Final Blog: Course Reflection

     When no one notices how fast the time flies, we are all already at the end of sophomore year. I still remember how I difficultly wrote Blog Post at the beginning of the year and how I did not like reading books. Recall back to what I have learned in our English class, I realized that I did learn a lot of things. 

     Most of what I have learned were from reading books. We read six books total this year in class. Those books were all different kind of types which allowed us to have different reading experiences. We had tests and quizzes while we were reading the book. Although we do not like them, they actually helped us to understand those books better. My favorite books among them were "Gathering Pearls" and "We Were Liars". "Gathering Pearls" created a resonance inside me, because I had similar experience with Sookan who was the narrator in the book. I could feel her emotional change in the way she told us her stories in America. Also, I love her characteristics of insistence and endurance. While I was reading, those good quality of Sookan made me think about myself. I learned from it as well. "We Were Liars", I will say, gave me an exciting experience of being a "detective". Its mysterious plots led me to make a lot of hypothesis about the ending. It also emphasis the importance of the family value. I love my family even more after I finish this book. 

     I think this year, the most prominent accomplishment for me is reading books. I didn't really like read books in English before. I had a difficult time reading it because I always had to search so many strange words, translate the sentence into Chinese and then figure out the connection between all these sentences. I could spend one hour only read three or four pages. Reading was really a pain of my life in school. However, I got a lot better by reading so many books this year. I start to read faster and really enjoy the story which the book is telling. There are also things I need to improve on, especially in writing and speaking. I feel writing can express my ideas or opinions better compare to speaking. When I speak, I feel I could not find the best word to describe my thoughts and what I think doesn't turn out to be the result I expect before. While I am writing, I have more time to put my thoughts in a logical way and rearrange my sentences. So the skill of speaking might be one thing that I really need to put efforts into. However, my writing has some problems as well. Although I can express my ideas pretty well when I write things, I have so many grammar mistakes that I don't even realize. I really don't know what the effective ways are, but I'm going to set it as a long time working goals for next year.

     In all words, all the knowledge I learned in our English class this year is not just learning from what our English teacher teaches to us, but a big part of the knowledge is from those books I read. I will continue my reading and try to improve my skills in both writing and reading. Hopefully, next year at this time, I can say I achieve my goals and feel confident in English. 

Bone Chiller: The Best Play Ever

     "Bone Chiller" is a show which was written by Monk Ferris. It combines both comedy and murder mysteries all together. It brought audience both laughs and surprises in the past few days in our school's Black Box Theater. I'm really glad I was able to see this show and really enjoyed it. 

     This show started with people coming on to the stage which was inside a house. They were there because they wanted to figure out Josiah Travers' will and who would eventually get his money. These people are not just family members, but also some odd people who didn't even have relationship with Josiah. Travers' will finally was revealed to those people and surprisingly, it was a puzzle containing pictures, symbols and words in it. Jerry led the way to try to solve the puzzle but they all were stuck in some very important sentences. They know that Travers' death was not a suicide but a murder, and his will refer that the murderer was among the people in the room. However, Mauve, the butler seemed to know who the murderer of Travers was, but then she was murdered after a sudden off of light. At the time people there were still trying to solve the puzzle, another murder happened on the cook, Lucretia. The murderer tried twice to kill Pippi and Jerry but failed. Lastly, the murderer or I should say the "murderers" came out: it was the lawyer and the policeman. 

     This ending was very surprising, but actually not really for me. During the break before Act One and Act Two, I asked my neighbors who they thought the murderer was and they all talked about how strange the leaving of the girl in a green dress was and probably the butler did not even die. After a while, a thought just somehow came out of my mind: the murderer was either the lawyer or the police. I didn't have any explaination for my guess, but I just felt a little bit weird at the appearance of the policeman and the behavior of the lawyer. However, I did not expect that the "murderer" was not only one person, but both of them. 

     This play was probably my favorite among those three plays we had in this year. Although the language was still difficult for me, I could follow along with the story line. I like the feeling how the truth of a mystery was exposed at the ending. I also like how the light was changing and all actors and actresses were at the best conditions of acting. Just like in the Spelling Bee, my favorite character among them was the one who Julia Rafferty played. I love the way she acted and how she interpreting the personality of her character. I also love her Russian accent. It was hilarious! I think she really did a great job. 

     One thing that I think the show can be improved is that maybe the parlormaid, Pippi, should speak in a lower voice and a more calm way. I really was shocked by her scream and I don't know if this should be an important part of the show or not. Her acting kind of took people's attention from the main story line. 

     In all words, I think this play is a real success. I love it, an I really hope there could be more plays as interesting as this exhibited to our audience. 

They Are Imaginary

In Summer seventeen, Cadence spent most of her time in Cuddletown with the other three Liars. However, the ending reveals that the three Liars had died two years ago. In my opinion, the three Liars in Summet seventeen were all Cadence's imagination. Cadence got migraine due to the accident, not just physically, but also emotionally. She was so sad and so painful that her body told her not to remember those things happened in Summer fifteen. In Summer seventeen, Cadence tried so hard to find out what had happened in Summer fifteen. Thus, imagination is the way which helped Cadence to gather her memory fragments. This is one outcome due to her head injury. It makes perfect sence that those three Liars were created by Cadence's imaginary. Just like what the ending shows, Cadence describes that she saw the three Liars swan farther and farther, and they left her alone on the tiny beach. Now because all her memories came back and she had recovered from migraine, her imagination problem disappeared with the three Liars as well. This is why I think the three Liars, Johnny, Mirren and Gat, are Cadence's imagination instead of ghost. 

Reaction to the Ending of We Were Liars

     After I finished reading the book "We Were Liars", I felt really sad no only just for the main characters but the whole Sinclair family. This book narrated things that happened between Summer fifteen and Sumer seventeen. Cadence had an accident which caused her memory lost, and she lived in her imagination and gathered her memory fragments all Summer seventeen. While everyone was wondering who caused Cadence's accident, it turned out that Cadence was actually the one who caused her injury. She also caused the other three Lars's death: Jonny, Mirren, and Gat. When her memories all came back, she found out that she killed the three people who she love most in the world. I think this is so sad as an ending, and it is such a cruel punishment on Cadence. Cadence did not mean to do this kind of thing; she will never hurt her loves, but the fact is that she did. Yes, she achieved her goal that the aunts never fight for the money after the fire, but she is going to live with guilt forever. She would always question herself why she was alive. The biggest punishment and pain are left to the survivors why they did not die while others were in heaven. 

