'Written expression' test

 20MIN

Prompt: 

Guidelines: 

It really was peculiar how the little tractor had become the very centre of their lives so quickly.

Before that every morning and day prior to its existence had seemed like a drag-a dull composition of mealtimes and farmyard chores, along with Rose's earnest attempts to stay as distant to her new parents as possible. The reticent orphan would shuffle about wordlessly, face shielded by a sweep of bangs as she tended to the chickens or weeded the garden bed. Perhaps she might amble into the kitchen for a few meagre bites of porridge-and then vanish promptly. And that was how it went for a stretch of about two or three years. Mr and Mrs. Jones strained to form a connection with the young girl, but Mrs Jones, fed up with the mumbled responses (if there were any) and glances cast in the other direction quickly saw the disparity between Rose and the apple-cheeked, convival daughter she would have preferred to raise.

Hence it was a surprise to Mr Jones to see Rose beginning to emerge in the bleak dawn more frequently since he bought the tractor. That rusted, ugly contraption redolent of old cheese and smoke. What caused it to have such appeal that Rose would feel such a strong connection to it? Of course, the girl was highly unlikely to elucidate on it, however hearing the put-put-put of the engine in the quiescent early morning and his adopted daughter's soft mumbles grow louder and brighter as they conversed tractor maintenance filled Mr Jones with a growing spirited demeanour as the days went on. 

It was an added bonus, too, to see the girl's pallid, bored countenance immediately brighten over time as she trailed up and down the rolling hills in the little tractor, her bare feet trailing against the alfalfa.

*The Olympics are a waste of money

 This is purely for writing practice and does not represent my true opinion on the subject.

PLAN:5MIN

The cost of the 2016 Rio de Janerio Summer Olympic Games was estimated to be $20 billion dollars.

-The Olympics may be a great metaphor for world cooperation but there are other ways

-p1 money wasted stadiums left behind, cost opportunity, athletes, travel/congestion, maintenance

p2 where the money could have gone, war/charities/building, why say you can't afford certain things if you can afford others, the low level of education

p3 alternatives, come together different ways, sporting opportunities

START:30MIN

The Olympics are one of the most significant international events, rising to the surface in the times of the Ancient Greeks and boasting an extensive, fascinating history behind its creation and development over the years. Every four years the best of the best athletes from around the world flock to a specially selected city to compete-so it clearly seems like a big deal. However, is the attention that it attracts really a good thing? It's often worshiped so much that huge expenses go into it, from athletes' personal investments to the massive celebrations that take place every year it occurs. Not only this, but often the money is wasted-it's not like an international sporting event will further help any financial problems or people in need, but some of the things that come out of the Olympics have more negative benefits than you might think. Under all the flashy dancers, medals and parades, you'll find yourself realising the Olympics are a little more sinister than you think.

Money in general is always percieved as something that tends to easily go down the drain-so add all the expenses that go into a phenomenal event such as the Olympics, and you'll figuratively see so much money wasted it's practically flooding onto the streets. Even scientific evidence backs this up-the last Olympics in Rio wasted about 20 BILLION dollars-and that's just the summer games. At the very least this includes building venues, stadiums, transport and renovations. And even worse-after the games a majority of the venues went unsold because no one was interested in buying them, and so they deteriorated. The pool turned orange, the stadium became a 'ghost town' and Rio struggled in paying basic jobs from teachers to the common hospital worker after the games. Even the power cut off after bills were unpaid-so does the glamour really last all that long? And other than those 20 billion dollars, more money builds up into the event without us even knowing. Think about athletes personally wasting money on fancy sports equipment, the captivating celebrations that take place and the staggering amount of money that goes into maintenance and travel expenses. That doesn't get counted, but in the end it could even double the previous sum and yet no one blinks an eye at the effects once the event has passed and life moves on. Do you really think all stripping cities of basic financial budgets and leaving them to struggle for years afterward is worth it, just for the few moments of glamour?

