The Perfect Apartment 

     Rock and pornstar posters are always allowed, but don’t let the neighbors

call the police. That is what I told my roommates when I lived in a

shared condo. My interest in apartments has increased throughout the

years, and investigating areas took me a lot of time. When I moved

to Chicago. For example, Andersonville is a pretty, fresh and lively

neighborhood on Chicago's north side; additionally, I considered it a

safe place. However, Belmont Cragin is a predominantly residential,

calm and lifeless neighborhood. More importantly, both represent two

different housing scenes for me. I used to live in Andersonville in a

shared apartment with a roommate, and currently I am living alone in

Belmont Cragin on the northwest side of Chicago. Due to many reasons,

I preferred moving to Belmont Cragin and keeping my traditional

way of housing. That being the case, many changes came about and

high expectations of a new vibrant and affluent neighborhood were

left behind. In any event, I’d rather live within my budget and find a good

place with other positive characteristics. 

     I have been learning how Americans reduce their housing expenses,

and one of them is sharing their apartments with the purpose of

saving money while staying in a convenient, secure and enjoyable

neighborhood. Andersonville is expensive for immigrants who have

recently arrived, so sharing an apartment is a great idea. On the other

hand, Belmont Cragin offers great deals for monthly rent payments and

even more people can afford apartments by themselves. Some landlords

include electricity, gas, and internet in their monthly rent, but some others

do not include any of those bills, so people have to add extra money

to their housing budget. While I was looking for an apartment in

Andersonville, I talked to more than five renters who did not include

any utilities in the rent. In contrast, in Belmont Cragin, many landlords

include the two most important bills, electricity and gas, and people have

to pay for the internet. In any case, people have to adjust their budget

to the money they make. 

 Meanwhile, sharing an apartment gives people the opportunity to interact

and exchange customs and culture, even if they are from the same

country. In my case, I used to live with an American Jew and a

Venezuelan guy. Now, I live alone. In the shared apartment, the American

was a school teacher, so those moments we shared were small

American culture classes because he corrected me when I spoke.

He always talked about how he was raised and he used to advise

me to pursue my studies. The Venezuelan guy was a musician,

so guitar notes and songs used to hit the walls and impregnated the

house with color and dance. On the contrary, living alone means

hardly interacting with people at home. If people want to share

experiences, have small talk or hang out in their apartment they must prepare

gatherings or invite their friends or coworkers to their home. 

     Either way, housing rules represent a vital part of the time to search

for an apartment. Both sharing or living alone must follow rent

and the community rules. First of all, both have to follow the

community rules and not make any fuss. In addition, the music

can’t be too loud. Additionally, people must be respectful and

considerate with their neighbors. Regardless, people who share

an apartment or live alone must be clean and respectful.

Furthermore, when people share an apartment, they should schedule

who is responsible to clean the common areas because it would

be unfair that only one person carry all the responsibility. However,

when people live alone, they do not have to schedule or set any

agreement in order to keep the house clean, so in my case I know

when and how I am going to clean, and if I have make mess,

no one is going to complain about it.   

 My curiosity about apartments now is a little more intense because

I have been planning to buy a condo. Consequently, my search is

deeper than before. Whichever happens, both ways of renting have

allowed me to learn more about saving money. I also got to meet

new people, experience new cultures and follow housing and

community rules in The United States. For me, the best way

to develop my goals is to concentrate on my studies while

living in a comfortable environment, whether alone or with family. 

Even though my former roommates were great they did not

know how to follow the rules in the same way as me, I will

never forget that because the music was too loud and the police

knocked on our door a few times. In conclusion, simple things

like living within walking distance of a supermarket, pharmacy,

a few convenience stores, cleanliness, interior design and certainly

price and maintain a healthy relationship with my neighbors

is my preferred way of life.   

One Hundred Percent Fake

Xiaoye Peng

         One Hundred Percent Fake

                                     

Milk powder is a child’s life. In 2008, there was a big shock in the news in China which was the Sanlu milk powder scandal. It was also the reason why my parents decided to immigrate to the United States. Due to the rapid economic development of the past twenty years, China's dairy market became very large, and because of the huge consumer groups, Sanlu brand launched infant formula milk powder at a very low price. It was less than half the price of imported milk powder. Soon, it occupied a large part of the dairy market. At that time, the Sanlu brand became an important and well-known brand of infant milk powder in China, ranking first place in the domestic milk market for many years. However, due to high demand, price competition, and other factors, both the companies and the government ignored the production process and quality control. This led the company to add melamine and cyanuric acid to the milk powder, and it became poisoned. Finally, this scandal broke out. After this milk powder scandal and other unsafe food stories, my parents were worried about the safety of food and decided to move to the U.S.

