Physical Acivity

I think I used to be a lazy girl. I didn't want to do any sports. In the first week of school, my friend saw a badminton club and she wanted to join. However. She told me about this new thing. I didn't like sports so I just went to sleep again. My friend was angry at me and told me if I did not play sports any more, I would be a big "pig". Suddenly, I stood up and said I will join in badminton club with you, and then my friend had a smile on her face.
At the first meeting, we met our club president called Leo. He also has activities in Nanjing normal university. Our club staff supervisor is Mr. Harris. At that time, I said to myself :" I must practice a lot and then I will be able to play badminton well because I was a member of the Grand Canadian Academy Badminton Club.
At the first lesson, we met at Nanjing normal university. My partner was my friend. She knew how to play badminton. At first, my friend taught me how to play badminton for 30 minutes because the president was very busy. After that, he taught me the right pose and good way to serve and return service, . At last, he taught me the good way to play serve and he said :" you must practice this 30 times. I practiced it but I did not do it well. Another student looked my pose. They all said it was funny. At that time, I also thought playing badminton is a funny sport. I like it better and better. So I always play badminton after school. I learned to play badminton.
After 3 lessons, I played badminton is better and better. I can practice with my partner. I felt happy but sometimes we did not get return of service each other. The club president saw that and said to us :" we must practice "upspoken consensus"(this words meaning is we did not have same goal to do) each other. Not only can I play badminton but I also must have some information about playing badminton with others because to play badminton you must have 2 people. We knew this problem and we practiced a lot. Inch by inch, we can play badminton better and better, and we will become a good badminton group. From that, I learned teamwork is the key in forming a formidable partnership.
In December, we had a badminton competition. We practiced a lot because we wanted to have a good goal. In the last badminton practice, Mr. Harris said we will be the best group in Grade 10. we felt happy. However, in the badminton competition, I also learned some good skills about badminton and I also knew the right rules about badminton competition. I felt happy because I worked hard and I love badminton and play sports better and better.
After badminton practice, I started to think I am not a lazy girl any more because I like sports. I like badminton. I found a lot of funny things and advantages from badminton. I think play badminton has the fantastic health benefits of a great cardiovascular workout. Nevertheless, playing badminton can make us more happy; it can help us be flexible; it can let us increase stamina. From joining in badminton club, I also learned the important thing is: teamwork is the key in forming a formidable partnership.
In short, I love sports, and I love badminton. I think it is a very good way to keep fit.

Volunteer/Work Experience (A)

When I studied in elementary school and my teacher told us," We should help others and we should not get repay from them.” My teacher also said those people who are willing to help other without getting any return are called volunteers. At that time, I wanted to be a volunteer but I have no chance until I began to study in GCA. We have Volunteer Club and I have a chance to help people.
Club president divided us into 5 groups. My partner is Kassie. It is my first time to be a volunteer. On the way, club president told us,” we will go to a community to help those children with their problems in study. When we arrived there, there were 5 students. President told me," Your group will teach that girl". Then, we let the girl sit between us. The girl was very shy. She just wrote and asked problems. My math is better than Kassie’s but her Chinese is better than me, so I taught the girl Math and Kassie taught her Chinese. From that, I knew that different people have different advantages. This is very helpful when we are dealing with problems. For example, Kassie and I are good at different courses, so we can teacher girl in turn. From September 1st, 2008 to January 1st, 2009, I went to that community to help students for 5 times, I already have been friends with that girl.
From this volunteer activity, I have learned a lot. From that teaching girl, I think I can be a teacher because I can take care of children and use my idea to improve her achievement. For example, that girl has already improved 30 marks in Math. I felt happy, but I also realized that I was easy to change my mood. I did not have enough patience. From the group, I learned if many people united together then we will become stronger. For example, Kassie and I can use different advantages to teach that girl. I learned that volunteers believe that the happiest people in the word are those who help to bring happiness to others.
In the holiday, my mother also gave me new chance to be a volunteer. Kassie and I stood guard on the street to help police to manage traffic. We stood on the street for 2hours. Although it was only 2 hours, I felt it was a hard work. From that, I learn that the police are very hard and tired. They must stand on the street every day. No matter how the weather is or whether they are happy. They worked hard just want to give people a good life.
In the GCA Drama Show "The Taming of The Shrew", I was also a volunteer for GCA Drama for two hours. I helped "VIP" spectators to find correct seat with my partner. From this activity, I practiced my Spoken English. I can speak to a new English teacher and I did not feel very nervous now.
In conclusion, I think it is very meaningful to be a volunteer because I can help to others. I can also learn some new things and improved myself from activity. I think it is useful and I will continue working on it in the 2009. I want to use my head to help others. I think that volunteers believe that the happiest people in the world are those who help to bring happiness to others. "

