[中文版本]

During the Dragon Boat Festival, my mother's friend brought us many zongzi.

The zongzi are wrapped in bamboo leaves, which are harvested from the riverside. The leaves are yellow-green, tied with thin white strings. The shapes of the zongzi vary; some are irregular cones, square at the bottom and pointed at the top, while others are flat and long, about the size of my fist.

First, I untie the string and pull the thread out in circles. The long bamboo leaf easily unfolds. Inside, I see sticky glutinous rice, and a piece of sausage peeks out with its adorable little head. I really want to gobble it up right away. Alas! There’s also a hidden salted egg yolk that I don’t really like.

The zongzi is so delicious! The glutinous rice tastes sweet and sticky; the sausage, my favorite part, is salty and flavorful. However, the egg yolk is not tasty, so I gave it to my mom because she likes it. My mom said, "The egg yolk is very nutritious and eating it is healthy." I ended up eating two zongzi in a row.

Mom explained, "We eat zongzi every year now to commemorate Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet from the state of Chu during the Warring States period."

I love eating zongzi! I also love celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival!

Mentor: Lin Cheng

By

冯新民 翻译 (Translation) 2024-07-06

[中文版本]

At five o'clock in the afternoon, my mom starts cooking, and it's usually ready by six. I can smell the delicious food. As my mom calls me, my sister, and my dad to come eat, I run quickly from the living room to the dining room. I also make sure to call my dad because sometimes he's outside in the yard or in the basement. The whole family sits by the dining table and starts eating. We talk together while we eat. Everyone shares what happened during their day, sharing happy or unhappy things and showing care for each other.

My mom can cook many different things. Sometimes she makes dumplings, and other times she makes fried rice. We eat with ceramic bowls and metal forks, spoons, and chopsticks. Sometimes I don't like the food, like if it's too spicy, but sometimes it's very delicious. We spend about thirty to forty minutes eating dinner each day, and we eat until we are full and satisfied. Every day before dinner, I put cat food in the ceramic dishes for my cats. Then, my two cats start eating from their bowls.

I'm always very happy when I eat dinner because I'm really hungry when I come home from school. My sister isn't as excited as I am, but she also likes to come and eat. Our dinner time is always happy. After dinner, I go to the living room to do my homework. My dad washes the dishes, my mom goes to dance and do yoga, and my sister goes to do her homework.

I believe everyone deserves a good dinner. My sister is very funny; she always tells me amusing stories. My mom is very capable and affectionate; she always asks me what I did at school and if I'm happy. My dad is very hardworking; he's always the last one to come to the dining room to eat because he's always busy. I'm also very capable; I take care of my own things and look after my two cats.

I love my family dinners. We eat until we're full to keep our bodies healthy and so that we won't be hungry at night. I love my family, and they all love me. We are a happy and joyful family, and every day we enjoy having family dinner together.

By

任聚豪 翻译 (Translation) 2024-07-06

[中文版本]

As a generation growing up in houses with constant temperatures throughout the seasons, it's hard for us to feel the subtle changes of the 24 solar terms. So, if you ask me which solar term is my favorite, I choose the most unique one - "Da Xue" (Major Snow).

Where I live, winter is most typical, so during the "Da Xue" solar term, it might mean snowfall! Look outside, and you'll find the entire backyard covered in white powder, with lots of ice on the roadsides, and icicles hanging from houses and trees.

On snowy days, we don't have to go to school. We can enjoy the pleasure of snow all day long. First, I can sleep in comfortably, then get up to ice skate, build snowmen, have snowball fights, and even transform myself into a snow angel. Moreover, due to the weather, parents have to work from home, so they stay with us, giving us more family time. Although on snowy days, you might have to shovel the driveway, and some people don't like shoveling, but I find it fun, and I'm willing to help my parents shovel.

After a long day of playing and shoveling snow, I can come back home, drink a cup of hot chocolate, and then my parents prepare delicious beef and lamb hot pot. Life is so wonderful!

So, "Da Xue" is my favorite solar term because it brings snow and joy!

