Culture Archives - Page 20 of 21

A Christmas Day Without A Christmas Tree

March 30, 2016 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

–by Zhenzhou Hu

Back when senior Hugh was applying to colleges, he wrote this essay about a community-service project served with his host family, the Wessmans. Hugh used this essay as part of his college application. It worked. Hugh will be attending the University of San Diego next fall. He shares now his essay with The Bird on Fire.

“I guess I’m not going to see a beautiful Christmas tree tonight,” I whined on Christmas Eve as I wandered across the highway 20 miles north of the Mexican border. I had been looking forward to my first Christmas ever since I arrived in America. With child-like wonder, I envisioned a tinsel-topped tree, a traditional turkey dinner, and maybe even a visit from Santa Claus. It was not to be! My host family announced they were going to give away Christmas this year. They wanted to make Christmas about what they could do instead of what they could receive. To me, it didn’t sound like giving it away; it sounded like giving it up.

The plan was to build a house in a week for a needy Mexican family. And now, before we even arrived, we had car trouble. The tension pulley on the fan belt froze. Stranded! Hardly a car passed, and not a store was open. After all, everyone else was already at home enjoying their own beautiful Christmas tree.

Eventually, we made contact with another “Family Helping Families” group traveling toward us. We had never met before, but these people brought us hope and cheer. They backtracked several hours to find the needed parts. They brought water, shared granola bars, and helped find an open Pizza Hut. It wasn’t turkey, but pizza never tasted so good.

Next day, I awoke to a stocking stuffed with work gloves, measuring tape, and a hammer. These weren’t exactly the items on my wish list to Santa. After preparing some food, we drove to the train tracks. As soon as we dropped the tailgate, hungry villagers appeared out of nowhere. We sliced turkey, dished potatoes, and handed out oranges. At first it was awkward; I had never done anything like this before. I couldn’t understand them; they couldn’t understand me. One by one the Mexican children smiled; I smiled back. Later, I surprised myself by playing football in the desert.

The next morning we arrived at a foundation waiting for walls. I made electrical boxes and screeded sand. Trowel in hand, I laid block with mortar. Interior walls appeared with the help of hammers and saws. Roof rafters were hoisted, lined up and set in place. An inexperienced army nailed plywood sheeting. Luckily, the roof held the army’s weight. Finally, we presented the home to a tearfully grateful family.
The building was simple in looks but not simple in meaning. The walls rose up not only block by block, but also with the sweat of our caring character. The building showed I learned several new skills in just five days and also represented an achievement of which I am proud. Recalling the image of the crude building, I see the scenes of my transitional experience in Mexico: the scratchy feeling of sand blowing into my eyes; the callouses earned while troweling a block wall; my host brother and his newfound Mexican friends communicating with their invented sign language; me, enjoying my first delicious street taco; and finally exchanging the overwhelming heat, dust, and poverty for the quiet and contemplative comfort of my own room that was still missing a Christmas tree. The person who left that room on Christmas Eve, however, was a boy. The person who returned was an adult.

The Difference between an American and a Chinese Education

March 30, 2016 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

–Zhenzhou Hu, former and forever “The Bird on Fire” blogger, ponders the differences between an American and Chinese education. He’s been educated under both systems. Here’s what he had to say.

When I first arrived at boarding school in China far away from home as a six-year-old, I did not cry like many other pupils. Instead of being fearful, I was curious about the new environment and eager to find something enticing. School would be an interesting place, and teachers would be angels who would impart knowledge and encourage exploration. However, I was mistaken. We were required to sit upright with hands still on the desk. “Why can’t we sit leisurely?” When I doubted why 1507.m00.i104.n047.p.c25.classroom-education-thin-line-concept-f 1+1 = 2, my math teacher confirmed, with an indisputable tone, “That’s truth. Just remember it.” I was once scolded by my teacher because my score held back the overall GPA of my class. As we entered upper grades, the academic workload became increasingly heavier and most of our spare time was occupied by being tutored. School was no longer the paradise I had expected, and teachers were not the angels I had hoped. Gradually, I felt like I was becoming a puppet–doing what the teachers expected me to do and believing all that the teachers said without questioning or experimenting. I even put away my interest in drawing to save time for the heavy academic burden. 1+1 must = 2! No room for argument.

