Up in the Sky

Venus T., 5, GSIS

Have you ever been on an airplane? How did you feel as the plane took off?  

I have been on a plane. It was noisy.

What are some things all planes have?

All the planes have wings. They also have windows.

If you were designing your own dream airplane, what would you put on it?

Item: Beauty Set	Reason: Because it is nice
Item: Bird	Reason: The plane will fly higher.
Item: Cinema	Reason: More people will come.

What are some things you would not want to have on your airplane?

I do not wants worms, and I also do not want cockroaches.

Where is the first place your plane would fly? How long would it take to get there?

It would fly to the U.S.A. It would take 13 hours to go there.

Would you take your airplane to school each day? Why or why not? 

I would take my airplane to school because it would be faster than the school bus.

The Hike of the Double Ninth Festival

Angela Y., 8, St. Paul Co-Ed

1)     It is a beautiful day. The sun is shining, and you have the day off from school, so you and your friends decide to go on a hike. How do you get to the mountain? What do you see on the journey there?

When you look at the mountain from far away, you’ll see a brown cap of farmland at the very top so it looks like it’s wearing a hat.

2)     As you approach the mountain, you and your friends realize that it is extremely tall. Fill in the blanks to use similes in order to describe it.

The mountain is as large as a dwarf planet.

The mountain is as green as jade.

The mountain is as tall as a giant.

3)     After an hour of hiking, you stop to eat lunch and enjoy the views. What do you see? How does it feel to be so high up, away from the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong Island?

Everything feels soothing and quiet, as if Gaia (the goddess of Mother Nature) is near. Nature is unique in its own way.

4)     You and your friends start to see dark clouds form above. Suddenly it is pouring, and you don’t have umbrellas. It is too dangerous to run down to the bottom of the mountain. Describe in detail what you do.

We get tot eh inner paths, avoiding busy areas. Just the roaring thunder told us that we were about seven thousand miles from it.

5)     One of your friends calls everyone over. He has found a small cave in the mountain where you can avoid the rainstorm. Inside the cave, you lean on a rock. When you do this, a tiny door opens, leading to a tunnel inside the mountain. How do you feel? What do you do?

We all felt excited thinking that there is some treasure hidden in it waiting for us to find. Curiously, we enter the tunnel.

6)     After careful deliberation, one of your friends pulls out a torch, and you and your friends decide to enter the tunnel. What is it like inside? Use all five senses to describe what you see and feel.

We see an almost endless winding flight of stairs. Feeling the banister, we go down slowly. Somehow, a smell reminds me of breakfast. Treats are hung on the wall. I gave them a lick…mmmm…Music came from below.

7)     As you descend into the tunnel, you hear strange noises echoing ahead of you in the dark. How does this make you feel? Despite some fear, you decide to keep exploring further. Why do you do this?

Some feeling down my back tells me that I have to keep going because I think the bottom of the stairs is an exit.

8)     Finish the story! Write at least ten lines describing what you find at the end of the tunnel and how the story ends. Be as creative as possible!

        I ran to the bottom of the stairs in no time. I saw a huge button and pressed it. An armchair appeared. After I sat on it, it felt like the world was never going to stop spinning. I was going down, down, down…

        Suddenly, I fell with a thud. My friends fell after me. We had landed in the parking lot where I had parked my car. We were relieved to see that the rain had stopped and the sun had come out. We all went home and became better friends after that.

Rosa Parks Was Justified

Travis W., 11, CIS

        Even after the Civil War in the 1800s, racism and segregation still remained in America. In 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested after refusing to give up her seat to a white man on the bus. I believe that she was justified because she was standing up for what she believed in, the law was unfair, and she did not fight back and let herself get arrested.

        Rose Parks was standing up for her beliefs. She was a civil rights example-setter and she was also an example for the black people to give their complaints to the Supreme Court. At the time, the law was heavily favoured to the white people, but she believed that everyone should have been treated fairly and that everyone was created equal by God. Some people are scared to put their voices out to the public. However, Rosa Parks was brave enough to give out her opinion and let everyone know about her thoughts toward the unfair law. Everyone should stand up for their beliefs and give people their opinion no matter the consequences.

        The law was mightily unfair at the time of Rosa Parks’s arrest. Black people had a lot of unfair opportunities and black people in other words were not as good as white people. Nobody wants to be treated badly and everyone wants to have an equal opportunity and to be treated fairly. As people, we all have rights to food, shelter, medical attention and the right to speak out. At the time, black people were denied some of these rights or were given rights that gave them less freedom. When Rosa Parks got arrested on the bus, she was denied of the right to speak out, so in a way, the government and Rosa Parks were breaking the law.

        Rosa Parks did not fight back or resist arrest against the police and let the police arrest her. She did not act like the psychopaths you see on television and start yelling and try escaping. She was calm and was able to control her feelings against an unfair law. People should respect her for how she acted dignified and obedient under an unfair law.

