My English Learning Blog

Self-defense

2011-03-21T04:50:00.000-07:00

During my Listening and Speaking class in pre-TESL program, our lecturer assigned us a task to do demonstration speech. I chose title self-defense for my demonstration speech. Here is my content in the demonstration:

What is Self-defense?

According to Longman Contemporary English Dictionary, self-defence is something you do to protect yourself or your property, or skills that you learn to protect yourself if you are attacked.

According to Wikipedia, Self-defence or self-defense is a countermeasure that involves defending

oneself, one's property or the well-being of another from physical harm.

Reasons Why You Should Learn Self- Defense Techniques:

v To defense yourself from sexual assault

v To defense yourself from bully

v To defense yourself from robbery

v Other form of crimes

Basic techniques:

BLOCKING

ØSingle Forearm Block

Ø Low Block

Ø Rising Block

PUNCH

ØBackfist

Ø Knife Hand

Ø Forefist

KICK

Ø Front Kick

Ø Side Kick

Ø Turning Kick

3 Different Situation to Apply Self-defense:

ü Defense against knife threat

ü Defense against punch or slap

ü Defense against kick

Example the video of tae-kwon-do (one of the martial arts that can teach self-defense)

Hills like White Elephants

2011-03-21T04:15:00.000-07:00

During Literature class, i had to present short story title "Hills Like White Elephants". This is the synopsis of the story:

The story is about An American man and a woman having some beers while waiting for the train to Barcelona. As the couple drinks, the woman tells the man that the hills in the distance remind her of "white elephants.“This cause argument between them. Later, the man begins trying to convince the woman, Jig, to have an abortion, but only, he says, if she wants to. She wants to know if this will solve their problems, and get their relationship back on track. He tells her that their relationship is on track, but that he is distracted because of his "worry" over the pregnancy. She agrees to have the abortion, but says she is only agreeing because she no longer cares about herself. The man says she shouldn’t do it for that reason. Soon, the train has arrived and the man take the luggage before going back to the bar to finish the beer.

This is the example of the video of the story:

Difference between Preposition and Conjunction

2011-03-21T04:01:00.000-07:00

During my Syntax class, we have to strengthen our background grammar knowledge in order to understand Syntax better. Therefore, i had been given task to search about the difference between Preposition and Conjunction.

So what is the difference between Preposition and Conjunction?

Conjunction joins clauses, phrases, or words in a sentence. For example, " The dog ate the burger AND the cake"
Meanwhile, Prepositions link nouns, pronouns and phrases to other words in a sentence. For example, "The cat sat ON the table"
" The dog was sitting BESIDE the couch"

So you see the difference? Well, this is one of the difference. There are more that you can find for yourself. ;)

1 Malaysia Concept

2011-03-21T03:52:00.000-07:00

During my Sociology of Education class, we were given the task to write about Reflective Writing. It is something related to main theory of sociology. This is my writing:

Everyday we hear on the television, billboard, radio, and so on about 1 Malaysia concept. How far we know about 1 Malaysia concept? What is the hidden meaning inside the slogan? Why the government emphasize the slogan “People First, Performance Now” in the workplaces, schools, and government administration system? This entire question can be answered when we focus to one of the major theory in sociology, which is Structural Functional Theory.

In Structural Functional Theory, there are several major institutions that made the society, which are family, religion, education, economics, politics and health. As the Structural Functional Theory stressed on the function of individual towards the society, every individual has his or her own function that makes the society become balance. To develop each function, we need one of the major institutions, which is education. Functionalist Durkheim stressed on education in society by emphasize “the importance of education in creating moral values as the foundation of society,” (Ballatine & Hammack, 2009). Therefore, to develop the spirit of 1 Malaysia, our education system has changed to become more national integration based activity.

Apart from that, Structural Functional Theory also stated that once a change in social institutions occurs, it would affect the other institutions. Hence, our government convey this ideology or concept through education in order wishing that it would affect other institutions to make our society become better than our situation before independent. However, there is institution that cannot be disturbed in our plural society, which is religion. Therefore, the government only target the 5 society’s institutions to be improved.

