Composition II: A Good Restaurant

When I walked out of that restaurant, I know I would never go into it again. Even though that was a nice place for having a meal, I didn’t want to go there anymore. Nice food, nice decorations, nice surroundings, but bad service. An absent-minded waiter spilled all over my jeans the water, or, which I was supposed to drink, and he just said “I’m so sorry” in a reluctant tone. The most detestable thing was that he even asked for service charge. What a ridiculous restaurant!

A high-quality restaurant should have these four elements: delicious food, clean and comfortable surroundings, delicate ornaments, and the most important one, good service. Good service and courteous waiters depend on that how much time and care the manager devotes. Not everyone knows how to be a good waiter/waitress, so if the manager wants his servants to serve well, he must have spent a lot of time on training and communicating with his or her personnel.

I love the restaurant with good service at most even if other three aspects I have mentioned before are not good enough. A friend told me: “As long as the food is delicious, the quality of service does not matter.” I strongly disapproved of him, so I gave him an example. I said, “One day you go to a store to buy a helmet, and the manager says: ‘No matter you buy it or not, it’s none of my business.’ Then what do you think?” He replied, “I will go out immediately and curse him.” “That’s right.” I answered, “it’s like you’re in a restaurant, and the waiter tells you that whether you eat or not, it’s none of his business.” After hearing my example, he thought for a while and agreed with me.

There is another example, and it’s my experience. Last semester, I went to an expensive restaurant with my senior. She told me that lots of people recommended that restaurant on the Internet, so I had high expectations for it. At the beginning, everything was good. Music, arrangement of the furniture, plants outside the restaurant, and light were all very nice, but everything changed when the waitress came. She gave us the menu and went away without saying a word. When we wanted to order, we didn’t know where she was. After I yelled, “I am ready to order!” I just saw she came slowly. She said, “What do you want to eat?” in an indifferent tone, and with no expression on her face. I felt a little angry about that, but I didn’t say anything. When she placed my dish on the table, she still had no expression. Of course, the food was delicious, the surroundings was clean and comfortable, the ornaments were delicate, but the terrible service ruined everything. The bad service made me so furious and I swore that I would never return to it again.

Good service is very significant to me, and it is an essential qualification when I judge whether a restaurant is good or not. A restaurant with ordinary food but good service prompts me to go again and again. On the contrary, a restaurant with delicious food but bad service causes me to avoid. I believe good service will attract more and more customers to the restaurant, and it’s the most basic and important element of an excellent restaurant.

Composition I: Why Not Be Traditional?

In 2008, the hottest rumor was that Untied Nation decided to “abolish” traditional Chinese and took simplified Chinese characters as its official language. This unverified news still stirs in the Chinese-speaking people’s minds. I am strongly opposed to the plan, because of three reasons: origin, calligraphy and passing down of classics.

Traditional Chinese characters have been used for more than 1700 years. There are six principles for creating Chinese characters, so if traditional Chinese was simplified, words would be hard to connect with the reasons they were created. For example, “east” in traditional Chinese means the sun in the wood, but once it is simplified, it’s difficult to associate the meaning with the origin. “Lush” in traditional Chinese characters is a complex word, but in simplified Chinese, it is transformed into another word in traditional Chinese. It’s not just violating the origin, but also making users perplexed.

Calligraphy is an eternal and irreplaceable treasure for Chinese. No matter when calligraphy is written, it is in traditional Chinese form. Calligraphy is an art of symmetry. If some big words are simplified in asymmetrical shapes, it will make us hard to present the aesthetic value of Chinese characters in calligraphy. For instance, “broadness” in traditional Chinese is full of vigor and symmetrical, but after the simplification, it turns to be a weak word in form and has ugly shape in calligraphy. “Fly” in traditional Chinese is also a big word, but it becomes so unfit in calligraphy as a result of the simplification.

