CCIIIB - Rights to Write - Task 6 - 1st Reply

My father put up a poster he got from Apple Daily. It was a picture of 淑君kicking her opponent in the face, with a big “淑君我挺妳！” written on it. Not only do I see facebook events concerning this issue, the local news and the printing press have also been reporting the story around the clock. I’ve also heard that some companies have announced to “cease support” on all Korean products and goods, even if it costs them a third of their usual income.

If I were one of 淑君’s close friends, I would show my support for her without doubt. Although there have been many talks of conspiracy, I believe random acts of anger upon the Korean society solves nothing, nor does it help to change the fact that淑君 has been misjudged. It will only make matters worse. However, I also believe that, on an international and on a civilized basis, we should by all means make ourselves be heard by the related authorities. And in doing so, showing the whole world that we are not a cowered nation to be pushed around easily, and that we, as a part of the global community, have just as much right to demand justice as any other country.

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CCIIIB - Rights to Write - Task 5 - 1st Reply

Dear Candy,

I too am sorry for the late reply, and as we are hard working college students, we do tend to get too over-worked sometimes on our assignments.

I was very much affected by the whole event, the lady next door was actually running for里長, and so was many others in my neighborhood were also running for different offices in the upcoming新北市. I think these election events are related to us students. Since we live here and have no say in the whole thing, what we can do is to try to learn something out of it. I for one do not support nor like the election campaigns, which has practically became a local culture here in Taiwan.

Luckily, most of my family members are more objective and more democratic than some families might be. Although we sometimes talk about the issues, we don’t try to influence each other when it comes to voting. However, the people who parade about the issues should take the responsibility of not disturbing the peace and serenity of the neighborhood. Personally, I think all their campaigns and events only serve to prove how much noise they can make two week prior to the Election Day.

I agree with your point of view about having professors giving us some detailed and more objective perspectives on the whole event, which I believe is happening in some of the classes in our school. Also here at FuJen, our school stresses very much about not having political debates or other related contents that may offend those who do have certain political stands.

And as for the task product; if I had the ability, I would not have my staff run election campaigns like this. I would instead have those who want to run for different office, perform their duties in their everyday life. People will vote for who they respect and depend on, not whose poster is the biggest or brightest, not whose election campaign gives out the most gifts, and not about whose future promises are more attractive. 

(Word count: 350)

CCIIIB - Rights to Write - Task 4 - 1st Reply

Hi Candy,

During my time in Taiwan, I have lived in the northern part of the country, in Taipei County, so I'm not familiar with the eastern side of Taiwan. In fact, I haven't had the chance to do much traveling since my return from South Africa. Although I've only been to the eastern side of Taiwan two or three times, I remember clearly, the pleasant scenery and the refreshing country air.

I have seen on the news, the terrible disaster that struck the eastern side of Taiwan, and even till today, the news still report about it. Although I believe that some places should be left “untouched” by development, I also agree with the fact that people need to live a safe and secure life. And as Carrie has mentioned, the important thing is to protect the balance between the preservation of our natural environment, and the development of our civilization. I believe that has always been the big issue ever since Adam and Eve were driven out of Eden.

Word count: 167

CCIIIB - J02 - Stuttering

Although I don't stutter, nor do I have friends who do, but when I read about the people who do stutter in my psycholinguistic text book, I began to wonder about the cause of stuttering, and whether or not there might be a cure for it. According to my text book, plus some convenient Googling, I found out that different people tend to stutter for different reasons, and they may vary from mental disorders to speaking habits. Some are caused by tension and stress, some by certain phobias, and some from traumatic experiences. I’ve also heard some cases of stuttering were caused by forcing left handed people to use their right hand as their dominant hand, and the stress roused would indirectly cause them to stutter.

So far, the most popular treatment seems to be targeted therapies in accordance to the different reasons that may cause stuttering. If the cause of stuttering were from talking habits, or from tension and nervousness, some of the treatments may include teaching stuttering patients to learn to slow their speaking speed down to a considerate pace, in order to buy more time for them to process and prepare the forthcoming words and tenses. If the problem was caused by physical brain damage or injuries, the treatments would then include certain medications, mental rehabilitation, or cognitive repairs of some kind.

So in conclusion, I don’t think all stuttering cases need to be treated, so long as the conditions won’t affect mutual communication. However, if the stuttering is severe enough to obstruct normal conversations, then there’s no need to worry as well, since there are many efficient ways of treatments and cures.

Word count: 276

CCIIIB - Rights to Write - Task 3 - 1st Reply

(to my partner...)

Hi Candy,

I've seen the pictures for Task 3, but I couldn't tell which picture represents where, except for one.

I don't know where Picture 1 is supposed to be.

Picture 2 seems like "New York City", but I'm not sure.

I believe Picture 3 is "Downtown Chicago", because it says so in the picture.... haha!

Picture 4 looks like a picture of an artwork in a plaza, but I'm not sure from where.

Picture 5 looks like Melbourne, Australia, but then again, it could also be somewhere in the United States...