In 2014, I came to the USA. The first classroom I walked into at Palm Valley School was so refreshing I will always remember it: small class, beautifully decorated classroom, seemingly random but actually well-organized seats, a group of vibrant students, a nice teacher, and a comfortable environment. My classmates were encouraged to express their various ideas, and the teacher gave us tremendous inspiration. The most impressive teacher to me was Ms. Mckee, my math teacher. When I asked puerile questions (like what was the difference between relative maximum and absolute maximum), she always answered, “Excellent question!” and then proceeded to explain it. If I had asked a question like that in China, the teacher would have given me a disparaging glance instead of encouragement. Ms. Mckee gave me the courage to ask questions instead of hiding behind them.
Although I was shy and dared not speak in the first place, I fell in love with this kind of education. Mr. Sarkis, my drama teacher, showed great patience in correcting my pronunciation, which greatly enhanced my performances. I bravely performed Shakespeare as Julius Caesar’s servant at the Fullerton College High School Drama Festival in front of native English speakers. I may not have won an award at this festival, but I won the feelings of success in a job well-done, confidence, and friendship. These prizes will last longer than any trophy.
Compared with my previous school in China, things are quite different at Palm Valley. I am no longer the timid boy who just arrived. I am once again the boy who was passionate, curious and energetic. As a result of my educational experiences in the United States, I want to return to China and teach math to middle school students. I am determined to find young boys and girls who want to know why 1+1=2. And, I will answer like Ms. Mckee, “Excellent question!”

Oh, the Places We Do Go!

March 16, 2016 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

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Mr. Griffin explains the construction and design of Disney Concert Hall’s architecture.

Zach Jenkins (l-r), Bryan Johnson, Henry Huang, Mac Spears, Mr. Griffin, and Asher Mai polished off their French Dipped Sandwiches, replete with hot mustard and pickled eggs.

On our half day, Friday, March 4, Mr. Griffin led a team of PVS cultural enthusiasts to Los Angeles. After a brief side excursion to a Chinese bakery (led by a hungry Bryan Johnson), we started with an early dinner at L.A.’s iconic Philippe’s, where the French Dipped Sandwich originated back in 1918. Then, Mr. Griffin scheduled us into The Broad, L.A.’s New Contemporary Art Museum–the big white building downtown sporting the innovative honeycomb “veil-and-vault” architecture. The night finished breathtakingly at Disney Concert Hall with Gustavo Dudamel conducting Mahler’s Third Symphony. Time could have stopped for us right there, right then. Los Angeles Times critic Mark Swed said Dudamel “excelled in revealing the power of Mahler,” leading the L.A. Phil to play “with gut-wrenching strength.” Word is, Mr. Griffin and Ms. Zachik are creating a Culture Club next year adding more expeditions for the culturally adventurous.

PVS students scrambled over the Disney Concert Hall winding architecture, taking in the L.A. skyline.

David Kocen beside the oversized Table and Chairs installment at The Broad.

Jeff Koons Balloon Dog at The Broad

NOIZE ‘n LETTAS from Gaven: Yes, I’m Chinese, But…

February 12, 2016 by szachik@pvs.org 5 Comments

Big G just dropped his first single, “Yes, I’m Chinese, But . . .” First released here on the thebirdonfire.org!

