When I was a little girl, my grandmother always told me stories. Some were fairy tales, some were legends, but also some were her real experiences. The one that left the deepest impression on me was a true story about her uncle.
It happened during the Sino-Japanese War, around 1940. My grandmother was only ten years old. At that time, the Japanese aggressors had been staying in China for a long time, and they did whatever they liked--burning and looting. They completely disrupted the normal life of the local people. The Chinese people’s life was terrible. In villages, people ran away from the Japanese soldiers. Because when they saw Japanese soldiers they were afraid they would die within a few minutes.
The Japanese soldiers collected food every day in these villages. As long as they could not pay for the food, the family would die by the bayonets and guns of the soldiers. One day, this bad fate landed on the family of my grandmother. That afternoon they saw the Japanese soldiers coming towards the yard of their house, so they hid in the secret places in the yard. When the soldiers arrived at the house, they couldn’t find anyone inside. So they started to search carefully. My grandmother's uncle hid in the haystacks in the yard. The Japanese soldiers searched anywhere, especially in places like haystacks. Their bayonets pierced the haystacks. In this way, they soon found my grandmother's uncle in the haystacks. When they pulled him out, one of his arms was hurt by the bayonets. Japanese soldiers forced him to hand over food. But he had handed over all their food two days ago. Her uncle said they had no food anymore. But they did not believe him. They pointed a gun at her uncle, and searched every possible place in the house and the yard. However they did not find any food. They thought that he had hidden it, so they forced him to find food. Nevertheless they still could not find any. Eventually, they angrily put the bayonet into her uncle’s heart. Then they used their guns to shoot around the whole house and yard. After making sure there was nobody, they left. My grandmother's uncle died. At that time my grandma was crouching collapsed in a corner, and heard these things happen. She was very afraid and sad. But she could not do anything, and did not even make a sound.
After I heard the story, I often had nightmares at night. I dreamed that a group of Japanese soldiers was running to catch up with me, and they seemed to kill me. Although I know the relationship between China and Japan has become very friendly, and these kind of things in the story would not happen to me, I still have such nightmares sometimes. It’s strange.
-Selina
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Interests
Twenty-three years ago I came into this world, and barely twenty-three years later I still have no special expertise except studying. For me, all of my interests have worn off in these past years. The only reason for this is that I Have No Time. But is that really true?
When I was a little girl, I liked drawing. I could draw some beautiful country landscapes from my imagination with my crayons. I could spend a whole morning sitting there drawing pictures. After I finished my pictures, my mother would praise me and encourage me to draw more. As I grew older, I wanted to learn drawing from a teacher, but my mother said decisively, No. She preferred me to study rather than to draw on the weekend. After I cried for it several times and promised I would study harder, my father sent me to an arts school to learn drawing during my summer holiday. Every day I took a picture that I drew home, but no matter how well I drew, my mother said nothing about it. At that time, I realized that I should conceal all my interests towards drawing. In order to keep mother amused, I spent more and more time in English, mathematics, writing, etc. I tried my best to get high marks only so I could receive my mother's praise.
Gradually, I gave up drawing. I used all my time to study. I remember on my 17th birthday, my father gave me a violin as a gift. He knew that I had always wanted to play an instrument. But I knew that getting admitted by a university was more important. Without any reminders, I put the violin in my wardrobe, and prepared day in and day out for the college entrance examination. Finally, I passed the examination, and my mother was happy for me. Up until now, I still have no time play the violin, for the forthcoming graduate admission examination is waiting for me.
Maybe it is too late for me to take up my brush again or to play the violin. But I am still proud of my knowledge. Actually, if I could choose again, I would choose to draw and play instruments in my spare time.
