Cultural differences about women and clothing

  I have wrote some cultual differences between China and UK like food, the ways of learning and nightlife in last blog. It is a coincidence that in class we talked about the cultual differences today and I remember that I forgot to say something about women and clothing.
  I am 160cm high, but I realise that women here are usually much higher than me. but it is not the most strange thing. The things that make me feel most confuse is that people here especially women always wear a little clothing.I still remember that on our way to Oxford by bus, a lot of young people who maybe just go out of the clubs or pubs got on the bus on one stop.The women all wore a little, some just wore skirt! How surprised it was! It was a cold winner night! Maybe they just went out of the clubs or pubs and felt excited and no cold, but they also didn't take some coats with them! I am very afraid of cold and must wear a lot in the winter. In China, many of my friends also wear a lot and the skirt I saw they wearing is which we wear in summer!
  Besides the clothing, women here are more open. It is one difference that I mentioned many times that women and girls here always go to the pubs and drink wine.It is quite normal here. My host father once asked Chopour and me that weather we drink wine in China, we all answered 'No'.He said that were good girls and also told us that it is normal here for women and girls. However, in China, just in my mind, women or girls who always go to the pubs or clubs may be considered as bad women or girls. Beacuse of this reason, my parents never allow me to go to the pubs and clubs and they always tell me that such places are dangerous and bad~ How differnt opinions they are!

Summary

  I remember that in the beginning of this project, we wrote an article about the expectations of the project. And now, almost finishing the entire project, I think it is time to talk about the regrets and the harvest during the project.
  My original aims taking part in this project are to broaden horizons and improve my English. To some extent, the aims have reached. I lived in York and went to Haworth, Edinburgh, London, Oxford, Cambridge and Whitby, I saw different parts of the UK meanwhile I experienced different life styles in UK. Among all the cities, York is my best love because it is an old but convenient, beautiful place to live in. In the aspect of improving English, because of my limited vocabulary, it is hard to understand all the words people said especially in academic communication, and it is also difficult to express myself well when shopping. However, during these days, I dare to express myself in English. Towards me, it is a great progress.

  And during these days studying in the University of York, I strongly feel some differences between the UK and China.
  First, the way of learning: The way of learning here and the way of learning in the Zhejiang University are quite different. Maybe because I study science in the university, I have lectures and experiments and seldom have debates or discussions. So I am not accustomed to the way of learning and I still do not know how to actively participate in the discussions and always choose to remain silent. I know that is bad, but it is hard to totally change the learning habit in only 29 days. The only thing I can do is to try my best to express my own opinions during the discussion.
  Secondly, the living styles of young people: Because there is no children in the host family, I cannot know their living styles exactly. Having heard some friends talked about this aspect, I know both the young people and their parents here are more open than those in China. For instance, I've never been to a pub in China and my parents will not allow me to go such places, but young people go to pubs or clubs may be quite normal.
  Last but not the least, the food: the difference is quite large between the Chinese food and the English food. I like to eat different things, so maybe I do more concerned about the difference in food. In the UK, the main food is potatoes, while in China it is rice and wheat. People in China are accustomed to drink tea or just hot water, but here people usually like to drink coffee and other hot drinks. I also have some doubts in the price of milk. In the stores here, milk is cheaper than a bottle of water, while in China, milk is more expensive than water. Yesterday, I asked this question to the host father, he said he didn’t know why either and felt strange and silly ~ Haha~ However, I still quite like the food here, especially juice, yogurt and chocolate.
  In general, I achieve a lot through this project. I will come back China soon and I will never forget these days. How quick the days are and How beautiful the memories are!

  Finally, I must say “Thank you” to Dawn, a lot of thanks to my dear teacher who is humorous and loves to eat chocolate ~ Thank you for the teaching during this month. And I also admit that the 90% dark chocolate doesn’t taste good, how terrible is that I have 99% one!

