Two Embarrassing things happened to Yingzi

Actually, there are so many embarrassing things happened to Yingzi back in high school that I cannot remember them all. Therefore, I would like to share the most amusing ones.
1. One day, Yingzi and I were walking back to school, after yummy lunch outside, when a female stranger showed up. She was one or two years older than us, I think. The first thing came from her mouth is “Can you tell me where the “Alibaba” Road is?” That is shocking because “Alibaba” is a myth, and it is obvious that there would not be a road owns such a strange and funny name. “We do not know.” we told her. When we were still confused, the girl came again and swore at Yingzi. She shouted “Do not be so arrogant just because of you are tall.” It is quite embarrassing to be sworn at by a stranger. We guess the girl was an acting student, trying to be brave in public. Unfortunately, Yingzi was her target.
2. One day, Yingzi and I were in the corridor outside our classroom. A student walked towards us. The boy looked alike one of my friends, who is not so familiar with Yingzi. To my surprise, Yingzi behaved like he knew my friend very well this time, calling him “Shuai shuai”! However, that was not my friend, but a stranger. Yingzi did not wear his glasses again. To make it worse, “Shuai” not only means a surname which my friend have in Chinese, but also means handsome. Thus, it seemed like Yingzi was calling a stranger “cutie”. I think the stranger probably thought Yingzi was a gay.

The journey to Gaylang

It was Labor’s day. We went to Gaylang to have lunch. When we got to Singapore, we have heard of Gaylang due to the delicious food and prostitutes. Of course, we went to Gaylang for the delicious food. I think that we have achieved our goals.

We went along Gaylang finding something that was appetizing. Many kinds of restaurants were standing on both sides of the roads such as hot pots. When we were discussing what to eat, we suddenly saw a slogan which show the way to the restaurant called “Lan Zhou La Mian”, a kind of noodles. It was one of my most favorite foods in my hometown. I always went there with my friends. After coming to Singapore, we have searched many places for it. However, we failed. So, you can imagine that how excited we were. All of us took photos with the slogan to memorize this moment.

We followed the instruction and found the restaurant soon. We were a little disappointed, because we could not smell the smell of the noodles which could be smelled as soon as we entered the restaurant of my hometown. We still decided to try it. It was so good that the names of the noodles were the same as those in my hometown. Each of us asked for a bow of noodle and some pickles. When we waited for the noodles, we recalled the delicious noodles that we had in China. About ten minutes later, the noodles have been ready. We observe that the appearance and the smell were quite different from that of China. We were completely disappointed. However, generously speaking, if we didn’t compare this to the one in China, this noodle was also the most delicious one that we had in Singapore. So, I was satisfied and had a good lunch.

When we went to the bus station, we saw a restaurant called “Yong He soybean milk” which was also famous in China. We entered the restaurant and asked for a cup of ice soybean milk. To our surprise, it was almost the same as that of my hometown.

I think we were so lucky that we could find something we had in China. No matter whether it was delicious or not, it could also remind us the delicious food of my hometown.

My opinion on the world's ranking of universities

Before I came to Singapore for my tertiary education, I had read a lot about the world's ranking of universities on the webpage. When I saw that Chinese universities had such low ranking, I felt that perhaps universities in China really had gap with that kind of advanced universities. But when I came to NUS, the situation was not that good. My tutors often said that it was because our extremely high expectations. Frankly speaking, compared with the universities in China, NUS has better hardware for that facilities here are better and wireless network could provide us access to internet everywhere in campus. But I have to say that the level of a university is determined by its academic level. The course module here is much easier than that in China, so I really could not imagine how I could survive after my graduation when I compete with my peers in China. Perhaps somebody may persuade me that low proportion of what you learned in university will be used. I cannot agree with that.
As I read a passage on the Internet, the world's focus has been shifted from western world to eastern world especially in China. The rise of China is inevitable and unstoppable. There are more opportunities in China than in Singapore. Than we should think about the question: what is the meaning for us to travel such a long way to have tertiary education in Singapore. As the less opportunities and lower academic level, is there any necessity for us to stay here? I do not know what my peers think about this issue, but I really have such a kind of uncomfortable feeling in Singapore and I feel our future is so uncertain. Perhaps there are some people who want to sharpen their English here, but in my opinion, it is not worthwhile to give up academic level just for English.
I still remember the conversation with Mrs Leo and she told me that English is the only link between eastern world and western world. I agree with her opinion. But I think that the time when western world learn Chinese will come soon. We can obviously see a fact that those universities with high world’s ranking all use English for their teaching and related ranking is conducted by western world. So we should see the problem rationally and realise that the universities in China are more advanced than western ones regardless of teaching language and facilities.

Swine Flu spreads throughout the world

Recently, a epidemic named swine flu, which firstly broke out in Mexico, has disseminated throughout the whole world. The governments of all the countries take quick actions to control the spread of the disease. However, despite different kinds of effort made by governments, there have still been nearly two hundred people dead because of these epidemic. The bad situation inevitablely woke the bad memories of SARS, which broke out in China in 2003. Fortunately, this time, the Chinese government performs well and now the situation is well controlled, related patients are under strict control.

Now come back to the situation in Singapore, the government's action is soon enough. Next week, we will be asked to take the temperature before we enter the classroom and in hostle we are ordered to form pairs to inspect temperature each other. But what I concern most about is that whether the situation of swine flu will influence my trip homewards. As I have already booked the air tickets, I am so worry about it. I have also heard that a governor in Mexico blamed that it was Chinese passenger who brought the swine flu into Mexico from China. In my opinion, what he said is very rediculous and irresponsible. As a responsible country in the world, China is play an increasingly important role in the world and it is unnecessary for China to do that to divert the disease. And we can also see that every time when China has something important to keep focus on, there are some countries standing out to blame China for its bad record of human rights.

