2015-07-01

【Game of Thrones】

• Valar Vorghulis

• What do we have left once we abandon the lie?

• It doesn't matter what we want, once we get it, then we want something else.

• If you waste time trying to get people to love you, you will end up the most popular dead man in town.

• Eloquent men are right every bit as often as imbeciles.

• A lion does not concern himself with the opinion of sheep.

• Old stories are like old friends. You have to visit them from time to time.

• A mind needs books as a sword needs a whe

2015-07-01

【Game of Thrones】

• The more people you love, the weaker you are. 

• The man who fears losing has already lost.

• Nothing someone says before the word ‘but’ really counts.

• There is only one God，and his name is Death. And there is only one thing we say to Death: “Not today.” 

• Laughter is poison to fear.

• The things we love destroy us every time.

• Nothing burns like the cold.

—— • —— • —— • —— • —— • —— • —— • ——

【《权力的游

2015-07-01

【Aiden in English】

        Conquering land seems like managing your money. You gain a few countries through bloody and costly battles and reap great rewards of land and more goods. But how far do you invest in a country, or this case, 316 square km/196 sq. miles of barren land?

        The archipelago of Malta is not rich in resources at all. You might even have difficulty locating it on the map. However, i

2015-06-29

【Aiden in English】

        The city of Nessebar in Bulgaria is a life-size maze of cobble streets and a Byzantine neighborhood. I believed that it was one of a kind. However, when I arrived in the Cycladic Mykonos of Greece, my original theory was proven far from correct. 

        Like Nessebar, Mykonos had a tiny island built like a labyrinth for the same reason. Piracy was common when the island was establishe

2015-06-29

【Aiden in English】

        Honestly, I don’t know much about the god Apollo and the goddess of Artemis. Sure, they’re one of the 12 Olympians in Greek Mythology. Well, as for the details, let’s say I learned a lot on the island of Delos in Greece.

        Delos is an island 7.0 kilometers/4.3 miles long and 2.5 km/1.6 miles wide. Like the town of Mykonos, everything had to be white since the heat was unbear

2015-06-28

【The Essential Rumi】

Jalāl ad-Dīn Mohammad Rūmī (1207—1273)

      Soul, if you want to learn secrets,

      your heart must forget about

      shame

            and dignity.

      You are God’s lover,

      yet you worry

      what people

2015-06-27

【Aiden in English】

        Turkey's mosques are huge and spectacular. There is a great variety of them in Istanbul, where Muslims worship and pray. The Blue Mosque, or Sultanahmet Camii in Turkish, has become one of the most exquisite paradigms ever since it was built in the early 17^th century and looks absolutely unique in the world.

        Well, if you haven't noticed, the Blue Mosque is blue, hence t

2015-06-27

【Aiden in English】

        Water meant life at the start of the universe. Everyone needs water, and unfortunately, dehydration was and still can be fatal. About 1,500 years ago, the Byzantine Empire wanted a water source to quench its thirst when it was under siege. The underground cistern was established. It not only provided a water filtration system for the Great Palace of Constantinople and other buildings on the First Hill but continued to

2015-06-26

【Aiden in English】

        Churches are an acceptable way of demonstrating art. Some architectures are simply unmatched by the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires. Arriving in Europe, we could not escape the lush history of religion. Religion sort of… is the history in an exotic area. 

        Among all the religions in the world, one emerges from the rest, and this one is Islam. With them came a type of

2015-06-25

【Aiden in English】

        The Christian Orthodox have always been a massive part of the ancient city of Nessebar in Bulgaria. In fact, Nessebar was the very center of the Orthodox Church between the 13^th and 19^th centuries. Two hundred fifty icons or paintings of Jesus Christ, the Virgin Mary, prophets, apostles, evangelists, and numerous saints or angels have survived. When the Ottoman Empire took control of Bulgaria, Nessebar was ab

2015-06-25

【Aiden in English】

        Not to confuse Zanzibar of Tanzania, the other ancient city of Nessebar in Bulgaria is spelled with an N, not a Z. However, if I didn’t know any better or hadn’t visited this stone city in Africa, I probably could pass those two for the same place. 

