NOTIFICATIONS ABOUT THE NEW YEAR WRITING CONTEST

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The QBO Goldpen in November will be intergrated into the December one to make a SPECIAL WRITING CONTEST with the main topic, of course, HAPPY NEW YEAR on QBO forum. On behalf of the board of organizers, I welcome all writings submitted to us, irrespective of topics or styles. Let's send your writings to our email address goldpenQBO@gmail.com to participate in the competition and win our great prize. GOOD LUCK to all of you!

[giangtran]

wait for us, we will appear soon

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Writer: Trần Thị An Giang - Foreign Trade University

THE PREPARATION FOR TET HOLIDAY IN VIETNAM

Vietnamese culture is full of colorful festivals. Among them is the Lunar New Year, also known as Tet Nguyen Dan by Vietnamese people. It is the largest and longest festival in Vietnam as well as has the biggest influence all over the country. For thousands of years now, Tet has been celebrated as the most important and significant festival by successive Vietnamese generations.



Tet Nguyen Dan is the first and also the most important festival in the system of Vietnamese celebrations. The time of Tet has a special meaning. It ends an old year and begins a new one. It is the connection between the two years and also the start of a developing circle of the universe. It may be because of this reason that this festival has been called “Tet Nguyen Dan”. In Sino-Vietnamese, “Nguyen” is the beginning, while Dan is the morning. Tet Nguyen Dan is the “Feast for the first morning”, usually based on the Lunar calendar. In addition to this, Tet happens during the time the weather becomes the most beautiful in a year, the spring. At this time, nature begins showing its most miraculous beauty. Hundreds of flowers are in bloom, giving the land a carpet of colors and types. The leafless tree branches, waking up after a long cold winter sleep, start bearing out the first tiny green leaves to welcome a new year. High above the sky appear schools of swallows returning from the Southern areas. Their singing stirs an quiet area of space. The spring sunlight shines gently on the whole mankind, giving the warm breath to the human beings. Everything seems to be in good harmony to make the most splendid coat for the nature greeting such a significant festival.

As Tet comes nearer, the preparation on the streets becomes more specified. Products for Tet are abundant with flowers, decorations, offerings, clothes, etc. The shops and markets are full of people buying and exchanging goods. They want to make their holiday well-prepared. Besides, all the activities of trade will be stopped during the real holiday, so the need of storing goods also increases in the period before Tet. Goods become more diversified and plentiful these days to cater for the demand of consumption. A large number of people travel to and pro on the streets. Everyone appears to be in a hurry to finish the last work of the old year. As a consequence, they can come home to get reunion with their families. Trains and buses are crowded with passengers going home to be beside their beloved people in the sacred moment of the time transition. The whole society seems to change itself for a new year coming.

We can see the atmosphere of preparing for Tet in families. On the days before Tet, each member of family is busy with decorating homes, buying the necessary goods for Tet and making traditional food to enjoy and offer their visitors. The altar is cleaned and placed on with colorful voted papers, which are considered ancestors’ money and possessions in another world. A tray of five fruits, called “Ngu qua” including banana, pear, kumquat, pomelo and custard-apple always appears in families’ altars. Each fruit symbolizes for a particular meaning but the general one is bringing wealth, luck and happiness to the families throughout the year. Common food that is associated with Tet is banh chung and banh day. According to the folklore explaining the derivation of this food, it is not only the specified dish for the traditional holiday but also has the special meaning because of its shape of the earth and the universe. It is the reminder of a past proud time when our ancestors began building this country. The most memorable moment before Tet may be when the whole family sit together looking after the pan of banh chung and banh day, telling one another the past experiences, the unforgettable things. It is when a family has a chance to enjoy the happy moment. In this way, Tet holiday brings an enormous value to anyone experiencing it.