        Rosa Parks acted how everyone should under terrible conditions. She was standing up for what she believed was right, she fought an unfair law and she was nonviolent at her arrest. People who believed that she was acting rebellious should think that she was a brave person fighting for civil rights.

The Rich Should Be Taxed More, but the Government Should Function Better

      Curtis W., 15, HKIS

       The economic condition of Hong Kong in the year of 2011 is faring quite well. The housing market is booming, unemployment is low, and everyone seems to be moving along just fine. In fact, many are struggling just to put enough food on the table every day. According to a report compiled by a welfare body, 1/5 of Hong Kong citizens live below the poverty line. So what we can do is increase the taxes of the rich so that the money can then be used to help soothe the pressures of the poor. But even if the government had a lot of money, if it didn’t know how to use it properly it would all go to waste. So a more effective and smart government will have to take control.

        2011 so far isn’t going so poorly. People seem to be making money. A lot of investment and trading is happening in housing, and most people have jobs. The problem is inflation has been going wild over the past few years. Hong Kong does not have much of an industry left, which means that all we use I in Hong Kong is probably imported from all over the world. So any increase in the price of anything will also mean we will have to pay more for that product. Not everyone needs to drive, own 60-inch LCD televisions, and grand pianos from Germany, but we all need to eat. Food primarily comes from China, and as the cost to produce food has gone up, along with the increasingly high value of the RMB, inflation of food prices increases in Hong Kong. People can’t even afford to eat properly anymore.

        This is where the rich step in. It seems quite odd to me that the rich pay the same tax rate as the poor people who pay taxes too. It would have less effect to tax a person earning 1M a month 15% than it would someone earning 15,000. As we are all equal and part of the HK society, it is the responsibility of those that are better off to step in during times of difficulty and pay more taxes. This won’t bankrupt the rich, but rather it will divert some of their money to help those desperately in need of cash. In a city known for its insane competitiveness and bustling economy, it is a great shock that 1/5, 20% of our population, live under the poverty line, which is extreme poverty. How can we, those who are civilized, wealthy and educated, watch as our less fortunate and well-off counterparts starve and have to worry just to scrape by? Rich people should pay more taxes, as Warren E. Buffet, one of the most wealthy, generous men in the world, explained in his op-ed. It is the responsibility for those who are rich to also take a share in helping fight off problems, not just those who are of working class and live normal lives. This tax is not going to endure for the rest of eternity, but rather it is a way to aid those under the poverty line until they can escape it. Rich people should be proud that they are able to pay taxes to help those in need, because it proves they are capable and successful members in society. They are not being punished for being rich, but being recognized for it.

        But all this money cannot be useful unless the government that receives it knows how to use it. We need a more capable leader. The government head is like the head of an organization, and no company can run well without someone who is capable. Apple wouldn’t be Apple without Steve Jobs, Microsoft wouldn’t be Microsoft without Bill Gates. With a capable government that understands the people, understands how to change social situations, and has the courage to foster change, then the money rich people pay will be well spent. Otherwise, we will have paid for money to go to waste, and I say that we should not give a single cent. I am not a miser, and most people aren’t.

        It would only be appropriate and morally right that the rich people of HK do their job as citizens and members of society to pay more taxes, but only if the government we are giving it to has good plans and effective civil servants to make it happen. If we are paying taxes simply to fulfill the politicians’ cries, then the government’s bending to their wills, and we would have paid in vain.

The Approaching Storm

Isabelle Y., 11, SIS

The sky was painted a dark shade of gray. Layers of storm clouds began moving in and surrounded the cottages with thunder, lightning, and heavy rain. I stood outside the village, watching the storm. Little Sister and Little Brother stood with me, cuddling their soft toys. Soon, the hurricane would take over the village. We then had only a few minutes to escape. The same deadly hurricane had struck a few years ago, killing half the village including our parents. We definitely don’t want to end up in the same track as them.

The storm approached rapidly.  Little Sister and Little Brother huddled around me. It was time for us to leave. With only a backpack containing limited amount of water, five loaves of traveler’s bread, and a jacket for each of us, I wondered how long it would take us to reach Aunt Carla, our mother’s sister and our only living relative alive. It was a long trip to make as Aunt Carla lived along the Missouri River. We made our way along the rocky and bumpy path and watched our hometown vanish into the horizon.

Nightfall approached and the air grew chilly. Gusts of wind blew across the skies. We found shelter in an inn owned by a kind couple. They let us stay overnight as long as we did not get into trouble. Already, we had finished off our first loaf of bread and a bottle of water.

We squeezed into a small corner near the fireplace and fell asleep quickly. Well, Little Sister did. I lay wide awake with Little Brother on my right.