        Zanzibar is an ancient city of winding, narrow streets paved with cobbles in the Indian Ocean. The city's walls were line

2015-06-24

【Aiden in English】

        Evil rulers have always existed in society. I believe sometimes how you win the votes in elections is how good you make a “duh” idea sound or fill the people with empty promises. And when you win, with a nation to your command, there’s nothing you can’t do.

        Ceausescu became a ruler of Romania with an iron fist in 1965. The massacres of his Communist regime weren’t too swe

2015-06-22

【Aiden in English】

        The geography of a place is always the deciding factor that history revolves around. There wouldn’t be an Egyptian civilization without the Nile River. Without the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, there would be no Mesopotamia, including Turkey. And there wouldn’t be Greece without the mountains.

        Yesterday, we experienced the Meteora’s monasteries built on rock pillars 4

2015-06-22

【Aiden in English】

        People know Shakespeare and his poems. Although the language is a bit… quirky, to say the least, people adore him. People also adore Greek history, so they should love Homer. 

        Homer was a great teacher and famous poet of the ancient epics Iliad and Odyssey. These two epics are composed of long poems that tell a story or, in this case, multiple historical stories. Many

2015-06-22

【Aiden in English】

        When something turns old, it is usually taken as a bad sign. But sometimes, being old and crippled can mean a resurrection, a boast of good revival. The medieval village of Pyrgi was set up as the best example. It was built with its present form of heavy gates and narrow but winding streets in the 13th century. As the oldest village in Khios, the aromatic lentisk trees flourish on Khios and produce the “tears of

2015-06-22

【Aiden in English】

        The island of Khios is part of a vast ancient empire that dates back to 7,000 B.C. So, it’s safe to say that not all villages have survived, but the few that still stand don’t seem to have been built before that year. 

        The semi-fortified medieval village of Anavatos becomes the oldest quaint ruin in Khios. It’s sadly affected by Turks’ slaughter and has been abandon

2015-06-21

【Aiden in English】

        Imagine having a house up in the mountains hovered in the air. Wow, imagine living in it. Imagine surviving without the internet, roads, or cars, and reaching any other civilization meant walking straight down. 

        That came around about 400 years ago. Nowadays, a road allows tour busses to reach Meteora of Greece. Its spectacular landscape has derived from extensive ong

2015-06-20

【Aiden in English】

        Mount Olympus is the place of the Greek gods—twelve, to be exact. They are the Twelve Olympians, rulers in each aspect. Everything revolved around these gods, the Earth, and beyond.

        Zeus, the king of everything, rules with his specialty as the god of the skies. In Athens, Zeus is a celebrated god since he’s the king. Zeus was the son of Kronos, a Titan. The story goes tha

2015-06-19

【Aiden in English】

        It's hilarious how some things can start again after being destroyed. At times, it becomes impossible to exist anymore. What goes around comes around, and the return can be excellent.

        In 1650 B.C., a massive earthquake struck Santorini in Greece. The island would never be the same. This most beguiling island of the Cyclades was sitting on two clashing continental plate

2015-06-18

【Aiden in English】

        In ancient times, Ephesus in Turkey stretched 4.3 miles/7 kilometers and bustled with more than 300,000 people. As a central trading post with the Middle East, its archaeological sites were rich in Greek and Roman history. Some of the fascinating buildings of the time were the ruined Temple of Artemis, the sacred House of the Virgin Mary, and the grand Basilica of St. John right up against the Aegean Sea. 

 &n

2015-06-17

【Aiden in English】

        Today, I visited Rhodes, Greece's most easterly island in the Aegean Sea. You shouldn’t be confused with Rhode Island on the east coast of the USA or a “road,” as in the strip of land cars travel on. They are entirely different. How much? Well, you’ll know it after reading this. This sunny Aegean gem was once the site of the Colossus of Rhodes, created to honor the sun god Helios, a statue at least 110 feet/34

2015-06-16

【Aiden in English】

        And I thought the lemons were taking over the world. When witnessing the activity on Crete in the Aegean Sea of Greece, the olive headquarters of the operations, a contest was quickly approaching for those two plants. Crete is the most southerly point in Europe and is filled with lush olives, and I think they might have a shot at beating the lemons to a common goal: world domination.