–by Gaven Li

Yes, I’m Chinese
But that doesn’t mean anything
I don’t eat dogs or kitties
Orange chicken is not always my favorite

Yes, I’m Chinese
But we no longer live in rural places
There are 14 million people in my city
Everyone will fall in love with her beauty

Yes, I’m Chinese
But not every Chinese is Bruce Lee
I don’t know Kung Fu
and never fight in the street

Yes, I’m Chinese
But we ain’t in the 1960s
Everyday after school
I don’t help my dad farming

Yes, I’m Chinese
But y’all should remember this:
Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan
They are all parts of our country

Yes, I’m Chinese
But I can still rap like Jay-Z
I’m a poetic “gangster”
Comin straight outta PRC

The “Power” to Change Your Life

February 10, 2016 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

–by Ashley Zhou

Wednesday night, January 13, was a heartbreaking moment for many people—the
Powerball jackpot winning numbers were released and 1.5 billion
dollars were taken away. . . by someone else.
The US Powerball is run by the Multi-State Lottery Association, and it
was the most valuable lottery in the United States. If no one
wins a jackpot, the prize is accumulated automatically
into the next one until someone brings the bonus home. The week before January 13 was a
craze for purchasing lottery tickets because the bonus money was the
highest ever in history–$1.5 billion.(what??!!!)

“Normally, it is not worth it to buy a lottery ticket of any kind.
Your chances of winning . . . Powerball are less than 1 in 220 million.
You’re more likely to get struck by lightning twice in your natural
lifespan than you are to win the Powerball on a particular ticket. If
the jackpot is $40 million, then the expected value of a lottery
ticket (assuming you only care about the jackpot, not the smaller
prizes), is $40 million / 220 million = 18 cents. Since a ticket costs
$2, you are spending far more than you can reasonably expect to get.

However, last week, when the jackpot was 1.3 billion, the expected
value of a ticket was approximately $1.3 billion / 220 million, or
$5.90 — more than the cost of a ticket. So, in theory, it is worth it
to buy a ticket. In practice, of course, it is effectively certain
that you won’t win, but some–myself included–derive entertainment
from imagining that they can win. That’s why I dropped $10 just this
once. Buying 5 tickets increased my chances from 1 in 220,000,000 to
one in 44,000,000, which you should recognize is still very nearly 0.
From a financial standpoint, buying more tickets is more akin to
spending more money than it is to increasing your chances of winning.”

–Statistics and Calculus teacher, Ms. Emily McKee

Even though the chance of winning the jackpot is so small, it’s
very interesting to talk about: How would you spend that huge amount
of money if you had won the jackpot?
“I’d probably donate $10 million or so to Palm Valley and set up a
scholarship. I’d definitely keep working here because I can’t imagine
anything I’d rather do, but I might give my salary to hire a teacher’s
aide just to do the less fun parts of being a teacher–i.e. everything
except teaching kids. I’d also take college classes whenever I wanted
for the fun of learning. There’d be no pressure, since a bad grade
would have absolutely no impact on my life,” says Ms. McKee.

Our loyalest blog reader, Drama teacher Mr. Sarkis, shared his
idea with us:

After paying the taxes,
I would sit down with a pencil and paper and
while crying tears of joy,
take great delight in planning large amounts to give to:

21 nieces and nephews,… 35 grand nieces and nephews,… 2 great-grand nephews,
St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital,
Sisters of St Joseph in Rochester, NY,
a merit scholarship endowment fund for Palm Valley School,
a Dance Training and Performance School….free for young people who
love to dance and are willing to work.

I’d give to . . .
the United Nations Relief Organizations.
I would purchase . . .
• a 2-bedroom penthouse overlooking Central Park in NYC
• a 2-bedroom condo on Las Terrenas Beach in the Dominican Republic
(both of which I would share with friends who love adventure and art
and life)
• a state-of-the-art jumbo-size video-screen-tv communication
console
• I would travel the world and be especially generous in handing out
substantial sums of money to good poor people I encountered along the
way.

I would spend 1 year exploring China by car, and pay whatever the cost
for a chauffeur and a guide with the personality and intelligence and
energy of PVS Senior sudent, Henry Huang.

I would hire a personal full-time cook specializing in low cholesterol
high nutrition, exotic gourmet cooking and invite friends and loved
ones to lots of dinners….. and a personal trainer/masseuse skilled
in teaching old people how to do yoga.

I would contribute large sums of money for research to find a sure cure
for drug addiction.