-Delina
When I was a little girl, I liked drawing. I could draw some beautiful country landscapes from my imagination with my crayons. I could spend a whole morning sitting there drawing pictures. After I finished my pictures, my mother would praise me and encourage me to draw more. As I grew older, I wanted to learn drawing from a teacher, but my mother said decisively, No. She preferred me to study rather than to draw on the weekend. After I cried for it several times and promised I would study harder, my father sent me to an arts school to learn drawing during my summer holiday. Every day I took a picture that I drew home, but no matter how well I drew, my mother said nothing about it. At that time, I realized that I should conceal all my interests towards drawing. In order to keep mother amused, I spent more and more time in English, mathematics, writing, etc. I tried my best to get high marks only so I could receive my mother's praise.
Gradually, I gave up drawing. I used all my time to study. I remember on my 17th birthday, my father gave me a violin as a gift. He knew that I had always wanted to play an instrument. But I knew that getting admitted by a university was more important. Without any reminders, I put the violin in my wardrobe, and prepared day in and day out for the college entrance examination. Finally, I passed the examination, and my mother was happy for me. Up until now, I still have no time play the violin, for the forthcoming graduate admission examination is waiting for me.
Maybe it is too late for me to take up my brush again or to play the violin. But I am still proud of my knowledge. Actually, if I could choose again, I would choose to draw and play instruments in my spare time.
-Delina
My Hometown
What does “hometown” mean to you? For many people, it is just a place where you were born. But for me, it is a holy place that will influence my whole life. It is my hometown and the people there that feed me and affect the shape of my mind and behavior.
My hometown, Yuncheng is a medium-sized city in Southern Shanxi province. It lies in a stretched basin where tens of thousands of people live. It is the origin of the Chinese Nation. Six thousand years ago, people inhabited the land here and produced the striking and glorious Chinese Civilization. The most respectable ancestor of the Chinese, Huang Di, who was born here, made a big impact on China. (He defeated Chi You, a tyrant occupying Southern China.) His tribe formed the earliest Chinese nation. Another famous man from my hometown was Guan Gong, an ancient warrior gifted with the qualities of courtesy, bravery and loyalty. He was a Chinese knight, like King Arthur in Middle Ages. Even now, many Chinese people all over the world still worship him as a god. Maybe you never knew this place was pregnant with so many poets, scientists and playwrights. The temple of Pujiu, worthwhile to mention here, is the "Holy Land of Love" for Chinese people, because it was the setting of the famous love story "The tale of Xi Xiang" (a love story between a poor handsome young man with great knowledge and the daughter of an aristocrat). Besides, everybody knows of the salty lake, which is called "the Dead Sea of China." Nowadays, it is a desirable place for tourism. You can swim there but you will not sink; in the meantime, you can read a book while floating. Therefore, it is these charms that attract people from all over the world to come here to appreciate my hometown.
Attractive as it is, it still has a pollution problem, and some social problems (including a big gap between the rich and the poor). However, it is making progress every day. I am sure that one day it will be the most fascinating land in China and your coming will make this crude place graced.
-Fred
My hometown, Yuncheng is a medium-sized city in Southern Shanxi province. It lies in a stretched basin where tens of thousands of people live. It is the origin of the Chinese Nation. Six thousand years ago, people inhabited the land here and produced the striking and glorious Chinese Civilization. The most respectable ancestor of the Chinese, Huang Di, who was born here, made a big impact on China. (He defeated Chi You, a tyrant occupying Southern China.) His tribe formed the earliest Chinese nation. Another famous man from my hometown was Guan Gong, an ancient warrior gifted with the qualities of courtesy, bravery and loyalty. He was a Chinese knight, like King Arthur in Middle Ages. Even now, many Chinese people all over the world still worship him as a god. Maybe you never knew this place was pregnant with so many poets, scientists and playwrights. The temple of Pujiu, worthwhile to mention here, is the "Holy Land of Love" for Chinese people, because it was the setting of the famous love story "The tale of Xi Xiang" (a love story between a poor handsome young man with great knowledge and the daughter of an aristocrat). Besides, everybody knows of the salty lake, which is called "the Dead Sea of China." Nowadays, it is a desirable place for tourism. You can swim there but you will not sink; in the meantime, you can read a book while floating. Therefore, it is these charms that attract people from all over the world to come here to appreciate my hometown.