It is undeniable that the rise of China is unstoppable. Nevertheless, the whole world needs more time to adapt. Holding the largest foreign exchange reserve, China is no longer the minor role on the world's stage. From the current situation of swine flu in China, we can see Chinese government's process in dealing with such kind of emergency. Now in mainland China, the epidemic is well controlled and there is nobody infected.

Now there are still 74 days for me to go to finish the bridging course and that also means that I can go home after 74 days. The friends in China, I miss you so much!

Like A Tiny Dairy

The sun was melting and eating everyone at midday. I was not an exception. However, I could not be digested because the sun’s stomach juices were dried up by its own heat. As a result, I was luckily spit out from its mouth. In a daze, I stormed into my dorm, feeling that I was a dangerously explosive sunspot.

I watched that video recording again. All people, my dear high school classmates and teachers (I am sure some of them are destined to be my life-long friends and a few, my soul-mates), were captured in it. It was a graduation gift for me and it was all about our everyday life—many happy returns. I fast-forwarded and then rewound now and then, watching many of us being genuinely happy—only too happy; quite a few swimming like deep-sea fishes, silent and restrained; while the rest suddenly drifting across like ghosts, their face set. I sat bolt upright and felt as if I was difficultly but attentively recalling an old dream.

I know it was my own shining golden age and so is now. I still have passion for love, food and songs. Meanwhile, I am even more aware that all this cannot last forever and one day I will be too sophisticated like a sleek cat to afford enthusiasm. The problem is that I realize that I have to be hurried up to treasure my youth but I do not know how. After all, though I feel happy to hang out and wander about, wasting time cannot bring us satisfaction in a long run.

A dangerously explosive sunspot is dynamic but cannot think, while a deep-sea fish is pretty cool. However, neither of them can escape from becoming old and lonely. So I really hope that ghosts exist. One day we will be free, without worrying about being old, as long as there are many other ghosts stay with you.

Thinking of this, I suddenly realize that how envy of our growing old ghosts can be. Growing up with my golden age's vanishing is not that bad anyway.

Outbreak of Swine Flu

Since the first confirmed case of swine flu was found in Mexico, the horrible virus has spread out through 13 countries and regions from Americans to Europe and Asia. A baby in the United States became the first dead from swine flu outside the epicenter Mexico. Worse still, HongKong saw the first confirmed case in Asia. The situation in Mexico, on the other hand, is more serious with over 2500 suspected, 381 confirmed and 176 dead. The Mexican government declared a five-day holiday and the cancellation of any “non-essential” government activities and private business.

Though a lot of countries have taken quick action, swine flu is invading more and more countries in the world and witnessing a rapid increase of suspected and confirmed cases. Meanwhile World Health Organization (WHO) issued a level five alert, one level short of pandemic, which means the epidemic virus has been able to be transmitted from human to human and is very likely to be a pandemic disease. The government of Singapore is also taking an active part in preventing the disease from spreading in Singapore. Thermal scanners have been deployed in Changi Airport and crowded areas like Habourfront Center. Health Minister (MOH) raised its alert level to orange, two levels shy of pandemic. MOH announced it mandatory for tourists to report their travel history and leave detailed contact for phone calls to query their health. Anyone who has travelled to Mexico after Monday and has fever or some other symptoms of swine flu will be faced with seven-day quarantine. This rule has been applied to 26 students returning from an exchange programme in Mexico. The head of MOH revealed that they were considering closing schools to avoid a severer surge of swine flu.

The swine flu outbreak, in my eyes, releases a signal that virus is developing with the development of medicine technology. Human beings can never have a moment when all epidemic diseases are conquered by human beings. Actually the disease is to some extent a motion to push people to do further research and to find out more uncovered things in the world. Besides, the influenza warns people of minding personal hydrogen. Most of all we may be accordingly aware of the truth that health always comes first and without health all that we have is just nothing. Above all we should look on the bright side and work hand-in-hand to combat the terrible epidemic disease. I strongly believe we can make it as long as we are united and make our own contribution to defeat the influenza.

swine flu, another warn

The whole world is boiling because of the swine flu firstly found in Mexico, which is spreading rapidly all over the world. Over ten countries have reported their confirmed cases, including Mexico, USA, Canada, England, New Zealand, and recently Hong Kong, China, while more countries keep reporting the suspected cases. According to a online survey doing by Voice Of America, till now, 52% of the voters show they are worried about the swine flu, another 21% of the voters show they are slightly worried about the swine flu, while only 18% of the voters say they are not worried about the flu.
I fellow the news on the net to find out what is going on about the swine flu. More than 150 people have died of the serious virus till now, and the flu is spreading in a rapid pace though every country is taking their prevention very carefully. What is more, the WHO has raised the pandemic alert to lever 5 a few days ago.
We are supposed to take temperature every day before going to school and after coming back to hostel under the observation of a roommate from yesterday. What is more, I just received a SMS form our class monitor saying that NUS will start temperature screening from Monday. I can guess how serious the situation is from the unusual things happening around me.
All these things remind me of SARS happened six years ago. Many people are appealing it is time to take action to heal the earth. Many people are asking what we humans have done to the earth. I am convinced that the swine flu is another warn to people. If we do not stop harming the earth, I cannot imagine what will happen in the future.