Tet is a chance for us to return to our homeland, in which contains the sweet memories of our childhood. Everyone being far away from home these days tries to go back to get reunion with his family, meet relatives and friends, and pay his gratitude to ancestors by burning sticks of incense on the grave and the altar. People get happier and more generous. They are ready to forgive all the faults and mistakes to welcome a new year in peace, with hope and optimism. This is an important humanitarian feature of Tet Nguyen Dan, the biggest Vietnamese traditional holiday.

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A BOAT CARRYING PASSENGERS SANK IN THE GIANH RIVER AROUND THE TET OF KI SUU

In the busy atmosphere of preparation for Tet holiday, an accident happened on the last day of the Mau Ty lunar year on the Gianh River, which caused a big sorrow to the whole Quang Binh people in particular and Vietnamese people in general.

The accident occurred at 7a.m. on the 25th of January (also the last day of the old Lunar Year) because the boatman, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Qui, born in 1976, in Quang Hai commune, Quang Trach district, Quang Binh province, didn’t follow the regulation of water traffic laws. He carried a lot of passengers on his boat (80 people), which exceeds the legally acceptable number (12 ones) according to the registration decision by Quang Binh bureau of Traffic and Transportation on December 25th, 2008. Due to this disorder of legality, both the boatman and the passengers had to face a huge loss, 40 dead people and 1 lost person. Most of them were women and children. They were hurried to market, preparing for the coming Tet.

As soon as the accident happened, the board of Quang Trach district leaders arrived at the location in time to control the rescue. They gathered about 50 policemen and soldiers to do the activity of finding and emergency with all the possible equipment of aid. In general, the assistance was conducted quickly and promptly.

The accident gave an enormous loss not only to the victims’ families. Everybody was all astonished at the sad news. The atmosphere of Tet holiday seemed to be more dismal. Due to this reason, the Quang Binh people council decided not to organize the traditional festival of fireworks. The accident was a big warning about the awareness of complying with the water traffic regulation and also showed the obstacle of traveling in the areas around the Gianh River. The government should provide the people here a more convenient system of transport to avoid such a miserable result.


Name: Tran Thi An Giang

Address: class A12, the faculty of International Economics and Business, Foreign Trade University.

Source of Reference: http://vovnews.vn

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THE PREPARATION FOR TET HOLIDAY IN VIETNAM

Vietnamese culture is full of colorful festivals. Among them is the Lunar New Year, also known as Tet Nguyen Dan by Vietnamese people. It is the largest and longest festival in Vietnam as well as has (should be “having”) the biggest influence all over the country. For thousands of years now, Tet (holiday) has been celebrated as the most important and significant festival by successive Vietnamese generations.



Tet Nguyen Dan is the first and also the most important festival in the system of Vietnamese celebrations. The time of Tet has a special meaning (should not use “meaning” as a countable noun in this case). It ends an old year and begins a new one. It is the connection between the two years and also the start of a developing circle of the universe. It may be because of this reason that this festival has been called (“are called” will be more suitable) “Tet Nguyen Dan”. In Sino-Vietnamese, “Nguyen” is the beginning, while Dan is the morning. Tet Nguyen Dan is the “Feast for the first morning”, usually based on the Lunar calendar. In addition to this, Tet happens during the time the weather becomes the most beautiful in a year, the spring. At this time, nature begins showing (should be “begins to show”) its most miraculous beauty. Hundreds of flowers are in bloom, giving (“making” is suitable) the land a carpet of colors and types. The leafless tree branches, waking up after a long cold winter sleep, start bearing out the first tiny green leaves to welcome a new year. High above the sky appear schools of swallows returning from the Southern areas. Their singing stirs an (a) quiet area of space. The spring sunlight shines gently on the whole mankind (“world” would be better), giving the warm breath to the human beings. Everything seems to be in good harmony to make the most splendid coat for the nature greeting (should be “to greet”) such a significant festival.

