E-Concussion

The Three Wishes
A man and his wife were always wishing for luck. One night a fairy came to them and said, “You may have three wishes.” In the morning the woman went to a neighbor’s house to get some bread. She saw a nice pudding there. When she came back, she said, “I wish I had a pudding like that! She did not think of the three wishes, but there was a pudding beside her. “Silly!” cried the man, you have lost one of your wishes, and we have only a pudding. I wish it were on your nose!” At that, the pudding jumped up and grew fast to her nose. “Silly, yourself!” cried the woman, “you have lost another wish. We have only one wish more.” “What shall it be?” asked the man. “We must wish this pudding off,” said the woman. “I can’t have it on my nose.” So they wished it would go away, and away it went. They had had their three wishes, but they were on better off than when the fairy came to them.

Talking to a Fish
One day a Negro went to a fish shop to buy some fish for his dinner. He picked up a fresh fish, and after examining it carefully, he held it up to his nose and smelled it. “Hey! What’s this?” cried the master of the shop. “Why do you smell that fish, do you think it,” answered the Negro. “Then what were you doing with your face so close to the fish?” asked the master. “I wasn’t smelling the fish; I was only talking to it,” answered the Negro. “Talking to it!” said the shopkeeper, why, what on earth did you say to it?” “I asked him if there was any Negro. “Well, and what did the fish say to that?” asked the shopkeeper. “He said he didn’t know the latest news, because he had been away from the sea or more than three weeks.”


** Vocabulary**

1. fairy [n.] 小妖精,仙女 [adj.] 小妖精似的,仙女似的
2. better off [ph.] 情況較佳
3. Negro [n.] 黑人 [adj.] 黑人的,黑色的


Carey 21-June-07

Dear all,

I think everyone really had a great time tonight. It was so exciting to guess the vocabularies、and it was also a challenge to explain the words without mentioning any related words. The following is today's feedback.

Peggy

*************************************************************************

1ST PART:(super guessing game)
Here I am posting all the words we guessed tonight~
hesitant(a):uncertain,nervous,umwilling
bathe(v):swim,immerse in liquid
lounge(n):sitting room
disgusting(a):sick、unpleasant
faithfully(adv):loyally、believably
greet(v):say hello to someone
thief(n):someone who steals things from others
flatter(v):
catch(v):to get
flavour/flavor(n):the tastes of food
feed(v):give food to
sympathy(n)
miner(n):the worker who digs out coals underground
sofa(n):a soft chair to sit
gate(n):a door
begin(v):start
survey(n)(v):look at,examine,investigate
excel(v):be or do better than
aspiration(n):desire,ambition
immediate(a):no delay
occupy(v):dwell in,take possession of
harass(v):wory or annoy,disturb
marvel(n):wonderful thing
minded(a):care about、interested
preparatory(a):preparing for something
sober(a):drink a little、not drunk
reach(v):extend
orderly(a):tidy,not unruly
religion(n)
incline(v):slope,bend,cause to have a certain influence
weep(v):tear,cry,sad
deceive(v):cheat,trick
gorgeous(a):attractive,beautiful
launch(v):start,open
previously(adv):before
combine(v):make things to be together
slient(a):quiet
sidewalk(n)
entry(n):the way to enter
sign(n)
miracle(n):good luck
encounter(v):experience,meet unexpectedly
bankruptcy(n):inslovency,have debts
glove(n):clothing wear on hands
negotiate(v):discuss to reach an agreement in business
shallow(a):opposite meaning of deep
reputation(n):opinion of someone or something

2ND PART:free talk (story teller)
Joyce、Shavia and Sharon told some love stories happened around their friends; James、Carey、Leo and Peggy told some ghost stories and stupid jokes. By sharing these stories、I believe Joyce's group can learn more from LOVE :P
As for my group、we just scared each other and then release the nerve by telling ghost stories and some funny but stupid stories :P
In brief、the point of this activity is to use past tense (or present tense) when telling a story. You just need to stick to the same tense when telling a story.

3RD PART: club affairs discussion
1.6/27(Wed.) 20:00-22:00: go to a bar with Yenney. James will inform us the location to meet.
2.7/3(Tue.): changing the gathering schedule from Wed. to Tue. and having dinner with Joyce’s Japanese friend at 放牛班 (市民大道四段183號、近敦化南路)、 I will make a reservation next week.
3.9/22-24(Sat.-Mon.): our Green Island trip. James will make a rough plan for us and discuss later.