I would treat 10 high-school students who LOVE American History to
a trip to NYC for a dinner and performance of Broadway’s smash hit
HAMILTON…. AND a comprehensive field-trip study of the memorial site
of the World Trade Center disaster.

I would make-come-true the Dream Vacation of Susie Zachik’s choice.

I would make sure that anyone I knew who needed money…. to support a
quest for Enlightened Happiness…… got it.

I would give meaningful presents to people who really meant it when
they hugged me.

I would pay for every person who goes to dinner or to a movie with me.

I would carry 100 dollar bills at all times…. and watch everyday for
random acts of kindness….. and surprise practioners by giving them
one.

I would pay for their gas everytime I saw a mother or father drive
into a station with children in the back seat of an old shabby looking
car.

I would pay someone to write down the rest of my Powerball dreams
because it is late now and I am tired and I want to go to bed.
Indeed, that much money will definitely change one’s life, but how to
use it is totally up to you. Buying a new Lamborghini? Donating some
money to a hospital? Or getting a mansion in Beverly Hills? However, if
you didn’t win the money, you better go back to work or go
study for your tests and quizzes after daydreaming. LOL. –Editor Gaven Li

Ben Can Fly

January 21, 2016 by szachik@pvs.org 5 Comments

Ben Ju, member of our senior class, went skydiving during his Christmas break. It was surprising to many people that he is indeed a fan of extreme sports. Palm Valley blog writers Zhenzhou Hu and Jim Wang interviewed Ben about this adventure. The following is the conversation between them. Be sure to play the video of Ben JUMPING out of a plane.

–Editor Amber Zheng

Zhenzhou Hu: I heard you went skydiving during this winter break. How was it?

Ben Ju: It was great! I went skydiving with my friends at Skydive Elsinore in Los Angeles.

Jim Wang: Did your parents know you went skydiving?

Ben: I told them after I did it. Otherwise, I would not have been allowed to go skydiving.

Zhenzhou: Was there anything that encouraged you to do this? Skydiving requires tremendous amounts of courage.

Ben: I did not have enough courage to do it before. However, I survived a car accident which happened during this past Winter Break. I realized that I needed to try the things I wanted to do while I could still do them. You know, . . . YOLO (You Only Live Once.) Skydiving is a way to celebrate my life!

Attached is the video of Ben readying for his jump, talking about his jump, flying, jumping out of the plane, landing, and his comments about the jump–all filmed by Skydive Elsinore.

There’s Been an Awakening–Have You Felt It?

January 20, 2016 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

–by Chloe Sweeney

If you have not seen the film, turn back before it’s too late! This is not the post you are looking for. SPOILER ALERT!!!

The release of the new Star Wars film has had the entire world buzzing. Weeks before it came out commercials were released, action figures were advertised, and speculation as to the film’s plot were circulating. Even before its release The Force Awakens racked up over $100 million in pre-ticket sales. But, did this film live up to its hype?
Film critics really enjoyed it, and Rotten Tomatoes gave it a score of 93 out of 100. Metacritic gave The Force Awakens an 81 out of 100 and IMDb rated it an 8.5 out of 10. The audience review was generally very positive with only a very few people leaving disappointed. Mr. Buck, a science teacher at Palm Valley School and Star Wars enthusiast, said this about the film:
“I never thought I would say this, but I miss George Lucas. The Star Wars prequels had many flaws in their execution, but Lucas is an imaginative and creative storyteller. The Force Awakens was a beautifully directed, mediocre story. J.J. Abrams played it safe and retold Episode 4 instead of creating something new. Although I’d rather have more Star Wars than less, this movie was nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
I am far from a hardcore Star Wars fan, but I do really love the movies. Prior to the release of the seventh film, my family and I had a Star Wars marathon where we re-watched all six episodes. It was so cool getting to hear my dad’s stories about his reaction to certain plot twists when he first saw the films in theaters. It is amazing that a movie franchise has made such a profound impact on so many people spanning multiple generations.
When we went to see The Force Awakens I was ecstatic. My memory was refreshed from the older episodes, and I couldn’t wait to see how the new film would turn out. Personally, my expectations were far exceeded. I absolutely loved the return of old characters and all the nostalgic throwbacks. The lightsaber fights packed more of a punch, and I loved BB-8. I agree that the plot was not as innovative as it could have been, but I was able to overlook that. I believe that if J.J. Abrams and Disney had significantly switched up the plot everyone would complain that they lost the elements that make Star Wars the Star Wars we have known and loved for almost 40 years.
The movie did leave many unanswered questions: who is Supreme Leader Snoke? Is Rey a Skywalker? Is she Luke’s daughter? How does Rey become attuned with The Force? Why does Luke’s lightsaber choose her? Will Kylo Ren redeem himself? Of course, there are countless other questions. It is incredibly unfortunate that the world will have to wait until December 15th, 2017, to see these questions answered in Episode VIII.