As Tet comes nearer, the preparation on the streets becomes (“the preparations on the streets become” would be better) more specified. Products for Tet are abundant with flowers, decorations, offerings, clothes, etc. The shops and markets are full of people buying and exchanging goods. They want to make their holiday well-prepared. Besides, all the activities of trade will be stopped during the real holiday, so the need of storing goods also increases in the period before Tet. Goods become more diversified and plentiful these days to cater for the demand (demands) of consumption. A large number of people travel to and pro on the streets. Everyone appears to be in a hurry to finish the last work of the old year. As a consequence, they can come home to get reunion with (“gather with” is also ok) their families. Trains and buses are crowded with passengers going home to be beside their beloved people in the sacred moment of the time transition (very good). The whole society seems to change itself for a new year coming.

We can see the atmosphere of preparing for Tet in families. On the days before Tet, each member of family is busy with decorating homes, buying the necessary goods for Tet and making traditional food to enjoy and offer their visitors. The altar is cleaned and placed on with colorful voted papers, which are considered ancestors’ money and possessions in another world. A tray of five fruits, called “Ngu qua” including banana, pear, kumquat, pomelo and custard-apple always appears in (on) families’ altars. Each fruit symbolizes for a particular meaning but the general one is bringing wealth, luck and happiness to the families throughout the year. Common food (foods) that is (are) associated with Tet is banh chung and banh day. According to the folklore explaining the derivation of this food, it is not only the specified dish for the traditional holiday but also has the special meaning because of its shape of the earth and the universe. It is the reminder of a past proud time when our ancestors began building this country. The most memorable moment before Tet may be when the whole family sit together looking after the pan of banh chung and banh day, telling one another the past experiences, the unforgettable things. It is when a family has a chance to enjoy the happy moment. In this way, Tet holiday brings an enormous value to anyone experiencing it.

Tet is a chance for us to return to our homeland, in which (only “which” is acceptable) contains the sweet memories of our childhood. Everyone being far away from home these days tries to go back to get reunion with his family, meet relatives and friends, and pay his gratitude to ancestors by burning sticks of incense on the grave and the altar. People get happier and more generous. They are ready to forgive all the faults and mistakes to welcome a new year in peace, with hope and optimism. This is an important humanitarian feature of Tet Nguyen Dan, the biggest Vietnamese traditional holiday. (BRAVO!)

Name: Tran Thi An Giang
Address: The faculty of International economics and business, Ha Noi Foreign Trade university
Source of reference: www.wikipedia.org




: great thanks for your excellent essay!

[Tocxu]

It has been a long time since I last saw a submission for this QBO Golden Pen. Thank you, both Tam and Giang, for your great effort to keep fire for this activity. About the submissions, I have some thoughts.
It seems to me that Giang is much better in creative writing than narrative writing. I really love her line
At this time, nature begins showing its most miraculous beauty. Hundreds of flowers are in bloom, giving the land a carpet of colors and types. The leafless tree branches, waking up after a long cold winter sleep, start bearing out the first tiny green leaves to welcome a new year. High above the sky appear schools of swallows returning from the Southern areas. Their singing stirs an quiet area of space. The spring sunlight shines gently on the whole mankind, giving the warm breath to the human beings. Everything seems to be in good harmony to make the most splendid coat for the nature greeting such a significant festival
Although it is not perfect, it is beautiful.
However, when going to the description, I have a feeling that Giang does not do a really good job. I am not so comfortable when reading her explaination about the traditions although I already know them.
Concerning the article about the boat accident, I don't really like the tittle. For any article, the tittle should be short and impressive like "River accident, 42 people died right before the new year."
Best,
Tocxu.
P/s: Giang, don't take my criticism so much as a misery. It is just because I have so high expectation for your writing.