“Ally, are you awake?” His tiny voice wobbled as he whispered. I gave a slight nod and said, “Mm hmm.”  We started talking on about what we planned to do. Frankly, there was no plan. Nevertheless, if we were to find Aunt Carla, there must be a plan anyhow. We had to get to her or we would have no place to stay. I thought through that and soon, I fell asleep, leaving behind the cackling fire and the soft rug, and going to a world of my own.

The sound of horse carts and the early market woke me. A faint smell of bread loaves and butter filled the cozy inn and wafted out of the window. I sat up to find Little Sister and Little Brother still fast asleep. I dragged myself up out of bed, seated myself on a chair and waited for them to wake up.

The journey lasted like that for five or six days. We always found an inn to stay in, and we woke up the next day to continue our journey with a little more food from the owner. I figured that by this rate, we should be able to get to Aunt Carla’s in another half a week or so, since Little Sister and Little Brother always took long, extensive naps.  I liked the fact that we were almost at Aunt Carla’s and was pleased with our progress.

 “I’m bored. Can we play a game?”Little Sister asked.

“Let’s do At the Zoo.” Little Brother almost yelled out. It was his favorite game.

“Okay. I’ll go first,” Little sister volunteered. “At the zoo, I saw an ant-ee-lupe.” She stumbled over the word.

“Antelope,” I corrected. I then continued, “At the zoo, I saw an antelope and a bear.”

Suddenly, Little Brother took off running. His short stubby legs carried him further and further. Little Sister and I tried to catch up.

“Little Brother! Luke? Are you there? Little Brother! Luke!”We called out. Traces of hope left us as he seemed to have vanished.

Tiny cottages lined up in a row in front of us. I wondered if this is where Aunt Carla lived. Losing Little Brother was too sad for Little sister and me to bear. It was as if a part of us was missing. We wandered aimlessly ahead and arrived here. We walked up to the first house and I bravely knocked.

A short woman with curly auburn hair answered the door. My heart stifled a scream. She looked exactly like Mother. “How may I help you?” she asked.

“Um, we have lost track of our Little Brother. He has, um, has yellow-brown hair and he is a short four year old. Have you, um, seen him?” I stuttered. She questioningly looked back at me and asked whether I knew who Alison Anderson was.

I knew. I am Alison Anderson. She opened the door to reveal Little Brother. He stood behind her, clutching our food supply. The woman was Aunt Carla.

It turns out Little Brother had dropped our food pouch and was chasing after it. Aunt Carla was returning home and noticed the boy who resembled her sister. She helped Little Brother retrieve the pouch and led him to her house. Little Brother told her about us and had been scared of not being able to see us again ever since.

I am really glad we have a new home and a new guardian. Still, I plan to visit our old home when I am older.

Procrastination Today

Eugene F., 12, GSIS

        I agree that it is unrealistic to think that any group of people can function peacefully and productively without some kind of authority. Think of why teachers are present when students are working. The temptation to wander off and do something else is so great that students will not hesitate to procrastinate during a teacher’s absence.

        I have firsthand experience with this because this happens constantly at school. Students like us sometimes have the urge to procrastinate whenever possible. When you procrastinate, two parts of your brain are actually battling. One causes you to think that because the teacher is gone, you have the right to go crazy. The other makes you work. Unfortunately, in most cases the part which urges you to do something else is considerably stronger, so students tend to procrastinate more. In my classes, whenever a teacher leaves, everyone starts babbling. In no time, the classroom turns to absolute pandemonium unless order is restored.

        Teachers or authority is needed mostly to help people keep on track. To be organised and neat are also important. If there isn’t any leader at all, there is chaos. Everyone will be yelling and fighting. In Egypt there were many recent riots because of the fact that there was no one to govern them. The laws that kept them at bay became too lax. Chaos broke out and order could not be restored until evasive action was used. Leaders are needed to sustain the laws, to make sure that no chaos is formed. Even now, during the riots in Hong Kong, police are keeping them calm to prevent them from running around and blocking roads.

        In conclusion, order is essential when people want productivity. Otherwise chaos is omnipresent.

The Meaning of Success

Christie L., 14, St. Paul's

        The meaning of success is different to everyone. Some may think that having a high-income job is successful. Some may think having a harmonious family, a nice spouse, one or two (or maybe a dozen) children is successful. Or maybe, having a high education is successful too. To me, a successful woman in today’s society means having a stable job or a family. But the most important thing is that she thinks for herself.

        I have heard a story about what people think about “successful” in a race. The first one thinks that he can join the race and that is successful to him. The second one thinks that he is successful when he can finish the race. The third one thinks that he is successful if he receives a prize. The last one thinks that he is successful when he can be the champion. This shows that everyone has their point of view toward the word “success.”

