The Dinner at the Hua’s House

As the evening breeze ruffles the leaves and trees under the milky twilight, the noise on the street gradually dies down as people hurrying home for supper. For many, it is just a typical autumn nightfall. However, for the Huas, it is a lovely day celebrating both the special reunion of Mulan and her family and the delightful arrival of the handsome general, Li-shiang.

The house is especially clean and tidy that day with hardly any layer of dust on the shelf or window frame. Candles with tender fragrance are lit at every corner of the dining room. On the rectangular dining table spread the treasured yellowish table cloth, which is embellished with embroidery of birds and flowers, reserved only for New Year’s Eve and other special occasions. Besides the table, Mama’s favorite white and blue porcelain vase is placed with fresh tulips and lilies.

Despite all the splendid decorations in the room, the most appealing of all is the mouthwatering dishes made by Mama and Granny. Even before they are brought to the table, the enticing aroma from the kitchen has been tempting people to dig in. Right in the middle of the table served the “Fo-Tiao-Qiang”. Like a bowl full of treasures, the soup is of the color of amber with rich ingredients such as: chicken, mushroom, scallop, quail eggs and taro lying visible underneath the surface. To the left of the soup serves the “Creamy Cabbage Baked”. A thick layer of white cream covers the cabbage like snow and the midst of the surface is baked slightly golden brown. To the right, “Pineapple Shrimp Balls” are arranged neatly in a round plate with a little sprinkled pepper and some mayonnaise on the top, making them look like Christmas decoration.

Other than the appetizing aroma of the dishes, the dining room is filled with the delightful laughter and ongoing conversation of the Huas and Li-shiang. Mama and Granny collapse into giggles like teenage girls at the amusing stories told by the general. Papa smiles and occasionally gives his comments. However, Mulan just sits there and eats her meal quietly with relish, curving up her lips like waxing crescent. She likes to enjoy this sense of serenity among the revelry. The dim light of the candles, the savoring taste reminding her so much of her childhood, and the familiar chatter of the family all makes her feel secure and at home. She does not realize where she leaves off their conversation or when Li-shiang begins the anecdotes about her during war time. She is drawn back to the table from her tranquil world at a sudden burst of exclamation of her folks. She lifts up her face to find Li-shiang winking at her, and her folks giggling from the back. Subsequently, she feels an abrupt rush of warmness in both of her cheeks.

With the evening slowly fading into night, the house is illuminated with joy and coziness. It has been a long time since the Hua last share a dinner together.  Mulan feels wonderful to be home again; all the more so to be home with her favorite person, Li-shiang, whose sense of humor she likes best. It is truly a special night for the Huas and Li-shiang that will leave a lasting memory in each of their mind.

If you could live a day of any person, whose life would you choose?

If I could live a day of any person, my choice would be the Taiwanese beauty/travel Youtuber named Serene, who is now a senior studying at Duke University. What is so charming about her life you may ask? She is the exact embodiment of someone I dream to become. She is a fashionable young lady with a positive mind, an A+ yet humble student whose learning goes beyond textbooks, and a traveler who inspires people. It is incredible to see someone like her at my age  have already accomplished so much in life! I always feel encouraged when I read her stories because they reminded me the possibilities. And I have to strive for a better self.

Maintaining both a graceful appearance and an excellent academic performance is a goal I have always found it hard to achieve. Since both of them require a lot of time and effort, there never seems to be enough time for me to do so. However, after learning about Serene’s life, I realized that I could train myself with a better time management skills. According to Serene’s posts and videos, the secret to a graceful appearance is living a stable lifestyle with good time management. For example, she begins her day with her daily beauty routine to set herself in the best condition. And she makes a habit to always plan out her day ahead and list out the things she must get done. A well-planned schedule and a stable habit not only reduce one’s pressure but also achieve a better working quality. Hence, the dream of being both beauty and an A+ student can be attained.

Of course, a graceful appearance itself is not enough; one’s confidence long-lasting charm.

*** Please focus on Serene since she is the main character of your essay. Avoid lengthy stories of yourself.

Growing up, I was often confused by the worldly standard of our society, in which they judge an individual’s success in terms of his or her academic performance. Ironically, my good grade in school never helps me figure out who I want to be but even more lost in the score competition instead. Over the years, I found myself becoming less and less confident struggling to find the right place for myself and living up to the expectation of the society. However, Serene seems never lost. Despite being an A+ student, who graduated from Taipei First Girl High School and entered a prominent college like Duke University, her confidence does not devour her humbleness. Instead of perceiving grades as an indicator of success, she considers good grades as only an approach to a goal that one wishes to achieve. For example, she understands that her dream of becoming a marine biologist can only be achieved by entering a good college specializing in Marin Biology, so she works hard to obtain good grades but she never lets her glittering performance in the competition of grade blind her from seeing her goal of life.

 The last but not the least thing I admire Serene is her way of writing about her life. While most of my journals are just plain records of my life, hers always come with a kind of positivity. I especially like the story Serene shared about her intern experience in New York. Language blocks and cultural differences had resulted in a lot of frustrations for her. Growing up as an A+ student, she found it hard to adjust in the beginning. But it eventually dawned on her that every journey she takes, every stony road she crosses only transforms her into a better self. Words have power that they not only help you keep a vivid record of the ups and downs in life, but also serve as a mean to make sense of our life.

In reality, it is impossible to live somebody else’s life, and also no need to wish to become somebody else. Though Serene’s stories have demonstrated the idealistic life I have dreamed of, I have come to realize that that the point is not living the fantastic a life, but creating the dreamlike life with my own hands. With a good time management skill, confidence, and positivity, I am sure I can live a full and extraordinary life as Serene.

[Update]