So now you know about how bad the waste can get and what effects it can have-but if you think you can't be upset any further, think again. Think about the opportunity cost-what all that money could have done if it was used properly. Even in the most productive, liveable first-world cities there can be gaping financial holes and problems. It's practically unavoidable. There will always be homeless people, orphans or endangered animals. Even in cities filled with towering skyscrapers will there be at least the one dilapidated building. And if a city is doing well, who's stopping it from having the resources to keep supporting and growing itself? Well, if the Olympics are going to be held there, then that's who. That one year of glory for a few lucky athletes can result in families all over going hungry for the next few years. If it weren't for the 2016 Olympics, various people in Rio could have brought home enough money to sustain their families by now. That's just the reality. However, we could prevent it from happening more and more in the future-and it's much, much easier than you think.

You might be wondering now, 'So how do we stop all this money from being wasted?' In reality, the best financial choice would be to cancel the Olympics outright and save money as early as we can. On the other hand, it's also blatantly clear that many people, from athletes who train for years to people whose jobs revolve around major sporting events wouldn't like that decision. A lot of people also state such sporting events bring cultures and people together-and that's true. But it's not like the Olympics are our last resort. There are plenty of other opportunities worldwide for people to come together, sport or non-sport related. Smaller events don't just mean less hassle and financial strain, but they also mean you get to see the more heartfelt, connected side of things. You wouldn't even have to cancel the Olympics-just shift less focus off it, and educate people on being smarter with their money when it comes to the Olympics. Venues could be reused, other cities could be in on the expenses, and more selective athlete selection are just a few of the options. The best thing would be that it would seem as if nothing even changed-but you'll see that over the years, the benefits from being smarter with the money will really have an impact. And that's the most rewarding part about it.

This memorable sports event is affecting us in so many more ways than we know and if we don't put a stop to it, our futures, society and environment will be doomed before we know it. So much money is poured into this event that is merely a year long, but the effects can weigh down jobs, governments and people for decades to come. Not only don't we realise just how much we waste, but we don't see just how easy it would be to use it for better things-or better yet, simply strain our brains for a few moments to be a bit more money-smart. However, it's not too late. Having an awareness is always the start to change, and if you're aware of the problem, that's one more person who has the potential to spread the word, and make a change. So will it be you?

Whoops-went overtime :O

The Memory Train

 PLAN:5MIN

-on a constantly moving train, someone with memory loss

-they only have what is around them, they seem to be stranded and there is no driver

-two people named james and mia seem to know the person, but in reality they're helping the person along to a dystopian city for test subjects-this person is the first to escape, james and mia turn out to be ai robots

-story ends with the person on the train, but they know that they have to save everyone else on the trains

START: 30MIN

Head throbbing, my knee jogged into the air as I situated myself up. I could feel my vertebrae tremble as the train's carriage came into view, a mesh of colours and blurry shapes flitting across the windows. All I could discern was the rattle of train against track, but the view outside was so incomprehensible that I dismissed the matter of trying to make sense of my whereabouts. 

My leg buckled as I rose, much like a newborn calf does. I couldn't even remember how I'd gotten on here, but I could understand that I was entirely alone on that dismally furnished carriage; lifeless and barren. What even was my name? Was this the start of whatever life I had?

I perched myself on the edge of a seat, scoffing at my previous thought. Yeah, right. I was fully literate, not to mention clothed. My gaze floated up to the train wall, the only source of colour on the clattering vehicle. A discoloured, fading train map stretched out between two windows, intricately printed-yet entirely wordless. Squinting at the map fixedly, I shuffled forward. This route. It seemed familiar. It was as if I could grasp where I was at any moment, I seemed so-

The carriage doors bolted open and two figures stumbled in from another carriage, shrouded in dust and walloping into the seat adjacent to me. I jolted in surprise, gawking at the sudden entrance. The body on top gave a muffled groan as it pulled itself up, wearily grabbing the pole. The person turned to me, revealing the face of some young girl of about fifteen-which contorted in a mixture of shock and horror, as she rushed to throw her arms around my neck.

"I haven't seen you in ages, thank god!" She screeched into my ear, leering at me unpleasantly. "Thank god, thank god, oh thank the-"

"Sorry to disturb, I don't think I know you," I replied.