If we see one by one of the society institutions that we can relate to 1 Malaysia concept, for example institution of health. Everyone has their own special ability or skilled in certain field. When we cooperate, we can help each other. For the health perspective, we can help someone regarding his or her race or ethnics when they have health problem and so on. In addition, it would make a huge difference if the expert in medical do volunteer work to the rural area which minority of the ethnics there could not access to good facilities such as transport facility to get good health treatment. This action will improve health institution among our society.

The main purpose of 1 Malaysia concept is to gain national unity and tolerance in ethnics relation. The slogan, “People First, Performance Now” indicate that in order to have a country that stable in economy, politics and society, all races and ethnics need to integrate. When there is unity among the people, then action to enhance country’s development can be taken.

Besides that, every Malaysian citizen has their ownspecialities, however, they share the same goal that is to have stable and well-develop country. Therefore, by integration and cooperation, each individual can exchange ideas and skills to achieve the goal.

Other than that, according to Structural Functional Theory, societies are held together by shared values, common symbols or systems of exchanges. As we are in the same system and common symbols, government tries to courage our citizens to share values among each other. Besides make it balance, it is also make our society strong either physical or spiritual.

In conclusion, 1 Malaysia concept is good to be implement to the plural society. Therefore, every Malaysian citizens need to apply this concept in the everyday life.

Procrastination

2011-03-21T03:34:00.000-07:00

Yes! i know almost everyone experience this...Procrastination is not uncommon word for people at any age..From children to adult..we always experience procrastination when we deal with our everyday tasks. That is why it becomes my group choice of topic for presentation in Counseling class last semester.

What is Procrastination?
According to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, procrastination is the act to delay doing something that you ought to do, usually because you do not want to do it.

WAYS OF PROCRASTINATION

Skipping it

Procrastinators always delay the work that they have to do until they are skipping it. For example, when the room of a person is untidy, the person does not consider the importance to have a tidy room. Therefore, he tends to delay the clean task until he misses the time when he should do the clean task. However, he reassures himself that he can do it the next day and the things keep going on for the next day and after.

Doing it last

This is the way of procrastination for the compulsory task such as homework, assignments, projects, presentation and so on. Usually, the person has the schedule or deadline for the work to be submitted. However, he only does the easiest task first before stop doing the difficult one. As he does the easiest task, he thinks that he can complete the task. Thus, create the secure feeling that he can finish the work. As time goes by, and the deadline is just around the corner, he starts to feel the pressure and cause anxiety. He does the work in a rush and skips the important routine such as sleep or eats just to finish the work.

Escape

The procrastinators typically prioritize something that they enjoy doing rather than doing something that they do not like. For instance, when a person has important task to do and he thinks that he has more time to complete the task, he will choose to do the task later and enjoy himself doing something joyful such as playing video games, watching movies or television programmes. All these entertainment elements contribute to the procrastinator to escape from doing the task. Choosing the short-term over the long-term beneficial will lead to depression afterwards.

CHARACTERISTICS OF PROCRASTINATION

Procrastination as poor judgement

The ways of procrastination and the characteristics of procrastination are linked to each other. From the 3 ways given, mostly it is all about making a decision for themselves. It may or may not that the procrastinator is conscious of what he has chosen to do. Most of the cases, they know the consequence if they did not finish the task. The feelings such as anxiety and guilty will overwhelmed them. However, they ignore these feelings by choosing one or more of the ways of procrastination.

Procrastination as being engrossed

In the modern world, there are many entertainment elements, for instance, computers, televisions, mobile phones and cinemas were invented. These are the main contribution to the procrastination. As the procrastinators are a poor judgement, they tend to be engrossed by these elements in making the decision. Lacking of self-control makes the procrastinators let themselves to be engrossed.

Procrastination as a phobia

In some cases, there is a person which fear of the task given. The factors that contribute to this matter are like believe that the task given cannot be done, irritate with the task, and experience terrible moment from the past regarding the task. These somehow create a phobic feeling towards the task.