My host family

  Having already stayed in York for 25 days, there are only a few days left and then I will come back to China. I exactly know what the sentence “Time flies” means.

  During the past 25 days, Chopour and I lived happily with our host family. I think it must be the final time to write down something about my host family.

  I live in the house where is probably 30 minutes walking far away from the university. It is not very big, but is very sweet and decorated beautifully whose style I really love.

  There are only two people and one dog in my host family. The host father is called Fred, and the host mother is called Pearl. Besides, there is a lovely white dog called Dougie who is very friendly to us even at the first sight. Fred and Pearl treat us as daughters. If it rains in the morning before we go to school, Fred will drive us to school which moves us a lot. And last night, Pearl told us lots of things about the care home for old people and some policies about old people in UK which are very useful to our project. Although we go to the university every day, and every weekend we will go out for travel, communication between us is not so much, we get along well with them.

  I like small animals very much, especially lovely animals. Dougie is really lovely and bring us a lot of fun. Now every evening when we come back home, Dougie will be excited and give us a warm welcome, no matter how tired he is. He likes to touch human beings and like to play with us, Sometimes he maybe naughty, so we called him “a naughty boy”.Haha~ Every day playing with Dougie for a while seems to become my homework.

  There are only four days left. In the first several days, I felt homesick, but now, I love the life here, and even want to stay for more days which is impossible. I'll never forget this beautiful place, never forget the life here for 29 days that we walk along the Hull Road to the university every day, never forget Pearl, Fred and Dougie who take care of us for 29 days.

  If I had a chance, I would come back. I would walk along the Hull Road to the University of York, have a trip to the city centre or to the outlet and come to visit my host family.I really appreciate that they give us the comfortable environment and the wonderful memories which are very precious.

I love Whitby!!

 

  Have wrote a blog about the trip to Edinburgh, I suddenly recognized that I forgot to write down something about Whitby.

  In my opinion, Whitby is my favorite place among the places I had trips to in the UK because I fell in love with there the moment I first saw it.

  The weather is very nice when we went to Whitby. Our bus passed by the National Park on the way to Whitby, whose scenery was nearly the same as those in the postcards, endless meadows, mountains, and clouds, how fantastic the scenery was! I wondered if I was still living in the real world. 
   My hometown is plain and there is no mountains in my hometown. Each time I see mountains, I would be excited because I can’t help myself falling in love with them.
  When our bus arrived on the top of Whitby, I could not wait to get off the bus because the view out the windows was too tempting. Meanwhile, due to the nice weather, the whole Whitby was full of different colors, blue sky, white clouds, green grass and some ancient buildings. That is why I said in the front of this blog I fell in love with Whitby the moment I first saw it.

  At noon we ate the most famous food in the most famous restaurant -- fish and chips. Fish tasted very fresh and tender. But I am sorry to say that the regular one was too large to eat up.
  Later we went to the beach. Standing on the beach, closing my eyes, I listened to the sound of the waves, and also listened to the sound of seagulls. In fact, it was the first time I saw the sea by my own. I was so close to the nature and it was really an enjoyable trip!

  Imagining that one day I could live in Whitby, just as the local people always do, I will take my dogs go for a walk in this small town, play with them on the beach, eat fresh fish every day, listen to the waves and closely contact with the seagulls. How relaxed and comfortable life it is~
  Of course, this is only fantasy, but I really love Whitby. I look forward to having the opportunity to go there again in the future.
  After I come back to China, I decided to have some trips to the mountains or the seas because there are many wonderful mountains and seas in China and I would like to feel a different world where is not only plain.

Something about global warming

  Last Tuesday I went to visit the department of environment, and had a conversation with Dr. Rob Marchant.

  We mainly talked about the environmental geography, the environmental economy and the environmental management.

  As somebody asked about the issue of global warming, the topic turned to this issue.