School Club/Organization

When I was eight years old, I watched TV and saw an old man playing the guitar. I listened to the beautiful sound. At that time, I said to myself,” I want to learn how to play the guitar.” However, my mother told me to play the piano, so I didn’t have chance to learn guitar till I knew there was a Guitar Club in my school.
I still remember the student who wore white and black clothes and played the guitar in the Talent Show. I want to listen to that beautiful sound again. After the Talent show, I knew that person/student was the president of the Guitar Club. So I decided to join that Guitar Club.
In the conference, I decided to play the guitar on Friday. After school, I thought I must buy my own guitar. However, I didn't know how to choose a good guitar, so I asked the president. He was helpful. He told me how to choose a good guitar. He taught me some information about guitar and he also chose the guitar with me. On the way to the musical instrument store, he told me there are three different kinds of guitar: electric guitar, guitar and bass. He also told me that I should know how to play the guitar first then I could play electric guitar. With his help, I finally got my ideal guitar. The color of my guitar is blue and brown. At that time, I felt happy and said to myself," Fiona, you have own guitar." I carried my guitar home.
Our guitar teacher is the president of the Guitar Club. At first, he taught us the right post. He also told us the structure of guitar. For example, he taught us what nut, Saddle Bridge, peghead, First string and sound hole are. I felt very interesting. Than, he told us how to read guitar book, what the meaning of many different numerals on the book is. Next, he taught us a beautiful song of the famous movie. We spent four lessons learning that song. I played this song to my patents for the first time. They both said it was beautiful. I felt happy about that. I think GCA is very different from other Chinese schools. GCA helps to me to make my guitar dream come true.
I thought it was very useful for me to play the guitar. For example, I still remember in last semester, Ms. Bartell had a project about Christmas song. At that time, the song of our group was "slight night". In the guitar class, I had the same song with president. He said he could teach me how to use guitar to play this song. He also said that playing the guitar can help me to practice Christmas song. I spent two lessons learning this song. During practicing, I played the guitar and we sang together. I thought it is very useful and interesting. I love it.
After this semester, I joined in the guitar club and knew a lot of information about guitar. I can only use guitar to play two songs. I thank GCA for having this club. I learned some useful information about guitar from the president. I also learned how to learn things with other students together. We can learn from each other and solved problems together. I think it is a good thing for me. I love Guitar Club and I will join the guitar club next semester, too.

This term, I join a newest club--------movie club. I join it because I like watching movie very much. My idea is to learn more from this club activity. The chairperson of this club is David who is in Grade 11. At the first meeting, he told us, he was eager to make a movie for our school----GCA, because he wanted to make many people know us from his movie. I felt excited when 2 heard this he. Late, I became our club’s screenwriter, so I thought our scenario late every night. I wanted to make a great movie too. We also held some activities. Such as, we wove a short acting about “quarrel”. We were divided into different groups and we planned that short movie by ourselves. though our group just got the second, we still felt happy because we had tried our best to do it. From this club, I learned a lot. I like this club very much.