        However, in today’s society, many people aim to be a millionaire or have a house. People think women have the strength to earn money with a high-income job, have a high social status and be independent. Truly, in today’s society, money and power symbolize success. Some of my friends think that my school principal is a successful woman. Although she is old, she still participates in all the activities. She has got the greatest power. Also, she has built up the reputation of our school. She fights for all the challenges the school faces. To some of my schoolmates, she is a successful woman.

        I have an auntie who was once a director of an investment bank. At that time, she thought she was successful. After some years, she felt really tired. Then, she went to a religious organization to be a volunteer worker. She prayed for needy people every day. This makes her day fruitful. When she recalled her memory, she told me that her life now is definitely more successful than the past days. She said that helping and influencing others is successful to her. She thinks praising God and helping God is successful to her.

        To conclude, the definition of a successful woman is different to everyone, but to me, being happy and having religion as well as being independent are the qualities of a successful woman.

A Hotel Room for Royalty

Jovianne Y., 8, GSIS

1)     Now it’s your turn to be an architect! If you were building the world’s most expensive hotel suite, where would you build it? What amenities and features would come with it? Come up with at least eight different things. You have no budget, so be as extravagant as you want!

I will build it in the United States and its name will be the Silver Mist Hotel. The features will include 15 rooms and two flights of steps, a hot tub, and a gym. It also has a secret passage in the closet that leads to an elevator. Pressing the button takes you down to the canteen, and best of all you don’t have to pay for the canteen but you will be asked to give one dollar. There is also a silver mist room!

2)     Because of its extravagance, your suite makes front-page news. How much does it cost per night? What do you tell reporters is the most impressive room in your suite? Why is it the most impressive? Remember to be as detailed as possible—you want people to read about your suite and book a reservation!

It costs 400,000 HKD per night. The most impressive room is the 4D movie room because you have a remote and you can choose any channel and it’ll appear in 4D! It also has a nice gift fit for children and parents at the end of the movie.

3)     Finally, construction has finished on your suite. Your first guest is a billionaire. What does this person do for a living? How does he or she react when you give him or her a tour of the suite?

She works at the bank. She thinks it’s a glorious place because of the secret passage and the canteen.

4)     The next morning, you read in the newspaper that the guest has told reporters the suite is horrendous. “The only thing I like is the gold chandelier in the bedroom,” he or she says. How does this make you feel? What extra things do you try to do in order to make him or her more pleased with the suite?

It makes me feel sad and upset. I made more gold and silver chandeliers. I also made a wishing room and a really valuable gold flower.

5)     After the guest has left, you go check on the suite and discover that the most expensive item in the suite is missing! What is it? How does this make you feel? What is the first thing you do in order to retrieve it?

The gold flower is the most expensive item. It makes me feel mad. I call the police department.

6)     After several days, the police tell you that the guest fled the country on a private jet and is currently hiding in Bali. They send you on a plane to go find the missing object. When you first get to Bali, what are the first things you notice? How is it different from Hong Kong? What do you do in order to find the celebrity?

I notice a card. It says “Mrs. Rosa.” There is a sheet of paper that says “Go to Golden Touch, 1 Cherry Street, Bali." Bali is different because the land is mostly beaches. I follow the card to Golden Touch and find her.

7)     You have gotten some hints as to where the celebrity might be. What are they? Do you find the celebrity? Is your missing object still with him or her or do you go back to Hong Kong empty-handed? Finish the story!

I do find her. The missing object is gone but I capture and force her to tell me where it is. She finally says that it’s in her pocket. So I snatch that beautiful golden flower and I say that I will capture her back. So she flees. I wanted to show the police she was the thief so I had no other choice but to chase after her. I ran and ran and tried to find her. Suddenly the sound of feet rang through my ears. So the chase was on! We ran in circles, straight and sideways. Soon I found her hiding behind a large white marble pillar. I ran toward the pillar and snuck up on her and captured her at last! I flew her private jet with her next to me. I flew it to Hong Kong and took her to jail!

Around The World

Around the World by Julianne C., 9, Bradbury School

1)     If you were going on a daring adventure around the world, what would you do? Would you row across the ocean? Would you hike Mt. Everest? Why?

If I were going on a daring adventure around the world, I would dive in the deepest sea. I would like to dive in the deepest ocean because I could find new species still unknown to science and I would also like to see different kinds of fish.

2)     Imagine you are about to embark on this adventure. What do you do to prepare for it? What items do you need to bring? List at least five with reasons why you might need them.

I would like to bring a portable shower, clothes, food, water and swimming gear. I would need a portable shower in case I caught a sickness. I would need clothes in case it gets too dirty or if the temperature changes. I would need food and water so I don’t starve to death. I would need swimming gear so I can swim in the deepest ocean.

3)     As you leave civilization and enter the wild and the unknown by yourself, how do you feel? How do you think you will feel a month from now, when you are still on your own?

