A Whole New Angela

Merry Christmas!!! Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, but it represents "rebirth" to me. I am literally baptized and reborn under the blessing of Jesus because I realize to treasure precious time. Under the witness of Jesus Christ, I swear that I'll try to avoid from wasting time. I won't waste time on surfing the Internet and searching useless information. I should be grateful for what I own, because I don't want to feel regretful and guilty after I lose important things. During Christmas break, I have a wonderful memory. Last Saturday, I visited my grandma who was illed and went shopping in Shida night market with my family afterwards. I love shopping so much and I always marvel at cute, beautiful accessories. I ate tasty crepes and enjoyed my dinner though it was crowded. Shida night market was hilarious and interesting.

Christmas Performance

December 15, a special and memorial day, is PAS's Christmas Performance. We dancing group has practiced the dance over and over again, because we wish that every gesture fits with the rhythm. Our director, Christine, is puntilious and attentive to every detail. She wishes that we can coordinate as the same person. We freshmen wish that we can outshine and rock the performacne. During the performance, I am nervous but excited. I think we freshmen indeed do great job and impress people who had bad impression on us last year. It was embarrassing last year since the audience knew that we were unprepared. My father buys 26 raffle tickets today, and my brother gets 3 gifts while my mom gets 1 gift but I get NOTHING. I am disappointed with the result because I really wish that I can have a Christmas present from the school. I wish that I can get a iPad 2, or beast earphones, or digital album; however, there's no free lunch in the world. I learn that if I am eager to gain something, I should accomplish by myself. I shouldn't sit there and await for a good result without no efforts. Anyhow, I have a great experience and I enjoy the Christmas Performance very much. (though I have to stay up late tonight~)

Basketball Game

As I stated last week, we "almost won" the game against Jian Hua. This week, we PAS basketball girls compete with Jian Hua again in order to improve our skills. Mr. Lee gives little tiger more chances to play basketball against Jian Hua since he wishes to see improvements. I try really hard today since I wasn't reconciled to lose points from Jian Hua. I didn't bear grudge against number 7 and 13 but I was unwilling to admit that they had many fast breaks and we were too weak to defend or foul the ball. However, I am glad that little tiger improves today. We have the gut to foul the ball whenever they have fast breaks. I bump into my opponent because I want to stop her fast break, though I fall down, I'm glad that she doesn't have the chance to do layup. I have few jumbles with my opponents, in which I make great efforts on grabbing the ball. However, I have to admit that I am a little ruthless since one of my opponents falls down because she can't resist my strong strength. I then pick up the ball and past it to my teammate immediately because her position is near the hoop. I apologize to the opponent later in the game. Through the experience, I learn more and more important skills. I have to improve on dribbling since I need to look at my teammates and dribble in the meanwhile. I am more familiar with Give-and-Go and understand that I have to move back a little if I am free so I can stop or cut the fast break. This is truly a significant basketball game in my life since it enlightens me so much.

Quiet

I'm never the type of student whom my classmates hate, because I know when to "shut up my mouth so people won't stare at me". This is the rule for being a new student. My first year (last year) in PAS was truly tough and unpredictable. I just transferred from local school so I didn't speak English well. I had to change my hobbies and communicated in English with my friends. However, English wasn't hard to improve, but speciality was difficult. As I stated before, I knew that I should zip my mouth in class so people won't think that I was asking a stupid question or replying in a silly way. Unfortunately, this way didn't apply in my class. I was unable to understand why did my classmate detest me. I was baffled in her hatred. I couldn't understand how or why did I put her out of temper. Perhaps, our Eight Characters of Birth Time didn't fit at all. We might be destined to become enemies. Though I was afraid of her, I tried to keep a safe distance from her so she won't hate me that much. However, I believed some day in the future, we might become friends eventually.

Car Wash

My father has an interesting conversation with my mother tonight. My mom would like to wash her new car, in which I loves its color (shinning brown or glittering gold). She asks my father's opinions about the car wash near the freeway. My fathers replies that the owner of the car wash looks exactly like a ruffian because he munches the arecas and smokes cigarettes. He wears a pair of sloppy shorts and looks shaggy. His teeth are dirty, yellow, and his mouth is dark red. The environment of the car wash is dim, dusky, which looks like zombies will crawl out from the graves. My father says that the owner has a bad attitude though he is skillful at washing the car (because there's a washing machine). Haha. I think my father exaggerates the owner's appearance and behavior, but he persuades my mother successfully NOT to wash her car over there.

Dress

Since PAS will hold a Winter Dance next Friday, students have to prepare a formal dress or a suit. I shopped in the department store last night, instead of market (because I can't find a formal dress in traditional market). All the dresses in Sogo are elegant, gorgeous, and beautiful, but they are too expensive. I can't afford to buy such an expensive dress in which I might only wear once. Therefore, I decide to rent a dress instead of buying a dress. The dress is a graceful, cute bridesmaid dress which sparkles at night. Though it's light orange, instead of purple, the one I wish to wear, I am satisfied with the dress. Since most of the bridesmaid dresses are white, it's difficult to find a un-white bridesmaid dress. My dress glitters in the dark and looks like a dress that appears in fairy-tales. I love my orange dress a lot and will enjoy the Winter Dance next Friday. I will take many pictures with friends and keep my memories forever.

