“Good idea！” Rachel cheered； “You fill the plate with maize； and I’ll go to fetch some dried grapes。”
Minutes later； our wonderful salad was finished。 It looked like a tiny pagoda。 When Rachel carried it with great care； I went before her to make sure there was nobody in the way in order to guarantee the safety of our salad。 We drew everyone’s attention all the way to our table； whose mouth fell wide open； which made us even prouder of our masterpiece。
When we went back； all the dishes were already served on the table。 Inhaling the fragrant flavour； we couldn’t wait to tuck in。
Rachel’s mother was busy dividing the King Arthur’s Feast Pizza into pieces and distributing them among us。 I was enjoying Kiwi Mango Rendezvous while Rachel was trying Firenze Tiramisu hastily。
The food here was really delicious。 My drink； Kiwi Mango Rendezvous； was of agreeable sweetness and pleasant to the palate。 It was capable of relieving heat and thirst； too。 Firenze Tiramisu was also of unique Tiramisu flavour； and every bite was pleasant。
One hour later； the banquet was loaded in our stomachs。
My mobile phone
Sunday； July 15； 2007
Suddenly it was July 15th； it was not long before I would go to Guangzhou。 The looming departure was what I was longing for。 No wonder I couldn’t suppress my excitement。
Wanting to contact with me more conveniently； mom bought me a new mobile phone。 It was of Samsung brand； for mom was a keen fan for Samsung make and she used to own two Samsung mobile phones。 She insisted that Samsung is the leading provider of mobile phones and tele systems in the world； so when I was admiring a noble blue slider of Motorola； her face was gloomy and kept hinting me that Motorola was not as good as Samsung at all； making the assistant’s face as gloomy as hers。
Finally； I chose a mobile phone in a Samsung shop which mom steered me into。 It was styled as slider because I thought sliders were stylish and fashionable。 Although the assistant strongly remended a phone featured Touch Sensitive Keypad； saying： “Unlike ordinary keypads； Touch Sensitive Keys respond to just a light sweep of the fingers。 And the back…lit keys automatically illuminate in blue when you slide up the phone。” I shook my head； for I saw no need of spending more 200 Yuan on the functions I didn’t need。
My mobile phone； with its minimalist and futuristic design； boasts a super slim frame and a glossy； mirror…like surface。 It es with an affordable ； and es in a variety of vivid； lively colors including sapphire blue； candy pink； ice silver； and pure black。 Since the other three were not available in this shop； my only choice was the pure black。 Mom was quite satisfied with the finality； because she was afraid that I may want candy pink or ice silver which was too eye…catching to remain in safety。 Mom always tries not to draw any attention from people with modern gadgets or precious things like necklaces。 she is careful and keeps warning me that misfortune to people who do not encounter may only be one to a million； but to people who encounter it is 100 percent。 I am on mom’s side； so I always obey her instructions about safety。
My mobile phone offers highspeed internet connectivity； as well as extensive multimedia and audio capabilities。 But I didn’t need the functions because I only want to municate with mom more freely and I agree with an old saying very much “playing too much make people lose their goals”； besides； according to rules of HSFZ； students are not allowed to use mobile phones in campus； because such behavior will certainly distract students’ attention。
All in all； I will make good use of my mobile phone； avoiding the disadvantages it may bring to me and discipline myself。
TOEFL iBT Test
Wednesday； July 18； 2007
The new generation of TOEFL test was launched in United States in 2004； and adopted by China officially in 2006。 It is called “TOFEL iBT’ （TOEFL internet…based test）。 pared to the old versions of the TOEFL test； here is a shift of emphasis from grammar to munication in an academic setting。 Therefore； a Speaking Section has been added and the Writing Section expanded。
I have determined to take the test next year； so every change of the test concerns me very much。 For this reason； I spend much time searching the internet for uptodate information。 When I searched for information about how to register for the TOEFL test； I got some absurd； ridiculous； and annoying news beyond my expectation。
“Yeah； yeah； some people just register for many quota once it is allowed to apply for； and then sell the quota for more money；” I told Aldo； nodding my head； “see； the TOFEL iBT initially costs RMB 1200 or so； and the sellers charge RMB 5000…6000 for each position！ So it was said that all the positions available from September to December were taken up within 3 hours once it was allowed to register。”
“Wow！” Yelled Aldo； with his eyes wide open and an unbelievable look on his face； “It seems that Chinese people are all born great businessmen； er？ They can make business out of everything！”