    &n

2015-06-14

【Aiden in English】

        It doesn’t seem as if you wake up on some random day covered in a sheet of burning ash. If you know what I mean, I’m talking about the Pompeii of Italy and reacquainting myself with the timeless power of nature. It was so tragic that the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius occurred in 79 AD and buried the entire city. 

        Pompeii was a thriving Roman city that was well-known as a vacation ge

2015-06-14

【Aiden in English】

        If you have a fear of lemons, then one place you shouldn’t go is anywhere in the Southern Italy area around the Mediterranean Sea. Lemons control society there, and it’s a massive export. I'm just saying I love lemons from the bottom of my heart.

        Tangy lemons look so cool. But when they’re the size of my face, it gets… strange. People planted lemon trees around their

2015-06-12

【Aiden in English】

        The anticipation of another trip out of the Continents is even more significant than today's last day of school. The air seemed to spark as we exited the Philadelphia Intl. Airport, and so here we go.

        This trip is to take us to places filled with lush culture and rich history spanning Southern Europe for more than three weeks. We would explore the remnants of the 7,000-year-old mythical G

2015-06-11

【Aiden in English】

        As the countdown to the end of school reached single digits, many boring assemblies were bound to occur, including the Year-End Awards Ceremony. Kids are given awards for their achievements throughout the year, hence the name.

        Sure, getting certificates is exciting, but come on! It’s only a piece of paper with fancy symbols on it. The more worthwhile part was the event that gave you the award. This is just proo

2015-06-08

【Aiden in English】

        Aiden: Humans are part of a force that controls everything.

        Frankie: Yes, that is true, and the Japanese were the first to realize this.

        A: Ah… you mean a haiku.

        F: Yes, a haiku. This type of poem originated in Japan, rising to its greatest peak in the 1600s.

        A: Tell me more.

        F: Well, a

2015-06-07

【Aiden in English】

        Not every day a kid can go to Carnegie Hall and perform in NYC, but a lucky few like me can. It is a fantastic experience, and its history is evident. 

        Standing at West 57^th St. on 7^th Ave., Carnegie Hall is known worldwide. Presenting an average of 250 performances annually, this place has world-class artists who show their talent. That last sentence had two things that weren

2015-06-07

【Aiden in English】

        A 4-star restaurant usually has ridiculously high prices in NYC and food that can be eaten anywhere. Pair it with some wine, and bam! The food just got a 4-star quality. The Russian Tea Room sounded like a different breed, and I was about to find out just how much.

        Russians enjoyed caviar. I’ll say it seems like their only condiment. So, going to a 4-star Russian restaura

2015-06-07

【Aiden in English】

        It’s not every day that a kid can go to Carnegie Hall and perform in NYC, but a lucky few like me are able to go. It is an amazing experience, and the very history of it is the evidence. 

        Standing at West 57^th St. on 7^th Ave., Carnegie Hall is a name known worldwide. Presenting an average of 250 performances in a year, this place has world class artists show their tal

2015-06-06

【Aiden in English】

        Discovered in 1872, Crystal Cave in the borough of Kutztown, PA, was a natural phenomenon that captured tourists hundreds of miles around. Smack dab in the middle of nowhere. What used to be an empty section of the map now contains a vast cave system underground that puts it on the map.

        The middle of nowhere can contain some very fantastic scenes. So when I say, “I wish I

2015-06-01

【Aiden in English】

Dear my 5^th graders,

        The sixth grade is nothing like your expectations. Work is hard and grueling. The teachers are fast-paced, and if you aren’t paying attention, bang! The teachers send a lightning-fast and brutal question to you without any warning. So, if you wish to leave Montgomery ES on a good note, you might want to listen to my advice. 

        First, the sixth grade

2015-05-31

【Aiden in English】

        Graduation is a critical milestone in life, especially for a Chinese school. This is because the more boring it is, the more satisfactory learning Chinese will be forever. The only thing that was painful to witness graduation was when you were not finished yet. Unfortunately, that was the case for me anyway.

