The two-day weekend

May 31st,2010    by Vachel

The advance of science and technology has given people more free time. Nowadays, we have a 5-day work week. Therefore, college students have much more leisure time. Sports fans can lay on the playground. Some students who are interested in social cork can join various clubs. Of course, they also can get part-time to gain some work experience.

There is a growing concern over students who don't put much emphasis on study. Some students idle away their time, playing birds, drinking, or gambling. These problems are serious. Taking ito account all these factors, we can safely come to the conclusion lat the students will waste more time if they don't make good use it.

As a student, busy as I am with my study, I also do many interesting things such as reading novels, writing articles during the 'o-day weekend. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. It's ally true!

WEST THAMES COLLEGE SERVICES FOR STUDENTS

May 29th,2010    by Vachel

When students are weary from study and want the chance to relax and enjoy themselves with friends, they can participate in a number of recreational activities. Depending on demand, we offer a range of sporting activities including football, badminton, basketball, table tennis, volleyball, weight training and aerobic. For the non-sporting students we offer a debating society, video club, Kair and beauty sessions, as well as a range or creative activities. Suggestions for activities from students are always

TKis confidential service is available if you kave practical or personal difficulties during your course of study, whether of a financial or personal nature. .Students advisors can Kelp you directly or put you in toucan witch someone else wn.o can give you tint Kelp you need.

TKe College ruses are- tKere for general medical advice and for treatment of illness or injury. AII visits are confidential. First aid boxes and fully-trained 1'irst .Aiders are also on hand at various locations around college.

West London employers Kave a permanent base in the center of college, witK access to a database of more than 2A-, 000 jobs available locally and in (Sentral .London. "TKey will also Kelp you witK job applications and interview tecKniques.

The Road Not Taken

May 28th,2010    by Vachel

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth.

Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim , Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

Commerce and Investment

May 27th,2010    by Vachel

Money is the means of payment, especially in the form of coins and banknotes, given and accepted in buying and selling. Cash is the tangible and portable money in the form of notes or coins. Hard cash refers to the coins and notes, which is not a cheque or the money promised to pay later. When people buy and sell things, they often pay cash. That is, they pay money in notes or in coins. Paper money is the money in the form of banknotes. A banknote or note in Britain, and a bill in the United States, is a piece of paper money officially issued by the bank, usually by the central bank. It may have a high or low face value. A coin is a piece of metal used as money. It also may have a high or low face value. In everyday life, coins of lower values, together with notes of lower values, are used as small change or change.

In Britain, people may also pay by cheque, while in the United States, people pay by check. A cheque or a check is a special printed form on which one writes an order to a bank to pay a sum of money from his account to another person.

Now more and more people pay by credit card, which is a safe and convenient way to make payments. The credit card is also commonly called the plastic card or the plastic money. It is a card authorizing purchases on credit, that is, to make payments later by the bank. So the holder of a credit card is allowed to buy goods and services on credit.

Currency is the money system in use in a country. It consists of gold currency and paper currency. Hard currency, like gold currency, is the currency that is not likely to fall suddenly in value. Soft currency is the currency that is not convertible into gold or into certain other currencies which are more in demand. A convertible currency is one that can be exchanged for those of other countries. An international currency is a convertible currency that can be exchanged internationally.

Jiuzhaigou, China's Fairyland

May 26th,2010    by Vachel

Sichuan Province in southwest China is renowned for its many fascinating natural wonders which have attracted millions of travelers over the centuries. The recent discovery of the scenic beauty of Jiuzhaigou (Nine-village Ravine) has added charm to the picturesque landscape. Known as "China's Fairyland", Jiuzhaigou is located in the hills along the borders of Nanping, Pingwu and Songpan counties, some 400 kilometers from Chengdu, the pro¬vincial capital. Three scenic areas—Shuzheng qunhaigou, Zechawagou and Rizegou—combine to make up the 60,000 hectares of fairyland, which is nearly 2,500 meters above sea level. Its name "Nine-village Ravine"is sup¬posed to be because Tibetans once inhabited nine villages in the ravine.

Here is a brief record in "Green Lakes", a chapter in the Annals of Nanping County: "In Jiuzhaigou, lakes meander for miles, with wooded hills mirrored in the clear water." The scene, actually, is much more beautiful than can be put into words.

Sichuan Province is rich in scenic wonders, each with its own distinctive features—the elegance of Mount Emei, the serenity of Mount Qingcheng, the sharp precipice of Jianmen Pass, and the grandeur of Kuimen. But to depict the diverse natural beauty of Jiuzhaigou in one or two words is not nearly enough. "Fairyland",however inadequate, is perhaps the only word to choose.