     To be honest, I think this was not fair to Cadence. She did nothing wrong. She just wanted to have a peaceful and a real family. She wanted her family members really care each other. She just didn't plan it right. She just didn't know other ways to make her family turn better. There were so many things that a fifteen-year-old girl don't know. Besides, she didn't set the fire by herself. She shouldn't be the one who suffered and endured the aftermath. 

     Although this tragedy reunited the whole Sinclair family, its price should not be three young teenagers' lives. However, I really don't know if there could be a better ending than this. I don't really like tragedy, but I think it is the best way for people who read and acknowledge the story to actually think and readjust their family values. Tragedy makes people sad but think. 

50~70 new information

From Chapter 50 to 70, Cadence figured out more things about her accident. She knew that Clairmont had a fire in summer fifteen, and it was the four Liars who set the fire. The aunts were arguing about getting the inheritance and Granny Tipper's things. She remembered that on one dinner night, Grandad came to the four Liars and asked for their advice about naming the building which he donated money to in Harvard. Aunt Bess wanted the house when Candice and her mother live because she thought it was too big for them. She also remembered that Gat told him that Ed proposed to Carrie and was refused by her, because she wanted to get the money from Grandad. 

Questions

1. Why Gat's motto is "don't accept an evil you can change"?
2. Why Cadence created another fairly tale in Chapter 40?

Chapter 31~40 important events

Chapter 31:
Cadence and Mirren meet on the beach and have a conversation. Cadence asked if Mirren receive her old Barbies, but Mirren never did. Then, Johnny joined their conversation, Cadence told them about giving her belongings away.

Chapter 32:
Gat asked Cadence to start over their relationship after lunch, and Cadence finally compromised.

Chapter 33:
Cadence went to Clairemount and saw this house's opulent changes. Grandfather said there was a book for Gat but he yelled when Cadence said most of his books weren't here. She asked aunt Carrie if she went back to sleep yesterday, but she had no idea what Cadence was talking about.

Chapter 34:
Cadence tried to find out what had happened in summer sixteen from the littles,  but they were told to not mention about it by Cadence mother.

Chapter 35:
The four liars were redecorating Cuddledown, the three liars knew Cadence's lost of memories and they were also told not to mention anything to Cadence.

Chapter 36:
The four liars played tennis and Cadence told them about her journey in Rome.

Chapter 37:
Cadence mom asked her if Cadence was playing tennis because she heard the balls. Cadence remembers a night two weeks before her accident. The aunts were kind of arguing about ownership to the house in Boston in that summer, but right now, they were siting together in a lovely and peaceful sence.

Chapter 38:
The four liars played Scrambles at midnight in Cuddletown. They talked about mottos and Mirren told Cadence that she should never do what she's afraid of.

Chapter 39:
Gat told Cadence that her grandpa always sees him as Headcliff no matter how good he would become. He was seen as not good enough for dating with Cadence.

Chapter 40:
Cadence wrote another fairy tale talks about a love story between a princess and a mouse, which hints to the relationship between her and Gat.

Important Events: Ch16~25

Chapter 16:
Cadence wrote her own fairy tale during her journey in Europe. This fairy tale kind of relates to the condition in the Sinclair family. The three daughters all want to get the inheritance, they all show their love to Cadence's Grandpa, but no one can tell if they really love him.

Chapter 17:
After her Europe trip, Cadence starts to give things away. She gave her old Babies to Mirren, strips to Johnny, pillow to a strange girl outside of library, King Lear to public library, and even her Granny Tipper's picture to the Goodwill.

Chapter 18:
Cadence lost her memory of her accident although she took a lot of medicines to cure her. She asked her mother over and over again, her mother eventually got infuriated by her. Cadence asked her mother to repeat one more time and she wrote it down so that she can get the answer when she wanted to asked. Although there were things that she doesn't understand, it's the best way to keep herself sober.

Chapter 19:
Cadence doesn't want to spend the whole summer with her dad in Australia for summer seventeen. She wants to go to the Beechwood island. She wants to remember, to figure out the mystery. However, her mother said no. The next day, her grandad comes. He looks so different since Granny died: he lost weight and has a port bellied slump. At night, he told Cadence that she would inherit all of his fortune and property because she would be an ideal Sinclair: tall and blond.

Chapter 20:
Cadence wrote another fairy tale, another one that also relates to the Sinclair family. After her grandad left, her mother called her dad and finally negotiate succeccfully that Cadence would stay in Beechwood Island for four weeks.

Chapter 21:
Cadence is still giving away her stuffs including Gat's olive hunting jacket. She is angry at Gat, but she actually still loves him,

Chapter 22:
Taft called Cadence and asked her is she is a drug addict because he heard it from Bonnie.

Chapter 23:
Cadence and her mother finally arrived at Beechwood Island. Cadence saw everything has changed: the lawn, the maple tree and the new, cold house. She felt very sad but still follow her mother's words of being normal. She also saw the three liars waiting by the wooden fence: Mirren, Johnny and Gat.

Chapter 24:
Cadence met her aunt Bess, the littles and her Grandad. Bonnie said to Cadence that she looks died like vampires.

Chapter 25:
The four liars gathered in Cuddledown because Bess and the littles were going to live with Grandad this summer. Cadence couldn't stop looking at Gat. She was mad at him but still felt happy that she finally saw him. They talked some which made Cadence think that he was flirting. Johnny asked about Cadence's school life and Mirren told them that she had a new boyfriend. They all agreed at the end that they didn't want to spend summer in that cold new house.

Volcabulary Group Work

Taxidermy- n. - the art of mounting the skins of animals so that they have lifelike appearance
It is full of original New York cartoons, family photos, embroidered pillows, small statues, ivory paperweights, taxidermied fish on plagues.

Villainous- adj. - extremely wicked, the person who is willing to harm other people or break the law in order to get what they want
They always look villainous in the dark of the evening.

Recuperate-v. - regain a former condition after a financial loss
Mummy took me home to Vermont to recuperate

Quarrel- v.- have disagreement over something.
It is hardly glamorous the way Mummy and I quarrel now how dad is gone.

Constellation- n. - a configuration of stars as seen from the earth
I was glad Gat didn’t try to sound knowledgeable about constellations or say stupid staff about wishing stars.

Snorkeling- adj.- skin diving with a snorkel
Mirren and Johnny were snorkeling or wangling the littles.