  In the opinion of professor, global warming is real, and carbon dioxide contribute the most to the global warming. He also showed some data and charts to us to prove his own opinion.

  About global warming, I am always in doubt.

  At the Zhejiang University, three of my classmates and I are doing a research about global warming, which is called the Student Research Training Program.

  At first, I deeply believe that global warming is true, due to the media publicity and school education, but later I read some articles about the topic that global warming is a big lie on the Internet, and our teacher also told us that people who claim the global warming are not meteorologists, but most are politicians. This truth may reflect something.

  Last summer I worked in the meteorological administration of my county. Last summer, the days whose temperatures were over 30 degrees Celsius broke the historical records which may prove the fact-global warming to a certain extent. But this winter in our county was especially cold. And in this world, not every place suffers from the global warming.

  In my opinion, the global warming may be a lie because it is not correct that all the places around the world is getting warmer and warmer. The truth is that the weather is becoming more and more extreme probably.

I put forward this doubt to the professor, the professor explained that, according to data displayed, in recent years, the weather is becoming hotter and hotter, and it is not like the situation in the past times that the weather became hotter and then colder and then hotter and then colder again…

  Global warming is a controversial topic of nature, however, I still prefer the opinion that the global warming is a lie.

Happy Valentine's Day

 
  At the end of 14th Feb., I must say: Happy Valentine's Day !
  Valentine's Day is also very popular in China, I even can image today's scene in China because it may be just like the scene in York.
   In China, there is a festival which is similar to the Valentine's Day called Double Seventh Festival .

   The Double Seventh Festival, on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, is a traditional festival full of romance. It often goes into August in the Gregorian calendar.
  This festival is in mid-summer when the weather is warm. At night when the sky is dotted with stars, and people can see the Milky Way spanning from the north to the south. On each bank of it is a bright star, which see each other from afar. They are the Cowherd and Weaver Maid, and about them there is a beautiful love story passed down from generation to generation.
  Long long ago, there was an honest and kind-hearted man named Niu Lang . He lived by himself herding cattle and farming. One day, a fairy from heaven Zhi Nv fell in love with him and came down secretly to earth and married him. Niu Lang farmed in the field and Zhi Nv wove at home. They lived a happy life and gave birth to a boy and a girl. Unfortunately, the God of Heaven soon found out the fact and ordered the Queen Mother of the Western Heavens to bring Zhi Nv back.
  With the help of celestial cattle, Niu Lang flew to heaven with his son and daughter. At the time he was about to catch up with his wife, the Queen Mother took off one of her gold hairpins and made a stroke. One billowy river appeared in front of Niu Lang. Niu Lang and Zhi Nv were separated on the two banks forever. Their loyalty to love touched magpies, so tens of thousands of magpies came to build a bridge for Niu Lang and Zhi Nv to meet each other. The Queen Mother was eventually moved and allowed them to meet each year on the 7th of the 7th lunar month. Hence their meeting date has been called "Qi Xi" (Double Seventh).
  The legend of Niu Lang and Zhi Nv has taken root in the hearts of the people. In recent years, particularly in city young people have celebrated it as Valentine's Day in China.
   Today is also my father's birthday. Happy birthday! I really miss you and my family.

  

Edinburgh！

  Last weekend, we had a trip to Edinburgh. Edinburgh was wonderful, especially in the gloomy weather. Under the heavy clouds, Edinburgh was just like a mystery waiting us to explore. I felt that I was walking in the picture and forgot that I lived at what times, only the shops along the Princess Street and the prosperous breath reminding me that it was not a dream. Edinburgh is ancient but modern, which means that the city compare modern with ancient perfectly. However, in China, it is maybe difficult to find such a place.

  After settled, we went out for dinner and did some shopping in the Princess Street. We walked, walked, and walked. Then we reached the top of Edinburgh, where the Edinburgh Castle stood in. We enjoyed the night scenery by overlooking the whole Edinburgh which was full of light. As we walked back along the Royal Mile, we found there were many bars and every bar was full of people who were very excited. There were no seats available in these bars!