Procrastination as a bad habit

When the action of procrastination is done reoccurring, the action will become a habit. This bad habit not only affected one’s self but also others especially when the task given involved with cooperation with others. In addition, the habitual action usually done by unconscious mind as the mind automatically set to do it. Thus, the effort to overcome it will become more difficult.

Procrastination as a sign

There is a speculation that procrastination could be a psychological disorder. Procrastination could be the sign or symptom of a psychological disorder such as depression, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), Alzheimer and other memory loss disorder.

This is the example of video that related to procrastination:

Medieval Universities

2011-03-21T02:47:00.000-07:00

During my 1st semester in TESL program,we took the subject called 'History of Education'. I have to present about Medieval Universities.

So, what is Medieval Universities?
Medieval University is an institution of higher learning which was established during Middle Ages period

University is started from the students' and teachers' associations called Universitas. From the associations, it evolves and becomes university.

What is the factors contribute to the growth of universities at that time?

Ø The economic condition has improved.

Ø Political is more stable.

Ø Greater contacts with Byzantine and Arab scholars.

Ø Desire for learning and the demand for professional training

Rediscovery of the classics

Ø Rediscovered the works of Aristotle, Euclid, Ptolemy, Galen, and Hippocrates through Byzantine and Arab scholars.

Professional schools

Ø Offered professional studies in law, medicine, and theology.

Here is one of the example of medieval university:

University of Oxford

-Establish unknown but the teaching process existed since 1096.

-this university rapidly develop as in 1167, Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris

-about 1200, this university become important to the community.

-most of the subject is taken from Roman world.

This is the example of the picture for Medieval Universities:

No Pun Intended

2011-03-21T02:35:00.000-07:00

Have the statement above crossed your daily conversation before? Well, i did when i was chatting with my friend. She said something and put that statement at the end of her sentence. Actually, 'no pun intended' mean, based on the websites that i searched is when you said something that have double meaning or joke that you did not intend to make it. For example, a guy with one hand is in the supermarket, he keeps dropping a bag of oranges, a woman comes up to him and says.."need a hand ? " she says no pun intended ( meaning she's not joking about his lost limb ). Hope, i can make the meaning clear to you.. :)

Misery of Silence Changes

2011-02-06T22:20:00.000-08:00

In my English Class during SPM, there was international online conference held to discuss about Environment. Besides joining the forum, students can also create stories and poems about the Environment. This is the poem that i composed for the online conference:

Changes after changes we going through,
Some changes lead us to greatness,
And some changes lead us to sadness,
But this changes suffered many lives,
Its creeping slowly and cause misery life.

From white forests to black forests,
From freezing sea to moving sea,
From calm ocean to aggressive ocean,
From fresh air to smoky air,
All these are misery of silence changes.

Day after day sea swallow our lands,
Time after time our day become dull and dull,
When our heart melting we are happy,
But when a purity ice on north pole melting, are we happy?

The atmosphere become more thin,
Its all because of human being,
We did not realize what we are doing,
And at last, we feel the suffering.

Mistranslation of Signboard

2011-01-22T20:38:00.000-08:00

During my holiday to Thailand last year, I saw a signboard in Khao Pra Taew Forest. Here is the picture of the signboard:

The English instruction in that signboard gives a mistranslation to the reader because it does not make any sense. For example, it says 'Approach to Relax'. Relax cannot be approached. It should be 'Relax' or 'Remember to relax' or 'Relax in Nature' or anything that make sense to the reader.

Other than that, it says 'Love to Note' which is right but not appropriate. It should be 'Take a Note' or 'Notice Nature' or anything that reader think is appropriate.