“So they are。” said I； with a bitter smile and a shameful feeling for the base behavior that some ignoble Chinese people acted。“An official testing center recently discovered there were nearly 100 positions empty； and I bet that is because the position…sellers was not able to sell them out。”
“That’s insane！” Cried Aldo。 “Hundreds of positions are empty while thousands of people are longing for them but can’t get！” “But China do has its advantages；” added I； feeling it was my duty to protect the image of my nation and my own national ethnic group； “so do Chinese people。”
“Oh； of course；” smiled Aldo； “Don’t get me wrong。 I am not saying they are all bad through and through。 I am； er； just exaggerating to express my disgust for those vicious people。”
“I know you meant nothing negative；” said I； beaming； “or you wouldn’t stay in China for 2 years and marry a Chinese woman。”
“Now； the problem is； how can you guarantee you can take the test on time？” asked Aldo。
“Don’t know。” I sighed； “Mom said； maybe we have to stay beside the puter and register once it allows。”
“That’s a waste of time。 I think I can help you。” suggested Aldo； “I know people in charge。 I can handle this for you。”
“You do？” asked I； surprising； “I didn’t expect that！”
“Oh； yes I do mean that。” Aldo nodded seriously； “I helped my stepson； you know； Lisa’s son； get the opportunity to take that exam via the person I know。 Or he may not be able to take till this year。”
I said thank you to Aldo； for his enthusiasm。 I am very grateful。
Six days later； I will go to Guangzhou； and we may not see each other any more； but I will treasure our friendship； forever。
Face the society
Wednesday； July 25； 2007
Mom vanished from my sight hurrying to make her way to the airport so that she could take the plane to Beijing tonight while I was waving goodbye。 Turning around and walking back to the hotel where I live； my feeling was very plex。 It is like that I used to be a flower in the warm house formed from my parents’ love which prevented me from thunder and lightning； wind and rain； but now； it vanished； and the burdens of facing the society； handling things alone and managing through difficulties all on my own suddenly fell onto my unprepared shoulder。
Now I am in my room in a hotel near the New Oriental which is the school I need to have my TOEFL courses； and things happened today lingering in my mind。
This morning when I wanted to check in the hotel； I had a little argument with the manager。 All that happened because the rooms were arranged as the school told me and his tone was too cold for me to bear and I talked back coldly。 Then mom criticized me； saying： “You are too spoilt。 How can everything happen as your wish？ You must learn to endure something that does not go on your way。” “The New Oriental said I could live in a three…person room so that I can make more friends； but …” I murmured； but was interrupted by mom： “What？” “No； nothing； I was saying your instructions are correct。” Seeing her look was stern； I added quickly。 “That’s more like it。” Said mom； smiling； “Don’t be too self…centered； remember； you need friends when we are departed。” I nodded as my answer。
The next thing that nearly drove me crazy was I barely lost the receipt made out by the hotel manager。 Without it； I won’t be able to prove how many days I had paid and ask for the deposit。 Finally； I manage to get it out of a pile of changes。 I felt it really necessary to take good care of the important things such as receipts； identification card and credit card。 I swear I won’t be so careless any more。
Mom is right。 Anyway； I need to grow up and be mature； to change myself into a socialized person。
Watching movies
Friday； July 27； 2007
Movies play an important role in my English progress。 I used to step into a wrong idea of English learning： thinking that doing exercises as many as possible will certainly improve my English。 For this reason； before the English petition which took place in my second year in junior high school； I did plenty of exercise； dreaming of getting the first prize。 But the reality was fierce： I missed it by two points。 After a sorrowful weep； sanity controlled me and I began to think about my flaws in the preparation。 Then I realized that maybe my methods were not so effective and my English was still too poor。 I needed to cheer up and find another effective way of learning English。 I am not a person who gives up easily； “nothing is impossible” is my belief and I fully understand Rome wasn’t built in a day。
When I became a junior 3 student； I met Sara； a young and pretty lady from America。 She encouraged me to learn English by watching foreign movies。 I hesitated； for I was junior 3 then； bunches of things required time and energy to deal with。 But I couldn’t say no to her at the time she lent me six DVDs of Star Wars and urged me to try them。 She knew I love science so she chose the series for me； insisting that I was bound to love them。 Facing her passion； I had to accept them and brought them home。 I didn’t set finger to th