Million Bubbles In My Mind

Resolution of New Year

2008-01-02T21:32:00.000-08:00

Previously, I would wish something like entering ideal college and having more money. However, year after year, I found if I just wish, It's hard for me to reach my goals. I'm always too postive and not accustomed to giving my self pressure. But some times pressure is necessary for people to get success. I realize that resolution should be more realistic and methods which can help me make dreams come true.

I know my serious problem is wasting too much time. Especially, living in dorm, no one would stop me from fooling around. Without conciousness, I often could not complete a piece of sipme home work in a evening. So my resolution of this year is increasing work efficiency.

the first idea is to make weekly plan and enforce myself to carry it out. This can limit my activity and make myself know that I still have something to do. Then I will shut down MSN messenger when I am studying in order to be concentrate on books. Well...the third idea hasn't come into my head. I think if I can live up to those two ideas, things would go better.

Happy New Year!!

The True Meaning Of Xmas

2007-12-26T08:07:00.000-08:00

I'm not a Christian but i went to a party which was held by 信望愛團契 on Xmas day. People was so friendly and the Xmas decoration created all the atmosphere. We played some group games, saw a little drama and shared what we learned and felt in the party. At last, everyone walked to the dorms and sang some carols as an ending.

Since last class, after Miss Tsao asked us what the true meaning of Xmas for us, i have been thinking about this question. I know it's the birth of christ. However, nowadays,Xmas seems become more than that. In the party, their leader shared his point of view to us that xmas should be a day for God to erase humans' guilt. Though I don't really believe in God, I do accept the idea that xmas is a day for us, humanbeings, to share love & peace to the world.

Did u do anything special for xmas this year?

wish u a merry xmas!

What are my short-term and long-term financial goals?

2007-12-19T09:39:00.000-08:00

I do bookkeeping for my daily expenses now. Because in the first month of this semester, I found that I lived beyond my means and I didn't really know where money went? I began to write down every detail of my expenses and count money in my wallet every night. Then, after a week, I would check up those notes to see whether I waste too much money or not. In this way, I can control my money and set a monthly budget more easily. Now I want to save at least NT$500 every month in order to reach my long-term financial goal, saving enough viaticum for traveling to Japan next September.

Lucy in the Sky wih Diamonds

2007-12-18T05:33:00.000-08:00

Last friday, our English teacher,Lily, played a song of beatles called "When I'm sixty-four". It is sung by a man to his lover and wanna propose to her. The melody is lovely and when i heard it, i was thinking if anyone sings a song like this as a proposal, i'll accept him immediately.

Beatles produced so many fantastic songs which still make people feel touched though many years have passed by. I'm not a huge fan of beatles but really admire their talents. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, is one of my loved songs. The first time I heard it is watching the movie, I Am Sam, starring Sean Penn and Dakota Fanning. In the movie,Sam picked the name, Lucy,from the title of the song for his daughter.　I've watched it at least three times and everytime tears would drop down unconciously. We can see how a father who is only with mental age of seven strives for giving his daughter a loving and caring environment and then think of our own parents. We should really say "thank you" to them from deep in our hearts.
Besides,many other beatles' songs are also used in the movie. People who don't want to miss good music and movie should check it up!

Picture yourself on a boat on a river
With tangerine trees and marmalade skies

Somebody calls you, you answer quite slowly
A girl with kaleidoscope eyes

Cellophane flowers of yellow and green
Towering over your head

Look for the girl with the sun in her eyes
and she's gone

Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds, ah

Follow her down to a bridge by a fountain
Where rocking horse people eat marshmallow pies
Everyone smiles as you drift past the flowers
that grow so incredibly high

Newspaper taxies appear on the shores
Waiting to take you away
Climb in the back with your head in the clouds
and you're gone

Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds, ah

Picture yourself in a train in a station
With plasticine porters with looking glass ties
Suddenly someone is there at the turnstile
The girl with kaleidoscope eyes

Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds

Lucy in the sky with diamonds, ah
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds
Lucy in the sky with diamonds, ah

The Role of Music in My Life

2007-12-12T05:27:00.000-08:00

Music is just like a cheer squad.