The Black Book and a Rose

2009-08-31T04:49:00.000-07:00

During my Foundation in Education, my lecturer asked every each of us in the class to do a journal and free to write anything. Therefore, i decided to do a short story. Here is my short story:

Once upon a time, there was a young lady lived in the hut. She did not have any siblings or family. However, before her adopted parents passed away, they left the hut for her. One day, while walking towards the hut compound, she saw a door. She opened up the door and there were stair towards the basement. That place was so dusty and the air was so damp. She walked slowly toward the treasure box. The treasure box was locked. She took the axe and broke the key. She saw there were many gold coins in that treasure box. Her face glowing effect from the sparkling gold coins. She was jumped with joy. While she was digging the gold coin, there were a huge black book and a black rose inside the book. The black book was so thick. She opened the book. There was strange and ancient language in that book. She brought the book into her room and tried to read it. Unfortunately, she could not understand a thing.

Finally, she brought the book to the old lady that lived in the forest. That old lady surprised to see the book. She was very excited. Later, she explained everything to the young lady.

The black book and the black rose was the curse from the young lady ancestors. They cast the spell onto the black book and the black rose to take revenge to the villagers who neglected them, as they believe the young lady family was the Evil Family.

The truth was Emily McBright, the young lady name, family were wizards. However, they came to the village with peace and hoped to live like other normal family.
The villagers could not accept them, as they looked very awkward to them. Emily McBright family’s house was huge and creepy. There was once, Chris, the son of the neighbour sneaky into her house and saw they cast a spell on the foods and the foods floated towards the dishes.

All the villages believed on Chris and that night, the dark history in Emily McBright family had begun. They burned the Emily’s family into ashes together with the house. Emily’s mother managed to release herself into the jungle.

In the jungle, she saw an old hut and an old lady in it. The old lady helped the Emily’s mother. Emily’s mother, Delilah, lent the book and the black rose to the old lady before she died. She said that the book and the black rose had being cursed by her ancestors for the sake of her family safety and against toward the enemy. Delilah mentioned that as Emily turned 18, she would come to the old lady for help. She knew the future because Delilah was a great psychic. She also asked the old lady to help Emily and turned her into the greatest witch through the book’s guide.

As soon as the old lady finished explained to the Emily, Emily was in rage and fury. In a blink of an eye, Emily ran away. While still running, she cried. She stopped at the lake nearby. She screamed and cried with all her heart.

She felt sad as all her family died in the tragedy. Her soul full of hatred. She began to think of evil plan to the villagers. But first, she must learned all the techniques and spells in the books in order to become the greatest witch. That night, she could not sleep. She was being haunted by the old lady story. She could not forgive the villagers. Her soul screamed for revenged. She got up and seated on bed. Finally, she burst into tears. She really missed her family.

Early in the morning, she woke up and headed to the well. After finished bathing, she got dressed and went to the old lady house. The old lady started to advice her and translated the language in that book. She listened to it very carefully. These things went day after day until for months. Later, the old lady taught the techniques to Emily. Emily started to learn the easy techniques before moved to the hardest magic. She learned with full of spirit. Even though the knowledge was very hard to learn and no term in that book was ever heard before, she never gave up. She tried and kept on trying. Soon, she mastered all the magic. Before she ended her lesson, the old lady told her that the rose only working to the creature that have soul such as human being. The rose must touch parts of the human body such as skin, hair, nails and so on before cast the spell on the victims.

Emily returned home after her last lesson. On the way home, she crossed the lake, the one that she always crossed before on the way to the old lady home. She saw a father and a small son fishing at the bank of the lake. They were laughing at each other. Emily approached them and started talking to them. While talking, Emily gave the black rose to the man. He took it and gave an awkward smile to her. He felt weird with the colour of the rose. While he observed the rose, she mumbled the spell. All of sudden, the man’s head was missing but the body still there. The boy was screaming when saw his father became like that. Emily quickly covered the boy’s mouth. She took the black rose and shoved it into the boy’s mouth. Again, she was mumbling. And then, the boy was missing and floating rose dropped from the air. She slipped the rose on the man’s toe and mumbled the spell. Later, the entire man’s body was vanished.