Attractive as it is, it still has a pollution problem, and some social problems (including a big gap between the rich and the poor). However, it is making progress every day. I am sure that one day it will be the most fascinating land in China and your coming will make this crude place graced.
-Fred
Parent's Love
I grew up in the countryside, where all the memories of my childhood lie.
There are three people in my family: my father, my mother and me. I was the sole child, obviously. I have been embraced by the whole love of my parents, although they have never spoiled me. There was one incident with them that deeply impressed me:
It was autumn, the season of harvest. It happened to be Sunday and I was free from school. At that time I was just a girl of nine years old. After lunch, my father asked me to go with them to farm in the field. I nodded my head reluctantly, thinking what a shame it would be that I would miss the cartoons at 3:00 p.m. Then we headed to the farmland.
Although it was autumn, the sun still wanted to burn my face. A moment later, my body was sweating and I became a bit of annoyed. Then my father looked at me: ”Hey, you can rest yourself under the tree.” I smiled and jogged towards the woods. What a cool place! The breeze flowed, the bees hummed, and the birds sang. A few rays of sunshine filtered through the thick leaves, which added much splendor to this beautiful picture.
A short break there refreshed me quickly. I was infused with energy and strength again. Then my father shouted at me: “ Do you feel better?”
I nodded happily: “yes!”
“You can go home if you want.” My father said.
“No, I would like to be here.” I answered.
Gazing at their busy bodies, I sank deep into thought. Originally, my parents did not intend to ask me to join them, but instead wanted to use this incident to teach me a lesson. My parents‘ intention was to help me to experience what a real farmer's life is like and to change my destiny. Instead of being a farmer, doing heavy labor, and leading a poor life, I should endeavor to be somebody and make dust in the world and never let them down. Actually they love me far more than themselves.
I really appreciate my parents for their selfless love, and I feel proud of being their daughter.
There are three people in my family: my father, my mother and me. I was the sole child, obviously. I have been embraced by the whole love of my parents, although they have never spoiled me. There was one incident with them that deeply impressed me:
It was autumn, the season of harvest. It happened to be Sunday and I was free from school. At that time I was just a girl of nine years old. After lunch, my father asked me to go with them to farm in the field. I nodded my head reluctantly, thinking what a shame it would be that I would miss the cartoons at 3:00 p.m. Then we headed to the farmland.
Although it was autumn, the sun still wanted to burn my face. A moment later, my body was sweating and I became a bit of annoyed. Then my father looked at me: ”Hey, you can rest yourself under the tree.” I smiled and jogged towards the woods. What a cool place! The breeze flowed, the bees hummed, and the birds sang. A few rays of sunshine filtered through the thick leaves, which added much splendor to this beautiful picture.
A short break there refreshed me quickly. I was infused with energy and strength again. Then my father shouted at me: “ Do you feel better?”
I nodded happily: “yes!”
“You can go home if you want.” My father said.
“No, I would like to be here.” I answered.
Gazing at their busy bodies, I sank deep into thought. Originally, my parents did not intend to ask me to join them, but instead wanted to use this incident to teach me a lesson. My parents‘ intention was to help me to experience what a real farmer's life is like and to change my destiny. Instead of being a farmer, doing heavy labor, and leading a poor life, I should endeavor to be somebody and make dust in the world and never let them down. Actually they love me far more than themselves.
I really appreciate my parents for their selfless love, and I feel proud of being their daughter.
The First Series of Posts!
The first pieces of writing are here!
These stories and essays are all written by English majors from Shanxi Agricultural University. To their credit, they were all written originally in English.
Enjoy a peak into young people's lives!
These stories and essays are all written by English majors from Shanxi Agricultural University. To their credit, they were all written originally in English.
Enjoy a peak into young people's lives!
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