I would feel very excited because I would finally achieve my dream. However, I think a month from then I would feel lonely and sad because no one would accompany me and I would have no one to talk to. The only thing that is accompanying me is my shadow.

4)     The fifth day of your adventure, something unexpected happens that causes you to rethink your plans! What happens? Is it a disaster or a blessing? Describe the event in thorough detail.

Suddenly on my fifth day a storm comes and I can’t swim in the ocean. All the ocean ahs rubbish in it and it turned very gray like we use it to wash paint brushes into. It was not a very pretty sight.

5)     What are the results or consequences of the event? Describe these in great detail.

The consequences are not only for me but the animals and plants in the sea. It would not be healthy for me to go in dirty water for ages. The fish might think the rubbish is food and eat it and they will choke to death. The plants would die because they need clean water to survive.

6)     The next night, you have a very vivid dream about your adventure. What happens in the dream? How does this affect what you do the next day?

In my dream I decided not to protest because people cannot control the weather. I decided to spread the word to stop throwing rubbish into the ocean and I also gathered groups of people to clean the ocean. On the next day I did exactly what happened in my dream. I believe if lots of people put their hands together we can do anything.

7)     After dozens of weeks, you finally return home. How do you feel to be back? What does your family do when they see you? Do you wish you were still on your adventure?

I feel very relieved to see my family again because I missed them dearly. I feel happy because I have someone to talk to again. I wished I was still on my adventure because I was used to the beautiful sights.

College Is a Must

By Erica Kwan, 14, St. Paul's Convent School

Nothing is eternal, or more accurately, few things will last beyond your lifetime. Everything that we own can be robbed away in a second, and everything that we treasure may fall apart. A rich man may lose all of his money in one economic recession, or an athlete may lose everything due to an injury. However, there is one thing that will forever be yours: knowledge and wisdom. Nobody can open your brain and extract the information you learn at school, nor can they take away the skills that you possess. Despite the importance of being resourceful and knowledgeable, more and more people are opting to skip tertiary education and directly enter the workforce. I believe that this is a very big mistake and that college will always be important, no matter who you are.

        After peeling away all the gimmicks and unimportant factors, the core value of going to college is very simple—to learn. The most basic reason to go to school is to learn and increase our knowledge, and college does exactly that. Higher education provides us with more skills and expertise than high school does. Also, colleges are equipped with more advanced facilities, like better laboratories, that high schools cannot provide. For example, students can conduct clinical trials and experiments in colleges. Students can continue their education in their field of interest, thus arming themselves with the requisite knowledge to enter the work field. The whole point about college is to learn as much as you can and add value to yourself.

        Attending college allows you to experience the real world and escape from your protected glass bubble. School is a reflection of the actual society where the necessity to be competitive and hard working is essential. College teaches you to become independent since you will be living alone and this forces you to make your own decisions, from what to have for lunch to what courses to take. There will be no parents to force you to go for tuition classes and ground you if your grades are unsatisfactory. You will be completely in charge of your own life and this trains you to be more disciplined and responsible. In the long run, this prepares you for life after school and how to thrive in your workplace. Also, attending college opens up your eyes and broadens your horizons. College is a melting pot of different cultures and a collection of bright students from various countries. You get to study with people from all over the world and meet experienced teachers who may one day become your mentors. These are valuable experiences that cannot be learnt if you do not attend college. In addition, college is a place for you to discover yourself. Adversity and new environments bring out your character and who you really are deep inside. For example, you may be a very talkative person when you are surrounded by old friends and family back home, yet when you are thrust into a completely new environment, you may suddenly become shy. Using this piece of knowledge, you can improve your character and attitude in order to face different challenges throughout your life.

        Lastly, you can learn from your mistakes in college. When compared to the actual society, college has repercussions which are relatively smaller. A blunder in college would probably attract dislike from your peers, a few scoldings from your professors and disappointed looks from your parents. Although these consequences are unpleasant, they will not ruin your life and career prospects. However, if you commit a mistake while you are working, the trouble it brings will be tremendous. Bosses expect you to learn everything you need in college and forgiveness will be handed out stingily. Make as many mistakes as you can in school and learn through trials and errors while you’re still in school because there will be teachers to correct you, but don’t expect that kind of mercy in the real world.”

        College is a place to form life-long friendships with your schoolmates, not to mention a place to build connections with influential people. Your schoolmates may be related to your future employer, or your roommate in college may be the daughter of a powerful politician. You can meet alumni and work together with experienced professors side by side. This gives you an advantage and more doors may be opened for you.

