The moment I saw the classmates of 302, I felt an indescribable excitement to become friends with them all. Due to that overflowing emotion, I found myself masked behind my concept of how to be nice. I would walk up to classmates I never talked to before and offer fruits and other goods as though we were life long friends. I would offer help in English to people who probably just needed some time to figure out on their own. As a matter of fact, my adoration of them grew so strong that I practically thought them to be godly perfect and treated them as if I was worshipping God. When in conversations, my replies were all merely for the purpose of finding favor with the others and the smiles were carved on for the same purpose. Yet, it was indifference in return for a carefully constructed greeting or a flushed face of embarrassment to my jack-o-lantern smiles. I was exhausted and all I worked for, to befriend with everyone, never came.

        I learned, from classmates, there’s an art in just being who you are. So long as we hope for the best and our nature is of no evil, we can easily blend in. When we speak of what we think of and smile for the sake of inner content, life is simple and free from made-up expectations.

        Though my classmates may not realize, they have taught me to just be myself.

      One night, when I was preparing for the high school entrance exam, there was a sudden series of knocks on our door. An unexpected visitor, the landlord’s mom, stepped in and made herself clear that they needed the apartment and would have to ask us out in two months.

      My parents were all smiles and seemed so at ease about being kicked our. They explained to me, “God will find a place for us.” Though I pray a lot, and believe in God, but I still felt more doubtful and anxious to the possibility of ending up homeless.

      Soon a week passed by, my parents looked for nearby apartments for rent in vain. Houses they found were either too expensive or inconvenient; the future home seems like a blur. A few weeks later, they walked by an advertisement for an apartment for rent in an obscure corner in town, and our new home was discovered!

      It was truly a miracle, our family moved in the new home in less than two month’s time. The home was perfect in location to every member of our family. First of all, it is only a thirty-minute walk from the old house which simplifies the moving process. To mom, it is located in front of the town’s biggest, liveliest traditional market, and supermarket. To dad, the affordable house is only a couple blocks away from his transportation-MRT station-to work. The bus station I take to school is right in front of our home and my brother’s junior high school is right next to it. Our new home is convenient to all of us, and it remains tranquil hidden in a peaceful alley. The home was newly redesigned by the landlord and it is as comfortable as a hotel! Nearby schools and parks are in a distance far enough to keep us from the noise, yet close enough for us to freely choose to take some fresh air in our leisure time. The garbage truck also parks nearby. The neighbors are very friendly and the kindergarten next door makes it a simple and playful area. What’s more, the home is only a three minutes’ walk to our church!

      Our new perfect home was a symbol of genuine faith from my folks and the promising land from God in return.

Sun’s been led astray,

Leaves the sky all grey.

Still we chant, “HURRAY!”

For OURSELVES today.

It was the year 2008, and we were experiencing unbearable coolness of winter despite the fact that it was the strongest global warming atmosphere in history.
One of the favorite leisure pastimes of our home is watching historical soap operas. These television series include stories of the past great dynasties of China, the stories of American White House and other significant stories of different continents. The stories are presented in a dramatic and witty way that interests our whole household.
Winter coats, extra thick clothing, and socks were not enough to satisfy our demand of warmth during the enjoyment of watching television in the freezing Chinese New Year. Therefore Mom, young brother Morrisis and I cuddled cozily under a “cold-proof” sleeping bag which was intentionally made to withstand the colds on Rocky Mountains! Dad, who was a man with more calories to burn him warmth took this funny photo in our living room.
We had an entertaining and cozy pastime during the cool Chinese New Year.

       

    The images of this morning replayed in the boy’s mind, when he was at home where a party was held. It was his once in a year birthday party, he sat under the bold printed birthday banner with the birthday cone hat. He sat there carefully unwrapping the cube shaped gift, and found in it an active cute puppy which he loved at first sight. After the wonderful party, the boy took the dog to the park and played happily there. The boy decided to rest under the shaded tree and fell asleep. This was all he could recall from the sleep, he is now awake and searching desperately for only the puppy leash is in sight. All he could remember after the sleep was he dreamed he told the puppy it was time to go home. The boy walked home with sorrowful tears. When he reached home, his sorrowful tears were replaced by tears of relief. The puppy was waiting for him at the doorsteps, for it thought the boy’s dream words to be true and headed home. The boy embraced the puppy jubilantly and declared a happy ending of an unforgettable birthday.

        Morrisis is considered a cute and fair lad to countless young female cousins and friends who tried and failed to kiss his reluctant rosy cheeks. Yet, he is regarded as, “the famine victim of Africa” or “the skinny” among the elderly relatives. The family elders would exclaim, “You’re too bony! Eat more. Has Tina eaten all your food?” His figure, however, is often praised by teenagers. They’d say, “I hope I’m as slender as he!”

        A teacher once described him as innovative and full of unexpected surprises. Morrisis dreams to be a world famous scientist; and he loves doing experiments and inventing useful gadgets. His favorite hobbies are having fun, reading novels, postponing math homework and talking non-stop about the fun things he knows. I remember once, as he was talking non-stop again, I commented about a world known scientist. “Oh, he’s the greatest only because the world hasn’t seen me!” was his funny reply.

        This carefree and fun lad, whom just grew an inch taller than I , is my favorite and only brother Morrisis Huang.

        Before this trip, I thought that eating food and buying goods was what I craved for. But after a lot of eating and buying, I realized these materials couldn’t make me satisfied, it was the interaction with my family that excited me the most. We headed home that day on an agreement that the foods from our home kitchen taste way better and healthier than the foods in the night market, and that we came home a more content person.