Classics are important in every culture. For example, in the Bible as well as the analects of Confucius, we can find norms of behavior, moral principles and ethical paragons in those two classics. Chinese classics are all written in traditional Chinese, so if Chinese is simplified, how could people who use simplified Chinese understand the classics? For the children, classics are the best teaching material. They can learn the norms, beliefs and norms that members of whole society share. If children are educated in simplified Chinese, they will not understand those important values and may meet some frustrations in the society.

There’s an advantage that people who use simplified Chinese claim. That is, it’s much easier for people to write. But in my point of view, the rate of computer use is much higher than before, and I don’t need to “write.” The only thing I have to do is “type.” Thanks to the development of computer, the only advantage of simplified Chinese disappears.

Knowing the traditional Chinese means that someone has ability to know the origins of characters, to write calligraphy and to read the classics. There are so many advantages, so why not be traditional?

6/12 Journal

Suddenly, I find I have a lot of texts unread. What should I do? Conquer it step by step..this is only thing I can do. Management, Journalistic English, Foe, Oral Presentation, Linguistic, Deutch, English Literature..oh my goodness. Whatever, that's see what's going on.

GEPT is the worst! I can't believe that the evil institution is so brazen! I need to pay NT$ 2000 for an asshole test! Damn it!

Ronald, a friend from Boston, has arrived. I look forward to see him! Hope everything can be done before he come to Taichung.

6/5 Journal

I'm worry about my research paper. It must be a tough work. I don't know how to do it now. I need to breathe..more oxygen..I feel chocked.

Bad mood is really a terrible thing. You don't know when it comes, why it comes, how it comes and what it causes to you. I really don't like that. I hate you, bad mood. FOAD!

A lot of exams gather in the week before final week. It makes me anxious, because so much texts are waiting for me to read them. I'm scared that what if I am flunked? No, I won't. Never.

Being annoyed..I need music.

Every Time I Close My Eyes by Babyface

5/29 Jouranl

香妍 is really good, I can't even describe its deliciousness in words. Not only food but also hostess is nicccccccce! She's fascinating, welcome,hospitable, and treats us a wonderful meal. I can't stop thinking about it....I want to go there everyday!
I have a exciting news, a friend from Boston will come here during July. I look forward to see him. He's handsome really, haha, just elder than us.
I have seen a movie recently, called Rent. The theme song is "Season Of Love"..incredible! I love it so as to hear it repeatedly! Song is followed.

Season Of Love by Rent Casts

5/22 Journal

No! Damn it! My Starbucks cup is broken by someone I don't know! It really can't be used this time, so I throw it away. I hate that byatchhhhhhhhhhh! Fxxx!
Next week I have a midterm, yes midterm, on management. Because some students don't have good performances, professor decides to give them one more chance to make up their bad score. But it's a bad news for others, we need to have one more exam. I really feel nervous now.
The runner-up in American Idol 8! Adam Lambert is really good. I love his voice more than I love the champion. Let me show all you guys his song.

No Boundaries by Adam Lambert



Enjoy it!

5/15 Journal

I had a new experience last weekend. That was my first time coming back to Taichung on Monday morning. I usually came back on Sunday night, but it was different that time. Because of Mother's Day, HSR(High Speed Railway) Company decided to maintain the price of ticket, that is, I couldn't get a discount if I came back on Sunday. The price of ticket coming back to Taichung between two days is different, it's by 100 dollars. It's a lot of money!(I can't eat 2 meals!) The other reason was Mother's Day, it was a nice chance to accompany my mother for one night more than before. But it was hard getting up early on Monday morning. Because I determined to come back for English Literature class, I had to take the HSR at 7:34..so I could be on time. Anyway, that was a nice experience!

5/8 Journal

It's a bad news, that is, I sprain my ankle. It's hurt! I don't go to see the doctor yet because the clinic isn't opened today. Let see what will happen tomorrow. Do I torture myself? Maybe yes, but I love it!
I am finding a Nirvana, and I think I succeed. It's a good news not only for me but also for you. It's not a big deal after I decide to forget you, and it's really not a big deal because I complete this hard work. Thank you so much even though you don't know I write down here.
To improve the listening ability is important, and I hope I can progress even if a little bit.
Nice song for you guys, Back At One by Brian Mcknight
Hope you can enjoy it!