Many Chinese parents thought the imported milk powder was safer than the domestic milk powder, and my parents were not the exception. My sister was born in 2008, and she had to drink milk powder. At that time, the domestic milk powder could be divided into three quality levels: high, medium and low. Due to a large working and poor class in China, people people did not have a lot of money to buy imported milk powder. Even though my parents were not rich, they still wanted my younger sister to drink safe milk powder and grow up healthy, so they usually asked my aunt who lived in Hong Kong to buy imported milk powder and send it to us. We needed to give her back the money she paid for the milk powder and the transportation expenses. It meant my parents spent a lot of money on milk powder. Fortunately, the Sanlu brand launched infant formula milk powder at a price of 18 RMB per bag. It was much cheaper than the imported milk powder. Due to it being ranked first place in the domestic milk market and the price of Sanlu brand milk powder was so low, people bought it without any hesitation, including my parents. However, due to high demand, price competition, and other factors, both the companies and the governments ignored the production process and quality control of the milk powder. Finally, this scandal broke out. The product used wheat protein powder and rice protein powder imported from mainland China in late 2006, which contained melamine and cyanuric acid. More and more babies were getting sick, even dying because of Sanlu milk powder.

In addition, the overall food product quality in China became lower and lower, even the flour that people often use had problems. It was found that some flour had a large amount of talcum powder added to it, and long-term consumption would cause hypermagnesemia, oral ulcers and gingival bleeding, even caused liver, kidney and nervous system damage. Later, it was found that ShanDong flour not only contained talcum powder, but also contained washing powder, sodium hydroxide and other chemical raw materials for bleaching. There were people dying because of these flours. In order to earn more money, companies did whatever they could regardless of the consequences. They put Illegal additives, including clenbuterol and highly toxic pesticides in the food. It was so horrible. Over the years in China, the main purpose of China's agricultural policy was to increase the supply of agricultural products. As a result, the output of grain, vegetables, meat, eggs, and milk has increased, but at the same time, the quality declined and many products were tainted.

Furthermore, my parents didn’t trust the food in China anymore. Food is the god of people. They can control their nutrient intake every day, but they can’t control their food safety. Even if people buy food carefully, sometimes they can’t avoid the tainted food. My parents wanted to eat safe food, and they wanted me and my sister to grow up healthy too. The basic wish of every parent is that their children can grow up safely and healthily. We are all human beings. It is unimaginable that a company would hurt people just for more money. My parents chose the lives they wanted, not because they didn’t like China, but because they couldn’t forgive the people who indirectly kill people. Therefore, my family decided to immigrate from China to the United States. Whenever I see unsafe or tainted food in the news, it reminds me of the Sanlu scandal. I don’t want people to die because of the bad food made by the bad companies. The biggest problems in China right now are poisoned food, water, and air. My parents really didn’t want to see this happen again in our life, so they chose to immigrate. I hope companies no longer produce unsafe food, people no longer worried about food safety, the country no longer shame for food safety. Come on, let’s take action together, we can defeat fake food!

Changes

Bayasgalan Balgan 

Changes

One of my greatest memories of my childhood was when summer started, my family traveled to the countryside because of my father’s work. He worked at the Energy Regulatory Commission of Mongolia. At that time most of the countryside was not connected with power, and his job was an electrical engineer. When he had to work in the countryside, he took us with him within a recreational vehicle. I remember that my father looked at a big map and he noted some location to work on, and my mother took care of my sister and me. Now I realize my father did a massive job alone, and he brought joy to so many families because he was the person who connected them to power. However, in 1990, Mongolia became a democratic country. The most direct consequence was my parents changed their jobs and became much busier, my sister and I became closer to my cousins, and I got the chance to try many delicious foods.   