Stagger- v. - astound or overwhelm, as with shock
I’d stagger from the table or collapse in quiet shameful agony.

Traumatic- adj. - of or relating to a physical injury or wound to the body
Post-traumatic headaches, also known as PTHA

Heroine- n. - the main good female character in a work of fiction
Her pale skin and watery eyes make her look glamorously tragic, like a literary heroine wasting from consumption.

Ivory- n.- a hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses
It is full of original New York cartoons, family photos, embroidered pillows, small statues, ivory paperweights, taxidermied fish on plagues.

Shore- n. - a beam or timber that is propped against a structure to provide support
There are big rocks in off the shore, craggy and black.

Hilariously- adv. - in a hilarious manner, extremely funny
Covertly, hilariously, behind Grandad’s back while he drove the motorboat.

Stunning- adj. - causing or capable of causing bewilderment or shock or insensibility laid the poor fellow senseless with one stunning blow  
She was a stunning woman, even she was old

Pitiful- adj. - inspiring mixed contempt and pity
Different from my pitiful voice messages, these are charming.

Glamorous- adj. - having an air of allure, romance and excitement
(P39 it is not glamorous that I can't drive a car.)

Collapse- v. - a sudden large decline of business or the prices of stocks (especially one that causes additional failures)
I’d stagger from the table or collapse in quiet shameful agony.

Giddy- adj. - having or causing a whirling sensation; liable to falling
had a headache and felt giddy
(P27 Johnny, Mirren, gat and I snuck glasses of wine and felt giddy and silly.)

Embroidered- adj. - decorate with needlework
It is full of original New York cartoons, family photos, embroidered pillows, small statues, ivory paperweights, taxidermied fish on plagues.

Surpasses- v. - be or do something to a greater degree.
Eventually she surpassed her employer in skill and her food is known thoughout the land.

Agony- n. - intense feelings of suffering; acute mental or physical pain.
I’d stagger from the table or collapse in quiet shameful agony.

Ten Volcabulary Words

Glamorously p38
Quarrel p39
Recuperate p32
Marvel p30
Destabilize p29
Giddy p27
Exquisite p20
Illicit p21
Constellation p21
Flippant p21

Relationship Between Characters (Ch1~Ch5)

     In the beginning of the book "We Were Liars", Chapter one to Chapter five, it has several main characters who are mostly Sinclairs. This is a big old money Democrats family. Those main characters are all children of: Cadence, Johnny, Mirren and Gat. Harris Sinclair who is the grandpa in the book has three daughters: Carrie, Bess and Penny. They all were tall, merry, rich and beautiful. They were like princesses in a fairy tale as most people seen. Cadence is the daughter of Penny, Johnny is the son of Carrie and Mirren is the daughter of Bess. For Gat, he is the nephew of Ed who had been together with Carrie. Gat met those kids on the Beechwood Island, which is owned by Sinclairs, when they were eight. Cadence is the narrator of the story. She is a girl who acknowledge her whole family and who they truly are. She knew people in their family had to pretend and behave well as a proud Sinclair. She is bored by life living as a Sinclair and a grand house full of expensive and useless objects. She was distressed inside when she saw her father left her and her mother and chose not to be a Sinclair anymore. Johnny is an energetic and sunny boy. He often likes to play tricks with his cousins. Mirren is a curious girl and likes to play with kids. They were all cousins except Gat.
     The story starts from the beginning of the Summer Eight on the Beechwood Island. It is when Gat met Cadence for the first time. Cadence's aunt, Carrie, was pregnant with Johnny's brother Will when her husband left her. By that summer, Will was taken up by Ed and Carrie, so when they came to the island, Ed brought his nephew who was already a good friend of Johnny. Gat was very shy at first when he met Cadence. Cadence could feel his contemplation, enthusiasm and ambition when he stood in front of her. When their eyes were locked, Cadence turned and started running. Gat followed, Johnny followed Gat, and Mirren chased after Johnny. They stopped at the tiny beach down by Cuddledown House, and Cadence wrote the four of their names on the sand. This was what happened when they first met each other. However, they got really close as the time goes on. They got to spend every summer on the island because Johnny begged to have Gat stay longer and their grandparents agreed, because they never said no to their first grandson. On the Summer Fourteen, They took out a small motorboat alone and jumped into the sea. After they got off the sea, they hogged together and joked at each other. They both had a good feeling with each other. One day, they read book together in a hammock and Cadence saw Gat always read with a pen in his hand. He wrote Gat on the back of his left hand, and Cadence on the back of his right. From that point, Cadence knew clearly that they could understand and feel each other, although Cadence didn't label that feeling as love.

Notes for Chapter 8 & 9

Chapter 8:
Lorenzo got onto the bus and decided to go to the hospital to see his grandmother to get the medicine for Olivia. He saw his grandmother being a "prisonor" in the hospital and felt so bad. His grandmother asked him to tell him a story so he told her the most recent one that he had made up about a robot which kills millions of people. His grandmother was satisfied, and then Lorenzo left the hospital really quickly.

Chapter 9:
Lorenzo took the risk to be found by his parents and the silver monkey to find medicine for Olivia. He went back to the cellar and saw Olivia lied on the sette stiffly. He thought she was died, but then he saw her arms are moving. Olivia just took two sleeping pills and she needed more sleep. Lorenzo felt more relaxed and let her fall asleep. He was tired and fell asleep with her.

Reaction to the ending

In the ending, Lorenzo and Olivia said goodbye to each other and they promised they would see each other again sometime in the future; however, after ten years when Lorenzo sees Olivia again, she is died. I don't really like this ending. I think this ending is too sad for me to accept it. I was imagining scenes when they see each other again. I tried to think how happy they are, what kind of things they will talk about but I've never expected the death of Olivia. Lorenzo seemed really calm when he saw her sister lying on the bed and covered by a white sheet. I don't think he could easily accept it. The goodbye they said to each other last time will be the goodbye for ever.

