Project Reflection

        This project has given me a special experience on planning and doing works. I learned about planning the whole project in outline form is important for doing the project. By planning it, I will understand what part I need do research on to make it more detailed and perfect. Also, time schedule is one of the most important things in doing the project. It is always the worse to rush the work before the due day. To manage time of doing this project within such a tight schedule is not an easy thing. In addition, the report has to be prove-read for many times before sending it.

I would say I didn't put all of my efforts into reading the book. I only spent few hours to finish it. However, I did spend a lot of effort on thinking about the story and analyzing it. I feel my analysis is worthwhile because I learned something from the story that has connections to my life. It is actually a good experience for me because I realized every literary element have its use on symbolizing something and presenting something in our real lives. I think literature is about putting our life experiences into the works and show them in an abstract way. My participation and effort definitely have an effect on the value of the project from my passion on doing this work. I feel proud of my project since I’ve put a lot of efforts into it and spending a long time doing it. 

911

        On September 11, 2001, the Twin Towers were destroyed by the al-Qaeda. It is one of the most serious tragedy ever happened in the United Sates. I think 911 has had a huge effect on economies and government. Moreover, it caused the insecurity in every American citizen’s heart. The Twin Towers controlled a big part of US economy, which then connected to the world. After 911, most things had inflated and many companies were strongly influenced. However, it united all Westerners to protect themselves.

         The United States responded that the “War on Terrorism” would go on. The government even went on trial with many people from the Middle East. The next month, FBI even confirmed the circular orders for the arrest of the terrorists. I think their respond was appropriate because they promise the war was not going to end, which had given some justice to those who family members has lost in the event. Although Osama Bin Laden’s death has extinguished many people’s hatred, I do feel that confirming his death is not a good idea because it obviously is provoking to those terrorists. This means that the United States might get attack again and the world would probably fell under panics.

Buried Alive

        I believe there are three general ways to die. First is to die peacefully in a dream, which I think is the best of all. Second is to die quickly without any pain. Third is to suffer and to die brutally and slowly. I think the third one is the worst of all because you have to struggle for a long time and cannot die peacefully. Being buried alive is an example of this. Right before you die, you will reflect your own life and maybe find some regrets. You are not able to talk to anyone close to you, you cannot lie down in a cozy bed, and you will eventually die from suffocating.

         If I were in this kind of situation, I would convince myself that I have lived a meaningful life and probably start to pray. But I know, inside my heart, I would be very apprehensive and try my best to get out of the plight. If I couldn't make it, the only choice left for me is to reach equanimity and try to die with peace.  Even so, I would still like to send a message to my parents and some friends telling them that I love them and for being such nice and important people in my life. I think the one thing that I would want to change about my life is that I would try to enjoy my life more rather than working so hard and pushing myself into limits. 

Jargon

         Jargon is commonly used in the story “Into Thin Air.” For example, short-ropes, sahib, corniced fin, the Balcony, etc. Normal people like us would not know the meaning unless we find out what these terms specifically refer to. Short-rope in climbing means assist a weak or injured climber by hauling him or her. Sahib is the term used by Sherpas to refer to the paying members of the expedition. The Balcony particularly refers to a small platform in the height of 8400m on Everest Mountain.

         People who watch the TV show “Glee” know the fans are being called the “Gleeks.” It is a word combined of glee and geek, which means a person who is devoted to this show and watch it every Tuesday. Another example is “Monsters” which is referred to Lady Gaga’s fans. Nowadays “Twitter” has been very popular in social network. When people post something on the website, we use the word “tweet” instead of the word post. Some words teenagers use in messengers or text message would be “idk”, “ttyl”, “lol”, and “brb.” Idk means “I don't know”; “ttyl” means “talk to you later”; “lol” means “laugh out loud”; and “brb” means “be right back.” A jargon commonly used in my old school is “seafood” and it is referred to the people who ruled our school. It is called seafood because it sounds like the word in Chinese.

Risk For a Reason

        In reality, most people wouldn’t take a risk to save a stranger’s life. It would put themselves into danger and at the same time, it might not work as well. In this modern society, people would just call 911 if anything happens. However, it still depends on the situation whether to save a stranger or not. If it is not a lethal situation it might probably work. Contrarily, if it is a plight, then it is meaningless to jeopardize ourselves into it.

