Symbolic Significance in Chinese Culture and My Life Essay Example for Free

Symbolic Significance in Chinese Culture and My Life Essay We need to see the history of dumplings to find out the answer. Back to hundred years ago, dumplings are more like delicacy rather than a nice food to appease people’s hunger. When China was an economically backward country, people always eat cheap roughage such as corn, millet or rice as main meal. Smith describes rice is â€Å"a basic component of routine domestic and ritual activity. † (Smith, 2006) Dumplings were not the same thing. They were only appeared in Spring Festival as a decent food to highlight the day. Therefore, food like dumplings was also represented a happy and wealthy life that people wanted and pursued. Because of this reason, dumplings could have an outstanding impact in people’s everyday life. Although in nowadays dumplings is not a luxury food any more, people are still enjoy having dumplings whenever traditional festivals. The thousand years custom have formed to a culture appearance, carry down from generation to generation. No doubt, dumplings bring Chinese people infinite hope and happy, from past till now and possibly in the future. Dumplings gradually transferred from a general food to an influential mascot. This is because the dumplings are provided a satisfaction for people’s psychological need. In another words, Chinese people gave the auspicious meaning to dumplings in the process that people tried to create a health and good life. In the variable kinds of Chinese traditional food, dumplings are not the most â€Å"coroneted† one, but people only chose dumplings as a mascot. According to Lee, â€Å"a group’s customs and rules about appropriate social behavior can reflect important cultural values. (Lee, 2009) Except dumplings are very delicious, I think its unique looking is more correspond with Chinese national characteristics. Dumplings are a classic farcie food, contrast with burgers or pizzas, which all the material is clear at a glance. No matter what the stuffing of a dumpling is, people cannot know just by looking at it. The hidden character of dumplings just corresponds with Chi nese diffidence personality. Therefore, the decision was made by Chinese people according to their own appreciation standards, which meet their psychological needs. There are many different customs about dumplings in different regions of China. My grandparents are living at a country side in the north of China. They have a custom that bride needs eat dumplings in the wedding day. When I was very little, the bride was carried by a sedan to bridegroom’s house on the wedding day. Before that day, the mother of the bride would prepare 40 dumplings and hide them under the sedan seat. When the bride arrived on the husband’s home, the relatives would boil the hided dumplings for the bridal and the groom. The entire process means the new couples will happy and together forever. Lenkeit says that â€Å"culture is constantly changing†¦It changes internally through innovations and inventions-new ideas and combinations of old ideas to create new things. † (Lenkeit, 2009) This point explains the change of this custom. Since woman do not use sedan any more, a new â€Å"rule† replaced the old custom applied in weddings. In recent years, the mother of the bride will make some really spicy dumplings and ask groom to eat. She uses the â€Å"terrible† dumplings to show that it is not easy to get her daughter. In addition to those customs of dumplings in my hometown, dumplings also have impacts in my recent life. This is the second year since I came to US. I spend Spring Festival with my friends last year. We made a great dinner and many dumplings together to celebrate the most important holiday of the year. Like the customer for Christmas that people usually buy gift for their family members, the heart of Spring Festival is making and eating dumplings. Carrier indicates that the gift creates problems â€Å"because the objects people confront in such societies overwhelmingly are impersonal commodities. And because these objects are impersonal, they do not make good gifts. † (Carrier, 1993) For this point, dumplings would never cause problems. Although people could easily buy dumplings from supermarket, making dumplings is also an important part in Spring Festival. The process of making dumpling is more complex than making other food, but the process allows people stay together and communicate. In conclusion, dumplings are indispensable in Chinese traditional activities.

Different Learning Styles Essay -- Teaching Education Research papers

Different Learning Styles Introduction What is learning? According to the thesaurus in the Eric database, learning is the â€Å"process of acquiring knowledge, attitudes, or skills from study, instruction, or experience† (Eric/Thesaurus database, 2001). A learning style is described as â€Å"a set of factors, behaviors and attitudes that facilitate learning for and individual in a given situation† (Reiff, 1992, p.7). There are many different ways that children learn. The purpose of this paper is to explain the different learning styles that students may possess and to discuss the importance of planning a lesson that includes different techniques to meet the needs of individual learners. These different learning styles may include the show and tellers, seer and feelers, leader of the packs, verbal gymnasts, wandering wonderers, and movers and groovers (WEAC, 2001). The different learning styles possessed by the student can be affected by the theory of multiple intelligences. According to this theory there are 8 different ways to learn including learning through techniques like logical/mathematical, verbal/linguistic, bodily/kinesthetic, interpersonal, musical, intrapersonal, special, and naturalist (Silver, 2000). Show and Tellers I searched through many books and articles about different learning styles and found one that really got my attention. On the WEAC web site I found a page called â€Å"A symphony of learning styles.† On this page I found six learning styles. The first is the â€Å"Show and tellers† These are learners that like to read and write. They love to make up stories just to share with their friends. These learners love to recall stories that happened to them in the past. They love to share their thoughts with... ...detail. It showed every aspect and how to apply them to your classroom. Silver, H., Strong, R., Perini, M. (2000) So each may learn: Integrating learning styles and multiple intelligences. Alexandria: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. I found this book very helpful because it gives you tons of examples of how to put the theories into action in your classroom. Wood, F., Ford, N., Miller, D., Sobczyk, G., & Duffin, R. (1996). Information skills, searching behavior and cognitive styles for student-centered learning: a computer-assisted learning approach. Journal of information science,22. (2), 79-92. This journal was about a study done on students with different learning styles to see if it would affect their approach to research. http://www.schoolicons.com/eng/web/icons/icon2_e.html This is where I retrieved all of my graphics.