End questions for Me and You

19. In this passage, Olivia told Lorenzo the real reason why she was so sick. After Lorenzo knowing the truth, he knew he got to help her and if he wasn't going to help her, she would die. Then he saw she was lying on the floor, surrounded by money, and she was so desperate and lonely. This scene made him connect to the scene where his mother was insulted by the big guy on the day they had an accident. On that day, he was so angery when he heard those bad words the guy used to his mother, but he wasn't brave enough to stand out and protect his mother. Right now, a similar thing happened in front of him and he would not let regrets to occupy him again. This is why Lorenzo decided to help Olivia. This is a very important point in the novel because it indicates that Lorenzo has changed. He became more brave and was able to defeat his fear to help others. He finally did something that his inside mind wanted to do. Also, this was the first time Lorenzo actually helped other people, so it is a significant turning point in the novel.
21. I would consider Olivia as an authentic person, because her messy and troubled life is the same as what many people in our world have right now. They have no goals, and they just waste their life and let others to do anything with their body. They are desperate and alone in their real life. They see no future or don't even want to have a hope for the future. These people are just like Olivia. Olivia hates herself when she behaves badly. She knew she shouldn't take drug, and she neither should cheat her body and her soul. However, she is in a marsh and the harder she is trying to get out of it, the deeper she's in it. These bad behaviors could unleash her anger toward her father. She felt like if she just let herself be like this, it would take revenge on her father. Her behaviors and personality inspired Lorenzo deeply. He knew clearly why she did this to herself, and he realized that he should be true to himself. He should not hide anymore because it would only drag him down. He needed to find the "real" Lorenzo and be him for the rest of his life.
24. The reason why the author chose to sandwich Lorenzo's experience is because it can emphasis the change of Lorenzo. It used the flashback to tell the story behind the Lorenzo today. These chapters marked how important Lorenzo's sister Olivia is, who brought a great influence on him and gave him a life change. The end chapter also is the tone setter of this novel. When readers were still wondering the scene when Lorenzo and Olivia meet in the future, it told the readers that when they met ten years later, Olivia was died. It appealed that Olivia broke her promise to Lorenzo. This sets a sad ending for readers and leads readers to a deeper thinking of the overall story.

Revise poems

To Our Dining Hall

Things could be better

Fresh, various fruits and meals

Students will like more

Musical is life

"I am not that smart

My parents keep telling me..."

Musical is life! 

Thinking questions

Why didn't Lorenzo go out to stand out for his mother at the beginning?

Why did Olivia come to the cellar?

Why did Lorenzo hug Olivia and cry with her? 

Characteristics of Olivia

Olivia is an girl with distinctive characteristics on her. She is very independent. She can find her ways to live in a good life. She is not that kind of girl who will cry a lot. She is very tough. From the letter she wrote to her father, as well as Lorenzo's father, she told him that she didn't need his help and he just needed to mind his own business. Olivia either like someone or hate someone; she would be in the middle, nor she would use tears to solve problems. She is a very "cool" person. She is also very smart. When she got the phone call from Lorenzo's mother, she knew exactly what to say and she acted perfectly as Alessia's mother. 

Summary of Ch. 5

It was the first day Lorenzo lives in the cellar. He woke up at nine o'clock and decided to explore the cellar a little bit. Then he got a phone call which he thought was his mother but it was actually his stepsister, Olivia. His stepsister asked him whether his parents were at home at that time. Lorenzo thought this strange phone call was a trap and he realized that he has more serious problem to solve ---- his mother wanted to talk with Alessia's mom. Then, he just threw that thought and started playing games until a person came down to the cellar. Lorenzo immediately hid himself, but then he was found and he found out that this person was Olivia. Olivia came here to try to find her box and the money in it. After she found nothing, she left and Lorenzo reminded her to keep his staying at the cellar. When he was remanaging Olivia's box, he read her letter to their father and he was very angry at Olivia. At the midnight, Olivia came and asked for staying at the cellar for one night. Lorenzo strongly opposed her staying, but because of her "threatening", he had to compromise and let her in. 

In class writing

While Lorenzo and his mother were stuck in traffic on Corso Vittorio and his mother saw a dress she really liked and she decided to park in a free parking space which a Smart car was going to pull out to pull the car in. This yellow Smart car was hit by their cars. Their BMW didn't have a scratch on it, but the Smart car had damages. A big guy got out of the car, shouted to Lorenzo's mother and screamed bad words, too. People in the Smart car insulted Lorenzo's mother and asked her to be responsible for this incident while Lorenzo was sitting in the car. Lorenzo felt angry when he heard them insulting his mother with bad words, but he didn't choose to get out and try to protect his mother, because he was so afraid of that man. When he thought about what else the man would do to his mother, he finally decided its the time to get out, but then he fainted.  When he was in the car, he felt he was sitting on a huge giant made of stone that was hugging him and won't let him go. This is important to him because he should have been a man who can stand out and speak for her mother, instead of being a boy that needed to be cared of.  He is scared of being hit by the man. It's the fear that held Lorenzo in the car. Fear beat his anger in this case. 

chapter 3 summary

Lorenzo's mom calles him again. She wants to talk with Alessia's mom and Lorenzo lied again to his mom. He knows her mom will insist to talk with Alessia's mom in her later calls, and he is afraid of he can't come up with a good reason anymore. 

Response to "Lorenzo" Question

From the book I read so far, I think the main character Lorenzo is an very interesting character. He is very special and smart. He isn't like other children at the same age with him. He doesn't like to socialize with other people or make friends. He wanted to be left alone. He even was seen as an abnormal child when he was young. However, he knows himself well by heart and don't need others' judgement. Every time when problems come up, he will solve it by using his intelligence. For example, when Lorenzo was in high school, he was bullied by those "dangerous kids". Then, he saw a documentary about insects that mimic other insects. He immediately got inspired and came up with a solution that is to camouflage himself among those "dangerous kids" in the school. He wore the same things the others wore and behave like them, too. Although from my point of view this is not right, but it worked perfectly keeping Lorenzo from being bullied. After his imitation for a while, he realized he could not imitate those dangerous kids for the rest of his life. He thought it is pushing him to precipice, and he needed himself back. 

This is why I like Lorenzo: always has special ways to solve his problem and never will lost himself. 

Reaction to Me and You

Today, I just started reading the book called "Me and You", which was written by Niccolo Ammaniti. After I finishing the first chapter, I think I like this book but I'm kind confused by some of the plots. I don't know why he tries to escape from the ski trip and goes back home to a forgotten cellar. Also, one thing that confuses me most is that if this is a forgotten cellar, why there are so many food and even television? Has there already been a person living there? These questions keep coming out of my mind. However, this is a fiction which tells readers some stories, and this is my favorite type of books. This is a very interesting book, in my opinion. I think by the time goes on, I will get answers of these questions in later chapters. 