(Left side three of my cousins' father Bataa, my mom, and my dad in Moscow) 

The Mongolian economy and political system totally changed. Mongolia was a communist country before that revolution. The revolution of the 1990’s biggest effect was my parents changed their jobs, and they became salespeople. It was common for most parents started to sell some clothing and marmot skins to Russia because Mongolia has a huge number of marmots and Russian wants to buy them to make hats. Luckily, my parents’ business became successful; however, they became busy because they had to travel to Russia and China for many days at a time. They left my sister and me with our grandmother. Even though my parents’ business was successful, they spent less time with us. My sister and I missed the old times because before that revolution we were together most of the weekends and after school with our parents. Even when my mom was working late, my sister and I were playing in her office until she finished her work. However, these times never come back after that revolution.

(Last summer with my cousin's families, kids, aunties, and my grandmother)

Furthermore, my parents became busy and traveled to Russia and China for their business. At that time most of the weekends, my cousins came to my grandmother’s home, and we played together a lot. My cousin’s parents also started their own business because of that revolution. That routine made our connection with all my cousins closer. Then, we started inviting each other for sleepovers. My parents brought us many toys from Russia, and we played together with them. Before that revolution, we stayed in my father’s work summer camp, but after that revolution, he had a chance to buy that place. When summer break started, my cousins, my sister and I spent all summer together in our summer house.  Now we are still so close to each other, and we like spending time together playing games, cooking, and traveling. Nowadays, our kids play with each other just as their parents do.

                      (Before that democratic revolution and now) 

Before that a democratic peaceful revolution, everyone used to stand in long lines to get rationed food. I remember that I usually went to the grocery store and waited in a long line to get bread. Nevertheless, after that revolution we got more chances to eat delicious food because before the grocery stores had few things: bread, flour, sugar, salt, potato, carrot, meat, and rice. Only on special occasions were there apples or mandarins. Then, the grocery stores became private and owners brought many varieties of food, and they filled their shop counters. I remember when I first tried a banana for the first time, but I did not like it because it was sticky and soft. Furthermore, there are many new food imports. One of my favorite food was chocolate at that time, and I ate one big chocolate each day. All those changes meant that I started to gain weight.

This peaceful revolution made my life interesting and challenging. Now Mongolia is still a developing country. However, this revolution started many changes in Mongolia. Three big effects were my parents became busy, my cousins got closer to me, and goods became widely available than before. I do not want to regret or change anything because I think things happen for a reason. That revolution gave us many great economic and political opportunities. I am grateful for those people who made us that big revolution.

Michael Adiemeli

Esl 100

September 25, 2019

                                       Blending the past with the present

I wondered how life would be in the United States of America. I had just won a scholarship to go and study in the US. I had applied for the award for several years, and now a great opportunity had presented itself. My family held a family and friends party to bid me farewell before I could depart. I could not go with my family because I was going to further my studies. Everyone in the party believed I was so lucky and associated me with success. We ate our traditional meals, dressed according to our culture, and danced. It was a memorable day.  Time for me to leave for the United States came, and as I boarded the plane, I was so happy. My dream to study in a different country had finally come true. I could not stop imagining how the place looked like and the new friends I would make. My parents were filled with joy and gave me their blessings. I later realized that Nigerian food and drinks are different from USA meals.

          I missed traditional Nigerian ceremonial foods eaten during Ogun festivals, Nnewi Afiaolu, and Osun festivals. Nnewi is a festival held around July in Nigeria. The festival Nnewi heralds the availability of new yams. Osun is a festival held at the end of a rainy season usually in august. Lastly, Ogun is a party observed by the Yoruba people in Ondo state. Ogun is a festival held in honor of a warrior called Ogun.  Nigerian parties had different meals. The pepper soup, which serves as an appetizer in most Nigerian parties was usually the first to be served. Presence of pepper soup acted as a reminder that there would be plenty of food in the party. Pounded yam is served later with soup like ogbono or vegetables. These were the yams which were boiled and smoothened. Besides, the yams are consumed during the Nnewi festival ceremony.  Garri is my favorite during the parties. Garri is prepared from fermented cassava tubers. It is mixed with hot water and served with all kinds of stews and soups. The Osun festivals could not end without the jolly of rice. It is rice that is so colorful and made from tomatoes, onions, chilies, and spices. The jolly of rice is served with meat or chicken, and it marked special or social events. Also, suya is a standard meal at the Nigerian parties. Suya is commonly eaten in the evenings at the Nnewi festivals, and it is more snack-like. Suya is made from fish or meat mixed with spices. The spices used to make the suya include peanuts, onions, stock flavors, and at times pepper. This meal is not found in the USA ceremonies, and this made me feel distanced from my home country.