Mentor: Bingbing Deng

By

吴星颐 翻译 (Translation) 2024-06-02

[中文版本]

From the quiet and orderly neighborhood, students jump out of school buses and private cars, arriving at school. They quickly make their way to the hallways and sit down.

"Ding, ding, ding," the school bell rings in everyone's ears. Class begins, and we start quietly doing our assignments. Some students finish early and start drawing, others read their favorite books, and some lie on their desks to nap. At this time, the weather is sunny and warm, with sunlight shining on everyone. The birds start chirping happily, making the students very cheerful.

During recess, some students rush to grab the balls, others play foursquare and gaga, while some play basketball and soccer. This is our beloved school, an ordinary yet joyful place.

Mentor: Dan Tian

By

王树宽 翻译 (Translation) 2024-07-06

[中文版本]

When I was in sixth grade, the school organized an unforgettable outdoor experience activity – Outdoor Ed. Outdoor Ed not only enabled me to learn a lot of new knowledge, but also to make many good friends, and it left me with wonderful memories.

Outdoor Ed is located at a camp far away from the city. The camp is located on a peninsula surrounded by a wide and calm river，and it is arranged simily. Besides the cabins where teachers and students live, the area is either open grasslands or dense woods. Participating in Outdoor Ed was the first time I lived with my classmates, so I was very excited and thought it would be fun to live in the same dormitory with them. Our cabin included six bunk beds and a bathroom. As usual, I chose a bed on the top. There was a girl I didn't know sleeping across from me, and that's how we got to know each other. Her name is Faye, she is of medium height and always puts her hair up in a ponytail. She is a cheerful girl who is always happy. Soon, we became familiar with each other. We went to the cafeteria together, played together during free time, and talked in the cabin until lights out. To this day, Faye is still a very good friend of mine.

Different activities are arranged every day at Outdoor Ed, among which my favorite is a game called Predator and Prey. Predator and Prey is a survival game played in the woods. Each participant will play a role in nature. Most students will act as animals, including carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores. Each animal has a certain number of life cards at the beginning of the game – each life card represents one life. A few students also act as viruses – the viruses’ job is to catch the animals and take life cards from them. Carnivores and omnivores are tasked with hunting herbivores and taking life cards from them.Teachers placed cards representing water and plants in the woods in advance. All animals seek water cards. Omnivores and herbivores seek out edible plants. In this game, the predators have to hunt for prey, and the prey have to avoid being caught by the predators. At the end of the game, if you still have life cards, water cards, and edible plant cards (only herbivores and omnivores need edible plant cards), you have successfully survived. Unfortunately, I did not survive.

In addition to the interesting activities, the food served at Outdoor Ed is also worth mentioning. There are different options for every meal in the cafeteria. A sample of food served: breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, and juice. When you are hungry after running outside for a long time, lunch is served with bread, BBQ pulled pork and a fresh salad bar, which is perfect for filling your stomach. For dinner there are tacos stuffed with chicken, cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes. Because it's so delicious, I can't help but grab another serving every time. When I first arrived at the camp, I only saw a few simple cabins, and I didn’t expect the food to be so yummy! And because school lunches are generally not very tasty, every meal in Outdoor Ed seemed particularly delicious.

 Now that I am in seventh grade, I still often think of last year’s Outdoor Ed experience. I think of the days living with my classmates, meeting new friends, participating in interesting activities, and eating delicious food... I really hope there will be Outdoor Ed every year!

Mentor: Dan Tian, Xiaofang Diao

By

刁宜萱 翻译 (Translation) 2024-06-02

[中文版本]

Made of cloth and string

A little brown darling

Smiling with glee 

Her yellow hair swinging free.

Playing with a child

Days turn to weeks 

Weeks turn to months 

Months turn to years. 

The child grows up, 

But the little puppet still smiles,

Waiting for the children yet to come.

Ten years go by, 

Brown turns to yellow. 

Her yellow hair fades, 

Her smiling face ruined.

One day, A child arrives, 

Finds the little puppet. 

Takes her home, 

Shows her to mom, 

Asks mom to mend her. 

With a cheerful grin,

The little puppet’s life Begins anew.