After that, she examined all her surroundings. When she saw no one was there, she quickly left the place and went to her home. As soon as she arrived home, she felt relieved. She went to the bathroom and washed her face just like when someone finished murder people. In fact, she did but in different way. She went to her bed. She sat on her bed and thought for a while. She tried to recall the spell that working and not working. She was trying to compare it and saw the difference so that she would not repeat the same mistakes again. Finally, she traced it and repeated the working spell repeatedly according to the black book until she fell asleep.
Next morning, Emily woke up and headed to the bathroom. As soon as she finished, she prepared a breakfast for herself. While preparing her breakfast, she began to think to try the spell the villagers. She wanted to practice repeatedly so that she could master it. The entire evil plan kept lingered in her mind.

She went to the florist and bought a bouquet of roses. She covered her head with hood and kept bow down. After the florist gave her the roses, she gave the gold coins and walked away as soon as possible. She left went to the Christ Barber Shop. She left the roses in front of his shop. Then she was hiding besides the building while watching him through the windows. When she saw that nothing happened, she went again to the front door and rang the bell. Again, she was hiding. She saw a lousy fat man went to the front door, yawning. When he saw the bouquet of roses, he threw it into the garbage can and shut the door. She returned home. She filled with anger. She punched the mirror in her bedroom. Blood flew all over her fingers. She did not feel pain of the wound compare pain to inside her, which seemed like chocking her to death.

As the night approached, she followed Christ to the bar. She asked the bar tender to give a glass of beer to the Christ. Before that, she put the black rose into the glass. Swiftly, she was hiding in other corner. As the glass arrived, without hesitation, Christ drank the beer. Emily quickly cast the spell. In a blink of an eye, Christ disappeared. All people in the bar ran away and screaming. Emily smiled wickedly and walked away.

After few months, Emily still vanishing the villagers. She put the rose in a bouquet of roses; she slipped the rose on the victim’s hair or ears, made it as a necklace or bracelet and many more ways. Day by day, the police had accepted many reports regarding missing people in that village. Even the police almost gave up. Each day, there must be missing people spread rapidly until it reached to the Helena Petra‘s ears. Helena was a famous vampire hunter in the other village. She was well-known of her went to the Emily‘s village to investigate the mystery of missing people in that village.
Each day, Helena tried to solve the mystery. She asked questions from the witnesses, she analysed the evidence and tried to make a researched about the mystery through old book. After few months, she had all the information about Emily. She knew that Emily was a witch. She even knew about the tragedy that happened to Emily‘s family. After she traced Emily’s house, Helena started to follow anywhere Emily went. Helena saw many incredible things happened in front of her eyes.

Soon, Emily sensed something unusual. She could sense that someone following her. When she were at bar, Helena put poison into her drink. She could sense something wrong with her drink. She cast the ‘Poison Detector’ spell. The glass exploded. All the people in the bar were shocked. She quickly ran away. She felt very angry, as she knew someone wanted to poison her. Helena clenched her jaw and her hands as she saw that her enemy released from her trap successfully.

Even though, Helena trap did not work out, she did not give up. She used her frustration and anger as her booster to capture Emily. She knew everything that Emily did. Helena mission was to steal the rose from Emily. After that, she wanted to put the rose at the parts of Emily’s body so that the spell could reflect on Emily.

The next morning, as usual, Emily will left home to continue her evil work. Helena used this opportunity to capture Emily. Helena came to the Emily’s house. She came with her black horse. She wore her boots, tight leather pants and a black corset together with her jacket. She looked like a cowgirl as she wore the hat. In contrast, Emily wore a beautiful gown, a corset and a long jacket together with hood. As she covered her head with hood, she really looked like an Evil Witch.
A soon as Helena reached at Emily’s house, she examined around her house. She did not want the same mistake happened again. She knew that her enemy was not easy to capture. Even for few years she haunting vampires, she never felt this hard. However, she loved challenging work. It gave her more spirit to do the work as it tested her abilities. After few hours, she was sure that the house was empty. Emily was not in the house. She quickly broke into the house. She took coal in her bag. She drew a big round circle and weird symbols on the ceiling. She tried to draw the symbol based on the old book that she brought. Later, the trap was set up. She just had to wait for the enemy to come into the house. While waiting, she sat on the chair and held the old book on her palm. She kept staring at the fireplace.