Journal 5/1

It's a relaxing week. Four of six classes on Tuesday are canceled, and two are for watching a opera. What a beautiful day! I hope this kind of days can happen all of week. Ha!
I knew a astonishing news from classmates on Wednesday, and I really felt bad. At that night, I decided to go singing with another group of classmates...I felt better after singing...It's a wonderful way to release the pain in the heart. I think about this news for many times, and I know it's time to grow up. People can't stop on some phase..people must grow up to face another more difficult problem. I realize it's time..so I must do.
All midterms has been done. I feel so good now. But don't forget..final is coming!

Journal 4/24

Thank God. Midterm is about to the end, but I have one horrible test on English Literature. I really don't love literature class, unless I like that professor. Whatever, it doesn't matter, because the test must be taken. Damn it.
I plan to see the series I love the most again recently...sex and the city. It really attracts me, so I hope I can see the whole series again. To train my listening ability(It's poor now), and to entertain myself. So nice!
Because of nothing happening, I have nothing special to say. That's all.

4/17 Journal

Hand in the second essay. Even though it's nice, I'm afraid that we will write another argumentative essay as midterm. I really feel it's tough work...I'm scared.
English Literature is a nightmare. I don't read it at all..not a page..even not a word. Whatever, everything gonna be alright.
I had a really nice birthday, thank all you guys. :)
Sorry for nothing to say, because I have to prepare for the midterm. See you next journal!

4/10 Journal

     My birthday is coming, and I have received three gifts before my birthday. The first one is two thousand dollars from my sister, and another sister said she also will give me after she come back Taiwan from Australia. Second, an Olivo polo shirt. I love this polo shirt so much! Including this one, I have three Olivo productions in my closet. I feel so fortunately! The third one is from my roommate, Jie, a new amplifier. Because my old amplifier was broken, he bought a new one for me. All these three gifts I also love, thanks for all you guys.

     On Monday, professor suddenly said he would hold the midterm next Monday. What a astounding news! Management is not an easy course, I just hope I can pass it. I think this weekend I will not be relaxing......

     I have found an very old song recently, it's used to be a song for advertisment..maybe Nokia. Let's listen and relax: Talking talk by D'Sound

Here's the lyrics:

just let me have my flow!
                                                                                
＊talkin-talk is not just talk
  being there is half the walk
  if you wanna know yourself/ stay with me
  you gotta do the talkin' talk
                                                                                
I try to reach you get right
down to the issue we're not
happy with how it is today
                                                                                
sure, there are happy days and
good things to dwell upon by
when you are mad you walk away
                                                                                
you call my baby and I
just shrug my shoulders because there's
something important on my mind
                                                                                
I don't wanna pick a fight but
we don't see eye to eye and
we really need to get things straight
＊
                                                                                
so what! if we disagree
don't wanna change you
I don't want you on your knees
                                                                                
are you affraid your loving will fade away
whenever deep talk is released?
                                                                                
communication, baby,
that's what I claim today
it don't have to be bad
                                                                                
I wanna know your mind
and you to be into mine
so we can get ahead
                                                                                
＊

can we talk

4/3 Journal

     So niceeeeeeeeee week because I just had three-day class, so relaxing. I went back to Tainan, my lovely hometown, and had a entire rest. Sleeping at home is very different to sleeping in the dorm. I don't know why, maybe because of familiarity. The first night in Tainan I slept for eleven hours...what a enjoyment!

     Talking with my mother is the best thing I have done. We can share our all thoughts, concepts, and everything conflicting...then solve it by discussion. I love this kind talking, it can make me absolutly say out what is in my bottom of heart and what I want to say. Also, chatting with my father and sister is funny. There's a lovely family, and that's mine. I appreciate that God gives me a wonderful family.