By

杜乐尧 翻译 (Translation) 2024-06-02

[中文版本]

Spring has arrived, and the little animals are gradually waking up. The flowers are starting to show their faces, and the trees are slowly budding. Everything is fresh. The once-quiet forest is now bustling with activity.

Spring has arrived, and the dandelion seeds are carried away by their parachutes, floating with the wind in all directions. Some head east, some west—of course, some also go south and north. The children flying through the sky bid farewell to their mother. Not only are the dandelions spreading their offspring, but the cherry blossoms are also propagating their next generation. Bees collect pollen from cherry blossoms, and when they fly to another cherry blossom to collect pollen, the pollen from the first flower sticks to the second one, spreading the cherry blossom’s offspring!

Spring has arrived, and bare trees begin to sprout tender green buds. Suddenly, a gust of wind blows, and the tender green leaves sway with the wind. But then, rumble, rumble! It starts to rain, and the raindrops fall uncontrollably for a long time before the rain stops. The sky clears, the sun comes out, and a rainbow stretches across the sky. The sparrows in the trees begin to chirp.

Spring has arrived, and hibernating animals slowly awaken. Some animals stretch, some yawn, some rub their eyes, and some are already filling their empty stomachs with delicious food. The little bears reach their paws into beehives to steal honey, squirrels scurry around looking for nuts, and birds return, chirping non-stop in all directions. The entire animal world is noisy and bustling with activity.

Spring has arrived, and people cheer, for the cold winter has passed, and there’s no more shivering. The villagers plan to hold a spring party, and everyone is invited. The party bustles, with music playing, people dancing, eating, and playing chess. It’s brimming with excitement. The children's faces are beaming with joy!

Spring has truly arrived!

Mentor: Dan Tian, Xiaofang Diao

By

刁宜茗 翻译 (Translation) 2024-07-06

[中文版本]

Tomorrow is "Mother's Day," and I'm planning to give my mom a gift.

I think my mom would be really happy if I gave her a greeting card. So, I've decided to give her a Mother's Day card. But when should I buy the card without her noticing? At noon, when I go to pick up some medicine, I'll secretly buy a greeting card. I don't have much money, so I searched around and found a card that is both cheap and beautiful. The card is a light beige color, with an adorable Snoopy dog on the front. When you open the card, there's a big, fluffy pink "Love" in the middle that feels soft to the touch! I'm sure my mom will love it. I checked the price, and it was just over four dollars, and I happened to have five dollars, so it was enough. I quickly bought it. When I got back to the car, I wrote "I love you so much" on the card and drew my mom's favorite foods, lobster and durian, which made the card even more beautiful!

The next morning was Mother's Day. I got up at six o'clock to prepare a mooncake for my mom. I heated the mooncake in the microwave for three minutes and also prepared a banana for her. After my mom finished her breakfast, I was ready to give her the card. First, I asked her to sit on our blue sofa and close her eyes. I let her feel the fluffy "Love" first, and then I told her to open her eyes and enjoy the adorable card. My mom was so happy that she couldn't stop smiling, and I was grinning too. She said she really liked the card and added, "My child, I love you so much!"

This was truly an unforgettable Mother's Day. I love you, Mom!

Mentor: Lin Cheng

By

冯新民 翻译 (Translation) 2024-06-02

[中文版本]

Jon stood up. Huh? Where am I? He thought. After quite a while, Jon finally came to his senses: he was trying to find the famous Golden Pancake. Waffles, Jon’s Catigator (a type of animal), meowed beside him. Jon looked up and saw that he was next to the Golden Pancake Temple. The Golden Pancake was just inside of the temple! He rushed up and followed Waffles to the Golden Pancake Temple.

What Jon saw before him shocked him to his core. In front of him was a gleaming, clean and shiny pancake. He carefully walked over and took the golden pancake off its pedestal. Suddenly, the entire Golden Pancake Temple began to shake violently, the ground collapsed, and the ground began to split with huge cracks. The golden pancake slipped from Jon's hand. He tried to reach out to grab it, but he lost balance and fell into the pit. "Ahhh!" Jon's panicked cry echoed in the air. Darkness engulfed the whole pit. Waffles meowed twice, not aware of what had happened to its owner. It walked to the side of the big crack in the floor, and peered down curiously. Waffles’ paws fumbled and it fell on Jon. Oof!

