CY’s Weblog

我的英国舍友拍的小电影

我的英国舍友拍的小电影。看起来很有专业水准呢。

拍摄地点：我们的宿舍里的厨房，浴室，Kieran的房间，宿舍外的停车场，老人院旁边的那条街。

特别提醒：他们用的那把枪是我的。嘿嘿。

The Master piece from my house mates: Kieran,Scott and a dozen of peeps

Title: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

Review: Excellent, Wonderful, Remarkable, Superb and Fantastic!

—by CY the legendary critic

作品下载

不得转载，谢谢.

我的英国House Mates

我住的这座房子一共有六间房.
Casper,Karren,TJ,Scot,我,还有一个刚搬进来的胖子.
对于他们,我有一种复杂的感情…
基本上还算是融洽吧,只是我不是很喜欢他们把音响开得很大,长时间不洗碗.
住在这里经常会有乐子.
他们喜欢去酒吧,晚上回来就发疯,摇摇摆摆…有一次TJ醉了,我们给他照了一张相,放大成一张海报,裱了起来,挂在厨房的墙上.
他们很喜欢捉弄人…
比如:
1.Scot和Karren在Casper房间的三个角落(床底,洗手盆底下,衣柜底下)藏死鱼,三天后,Casper在臭味的熏陶下翻箱倒柜终于找到了…其中两条…
2.TJ放假回家,Scot和Karren又藏了一瓶牛奶在TJ房里…结果他回来是…房间里一阵浓烈的酸臭味…
3.Casper往Scot的饮料里放泻药…害的Scot一晚上拉个不停…接着Scot和Karren合力把Casper关在衣橱里…
5.在每个人的房间的门上做文章..( 下图 )
6.扮野… (下图)
他们开的玩笑在我们看来有时候可能太过分了,比如1,2,3.. 可是他们互相都能接受.
可能我是外国人,他们对我还算nice吧…只不过有一次在外面把我的门给堵了…让我无法出门.

我的36小时绝食经历

绝食了,从三月二十六日晚上八点到三月二十八日早上十一点,对外号称是24小时. 上次给那些小童军们讲了,在第三世界很多人没有干净的水. Celia和我最终决定为那些非洲兄弟们筹款, 参加World Vision 的24-Hour-Famine (绝食24小时,体验饥饿).

http://www.worldvision.org.uk/

这天我们先在ASDA超市 Bag-Packing, 也就是在收银台帮人把货物装在塑料袋里. 我们一共7个人,每个人一个小桶,上面写着: Rasing Money For Clean Water. ASDA的有专门的为此准备的桶,看来Bag-Packing确实是一种很流行的筹款方式.整个过程还是很顺利的,那些小孩子做得很好,只不过休息的次数可能太多了一点. 我和Celia一起做慢了两个小时. 过程中有两个趣事: 
1. 一个妈妈带着一个小女孩从我这个Counter出来,小女孩看见那个小桶便问她妈妈: ”这是什么” 妈妈说:”他们在为慈善机构筹款”…然后又加了一句:”他们帮忙把东西装袋,人们如果不捐一点钱,会有负罪感的.(feel guiltuy)” 然后”狠狠地”拿出一些硬币放入了我的桶. 我强忍着不大笑起来,只是微笑着说: ”Thank you”

2. Grantham不是一个大地方,常常会碰见熟人.今天碰见的”熟人”是我们学校的年青Computer Stuff. 我曾经去他们那里投诉过一些问题,也就认识了.当他把小推车里的东西都放在传送带上的时候,发现了我,当然更重要的是那个小桶. 我感到他似乎不是很自在了,似乎是想换地方,可是东西都拿出来了.他付完钱以后,并没有捐款,我笑着对他说: Thanks! 他说:”Sorry I don’t have any change.” 过了一会儿,他特意回来了,给了今天ASDA筹款活动的最大一笔: 5镑. 我高兴极了,给他竖起了大拇指,又说了一句: Thank you very much!

在ASDA我们一共筹集了160英镑 ”which is really amazing” Celia说. 筹款冠军是Ben,他非常厉害每个人经过他时,他都”厚颜无耻”地抖一抖那个小桶,结果那些要面子的都乖乖地给钱了. :-)

接着我们去捡垃圾,这个活动是被County Council资助的,他们还给我们提供了Picker,通过它我们不必弯下腰就可以”捡”了. 不过也有麻烦的地方,之前我们要跟council签协议,要声明如果出了任何事情,我们不能起诉它,他们还给我们一个list of rules…随便拣一条: 为了安全,童军不可以在离河两米的距离内活动(很浅)… 总之就是很官僚,全是繁文,没办法,这里是所谓的法制社会. 