     I get my hair dyed, as a present for myself.....because I am about to 20 years old. It's a gift for commemorating the growth. My sister gave me three thousand dollars and told me that bought something I really want, but I just took two. The first gift from others...on 4/3.

3/27 Journal

     There will be a very nice activity this Saturday─Starbucks buy one get one FREEEEEEEEEEEE!!! It's so nice because I love Starbucks very much! I hate myself that I can't drink a cup of wonderful coffee a day because of my poverty. Moreover, I also can recommend Starbucks to my friend by this activity, because a lot of people think the coffee sold in Starbucks is very expensive, yes it really is, they never try at all because of its price. What a pity! Hope that everyone can understand why Starbucks can so succeed in many country. (Because it's worthy and high-quality!)

     I catch a cold this week, so I feel uncomfortable...sore throat really kills me. Even though I have seen the doctor, I don't feel better. Whatever, I will recover...time is the best medicine.

     I look forward to next week..because I just have three-day class! And then I will go back to my lovely hometown-Tainan, and have a good time before I come back to Taichung! So Nice! I can't wait!

3/20 Journal

     It's an ordinary week, so I feel good. Human being is a kind of weird animal, sometimes wants excitements, and sometimes wants to stay in calm. I don't know why, maybe it needs some exciting in the ordinary life, and it needs some calmness in the exciting life. Human being is really weird.

     Management is a tough class, really tough. I think I can't handle it very well, but I will try my best. Global marketing is much more interesting than management, although there is only one DFLL student.

     I am not the one who is afraid of loneliness, because I have been usually alone from the youth. My parents were both in business, and my sisters, one is older 5 years old than me and the other is 4, went to school. I played toys by myself, listend to the music with my toys, watched TV with my blanket, which was like a rag but I still think of it now. Whatever, I am used to feeling loneliness around me.

     Oh, I have global marketing homework to do, so I stop here.

3/13 Journal

It's really weird...especially on the weather. Why does it always become cool on the weekend? I want a beautiful weekend, windy or cloudy day makes me feel sick, so does rainy day.

Wide Sargasso Sea is really a good novel. Jean Rhys uses a little words to narrate her story, but I feel so strongly. I don't know why, maybe it is like old Chinese. Less words she uses, much more feeling I get.

English Literature is sooooooooooooo boring, so I don't study it yet. Yes, not a page. I don't know how to do. The words in that textbook are scrambled. I can't handle them. They are not my friends.

I feel so lucky for choosing Global Marketing class instead of Listening class. A lot of classmates complain about that worst class. So sorry for leaving all you guys, but I'm so happppppppppy now.

A lot of works need to be done. I think I have to work harder. Damn.

3/6 Journal

What a bad day.

7:50 in the morning, I walked alone on the pavement to the language center. It was raining, a little. I forgot to bring my umbrella, so I got a bit wet. Moreover, the English Literature textbook was also a little bit wet.

After the German class, it began to rain heavily. Of course I still didn't have an umbrella, so I looked the rain falling and didn't know how to get the English Literature classroom. Luckily, Cindy saved me. She shared her umbrella with me...Your helping must be appreciated.

12:00, it was still pouring rain. Really didn't know what to do, so Peter and I ate lunch together in my dorm. He was so jealous on my meal, because my meal was better and much more delicious than his.

3:00 in the afternoon, it was really cold, but I had to go to physical education class. I chose badminton, as the last semester. Jie went with me, he was a novice. He learned some skills in the class, I thought he would be better if he came with me every week.

6:00 in the evening, five people, including me, went to Peter's home. We saw the baseball game, but it was awful. I can't believe that Taiwannese team lost Korean team by nine point. What the fxxx!!!!!!! Fortunately, Chuck, a dog living in Peter's home, consoled me with his innocence. He's really really cute! I love him, even though he is naughty. He likes to bite everyone and everything, especially jeans. What a bad dog!

2/27 Journal

It's a happy week, maybe because almost every professor lets us leave earlier. The first week of semester makes me so tired, not just because of classes, but also because of habit-going to bed lately.