I'm guessing Picture 6 is somewhere in the United States, because there is a US police car in the background...

If you can further identify where these pictures represent, please share your knowledge. ;-)

Word count: 126

CCIIIB - Rights to Write - Task 2 - 2nd Reply

(to my partner...)
I absolutely agree with your point on "Once I made a choice,I would do everything to make myself not regretful."

I believe that life is too short; we really shouldn't waste time on regretting.

There is an old Chinese saying that says "You cannot have both the fish and the paws of the bear."

You are right about being decisive, and since our resources are always limited, it is what we choose that makes who we are.

Word count: 77

CCIIIB - Rights to Write - Task 2 - 1st Reply

(to my partner...)

I've never heard of the song nor the movie, but I must admit, the trailer was so good that I went and watched the whole film. It really was a good movie.

I think the scripts made Mel too much of an idealistic figure. I mean, how many girls would actually give up their mayor's-son-of-a-fiancé for a local "Jake"? It's not realistic enough, but then again, that's what makes the movie touching, I suppose.

I guess the reason why the movie was named after the song, was probably because of the lyrics and the passion they share in common.

Mel’s life is like the life of two different people living in two different worlds. Her New York identity is more refined and luxurious, though also more arrogant and vanity-filled, whereas her country girl identity in Alabama is less polished, less renowned, but more humane and more hospitable.

Mel calls Jake a “dumb, stubborn, red-neck cake” (or something like that = =) while she calls Andrew “Honey”…

If I were Mel, I would never have allowed myself to leave for anywhere with unfinished business. 

Word count: 183

CCIIIB - Rights to Write - Task 1 - 2nd Reply

(To my partner)
It's OK, you don't have to apologize for replying late, I know you are just as busy as I am, if not more so. 


I agree with your point on "Maybe people need more time to change their thinking", even though it doesn't bother me too much.


I also agree with your view on changing habitat ever once in a while. Not only does it keep you refreshed, it also helps you make new friends, and learn about new places. I for one have been moving around on an average of every five years, so I know how it must have felt like. 


Thank you for your offer of being my tour guide, you're too kind, though I'd rather not trouble you.
Word count: 122

CCIIIB - Rights to Write - Task 1 - 1st Reply

(To my partner)

I'm sorry for replying so late, I have been busy these few weeks with my father's newly opened noodle restaurant.

Any way, I feel that my situation is a bit like the opposite of yours, after reading your part.

I live in 三重 city, and the best part about my city, is that it is right next to 台北 City and 西門町. From where I live, I have quick access to the surrounding cities via four convenient bridges. I can take the 忠孝 bridge and connect to 市民大道, which will then lead me to anywhere I want in 台北 City. Or, I can take the 中興 bridge to 西門町, 萬華, and the 龍山 Temple, where I can hang out with my friends, or do some shopping, or watch a movie. I take the 重新 bridge to 新莊 City and to school. And I take the newly built 新北 bridge to 板橋 and 土城 City, where I teach English as a home tutor.

The down side of 三重 City, is probably its infamous name of violence and criminal-rigged streets, which was the fact from the old days. But the crime rates in 三重 have dropped just as much as any other city in Taiwan. But still, most people react some what differently when they hear that I come from 三重, and most will ask about how many gangsters I hang out with, or how many guns have I got.

If I had the choice to move to a different place, I would probably choose to live in the quiet country side, somewhere where I can get close to nature and enjoy and pleasures of living a slow paced life.

Word count: 305

CCIIIB - J01 - I met Mr. Brown in FamilyMart

Today has been one tiring day. I didn't sleep well last night, because my baby boy didn't sleep well either. I got out of bed late, left home late, and got into the classroom late. And the first lesson I have today was Ethics... Being late on the first day of Ethics class was not much help for morality.

The morning classes are easy enough for me to cope with; it's the classes in the afternoon that are really hard to sit through. My first afternoon class was Composition and Conversation class. Not a dull lesson, but it's the classroom setting that makes it difficult to stay awake. Usually sleepiness kicks in automatically after enjoying a great meal, and that makes it hard to stay awake for afternoon classes already, imagine having afternoon classes in an air-conned computer room filled with soft cushion seats.

I managed to make through that class awake, but the next class completely drained out my energy. Not that the class was boring, but since it was the beginning of the semester, teachers usually spend the first lesson chatting and laughing. And so with no real important material to pay attention to, I slacked down completely, and the sleepiness kicked in. It was OK to sleep in this class at that particular time, but the feeling of lack of energy was very dangerous for my tutoring business that followed later.

So now in order to fight off the pleasant, yet undesired sleepiness, I relocated myself to the nearby FamilyMart, and contented to be able to consult Mr. Brown, the tips of staying awake, and it seems to be working. Maybe writing my journal in public also contributes to keeping me awake, somehow. Still, with Mr. Brown by my side, I seem to have regained my consciousness and also my confidence for the tutoring classes. Thank you, Mr. Brown!

Word count: 312