Intrigued by this fairyland, true lovers of nature have tried recording its unique beauty in poems, paintings, photographs and travel notes.

An old local Tibetan tells the story of Jiuzhaigou: "Once upon a time, there lived deep in the mountains an immortal named Dage and a fairy maiden named Wonuosemo. They fell in love. One day, Dage presented Wonuosemo with a bright mirror which he had polished with the wind and the clouds. Unfortunately, the mirror slipped from the maiden's hand and broke into 108 pieces, each turning into a lake of emerald green."It is no wonder why scenic Jiuzhaigou is so entertaining, with so many distinctive "Green Lakes" reigning over the whole area.

China is a land of scenic contrasts, each uniquely representing its own area: West Lake in Hangzhou with enchanting pavilions set in quiet surroundings, Mount Emei in Sichuan with peaks peeping through mist and clouds, Guilin in Guangxi with panoramic views of mountains and rivers. And Jiuzhaigou presents another view. Aged trees wave the seasons by, amid carpets of wild flowers and thick green vegetation. Sparkling lakes and waterfalls vary with every season. Some rare trees and grasses, survivors of the glacial epoch, still thrive here in harmony with a host of creatures which make this ravine their home, for the land teems with such animals as giant pandas, golden monkeys, takings, white-eared pheasants, deer and river deer. All of this unfolds into a panorama of beautifully balanced fauna and flora.

Lajia Temple

May 25th,2010    by Vachel

Lajia Temple lies half way up Dalan Hill in Minghe county, Qinghai province. It was built during the Northern Wei Dynasty in remembrance of Lajiameshi, a member of the Yellow Sect of Lamaism of India, who came to China in 321 A. D. to spread Hinayana doctrine and spent 13 years preaching around this place until he cone-shaped pavilions, each is supported by three red pillars. There stands a tablet recording the history of the temple in the pavilion on the left, while in the pavilion on the right, there is a chess table made of stone. Although it is worn by constant use, you can still discern the lines on the stone. It is said during the years when Lajiameshi meditated in the cave behind the temple, he sometimes played chess with the local people on this table when he was tired from sitting. Later after his departure, the cave collapsed and the chess table was moved into the temple.

The path finally ends right in front of Falundian, the Hall of Dharma. It is a triangular prism-shaped structure with a clay elephant on the ridge. Under the four over¬hanging eaves are four great pillars on which flying dragons are spiraling upward. The whole structure is about 11 meters in height and occupies a floor space of 300 square meters.

Once you get into the hall, the first thing you see is the colored clay sculpture of Sakyamuni sitting cross-legged on the waterlily stand. The Buddha has a calm smile on his face. The robe is tightly wrapped around his body as if he has just come out of water. On the right of Sakyamuni is the laughing Amitabha in his half-lying posture, while the Buddha of Infinite Life on the left has a serene look.

At the back of the three buddhas is the standing statue of Lajiameshi, made of elm. It is the image of a thin man with long curly hair and bright eyes. His left leg is raised as if he were stepping swiftly into the gate of heav-156 returned to India in 334 A. D.en. The long streaks engraved on the cassock give you the impression that he is riding on the wind. This was a most learned man who came to China as a religious preacher, and at the same time he introduced a totally different cul¬ture to the Chinese people. Largely owing to his efforts, the Chinese built the first and largest temple of the Yellow Sect of Lamaism of China — Taer Temple.

Justin Simons

May 24th,2010    by Vachel

Justin Simons was in charge of the international division at Seedlink, an American seed company headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois. As Brazil expanded its soybean production, he saw great potential in selling seed to Brazilian farmers. His company had worked on a type of seed that would be perfect for weather conditions in Brazil. He had been to Brazil once to explore the market. On the last day of the trip he was introduced to Jose Menem, a likable man in this thirties. Menem seemed to know the agricultural market. His English was good; this was an important point since Justin did not speak Portuguese. Justin had read somewhere that connections are important in doing business in Brazil, and Menem seemed to know everyone.

Justin did not want to waste any time; he was eager to sell in Brazil well before the competition did. Therefore, during his second trip to Brazil he signed Menem on as an agent. A few weeks later Justin began to wonder what was going on. Menem had been enthusiastic and very optimistic about selling seed, but there were very few orders even though it was the time of year when farmers would buy seed for the new crop. When he talked to Menem, he only got evasive answers that things were difficult. Justin tried to convince himself that those were typical start-up problems and that things would get better the next year. But communication with Menem remained slow. Typically, Justin would wait for several days for a response to his e-mails. When they did talk on the phone, Menem kept assuring Justin that things would get better once conditions improved. Simons never quite understood what this meant. From contacts in Brazil he found out that Menem was spending most of his time promoting products from other foreign companies.

