Drinking Alone Under The Moon One night in the spring, the moonlight looked very bright, and I felt good. So carrying with a pot of wine, I came to the garden set by the flowers. After having drinked a cup of wine, I wanted to talk to somebody particularly. But there was nobody but me in the garden. I looked at the bright moon, and she seemed gazing at me silently and to be understand what I was thinking about. I held up the cup to the moon and said “Come on for a drink together!” When I held the cup to my lips headdown I saw my shadow. Suddenly, I didn’t feel lonely. Three persons now, the moon, my shadow and I！ Could the moon drink? Certainly not. And the shadow just followed me walking around. Let it be! I must made shift with them to enjoy myself in time on spring. The moon wondered from treetop to housetop while I was singing; And the shadow changed in riotous profusion while I was performed swordplay. We were very happy indeed while I was awake. Afterward, I got drunk and they went off. My forever bosom friends, fair moon and my lovely shadow, you made me forget all of common customs. How I wish to meet you always beyond the removed clouds! This essay translated from a chinese ancient poem. Do you know who the poet was? 月下独酌 在春天的一个夜晚，月光非常明亮，我的心情也很不错。于是，带上一壶酒，我来到花园里，坐在花丛旁边。喝下一杯酒后我特别想和人说说话。可是，花园里除了我，一个人都没有。我望着皎洁的月亮，而她好像也在默默地注视着我, 好像她明白我的心思似的。我对着月亮举起酒杯，说：“一起来喝一杯吧？！”我低着头把酒杯放进嘴里的时候我看见了自己的影子。突然间，我不再感到孤单。现在有三个人！月亮，我的影子和我！月亮会喝酒吗？当然不会。那影子也只是会跟着我转悠。管它呢！我就将就他们在春天里及时行乐吧。 我唱歌的时候，月亮徘徊着从树稍走到了屋顶；我舞剑的时候，影子凌乱缤纷地变幻着。我醒着的时候我们玩得可真高兴。后来我醉了，他们也走了。 我永远亲密的朋友，美丽的月亮和我可爱的影子，你们让我忘记了世俗的一切。我多想总是与你们相逢在遥远的云端！

The Mind of A Lotus Ha ha......There is no snow, no roasted goose and no Christmas Tree here today but my best wishes to you: May all your dreaming come true, Merry Christmas and a happy new year! Here, another poem from Xi Murong. I do not understand what the MIND of a lotus is. Would you please tell me if you know? The Mind of A Lotus 莲的心事 ——By Xi Murong 席慕容 Me, a blooming lotus in the summer 我 是一朵盛开的夏荷 Yearn that you can see what I am now 多希望 你能看见现在的我 Not yet be eroded by wind and frost 风霜还不曾来侵蚀 And nor yet beaten by autumnal raindrop 秋雨还未滴落 Sentimental season has departed me far away 青涩的季节又已离我远去 I am elegant and slender, no worry nor fear 我已亭亭 不忧 亦不惧 It’s right now 现在 正是 The most beautiful moment of my life 最美丽的时刻 But doors are locked securely 但重门却已深锁 Behind my sweet smile 在芬芳的笑靥之后 Who know the mind of a lotus flower 谁人知我莲的心事 Oh you, doomed no chance 无缘的你啊 Come to me either too early 不是来得太早 Nor too late 就是太迟

How Much Will It Take To Get A Wife During october to february, it is the peak stage of chinese wedding . And I have attended three wedding ceremonies of my friends and relatives this year since october and next week there are tow more to be attended. Although it seems that naked marriage has gained it’s tendency, (Naked marriage is a man and a woman to get married without a house, car, grand wedding ceremony and even wedding rings.) no matter how simple the traditional wedding of chinese is, giving betrothal gift is indispensalbe. How much of the betrothal gifts will be is proposed by the bride’s parents and the usual betrothal gifts include wedding ring, the needs of the bride, dragon & phoenix candles, pork, chicken, wine, candy, biscuit, feeding money and money put in red packets for various traditional items. My cousin has just had a wedding. According to him, the least betrothal gifts cost about ten thousand RMB nowadays and his was sixteen thousand RMB. Do you have the tradition of giving betrothal gift in your country? How much will it take? 娶个媳妇要多钱？ 从十月到二月，这期间是中国婚礼的高峰期。今年十月以来，我已经喝了三次亲朋的喜酒了。下个星期还要参加两次。 虽然现在裸婚的情况有流行的趋势，（裸婚是男女双方不买房、不买车、不办婚礼甚至没有婚戒就结婚了。）但是传统的中国婚礼不管多简朴，下聘礼是必不可少的。聘礼的多少由女方家长提出，一般包括订婚戒指、新娘全身用品、龙凤烛、猪肉、鸡、酒、糖、饼干、乳金和各种礼仪红包等等。 我的表弟刚办完婚礼。据他所说，如今最少的聘礼是在一万元人民币左右。他自己下的聘礼是一万六千人民币。 你们国家有下聘礼的习俗吗？ 要多少呢？