When feeling depressed, I would like to put on my earphones and bring myself into the world full of beautiful melody and cheerful lyrics.
Moving with music is another good choice to relax my nerves.

It leads me to see the brightside of life and even gives me energy to stand up again.

Instead of love songs, I usually like to choose the songs which can encourage me to keep going on chasing my dream.

It let me know that nothing to be afraid of, if you jsut believe in yourself.

Music can also be a problem solver.

Music lyrics may be an inspiration for me to overcome difficulties.

Sometimes, they are like poems which involve great meanings in those short sentences and they are easy to remember.

For me, music is magic!

Paranoid Park

2007-12-05T06:20:00.000-08:00

I'm always fond of movies which are not only those made in Hollywood but also indies.These years,more and more people throw themselves to produce the movies they dream of. Though they only have little money and resources,they still stive for making this movie dream come true. Recently, due to Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival,we have good chance to be in touch with many fantastic movies from other countries."Paranoid Park" is one of them.

"Paranoid Park" is directed by Gus Van Sant, who also directed the movie "Good Will Hunting" which makes me feel touched and the cinemastographer is Christopher Doyle, who filmed Wong Kar-wai's famous movie "2046". But the main reason for me being interested in it is that the story takes place in Portland,Oregon where I've stayed for a month two years ago.Don't you tempt to watch the movie if the story happens at a place which means much to you? Then I surf the Internet to watch trailers and understand what the story is about. It revolves a teenage skater boy who accidentally kills a security guard.Paranoid Park, also known as Punk Park,does exist in Portland and it's a hub for much illegal street activities. Nevertheless, I didn't go that park when I was in Portland.
Here is the trailer:

Life on stage

2007-11-28T06:12:00.000-08:00

After our first mid-term exams in four-year college life, I've been busy in another activity recently. It's a drama competition.

Last year, seniors of social work got the third prize, the best style, and two of the best actors. Therefore, we feel quite nervous about whether we can do as well as they did. We've changed three scripts and at last wrote one that everybody is satisfied with. The story is about single parent family. The son is fond of playing basketball and finally got into the school basketball team. His mother promised that she would send dinner for him everyday. But one day, Mom was late from work. She's in a hurry to prepare dinner; suddenly, burning hot oil was splashed on her face and made her get permanent ugly scar. However, she still sent dinner for her son. Beyond expectation, because of her monstrous face, her son was jeered by other team members. This situation made the son change his attitude toward Mom and wanted her not to send dinner for him anymore. At last, Mom died in a car accident on the way to watch her son's first basketball match. The son realized who is the one that he wants to share happiness with the most.

We don't have much time to practice. Nevertheless, I think we have fantastic actors and efficient workers. Everyone works hard in order to make this drama be better and better. I'm glad that we participate in this kind of activity which can unite the whole class.

The Voice Within

2007-11-21T02:32:00.000-08:00

Christina Aguilera, who was labeld as "Genie in a bottle" by her recording company, is an American pop singer. Many people like to make comparison between her and Britney Spears. However, I myelf love Christina more only because of her powerful voice and amazingly wide vocal range.

The Voice Within is one of my favorite song in her second album, Stripped, which was released in 2003. This album reveals Christina's raunchier side and got some negative comment on her wearing or sexually provocative lyrics. But she denied this change as a mistake. Instead, she thinks this image better reflects her true personality. "Genie in a bottle" was the product that produced by the recording company. Now she has grown up, and it's time for her to express what she really is and wants.

Nevertheless, The Voice Within is a song to enhearten people in low point. Recently, I've been in great pressure though I'm usually considered to be an optimist, yet in this situation which makes me hard to take a rest, it's easy for me or others to run away. But everytime I heard Christina sings, "Young girl, don't hide. You'll never change if you just run away." An invisible power would just come out from my heart deep inside and makes me understand that i should not give up at the moment. I should trust myself and the voice within and it will guide me to the way I want to go.