When Justin learned that a major competitor had landed a huge order from Brazil, he decided that it was time to replace Menem. He realized that he had to make sure that neither Menem nor Seedlink would lose face. Menem was well connected, and he easily could damage Seedlink's reputation. After talking to several managers at Seedlink, Justin decided to contact a lawyer specializing in international business law. He could not believe what the lawyer told him. Unless Menem agreed to a separation, which probably would be rather expensive, Simons would have a hard time getting rid of Menem. In the meantime the competition would build a substantial advantage in the Brazilian market.

Letter of Applying for M. A.

May 22nd,2010    by Vachel

Dear Sir,

I have noticed from your prospectus that your center offers linguistics courses to foreign students. I wonder if you would consider me as an applicant for the MA course of Applied Linguistics beginning in August 1998.

I am a postgraduate of the Foreign Language Department of Jiaotong University in Shanghai where I had two years of training in Applied Linguistics, Teaching Methodology, Semantics, Sociology, Literature and other subjects. I am enclosing a certified copy of my academic record at the university. You will notice that I obtained very good results in Applied Linguistics and Semantics.

After my graduation in 1995, I worked for two years at Shandong University. In 1997, I was transferred to Qingdao University where I am still working now.

I have always found applied linguistics an interesting subject. I would like to further my study in this field at your center. I hope you could send me the necessary information about the course.

I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours truly, Wang Ye

Information is a link that joins people in a collective or group

May 21st,2010    by Vachel

For example, Thais seeking employment include not only university education on their resumes but also high school education.' That's because they may have gone to a school which a member of the royal family or some other noble attended. That links the candidate to a high social status and would link future co-workers as well. Shared information creates an in-group in both high-context and low-context cultures. It is a community of the knowing, the knowledgeable, the ones in the know.

From secret handshakes and codes in social organizations to vacation experiences in specific locations to membership on boards or committees, information that is shared by the group but not by those outside the group defines membership. In group-oriented cultures, what is known by one member of a group is known by all members of the group. In individualist cultures, what is known by one individual is not automatically the property of the group. One who knows has a power others do not have, and when one chooses to share the information, a link is forged and a group is formed.

In low-context cultures in which the career of the individual is to a greater extent the individual's own responsibility, information is owned by the individual and shared judiciously when the individual will benefit. In a low-context culture like Austria, for example, individuals value the confidentiality of information and do not share it. If a job candidate has had a link with a prestigious person, the candidate might use that to enhance his or her status, but co-workers would not expect to be included in the linkage or benefit from it.

Imagine a culture that views change as negative, that values being rather than doing, that considers the group a basic unit of society and individuals as fractions of the whole basic unit, and that looks upon its own cultural priorities as the only ones worth holding. Then imagine someone probably a foreigner — coming in to ask questions and

Information, Decisions, and Solutions gather information about behavior, preferences for products, prices paid for goods, and other market data. Such inquiries will almost certainly be treated with suspicion, resentment, and hostility. The way business information is defined and gathered has to be put in the context of a specific culture.

This imaginary culture described in the preceding paragraph is probably a high-context culture. But high-context cultures are not alone in valuing information as a source of power:

Spring

May 20th,2010    by Vachel

Eventually spring comes after the dull winter. The long-struggling rays of the sun shoot down victoriously upon the lifeless world, and set it free from its icy cover. Whispered to every corner by the soft breeze is the news that the beloved spring is coming.

The universe itself is beginning its new life. The mountains and fields are now beautifully decorated. Trees stretch their tender arms trembling for joy.

Grass and plants raise their heads. Rivers and streams present a lovely sight. Fish swim in them with gentle strokes. Birds fly here and there, to and fro, in the branches playing with the buds. Butterflies dance in the air like snowflakes. The busy bees, when they have kissed the charming flowers, fly away with buzzing laughter.

Oh, how the world is decorated and transformed! We see full beauty; we hear sweet melodies; we smell the fragrances of the gentle growing world. We have no gloomy days, no roaring winds, no heavy snow, no dust storms, no piercing coldness and no boiling heat. Spring is the sign of sweetness, of harmony, of happiness, of hope and of life.