Merry Christmas!

 To all the PMP:
  
           Wish you a Merry Christmas and may this festival bring abundant joy and happiness in your life!

                                                                                 Season

Merry Christmas!




        

 

  To Jeanette:

        Sending the warmest Christmas wishes to you and your family. May God shower his choicest blessings on you and your family this Christmas!

                                                         Yours'lovely
                                                            Season

The differences of the education system in China and the UK

              With developments made in both economic and cultural fronts, the differences between the western and eastern education system  is getting closer and closer. Nevertheless there is a very significant difference between them. In the UK, there is full-time education which is compulsory up to the middle teenage years; the academic year begins at the end of summer; compulsory education is free of charge, but parents may spend money on education their children privately if they want to.while education in China is a state-run system of public education run by the Ministry of Education.  All citizens must attend school for at least nine years. The government provides primary education for six years, starting at age 6 or 7, followed by six years of secondary education for ages 12 to 18. Some provinces may have five years of primary school but four years for middle school. There are three years of middle school and three years of high school. The Ministry of Education reported a 99 percent attendance rate for primary school and an 80 percent rate for both primary and middle schools. In 1985, the government abolished tax-funded higher education, requiring university applicants to compete for scholarships based on academic ability. In the early 1980s the government allowed the establishment of the first private schools.
                 Anthor obvious difference is about exam. National examinations to select students for higher education  are an important part of China's culture,  traditionally, entrance to a higher education institution is considered excellent. Although the examination system for admission to colleges and universities has undergone many changes since the Cultural Revolution, it remains the basis for recruiting academically able students. When higher education institutions were reopened in early 1970s, candidates for entrance examinations had to be senior-middle-school graduates or the equivalent, generally below twenty-six years of age. Work experience requirements were eliminated, but workers and staff members needed permission from their enterprises to take the examinations. Unusually, England, Wales and Northern Ireland have several exam boards, with schools and colleges able to freely choose between them on a subject-by-subject basis.

The UK Government

           The Government is led by the Prime Minister, who selects the other members of the Government.The Prime Minister and the other most senior Ministers belong to the supreme decision-making committee, known as the Cabinet. In Britain, unlike much of western Europe, normally has single-party government. In other words, all members of the government belong to the same political party. The habit of single-party government has helped to establish the tradition known as collective responsibility. That is, every member of the government shares the responsibility for every policy made by the government.  The monarch selects the Prime Minister as the leader of the party most likely to command a majority in Parliament. The British Parliament utilises the Westminster System, a parliamentary democracy which remains to this day the most widely used system of politics in the world. Most nations that practice the Westminster System are Commonwealths or former Commonwealths of the Commonwealth of Nations. Local government authorities(generally known as "councils") in Britain only have powers because the central government has given them powers. Indeed, they only exist because the central government allows them to exist. The system of local government is very similar to the system of national government. Most British people have far more direct dealings with local government than they do with national  government.

Bonfire night

           For 400 years, bonfires have burned on November 5th to mark the failed Gunpowder Plot. The tradition of Guy Fawkes-related bonfires actually began the very same year as the failed plot. Preparations for Bonfire Night celebrations include making a dressing of Guy Fawkes, which is called "the Guy". Some children even keep up an old tradition of walking in the streets, carrying "the Guy" they have just made, and beg passersby for "a penny for the Guy." The kids use the money to buy fireworks for the evening festivities. On the night itself, Guy is placed on top of the bonfire, which is then set alight; and fireworks displays fill the sky. The extent of the celebrations and the size of the bonfire varies from one community to the next. Lewes, in the South East of England, is famous for its Bonfire Night festivities and consistently attracts thousands of people each year to participate. Bonfire Night is not only celebrated in Britain. The tradition crossed the oceans and established itself in the British colonies during the centuries. It was actively celebrated in New England as "Pope Day" as late as the 18th century. Today, November 5th bonfires still light up in far out places like New Zealand and Newfoundland in Canada.

Halloween

       Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain(pronounced 'sow-in'). Samhain  marked the end of the "season of the sun" (Summer) and the beginning of "the season of darkness and cold" ( Winter). The ancient people celebrated New Year on November 1st. They celebrated their New Year's Eve on October 31st. There were four things significant about this date: the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was belived that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. During the day, people celebrated with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Nowadays, people will give a big party to celebrate it. Last Friday our school had the fancy dress party, I'm really having a great time. The party was very interesting and full of fun.

Advantages or disadvantages for the UK as a member.

             As far as I`m concerned  the advantages for the UK as a member in EU are listed as follows:
 First of all, single currency in single market makes sense. Next, transaction costs will be eliminated. Last but most important is that as a member in EU will help high unemployed areas of the UK start their own businesses to employ people. While in the other side there are also some disadvantages for the UK as a member in EU. For instance, the instability of the system, over estimation of trade benefits. And growing pressure for the UK to adopt the Euro. There is also a huge democratic deficit with the EU. That is really problem.

The differences between the four nations of UK

            The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK, or Britain) is a country, located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. There are four nations of UK, England, Wales, Scotland, Republic of Ireland. There are many differences between the four parts, like flag, plant, musicals instruments, clothes and so on.  I am very fond of plant, so I would like to talk about something about national flowers of the four nations.As a foreigner, maybe we all know the symbol plant of England is rose. I like rose.While do you know what the others? So let me tell you. The plant of Wales is Daffodil, and Scotland is thistle, Republic of Ireland is shamrock. They are very nice plants so I will find more inforemation about them during my leisure time.

The tudors

               About Henry the Eighth's six wives there is a sentence:"Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived."  His first wife Catherine was a Spanish princess, because of they just had a daughter and Henry wanted to have a son, they divorced. In order to marry his second wife Anne, he created a Separate Church. While after that she was beheaded by Henry accused her of having a love affair. Although he had a son with his third wife Catherine, she died. Then he married Anne of Cleaves who was a German princess, but at the end they divorced. The fate of his fifth wife Catherine Howard was the same as his second wife. At last, he married Catherine Parr who was his last wife. Except for his complex marriage, we also know that Henry VIII spent lots of money on creating a palace named Hampton Court Palace where is near London.
            After Henry VIII died, Edward the sixth become king, while Edward died, Mary the First become Queen who was married to the Spanish king Philip the Second. After Mary died Elizabeth became queen.

My impression of the UK

        I have been the UK for half a month. And I still remember the first impression of this place.That's amazing! Everthing here are full of vibrant. Now I stay here - Wales, the one of the part of the UK. The nation's youthful capital, Cardiff, is a busy and entertaining place. My first feeling about this place is clean and quiet, with a strong tradition of region culture. While after you're  familiar with  it, you will find that there's plenty to see and do, and what attracted most interest of all is its terrific energy. I am deeply fascinated by Wales. So if you ask me whether I have learned something  particularly interesting.The answer has to be an unequivocal "yes". If you want to go some places the frequent, fast train is your best choice. Peole  arrive every day on the train just like take the subway.

Friday

  Today is Friday, raining now. And it is also the National day in China. So we should be happy although we have classes at this spcecial day.