        According to statistics, the number of mal-employed college grads accumulated to 17 million in 2008. In other words, 17 million people are overqualified for their jobs. Some may argue that no matter how high your qualifications are, you still can’t get a satisfactory job, so why bother? However, this is entirely a misconception. First, a college degree has never, and will never, guarantee a good job 100% of the time. Yet, it increases the chances of securing a place in the job market and enhances the possibility of employment when compared to just a high school diploma. College graduates are armed with the knowledge regarding their career choice and this is crucial to success. Also, out of those 17 million mal-employed students, we do not know how many of them actually put in their best efforts while studying, nor do we know whether their degrees are actually useful to their future careers or are they merely degrees earned online. Therefore, it is unfair to say that college is not worth attending due to the high mal-employed rate shown in the statistics. Also, people like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Ted Turner are isolated cases. They may be blessed with exceptionally high intelligence levels and may have managed to succeed without college qualifications, but people should not give up the notion of continuing their education just because a few CEOs did not graduate from university.

        Money, fame and status are elements that can be taken away in a flash, yet knowledge is something that is forever yours. By attending college, you are arming yourself with the skills and wisdom that will help you succeed later in life. If college qualifications are not deemed important by employers, they will not require you to submit your portfolio when applying for a job post. There will not be 4,084 colleges in the United States if tertiary education is useless. In a world where even waiters hold college degrees, there will not be many job options for you if you do not.

Three...Two...One...Blastoff!

        By Natasha L., 9, CIS

For today’s story you are not going to be a person. Instead you will be writing from the perspective of an inanimate object. What will you be?

        I will be a camera.

        Describe yourself. What kind of object are you? What do you look like? How do you taste, feel, and smell? Do you make any noise? Why would someone want to buy or own you?

        I am an object that uses batteries. I look like a rectangular prism with a circle in the front and on the back. I have a screen and buttons. I can take some pictures, I feel very nice, and I smell like metal. I make a noise like chik chak. Because I am useful, I help people take pictures and then keep it for them.

        One day, an astronaut brings you to his home. Where does he put you? What is the home like? What is the astronaut like? Be as descriptive as possible! Don’t just use adjectives like “weird” and “interesting!”

        He puts me on his bedside table. His home looks wonderful. The astronaut is really nice. He treats me very well and carefully. I like him very much.

        You fall asleep one night and when you wake up you are somewhere new. You look out the window and realize you are inside a spaceship. You hear someone counting down from ten. How do you feel just before liftoff? What is it like to soar up toward space from Earth? What will you miss most about Earth? Describe how you feel.

        I feel excited because I know that I am going on an adventure. My ears hurt a lot so I don’t like it that much. What I will miss about earth is that my owner’s home was nice and peaceful. And I feel very bad.

        It is very cool, dark and mysterious. The zero gravity is also very awesome because you float around. When he isn’t busy he takes pictures.

        One day, while your owner steps outside of the space craft to make repairs to the windshield, you accidentally get sucked through the door and go hurtling into the depths of space. Your owner tries to reach you but he cannot. Describe the experience in detail.

        I feel lost, cold and hurt. Now I don’t even know where the spaceship is. Then I take a lot of nice pictures and I feel a little bit better.

        For years you soar through space all by yourself until you finally land on a distant planet. Immediately, creatures surround you and inspect you. What do they look like? How do they act? What does their language sound like? Do they seem like they are going to protect you or harm you?

       

        They look hideous so I take a picture of them and the planet. Their language is really weird. It is like this: chikoree un la quil eqipuf.

        What happens to you next? What do the aliens use you for? Describe this in detail.

        At first they treat me well. They also take pictures but they just take nonsense pictures like of their toes. I hate very much to know that I have a toe picture inside me.

        One day you decide you don’t like it on this planet anymore. Why not? Do you miss home? You decide you are going to try to go back to Earth. How do you plan to do this?

        I leave because I’ve had enough of them taking nonsense pictures and I miss home very much. I plan to just jump up in the air and float up in the air.

        Describe your journey back to Earth. How do the aliens react when you leave? How do you feel leaving them behind?

        They don’t even notice me leaving. I feel very happy leaving them because I know I will not have any more disgusting pictures inside me. Then I delete all the ugly pictures except the ones of the aliens and their planet.

        Do you ever reach Earth? Do you land on a different planet? Do you fly through space endlessly? Describe what happens. Make your ending as creative as possible!

        Yes I do and I am very happy. I don’t land on a different planet and I don’t fly through space endlessly. I go back to the astronaut’s hosue and see him there. Then I go inside. When he sees me he picks me up and looks and my pictures and then says, “Wow.” 

The Wakawakalogogos

By Tiffany Li, 7, CIS

The Assignment: Vacation season is here and you were on a plane. However, there was turbulence and a lightning storm. The engine of your plane was damaged and suddenly you felt a lurch and you…were…fall…ing…BOOM. Complete the following questions to start your adventure.


How did you feel when the plane was about to crash? Were you terrified or scared? What did you do?

I felt scared and sad. I will put on my life jacket and swim suit and go to the emergency exit.

You landed on the ground and fainted. When you opened your eyes, you found yourself in a dense forest with lots of flora and fauna. What was the environment like? What are the sounds, smells and colors of the forest?