Neighbors

I haven't discussed my neighbors since I created my blog. I have a bad impression on neighbors who live in apartment (due to my social text book), unlike villagers, they are indifferent, cold-blooded because they don't care whoever lives nearby. Once a guy saw that his neighbor was moving house. He never helped his neighbor. Therefore, he felt guilty and aided the neighbor for the first and last time. However, the neighbor who was moving house wasn't the neighbor. The fake neighbor was a thief. It was ridiculous that the guy helped a thief instead of neighbor. He made the mistake because he never saw his neighbor before. However, I change my idea of people live in city after I move to my dear community. Today, our Japanese neighbor knocks the door and I am surprised. She gives us a bag of cookies, in which her mom brings back from Japan. She explains that my mom gives her children candies last time. She is polite and amiable. I thank her and she thanks me. Unlike other neighbors whom I meet in elevators, we don't have awkward silence. I find out that my mom is socialized, because she treats others with warmth and gifts at first, and thus the neighbors treat us well too. Although I might meet some neighbors who just lower their head and are obviously over-protective, I'm glad that I acquaint another friendly neighbor.

Rainy

It's drizzling during basketball practice. However, PAS girl basketball team shows mettle to practice basketball. It's interesting to play basketball under the rain. The rain doesn't downbeat our will power. We "team younger tiger" try our best to defend "team elder tiger". Coach Mr. Lee separates the members into two teams: elder tiger and younger tiger in order to make the drills more effective. Since part of the members have been playing basketball for a longer time, they stay in elder tiger and improve by exchanging views. I am beginner and thus I stay in team younger tiger. We younger tigers have great tacit agreement and we encourage each other when encounter difficulties. We upbeat our morale and make great efforts when playing basketball. I love younger tiger so much.

Dancing Group

Since Christmas performance is coming soon, we freshmen are willing to impress and rock the whole show. Whooo~ Class representations suggest to hold a entertainment program. There are five Santa Clauses, 5 reindeers, and they are going to compete with each other. The rest are cute, dainty elves, such as me. Elves are going to dance and cheer. Therefore, we stay after school and keep practicing the dance. I am still not familiar with the dance so I have to practice again and again. Dancing is always a hard subject for me. Since I was young, I couldn't bend my legs when doing the "angel" gesture because my legs weren't flexible. I was so depressed when all my classmates were able to "accomplish" the gesture while my legs couldn't touch my head. Anyways, I am going to practice hard and rock the performance.

New Rules

Ms. Pamela establishes new rules to the school. Since we PAS students signed the Honor Code, we shouldn't be late for school and any single class. If students don't arrive at school before 7:55, we will be locked outside the gate until the first period. After Christmas Break, if students are tardy, they don't have to wait outside the gate-- because they can go home. They will be marked absent. As for classes, if students are late 30 seconds after the bell rings, the teachers will lock the door. Students won't have the classes since they don't respect the teachers. The rules are strict but we PAS students will follow the rules and Honor Code. I will try to wake up earlier and enter the classes on time.

Sports Day

The warm sunshine transmits energy to all PAS students. It's a significant day for all the students. IT'S SPORTS DAY!!! Sports day represents FUN. Though it's exhausting and I'm dehydrated, I enjoy my events, such as tug-of-war, soccer, and 5-legged race. Since we are the Smurfs, we are so tiny and skinny that we aren't as strong as the Pac mans. (such an excuse) Well, the Pac mans engulf the Smurfs and thus we lose the first round of tug-of-war. Anyways, we Smurfs then undergo a series of training and toughen our strengths. The Smurfs are going to defeat the Mambas and win the victory. The Mambas are dumbfounded since all the Smurfs grow up and become gigantic. We become so powerful that we can easily pull the rope with one finger and defeat the Mambas. Honestly, I'm exaggerating. The Smurfs do win the game but we make great efforts. Too bad the Smurfs don't have a chance to challenge the Angry Birds. We get a 3rd prize for tug-of-war. As for soccer, the Smurfs are deft and adroit, so we score in the goal and win the Pac mans. We are cheerful because we finally avenge the insults. Tell you secretly, the score is 1:0. Joseph, Willis, Stephanie, and I are pair in the same group. We have great tacit agreement and are able to run (but we discover this half of the race).  We "walk" at the beginning, but we suddenly know that we won't win if we keep walking. We start to run and chase the Pac mans and Angry Birds. We are faster than the Pac mans but lose the Angry Birds. We feel remorse that why don't we discover this earlier. Anyways, second prize is good enough. Though my events sound interesting, the Smurfs lose lots of battles in other categories. Therefore, we are probably the last (4th prize) but we are the best in all the Smurfs' hearts.

Win or Lose?

Since I don't want to tell the truth directly, I indicate the truth in the title. We basketball team just finished playing against Jian Hua. However, I am not satisfied with our result. Physically, I will definitely improve my dribble skills. I can't even face the backboard when I am dribbling. My poor skills force me to pass the ball immediately if someone blocks me. I don't have the courage to dribble through my opponents because I am afraid that they'll steal the ball. I learn from the game that I am still too weak. I have to improve both dribbling and shooting. I want to score!!! Defense can't score any points. Offense is the only way to score points. Though I wasn't satisfied with our result, we will play another game next week. This time, we will win the victory.