She sat upright, looking me right in the eye. The other person peered over her shoulder at me, a boy with a mess of auburn hair. The girl's dark face burst into another expression, this one of hysterical glee as she looked back at the boy behind her.

"Oh right, James," she tittered. "They have their memories removed." 

James' wide eyes trailed back to my face as he goggled at me. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat as his face morphed into another similarly eerie look of joy. He shuffled over to the girl, resting a meaty palm on her shoulder as they seemed to still even on the shuddering train. 

"Even less effort to play mind games with them now then," he murmured, bowing over to further study my face. "I'll sure enjoy telling you where your destination is."

And as that moment, the train was engulfed by darkness, the sinister faces of the pair vanishing as the carriage shuddered, then slowed to a stop.

Why people should have friends from different cultures

Ancestry, particularly in this generation with all the mixed backgrounds, is a fascinating topic and it's always intriguing to know about where someone comes from. It's also interesting and highly beneficial to learn about these different cultures because we're constantly surrounded by them-meaning it's not only efficient when you want to get around on an overseas trip when you learn about different cultures, but you'll easily obtain things such as more engaging friendships, one-way tickets to impressing anyone you want or the pleasure of being passed down special wisdom from a different culture. And shouldn't the easiest and best way of  doing this be surrounding yourself with friends with varied backgrounds? Not only is this effortless, but it's something you'd actually aim to do, especially in these days where friends from all different places are becoming more accessible. I mean, it's such a disadvantage-less option that by the end of this you'll be wanting more friends from different cultures before you know it!

One huge bonus of having a diverse friend group is that it also automatically translates into a well-connected, interesting friend group. Don't believe me? It's good to have someone with the same background as you, so you can relate together and understand each other when talking about things from your culture, but it's also fun when you can learn about others-and compare the differences, or even find some similarities! I can even provide my own personal example. I have a few Chinese friends, and while the foods we eat or the television shows from our countries may be different, it's always fun to learn about them and try them out, and do things such as exchange fried rice or talk about the Lunar New Year festivities together! Conversation topics are endless and enthralling with friends from various backgrounds, and you can even celebrate some new holidays, enjoy more cuisines or play some games from different countries together. It's also touching when a friend of yours understands and respects a part of your culture when they're not from the same background, I'm sure you'll agree. So you may think different cultures divides people, but in the end they actually bring us closer together.

It's also efficient in daily life to have friends with mixed backgrounds. Say you needed to work in a foreign country, or your job involved speaking to a lot of people from an unfamiliar culture. Having a friend to help you understand how their culture works is a big help in both situations, and is much more reliable than Googling it or looking through a textbook. This even applies to leisure-you may be travelling, and all sorts of tasks from ordering food to using toilets can be a struggle if you don't know how to do it the way a local does! Not only this, but having extra knowledge is handy when you want to earn someone's respect or impress someone. It's a good way to start a friendship, as mentioned before, but having someone from a different culture talk about food from your cuisine that they've tried, relate to you through their friend who shares the same background as you, or understand an unique part of your culture is a surefire way to earn your respect too. You'd be flattered, wouldn't you? Then so would people's parents, a new boss or a love interest. This means you'll not only get what you want, but further develop your social skills and be an immediate favourite. It's that simple!

However, it's not just street smarts that benefits from diverse friends. You can even find yourself gaining important knowledge, whether it be scientific or societal. Wisdom from different cultures, such as old sayings in another language or skills taught within a culture can be shared with your friends. All sorts of things from crucial scientific inventions to painting skills have been passed on throughout history thanks to friends of different backgrounds sharing ancient recipes, or artists from two different countries sharing styles. I've learnt and taught other people a few words from Vietnamese to Chinese to Korean thanks to my friends, even if I'm not from some of those places! (And as you might know already, language learning benefits your cognitive skills massively) It's not all fun and games, though. Being surrounded by friends with different views and who have grown up in different conditions teaches us to be less prejudiced-if we know someone on a personal level, it's easier to sympathise with them or something that people of their culture are going through. People are far less likely to stereotype or judge others of a certain background if they have a friend who is from the same one. It's because of this that people have become so much more sympathetic over the course of history, and it's helped develop our society into a more diverse, understanding one. And that can be one of the most powerful things about friendship.