很遗憾,事实上证明这个部分并不是很成功.那些picker成了”武器”,这些小鬼拼命地挥舞着手里的武器到处跑,互相打闹.甚至用它钳起一块”狗屎”忘别人身上扔…
算了,我并不是很想提起这一段.

晚上我们先在st mary’s church玩游戏,很流行的word association,这些小鬼特别喜欢玩,因为胜者可以用充气锤子狠狠地敲对方. 一群暴力的家伙. 

接着我们就到外面露营,搭帐篷…他们已经对此已经很熟练了.睡觉前我们做祈祷,把自己的愿望和美好的祝愿写在纸上. 然后点蜡烛… 

我写了四张:
1. 希望我的爸爸妈妈无疾无病,和和睦睦,快快乐乐. 2.我希望两岸能和平统一 3. …
其他人差不多也是这种愿望,只是Phil写的有点不一般: 我想吃东西..
呵呵
安顿他们完了以后,我们还不能睡觉,得确那些淘气的家伙睡着了以后才能睡,然后就跟Celia聊天…
跟她聊天我总能学到很多东西,不论是语言方面,还是文化方面. 我裹在睡袋里,用她教的一句话,那就是: cosy, cosy什么意思呢? snug as a bug in a rug. 

后来她也睡了,我还睡不着…其实在睡袋里一点也不cosy,很冷的…我后悔没穿够衣服,没有去买一个好一点的睡袋—实在是失策!!….哆嗦着,奇怪的是,跑了一天,消耗了很多热量,可是我竟然一点也不饿…无聊中…
突然接到一个电话,我蜷着身体接着…原来是来问我一个智力题,可惜也幸好是我听过的题目,没思考我就答对了…对这个电话还是挺感谢的,还真解闷.然后有了点睡意,可是寒冷让我思考着一些事情,就像卖火柴的小孩一样…我看到了美好的东西,可却怎么也够不着.这也没什么,想想第三世界的兄弟们吧,想想我们国家千千万万的农民,血汗工厂里的民工们…我是多么的幸福.

———–

早上7点,(不,应该是8点,英国的钟在这天调快了一个小时) 我们去St Mary’s Church参加弥撒,完了以后我们就在门口筹款,来教堂的人们确实是慷慨…我们的桶里终于出现了几张10镑的钞票…

我非常喜欢教堂,我喜欢看教堂的建筑样式,里面的装潢,还有里面的人的微笑的脸…我并没有想过去加入基督教,但我想,如果我有钱了,我肯定会捐钱支持的.我希望带着她一起来感受这种净化心灵的气氛,然后穿着洁白的衣服一起走向神父的讲台.我并不是非常喜欢佛教,我不喜欢妈妈去庙里烧香,跪着给”神”磕头,然后求”神”保佑我健康和有出息. 西式教堂里的环境让我很舒服,没有烟雾的缭绕,没有凶神恶煞的神像…是那么地安静和庄严… 我虽然不会去向Jesus祈求什么,但我以自己的方式祈祷着…
我希望…
我希望…
我希望…
我相信…
我相信…
我相信…
我会努力的…
我一定会努力的…

接着我们去morning walk, 到公园里去认树… 带了一本专门教人分辨树的种类…难度比我想想的要大得多.
10点还有一次弥撒,我没有参加,因为跟八点的是一样的,我帮着给童军们做早餐,而他们则守在门口等着慷慨的人们…辛苦他们了…小小年级真不容易! 我在他们的年龄时,还不知道什么叫做”帮助别人”吧…
忘了说,这次我们筹款共340镑, 再加上每个人的sponsorship,有将近450镑! 真的很高兴,很久没这么高兴了.

回家的路上,看到一对很长很长的摩托队伍,大概有几百辆摩托一个接一个…没有交警,但是红灯照过…所有人都自觉地让位…
我问路人, ”They are very nice young people, they do this to raise money for orphans, every year.”
我觉得我身边真的有很多好人…我真切地感受到了社会温暖人心的一面.