Three choices of suggesting books

1. My Year with Eleanor 

2. We are Liars

3. The blue yonder 

Blog 13: Musical: The Best Spelling Bee

     “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is a  a long one-act musical comedy conceived by Rebecca Feldman.This show was open in the past several days in our Black Box Theater. I feel honored to be part of the show. Although I'm in the pit band and could not be an audience to see the show, I know this show very well from our daily practice. 

      This show starts from the entrance of Rona Lisa Peretti who was the champion in the third Spelling Bee. Then, one by one, each speller is called up to the microphone. The main spellers are Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, Leaf Coneybear, Olive and William Barfee. Some, of them have special techniques to spell words. Ms. Peretti explains William’s unusual technique of spelling each word with his foot on the ground before spelling it aloud. After many turns of spelling, William Barfee is the final winner of the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. 

     In this show, my favorite characters are Marci and Leaf Coneybear. I like Marci is because she is a really good speller. She knows all the words by heart and speak it out with clear voice and confidence. If she wants, I think she probably will win the Spelling Bee. Also, I like her voice very much. When she sings, I can feel her emotion and her thought. It's quite amazing when she sings "I speak six languages". For Leaf Coneybear, I think he has very special personality. He is not the winner of his district. His is actually the third, however, he get a chance to attend this Spelling Bee. Everyone thinks he is dumb and stupid, but he is actually not. He didn't know any of these words that the judge and announcer give him, but he made it farther than everyone else expected him to be.  In the show, he brings a lot of fun to the audience and makes them laugh so hard. 

     This is my first musical experience, and I think it really leaves me a good memory. Before the performance, I have to say that we really practice a lot. Everyone is working so hard to make this show better. Few weeks ago, our pit band didn't even practice all the songs yet and all the people were acting didn't know all the lines. It was a mess. However, daily practice really makes us improve a lot. Although I complained about the everyday practice which made me feel a bit insipid, I really enjoy spending time with all the people in our Drama team. These four days performance told me it's worthy to do this. All of our hardworking and the time to practice get feedback and repayment. Everyone likes the show. Everyone told me the show was amazing and they wanted to see it again. 

      I really think our Drama team did a fantastic job. I feel proud and glorious to be part of the show. Not only I had fun in the show, but also I learn things that will benefit my whole life and as well as friendship. Thanks to all the members in the musical for producing such a great show to the audience. 

     

Books

1. The Road:The Road is the profoundly moving story of a journey. 

2. We were liars：We Were Liars is the story of those annual reunions; in particular what happened during a summer that protagonist Cadence is unable to remember. 

3. All the light we cannot see: it is about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.

4. If I stay : it tells the story of a seventeen year-old girl,  Mia, who has no memory of the accident; she can only recall what happened afterwards, watching her own damaged body being taken from the wreck.

5. My year with Eleanor : My Year with Eleanor, Noelle Hancock’s hilarious tale of her decision to heed the advice of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and do one thing a day that scares her in the year before her 30th birthday. 

Spelling Bee Summary

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” is a  a long one-act musical comedy conceived by Rebecca Feldman. It started from the entrance of Rona Lisa Peretti, the moderator of the bee, which quickly thrown back to her own Putnam County Spelling Bee experience, where she won with the word “syzygy.” The students begin to enter and, along with the four spellers who have been selected from the show’s audience, are welcomed by Ms. Peretti (“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”). Ms. Peretti pulls Olive Ostrovsky aside and tells her that she still owes the $25 fee for the bee. Olive reveals that she’s come alone on a bus, so there’s no parent there who can pay. Ms. Peretti decides to let the fee slide. She introduces the spellers to Vice Principal Douglas Panch. Next to be introduced is the Official Comfort Counselor, Michelle Mahoney, an intimidating-looking convicted criminal who is serving his community service at the bee. Michelle leads the spellers in the Pledge of Allegiance, and Panch then explains the bee rules.One by one, each speller is called up to the microphone: Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, Leaf Coneybear, Olive, then William Barfee. Ms. Peretti explains William’s unusual technique of spelling each word with his foot on the ground before spelling it aloud. After many times of spelling words, the winner finally came out: William Barfee. Olive got the second prize and 25$ and she used it for her entrance fee. 

Revise poems

To Our Dining Hall

Things could be better

Fresh, various fruits and meals

Students will like more

Musical is life

"I am not that smart

My parents keep telling me..."

Musical is life! 

Kaiku poems

Shoelaces untied
become a tripping hazard.
Hope she falls for me.

Laughing among friends -
palate cleansing for the soul.
A welcome relief.

It is easier
To accept criticism
When it's not spoken.

Gathering of Pearls: Make Your Own Pear Necklace

     Gathering of Pearls is a fictional novel which was written by a Korean born author named Sook Nyul Choi. This book narrates the stories of a Korean girl, Sookan, who comes to America and starts a new life in a foreign country. On the cover, Sookan sits on the floor and gathers pearls all over which come from a broken pearl necklace. Around the image, flowers like plum blossoms grow. The image on the cover of Sookan gathering pearls represents her difficulties in life, inner conflict, and her guilt over the death of mother; however, Sookan gathers those pearls from her life and turns them into energy to fight for a better life. 

     Sookan met a lot of hardships when she first came to America. There were many differences between Korean culture and American culture. Sookan's culture was traditional and conservative, but American culture was open and free. For example, Sookan was surprised when she saw her American friends who were in the same grade could talk to seniors relaxingly. They never used any honorific terms or words to talk with elders. Many obstacles were also on Sookan's academic path. Sookan wanted to make her family proud, so she decided to choose very hard courses. However, her high demand on herself led to her extremely busy schedule. Keeping working so hard everyday made her felt immensely tired. She knew she could not stay in this kind of situation anymore, but she still continued to do it because of her stubborn characteristics. Nevertheless, Sookan gradually adjusted with help from her friends and teachers, and she overcame those difficulties in her life. From those difficulties, Sookan harvested friendship and approval from her teachers for her hard work. 

     While Sookan was overcoming difficulties in America, she also experienced many inner conflicts. Her main inner conflicts were mostly about her sister's order. She got letters from her sister about writing journals and sending them back to Korea. Her sister wanted Sookan to share all of her thoughts so she and Sookan would not grow apart. Her sister also wanted Sookan to go back to Korean to be a nun and continue her work. Sookan wanted to follow her sister's order and satisfy her; however, Sookan was a bit mad at her sister for always demanding her and not understanding her. Nonetheless, Sookan felt sorry for her anger because she should respect her sister and do what she wanted her to do. Sookan didn't know what should she do: to abide her sister or go on her own way. A lot of confusion and conflicts were going on inside of Sookan during that period of time. However, Sookan inspired by her firiends' and mother's words, which she finally chose to follow her heart and decided her future goals. Those inner conflicts helped her be conscious of what she truely wanted and became brave to walk on her own path. 