Helena kept waiting eagerly. She was waiting until dusk. Emily came home. Emily sensed something was not right. Therefore, she sneaky into her house. As she arrived at the living room, she could see that there was someone on the chair. She started to cast a spell. A storm-like light came out from tips of her finger. The light seemed reflected to her. She screamed in pain. Her hands burned seriously. Helena laughed all of suddenHer laughed made Emily burst into anger. Helena moved toward Emily. She walked around the circle slowly. Emily’s breathing getting harder as she tried to controlled her anger. She stared at Helena eagerly. Her face was full of hatred. Helena laughed more boastfully. Emily could not run anywhere as she had being trap by the invisible force. Emily screamed so hard as she saw the weird symbols on the ceiling. Helena started to torture Emily by read the old book that she brought. Emily screamed in pain. Helena asked Emily to give the black rose and the black book to her. She refused it. Again, Helena read the spell.

Finally, Emily gave the book and the rose, as she could not stand with the agony. Helena commanded Emily to bring all the people that she had cast back to human world. She followed the order as she did not want to die or injured badly. She started to mumble in strange language and sparkle light spread to the air forming the human shape. There were many people in the house and they were staring wondered where they were. Helena continued read the book. She wanted to remove all the Emily’s power. Emily screamed in agony. Finally, Helena stopped reading it. Emily was very exhausted. Helena took the black book and the rose. She threw it into the fireplace. Both of them watched the book and the rose burned into ashes. Emily could not do anything. She kept screamed and cried with all her heart. Helena took the coal and scribbled the symbols on the ceiling. Emily was free to go. However, Helena did not say a word; she took her horse and went away.

~ THE END ~

An Unexpected Journey

2009-08-23T06:10:00.000-07:00

During my preparation towards important examination which is Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), my English teacher asked us to do a narrative essay.Here is the essay:

"Hmmm...Here...there...hmm...almost done. There you go”, mumbled Ronald.
"Knock! Knock!”Ronald was too engrossed with his work until he did not realize the door kept knocking several times.
And finally, "Wait! Who is it?"Asked Ronald.
It’s me, Eddy!"Replied Eddy.
"Coming!” Exclaimed Ronald.
Eddy entered the room and shut the door.
"Still busy with your project?"asked Eddy.
"Not anymore. It’s done! I can't believe it,” gushed Ronald.
"Did you put it on test?” asked Eddy.
"Not yet but I will. This midnight! He...he...,"sputtered Ronald.
"How is it functioning? I still don't understand the theory”, said Eddy.
"Well, this is Dimensional Machine. It will compress time and distance to open new dimension! I already calculate the time. The new dimension will be opened tonight. Tonight will become a history to human being!” bubbled Ronald.

“Tut…Tut…Tut…Tut…” “Hello! Hmmm…when? I will be there,” replied Brian and he turned his cell phone off. “Alan! This midnight, Dragon invited both of us to his birthday’s party,” explained Brian. “Where?” asked Alan. “At 70 routes,” said Brian. “Oh man! That’s so far away. It almost 3 hours to get there,” sighed Alan. “Well, not anymore. Now is 7.30p.m. You go upstairs and pack the bag. We leave this house at 8p.m. 3 hours huh? We can reach there before 11 o’clock,” muttered Brian. “What do you mean?” asked Alan blurry.

“Woohoo! This is what I mean,” screamed Brian from the car’s window. Brian Evolution 6 and Alan Skyline dashed on the road. Brian hit the paddle and left Alan’s car at the back. Alan did not give up. He changed the gear and chased Brian’s car. They were racing by their 17th birthday present.

“Okay, everything is ready,” said Ronald. “But you said you want to do it at midnight,” reminded Eddy. “I can’t wait. I really want to know if my theory is right,” explained Ronald.