–Edited by Trey Lucatero

Chinese-American Fast-Food

January 15, 2016 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

Senior Blog Writer Amber Zheng talks today about the menus of some of the fast-food brands in China that look deceptively familiar.

–by Amber Zheng
American fast-food corporations entered China several decades ago. Fast-food brands like KFC, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Carl’s Junior, etc., are very popular in China. However, most of these American fast-food restaurants offer a much wider variety of foods in China than they do in America.

KFC was the first American fast-food chain that opened in China. It has a “localized” policy worldwide, which means it has specialized menus in different places in order to maximize the profit. Chinese KFC’s offer not only fried-chicken wings and sandwiches but also seafood porridge, chicken wraps, puddings, corn, fried rice, and even egg tarts! China is the only country in the world where KFC makes more money than McDonald’s does, and a huge part of the reason is because of the diversity and localization.

Pizza Hut was the first American fast-food pizza store that walked into China. In China, instead of a fast-food place, Pizza Hut is more like a chain restaurant that has a very big menu. A Chinese Pizza Hut menu is bigger than a Cheesecake Factory menu. Pizzas and salads are only a very small part of the options on the menu. Chinese Pizza Huts have soups such as chicken mushroom soup and seafood chowder; French appetizers such as garlic snails; different kinds of steaks such as French-style sirloin; all kinds of wines and coffee–such as vanilla latte and rum; various styles of noodles such as asparagus salmon spaghetti with Alfredo sauce; a long list of desserts including ice-cream chocolate cake, caramel brûlée, etc. Moreover, all of the Pizza Huts in China are designed as sit-down restaurants. They also have servers at the door to lead people to different tables and booths and waiters for each table. Moreover, the Pizza Huts in China offer a special packet for little kids. In this packet, kids get to go to Pizza Hut with their friends on their birthday and learn how to make pizzas. The Pizza Hut staff also arrange games for kids at their birthday parties.

–Edited by Henry Huang

The awards they’ve missed …

January 8, 2016 by szachik@pvs.org 3 Comments

–by Ashley Zhou

There are some extremely famous celebrities and athletes who have gained money, fame, and public recognition. They have been acknowledged as successful in almost every way–except they haven’t obtained that one important award in their fields. For whatever reason, they have been unintentionally locked out of winning a coveted prize–although they’ve been nominated numerous times.

The first person who pops up in my head is Leonardo DiCaprio. The highest honor of being an actor is to receive the Oscar or Academy Award. Leonardo DiCaprio has been nominated by the Academy for Best Performance of an Actor in a Leading Role three times and as the Best Actor in a Supporting Role one time, but he has never won. The movies that he was nominated for were What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993), The Aviator (2004), Blood Diamond (2006), and The Wolf of Wall Street (2013). DiCaprio has established himself with great performances in those movies. However, the Academy obviously didn’t appreciate his talents as much as we, the audience, did. Of course, he has been teased a lot about his “so close” trophy by caring netizens (people who populate the internet), too. DiCaprio’s new movie The Revenant is being released nationwide currently with high expectations. It is also eligible for an award in the 88th Academy Awards, so we are all hoping that he can bring Oscar home this time.