     Sookan's guilt toward her mother's death influenced her a lot from inside. When Father Lee came to her school in America and told her that her mother was already in Heaven, Sookan could not believe her ear. She could believe that her beloved and kind mother has left her forever. Sookan didn't even get a chance to see her mother for the last time. She blamed herself that she shouldn't come to America in such a hurry. She could wait for a few months and accompany her mother. When she got her mother's letter, Sookan knew that even at her mother's last minute, her mother was still worried about her and wanted to not interrupt her study. In her mother's letter, her mother wanted her to continue her own life in America and not be sad because of her death. Sookan knew that her mother wanted to turn her sorrow and pain into pearls which symbolized energy to live in a better life. Although mother's death left her a life long guilt, Sookan understood that she won't sink in the pain and sadness, and she would gather those sorrow to expand her life width and walk steadily to her future. 

     Sookan picked up those pearls in her life which were composed by life difficulties, inner conflicts and self-accusation, and she restring it into understanding and wisdom in life. She didn't fear challenges and troubles, instead, she overcame and defeated those hardships and confusions. The voice inside of her told her that she would find herself a direction and insisted to walk on firmly without turning back. Those flowers around the image of Sookan on the cover symbolize Sookan's strong, brave and persistent personality. For Sookan, pain and sorrow are indispensable elements of her life, because she needed to readjust herself and keep running on the right track. A brighter and better future is waiting for Sookan with full of treasures like pearls. 

Blog 12: Epilogue for Gathering of Pearls

     After five years studying in America, Sookan already have her goals for her future life. Everything has changed compares to what her life is when she first arrived at America. She already overcome the sorrow of losing mother, although she still feel guilty and regretful when she thinks about it right now. After her mother's death, she already decide firmly that she will stay in America for her rest of life, because there is no point that she goes back to Korea if her mother is not there anymore. Sookan already fits perfectly into American life style. She already understands American culture and feels really comfortable live with it. Also, she wants to select the road that she likes for her future instead of her sister's choice. Sookan has her own goals for her future life. She sometimes missed her brothers and sisters, too. She writes some letters to her sister and elder brothers, but she never gets any feedbacks. She only gets letters from her younger brother. He told her what had happened recently, not to worry about the family and live well in America. Although Sookan is upset about not getting any letters from her sister and elder brother, she thinks about her Korean culture and her sister's anger and acknowledging it. 

     During the summer vacation after she graduated from college, Sookan and Ellen went to Greece with Marci. They travelled together and choose this travelling as their graduation trip. On their way, Sookan and Ellen listen to Ellen's introducing of all the beatiful sight and stories behind them. They talked a lot of things and they really had a great time. 

     After this trip to Greece, they separate for a time to find job. Marci continue her dream of being a classical professor. Ellen and Kyle get married and she finds a job which plans wedding for other people. Sookan, surprisingly, she doesn't choose to be a nun in Korea. Unexpectly, she finds a job at an elementary school. She loves Mr. Bennett's children very much, so she decides to be a teacher at Mr. Bennett's children's elementary school. In this way, she can take care of them and also spend time with them. Sarah and Jimmy are so happy when they hear this news. They also love to be with Sookan. 

     All Sookan's friends and teachers are happy for Sookan finding a job at elementary school. Sookan invites Sister Reed, Marci, Ellen and Mr. Bennett's family to her renting apartment to have dinner. She cooks Korean food for them and they all like it very much. 

     Speaking of Tom, Sookan finally makes up her mind that she decide to date with Tom. They are seen as the cutest couple by Ellen and Marci. Tom treats Sookan really well and everyone can see that how much he loves Sookan. 

      For now, everything goes on very well in Sookan's life. She enjoys her life in America and never regrets that she makes this decision to stay. A bright, colorful future is waiting for Sookan to embrace her with full of surprise. 

Chapter 13-18 study guide

Chapter 13:

1. Marci doesn't have a good relationship with her parents. She often argues with her parents and doesn't want to talk with them. 

2. Marci suggests Sookan to tell her sister the truth and live in her own life. She thinks Sookan should have to break free of her sister. 

3. I think Sookan will think about Marci's suggest but she won't follow it, because Sookan is that kind of girl who always think about her whole family instead of just caring her own life. 

Chapter 14:

1. Sister Reed gives Sookan a pearl necklace, because this is given by Sister Reed's aunt and her aunt asked her to make a special present when she meets a truly extraordinary young women. She thinks Sookan is the one. 

2. Ellen decides to accept Kyle's proposal and she already decides that if her parents object their marriage, she will elope with Kyle. 

3. Her parents feel shocked and objects her quick marriage. 

4. I totally agree with Sookan's position. Because marriage is very important in Ellen's life. She needs to take it seriously. Sookan knows how important this is to Ellen's whole life. So as a friend, she will choose to do the best and right thing for Ellen. In this case, stand at her parents' view will be the best for Ellen. 

Chapter 15:

1. The reason why Sookan has conflicting emotion is because she wants to use the money she collected to buy her mother and her family each person a gift. However, when she decides to surprise Ellen and Sister Reed by attending the party, she sees a beautiful dress and it fits her very well. She bought it and she doesn't have any money left to buy her family gifts. That makes her happy but guilty. She feels happy because she finally can attend the party and wear the perl necklace to surprise Ellen and Sister Reed. She feels guilty be cases she didn't buy her mother anything. She feels its wrong. 

2. I think I would buy my family gifts first. Because there are many chances that she can go to the party and surprise both Ellen and Sister Reed. But I think it's better to buy gifts and send them back home to make up for the Christmas presents. So in this case, you can at least let your family know that you are still thinking of them and love them as always. 

Chapter 16:

1. She has fit into the American culture and life as she wished in this beginning of the year. She also accomplished her goal in studying. She has make through her fist year in college. She has good friends and have good relationship with teachers. Everyone likes her. 

2. Sookan has changed a lot compares to the time when she first arrive in America. She knew American culture better and feels more comfortable with her American life. Right now she prefer more about American style of treating people and things. She becomes more independent. She not anymore thinks it's her obligation to always follow her sister's order. She has her own thought right now. 

