My life in LEAP 4

Finally, this is my last blog. Looking back at this semester, it’s pretty like having a real war.

At the beginning of this semester, we were still in the holiday mood from the end of the last semester.

In the first two weeks, the workload was not very bad.

It is true that Leap 4 teachers are much more easy-going than Leap 3. (I hope Leap 3 teachers will not know this, I don't want to offend anyone. :)

However, as the midterms got closer, we felt the pressure from the teachers, and the students all around us.

It was liked heavy rain storm was coming towards us.

After the midterms, we found that it was not just heavy rain storm.

It was a big thunder storm, a hurricane, or perhaps we could say that it was tsunami.

Couple of us almost got throw out of our small boat (it means that our English is not good enough and some of us almost fail the midterms).

It was then that, we discovered that we should pay more attention during the classes and try our best to face all the challenges.

We have to build our castle block by block, and finish our marathon step by step (we should enhance our English foundation little by little).

We have to climb through the mountains one after another (We have to overcome our weakness).

We even have to change our habit in order to adapt to the environment (we have to speak English more often to improve our speaking and listening skills).

Today is our last day of LEAP program. I hope all of us can do our best in the finals and pass the LEAP. I hope all the effort we have put in will worth it sooner or later. Cheers!!

Insight from a walk

God gives me a job to do. He wants me to take a snail for a walk

I cannot walk too fast, because even though the snail tries its best to crawl,
it can only move a little. I urge it, I threaten it and I scold it, but the snail would look at me apologetically. It seems to say,

“I have already done my best!”

I pull it, I push it, I even want to kick it. The snail is injured,

it sweats, it puffs, and it crawls forward.

This is so weird, why does God want me to take a snail for a walk?

“God! Why?” I ask. But the sky is clear and quiet.

“Well, may be God is busy catching snails.” I sighed and feel defeated.

If God does not care, then why should I care?

So, I allows the snail to crawl, and I grumble behind it.

Then all of a sudden, I smell something. It is the scent of flowers. What a surprise! I do not know there is a garden in here.

I feel the breeze blowing by my side, and I do not know night wind can be so gentle.

Wait! I can hear birds singing, I can hear insects buzzing,

and I can see stars shimmering all around. Hey!

How come I never have all these experience? I suddenly realize,
this must be my own fault.

God asks me to take the snail for a walk.

Have you find your snail yet? Go for a walk sometimes and you will find something unexpected!

Three men and their sacred fish

Years ago, when my uncle Ted was still a college student, he once went fishing with his roommates, William and Mike. They drove all the way to the lake and enjoyed themselves under the warm summer bliss. William meditated, while my uncle Ted studied the birds, and Mike… he fell asleep!

Then all of a sudden, they saw something moving near their fishing rods! It had golden color and beautiful shape. They hurried on and gathered around the fish. With some struggle, they finally caught the fish, put it in the truck and drove home.

When they got home two hours later, Mike’s girlfriend, Sarah, came out to greet them. “How’s your day? What do you guys get this time?” she asked.

“Oh, just a tiny little fish. It’s in the truck.” Mike answered tiredly. Sarah went to get the fish and the guys sat down on the sofa and rest.

“Ahhhhhhhh!!!!” They all heard a scream so they rushed out to see what sent Sarah hysteric.

“It’s… it’s alive!!! The fish is still alive!”

“What?”

“No way, man.”

“Oh, my god!! It’s really alive! This must be a miracle!”

That’s why they let the fish live in their bathtub… and it has been living there almost two years…

The Box from Heaven

Some people use their whole life to look for their true love,
Some people travel around to the end of the world, but still can’t find their “perfect match”.
We always hear that love can’t last forever,
Endless love, forever, can we really find it in the world?

Perhaps his and her story is rare,
But it is real, it has happened right beside us, and it touches the heart of you and me.

Two loving doctors, who pour their hearts out for their patients, who have dreams and hope,
They use their love to make boxes one after another, carrying away worries, unhappiness and problems,
To sooth away the pain and darkness for those wounded souls.

One ring that bounded lives together, one commitment that has heaven to be their witness, and the rainbow to be their prayers,
Between life and death, they use love to fulfill their promise to be together ever after.

Friendship

There is a kind of friend that you can hang out with without burdens or worries. You do not need to ingratiate for his favor, and you can do things together comfortably. Even though you may not always be together, you know you will never forget each other, you will never stop caring and thinking about each other. He may not meet you or talk to you on the phone every day, but you know there will not be any changes in your friendship. Why? That’s simple! If you are in trouble, he will always be there and put your mind at ease. He will help you through the process and stand on your side. He knows what you think before you open your mouth, and he understands what you need before you think about it. He extends his warm helping hands to you whenever you need them. And you know you will do the same to him.
This kind of friend always gives you his heart when he becomes your friend. You will always be sincere and honest to each other. As friends, your personalities and interests will be similar. Over times, you will find a valuable asset in your friendship. It is more precious than a gold mine. So, please treasure your friendship and care for your friend forever.

Interest

I remembered that when I was young, I used to look up at the sky and think. I thought that the Mother Nature was amazing. I kept thinking about the rain, the thunderstorm, the typhoon, etc. How did they all happen? Who had the power to control them? Thus, one of my interests was climate. I would surf on the Internet all day tracking the route of typhoon (you know, when we had typhoon, we didn't have to go to school). I was crazy about everything that was related to weather. I used to dream about being a meteorologist and tracked typhoons all day. However, this was not a good career path in Hong Kong. It was too hard to find a job in this field. So, I changed my mind. But, things happened for a reason. A couple weeks ago, I dropped by the library and found some used books that we could feel free to take. I checked them up and found one book. It was called “Meteorology Today”. Oh my god! The book was so interesting. I kept reading it for the whole weekend and I loved it. It even got me into taking a related class for my listening and speaking attending lecture assignment. I enjoyed the class thoroughly. I will definitely take that class as one of my options next year. I did not get a chance to study this in Hong Kong but I find it right here. I am so excited about it.

Mid-term

This is the second day for my mid-term exam. It means that writing and reading exams were done. I am so happy that I can still survive. In fact, this is the semester that I worry the most. By comparing this term with Leap 3, the requirement has triple and everything is getting harder. For example, typing our writing exam in the computer is not allowed. (It is hard to recognize and correct my horrible hand-writing, Pam :). SORRY) It enhances the level of difficulty because we cannot use the thesaurus in MS Word and choose the better vocabulary. We also cannot use the computer to do spell check and grammar check (honestly, I think the grammar check is a little bit stupid). However, the craziest and most difficult subject for this term is not Writing. It is Reading. The level of difficulty has increased rapidly and the length of the articles has also increased from two pages (Leap 3) to four pages. The vocabulary is much more difficult than before. We cannot pass unless we really stick on to the rules and remember everything that is taught in the class. Leap 4, indeed, is not a piece of cake. In here, I wish all of us can pass this course and finish the Leap program. Then we will have a four-month holiday before the official degree program starts in the Fall.