For the eleventh year in a row, Japanese author Haruki Murakami was favored to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, and for the eleventh year in a row, he didn’t win.
His books and stories are bestsellers not only in Japan but also worldwide, winning numerous awards including the World Fantasy Award (2006) and the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award (2006). However, he is still missing the Noble Prize for Literature. When asked about the possibility of being awarded the Nobel Prize, Murakami responded with a laugh, saying “No, I don’t want prizes. That means you’re finished.” It is true that great writers care much more about their readers’ responses than the awards.

As a strong national team throughout history, the Netherlands National Football Team never let its fans down in the World Cup–expect for every time they were in the final match. They hold the record for playing the most World Cup finals without ever winning the tournament.
In the 1974 World Cup, the Dutch played against West Germany. With only one minute into the game, the Dutch took the lead with a penalty kick by Johan Neeskens before any German player had even touched the ball. However, Germany struggled to recover until they scored with their own penalty kick in the 25th minute. West Germany pushed for a win–Gerd Muller scored in the 48th minute. Although both sides had few chances of sending the ball to the gate, West Germany was eventually crowned the World Cup champion. This was the first time that the Dutch missed the opportunity. Then, in 1978’s World Cup, after losing the final game four years ago, the Dutch made it again. The host Argentina turned the table of a 1-1 game by scoring two goals in stoppage time. But this match was a big controversy, as the Dutch accused the Argentines of using stalling tactics to delay the match that allowed tension to build in front of a hostile Buenos Aires crowd.
In the 2010 World Cup final, similarly, Spain defeated Netherlands 1-0 with a goal from Andrés Iniesta four minutes from the end of extra time. At the end of the game, as the sound of revelry hailed from the winning team, the orange soldiers left again with their lonely shadows fading out of the scene.

–Edited by Gaven Li

eSports: “It’s not just a phase, Mom!”

January 7, 2016 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

Our popular blog writer Jim Wang is also a royal fan of eSports. He disagrees with many people’s idea that eSports are not real sports and explains his reasons in the following blog post.

–Editor Amber

–by Jim Wang

eSports means competitive tournaments of video games, especially games among professional gamers. But are these eSports real sports? Most people may say no because they think that there are not any physical aspects like those found in football or basketball in video games. However, in my opinion, I totally agree with people that categorize eSports as real sports. Here are my reasons.

Firstly, eSport competitions are similar with those of traditional sports. Like conventional sports, eSports consist of many different games such as Starcraft, DotA, IMG_0930-2 Counter-Strike, etc. So, let’s take, for example, League of Legends, a popular multi-player game. People who are really good at League of Legends must have inhuman reaction speed, excellent team awareness, and great minds–just like in any other sport. Moreover, these players have to practice for more than ten hours a day in order to improve their personal and team-working skills. You may think that playing ten hours of a video game is easy, but if you try to play just one competitive hour of any eSport game you will know that it’s not easy at all.

Secondly, eSports are generating enormous business all over the world. According to newzoo.org, which conducts market research for the computer games industry, in 2014 there were 205 million viewers of online games. The 2013 League of Legends world championship attracted 32 million online viewers, which was more than double the amount of the online viewership of the Baseball World Series and seven times the amount of the NBA finals online. The 2015 Counter-Strike Grand Final drew 36.95 million viewers online–a 295% jump in viewership from last year. The 2014 League of Legends world championship attracted 40,000 fans at Seoul Sangam Stadium, which hosted a football World Cup semi-final in 2002. And, in July 2014, 11,000 fans watched an eSports event in a Seattle basketball arena. It offered the highest eSports prize pool so far–$10.9 million, which is higher than the prize for golf’s USPGA Championship, and this event was streamed by US broadcasting giant ESPN.

Finally, the reason eSports is a true sport is that the top players earn an estimated 1 million dollars a year by winning the world championship or through sponsorship and subscriptions to live broadcasts like that on Twitch.tv. People don’t have to worry about their livelihood if they are masters at video games.

Now, more and more people are realizing the potential of eSports, and I hope that one day eSports can be accepted as real sport.