Instructions

Do you like art? If so, what kind of art? If we think about it, we all like art in some shape or form. For some, art is a beautiful oil painting on canvas. To another, art is expressed through dance, while to another, it is expressed through one's fingers as one molds and shapes new objects made with clay.

Did you know that written text can also be art? Hence, I would like all of you to be artists with the freedom to express yourselves in any way that you would like. Every Monday morning, I will post a topic on my blog, which you are reading these instructions from. Once you have read my topic, you will need to leave a comment on this page. However, this "comment" should be more than one sentence. It should be your response to the question I am posting on my blog. I would really like to encourage you all to try to write as much as you can. However, please do not spend more than 30 minutes writing them. If you read a comment from your classmates that you find to be interesting, feel free to comment to them as well! Lets try to make this as interactive via the Internet as possible. Your responses and comments will need to be completed by 10:00 p.m. every Friday. There will be no exception! Therefore, plan on completing this assignment before the Friday deadline in order to ensure that you receive full credit, which will be 10 points for each week.

On a final note, these blogs are intended to be fun and to allow you to further practice writing in English in a variety of avenues. Be adventurous and express yourselves! Although I am primarily looking a lot at the content, I will also be looking upon your grammar as well. Aim for grammatical accuracy. Nonetheless, have fun, and do not forget, all of you are artists!!

Monday, February 9, 2015

Topic 3: Valentine's Day

As you all probably know, this Saturday is Valentine's Day.  Do you celebrate this day in your country as well?  Is it celebrated the same as in the United States?  How is it usually celebrated?  What kind of gifts are given?  Who gives what to whom?  If your country does not celebrate this holiday, what do you think of it?  What do you plan on doing on Valentine's Day 2015?
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15 comments:

  1. UnknownFebruary 11, 2015 at 2:51 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. UnknownFebruary 11, 2015 at 3:07 PM

    Valentine`s Day origin from a saint called Valentinus. Usually people used to celebrate this lovely day with their partner.
    I usually celebrate Valentine day when i have a girlfriend. If i have a girlfriend in U.S, i would celebrate Valentine`s day there. When I was an elementary school, i had a girlfriend and i gave roses and chocolates, though I did not receive anything. Also, my country celebrate this holiday and there are a lot of decorations of Valentine`s Day in a famous avenue called Avenida Paulista.
    I have never celebrated Valentine's Day in U.S; thus, i would like to get this interesting experience. For this Valentine`s Day, i wish meet a girl to celebrate this day; also, we going to decide what we should do for this day.

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    1. Professor MayMarch 13, 2015 at 8:56 AM

      Did you get a chance to meet a girl to celebrate Valentine's with???

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  3. ROUWEI LINFebruary 11, 2015 at 3:24 PM


    In Japan, we do celebrate Valentine's Day, but in different ways. I think in the U.S. is like send a present to your lover or something like that. However in Japan, girls make chocolate,or coolie stuff to boys. We have some special name and type. For example, we have "real chocolate" for your bf or gf; we have "fake chocolate" for all the boys but without love; and we have "friend chocolate" to present your female friends. hahaha

    It's really crazy!! Every February in supermarket there are soooo many chocolates are sold. And every girls are like really trying hard to cook,bake, or whatever. Maybe you will think that being boy is good! but no no. Boys have to give girls back on March 14, we call it "White Valentine's Day"

    For me, Japanese style Valentine's Day is really annoying. We waste our money, time, and energy. But we already got used to it.

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    1. Professor MayMarch 13, 2015 at 8:57 AM

      Hahaha! I find this culture in the Asian countires to be so interesting! In America, Valentine's Day is often focused on the men doing something for the women. :)

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  4. UnknownFebruary 12, 2015 at 4:42 PM

    In China, we have two kinds of Valentine's Day. One is exactly the same Valentine's Day that came from Europe and America; the other one is Chinese traditional Valentine's Day called Qixi Festival that is in fall and some Japanese call it Tanabata. In tradition, Qixi was a festival for girls to pray their skills in spinning , but not much about the love. In modern days people already celebrate both of them in a similar ways. People buy gifts to their partners and spend a romantic time together. The gifts usually to the some flowers, chocolates, jewelries and so on so forth, but sometimes they will give each other a surprise that might be something special. Chinese people is really romantic, we always have many great idea to create a big surprise. Besides that, on those two days many people may propose or get married. The only difference between them is the stories behind the Festivals. The Qixi's story is a folktale: A fairy came from celestial fell in love with a man, but the Queen who is in charge of celestial found their affection, thus the Fairy had to go back and only permitted to meet the man once a year. The day they meet is the Qixi Festival.

