Chinese Cinderella
JeNa Park
Ms.Clarke
English 9 C Block
13 November 2015
Writing #2: Descriptive Writing
Main character: Adeline's dad
Scene: a conversation with her father on an airplane to Tianjin
How would you feel if your dad didn’t know your name and birthday? Well, Adeline had a shocking moment where her father didn’t remember her Chinese name and her birthday. Moreover, he wasn’t bothered to give her a new birthday which was the same as her father’s birthday. What a shameless father he is! A conversation she had with her father on an airplane to Tianjin in the story tells us that he neglects Adeline and other children of his own. He was never a responsible parent.
The situation occurred when Adeline, Niang(step-mother), and the father was going to Tianjin to separate her from her aunt, who is the only person who cared for her. Her aunt was the only person Adeline could rely on. She noticed she was sitting next to her father after she woke up. As soon as her father woke her up, she sat up straight because she was nervous to start a conversation with the father. It was not common for her to have a casual talk with him. Father asked Adeline for her name which turned out to be a shock for her. He asked Adeline if her name was, “Jun-quig.” This frustrated and made her heartbroken even more because it was her little sister’s name. This made her feel sick and tired of him. However, her reaction was minimal. She hid her emotions of anger and dreadfulness against the father because their relationship wasn’t close enough for Adeline to express her feelings.
Then, when the birthday was brought up by the father she was overwhelmed with disappointment. The father continues to disappoint her by asking Adeline how old she is. Yet, appallingly her didn’t feel any guilt for not knowing anything about his own daughter, Adeline. Without any concerns for her feelings, he shamelessly gave Adeline a fake birthday: November 30th which is his own.
This particular situation can tell us many things about her past also her future. It tells us how distant Adeline is from her father. Also, her future will continue to be difficult as much as the past. One of the things that stood out to me as a child is that Adeline never had a birthday party in the past for 10 years! I can’t imagine myself living in a life like Adeline’s; never had a birthday party, having a “father” who doesn’t know my name or birthday.
Sam Seo
Ms. Clarke
English 9 C Block
13 November 2015
Writing #2: Type: Descriptive
Yen Jun-ling, a famous New York times author and also a physician, is famous for writing her past life. She has written over dozens of books and amongst them, Chinese Cinderella and Falling Leaves were the base of her success. These story both set in place when Yen Jun-ling was abused both physically and mentally by her parents.
Yen Jun-ling, as an unwanted daughter from her father, Joseph Yen, and her stepmother, Jeanne Virginie Prosperi known as Niang (Chinese term for stepmother), was born into a rich family, but was treated differently amongst her siblings. Although she was treated with hatred and agony, she was well educated in diverse locations, Tianjin, her hometown, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. She was mistreated from the beginning to the end of the Chinese Cinderella.
How did Yen Jun-ling overcome her treatment and become a best time seller author and a physician? And how was she able to develop who she is? What have she learned from his horrific event?
“Father, I shall go to the medical school in England and become a doctor. Thank you very, very much.”
She was the last sibling born under her father and mother, Yen Tse-Rung and Ren Yong-ping, But was faulted for her death for she passed away after three weeks of puerperal fever. She was heavily influenced by other cultures like France, Britain, and America in her hometown. She was raised under a French stepmother and was educated with Chinese and American. In order to overcome the sadness on being the un-loved one, she occupied herself with studying.
As the unwanted daughter, she tried her best in getting her parent’s love by perfecting her assigned duties like school works and keeping her family’s reputation clean, but they’ve left her alone, only giving a slight glance. Her father once complimented her for receiving a medal of being the top student. This made her thrilled and excited to study. She continued to study, believing that her father would give her the same love as the other siblings.
After maintaining her grade and being the top student, she received countless amounts of medals and certificates. The house was noisy with all the Japanese businessmen willing to start a business together, but at that time, father was missing which only left the siblings. They bossed around, eating, drinking, and doing whatever they want. After a year, her father returned in order to bring the siblings for a new settlement in Shanghai.
Her education in Shanghai remained the same, being the top student of the class. After she got elected as the class president, her classmates came to celebrate her, but was called out and was harshly screamed and slapped Niang. The room went silent and she was to make them go outside. This humiliating experience made her embarrassed for now her family relationship revealed. She wanted to hide. (low self esteem, unwanted, shame)
Citizens in Tianjin left one by one because of the communist invasion. However, she was left in Tianjin, away from Baba and grandpa, who she loved the most. She continued studying in her school, but became anxious when students left her side one by one. She was left alone in her school. She worried about her future until her relatives came to rescue her. The relatives carried her along side with them to her family in Hong Kong. She worried her meeting with Baba and Niang. They however, did not give an eye on her. She felt alone, but also relieved at the same time.
“No eye contact”
Adeline Yen Mah was dumped into a boarding school in Hong Kong where she was locked up for 2 years. No matter how hard the situation turns out, she continued to read and study. Nobody came to visit or supply her tools until her grandfather died, making her stay by his side (dead) for the night. She had to withstand the experience on being alone and isolated within the community and her family. She was then told to quit school which made her more desperate to prove them that she is worth investing for until Adeline join the writing competition in the summer. Recommended by her teacher, she worked hard and when she submitted it, she waited anxiously for the results. After few weeks, her writing was on the first page of the newspaper. She was astonished and amazed, everyone nearby her cheered for her. She was then called out by her father, which made her sweet smile to a sturdy rock. Instead of forced marriage or quoting the school, she was complemented with her father smiling and laughing. She was rewarded with the education in the Europe with her brother. Her dream was accomplished.
Teacher encouraged her to write a writing competition during the break.
Niang said that she might have to get a job because the education was too expensive. She had the anxiety on studying at this school.
Competition result .
How her luck changed, “”
Father proposed. And She accepted with obedience. Going to medical school.