  Because of coming back too early to the hotel, we decided to go to a bar and taste the whiskey which is one of the most famous things in Edinburgh. Finally, we found a nice bar with good seats. The seats were just in the corner. We could see the rainy Edinburgh, also could see the distant Edinburgh Castle through the glass. Outside, it was a quiet night, however, inside ,it was a noisy world. I quite enjoyed the opposite feelings. We ordered whiskey, beer and so on. In my opinion, whiskey did not taste good, I prefer the Baileys Irish Cream, maybe because I didn’t like drinking alcohol. People in the bars were friendly and we all enjoyed the night very much.

  In fact, my parents don’t allow me to go to the bars. In the UK, I have tried two pubs, although I am not interested in drinking, I like pubs, especially together with a lot of friends.

It is a pity that I forgot to take some pictures about the bar in Edinburgh. The following photo were taken in the pub in York~

Oh~different kinds of clouds~

  I have been in the UK for almost 20 days, and have a deep impression on the changeable weather. Perhaps the moment it’s raining, after a second it’s sunny. Maybe there are some exaggerations, but it is a fact that the weather changes a lot in the UK.

I love to observe the varied clouds, and due to my major, sometimes I like to distinguish which kind of cloud it is. To me, clouds identification is difficult, however, really interesting.

Generally speaking, we classifies the clouds into three different cloud etages according to the cloud’s height: the high cloud, the medium cloud, the low cloud. And then classifies them into ten different cloud genera basing on the shapes of clouds and the different forming processes.

High level clouds

1.Ci (Cirrus)
   meaning: Fibrous, threadlike, white feather clouds of ice crystals, whose form resembles hair curls.
   example:

2.Cs(Cirrostratus)
   meaning: Milky, translucent cloud veil of ice crystals, which sometimes causes halo appearances around moon and sun.
   example:

3.Cc(Cirrocumulus)
   meaning: Fleecy cloud; Cloud banks of small, white flakes.
   example:

Medium level clouds

4.Ac(Altocumulus)
   meaning: Grey cloud bundles, sheds or rollers, compound like rough fleecy cloud, which are often arranged in banks.  
   example:

5.As(Altostratus)
   meaning: Dense, gray layer cloud, often evenly and opaquely, which lets the sun shine through only a little.
   example:

Low level clouds

6.Sc(Stratocumulus)
   meaning: Cloud plaices, rollers or banks compound dark gray layer cloud.
   example:

7.St(Stratus)
   meaning: Evenly grey, low layer cloud, which causes fog or fine precipitation and is sometimes frazzled.
   example:

8.Cu(Cumulus)
   meaning: Heap cloud with flat basis in the middle or lower level, whose vertical development reminds of the form of towers, cauliflower or cotton.
   example:

9.Cb(Cumulonimbus)
   meaning: In the middle or lower level developing thundercloud, which mostly up-rises into the upper level.
   example:

10.Ns(Nimbostratus)
   meaning: Rain cloud. Grey, dark layer cloud, indistinct outlines.
   example:

Summary

  This is just a brief introduction to the classification of the clouds, there are even more detailed and complex classification. In addition, different cloud indicates different weather, beacause that some clouds' shape are very similar, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish. I find a few photos and try to distinguish them, of course, the conclusion is only my personal opinion.

  This photo was taken in Haworth.I think that the cloud in the middle of the photo belongs to the Cu, maybe is called Cu hum or FC. It predicts the nice but maybe windy weather, just like what the photo shows.

  It is very familiar.In the UK,I have saw the clouds sunch as this for many times.It maybe belong to the AS.Because of the sun missing, we call it AS op. It predicts the bad weather, maybe rainy and so on.