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    1. Professor MayMarch 13, 2015 at 8:58 AM

      I think it is so interesting how in Asian countries, this day is focused on the women doing something for the men. :)

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  5. Hien PhamFebruary 13, 2015 at 12:53 AM

    In Vietnam we do celebrate Valentine day everyyear, and it's the most important day for youngers. In general, the Valentine Day in our country is celebrated the same as in the United States; we prepare special gifts for boyfriend/girlfriend; most of gifts are chocolate and rose, and the couples will hangout in a romantic places, or even have some short trips at that day. If you dont have a lover, Valentine Day is also the chance to confess your love to the one who you have crush on; some people choose Valentine Day to propose their girlfriends, too. The atmosphere these day is fulled of love, romance; on the street or in all shopping centers of the city, shops are decorated with red color, heart sharpe, roses, and couple things. This Valentine Day, next severals days, my best friends and I are celebrating a Single Party at my apartment; it would be supper fun. We had planned it for weeks ago, for, although some of my girls have boyfriends but their boyfriends are in their homecountries, in America, we are all single at Valentine Day. So we decide to make a big, interesting, only-for-girls party; we will cook some Asian foods, buy some beautiful cakes, make chocolate, do girls-things, talk about boys and sleep over at my house. I'm really excited about this upcoming single party!.

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  6. TrangHaFebruary 13, 2015 at 4:08 PM

    Valentine's day in Vietname is also like Valentine's day in American. People send gifts to whom they love. Gifts can be roses, chocolates, hand-made gifts or simply a romantic dinner at a famous restaurant. There are many ways that people can express their love to their lover. Some girls may reiceive gifts from a secret person that they don't know who he is. On that day, you may see some streets are full of flower baskets sold by students. I think it is normal if my country doesn't celebrate this holiday because it is not the end of the world. I can enjoy this holiday in America :).
    For Valentine's day on tomorrow, I have no special plan. I just want to relax after a busy week and wait for a special person coming and enjoying this day with me.

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    1. Professor MayMarch 13, 2015 at 9:03 AM

      Haha, did you have a special person come and enjoy the day with you? :)

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  7. UnknownFebruary 13, 2015 at 9:52 PM

    We do not celebrate the Valentine's Day in my country, but we celebrate some other days according to our religion. There are three days that we celebrate in my country. One of them is Eid Alfeter. We celebrate this day which comes after fasting the month of Ramadan. Last year was on Monday 07-28-2014. On this day, everyone is happy, men, women, adults, children, rich and even poor. Children are given gifts and toys; moreover, poor are given money by rich or who could give. The other day is Eid Aladha. Last year was on 10-03-2014. On this day we celebrate and give each other food especially meat. We celebrate these two days according to our religion, Islam. There is one more day that we celebrate in my country which is the National Day of Saudi Arabia. It is on 23 September every year. These are the only days that we celebrate officially; thus, we do not celebrate the Valentine's Day or any other day.

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    1. Professor MayMarch 13, 2015 at 9:04 AM

      Wow! Thank you for informing me of the special holidays in your country! :)

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  8. UnknownFebruary 14, 2015 at 12:12 AM

    We are celebrates Valentine's day in China. We also is pretty same with the U.S.A.. During this day or before this day most of the merchant will have some of advantage to customer. And the boy will prepare some delicate gifts to girls, especially for rose, and the girls are also will prepare some gifts to boys, especially for the chocolate.
    If our country does not celebrate this holiday, our life will feel boring, and the couples will feel much more boring and lose the enthusiasm to each other.And it will increase a high ration of break up between the lovers. In today's Valentine's day I did not have any plan yet, because I AM A SINGLE!!

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