So next time you meet someone new or hang out with a group of friends, try asking them where they come from and about their culture! Not only is it great to see them get engrossed in talking about something they're likely to be passionate about, but as you have seen you'll never know where it may lead you. Inquire about a regional dish, or compliment a piece of clothing that connects to their background. Since their background is literally a part of them, they'll at least have something to say about it. Think of all the possibilities-this one day could help you get your dream job, impress an in-law or completely change your view on a political topic. Turns out having friends with different backgrounds really does take you places!

Letter To My Future Self

 Dear 20 year old Linh,

It's 8:10am, I recently turned 13 and a half (on Christmas!) and it's the 6th day of the new year, 2021. Of course you know this, but I'm going into grade eight this year, I have a 2 year old brother named Anh Vu, and I have five fish (also no car yet). That's all the obvious stuff out of the way, but there's one question I'd like to ask you first-do you truly remember your 13 year old self? It's kind of hard to grasp that my whole existence is going to be a thing of the past, but I'll try my best to reopen the world that your younger self lived in. 

You may know all that previous stuff, but I wonder just how much you remember of me. Perhaps to start it off, your 13 year old self still loves arts and crafting. I recently got into crochet, picked up knitting, needle felting, and bullet journaling again, and am experimenting with a sort of Kiki's Delivery Service watercolour technique when it comes to drawing and painting, but these days I'm more invested in craft (and making little figurines like frogs). I ended the year with some nice grades and a 100% on my AMEB test (!) and have been keeping myself busy since school holidays started with learning to do chores and learning how to cook (I combined two of my interests and started scrapbooking my recipes, especially the fruit muffins you made all the time for your family). 

I have no fears so far-even eighth grade doesn't scare me, because I have a supportive group of friends and I'm pretty confident that I can make it through. I mean, if I could make it through a year like 2020 it seems that all I'd want to do in the new year is have high hopes for what comes next! 2020's so far been filled with a lot of your old classmates changing, and having the abundance of new kids rearrange the existing friend groups that made up the 'social hierarchy' of the class of 2025. I also gained a new friend group-one with people that shared your different interests (I just found of two of them knit), and did things like tie all our shoelaces together and shuffle down the hallway, race on wheelie chairs and make life-size cardboard cutouts. Being online for a majority of the school year was boring, but it was easy for me to make it through academically and socially this year. I may not be the best of the best at sports, but I can safely say I'm not lacking in any subject so far! So far I don't hate any subject because it's better to apply yourself when you don't have any prejudices against one (but I do admit the music teacher does drone on for a bit). Something pretty cool that happened was getting an academic excellence award for my end of year report, mainly because I'd tried so hard to do my best in every subject.

When thinking about my future, I'm actually quite unsure. I guess this is because I have such a wide variety of interests and I'm honestly fine wherever I go if I at least enjoy it-but I still have some goals. I hope you've finally moved out and gotten into a good university, and gotten a super good ATAR. Make sure to do something on art or journalism along the way, but other than that you're free to do anything you want (AND YOU BETTER BE ENJOYING IT.). Make sure you're travelling lots, too, and incorporate that into your work for a bonus. Go to France, Italy, and England again-and if Japan/Korea was a good experience, make sure to at least go there once again. Vlog about it, too, because hopefully you're still interested in video editing. Make sure you've been helping out someone, whether if it's volunteering for charity or cooking for homeless people. Also, participate in the making of a book. It could be about anything-a fictional comic, a fiction novel, something about journalism. That would be a great achievement, and best of all you can brag about it to your younger brother. Check on him too, and your parents! Call lots and visit when you can. Hopefully by now you've baked and iced a whole birthday cake, because that's also a nice goal, too (bonus if you ate it all). And learn to drive, so travelling's easier, and get a nice vintage caravan. Aim to live in somewhere like London, Tokyo, or Italy in a nice apartment. I don't know what kind of job you'll have in the future, but try to start off in a nice place like a cafe or a minor job in making a manga. 