I opened my eyes and I saw there were green trees everywhere. I also saw many animals too. Some trees had fruit on their branches.

You looked around and saw that the plane was completely destroyed and there was nothing left but a backpack filled with some food, some water, a flashlight, a coat and a book. What would you do with these items? Would you stay there and cry, or would you start finding your way out of the forest? What are some difficulties?

I would eat some food and then start searching for an island. When I find one I will use the flashlight in the backpack, and then I will open it. Then I will find somewhere to sleep and eat.

Suddenly, you heard some human sounds in the distance. You saw a fire and smelled something nice, like roasted chicken. What would you do?

I would go a little closer to see what’s going on. Then if it is safe I will go closer.
It turned out that the sounds actually came from a tribe, the Wakawakalogogo. What did you see? What did you hear? How did you feel?

I saw a hot air balloon and went into it. I saw a tribe wearing clothes that looked like chickens, tigers, horses, and rabbits.

What did the people from the Wakawakalogogo look like? Did they look the same as us, or did they have three eyes and four mouths? Did they wear face paint or other strange costumes?

They have one eye, five ears, two mouths, and one piece of hair that stands up straight.

How did the people from Wakawakalogogo treat you? Were they friendly and warm, or were they cold and hostile? How did you introduce yourself to them?

They were very mean and made me eat bugs and grass.

The Wakawakalogogos invited you for dinner with them in the chief’s tent. What kinds of food was served there? Did they eat bugs or other strange foods? Do they use forks and knives or do they eat with their hands?

They ate with forks made out of wood. They also used their hands to eat.

OH NO! It turned out that the Wakawakalogogos were actually cannibals and they wanted to eat you! How would you escape and explain to them about your situation?

I ran away at my fastest speed. They were adults so they could not catch up with me. While I ran I spilled some water so they would slip and fall.

The Wakawakalogogos made a deal with you: You either teach them English and they will not eat you, or they will roast you on an open fire. Which one would you choose?

I would teach them English and they would help me get home.

Phew! Thanks goodness, a mysterious person came to your rescue in the nick of time and fought off the Wakawakalogogos. Who was this person? You can make up your own imaginary hero!

It was a girl. She did kung fu and kicked the Wakawakalogogos away.

Where did this mysterious person take you? How did it end? Did you manage to get home safely, or were you forever stuck in the forest? Make the ending exciting and unexpected!

She took me to her house and set up a bed for me. Then she gave me a map to use to go home. She said “stay here for two days then set off for home.” As she had said after two days, I set off for home. After an hour, I found myself in the middle of the ocean. Two hours later, I was on land searching for the landmark of my home. Soon I saw it standing there. I ran past it following the map. Within twenty minutes, I could see my home. I was too tired for running so I walked up the mountain. I walked up up up until I reached the top of the hill. Then I walked to tower fifteen and went up the elevator. I was home.

Rough Waters

Jason Liu, 9, CDNIS

    

            I sat in the cozy armchair in the living room of my cruise ship room. I watched the path of the ship on my in-room TV. Life seemed relaxing on this cruise. We were just over the halfway mark of our journey from Hong Kong to Honolulu. I felt really scared being so far from land, but some dolphins outside the boat comforted me by using their mouths to point downwards. I knew what they meant: there is a land down under. We are on top of an everlasting piece of land, the seabed. I smiled.

            Zzzzz. I snored as I dreamt about a cheeseburger when CRASH. The noise was even louder than a cannon blast. I jerked awake, grabbing my mom, and I freaked out. Immediately, I grabbed my life vest and took all my belongings. Then an announcement came over the PA telling us to remain in our rooms. Feeling seasick, I packed my bags as the captain tried to wrestle control of the 300 pound cruise ship.

            “Chirp chirp chirp,” birds sang as the ship recovered from its harrowing incident. The cruise had come to rest on a small, unknown island. The ship was damaged badly. On impact, when the ship slammed onto shore, the hull of the ship was badly scratched. People grabbed their belongings and evacuated the ship. We all gathered equipment to build a camp, complete with wooden rooms and furniture from the ship. It was fun building the houses. Then, a small group of aboriginals emerged from a giant dark cave.

            As we finished our dinner—barbeque roast—the captain was preparing for us a night full of fun on the beach. When we were “night bathing,” I saw a little light coming from the sea. I thought it was a cruise ship, but I wasn’t sure. I felt very nervous…What if they were pirates? Would they steal our stuff? How would they react when this island is empty. Would they hurt us? All these thoughts filled me.

            Splash! The boat crashed onto our beach! I half-expected pirates but instead it was a group of sailors. One of the sailors greeted us and gave us some snacks. The sailors also questioned us about how we ended up in this little island. They seemed very nice and friendly! All the sailors spoke with a decent American accent. (They were probably from America).

