Money is not everything

It appears that money seems to be more and more important in this material society. There are people who claim that money is everything. They attach great importance to earning as much money as possible, for money may symbolize a person’s success. Does money mean everything? In my opinion, money is not everything. We cannot buy everything by paying money. Some things are precious and priceless, such as love, health and happiness.  

On the one hand, we cannot purchase love by money. Love is essential and a kind of emotional feeling. It exists in a couple or a family and everyone is equal in term of love. For instance, a rich man may spend too much time on earning money and his family time is occupied. Money estranges his family. He cannot pay money to make relations better. Love needs time. As a result, he can only spend more time to enhance his family relationship.

On the other hand, we cannot purchase health by money. We can pay money for more vegetables or gym, but we cannot become healthy directly by money. There are thousands of examples that rich people cared too much about their wealth and their health were ignored. When they realized this is a serious problem and suffered from the disease, money could not heal them directly. For example, Kai-Fu Lee, ex China Google Chief, was diagnosed with cancer and regretted to have cared too much about his career, not his health. 

Additionally, we cannot purchase happiness by money. Money can buy happiness if we spend it in the purpose of bringing greater financial security for the family. The chase of possessing more possessions can never find its destination with incessant desire to accumulate more wealth. Happiness comes from our hearts. When we trade too much time and energy to get more wealth, we deprive our inner self from the food of happiness. 

To sum up, I believe that money is not everything. We cannot attach too much importance to money. Even if we are not rich, we are also able to lead a healthy, loving and healthy life. Trying our best to make the people around us happy is another good choice.

(pic from http://www.ilmkidunya.com/articles/money-is-not-everything--1611.aspx)

Compare and contrast Snow White and Cinderella

Most of us must have read many fairy tales when we were little kids. Two of those impressed me most, Snow White and Cinderella. They are both kind and gorgeous ladies and have a moving story with their princes. However, many people mix them up and cannot distinguish them clearly. They actually have some differences, which are family background, the helpers and the princes.

The first difference is the family background. Some people assume they are both princesses. But Cinderella is not a princess. She was born in a wealthy family and her mother passed away when Cinderella was a little girl. Her father married another woman. She soon lived with her stepmother and two stepsisters after his father's death. On the contrary, Snow White lived in a royal family and was born to be a princess. She had a better living condition than Cinderella had.

The second difference is the helpers. Many friends helped them to overcome the difficulties. Snow White was helped by the seven dwarfs, the hunter and her prince. Dwarfs provided her with house and foods. The hunter chose not to kill her and her prince gave her a kiss to save her life. By the contrast, Cinderella was helped by his fairy mother, animal friends and her prince. When the king's ball came, her fairy mother dressed her up and gave her a delicate carriage with magic. That made her graceful and the prince fall in love with her. Her animal friends helped her do the dirty housework. The prince managed to find Cinderella and help her escape from her stepmother's control.

The third difference is the princes. Two girls are both saved by their princes. Snow White was sunk in sleep for eating queen's poisonous apple. Her prince gave her a kiss which made Snow White awake by the power of love. Whereas, Cinderella's prince paid more efforts and they have more communications. After the dancing in the ball, Cinderella left a crystal shoe on the stairs. In order to find Cinderella, prince searched all the country and succeeded in finding her.

We can tell that Snow White and Cinderella differ in the family background, the helpers and their princes. But they all overcome many difficulties and have a happy ending in the stories. (380)


(pic from https://stjamesspeaks.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/the-battle-of-the-fairytales-cinderella-vs-snow-white/)

Studying abroad in two different countries

It is not hard to find that many students decide to study abroad for further education. Maybe they are eager to feel different culture or broaden their horizon. These things happen around us or you are planning to study in another country. Spain and America are two popular choices for the international students. I am going to discuss the differences between studying in Spain and studying in America. They are language, living expenses and lifestyle.

The first difference is language. Similarly, studying in these two countries means they have to learn a new language. As we all know, English is the official language in America and most people in the USA speak English. The teachers also speak English in the class and the test papers are written in English. Whereas, Spanish is the official language in Spain. If your Spanish is not good enough, it will be hard to understand teachers' words.

The second difference is living expenses. Like many countries, studying in these two countries will cost more when compared to studying in homeland. We can't deny that the cost of living and studying in the USA is a large number for the international students. But you will receive the better or advanced education in America. By the contrast, this is much less in Spain. To a degree, studying in Spain is better choice for some students from Middle-class family. You can also learn to speak Spanish which is a widespread language.

The third difference is lifestyle. The lifestyles in Spain and America are both western style. However, the classes in Spain always start at 9 am or even at 10 am. Most Spanish people have their supper at 9 pm. Because the timetable in Spain is delayed about one hour when it is compared to most countries. On the contrary, it is easier for the most students to get used to the American timetable.

We can tell that Spain and America differ in language, living expenses, lifestyle and many other perspectives. If you are interested in better education and diversity of culture, studying in America cannot be greater. If you like European culture or love Spanish, I recommend you to choose Spain.


(pic from: http://www.yorksj.ac.uk/international/study-abroad-and-exchange.aspx