        The term “bitter-sweet” is a weird phrase because sometimes, it

2015-05-30

【Aiden in English】

        The future of Earth was bleak. Overpopulation filled the cities. Nature was non-existent. Humans voted for a stupid, selfish jerk for office, dooming the world. Now, after that jerk was fired, the people of Earth fell into riots, and the Dark Ages began. Humans looked forward to Genetic Modifying Labs, aka GML, to bring back nature. Humans went too far, and we wanted a restart. Yet, in the GML headquarters, one creatio

2015-05-29

【Aiden in English】

        As the school year 2014-2015 winds down and the final weeks are in sight, Montgomery ES hosted a series of fun events for the 6^th graders. The events began with a social; the last main event was the pool party.

        It seemed as if the school wanted to butter the 6^th grades up before the kill, letting us enjoy the final moments at Montgomery ES. To give us a “goodbye” se

2015-05-28

【Aiden in English】

        The Art Show at North Penn High School is worth attending. The school's halls have transformed from a learning facility into an art museum, and I’m telling you that we have many talented students across all grades. 

        I won’t talk about my artwork because I don’t consider it one. How did my name tag enter an art show? It was probably because I drew it, spending mo

2015-05-22

【Aiden in English】

        Neil Alden Armstrong grew up like any other kid, not knowing what life would hold in store for him. It was a world of unknowns and opportunities. Born in Wapakoneta, Ohio, on August 5^th, 1930, Armstrong probably didn’t know that one day he would be the first man on the moon, carrying the Americans and the rest of the world to a different level of possibilities. Yet the stage was set for his road to fame at a young age

2015-05-21

【Aiden in English】

        Olympic Day can’t be an Olympic Day without races. For us, Montgomery has its ever-famous 50-yard dash. Everyone loves this time of day, except when you lose about every race.

        Right off the bat, the Mountaineers seemed like the only worthy team for the last place. Race after race, we lasted, grabbing a few 2^nd and 3^rd places, but those weren’t enough either. Whoever

2015-05-21

【Aiden in English】

        Family Feud is a fun game show our school’s gifted teacher, Mr. Hinz, hosts on Olympic Day yearly. The 6^th graders are privileged to play, while the lucky 4^th and 5^th-grade classes have the opportunity. So now, I announce that welcome to Montgomery’s Olympic Day Half-Time Show!

        At halftime, the Mountaineers were in a solid 2^nd place out of four teams. Yet after t

2015-05-21

【Aiden in English】

        Welcome, readers, to Montgomery’s annual Olympic Day. This day consists of games, the half-time show, classic races, and tug-of-war. Every year, a new theme is chosen, but this year, well, everyone has a limit to their ideas, you know? Here is a hint: four teams are the Mountaineers (Blue), the Rangers (Green), the Scouts (White), and the Trailblazers (Red) across all grades from Kindergarteners to 6^th graders at

2015-05-21

【Aiden in English】

        Nothing can stay amazing without constant polishing, and the Math24 Tournament is no different. Since my last victory in the North Penn School District (NPSD) tournament, I haven't been to the weekly math practice at my school in the morning. Maybe that's why the first place eluded me this year.

        Math24 is a game of quick thinking that uses simple addition, subtraction, multi

2015-05-20

【Aiden in English】

        All things have a beginning, such as a person, a book, and even the universe. But not all beginnings are pretty, and some hurt the ear immensely. I'm talking about hearing sounds I've never heard before. Yep, those are the 4^th-grade beginner band members for you! 

        To set this straight, I'm not saying that I wasn't a bad player in my first year. It

2015-05-15

【Aiden in English】

        My school's 6^th-grade social is legendary; you can't graduate from 6^th grade without genuinely experiencing it. It is crazy fun and a great way to say bye to school.

        This is one of the rare events in which people must dress impressively. A few students wear jeans or T-shirts and don't try at all. I wore a tuxedo and was one of those who didn’t f

2015-05-09

【Aiden in English】

        On the day before Mother's Day, Mom and I did the only thing a normal mother and son would do in the early morning before Mother's Day. Even though it's before Mother's Day, I'd rather celebrate it now than on Chinese School Sunday, and lucky me, Montgomery Elementary School's Flapjack Fundraiser was going on, so we were down for it.

