The unusual sport between UK and China

        One of the unusual sports which is actually played in the United Kingdom include the 'Man versus Horse Marathon', a famous race in Wales that pits a man against a horse that combines a cross-country marathon race and an obstacle course; office depot jousting, which involves several teams of two players each, in which one player in a team sits in a chair and propels himself, while his teammate pushes the chair down the aisle of a store, dodging the rivals who attempt to hit each other with garden hoes.
         However in China, maybe the most unusual sport is cricket fighting.  Cricket fighting also has a long history in China. It dates back at least to the 14th century and has traditionally been a gambler's sport. The cricket fighting season begins in September when the crickets are about a month old. Bets frequently top $1,000 and sometimes exceed $10,000. Because the stakes are so high and gambling is technically illegal, many of the fights are held in private homes or discreet corners of parks. Chinese are particularly fond of crickets because they are said to bring good luck and wealth.

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.