Speical Dinner with Grade 12 mentors

Before we had dinner with Grade 12 students, we asked their ideas about this activity. We talked with Grade 12 and wanted to choose one restaurant on the Map, but we found the restaurants were all very expensive. Though our discussions with the classmates and Grade 12, we finally decided to have dinner at Tacos on December 20th.
On December 20th, I felt a little nervous because I started to go back NanJing at 5p.m, However, our dinner would start at 6p.m.I did not be late for this special dinner so I felt happy.I went in a hurry since my mother told me I should behavior well on doing things on time.I also know this is an important thing in foreign country. Nevertheless, I arrived at the restaurant on time because my father drove very quickly. We met at the gate of Tacos in Zhu Jiang Road at 6:00p.m. Most of our classmates could not wait to have a interesting dinner. At that time,I remembered there were 25 classmates eating together.The atmosphere was interesting and we enjoyed eating in this jolly environment.We took photos,talked and played little games together.
We finally started this “special” dinner at 6:20p.m.I sat with Denise,Elaine,Ethel and Rita.At First, we looked at the menu and choose what we wanted.I choose beer and ice-cream. After I finished choosing the cuisine, Ethel asked me to take photos in order to record this experience. I took my camera to take photos about menu. I also took photos with my classmates and Grade 12 .We gradually became friends with Grade 12.After a long time, Grade 12 told us some information about the rules of eating Western-style food. Kelly said the regular rules of Western-style food. Firstly, they will eat some appetizers. Secondly, they will have soup. There are different kinds of soup. Thirdly, they will have main cuisines. Such as Pizza or Riso. Fifthly, they will have green salad. Fifthly, they will have some kinds of dessert. Such as French roll, Ice-cream sundae. At last, they will drink a cup of coffee. She said it will help to digest. At that time, I found I learned a lot of new things about Western- style food. I think it will very useful in my future aboard life
During the dinner time, Joanne told us some rules about eating food .OH!! I think it will very interesting. It also has a lot of different things with Chinese style food. We discussed the differences between western food and food in GCA, and we all agreed that food in Tacos were much more delicious. In my opinion, I think waiters in Tacos all have good services, but we waited our food for a long time. I think it is a problem. I didn”t like it.
In Tacos, I also saw some foreign people ate in there. Some Chinese people took their children to there. I think it is a good foreign restaurant in NanJing.
We spent a happy and exciting evening. I had learned a lot of useful things about Western-style food. It is very benefit for me to adapt and use these rules in foreign country in order to show an excellent behavior. I also knew some funny things about GCA. I also found the different kinds of activities. At that time, Kelly, Gary and Joanne played the role of good friends. They took care of us very carefully. I think I would never forget. I think it will become the best and significant dinner in 2008.

A Special Exhibition with Ms.Hadley

On Dec.4th, Thursday we went to Nanjing University to see a special exhibition. The title of the exhibition is Wu Weishan Cultural Figures Sculpture Exhibition and it is all sculpture of one artist---Wu Weishan. All the sculptures and some drawings are made by himself. I think the artworks are both contemporary because Wu Weishan uses many new ways to make those artworks. When I look at an artwork, I will have three ideas about it. I will have different ways about my ideas. I think his artworks just show us a subject then we will imagine about this artwork. I think this is new way to make a good artwork.
After I looking at all artworks, I think my favourite artwork is “A Sleeping Baby”. This is the most famous artwork in this exhibition. Wu Weishan made it in 1998. This artwork almost likes a sphere (round shape) because this artwork is only the head of the sleeping baby. From this artwork, I think the baby’s nose and head uses oval—shapes. I also think the baby’s eyes made of lines and the baby’s mouth open a bit. This artwork uses copper so the colour is brown and some parts have a little green. This artwork uses copper and soil as his materials. In my opinion, this artwork just wants to tell us about a lovely child’s state of sleeping. So he didn’t use a lot of straight lines and a lot of curve lines. I think he put straight and curve lines together. It makes the lines soft.
At first, I thought this is a lovely baby who was seeing some interesting things in the sky. However, after the curator told us why Wu Weishan made this sculpture. I know this artwork showed us a ‘Sleeping Baby’. I saw this artwork again. I think it likes my lovely brother sleeping. This year, he is also only 1 year old. When my brother was sleeping that we didn’t even notice. So at that time, I think everything all very quiet/ I didn’t listen to notice. I think they are almost the same as each other. I felt Wu Weishan made the person’s spirit very well. It isn’t the pursuit of mechanical realism but I can use my heart to feel this artwork.
When I looked at this artwork and it reminds me of my niece. One day, my mother and me took my brother to the park. In the park, there were a lot of children. I hold my brother in my arms and played with them. During playing, other parents gave a toy to my brother. He took it in his hand. When the big boy wanted to go home and take his toy from my brother’s hand. My brother cried loudly. After a long time, I didn’t hear my brother crying then I found hr was sleeping on my mother shoulder and his mouth opened a bit. At that time, he is the same with “Sleep Baby”. Artist wanted to show and tell people how lovely the baby looks when he is sleeping. I also think the baby will have a beautiful dream and it makes me feel sleepy. The artist’s intention is to show the state of sleeping baby and the baby looks like an angel. This artwork was modeled on a visit to a friend house. The child had been unwell and crying most of the day but had now fall its mouth open because it had difficulty breathing through the nose. When artist felt child very lovely and made this artwork.
In my opinion, I think this is a fantastic artwork because it represents lovely and purity. I think this lovely baby will impress many people and won’t forget it. My brother looks like a lovely angel. Angel also represents purity. I like this artwork the biggest reasons is “Sleeping Baby” likes my brother sleeping. My brother was born last year. At that time, In my hometown so I could help my mother to take care of him in the evening. Sometimes, I will hole him in my arms. I looked at him and appearance of sleeping. I knew it very well. However, I now study in Nanjing so I can’t see my brother. When I saw ‘Sleeping Baby” then I am reminded of my brother.
I also heard different people have different ideas about this artwork. Some people think this artwork is very bad. Some people think this artwork is a strange work. Some people think this artwork likes “dead work”. Such as Mandy Bartell said she didn’t like this artwork. She thought this artwork likes “dead” baby. She didn’t understand this artwork. She didn’t know why artist made the child like artwork. People didn’t know his intention clearly. She thought she didn’t like this artwork. Different people have different ideas.
I think this is a successful exhibition and some god artwork.I felt excited because I took photos with Wu Weishan I had a good time in there. I won’t forget it.