Moreover, hotels in the US prepare meals that are different from the food made in Nigerian hotels. There are international hotels in the US that cooked cuisines from different countries; however, their meals were so expensive. I longed for the Nigerian cooked noodles. There are noodles in the US hotel. However, Nigeria noodles are unique. The uniqueness is because Nigerian noodles are made from fresh pepper, ugwu, and spices giving them the taste they have. Amala and Ewedu is also a meal I liked eating in Nigerian hotels. The tasty meal is made from grinding dried yams and potato barks to come up with powder. The powder is then mixed with hot water. The Ewedu is made from vegetables and spices. Unfortunately, this Nigerian food could not be food in any hotel in the US. I loved cooking, but I preferred taking this meal in the hotel because preparing it consumed time. I also enjoyed taking in the company of my friends. Moin-Moin is another typical dish in Nigerian hotels. Moin-Moin is available in the US international hotels under Nigerian cuisine. Moin-Moin in the US is so expensive to acquire and is also prepared quite differently from the original Nigerian moni -moni. The Nigerian moin-moin recipe includes grounded beans and tomatoes and is eaten with joll of rice, ijebu, garri among others. I mostly missed the moni-moni added to eggs and chicken. I remember specifying my requirements for the meal whenever I visited the hotel. I would carry the food home and enjoy it as I listened to traditional music, and the feeling was unexplainable.  The moment of listening to music while eating moni-moni remained a dream in the US.

Lastly, traditional Nigerian drinks so amazing and addictive. I cannot make drinks in the US because I lack the ingredients. I was used to taking zobo made from dried red calyces and sepals of Rosemary leaves. The drink is later mixed with ginger. I always drunk zobo whenever I felt tired because it refreshed the body and regulated blood pressure. I missed kunu, a sweet and spicy drink. Kunu is a drink with medicinal value but very tasty. The common ingredients of Kunu are rice, millet, and sorghum. I remember taking this drink whenever I could experience indigestion problems, and never once did it fail me. My grandmother always believed kunu to soothe cold and coughs and also reducing the risks associated with diabetes. I longed for the day I would be home and enjoy these drinks.

Conclusively, there is a lot of difference between Nigerian foods and food in the US. The scholarship I got allowed me to experience life in a land far away from Nigeria. My love for traditional Nigerian meals made it possible to note a difference in food between the two countries. Food eaten in the Osun and Oguna ceremonies in Nigeria is easily distinguished from foods prepared in the US parties. Nigerian celebrations are made of foods such as joll of rice, suya, and pepper soup. Also, most of the hotels abroad have Nigerian cuisine though it is expensive and tastes quite different from the traditional Nigerian food. In Nigerian hotels, I loved eating the Nigerian nodules, Amala and Ewedu and moin-moin. Lastly, Nigerian drinks such as zobo, and kunu could not be found in the USA. Memories of the meals and drinks back in Nigeria gave me homesick. I am getting used to new recipe and meals, but I still love my traditional meals.

Michael Adiemeli

Esl 100

October 28, 2019

THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF THE BIAFRAN WAR TO MY PARENTS

The Nigerian-Biafra War took place between July 6 1967 and January 15 1970. This war was fought between the secessionist state of Biafra and the Nigerian government. The conflict was caused by political, ethnic, economic, cultural, and religious tensions that preceded Britain's formal decolonization of Nigeria from 1960-1963. Religious strife was more rampant as a vast population was Islam, and the minority was Christian, which suffered havoc. The war affected many civilians, including my parents and their relatives. There was loss of life and destruction of property, besides calamities such as hunger and massacres. The Biafran war led to the loss of work, starvation, and migration of my parents and their relatives.

The immediate effect of the Nigerian-Biafran War on my parents and their relatives was that they were laid off from their workplace. Since the war turned out to be an ethnoreligious conflict, my parents' jobs were significantly affected. In the affected area, the Islamic community was the dominant group, and the majority of the employers and the employees were Muslim. My mother’s employer and colleagues happened to be Muslims, and as the war was worsening with multiple massacres happening, my mother was forced to quit her job. It wasn't the wish of my mother to abandon the position. However, she was in jeopardy of losing her life because she was Christian, and her Muslim counterparts had evil plans for her. Similarly, my father almost lost his life. His case was much thrilling! His last day to report to work had multiple events that were life terminators. The region he was mainly operating at was an absolute Islamic community. He and one of his colleagues happened to be the only Christians within the job location. On that fateful day, he escaped stoning to death, although his colleague didn't make it through. Since then, life became tight, and the acquisition of finances was more difficult as never before.