        

         Some people risk their own life to save other people probably because they are just and kind who really want to help people when they see someone verging to the end of life. Some people consider themselves first because they are probably afraid of death or they think their life doesn't worth to save a stranger. Stay alive in this world might contribute more to this society. In my opinion, I think I will not take risks to save any strangers life. First of all, I cannot actually do anything to save anyone. Second of all, it would be faster to call 911 or ask for other help. Lastly, I think I would dedicate more if I stay longer in this world.

Why Take Risks?

Krakauer described climbing mountains as an acting that will never be safe, predictable, rule-bond enterprise. Like other risks, you will never know what exactly will happen during the process. You might surprisingly learn an important lesson that you have never expected to have. Or the challenge could be harder than you think it would be. Taking risks resembles reaching the probability that you may achieve. For instance, you want to have more money in order to live a better life. Most people would simply do this by stocking. Your choices, your decisions on which company and how much to invest change your fate. You whether might lose or win. It is definitely not safe, especially when one invests more money, the more possibility of failure it has.

         A risk that I have taken is to spend the night before exam doing nothing but having fun. When I was reviewing, I met some problems. I asked my friend and then we ended up with joking each other and chatting. The night has passed and I still had not done anything or put any efforts into the exam tomorrow. My thought was: “Who cares? I have put all of my efforts into studies. Tonight is my chance to relax.” And the next day came, the test was actually not as hard as I expected. But I got few mistakes that I should not have if I have done the review. Thus, my GPA got lower. Who knows if it is going to influence me in the future when sending applications? Yes. It is not safe at all. I kind of regret after this because I should have done what I am suppose to do before exams and relax after exams. One night of fun, to me, doesn't worth a lower grade when I know I could get a better one.

Cause And Effect

         Jon Krakauer participated in this reaching Everest Summit expedition since a magazine company paid him to take a role as an observer and report everything he saw. He spent months preparing and finally reached to the summit – nevertheless, only for five minutes. The thin air and the lack of oxygen had taken away part of his consciousness and other climbers’ as well. When going down, Jon asked his friend Harris to turn it off. Ironically, he felt fresh, and suddenly, started suffocating. Instead of turning off, Harris, in his hypoxically impaired state, turned on the valve and drained all the oxygen left. The lack of oxygen caused confusion, which then caused Harris to turn the wrong side of the bottle. Fortunately, they made it successfully.

         While most people in the team were back safely into the camp, Hall and Hansen were still reaching for the summit. For some reasons, Hall didn't turn Hansen around and waited for him at the summit for more than an hour. They went down together with nearly no oxygen. They were struggling from the lack of oxygen. Hansen was the first one to die. Hall then died after few hours since his foot was frostbite. If he didn't insist to climb the summit on that day and waited for Hansen, it would definitely be different. If they choose a better weather and condition, they wouldn't end up with drained oxygen bottles and dying down the way to the camp.

Compare Disasters

The story, Into Thin Air, is a story that is full with tragic. Some of the members died because of their misfortune. Hall, for instance, was stuck and without any oxygen bottles. All of these actually come from bad luck. This reminds me of a movie called “Just My Luck”. This movie is about a girl who is extremely lucky. She got all of the opportunities and adoration. Her life couldn't be better until she kissed a boy who is extremely unlucky.

The similarity between Into Thin Air and Just My Luck is that the characters in both stories want to reach their own summits. They all work hard and do everything to achieve their goals. Even though the girl in Just My Luck has all the opportunities, she worked really hard as well. They guy in the movie worked actually harder, but he just couldn't succeed. Is life fair? Why there are always people who got the opportunities and achieve their objectives? Some members in Into Thin Air have also survived too, but why others lost their lives? I think there are reasons behind it rather than just putting efforts. In my opinion, this is a good question to ponder.

Participation

I think a journalist should report an event with details and some people’s thinking and opinion. Also, capturing pictures and videos are important. I think it doesn't matter if a journalist put his emotion into it. But putting an emotion that is appropriate and will not offend anyone is the most crucial part. If a journalist participates in an event, then apparently he or she is also a participant who actually understands the situation and what other participants think. It is actually impossible to pay a journalist to join an event and be an observer because he or she has to participate to observe. As a journalist participates in an event, he will not just report plainly. Instead, the journalist would report with his emotions and his understanding toward the event deeply and emotionally.