A Beautiful Moment There are few sweet pieces among Xi MuYong’s poems. It is said that this piece was writen to her husband. Although the description is about the life of man and wife, there is not any sex at all. It is a successful work and has a widely welcome. I hope you enjoy it, too. 这是席慕容诗集中少有的甜美诗中的一首。据说这首诗是写给她丈夫的。尽管诗中描述的是夫妻生活，但是却没有一点色情在里面。这是一篇成功的作品， 受到广泛的喜欢。我希望你们也喜欢它。 A Beautiful Moment By_Xi MuYong 席慕容(TaiWan) （台湾） When dark night spreads Like black brocate And Tender words wind round my ears Sweetly Ever since daylight The unfeeling heart Unexpectedly and slowly warms up Always on such A beautiful moment I’m longing for You To hold me In your arms 美丽的时刻 ——席慕容（台湾） 当夜如黑色锦缎般 铺展开来 而 轻柔的话语从耳旁 甜蜜地缠绕过来 在白昼时 曾那样冷酷的心 竟也慢慢地温暖起来 就是在这样一个 美丽的时刻里 渴望 你能 拥我 入怀

Thanksgiving Day The American celebrate their traditonal festival, Thanksgiving Day, today. Here I wish you, my american friends in italki, a wonderful and happy and healthy Thanksgiving Day. It is said that the fesvival is much like the Chinese New Year’s Day or the Spring Festival in another way. Families get togehter and have a big meal on this day. During the Spring Festival Days, the main traditonal food in our region is not dumplings but zongzi(粽子)，a pyramid-shaped mass of glutinous rice wrapped in leaves. To make zongzi is a complex technological work. First, soak mung beans and glutinous rice in water and marinade meat with seasoning one day ahead making zongzi. Second, clean and soak zongzi leaves in warm-hot water to soften the leave till the water become cold and dry control them to be used later. Third, lay 3-5 zongzi leaves together, put on glutinous rice, mung beans, meat, mung beans, glutinous rice in turn, then wrapped it and tie it up. The last task is to boil it for about 5 hours, depends on the number and the size of the zongzies. It’s all done. No no. The very last task: have a taiste, please!:)) And on New Year’s Day, we say: Wish you a prosperous new year, get me a lucky Envelope) 今天，美国人庆祝他们的传统节日：感恩节。我在此祝愿爱拓奇的美国朋友们：万事胜意！节日快乐！身体健康！据说，这个节日很像中国的新年，或者说春节。在这天，亲人们团聚在一起吃大餐。 在春节期间，我们地方主要吃的传统食品不是饺子，而是粽子。粽子是一种用叶子把糯米包起来的金字塔状的食品。制作粽子是一项繁琐的工作。首先提前一天把绿豆和糯米用水浸泡好，用调料把肉腌好。第二，用温热的水把粽子叶泡软并清洁干净，控干水备用。第三，铺开3-5张粽子叶，依次放上糯米、绿豆、肉、绿豆和糯米，然后包起来绑好。最后的任务是根据粽子的数量和形状大小煮上5个小时左右。这就完成了。不，不。最最后面的任务是：请君品尝！：） 还有，在新年这一天，我们会说：恭喜发财！红包拿来！:)

A Booming Tree This is a modern poem which describe the psychological activities of a man having a crush on someone. As I have a photograph which match the poem completely, I try to translate the pome to you, my dear friends in italki. I hope you enjoy it. 这是一首描述一个正在暗恋中的人的心理活动的现代诗。因为我有一张照片与这首诗很相配，所以，我尝 试翻译这首诗给我亲爱的爱拓奇怪朋友们。希望你们喜欢。 A Blooming Tree By__Xi Mu Yong (TaiWan) 席慕容(台湾) How can I make you to meet me In my most beautiful hours For that I have prayed before Buddha For five hundred years Ask him for the affection for us The Buddha then changed me to a tree Growed by the path you may take And full bloomed cautiously in the sun Every flower carrying my preexistent whishes When you came near Please listened carefully Those quivering leaves were my waiting enthusiasm As you passed by without any noticing in the end What droped on the ground behind you -----My friend! Were not petals But my withering hearts. 一棵开花的树 By 席慕容（台湾） 如何让你遇见我 在我最美丽的时刻 为这 我已在佛前 求了五百年 求它让我们结一段尘缘 佛于是把我化作一棵树 长在你必经的路旁 阳光下慎重地开满了花 朵朵都是我前世的盼望 当你走近 请你细听 那颤抖的叶是我等待的热情 而当你终于无视地走过 在你身后落了一地的 朋友啊 那不是花瓣 是我凋零的心

I'm looking for the best method of remembrance. Is there somebody can share? To REMEMBER English words!

A Beggar or Not Many people might have an impression that a beggar must be a dirty man in tattered clothes. I was one of them until last month. One day, I was having my lunch at home when there was a knock on the door. I went and opened the door. Then I saw a man in old but clearn suit and leather shoes stood outside. I did not know him. I asked him whether he was fimding someone. However, he smiled and asked me for a meal and a glass of water. In return for this, he stood on his head and sang songs. I gave him a meal. He ate the food and drank the water. Then he went away. Later a neighbour told me that he is a beggar. I have never seen a beggar like this. I think this sort of beggar do not regard themselves as a beggar. Maybe, they think they make a living by singing. What do you think about this?

Postcards with Travllers I once read a story of a man who was confused with postcards. He said that postcards always spoiled his holidays. One summer, he went to Italy. He visited many wonderful places. A friendly Italian tought him a few words of Italian and lent him a book. He read a few lines, but he did not understand a word. Every day he thought about postcards. His holidays passed quickly, but he did not send a cards to his friends. On the last day he made a big decision. He got up early and bought thirty-five cards. Then he spent the whole day in his room, but he did not write a single card! It is said that the Western have an old manner of sending a postcards go their families and friends when they are in travelling. I want to know: 1) Why are they like to do this? 2) Nowadays, is it still exist? And in what methods? I will be thankful for every answer.