GUEST ARTIST

On monday,Dct.1st.We had a lecture course about ART at 4:15p.m.we visited a famous artist who is an expert at landscape architect and has designed many well-known gardens. He told us something about the culture of gardens(ancient gardens).His name is Zhao Bing.He is famous in Nanjing because he is the member of team which design XanWu lake and some important things in Nanjing.
At the beginning,He introducted himself.This time ,he didn"t said to us about ancient gardens in Nanjing. However,he said some important things about ancient gardens in Suzhou.He told us how to appreciate ancient gardens in Suzhou. At first,he told us about what is the first meaning of “GARDEN” in Chinese .the oldest meaning of “GARDEN” in Chinese is about 3 Chinese word：口----The meaning is areas土----The meaning is natural topography ( different paces have different topography)丫---The meaning is branches of a tree.This is Chinese old word 园…Then, he told us about what”s the first meaning of “GAEDEN” in West culture:The “GANDER” in west is made up from “GEN” and “EDEN”,it comes from Latin.The meaning of “GEN” is wall and the meaning of “EDEN” is parodise.At that time,”GARDEN”means a place that is full of plants,flowers.Now, “garden”means a place has great beautoful space is made up different plants,different stoms and many water ways.If you want to desin a beautiful garden, you must though about many things.Such as the pihilosophy of science and the law of assthetics.There is defination for gaeden is:a living place with beautiful design which based on plants,hills and stones,and water.
Then,He told ue about the produces process of "darden ".At first , the garden is the place to rasie birds and beats.Then,the art about garden on the fresco of pyramid. Then,the garden is appear in the chinese history.
THE SECOND PART
He told us about 4 different inportant types.There are gardenswhich belongs to royal family,the own garden,the gardens belong to church,the gardens for seeing beautiful scenery...Then, He said3 different characteristics about ancient garden in Suzhou..Fiestly,The garden have a lot of trees and some small rivers. It is comfortable and peaceful in the garden.However,Over the wall of garden that it is noisy city.Secondly, When you go into the garden, you will fell that you go back to some time ago.Thirdly, If you go into the garden, you will fell go into a beautiful landscape painting.Some american people like the chinese garden.They built the same garden in america but they said it doesn"t as beauty as chinese gaedens.For this reasons, The garden in america doesn”t have many ancient trees.The trees are the important things in the ancient garden....
After school,On the way to home,I thought a lot of things.I felt this course has some good things and some bad things.In my opinion,I thought good things for us that we can get a lot of intertest new knowledge about designing.I could know how to think differnet views to look garden designing...However,It also has some bad things.I thought it is very boring,We don"t know how to ues those things.We just knowed it. It doesn"t help us improve our art...I donn"t like it. It is boring and uesless.
In conculsion,I know garden designing has some important knowledge.Different place has differnet garden.Such as some chinese gardens in sourthern.China are very tiny and small, so it cann"t use big things。Such a big tower,high and strong hall to build.The only things ,they can use are water, grass ,flower,stones and small buildings.Stones and water are most inportant things in chinese garden.Stones seems like bones and water seems like blood.The water in garden give it intelligence and stone give it power.The southern chinese garden always give people a quiet feeling....I think the chinese ancient garden is good place to take a rest.....