I have two more classes this sememster, two marketing classes. One is management and the other one is global marketing. They're not easy, so I need study harder to conquer them.

My computer has revived! Thank Jie for repairing. God bless you!

 I am the head of A class, it's a good and bad news. In the good way, I can learn how to be a "bridge" between the school, professors and students. In the other way, it's hard to announce important things in the class, and that makes me depressed. I think it's because every DFLL students are so high....it's hard to control.

So sorry for leaving all you guys...I mean Listening class. Ha Ha, Good bye and Good luck.

Revise:Where To Live?

After my classmates and I become sophomores, some of us have to face a big problem: Living in the dorm or outside by self. I chose to live in the dorm because I drew a lucky lot. However, one of my classmates, Ian, had to live outside by himself because of his bad luck. Compared with him, I find four differences between living in the dorm and outside by self: expense, traffic, space and roommate.
First, expense is a really big difference. For example, my lodging expense including ADSL bill is NT$ 1875 per month, but his is NT$ 3000 a month. Moreover, he needs to pay NT$ 330 on ADSL bill. I spend NT$ 300 on utility bills while he has to pay NT$ 400. So, I totally spend NT$ 2175 a month on the aspect of living, but he spends NT$ 3730 per month. It will be an incredible gap if he lives outside for a long time.
Second, traffic is another difference. The good point living in the dorm is that I don’t have to spend so much time on traffic. Because the dorm is behind the school, walking to the classrooms just costs me five minutes. In contrast, Ian needs to spend at least 7 minutes even if he rides a scooter. Actually, the apartment he lives in is a little distant from school, and sometimes it makes some effects on him. For example, he has to ride a scooter to the school in the winter, it’s a torture especially when a cold air mass comes. On the other hand, he spend NT$ 200 on gasoline expense while I don’t have to pay a penny.
Last but not least, space and roommate are aspects which can’t be forgotten. I have to share the space with my two roommates, and I feel that it’s insufficient for me. Another inconvenience is that I can’t play the music aloud, it makes me deeply depressed because I love to listen to music loudly. The other troublesome matter is that I don’t have my own space. Which movie you watch, which website you surf, whom you talk to on MSN, these things are known by my roommates as long as they watch my screen. However, Ian doesn’t have these vexations. He can play the music aloud, and he can do whatever he wants in his own place. He wants to shout, he shouts; he wants to laugh loudly, he laughs. But there’s a benefit living in the dorm, that is, I can get assistance instantly in every aspect because my roommates are by my side.
There is not absolutely good or bad about living in the dorm or outside by self, it all depends on the attitudes. If people want to be economical and don’t want to waste time on traffic, living in the dorm is a good idea; comparatively, people need a own space and don’t care about the expense, living outside by yourself is their best choice.

Journal 1/9

God: Why do you look so tired?
Ben: Because I am in the hell.
God: Really? Which hell?
Ben: Final exam hell.
God: Oh. I'm sorry that I can't help you.
Ben: Why can't you? You are a God, aren't you?
God: Yes, I am a God, but I don't have any power.
Ben: What!? You're a bastard! You don't have the power, so you don't have the quality
to be called "God."
God: How dare you to insult me?
Ben: Hey! My words are what you said, don't you remember?
God: Nonsense! I never say those stupid words!
Ben: Alas! Oh my God!




I'm crazy because of final exam, so please forgive me to say these gaga words.

1/2 Journal

I went home on Thursday morning, because I stayed in Taichung for the show. But I didn't go to the show..it was too cold! Instead, I stayed in the dorm and played the online game. It was a boring ending of 2008.

I took the High Speed Railway to Tainan this time, because I didn't get the tickets of Taiwan Railway. I must say that HSR is really fast...I love this feeling..it just takes me 1 hour and 24 minutes to Tainan and came back to Taichung. It's so amazing! If I get a lot of money, I will choose HSR every time when I want to go home. (but I am a poor man now.)

I went to a movie, ate with my classmates in senior high school, chatted with my family..this time I went home and had a good time..