of it everywhere!

Linda – A Crazy Day of Interviewing and Running Around: Stopped by Mall Officials

“Ring ring ring”
I received a message, “Tomorrow 4:00 pm.  We will meet at Tous Les Jours cafe…”

I thought oh, I have a geography class at 6 pm. It’s far away from Tous Les Jours cafe. So I replied immediately, “I got it. But I have a class at 6:00 pm. I can get there earlier so that I can leave earlier because my school is far away from Tous Les Jours cafe.”

Then our teacher, Mrs Xu replied,  “Well, you can come here at 3:20, so that then you can leave when you finish your task.”

When I hurried there, i arrived at 3:30pm. I started doing my work, took photos and then delivered the photos I had taken. Then I noticed that Steven still hadn’t  turned up. At that moment, my teacher’s mobile phone was ringing. I thought it might be Steven.   It was Steven!  He said, “Hi, is that teacher? This is Steven. I’m lost. I forget the name of that bus station in front of Tous Les Jours cafe?”  Then our teacher explained quite clearly how to take the bus and where to change it.
…
10 minutes later, he appeared. We all started to tease him. We often met at this cafe but he could never remember the bus stop name…

Well. It’s time to do more interviewing.  Steven and I decided to go to the shopping mall, because we thought it was really convenient and cool. Unluckily, we still could not find a person who would agree to an interview.   So we wanted to go outside where there were more people.   But right as we got on the elevator we found two girls who looked like college students. We made our mind to try again so we asked,  “Excuse me. We are from What Kids Can Do and Adobe.  Can we ask you some questions about the Olympics? It won’t be very long.”   After looking our credentials they agreed.

The interview was relaxedness and funny. Right at that moment, a staff of the shopping mall came close to us…

“Excuse me, can you let me know what are you doing? Are you interviewing?”
He asked. “Yes, we are asking some questions about the Olympics. If you want, we can interview you too.”   “No. I mean… can you come to our manager’s office? We are told to pay more attention to the interviewers, you know. ” “Well, I know.” Steven followed him, I finished my interview then went to the office in a hurry.

“You know, here is close to the Olympic stadium. So we must pay attention to the interviewings.”
The manager said. “So, can I know the questions?”
“Of course. We showed them our question list of interviewing” They made a copy which took them a long time. Let me say, it should be about 20 minutes, I think. During that time, we called our teacher and told her details. She asked if she needed to talk to the maneger, we said: “it is fine here. Do not need her to be here. We will be back soon.”

20 minutes later we were back to the cafe.

“Oh my!” I looked my watch. It was 5:00pm. There’s no time to rest. I must go. Fortunately, teacher and other students could go with me.

First, we took a taxi. And we hurried to the line 5. It was 5:15pm. Then at the transfer station we took line10—a new subway line. It was 5:35. Finally, I took a taxi. when I got there , it was 5:55pm.

It was a hurried day that so many things happened. But it was more exciting, isn’t it?

(the photo above is a picture of Me, Steven and Kelen)

Kelen: Interview with a Music Teacher about the Olympics

Du Xiajiao is a music teacher I met in Beichen Shopping Mall. She is a nice lady. Before I met her, there were several people did not want to receive our interviewing. When we met her and talked to her about our interviewing. She said she would like to do it. I was super-happy. You will see my happy face in my picture.

Kelen: What’s your name?

Teacher: Du Xiajiao.

Kelen: What do you do for work?

Teacher: Music teacher.

Kelen: What is the great changes in Beijing Olympics?

Teacher: The environment of Beijing.

Kelen: You must be proud of our country hold the 29th Olympic Games?

Teacher: Of course. Beijing is my great hometown.

Kelen: Which sports will you follow most in the Beijing Olympics?

Teacher: Water sports are my favourite and I always go swimming with my friends.

Kelen: Which friendlies do you like best?

Teacher: Jing Jing(Panda) but all of them are lovely.

Kelen: Me too! I like panda best! Thank you. Goodbye~

Special Post from WKCD (What Kids Can Do)

After 6 months of the Beijing Youth Voices (BJV) blogging project , Dr. Barbara Cervone, Executive Director of WKCD, joined Tricia Wang, BJV Program Manager and Gloria Xu, BJV teacher, in China to work with the 6 BJV students for 1 week at the Adobe Beijing headquarters. Within 48 hours, Linda, Steve, E-mail, Kelen, Siqi and Iris produced amazing narrated, photos slideshows. You can find their six slideshows here, as they talk about the confluence of the Olympics and their daily lives. Before checking out their individual slideshows, we suggest that you listen and watch this special 5 minute audio slideshow on their thoughts around the Olympics. After following their lives for 6 months on this blog, we think you will be able to gain a new perspective when you hear their thoughts around this important event in their lives.

Hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics is a point of huge pride for Chinese of all ages. It is China’s debut on the world stage and they pray it is impeccable. For many Westerners and other non-Chinese, the Beijing Olympics offers a different—and no less urgent— storyline: about the suppression of dissent, the importance of human rights, the impact of environmental pollution, and more.

The Beijing youth whose voices and photos we share here speak from the first perspective. They love their country. They are smart and compassionate. They worked terrifically hard to produce these audio slideshows, and they offer them with open hearts. As outsiders, we may wish these six Beijing teenagers had taken up some of the issues that have stirred discussion and protest elsewhere in the world. But these are their stories—from youth who have big dreams for their country as well as for themselves.

We would like to give a special thank you to Adobe Beijing and Adobe Youth Voices for making this project possible. In particular, the Adobe Beijing staff was absolutely invaluable in empowering the students to tell their stories!

Enjoy!

Barbara Cervone, Tricia Wang and Gloria Xu

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 – 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!

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.”

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 – My Tips for How To Relax Yourself

I don’t know how to make you understand that the Chinese kids in the 21century are quite busy. Many of times they really are just overwhelmed. The latest news that we heard were of students who committed suicide just they were unable to keep with their demands of daily life. I can understand, because for us, every activity is scheduled down to the very minute.

In my opinion we must pay more more attention and attach more importance to student’s well being. We must teach them how to relax when they feel tired. And we must do this when students want to give up their life over this matter.

There was one time that I was really stressed out and felt like things were too overwhelming. We have examinations at the end of every month, and in particular I remember the one from last month. I did not do a good job on the test. I did not pass some of the subjects. I became very upset when I found out that I did not pass all them!

That same day, the teacher talked to me and gave me a soft punishment by lecturing me. She asked me, “What is the trouble with you these days? You even could not pass this time. What did you do? …” I had nothing to say at that moment except to listen. I kept listening to her until she finished her speech.

When I went back home, I ate a lot snacks and did not want to do anything. I listened to music that I liked and I did not want to think about the exam any more. That is my way to relax myself and reduce the pressure.

If you have the same problem, I have some ideas to tell you. I hope these can help you step out the dark when you feel like you can’t deal with all the work.

• When you feel sad you can recall a sweet memory.
• You can eat your favorite snack and drink a cup of soft drink. Soft drink always make people feel cool.
• You also can have a good night of sleep, maybe you will have a special dream!
• Reading the stories with jokes is a very useful way to laugh and relax.
• Listen to your favorite music and sing it loudly
• Throw away all your clocks or watches and then your time will stop…I’m kidding…☺
• Draw a picture about yourself and make it funny. I often do that. You can have a try~

That’s all. Thank you~.
Please share your suggestions!