Precious Blood

Blood Diamond is a movie that was cast by Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou and Jennifer Connelly and was directed by Edward Zwick’s. The movie was set in Sierra Leone Civil War in South Africa. The role of Hounsou was a fisherman while DiCarpio was a white mercenary gun smuggler that sells guns to rebellions in exchange of money while Connelly was an American journalist that wants to expose the illegal and mistreating of the diamond miners in Africa. Connelly was the only cast in the movie that has no intent on diamonds. (Burr, 2006)The movie was all about the quest of DiCarpio and Hounsou to reveal the pink diamond which they believe that the pink diamond will change their lives. Hounsou was a fisherman who was taken away from his family so that he can work in the diamond field. While in prison, DiCarpio found out that Hounsou had an idea of the pink diamond. The major quest of Hounsou was to find his family but found out that his family was in the hands of the United Nation s.But the son of Hounsou was kidnapped by the diamond miner terrorist and was forced to become a child soldier. With this, the two men joined in finding the missing pink diamond because the said diamond will help Hounsou saves his family from the hands of the rebels while DiCarpio will find a second life. With the help of Connelly, the three will reveal the truth behind the issues surrounding the diamond industry in South Africa. (Burr, 2006)The story of Blood Diamond mirrors the reality of some country-the rebels using their resources in finding weapons that they can use against the government. Many countries are now experiencing this kind of problem and affect the performance of the government in serving its citizen. This is a positive side of the film because it tackles some of the major problems in countries, terrorism. The setting of the movie is perfect for the purpose, and message of the movie. It shows the lives of many African people and shows how sad are the lives of these Africans. The major casts of the movie play their role efficiently. Like Hounsou who played as a rebel kidnapped. As the quest begins in finding his son, the emotion as a father was seen on Hounsou.The movie Blood Diamond showed mistake in doing the film. First, is the scene were DiCarpio and Connelly share the wine and the rd cup they used appear and disappear with out explanation. Another movie mistakes is when the child soldiers were seen using a Game Boy Advance SP. The video game was released in the market on 2003 while the film was set in 1900s. Also, when Solomon was fishing in the morning, the sun rise over the sea which is contrast to reality that the sun rise over land.The CastsDiCarpio had a character that is flat and one dimensional only at the start of the movie. But as he entered to the real world of diamond industry in Sierra Leone, he became strong, and well rounded. At first, DiCarpio shows a virtue of a smuggler, a liar but as the movie goes; his brutal honesty re veals the illegal diamond business in Sierra Leone.   Hounsou shows was successful in making a character that is strong and is determined in regaining back his son from the diamond rebels. And sometimes, he induced anger, compassion and hopelessness.   Jennifer Connelly was a American journalist that seeks and wants to reveal the illegal diamond business in Sierra Leone. She cooperates with DiCarpio and Hounsou in her quest.The acting of the three major casts played their role in well. This is a good characteristic of the film because it shows the reality in South Africa.The film ends when Hounsou reveals to the people his experience in the diamond rebels and the illegal of the said business. The film was very interesting because it show to the audience what really happens in some part of the world. The producer of Blood Diamond would like to impart to the audience to become aware to this serious issue that will make a one step towards in minimizing these problems.Reference:Burr , T. (2006). Blood Diamond Movie Review [Electronic Version]. Retrieved May 25, 2007 from http://www.boston.com/movies/display?display=movie&id=9301.

We Don t Have Any Job Openings - 1908 Words

As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, â€Å"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.†, I have considered this quote as one of most influencing quotes that I used in my life that was, and still, full of challenges from all kinds. Speaking of my career progression, I have been enjoying turning a challenge into an opportunity and making a success from fail. â€Å"Unfortunately, we don t have any job openings†, this was the response I have received when I asked one of the university professors inquiring about a vacancy for a part-time architectural drafter at his firm during the third year of my studies at the School of Architecture. Due to family†¦show more content†¦Although I was happy to secure that job, I faced the challenge of making the balance between my university studies, the work and supporting my family. I used to work and study for more than 12 hour s per day and sometimes I had to work during weekends to meet a deadline. This challenge has negatively affected my GPA, however, I was very proud that I supported my family while I was studying and working. That tough time helped me to develop a lot of skills; a hard worker, a fast learner, and well organized was appreciated by the top management in the firm in two ways; financially, I got promoted three times in two years in which my salary was higher than a graduated architect, and technically, where I was selected to be a member of the firm s team that included top managers and architects that were responsible for exploring new opportunities. After almost two years at Aly Azzam Architects firm, one day in mid-2001, the office manager asked me to come to his office and he said that this month will be my last month with the firm, I was shocked and I asked about the reason for laying me off, he answered â€Å"It is not a lay-off, it is a promotion†, then he explained â€Å"There is a new major project that requires our firm to work as joint venture with Omrania Architects firm that owned by Professor Magdy Mossa - the Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts at that time - and the Professor has selected you from more than 30 architectural designers and intern architects in our firm