NINE CRAZY FACTS ABOUT THAILAND, THE LAND OF SMILES

  1. The world’s biggest Chinatown is situated in Bangkok.
  2. Thailand is the only country in South East Asia that wasn’t colonized by a western power.
  3. The Thai greeting “sawatdee” Originated during the Second World War. Prior to that, the usual greeting was to ask people whether they had eaten yet.
  4. Bangkok currently holds the Guinness world record for having the longest name of a place. Bangkok is actually the short version. The city’s ceremonial name is “krung thep mahanakhon amon rattanakosin mahinthara yuthaya mahadilok phop noppharat ratchathani burirom udomratchainiwet mahasathan amon piman awatan sathit sakkathattiya witsanukam prasit”. Now I challenge you to say it……..backwards.
  5. According to the World Meteorological Organization, Bangkok is the hottest capital city in the world. It may not be the hottest city in the world every day, but it’s certainly consistent in keeping with its reputation.
  6. Thailand also holds a large number of Guinness world records, including those for the man with the longest hair, the biggest hamburger, biggest restaurant, largest ever aerobic workout, and also for the most linked skydivers.
  7. In Thailand, both Father’s Day and Mother’s Day are celebrated to commemorate the birthdays of Their Majesties the King and the Queen.
  8. It is called the “land of smiles,” because of its ever smiling, inviting, soft spoken, friendly, and hospitable residents.
  9. Red Bull, the famous energy drink, originates in Thailand and was originally called red gaur.

 

Student: Chabuskhan Hamdalee

Xi Jia De, A Representative Chinese Social Enterprise

XI JIA DE

During this pandemic, many good, social responsible enterprises has contributed their efforts to help, in all the ways. In particular, in my city, there is one chained catering enterprise in my city has captured my eyes. I have known their restaurant for a long time, yet this time, it really impressed me.

It is a chained dumpling brand and it owns almost 600 restaurants spread all over the country, and during this hard time, especially during the severe lockdown, they have offered the medical heroes and the volunteers free lunches. It was such a large quantity and they were just providing for the society, which has really impressed me.

I am a friend with the founder’s daughter, and when their headquarter has been built, they have invited us over. That was the first time I started to really know the founder, and the brand. In Chinese, the name of the brand has some special meaning. XI, the first character, means good fortune; JIA, means family, and DE, means good virtue. The founder, Mr. Gao, has put virtue before anything else, and starting from then, I realize that he knows that he was really doing something.

He then invited us to see their history. From 2002, they have been through all kinds of difficulties, yet they have stand well. Dumpling is a very traditional cuisine of China, which people will eat at special festivals. He thought he was not only operating restaurants, yet he is also preserving traditions, which should be cherished especially in modern days. Later he started a “dumpling museum”, which is not really a museum, but another little neat canteen. He has travelled all over the world and brought all kinds of dumplings from all corners of the world back and created that museum.

I was really astonished how he could operate his enterprise such well. When I ask him how he could do that, he told me that it was easy; he will only do one thing to the extreme best in his time.

J.Shen

Still, Standing Still

Wounded, Bewildered, Desolated

Destitute, Diverted, Deluded

Taking hike in all these vast oceans

Sulking into sinking ship

Wondering my life could be

With or without you

 

Rather hurt than feel nothing at all

Lost in the maze

Enjoying the pain, trying to take it all

Wondering what my life could be

With or without you

 

Colours of emotions are all vain

Betraying time took a howl

While I was trying it to be tame

Wondering was it all vain?

What my life could be

With or without you.

Still holding hand, feeling the warmth.

Still waiting, just once, only once for your smile

Still, still I stand still in that moment.

Still wish I could turn this wheel

Could steer it the way I feel

Can bring you back and snatch all the moment.

And wondering what my life could be

With or without you.

Student: Ruchika Sharma

Education Impacts of Urban-Rural Gap

城乡差距对于教育的影响
随着中国科学技术与经济实力的日积月累,中国的经济实力已经在全球取得了突破性的成绩。我们的社会主义价值观取得了极大的成就而正是因为我们国家有着以人为本的教育理念,推进素质发展。彰显出了教育对一个国家的重要性。
作为一个发展中的农业大国,知识的重要性不言而喻了,加强以及投资现代化教育成了现在的一大任务。据有关数据显示,我国的总人口为14亿,而所注册的农村人口就达到了8亿,约占总人口的57%,而农村与城市的人口之比更是达到了4:3。而现在,在一些农村,教育上的细小问题也在慢慢地暴露出来,这些问题不仅大大地限制了农村地区经济的发展,也将孩子们培养学习的兴趣,义务教育制度的实施增添了许多麻烦。而问题所在则是教育资源。教育资源,共分为两种,师资力量资源,以及教育器材资源。
1.师资资源:由于生活环境条件的艰辛,在2010-2013年间,乡村教师的流失量由427万降到了330万,短短的三年内,流失量就达到了142.5万,流失率高达30%。而这些原因并不是因为工资所造成的,据统计一名乡村教师的月薪可达到4511元,而城市教师的工资只有3500元左右。对此政府为鼓励乡村教师对其提供了许多的福利及政策,如一些城市直接聘请满30年教龄的乡村教师高级教师的荣誉称号。
2.教学设备:在大城市里,眼花缭乱的多媒体教学已经实现了多媒体的教学方式,电子白板几乎普遍出现在学生眼前,在城里孩子眼里已经变得索然无味的电子白板或许在乡村孩子眼里是一个缤纷五彩的新世界。
随着时间的推移,各种福利保障制度更加完善,我相信在不远的将来,农村孩子们也会体验到学习的乐趣。

Khao Yai National Park-Thailand

Khao Yai National Park, a mere 200-km away from Bangkok, it is the most visited natural reserve and is situated at an easy access from the capital. It is ranked among the densest forests in the world, that is why it is now a UNESCO world heritage site and Asean National heritage site. It covers more than 2000 square kilometers of Tropical forest, grassy hill slopes and mountain stream valleys. Its natural beauty is simply breathtaking. Apart from driving through the magnificent forest and grassland landscapes, enjoying enchanting waterfalls and trekking on nature trails, camping, biking and bird or game watching are the principal activities in the park. Some of the other interesting activities in the national park are:

Wildlife: from dawn into the wee hours, Khao Yai National park offers exciting adventures like trekking through the mountain jungles and swimming in cascading falls. There’s rock climbing and rappelling, white water rafting and mountain biking as well as quiet bird watching and night safaris.

Golf: With its alpine climate and rolling terrain, the Khao Yai area is a location for golf. Khao Yai has eight golf resorts that combine the natural charm with contemporary amenities to give a perfect stay in this enchanting vicinity.

Adventure sport: Be it kids’ adventure, family fun, amazing thrills, team challenges or even fear factor activities; Khao Yai promises fun and excitement for families, corporate groups and team building activities. Visitors can enjoy life at the Greenery Resort with exciting activities like ATV, Zorn Ball, Thunder Hawks and Rock Climbing amongst other thrilling activities.

Vineyards and wineries: The farm and winery, which is, at the same time, a classy resort and a wellness spa, is located in the green field of vineyard, where Shiraz, Cabernet-Sauvignon, Syrah and Chenin grapes are cultivated. In order to disseminate the process of vine making, an educational tour of winery can also be organized.

Shopping: Khao Yai has big outlet malls and shopping arcades that can fulfill the day for shopping lovers.

Due to Khao Yai’s alpine climate and fertile soil, farms, ranches and vineyards have sprung up as well as recreation facilities, hotels, resorts and eateries.

Student: Chabuskhan Hamdalee