12.10 我回到了宿舍…终于送了一口气

明天要交的m4 coursework草稿还没做,明天周一,一天的课 9.00-4.30/ 4.30 - 6.30 一些要处理的事情 / 6.30 - 8.30 又是童军活动…
…
…

After school activities in the UK

This is an essay for The International Student Awards 2004 which is run by the British Council.
It’s an award scheme for those international students who are making the most of their time in the UK.

To get a rough impression of my extracurricular activities, please start from the 4th paragraphs.

Please do not worry about me; I am healthy and happy here. We have just had a party last Wednesday organized by the college, nice meals and nice karaoke songs, great fun.

I finally received an offer from Imperial College London. I am so happy that because my hard work has been paid off. I still remember the day when I first told you that I wanted to go to UK to continue my study then go to Imperial College. You, father and I had a long argument, now everything seems to be clear, even father will agree, we made a right decision.

I missed the tough competition of the University Entrance Exams in our country, but I entered a brand new one in UK which is not only solving hard questions. I have to work hard on my studies, keep my room tidy, cook for myself etc as I am away from you. You chose a state college for me because you want me to be more independent, I think now I am proud to tell you that I am now indeed.

Since last May, I started to work as a volunteer. I have been working for Scope, which is a charity shop whose focus is helping people with cerebral palsy. I have learned how to sort clothes; I can instantly and correctly tell you the size of a T-shirt or dress by just looking at it for a few seconds. I have also learn how to help to operate a store, do promotions, treat customers well and even how to react when I see a thief. Last time I was on the till, Sue the manager ask me to ‘notice’ someone which was suspected to be a thief. Sue said, ‘Just look AT him, give him some pressure, I don’t want you to challenge him, safety comes first’ At last, the man went away with nothing. Haha, I think I now may be able give some suggestions to my sister about her plan of opening a chocolate store.

Monday is the busiest day for me; I have continuous classes for a whole day. Even so, I choose to volunteer at night. What makes me so exciting? They are lovely British children. I work as leader/helper in the local scout. Every night on Monday, I learn from the activities we do and they learn something from me. We now know how to survive in forest and make fire without matches or lighter but our own hand and anything can be found in forest. I took them outside in fields in dark, use map and torch to find our way home, although the temperature was freezing, but everyone seemed have forgotten about it. We are now planning a new 24-mile-cycling trip. I will email the photos and tell you about it immediately after the trip. When it was Chinese New Year, we had a Chinese New Year evening. I told them about our country, fascinating fairy tales and taught them how to make dumplings. I made a standard dumpling as the same as you always did, one little boy asked me, ‘Why you make it like this?’ Dear mum, I can’t answer this question, can you tell me how to? Anyway, I was not good teacher that day because the dumplings they made that evening got countless shapes; they called them ‘creative design’.

When I started to do volunteer work, I didn’t expect any rearward. But now I have received a certificate of 100 Hour Award signed by the secretary of state for young people and adult skills, and I am heading to the Award of Excellence which requires 200 hours. ‘Why not have what you done credited’ Terry introduced me to the Millennium Volunteers scheme. Then I have a very kind counsellor Ruth who is always there to help me, answer any questions relates to the problems I encounter. They often offer some attracting activities and course to me. I participated in the ‘Residential Course’, there I met many new friends who are doing the same thing as me, and we played games, used recycled materials to form a band and learn to juggle. This half-term, I took four courses offered by them, Sign-language, First-Aid, Health and Safety and Customer Care. I hope that with these new skills, I will be able to help more people and myself.

Being a volunteer makes me feel that I am helpful to others and make the most of my time, but that’s not everything I do after school. I often go to different towns and cities to discover this fascinating country. I have been to almost every major city in England. I plan to go for a trip to Scotland and Egypt this Easter, so I am sorry that I am not going home. I know you miss me, I will have all the photos with me and beautiful background in it emailed to you! You know I like church, I have been to 26 different church or cathedrals. Last time I went to Ely cathedral, I listened to the choir with the BBC broadcasting team, loads of modern media equipment in this ancient building. I frequently go to the local church, not for services but for some old friends, I meet many old people who need some one to talk to. I have learned much history knowledge from them.

OK, the email may be a bit long this time, I just couldn’t help myself to tell you how happy I am now; I will see you this summer and tell you everything!