Moreover, besides the loss of jobs, my parents underwent prolonged episodes of starvation. After the loss of employment, my parents had difficulties in acquiring new jobs, and in turn, since everything required monetary input, they couldn't afford meals as each day progressed. Besides the lack of money, the country had food shortages due to the episodes of famine that were experienced throughout the war. My mother's eldest brother starved to death (the starvation was very severe). Additionally, worsening the situation, the state army had put blockades all around the Biafran regions, thus, making it difficult for food and other surpluses to enter into the area. As a result, hunger became one of the leading causes of death among the less fortunate families and in turn, facilitated the migration of the remaining casualties to seek refuge from other communities that were not profoundly affected by the war.

Finally, the atrocities that led from the war led to the destruction of both human and animal life, and loss of property. My parents almost lost their lives due to the frequent attacks that were eminent in their immediate neighborhood. Houses were torched, including my parent's home. Besides the use of lethal weapons such as machine guns, which also led to the weakening of structures and the death of cattle and other domestic animals. My mother was almost raped, but my father intervened, and he was shot in his right foot but managed to come to her rescue. Consequently, as my parents were rescued by the UN troops and were taken to a refugee camp on the other side of the Niger delta, they decided never again to go back to their community land, which was severely ruined.

In addition, the Nigerian-Biafra War had a negative implication on my parents' lives, thus resulting in their loss of jobs, near starvation to death, and forceful migration in fear of their precious lives. Besides the loss of innocent lives and property. The atrocities that resulted from the conflict rendered many homeless and resulted in the mistrust among people. It became hard for neighbors within the affected regions to confide in one another as none was trustworthy across the periods of animosities resulting from the war. The effect of the war left an indelible mark on my parents’ life that can never be erased.

                                                          A Great Awakening

In the eighteenth century, in China during the Qing dynasty, the Emperor had decided to close the country from outside which is usually called “Close the Door Policy.” During that time, there was no business between Qing dynasty and other counties. It was like a deserted island where the people inside could not get out, nor could outside people enter. As time passed, in the late 1970s, President Deng Xiaoping started to execute an overall plan also known as Economic Opening. For China, it was like a Great Awakening for it was a milestone in economic history. Since the Economic Opening started, it inevitably affected hundreds and thousands of Chinese people’s lives as well as my family’s.

Because of Deng Xiaoping’s policy of Economic Opening, my father could continue his education in college. President Deng Xiaoping pointed out that the concept of Economic Opening could not perform without getting high quality education; therefore, the college entrance examination reopened since it was banned in the 1960s. When my father finished high school, he had to help my grandfather on the family farm. During that time, my father had to work at a rice paddy next to a quarry where people used explosives to break rocks. In addition, it must have been a rough time for him because he told me that a couple of times, he was almost blinded by the intense lights or hit by flying rocks. I can imagine that if my father did not go to college, he would still be working under these dangerous conditions.

With the continuous development of the plan of Economic Opening, my father as a professional could find a nice job with good pay. In the 1980s, everyone dreamed of getting a job from the government, but only a few of them could get job offers. Fortunately, my father got an offer from a state-owned enterprise in the capital city of Hunan. Since my father started working for the government, my mother and I could have a care-free life while other people were still floundering. Because my father made a decent income, my mother did not have to work, and she could develop her garden with her green-thumb. Moreover, mt father sent me to a better high school, so I could obtain a better education. All in all, the policy of Economic Opening has changed the lives of the entire family.

My father’s education was altered by the law of Economic Opening, and it also was a major turning point of my education. For these years, my family support me when I studied in college. Due to this reason, I had the chance to immigrate to the United Sates because my university approved that I met the certain conditions for the visa to the United Sates. Since this kind of visa is very demanding, students must study at one of the qualified universities. At the present, I am continuing my education at Harold Washington College in Chicago; hence, I could experience the different teaching methods that I never had in China. I’ve always been thinking how lucky I am to learn strong points from the two different education models to make up my weaknesses. In the future, I hope to transfer to a four-year university to gain more knowledge because I always believe that education can change people’s lives.