            I went on that boat. I was very impressed with its interior. An announcement came over the PA system: “We are going to Hong Kong”. Three minutes later, we were in the ocean…

            The boat was a bit nicer than the cruise, with a buffet dinner every night. With breakfast in bed included. The rooms that they had were way better than the cruise ship. (It looked more like an airline business class seat than a ship room). With personal televisions to top the nice service off. Life on the ship was nice, but I couldn’t wait to get home.

            PLACK! The ship docked at Harbour City, Hong Kong. All of us were back home. Reporters started flooding the ship, trying to interview us about our harrowing experience. A woman told a reporter, “I am going to ride an airplane next time.” I thought I’d agree with her…

Escape from the White House

By Ryan (age 10, St. Paul's Co-Ed)

So tired of being the president’s son, I needed to have a day free. “Oh man, the horrible bodyguard is sticking to me like glue and guarding me even when I am in the toilet!”, I whispered to myself with anger. There’s always no privacy and freedom for me. No playing with my friends. Not making any decisions with my classmates. It was definitely horrible and disastrous. So I had an idea to escape from the boring house and have a great adventure to discover the world without my bodyguard for one entire day!

The sky turned black. It was bed time. I slipped into my bed and pretended to sleep but I knew I should wait for my parents to sleep first before I begin. At midnight, I knew that they had gone to bed because the corridor was all doomed and the rooms had no lights. I packed some things into my backpack, such as a torch, and tip-toed cautiously towards the main entrance. I slowly opened the door and closed it lightly. There were no more cars on the road and I started my journey.

Suddenly, the security guard from the main entrance woke up from his nap. He took out his torch and the light was so shiny that a yellow spot appeared on my T-shirt. The guard rushed towards me and started chasing me. I kept my eyes forward. But finally, he caught me and grabbed me back to the house. I shuffled back to my room and slammed the door. When the guard went back to the main entrance to sleep, I opened the window and I jumped out. Miraculously, I landed safely onto the ground.

The sun slowly appeared in the sky. There were cars driving on the road now. I thought that I should hurry up because I was just half way to my best friend Gabriel’s house. My head was filled with happiness and excitement. I could finally do whatever I want today! I could play video games, read, play basketball or soccer… “Hurray!” I shouted loudly at the top of my lungs. I finally arrived at my friend’s house. I knocked on the door and I could hear “Gabriel, go and open the door!” When he opened the door and saw me, he was totally shocked. He whispered to me, “Do you have one day free?” I nodded my head. He rushed into his room and packed his things and the adventure started!

We called a taxi and headed to Ocean Park. While sitting inside the taxi, I heard the radio saying “Hello everyone, I’m the president. I have one thing that I need your help with. I have lost my son this morning. I am so worried about him. Please help me!” I asked my driver if he could turn off the radio. He turned around and noticed that I was the president’s son. He glared at me with his beady eyes. I said immediately, “You’re a kind driver. Please don’t tell anyone I am here. I escaped because I want a day to be free without being following by the annoying Secret Service guards.” He turned back to the road and kept driving. Forty minutes passed. We saw the Ocean Park entrance and we were exhilarated. We paid and got out of the car. I took out my hat and wore it nicely so as to not be recognized by anyone.

Suddenly, a guy who was wearing a scary, black mask zoomed past me. Behind him, there was an old, weak woman whose bag was stolen by the burglar. I dropped my backpack and ran as fast as I could to get the burglar. The guy ran towards the roller coaster and jumped onto it. I jumped onto the roller coaster too to try to get the bag back. Then, someone called the police instantly. The ride finally finished. Two strong policemen were standing straight at the exit. I got the bag and returned it back to the woman.

Then, there were many reporters surrounding me. They asked me “Who are you? Why are you so brave?” I finally pulled off my hat and everyone was so surprised. I answered, “Hi! I am Ryan Chan, the president’s son. Dad, can you hear me? I am a hero now!” Everyone clapped and shook my hand.

For the rest of the day, my friend and I just went to play whatever we wanted and we won a lot of prizes. At last, the president and my mom and sister all arrived. They hugged me and they were crying but still felt very proud of me. I nervously told my dad the truth, “My escape is not because I don’t like you but because I was actually annoyed by the security guard. Even in class or in the toilet, he always sticks to me.” And then the crowd giggled loudly. The guard walked towards me and said, “Ok. I will not go somewhere that you don’t want me to go!” “Yeah!”, I screamed.

After going back home, I breathed a sigh of relief. The next day, going to school, my guard finally noticed that he should stay in the car and wait outside the school. When I stepped back into the classroom, I felt so free now. I can finally discuss anything I want in class now. My friends asked me, “Doesn’t your guard always stick to you?” I replied, “That’s not happening anymore.” From then on, I enjoyed my class in school. It was like there was “another” me.