   I'm sorry to find it so difficult to explain clear, just because I don't understand a lot.But it is interesting to distinguish the diffrent kinds of clouds, and if you learn well, it may be helpful~

The trip to London

  Is it beautiful? To me, it is pretty indeed.

  On 28th Jan., the Friday evening, we arrived at London, maybe the most famous and largest city in England. After settling down in YHA, Aqua, Fandy and I planned to see the London Eye. When walking on the road just in the front of the London Eye, we all have feelings that we maybe fell into one dream: Blue trees, the blue London Eye, the wonderful night’s scenery on the edge of the river Thames. I seemed to dropped into the ocean of lamp, everything was so unreal, but the wind and the feeling of cold told me that this was reality actually, and this was London, I was in London, enjoying the dreaming night in the windy London~

  On 28th Jan., the Friday evening, we arrived at London, maybe the most famous and largest city in England. After settling down in YHA, Aqua, Fandy and I planned to see the London Eye. When walking on the road just in the front of the London Eye, we all have feelings that we maybe fell into one dream: Blue trees, the blue London Eye, the wonderful night’s scenery on the edge of the river Thames. I seemed to dropped into the ocean of lamp, everything was so unreal, but the wind and the feeling of cold told me that this was reality actually, and this was London, I was in London, enjoying the dreaming night in the windy London~


  On Saturday, We first went to visit the National Gallery, the Nelson’s Column, the Buckingham Palace and the Hyde Park. In the afternoon, Fandy and I planned to do some shopping. First, we went to the Leicester Square. There were many artists performed in the street who we called buskers. And there were a very lovely market which made us have a strong feeling of life in London. Then, we walked to the Oxford street, it was very busy and was full of visitors from all around the world. And witnessing the parade made us feel excited.




  About nine o 'clock, we decided to go to the Tower Bridge to see its beautiful scenery at night. Unfortunately, the subways which could take us to the Tower Bridge stopped, so we had to ask staffs and passers-by. Luckily they were very warm-hearted, with their helps, we found the right bus, successfully arrived at the Tower Bridge. Although we walked for almost one day and was very tired, we still felt excited because of the wonderful scenery. Of course, we took a lot of photos ~
 
  For the reason that we walked too much on Saturday, on Sunday, we only went to the Tower of London and the British Museum. At noon, I had rest at Starbucks, drinking coffee, enjoying the rare sunshine which made me feel relax and achieved a lot of happiness~


  Generally speaking, London is very good, the night scene is beautiful, and the traffic is very convenient that basically the subway can take you to anywhere you want to go to. But London is too big, compared to London, I prefer York~ Haha~

My hometown——Jiashan

  The picture is about the most famous place in my hometown--Xitang.Xitang is a samll town,but it is very beautiful.It is level,densely distributed with rivers and has a very quiet natural environment.9 rivers converge in this town,dividing it into 8 sections,but many bridges link this water town together.Inside the town,there are many well-preserved architectural groups constructed during the Ming and Qing dynasties,which have a higher artistry and study value.There are still many people living in this old town,so many people call it "the living old town".The whole old town is like a poem and a picture.In this town,people will feel that they are seemingly in an earthly paradise.

  In my last blog,I said that York is a beautiful and wonderful city.In my opinion,York is similar to Xitang in some aspects.They are both not large but old,and I think both in York and in Xitang,everywhere is a wonderful scenery.Do you think it is right?
   York is a lovely city,I dream that one day if I had enough money,I would like to live in here,bought a beautiful house with a garden and maybe open one Chinese supermarket or Chinese restaurant.Haha~
   Although I love York very much, I find myself still miss my hometown a lot~I rally miss my father,my mother, my grandmother and my roommates~Happy New Year~

a perfect day^.^

York is so beautiful~I really wish  that I could have more chances to  go to the city centre.The lunch in the Betty's is so delicious.I love the desserts very much.Oh~oh~the desserts~After lunch,the weather turned nice.We all became excited with the wonderful scenery.