2013年5月17日
《社会学》的要求的那篇作文的分数刚刚公布出来。
满分100, 教授给了我98,主要扣的是个别语法上的错误和毛病。
他的评语如下:
What a fun and interesting read this was, D! I love the way
you framed the essay by starting out with the chinese father/son
quote. So very cool!!! You cracked me up with some of your
"father's" comments!!! And your research, citing, and story
telling were all very strong. To top it all off, I learned
quite a bit from your essay, so thank you for taking the time to
put forth such a quality effort. I love learning stuff!! So
great job on those fronts. There were a few minor grammar
issues within, but those will be remedied through time and
practice. Beyond that small issue, fantastic job
and keep it up !! You're doing great!!
Grade 98
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我提交的作业--原文:
Escape to The Netherlands
A Chinese proverb reads "Wu Chou Bu Cheng Fu Zi"-- hatred bonds the father and his son. This well describes the relationship between the father-China and me, the middle-aged son named xxx.
My father hates me for many reasons, we hold different values, moral standards, even though we are surrounded by the same Chinese culture. More worse, I was an activist for advocating human rights in my home, at least 500,000 of my brothers and sisters are currently enduring punitive detention without charge or trial, and millions daughters and sons are unable to access the legal system to seek redress for their grievances (Amnesty International,2013).
My father said I was one of his favourite sons. He doesn't want to throw me in the jail, Reluctantly he needs to kick me out of his house. He doesn't want his supreme power and authority to be threatened by any un-filial son just like me.
Therefore I must find a new home in the international village. I have never been to Europe before, I heard of many travellers’ compliments on the Netherlands. Even though compliments are a complicated matter in The Netherlands, they need to be adapted to the situation, issued by the right person and with the right tone in order to actually be recognised as something positive instead of just an ironic remark. For example, managers in Netherlands are usually not very abundant with compliments, but if they were, people would come and ask for bigger salaries all the time. (Us Europeans, 2008). What an interesting place!
The Netherlands has a nick name, Holland. Actually the people, language, and culture of the Netherlands are referred to as Dutch. 16 million Dutch peacefully lived on an area twice the size of New Jersey. This small nation boasts a wealth of cultural heritage and is famous for its painters, windmills and clogs. It holds highly international character of liberal mentality and equality. It hosts the International Court of Justice in city Hague, and capital Amsterdam is known as Venice of the North, because of its lovely canals that criss-cross the city, its impressive architecture and more than 1,500 bridges (Wikitravel, 2013).
When my father heard my decision for moving to the Netherlands, he was very angry, he roared like a lion: “what? Amsterdam? Full prostitutes and cannabis! Why don’t you just go to hell directly?” I kept quiet, carrying on packing my luggage. I already lost my desire to argue anything with him. He was hopeless. He couldn’t tell the real illustrated meaning behind symbol of the legally permitted prostitutes and cannabis issues. The Dutch’s unique cultural characteristics: tolerance, liberty and equality.
For instance, the underlying principle of social security in The Netherlands is that people who are afflicted by unemployment, invalidity, or illness must be given the opportunity to exercise their political and civic rights on an equal footing(Holland expat center,2013).
My most concern on social issues is human rights. That’s main reason why I was kicked off my home by my father. When I read the Article 1 of the Dutch Constitution it said: ‘All persons in the Netherlands shall be treated equally in equal circumstances. Discrimination on the grounds of religion, belief, political opinion, race, or sex or on any other grounds whatsoever shall not be permitted’ (Government of Netherland,2013).
In my view, it really safeguards both the right to equal treatment in equal circumstances and the ban on discrimination in my new home. It sounds very good to me.
As for the socioeconomic and prosperity issue, under article 20 of the Constitution, everyone has the right to a minimum standard of living. That means anyone who cannot earn their own income receives assistance. Students, the unemployed, those who are medically incapable of work and households below the poverty line therefore receive financial support (Government of Netherland, 2013).
The Netherlands does not have a strong uniform national culture. Dutch people reject the notion as an unacceptable form of nationalism. They emphasize the country's cultural diversity, tolerance of difference, and receptiveness to foreign influences. Tolerance characteristics has made it possible for centuries to provide a safe haven for ethnic minorities fleeing from discrimination and persecution, with each minority influencing Dutch culture in its own way. Many Jews from Spain and Portugal and Protestant merchants from the Spanish-ruled southern Netherlands sought refuge in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Recently influx of guest workers came from the Mediterranean, the former Dutch colonies, and refugees from war-torn countries (Countries and their cultures, 2013).
I personally always prefer to taste different styles of food or restaurant when I am travelling. Unfortunately, The Netherlands does not have a distinct culinary culture because of its Protestant ethnic and the absence of a strong culinary tradition at the court due to an emphasis on Calvinist soberness. Food is seen as a necessary part of life, with no need for luxury. That’s OK for me. Even though Dutch’s dinner, is a two or three-course meal that often begins with soup. The main dish usually contains a mixture of potatoes with vegetables and meat, fish, or poultry and is followed by dessert, Chinese and Italian food have become part of the Dutch diet, which means I can easily find a Chinese restaurant on the street corner, and I can enjoy the delicious Chinese food any time.
The Netherlands actually has an advanced free market economy. The average income after taxes is 20,000 euros ($23,160). Two percent of the Dutch population are employed in the highly mechanized agricultural and fishing sector, 24 percent are employed in the industrial sector, and 74 percent work in service industries (Countries and their cultures, 2013). I have a strong feeling that I will become one of the 74 percent in service industries, because I will open my own restaurant someday if I am tired of being employed by others!
Oh, I forgot something, something important, the weather. The Netherlands have a temperate climate, which means that summers are generally cool and winters are generally mild. The best time to go is from May to September.
Now it is June 1ST, it’s time to go.
Bye, dear father, wish you the best as I always do.