          To sum up, The Economic Opening, like a great awakening, profoundly affected the life of my whole family. Looking back in time, even though the arrogant Emperor closed the country’s door and China had slept for centuries, it woke up in the late 1970s. Since President Deng Xiaoping drew a circle on the map of coastal areas of China to start the plan of Economic Opening, people could rebuild the bridge of economy to outside world, and it literally changed people’s lives. Time is passing, and my father is retiring this year with a comfortable retirement. In addition, my mother always longed to have a small flower shop, and now she and my father have plenty time to achieve this dream. I will keep studying in college, and eventually my dreams will come true.  

before VS after （ the city of  Shen Zhen）

 

Survival of the Fittest

Survival of the Fittest 

During the period of Reform and Opening up, China’s economy had developed rapidly, and many people’s lives improved and declined. The Reform and Opening of China were put forward and implemented by President Deng Xiaoping in 1978. The central idea was to reform inside of the country and opens to the outside world. The biggest impact was on the economy, and it accelerated the development of China's economy. For example, the government relaxed the restrictions on individual economy’s policy. More and more people chose to go into business, and my grandfather also decided to. There were many changes and influences that came from the people’s choices. The Reform and Opening allowed the country to develop further, and let my grandfather change his family. His choice influenced my mother's life. 

 

At the beginning, my grandfather’s business developed very well, which gave my mother a good environment to grow up in, and the environment helped her different from other small town girl to see outside world. As his business slowly developed, my grandfather earned some money from his little factory. He bought a new house, a new car, and new machines for his little factory. Moreover, his business slowly became famous in that small town. He had more chances to go other cities and more meetings in the town. When he went to different cities, he would buy many famous things from those places, for example, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing etc. That enabled my mother to have a bold and novel vision and thoughts. When my grandfather had a meeting in the town, he would take my mother with him. It made my mother not be nervous or afraid to talk to strangers. Once, my mother and her friend went shopping, and her friend’s purse got stolen. Luckily, my mother found who stole her friend’s purse. She asked the people who stole the purse to give it back. There were many people around them, so the thief gave back her friend’s purse. Then, he ran away. When people have seen a lot of novelty and strange things, this will make people bolder and powerful to a certain extent. 

 

However, for my mother, happiness and luck were short lived. My grandfather died of a hemorrhage because he was too busy with his work, so my mom needed to learn how to be independent. When my mother lost all help from her father, she also needed to learn how to live a very different life than she had imagined before. My mother is the only daughter of my grandfather, so my grandfather gave her more love than the two brothers of my mother. The death of my grandfather was like a big shock for her, so it was hard for her to accept his death. She closed herself in, and even rejected to speak with others. This situation was maintained for some time, and one day she figured it out suddenly. Another thing happened when my mother had not thought about her future life. The death of my grandfather affected his business, and the business could not continue. Then, my mother decided to close it. Despite this, there were still some liabilities. Mom sold the factory, the car, and the house that to pay off the debt. My mother’s family went back to their old house, and my mother started to work hard for her study, work, and live. She knew she needs to be strong because she could only rely on herself, and only herself strong that meant she was really strong. When the point that supports people falls, people should learn how to stand up and not lose their desire for the future. 

 

Moreover, my mother has tried to change the present situation all the time so that her life is not the same. She likes to use her own power to change although sometimes it is not so smooth. However, she never gave up. She often says, “It doesn’t matter. We can start again”. In 2005, my mother tried to open a store in her hometown. However, after several years later, she did not get a good income, so she decided to close it. My mother does not like always being the same because she likes to control all the things in her own hands. For example, when she heard that she would have a chance to go abroad, she had a new idea. She decided to go the U.S. because she wanted me to have more chances and better education than before. My mother has been working hard to make her family better in her own ability. She has always been my role model to move forward. 

 

People will be influenced by different things. People need to learn how to face problems, and try to create new chances for future, not just enjoy the life that other people was provided. Under the influence of the Reform and Opening, my mother's growth experience makes her own independent thoughts and bold behaviors. When she lost her dependence, she learned how to become strong, and always puts her strong and innovative spirit into her life. Her life is really like a roller coaster that has peaks and valleys. In fact, when people face the cruelty of the life that there are choices: being defeated or survival of the fittest. On the other hand, I know it will have many problems are waiting for me in the future, but I want to tell them that you will make me stronger.