《The Voice Within》-Christina Aguilara

Young girl, don't cry
I'll be right here when your world starts to fall
Young girl, it's all right
Your tears will dry, you'll soon be free to fly

When you're safe inside your room you tend to dream
Of a place where nothing's harder than it seems
No one ever wants or bothers to explain
Of the heartache life can bring and what it means

When there's no one else, look inside yourself
Like your oldest friend just trust the voice within
Then you'll find the strength that will guide your way
You will learn to begin to trust the voice within

Young girl, don't hide
You'll never change if you just run away
Young girl, just hold tight
Soon you're gonna see your brighter day

Now in a world where innocence is quickly claimed
It's so hard to stand your ground when you're so afraid
No one reaches out a hand for you to hold
When you're lost outside look inside to your soul

When there's no one else, look inside yourself

Like your oldest friend just trust the voice within
Then you'll find the strength that will guide your way
You will learn to begin to trust the voice within

Life is a journey
It can take you anywhere you choose to go
As long as you're learning
You'll find all you'll ever need to know
(Be strong)
You'll make it
(Hold on)
You'll make it
Just don't go forsake it because
No one can tell you what you can't do
No one can stop you, you know that I'm talking to you

When there's no one else, look inside yourself
Like your oldest friend just trust the voice within
Then you'll find the strength that will guide your way
If you will learn to begin to trust the voice within

Young girl don't cry I'll be right here when your world starts to fall

Project Gutenburg

2007-11-14T04:43:00.000-08:00

Project Gutenburg is a website that provides thousands of FREE ebooks.

At the end of this summer vacation, I told my English teacher, Dale, that even if I cannot go to his class anymore, I still wish to improve my English ability.
Then he gave me a book called "Do Andriod Dream of Electric Sheep?" as a present of being a freshman in college ;however, I haven't finished it yet.
He also write down this website and some other titles of classic novels on a memo pad so I can read them at any time and do not have to worry about money.
Nevertheless, I just found that memo pad under a pile of books when going back home last Saturday.
Now without thinking, I should hurry up to read these novels and I'll write down my reflection after finishing them.
At last, there are some audio books so I can use it to train my listening ability.

Everybody! PROJECT GUTENBURG is worth checking it up.

3L4D

2007-11-04T06:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I spent time going to an exhibition which is held in Dr. Sun Yat-Sen gallery.
The title of that exhibition is 3L4D Animamix Aesthetics, meaning 3 Life 4 Dimension.
Living in the golden age of the Internet, we have opportunities to experience every aspect of our lives.
Besides, because of the development of technology, computers allow artists to have more options in choosing tools to design something unique.
Technology opens up a wider universe beyond 3D world and makes the borderline between animation, design, comics and life become indistinct.

They invite many artists from differnt countries, including Taiwan, China, Japan, Korea and the U.S.
My friend and I appreciated one of Japnese artists, Nara Yoshimoto, most.
Every character he paints has a cute face yet with evil eyes.
People like to guess whether it means something behind that ill-disposed exprssion.
Nevertheless, some experts said that his paintings are just the products of a new generation.
And his painting style is tagged as "Cold Language", which shows distance between mankinds and absence of passion.
So we should not try to interpret any details in his paintings.
It just means nothing.
In spite of those sayings, I still feel deprssion in that pair of angry eyes.
The character seems to protest against this complicated society.
"Is every child naive and happy?"
This is what I think when I'm looking at his painting.

In addition to Nara Yoshimoto's art work, there are still a lot of fantastic pieces and animation.
The famous Taiwanese illustrator, Jimmy, also provided one of his work, Perfect Children, to be exhibited.

Though it is a small exhibition, yet it is worth a visit.
Don't be afraid of having no good sense in art.
Just open your mind and relax to soak yourself in that novel and queer atmosphere.