“Hello Alan! I know the shortcut to go out from this traffic jam. You follow me,” said Brian on his cell phone. Both of their cars were heading toward the alley of an apartment. “Eddy! Are you ready? When I show my thumb, you push the green button, okay?” shouted Ronald from outside of his apartment. “No problem,” replied Eddy. Finally, Ronald showed his thumb and Eddy quickly hit the green button. A very bright light stroke the atmosphere. At the same time Brian and Alan passed at the same place. As the bright light turned out, Alan and Brian vanished from the place together with their car.

“Where are we?” asked Alan. “I don’t know,” replied Brian. “This place is so horrible,” croaked Alan. “Calm down. We can get out from here. Trust me,” said Brian confidently. “Our car broke down already,” muttered Alan. “Well, we walk then. We have to keep on trying. We can make it,” persuaded Brian. “Hmmm…,” sighed Alan. They walked along the cemetery. This place was different than their world. The sky seemed ablaze with crimson and gold. The tombs were old. There were gigantic lush trees. It was dancing as if to welcome them.

“What is this?” asked Alan. “It looks like old tomb.” replied Brian. While talking, Brian laid his back against the gigantic tree. In a split second, a flash of lightning streaked across the sky, followed by a roll of thunder. The dark clouds appeared. Grey smoke came out from the tomb. A lady in white rose into the air. She rose like a person who drowned met the air. She was angelic. Her eyes so dark and glittering. Brian and Alan froze. They fell into silent. They watched the lady without saying a word. “Thank you for waking me up. My name is Rosemary. I was punished by dark witch name Helega. She rules this world. Many people are killed by her. I am from the other world. My father is a genius professor. He made a machine. One night, he put it on test at the basement. I could not sleep that night so I went to the basement. When I opened the door, all I could see was bright light. All of sudden, I already here,” explained Rosemary. “Oh, I see,” nodded both of them. “Our story almost the same like yours,” muttered Brian. “I want to go home. I missed my father. I have been here for a while,” pleaded Rosemary.

“Let’s find a way out,” chirped Alan. They walked together depended on Rosemary’s instruction. As soon as they reached at white forest, Rosemary explained that this forest is called “Forest of Winter” winter witches live here,” whispered Rosemary. They continued their journey until they reached at sea side. The white sand was shimmering by the moonlight. The gentle waves rushed to the shore. The wind caressed their skin. “Eternal is my life…I could stop the pain…if I will all the way…Sleep my Rosemary…Because you will never awake…” A melody rose into the atmosphere and hit their eardrum.

“That’s the dark witch,” whispered Rosemary to Brian and Alan. The lady was sitting on the beach stone. They sneaked behind the great stone. “She doesn’t look like witch. She looks so innocent. I think I fall in love with her,” mumbled Alan. “Hey! This is not her real face. She is so hideous,” said Rosemary. The dark witch heard a tiptoed behind her back. She turned behind. The dark witch became hideous. She was in rage and fury. They were very astonished. In a split second, the dark witch approached in front of them. Brian was the only person who was calm. Silently, he pulled out a knife from his pocket. All of sudden, he stabbed the dark witch. The black blood flew from her belly. Her eyes turned wide. “Get us out from here!” roared Brian.

The dark witch did not say any words. She raised her hand. The gentle waves suddenly turned gigantic waves. We thought we would die but the dark gigantic wave froze. A bright light stroke our eyes. “There you go,” said the dark witch. Brian pulled back his knife and they all went to the bright light.

“Where are we?” asked Alan. They were on road. After a few seconds they remembered. “Are you okay? I am so sorry. I never thought that people will pass here,” explained Ronald. “It’s okay. As long as we are still alive.” replied Brian. Alan and Rosemary nodded simultaneously. “What happened?” asked Eddy. “We will explain later. We are hungry,” said Brian. “Yes, yes, sure. Follow me,” pleaded Ronald. They walked to Ronald’s apartment together.