Chapter 17:

1. He told Sookan that her mother died at the beginning of May. 

2. Sookan is shocked, heart brokenand sobbed. She can't believe her mother is already in heaven. 

Chapter 18:

1. When Sookan looks back to her mother's death, she feels awful because she can't accompany her mom at her last moment. She even didn't get to see her mother. She regrets that she shouldn't leave this early to America and she should stay at home and be with her mother longer. Then she reads her mother's last letter again, she finally decided to turn her pain into energy. She gets why her mother tells her to remember the story of the pearl. She will live a good life and try to be as best as she can to make her mother proud. 

2. I think Sookan should be strong and walk on. Her mother's death is already a fact, she can't do anything about it. The only thing she can do is to be strong and live a best life as she can to make her mother proud of her. She should turn those pain into the support for her hardworking and new life in America. 

Gathering of Pearls: A Book of Similar Experiences

     Recently, we are reading a fiction called "Gathering of Pearls", which was written by a Korean American writer Sook Nyul Choi. We have not finished this book yet, but I already attracted by its plots. This book is mainly talking about a Korean girl whose name is Sookan came to America because of scholarship and studied in a catholic college. Her life and internal sentiment experienced a huge challenge. At the beginning, she was afraid of fitting in the American life, failing classes and disappointing her family. However, she met good friends and teachers who helped her overcome those difficulties she met in her life and conducted her to enjoy her American life and understand American culture. 

     I'm really attracted by this book because I can feel the connection between Sookan's new life and my personal expererences. Recall back to a year ago when I first came to America for studying. It was my first time to travel alone for this far and to a totally trange country. I had the same concern when I was on the plane to America. I was afraid of being isolated and unable to communicate with my American classmates because of unskilled English speaking. However, when I started my highschool life, I felt that it wasn't as difficult as I thought it was. Although I made a lot of grammar mistakes when I talked with my new friends, they still could get what I meant. When I met difficulties in studying, I went to ask teachers and they are always willing to help me. My English quickly got improved. I was invited to a friend's house for Halloween. They told me what Halloween was and what they usually did. They told me to wear something funny or scary so we could go to "trick or treat" at night together. That was my first Halloween andirons was so fun that I would never forget it. 

     Also, one thing that interested me a lot is her internal sentiment. At that time, there's no such a thing called Wechat which we use a lot nowadays for texting and chatting. The only thing Sookan could use was writing letters to her family. She could not go back to Korea until she finished her studying in Korea because the ticket for flying was very expensive. This meant that she could not see her family for four years. She missed her family a lot but she had to continue her life in America. She felt sorry for bot helping her mother around but her personality of loving challenges and risks made she can not stop studying in America. One thing that was noticeable was the relationship between Sookan and her sister. Her sister wanted Sookan to follow her order and help her work of being a nun. Sookan wanted to obey her at first. But after her sister's angry letter Sookan felt ambivalent. She was angry at her sister for not understanding her situation but then she felt sorry for her anger. She didn't know what was the right thing to do: obey her sister or being herself. 

     I think, so far, "Gathering of Perls" is a good book to read. It perfectly connected to our international students' experiences and created resonance. Although I have not finished this book yet, I recommended it to all the international students here in our school. 

Discussing questions

1. What does hosting the party mean to Sookan? 

2. How did Sookan react to her sister's letter? 

Chapter 6-12 study guide

Chapter 6:

1. Sookan's sister kind of blamed on her that she wrote a hurried postcard to her mother but Sookan didn't have time to write to her a simple journal. She thought that Sookan forgot what she said about those everyday journals. Sookan was a bit mad because her sister didn't understand what her situation was. She wanted to write those journals and obey what she said, but Sookan was so busy and have poor free time to do it. Inside Sookan, she thought her sister had changed and it was to her as she never knew her sister. This is very important to both book and Sookan's identity, because from this point, Sookan might not choose to obey everything her sister said as same as before. This is a big turning point for Sookan. 

Chapter 7:

1. Ellen thought social scene is important to college life. 

2. Ellen told Sookan that she didn't have to be a nun in order to help people. She could get married, having a family and still be a teacher or volunteer if Sookan wanted. This makes Sookan think about her future life and reconsider whether she should always obey her sister' swords or not. 

3. I think Sookan is right to listen to Ellen. Because Sookan has the right to choose what she wants to do in the future. She can't always obey her sister. She should do what she likes. Her own happiness is very important. 

Chapter 8:

1. Because she missed afternoon attendance and sneaks out to use the time to write her sister a letter. 

2. I think so. Because she doesn't have any other free time to write to her sister. She wants to write the letter as soon as possible and this is the only chance she can do this. So I think she made the right choice. 

3. She writes about what her American culture is like and what her school life is like. She also told her sister the reason why she didn't have a chance to write to her and explain her busy schedule everyday. 

4. I think her sister will feel sorry for her anger at Sookan. Also, I think she will be a little worried about Sookan that she is afraid Sookan will forget Korean tradition and become more American. 

Chapter 9:

1. Thanksgiving is good for Sookan because it gives her a feeling like home. She feels love and warmth in this family which makes her more fit into American culture and life. However, this feeling of home also is bad for her, because when she sees Ellen's mother ask her to go upstairs and rest, she immediately relates to her own mother. It accumulates her missing toward her mother and her whole family in Korea. 

Chapter 10: 

1. Her secret study spot is the shower room. 

2. Her head started spinning and she felt a sharp pain in her stomach. When she stood up and started garpthering her books, she fainted. 

3. She said that she and Marci and Ellen could all get together over vacation but Sookan is not going to take any books with her to Marci's. 

Chapter 11: 

1. Her mother's letter is all full of love, pleasure and understanding. She told Sookan what had recently happened in the family and told her to enjoy her life in America. She wanted Sookan's to be happy and didn't want her to worry that much. However, her sister's letter is full of complaining and blaming. She did not show a little understanding to Sookan. She blamed Sookan for not immediately sending her letter and her journeys. She wanted Sookan to follow her order and her track and never thought about what Sookan's feeling was. To life, Sookan's mother had a lighthearted, forgiving and optimistic attitude, but Sookan's sister held a more negative and stubborn attitude toward others. 

Chapter 12:

1. She prepare Korean food such as Bulgogi, salad and rice for the party. 

2. Marci made brownies and Ellen brought butter cookies. 

3. Sister Reed joinefpd them. 

4. Firstly, it reminds her life in Korea when she saw her mother cooking. She understood why her mom love to see people enjoy her cooking. Secondly, she reinforced her friendship with Marci and Ellen, the Bennett's family and also her relationship with sister Reed. This gathering not only just a enjoyable party, but also it is a release of stress and worries for Sookan. 