[giangtran]

It has been a long time since I last saw a submission for this QBO Golden Pen. Thank you, both Tam and Giang, for your great effort to keep fire for this activity. About the submissions, I have some thoughts.
It seems to me that Giang is much better in creative writing than narrative writing. I really love her line
At this time, nature begins showing its most miraculous beauty. Hundreds of flowers are in bloom, giving the land a carpet of colors and types. The leafless tree branches, waking up after a long cold winter sleep, start bearing out the first tiny green leaves to welcome a new year. High above the sky appear schools of swallows returning from the Southern areas. Their singing stirs an quiet area of space. The spring sunlight shines gently on the whole mankind, giving the warm breath to the human beings. Everything seems to be in good harmony to make the most splendid coat for the nature greeting such a significant festival
Although it is not perfect, it is beautiful.
However, when going to the description, I have a feeling that Giang does not do a really good job. I am not so comfortable when reading her explaination about the traditions although I already know them.
Concerning the article about the boat accident, I don't really like the tittle. For any article, the tittle should be short and impressive like "River accident, 42 people died right before the new year."
Best,
Tocxu.
P/s: Giang, don't take my criticism so much as a misery. It is just because I have so high expectation for your writing.

Thank you for your blank comments and don't worry about my feelings just because they are what I really look forward from [i]goldenpen. I agree with you on the title of the article. I was very clumsy when I tried to find an enough impressive title for it. This is my first trial on writing an article of short news and it doesn't make me satisfied. however, i 've got the first lesson. thank you for that

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Name: Tran Thi An Giang

Address: the Faculty of Economics and International Business, Hanoi Foreign Trade University

The pros and cons of shopping online

The appearance of the Internet in the 19th century has made a great impact on every aspect of our life so far. Shopping is among those aspects influenced by the Internet. The combination between the Internet and shopping, known as online shopping, has become more and more common in such a modern society because of its various advantages to customers. However, there are also unavoidable disadvantages.

As soon as online shopping was set up, it quickly gained customers’ interest because it overcomes the disadvantages of in-store shopping. Firstly, online shopping helps us save time and money. With a computer connected with the Internet, the world of shopping is close at hand. We can find a lot of information on any products we want to buy. In stead of going to different stores to compare price of the same product, we now stay at home and use price comparison websites. In this way, we can make the best deal because we can’t be overcharged. After choosing the most suitable one, we only need a phone call or an email letter to ask for delivery. It is very quick and convenient. Secondly, online shopping gives customers a lot of opportunities to get a discount. To compete with other online retailers, each has to launch attractive offers to its customers. Lastly, online shopping benefits online retailers. They don’t have to spend a fixed cost for renting a physical shop each month. All the trading activities are made through the websites. Thus, they can save a significant amount of money and avoid the difficulty in finding a good location to build a physical shop. The invention of online shopping has made our life easier in such ways.

However, there are some inevitable disadvantages of online shopping. What we can’t do is touching, feeling and looking at the real products as well as we can’t try them out to check whether they are suitable with us or not. Besides, customers using online shopping credit card are prone to be attacked by hackers. Once their accounts are broken into, their money easily gets empty. The security on the Internet is an increasing concern in this age of information technology because hackers are becoming more and more complicated and sophisticated. Next, online shopping only appears in developed economies because of the application of the Internet. Thus, its system can’t be used widely all over the world at this time. Finally, online shopping can’t give customers the same pleasure as in-store shopping. Shopping about is also a good way to relax after tiring and stressful working hours Just wandering in different stores to look at the new products or to satisfy our need for shopping is very interesting. It is more special when we go shopping with a friend. This is also a good chance for us to know our friends’ tastes for shopping or to discuss this topic with them. By online shopping, we can’t experience the above feelings.

In conclusion, the pros and cons of online shopping always go together but it is a new proud invention of this time. It was born to cater for the need of the shopping market and it is suitable for the modern lifestyle of our society nowadays. Shopping online will be developed more and more and will become the dominant form of shopping in the near future.

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Name: Tran Thi An Giang

Address: The faculty of Economics and International Business, Hanoi Foreign Trade university.

WHY DO PEOPLE ATTEND COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY?