评论/留言 我要留言

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作者：absolute伊 　 个人主页　

valuable experience!
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作者：icewind only 　 个人主页　

向来觉得你的生活相比我的而言充实有意义很多，似乎每个人都可以决定改变现状，但做起来却有些力不从心，或许是渐渐习惯了这种懒散的生活节奏。很高兴看到你对目前生活的满意，祝福你CY
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作者：多恩来特 　 个人主页　

hehe..sounds like you are having lots of fun here..well..good luck for your competetion!

英国的大学招生公平吗?

注: 标题是乱取的

对于我们这些在A-level 第二年的学生来说. 现在这种时候应该都大致陆陆续续地收到了UCAS寄来的大学Offer了, 产生了各种不平心态.

今天很多同学聚在了一起, 于是有人开始抱怨起来了…

“ 我的AS/Predicted grades明明比她好. 为什么她收到的offer比我好(或者低) “
“ 读两年A-level的收到的offer还不如读一年预科收到的offer好, 这算什么事? ”
“ 为什么我们学校的老师提供的大学申请帮助指导不如他们学校的好和多? ”
……ect
气氛越来越不正常了……

确实, 虽说英国的这些大学都有一整套的平等机会政策, 但是这招生给offer的事, 也是只有Admission Tutor/Admission Panel 说了算, 人为因素很大. 牛津剑桥等一些名校总是被埋怨偏爱招收私立学校的学生, Bristol 大学也被埋怨过无理拒绝优秀的私立学校学生. 能怎样呢?

在国内我们抱怨高考的一刀切, 在国外却又抱怨招生的”人为因素”. 我们报考大学有名校情结, 可以理解大学招生的自然也会”名校情结”. 相同的成绩, 好的School/College毕业的学生比起差一点的学校出来的学生自然更有竞争力. 特别是私立学校, 收那么贵的学费, 没有相应的综合质量, 怎么有人去? 这种质量不仅包括A-level的课程, 还有各种素质教育, 跟公立比起来的一个天上,一个地上了.

还有一种是东西叫做所谓的”传统”. 比如说, 这学校每年一般有几个必定会被牛津剑桥录取什么的. 人家学校的校长都是剑桥毕业的, 就算被拒了, 校长打个电话或写一封申诉信有时都能把Rejection变成Offer. 我们学校呢, 一个社区College, 全英排名倒数, 连给咱们写推荐信的Tutor都是刚从大学毕业没几年的姑娘. 各个大学口口声声说一视同仁, 但真的是一视同仁吗? 说实话, 即使换我来当admission tutor 我都不会一视同仁. 要我来说啊, 咱们的社会主义国家的大锅饭时期,即使是现在, 都讲究”出身”这回事, 英国这种还保存着傀儡君主, 虚名贵族的资本主义社会, 就算再民主法制也做不到完全不看人的”出身”.

你要说这世界上根本就没有绝对公平的事, 话没错, 但说了等于没说.

英国的大学招生肯定存在着问题, 但是我个人以为, 它是比较公平的. 更多的是, 这种招生的方式促进学生能学到更多书本以外的知识, 跟我国的高考相反. 在这儿, 你能够报6个志愿, 一般AS 和预测成绩你都知道, 报志愿可以不必拉开太大的档次, 你要真行, 就算第一个,第二个,第三个大学都存在一些偏颇, 那第四个, 第五个总不会这样了吧, 再说, 同一档次的学校差别也不会太大. 我报的6个学校就是排名就是连着的.

”拒绝攀比,知足常乐” 人比人该死, 货比货该扔, 无论怎么比, 肯定都会产生不平衡的感觉. 所以干脆就不要比, 学会满足. 咱们能出来留学就已经很幸运了, 能受到的教育的质量已经比那些在国内付出的比我们多得多的学子们好得多了. 对于他们, 这不公平. 我们到这一步, 即使是考上oxbridge, ic,lse,ucl 这五巨头的, 也不是你自己多么有本事, 仅仅是你父母有几个钱, 肯拿出来给你留学罢了. 国内有这种水平上顶尖学校的一抓一大把, 牛皮烘烘的人, 收敛一点, 赶快回家偷笑去, 顺便打个电话感谢你爸爸妈妈; 心理不平衡的人, 仔细盘算一下你现在有什么, 再想想更多的人有什么, 不要整天一副不满足的样子. 但是所谓”知足”, 并不是要你原地踏步. 我们应该不断地努力, 去争取自己想要的一切, 努力过后, 得到什么便是什么, 对此要满足, 只有这样才是一种正常的,健康的心态.