Chapter 1-5 study guide

Chapter 1: 

1. In 1950s, most women in the U.S quitted their jobs and became wives and mothers as men came back from the World War II. Many women left college early to marry after the war and other women who did stay were not planning on working toward a job. Female students were encouraged to take special courses that got them ready for home life like interior decoration and family finance. 

Chapter 2: 

1. Pocket money: it is the money which Sookan's mother gave her when she came to America. She didn't have a lot of money in her pocket. 

     Honorific: it means respecting. Sookan said that she had to use a different way to show her respect to elder people when she talked with them. 

2. Sookan saw Ellen's outfit matched with her nail polish and earrings. So in this way, Sookan knew color coordination was important to Ellen. 

3. She had to work fifteen hours a week in the college dining hall. 

4. She had to earn good grades in all her courses and to meet the social, moral, and religious standards of the school. 

5. It means that the two friends split their bills and paid equally. 

6. Ellen is very outgoing and energetic. She loves bright colors, hanging out with her friends and making a lot of friends. In contrast, Sookan likes simple and plain colors and she is not that outgoing. In her old life, she always used honorific terms when she talked to elder people, and she would take turns with her friends when they went out to dinner to pay the bills. 

Chapter 3:

1. She took world literature, world religions, Greek and Roman culture, and early European history. Early European history is the most difficult one for Sookan. 

2. Marci is the girl who lived in the single room across the hall from Sookan's room. Marci had been paying attention to Sookan over past few weeks, and she was very shy that she hardly talked to Sookan. 

3. Sookan get babysitting to earn extra money for books.

4. She had never spent much time with her sister. She was very proud of her sister. Her sister asked her to write journals everyday and share with her so they won't grow apart. She felt terrible for not writing her journal entries to her sister, but she was so busy and she could not write everything down.

Chapter 4:

1. Melancholy:very sad and depressed. 

2. Sookan was melancholy because she knew things were difficult back home and her mom was very worried about her, but she could not help her mother get through her hardship.

3. Sookan's mother was a very brave and strong woman. She supported the whole family and never said a single world of complaining about her difficulties. She was a great mother who loved her children very much. She was also a person who loved a simple and quiet life. We could know it from her taste of cloth and her words. 

Chapter 5: 

1. Sookan enjoyed the babysitting because when Mrs. Bennett asked her whether she could stay longer, she immediately answered yes. Also, she said that she felt comfortable with the two children and decided not to think about school and everything else that she had to do. 

2. From babysitting, she knew that in America, men could walk into the kitchen and cook for the whole family as well as women. However, in Korea, men would never cook and serve the food, which it is totally different from this phenomenon in America. 

3. Yes, I will. Because if I babysit at a family like this, lovely children and nice parents, I will definitely want to do something nice for them. I would even give up the money to spend time with this lovely family. I think Sookan did this because she really loved to spend her time with the two children and the family. They made her feel warm and comfortable. She would feel less homesick and more fit into American life. 

Letter to Sookan's sister

Dear sister: 

     How have you been recently? I'm sorry I send this letter to you really late, because I'm very busy at my new school right now. I met some new friends here and they are really nice and friendly to me. I have a very kind and nice roommate. Her name is Ellen. We have a good relationship with each other, but I'm so busy and most of time I don't see her a lot. Life in America is really different than the life back in Korea. Here in America, you don't need to bow when you first see someone. They never use honorific way of saying to talk with elder people. I am experiencing a big change in my life and I try to make myself fit into the life in America.I was wondering how was your life and work in Korea? Don't be too tired from work! Stay safe! 

Love you, 

Your sister Sookan

Five Facts About Sook Nyul Choi

1. Sook Nyul Choi was born in Pyongyang, North Korea.

2. Choi emigrated to the U.S. to pursue her college education, and she graduated from Manhattanville College in 1962.

3. Choi’s novels  are based upon her own experiences. 

4. Sook Nyul Choi (born 1937) is a Korean American children's storybook author.

5. Choi's books explore themes of communism, freedom, international politics, and interaction among nations. 

Girls: The Conductor of Firming Your Friendship

     During this winter break, I watched many movies and TV shows. However, I have to say there was one movie that gave me a really great and deep impression. This movie is called "Girls". 

     "Girls" was a Chinese movie, directed by a young director whose name was Wong Chun-Chun. It was a romantic movie and as well was a comedy about friendship and love. It was released on July 30th,2014. In the first week of releasing, "Girls" earned the top one status in the most popular movie list in China. 

     I did not have a chance to watch it when it was on in the movie theater. I download it after almost six months and watched it on the plane when I went back to China. It was mainly telling stories between three girls who were best friends since child age: Xi Wen, Kimmy and Xiao Mei. Xi Wen is a conservative who always loved having everything planned. Kimmy was a queen and master in the are of love. She had dated with many men. Xiao Mei was unlike neither Kimmy nor Xi Wen. She had a great passion in enterprise and a total noob in dating with men. Because of Xi Wen's fiance cancelled their engagement and Kimmy and Xiao Mei fell in love with the same guy, their friendship were facing a big challenge. However, at the end of the movie, they came back together and regretted what they each had done wrong to others. Their friendship was consiolidated and reinforced. 

     I was moved and inspired by the movie when I watched it. These three girls were best friends with each other, but their firendship was in danger because of those hardships in life. However, their friendship was firm and everlasting. Even though they had a big fight with each other, they still helped each other out whenever one need the other two. I related to my experience right away. I had four best friends who I knew since elementary school. Our five girls grew up together and studied in the same middle school. We often went to school together and played together. Our parents knew each other as well. One thing that I would never forget was that when the school ended, one girl's parent would pick all of our five up and drive us home. Out parents would decide when they pick us up and take turns. That was one of my favorite memories. However, we were in high school now and we were no longer in the same school. We were really far away from each other and we even could not see each other for months. Everyone was busy. I felt like the distance grew among us, not only physically but also mentally. Everyone had their new friends and new group in new schools. I hoped we could go back to old times when we were together. I hope we could like those three girls in the movie, always think about and always love each other at any time. 

     A good movie should not just entertain you but also needed to make you think. I thought "Girls" was a great movie for us to watch. It was closely connected to our real life and gave us inspirations of life and friendship. I suggested every to watch this movie to learn not only to cherish your friendship but also to protect it and consolidate your firendship with your best friends.