New words & phrases:(these words will be posted in DICTIONARY too)
bed and breakfast (B & B) 民宿
milepost/a distance post 里程標
safe/coffer/safe deposit(box)/strongbox 保險箱, 保險櫃
pure/clean/stainless/innocent/sinless 清白
to sleep on one’s side 側睡
to sleep on one’s back 仰睡
scout 童軍: boy scout, girl scout
explore 探路, 勘查
camp fire party 營火晚會
to go out; to die out; to snuff out; to burn out; to put out (火)熄滅
mortgage 抵押
box 劇院包廂
vacuum (n) (v) 吸塵器; 吸塵

For me , life means endless learning, will have different definitions in different situations.
The most important thing is the attitude. We ought to try hard to turn our negitive attitude into postive side although it is not that easy. So this make us to learn, and that's what the value and the meaning for life.

We also shared our dreams. Actually most of my thoughts all about practical life issues, but there's only dream I still not yet give up, which is singing. I ever enrolled a music school whuch is for training pop singer. It was a pitty that I counln't become a real singer due to some problems occured that time. What I am thinking now is , it's not necessary to become a real singer but I still can get the chances to practice singing no matter how old I am. I ll never assume what the achivements I can make but just go for it once I have chace.

I also encourge Zoe and James to keep going for the dreams and with propper process. No matter whether it will come true or not, you won't regret one day when you look back.

Shavia

Dear E-concussioner,

As the free talk topic was about "proposal" last time. There is an article from Studio Classroom which introduced the way of proposal in 90s, please check below.

Peggy

The digest of the gathering time on 6 June、2007

※You can help me to fulfill and modify the contents by using the replying function—say something. Thank you.

The first session—Designation of domestic tour

＊Leo+Shavia+Wally:

The first day:

7am-2pm
rent a car and depart from Taipei and arrive at QiJin（旗津） port to enjoy the seafood for lunch…

4-6pm
arrive at Kenting and check in FuHua（福華） Hotel…go to swimming pool…the time prevent us from sunburned…

6-9pm
go to night market on Kenting street

9-11pm
watched spicy girls』 dancing—pipe dancing

The second day:

7:30-8:30am
breakfast

9-12am
water activities: banana boats、diving and water motorcycle

12-1:30am
eat WonLuan（萬巒） pig feet

1:30-2:30pm
take a nap

2-5pm
paint ball game

5-6pm
E luan Bi（鵝鸞鼻） light tower and the southest grocery store in Taiwan…

8-10pm
check in GinHau（晶華） Hotel and go to Kauhsiung LuiHe（六合） night market…HsinJueGiang（新堀江） shopping district

10:15-11pm
Love boat in Love River

The third day:

6-7am
Breakfast

7-11am
go to Tainan to see historical monuments…YiZaiJinCheng（億載金城）、something like that…take a look on the old street

11-2pm
eat conserves（蜜餞）、frozen chicken legs、noodles…a restaurant 養老乃瀧

2pm
on the way home



＊ James+Joyce+Carey

The first day:

8am
depart to HuaLian…we also rent a car in Taipei

12am
lunch: YiXiang Won Ton（一香餛飩）、Zeng Gi Magi（曾記馬吉）

3-5pm
Seven Star Pool（七星潭）…Dong Hau University（東華大學）

7-9pm
NanBin night market（南濱夜市） there you can let off firecrackers（放鞭炮）

10pm
FuHau Hotel in HuaLian

The second day:

8am
enjoy the bufe in Hotel

10am
GuangFu sugar factory（光復糖廠）…eat ice-lolly（冰棒）

12am Lunch at RuiLi（瑞裡）…eat Chung-tze/rice dumplings（粽子）

2pm
RuiSui Pasture （瑞穗牧場）

5pm
SanXianTai（三仙台）…watch sunset there

7-10pm
we go to Taidong and live in aborigines』 （原住民）house…we have a barbecue…we drink millet wine（小米酒）…dance and sing

The third day:
9am
Breakfast…aborigines prepare some fresh fruits they plant

12am
ChiShang lunch box / bento （池上便當）

2-5pm
Guan Mountain（關山）…there is a beautiful biking lane..