To report a disaster without emotionally involved is barely possible. While interviewing the victims, a journalist, if he is still a hearted human, must feel sympathy for them. Seeing people loss home, loss family, catch cold, and have nothing to eat, I believe a journalist cannot simply hide his emotions. I think the only way to hide the emotions is to accumulate experience and let one’s mind go numb.  But that would be a cold-blooded thing to do – to destroy a person’s heart completely. Hence, I think adding emotions in a relevant time and place would be the best a journalist can do.

Risk

People take risks to challenge themselves or to get a better chance in life. Sometimes taking risks or adventures can lead us to precious experiences that we could never be able to undergo again. And these accumulated experiences can help us in our future as a guide. Danger is somehow attractive because the solutions are always unexpected and more than just satisfied. If you failed, you will learn lessons throughout the process. I would like to take chances since they give me experiences and lessons that lead me to a better level and make my life more splendid.

I think an adventure that I have taken is to join the international class in my old school. It was risky because I didn’t have a strong English background and I had never taken lessons in English. Also, it was our school’s first time so the lack of experience was making me nervous. However, my scores and performance in classes were getting better which gave me confidence. Now I can handle most works and assignment. This adventure made me stronger and intensified my internal potential. A risk that I would like to take in the future is to pilot a plane. It seems fun for me because it probably feels like flying. To hover in the sky has been my dream since I was a child.

Free Writing - Computer as a tool? Or as a toy?

Technology has become a big part of our life in the 21^st century. However, problems has emerged along with its flourishing. From illegally downloading to Internet crime, these problems haven’t stopped. Nevertheless, technology has brought advantages to us either. It really depends on how a person uses it.

My problem, frankly, is none about these crimes. My problem is that I don’t know how to discriminate my laptop as a tool or as a toy. It has entertained me and became a big part of my life before it became a tool of learning. At first, when I use the computer to do my assignment, I just couldn’t help my self from unceasingly surfing the Internet. Websites like Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, etc., has become my biggest distraction and obstacles toward my learning.

These weeks, I’ve tried to practice to ignore the distractions, and it actually got better. I gave myself a little time every day to surf the Internet. And when I am studying, I would not have to think that much about other things. The method has help me improved my situation on concentrating. Now I finally feel technology is more than just an entertainer. It definitely is a tool that can help me learn more.

A Challenge

I enjoy challenges because they always make me a stronger and a more experienced person. I think challenges can intensify the potential inside a person. I enjoy mental challenge more because physical always seem to be harder for me. Running marathon, doing push-ups, etc., always challenges me and it is not enjoyable at all. However, I like mental challenges because it requires thinking. Mental challenges include handling pressure, dealing with troubles, works, and solving problems. Sometimes it is emotional, and sometimes it is troublesome. But I think that’s what arouses our abilities.

A challenge that I faced is being over-working under an inhuman schedule at school. In my old school, I had to get up at 6:30 and the last period lasts until 17:15, which is total 8 periods a day. After that, I was supposed to go take a class for my standardized test. Later, I had to take a shower and finish my dinner within 40 minutes. And then I only got two periods for night study because I must to go practice for a competition until 10. After 10, I had to go back to the dorm and settle down to finish the rest of my work. However, the dorm was pretty noisy and the teachers were being despotic about the noise. And I had to take the pressure that our class would be scold anytime at school. I survived the first semester. But I couldn’t make it through the second one, which is why I transferred to here. Nevertheless I learned a lot and knew how tough life could be. 

Highwayman

 The similarity between the highwayman and Frankie is that they both liked to be with a girl they met and were expecting something from them. However, they both felt lost because of losing the girl that they like and care about. I agree with Seamus’s conclusion that they have similar experiences because the girl, Bess, in the highwayman died with no call, which is the same as Patricia who died suddenly in the lavatory.

           

            Frankie’s situation may be compared to a romantic story because the way they connect and communicate is really special and is full with emotion. And how Frankie waits for Patricia’s poems is similar to lovers waiting and thinking about each other everyday. Also, the wall between them somehow symbolizes the distance between them. It feels like they are far away from each other and have to talk on a phone everyday. Furthermore, every time they talk or laugh, the Sister will always stop them from doing that. It can be compared to a forbidden love, which is often used in romantic stories. Nonetheless, there are still some differences between a romantic story and the Typhoid Fever. The two characters were too young to know about love and romance. Also, there was no affection between two of them.