Revise your Comprehensive English Enhancement Plan (CEEP1.1)

2007-10-31T21:35:00.000-07:00

1.Both of my listening and reading levels are between B1 and B2.
The main problem is my little vocaulary.

2.Revise my specific goal:
Recently, I've liaised with my American homestay mother again. In order to let her know my splendid life here, I wish that I can describe events and my feelings much more clearly. I don't want to just use those simple words in my articles so increasing vocabulary is a vital matter.

3.Revise my specific action:
~~Use microphone to talk with foreigners through MSN.~~
Instead of talking on MSN, I think that talking more in English in my daily life and English classes benefits me more.
Moreover, I used to listening lots of English songs when I was in junior high. At that period of time, my listening ability is obviously improved. I do not only listen to those bubble gum songs but also choose songs with meaningful lyrics, such as Bright Eyes, Alanis Morissette,etc. In this way I can also read lyrics to enhance vocab. I can spend a little bit of time before sleeping everyday and use music to release my body and soul.
At last, I am going to buy ADVANCED with CD once every two-months. I know if I subsribe it, it will just become a pile of brand new magazines and lie on my desk.I'd rather read and listen to every programs deeply than make it turn to be useless craps.

4.Weaknesses:my laziness and good at wasting time.

5.Links:
Reader's Digest
CNN News

Volleyball

2007-10-29T07:48:00.000-07:00

One of my roommate who is also my classmate just established a volleyball team of social work department for girls few weeks ago.
We, eight girls, started the practice for the first time last Friday.
None of us could hide our excitment.
Besides playing volleyball, we shouted and laughed out loudly.
I think that half of our energy was spent on things which didn't matter with volleyball.

Later, we had a friendly match with sociology departement.
In order to win, our leader came up with idea of giving us prize.
"Come on, girls! Catch this ball and u'll get one tea egg!!!" she yelled.
She even changed different prizes, such as, sushi of Grandmother's, chocolate, Danshui fish cookies,etc.
I don't know whether we were really hungry or not.
However, that did work!
At last, we won!

Actually, we don't really care about the vicotory or the prizes.
What we want is playing volleyball happily.
This pleasant atmosphere did not only unite our team but also influence other teams.
We made them have big smiles on their faces which were initially solemn.

I love volleyball.
It makes me feel alive.
It despels those annoying things in daily life.

I can't wait the practice on Friday.

My Comprehensive English Enhancement Plan for 2007-2008 School Year

2007-10-18T09:11:00.000-07:00

Specific goal

1. Watch American/English TV programs without subtitles and understand what they're talking about.

2.Increase my vocabulary.I want to use more words to express what i'm thinking much more specifically.

3.One of my foreign friends may come to Taiwan next year. I don't want any awkward moment when we're chatting face to face. So I should push myself to adapt to talking in English.
Specific Actions that you think will be effective to achieve that goal

1.Listen to ICRT for two hours at least three times a week.

2.Rent DVDs and watch movies with English subtitles at first then watch it again without subtitles. In this way, i can not only learn new words and slangs from it but also improve my listening ability.

3.I used to buy lots of English novels but never read them. However, this year, I make up my mind to read all of them. Besides, I'll write down those words i don't know and collect them in a vocabulary book of my own.

4.Use microphone to talk with foreigners through MSN.

5. Being active in the English listening class every friday.For instance, discuss with group members and answer questions.

Ugly Betty

2007-10-10T07:58:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since last time I watched American TV series.
But few days ago, an English girl recommended me this one called "Ugly Betty".
It describes a girl, Betty, who works as an assistant of new chief editor of "MODE" magazine.
She's not only like an alien among other workers who r all handsome and beautiful but also doesn't know what fashion is.
The only thing that she can do is to take adavantages of her confidence, intelligence and diligence to let boss know how important she is.
Another reason for me to watch it is that it won three Emmy Awards this year.

What else should I say?
Until now, I've only watched two episodes.
I'll tell u guys more about it after finishing season 1.