“How did you hurt her by using knife? She is a witch,” asked Ronald. “Actually it is my ancestor’s knife. My grandfather gave it to me when I was a child. When I was kid, I love to cut sticks to make kites. He said it can cut anything. I don’t believe it until I proved it,” replied Brian. “Do you still love her after you look at her real face?” asked Rosemary to Alan. “No!” shouted Alan. All people were laughing at Alan. They enjoyed their dinner happily.

Lady in White

2009-04-22T20:30:00.000-07:00

During my preparation of SPM, our teacher asked to do several essay to get us more better in writing essays. Again, it is the narrative essay and this time is about unexpected experience. It could be fact or fiction. However, i chose to do it fiction because i can use my imagination to the limit. Here is the essay:

My name is Marie. My father was a farmer and my mother was a housewife. I had eight siblings and I was the fourth child. I lived in countryside. I would never forget unexpected experienced happened to me when I was 12.

My family was poor and I had too many siblings. That is the reason why I felt that I was the black sheep in my family. I loved to write poems when I had spared time. I loved to lock myself in my room. I always slept near dawn because in the middle of the night, it was the moment where I could find peace for myself.

While I was sitting on the chair, I looked out the window. Time was in winter. Behind my house was a lush jungle. When it was winter all I could see was white snow that cloaked the black forests. All of sudden, I saw a lady in white. I could not see her clearly, but when I blinked my eyes, she was gone. I thought it must have been my mind playing tricks on me.

I went to sleep and felt restless, curiosity overcome the fear in me. The lady whom I saw seemed much sorrowed. Before I could shut my eyes once again I saw something strange. My feather’s pen stood upright by its own and it moved on my white paper. It wrote something but I did not dare to touch it. I froze on my bed while holding the blanket that covered my nose to my toes. Later, the feather pen collapsed to the desk surface.

Early in the morning, I woke up and I went to the desk. I could not believe what I have seen. I thought last night experience was a dream. I looked at the paper and it said:

Lady in White

Look now she comes,
by penetrating through the wall,
her head bows down,
that covers her face with her long black hair,
to hide her sadness from astonishment eyes.

She lingered around the castle,
to find her lovely child,
Guilty creeps all over the soul,
but worthless search the child,
because the devil's hands killed the child.

As The child is abandoned in the wood coffin,
silently to rest in peace,
ignoring all the surroundings,
that kills her mother's humanity.

My first expression when I read this letter was curious. I did not understand the words. I read it again and again. Finally, I understood it.

The clock stroke 3a.m.I was waiting at the desk. And In a blink of an eye, I heard a smooth harmonious melody. It sounded like a lady’s voice. I looked out the window and again I saw the lady. I ran downstairs and quickly, I took my winter coat and spirit lamp. I went outside and I ran into the jungle. I tried to trace the voice. Soon I heard the voice seemed louder and clearer. After sometimes, the sound of the voice vanished. I looked around the snowing land. Suddenly I saw a large branch collapsed on white clothes. I dashed to the branch and pulled it off. I saw a pale lady in white gown lying on the snowing land. Her wrist covered with the dark red blood. Beside her, there was a wooden box. I opened the box gradually. The smell was terrible. I quickly closed the box.

I went to the lady’s corpse and I touched her body. In a split second, I got a vision. I saw that a guy was raping me, I went to the house and the two old men yelled at me and told me to leave the house. After that, I saw my tummy getting bigger, I put a baby on the wood box and I took a razor. I cut my wrist. All the blood flew all over my white gown. And the Last thing I saw was I paralyze on the snowing ground helplessly. Then, a thunder struck the branch and hit me. Swiftly, I saw that I was beside the lady.

I rushed to my house and my mother already woke up. She was preparing breakfast for my family. I went to her hurriedly and explained what had happened. My mother told my father and he called a police. After about 15 minutes, a police car arrived at my house. They asked me to show the place where I found the corpse.

After that day, I never saw her apparition. I guessed she was just resting in peace. I wished god saved her from agony in Hereafter.