When finishing high school, students are totally optional to continue studying at university. Some people satisfy themselves with their degrees of high school but others are determined to attend university because they are aware of precious things that university brings to them. They may be the career preparation, the satisfaction of studying favorite or the interesting social experience.

First and foremost, students continue their studying at university because they know it is an important step to prepare for future careers. What they learn from university is far different from the basic knowledge gained from the previous levels of education. It specializes in particular aspects of natural and social sciences and it is much applied into reality. In addition, university curricula also provide students with necessary skills for practical purposes like teamwork, presenting and doing research. Consequently, a graduate has more benefits from work such as high salary, good working environment and available promotion opportunities.

Secondly, students attend university with the desire for increasing their knowledge. To some people, studying is the ultimate goal in their life. Seemingly, the more they learn, they recognize that the less knowledge they get. They have their own interests in finding about undiscovered things. Studying at university takes people to a broader horizon of knowledge and thus satisfies their wish for fertilizing it.

Last but not least, people go to university because they consider it an interesting social experience. They want to plunge themselves into a new living environment and experience strange things it gives back to them. It is an environment of mature students with different family and education backgrounds, of new methods of teaching and studying, of knowledge that takes them closer to an independent life. Above all, it gives them feelings that they can’t find outside the world of university.

In conclusion, people can achieve some important things for their life such as career preparation, increased knowledge or social experience when they attend university. Whichever reasons they are, all are precious and respectful. If a person recognizes the real reason for his action, he will complete it successfully.

[nmt632000]

The pros and cons of shopping online


The appearance (/advent) of the Internet in the 19th century has made a great impact on every aspect of our life so far. Shopping is among those aspects influenced by the Internet. The combination between the Internet and shopping, known as online shopping, has become more and more common in such a modern society because of its various advantages to customers. However, there are also unavoidable disadvantages.

As soon as online shopping was set up, it quickly gained customers’ interest because it overcomes the disadvantages of in-store shopping. Firstly, online shopping helps us save time and money. With a computer connected with (should be “to”) the Internet, the world of shopping is close at hand. We can find a lot of information on any products we want to buy. In stead (Instead) of going to different stores to compare price of the same product, we now stay at home and use price comparison websites. In this way, we can make the best deal because we can’t be overcharged. After choosing the most suitable one, we only need a phone call or an email letter to ask for delivery. It is very quick and convenient. Secondly, online shopping gives customers a lot of opportunities to get a discount. To compete with other online retailers, each has to launch attractive offers to its customers. Lastly, online shopping benefits online retailers. They don’t have to spend a fixed cost for renting a physical shop each month. All the trading activities are made through the websites. Thus, they can save a significant amount of money and avoid the difficulty in finding a good location to build a physical shop. The invention of online shopping has made our life easier in such ways.

However, there are some inevitable disadvantages of online shopping. What we can’t do is touching, feeling and looking at the real products as well as we can’t try them out to check whether they are suitable with us or not. Besides, customers using online shopping credit card are prone to be attacked by hackers. Once their accounts are broken into, their money easily gets empty. The security on the Internet is an increasing concern in this age of information technology because hackers are (“hacking is”) becoming more and more complicated and sophisticated. Next, online shopping only appears in developed economies because of the application of the Internet. Thus, its system can’t be used widely all over the world at this time. Finally, online shopping can’t give customers the same pleasure as in-store shopping. Shopping about is also a good way to relax after tiring and stressful working hours. Just wandering in different stores to look at the new products or to satisfy our need for shopping is very interesting. It is more special when we go shopping with a friend. This is also a good chance for us to know our friends’ tastes for shopping or to discuss this topic with them. By online shopping, we can’t experience the above feelings.

In conclusion, the pros and cons of online shopping always go together but it is a new proud invention of this time. It was born to cater for the need of the shopping market and it is suitable for the modern lifestyle of our society nowadays. Shopping online will be developed more and more and will become the dominant form of shopping in the near future.
: This is such a good essay with few errors! Congratulations, Giang! Cheers