Huh, what’s this sticky substance? Jon sniffed his hand. It smelled of fresh fruit. Even with the faint light from his watch, Jon could barely distinguish his surroundings. Ha! It was actually a mountain of blueberries, Jon’s favorite pancake topping! Jon's weight caused many of the blueberries to rupture, and the bluish purplish juice stained his clothes purple. Staggering, Jon attempted to stand up but failed and tripped under the weight of all the berries. But next to him, Waffles was quite happy. It was busy gnawing on a huge hunk of blueberry. Jon stood up and studied the blueberries carefully. They were massive, each one at least several times larger than a basketball. Jon thought for a while, and finally came up with a solution. At last, Jon and Waffles crawled out from the pile of blueberries.

Jon and Waffles continued their journey in search of the real Golden Pancake, and not long after, a large area appeared in front of them, covered by a yellow substance. They didn't mind, but who knew that as soon as they stepped on it, they would slide forward! Waffles stuck out his tongue, tasting the strange yellow stuff. It actually tasted delicious! "This weird and oily textured stuff is actually butter!" Jon thought, "Oh my god, why was I so stupid to walk on it without even thinking." Jon tried his best to control himself and stop sliding. But he tried again and again but still couldn't stop. Jon looked towards Waffles, where it was sliding forward gracefully, looking relaxed and comfortable. Jon thought of a method: follow the direction of the butter, and don't walk in the opposite direction. That way, the butter will naturally take them to a safe place. After a while, the patch of butter finally disappeared. Jon breathed a sigh of relief and continued walking forward with Waffles.

Jon suddenly skidded to a halt, listened, and said to Waffles, "Hey Waffles, do you hear that splashing noise?" Waffles raised its snout and sniffed intently with its little nose. Jon also took a deep breath and smelled a faint sweetness in the air. They continued walking forward and turned at a corner. Both Jon and Waffles were stunned by the sight they behold: a huge waterfall! This large waterfall was 20 to 30 meters high. The water was pouring down from a high place and hitting the rocks with a splash. 

When they got closer, Jon and Waffles found out that this waterfall was indeed different: not only did this waterfall flow slower than other waterfalls, but the color of the waterfall was bronze-colored and there was a sweet, pungent scent. Jon reached out and touched the strange liquid, which stuck to Jon's hand. "Ah! Waffles! This is maple syrup!" Jon suddenly realized: It turned out that this waterfall is made of maple syrup. Jon looked in and found a large pedestal behind the syrup with a shiny, circular object. 

It was the real Golden Pancake: the one they have been searching for all this time!

Mentor: Ju Cao, Dan Wang

By

梁博雅 翻译 (Translation) 2024-06-02

[中文版本]

Once upon a time, there was a short and plump frog living in a pond, lazily basking in the sun on a lotus leaf every day. One morning, while the frog was sunbathing, it saw a crow flying over to drink water. The crow mysteriously said to the frog, "Do you know there is a well by the village with a treasure hidden inside?" 

Curiously, the frog asked, "What treasure?" 

The crow replied, "There is a big, bright pearl in the well!"

The frog doubted and said, "Really?" 

The crow firmly assured, "Of course! I wouldn't lie. If you don't believe me, go see for yourself!" 

The frog thought to itself: If I get such a big pearl, I will have a high status, and other animals won't laugh at me anymore! So, the frog asked the crow, "If I get the pearl, how do I get out?" 

The crow quickly said, "Don't worry, I'll pull you up." 

So, the frog and the crow went to the well. The crow pointed at the well and said, "The pearl is in the well water; just jump in and you can get it!" The frog, believing the crow, really jumped into the well with a "plop." However, it was disappointed to find that there was no pearl at all, and the crow did not pull it out. It turned out the crow was a deceiver.

This story teaches us not to easily trust strangers and not to seek something for nothing.

Mentor: Dan Tian

By

王澍宇 翻译 (Translation) 2024-07-06