6pm
Ilan（宜蘭）night market… we eat Bu meat（卜肉）、a string of hearts（一串心）

8pm on the way home





The second session: free talk about proposal

I just introduce partial ideas of each friend in my group. You can ask more by 「say something」 function for feedbacks. Or you can discuss with us more by real conversation at Wells、on msn or by emails.


Wally:
Please find a matched person…choose whom you love. And you have to take more time to know each other before getting married.

Carey:
The way to propose is not so important; the person you love is really the point. And if you feel the heart、you don’t need to say too much with proposal.

James:
When it comes to Lantern Festivals or Moon Festival…it’s the time for memories. There are so many special things he made with ex-girlfriend. If he proposes to her、he would say a funny sentence in Taiwanese! (really made us laugh!)

Joyce:
I talked one experience of blinding-date. I think this way cannot work on me.




Administrative Matters

1. E-Concussion Website http://blog.pixnet.net/econcussion

＊ Blog host—James—in charge of our site

＊ Album host—Carey—in charge of album and profile

＊ Divisions of Labor:
I Host A have to post the notice before gathering time on the board 「Take a look.」
II Host B record the gathering in an article on the board "gathering time.」 And find time to put the vocabularies on the
board 「dictionary.」

The classification of our boards:

Dictionary---the host or anyone notes the vocabularies in our gathering time

I'm speaking---share some English learning information!?

Take a look（佈告欄）---every time the host should post a notice in advance
and here is also a board for announcing any activities

Gathering things---every time the host records something of our gathering

Guest book（留言版）---talk、discuss、express anything


2. Having dinner with Yenney on June 10、this coming Sunday.

Place: 樂雅樂餐廳
Address:許昌街19號1樓
Time: 6:30pm
Host: Sandy (0952-730-880)
Participants: Yenney、Sandy、Amy、Joyce、Shavia、Carey、Wally、Paul、Hank…

Dear All of E-concussion,

You really did a great job!
Amy is professional in cooking. I think she can really make great dishes!
When you as the host next time, cook something, please! We’re always hungry in gathering time, aren’t we?
I think Peggy, Carey and Joyce are also creative; Leo is thoughtful enough!
And thanks Zoe for anything we have done, thank you!

I recorded the vocabulary you mentioned in Free Talk, but still missed many words, I’m sorry! I’ll gather all the things we did on the new website. It’s convenient to review. I’ll tell you the address of website and the user name and passwords later.


wax apple = bell fruit -> It’s a fruit looks like a bell with pink or red color, you know
side dish -> Not the entrée, just side dish
peppery hot -> It’s extremely hot!
Chafing dish = hot pot -> We really like to have in cold winter. It’s warm!
Numbness -> 麻
Lamb -> one kind of mutton
騷味 -> the smell of meat or fish

White wine for seafood or chicken!
Red wine for meat!


The cooking materials we (Zoe and me) prepared:

*Sea-born
Thornback 鮪魚
Sailfish 旗魚
Salmon 鮭魚
Octopus has eight legs and a big head
Squid 魷魚
Lobster one kind of shrimp, delicious and huge

*Meat
Beef
Pork
Mutton 羊肉
Chicken

Flour 麵粉
Rice

*Vegetables and Fruits
Onion
Sweet potato;Yam bean 地瓜
Corn
Bamboo shoot 竹筍
Gherkin 小黃瓜
Carrot 胡蘿蔔
Escarole 萵苣
Bean sprouts 豆芽菜
Cabbage 甘藍菜
Passion fruit 百香果
Pineapple 鳳梨
Pumpkin 南瓜
Orange
Strawberry

*Beverage
Black tea
Milk
Lemon lemon juice
Vodka one kind of liquor
Whisky
Coke Coca Cola

*Special flavor
Caviar 魚子醬
Truffle 松露
Goose liver 鵝肝
XO sauce

*Seasoning and others
Garlic vampire hate it
Pepper
chile
Sugar
Salt

*Cooking Methods
stir-fry fry in chinese way
fry
bake 烤
stew (用文火)燉,燜
steam 蒸;煮