        The Flapjack Fu

2015-05-06

【Aiden in English】

Ms. Covelens (Language Arts):

        Every kid thinks that reading is simply saying the words on a page. With Ms. Covelens, students can dive more profoundly than in that state. Reading is a fun, imaginative thing; if done correctly, it can seem like a miniature movie. Ms. Covelens, mixing in some excellent energizers, lets kids get to the next level of reading with, well, reading! And Ms. Covelens plans on making the journey

2015-05-04

【Aiden in English】

        “Remembering is just an invention of the mind,” except from Freak the Mighty. I, Max, as big and slow, can never imagine not knowing the memories inside this thick head of mine, and Freak, as small and quick, showed me the key to unlocking them all. Now, I can remember everything, including Freak’s tragic… leaving. His … passing has torn a hole in this world, but his thoughts, feelings, and memories live on bec

2015-05-01

【Aiden in English】

        Seasonal allergies are not lovely. They torture and strip away the beauty of spring. Ironically, seasonal allergies are a work of nature, which leaves me to wonder why nature would cancel each other out. Karma. Things cancel each other out when exploring Fairmont Park's nature beauties in Philadelphia, like math. 

        Cherry blossoms are a beautiful sight in the sprin

2015-04-23

【Aiden in English】

        Pop music is just a bass, a beat, and a melody, with an occasional quiet harmony. It's simple, yet people of the new generation adore it. But when written down, practiced, and closely inspected, the music I loved suddenly seemed duller than ever before.

        Now, everyone hates pop music just because of Justin Bieber (which I do). I think pop is so uncomplicated in a m

2015-04-23

【Aiden in English】

        After Mom's episode of being laid off from Merck and finding her another arguably better job, I have never seen much GSK. From the facts that Mom tells me, it sounds nice. Take Your Child to Work Day is an excellent opportunity to see how good of a replacement it was, and Merck had set a high bar.

        Right away, GSK earned some easy points. On the outside, lush green tree

2015-04-19

【Aiden in English】

        Some life experiences are etched into your memory, like when a nail went into my knee or I went to Space Mountain in Disney World. I can never forget these images; another image was about to be included.

        Green Lane Park is just as peaceful as any other quiet, calm, and old-people-sitting-on-bench park. That was until the Guang Hua Chinese School crashed the grand party tod

2015-04-18

【Aiden in English】

        The road to perfection is a road that doesn’t exist like Kentucky Wildcats. Sure, many people pursue it, but following the road seems like learning to sprout wings and fly, which I’m sure someday will be possible. Yet, having a Chinese yo-yo performance without our star, without an abundance of time to practice, and with a large audience, the foundation of disaster has already been set. All my yo-yo class had to do w

2015-03-31

【Aiden in English】

        I Am Everywhere, Anywhere 

       From the deepest point of the ocean, 

         To the farthest reaches of the universe, 

         From the darkest corner of the closest, 

         To the climax in a child’s nightmare. 

        I Am the Evil 

&nbs

2015-03-29

【Aiden in English】

        Annually, a feast is held in the spring at Lai Lai Garden in Blue Bell, PA. When I say feast, I mean food fit for a king. Tonight, there is a Guang Hua Chinese School (GHCS) event for teachers’ appreciation, and whoever works like a dog, volunteers for a good cause, or teaches passionately is invited.

        The food at Lai Lai Garden is precious, like gold, so not just anyone in the Chine

2015-03-25

【Aiden in English】

        Being a saxophone player in a band will be engraved into my mind. It is fascinating to see how music is made by organizing different instruments. When the concert arrives, I want those who hate music to hear how beautiful it can be. 

        The Pennbrook Middle School auditorium is a huge room; there you have it, the first problem of the night unexpectedly. When we

2015-03-21

【Aiden in English】

        Hunger seems like an animal raging inside. A beast is waiting to eat itself if it must. At the time, my hand looked appetizing when I was hungry. Like a monster’s hunger, a meal can fill me up at the Chinese restaurant Margaret Kuo’s Dragon's Lair in Wayne, PA.

        We arrived at the restaurant just in time before I began biting off my fingers. Nothing was like tasting huma