In the end, enjoy yourself, because that's all I need. I think at your age you should be living pretty much your best life, so don't waste it. I'll make sure to get good grades and study hard myself! Who knows what I'll become this year, this month or even just tomorrow, but coming from your 13 year old self, I'll be proud of whoever you are and whatever you're doing (mainly because this is myself I'm writing to)

Linh

Why people should learn another language

We're all deeply connected to languages no matter what-mainly because we couldn't live without them. They're even essential to survival when you think about it. I mean, the human civilisation has only come this far because of communication and both the togetherness and diversity that a range of languages has brought us. So, it seems pretty obvious now that learning more of them is highly beneficial, doesn't it? Not only is it an useful life skill, but both your intellectual and social minds can reap the rewards of adding an extra language to your arsenal of knowledge. Really, at the end of the day there is no downside to learning another language!

People who learn another language get around with far more ease than their monolingual counterparts in both daily life and in the long term. You don't even have to be fluent in another language for it to help you greatly. For one thing, travelling becomes effortless if the locals in another country speak the same language as you (you'll have no trouble getting around more than 29 countries if you speak French!). Not only can you converse better with people that can give you vital information, but being able to read important signs and whatnot can save you from a lot of future pain. And it's also good news if you're looking for a job-many jobs are available to bilingual speakers thanks to added efficiency if travelling is required, or their typical consumer speaks that language. You can even get jobs just for speaking another language if you're fluent enough, such as a translator or tutor! Not only this, but if you have a friend or family member who is more fluent in another language, learning that language results in more interesting conversations and being able to understand each other better. You'll gain a better understanding of the world around you, and the people that live in it.

However, languages can also increase efficiency in more discreet ways. Your brain subconsciously improves when you build on your lingo, and there's even scientific evidence to prove this if you haven't already been convinced. The New York Times says a number of studies suggests that bilingual experience improves 'executive function', the system that directs planning, problem-solving and other thinking processes that involve challenging thinking. A study from Penn State University says multilingual people, or people who often switch from one language to another, are more experienced at being able to perform similar tasks where you switch between two different ways of thinking. Georgetown University Medical Center also thinks being able to converse in another language is good for your noggin when it comes to looks-bilingual speakers they studied had more grey matter in areas of the brain responsible for short-term memory, attention and self-awareness. All these skills, no matter how small their improvements or whether you think you may not need them, add up and before you know it they'll be helping you get by in no time. And to think that all you need to do is be at least bilingual!

Learning another language may be useful for your future job, or your learning, but there's always a deeper meaning to it. Since everyone on Earth is constantly surrounded by different languages and everyone's lives are shaped by the languages they speak, it makes sense that being able to speak another language can mean a lot to others who can understand you. More stories and experiences can be shared between people and spread around. You yourself can read more life-changing literature in another language, or share your own experiences with others. Connections thrive on communication, which is synonymous with language. Being able to speak more languages means being able to reach out to more people everywhere, and with the added help of the internet you can build connections with complete strangers from the other side of the world with absolute confidence. A lot of people are often really touched when a language they speak gets some representation, or when they can speak to others in a different language and be able to share their culture. And perhaps that's the more unseen, yet most beautiful part of learning another language.

Studying another languages, as you have seen, is incredibly useful and you could even proudly say that there are no disadvantages. I've been able to share that life becomes easier when you train your language-speaking brain, and that your thinking skills and even your emotional bond to others improve along with that. It's just that effortless, and even good news for those who already grew up bilingual. So perhaps you should jump on that website, or pick up that textbook, and see where it'll take you-you never know what's in store when you learn another language!

The Ghost Farm

The farm was tucked in between the slopes of the two desolate hills, obscured from the rest of humanity. There was no fencing either; the alfalfa and other flora thickly blanketed the land around it and the farm animals were unmoving in their sheds. Even the wind didn't seem to want to disturb the tranquility of the farm-both the natural and man-made world had stilled in that moment, as it seems to always do in the morning. In the cottage, the dawn sunlight peered through the gaps in the door and spilled out into the nursery upstairs. The lump of  blankets in the cot jolted. It rustled for a moment, making the cot groan as it leaned, and a pudgy limb fumbled its way out of the cot and seized onto one of the cream-coloured posts. The chubby fingers strained, and a head emerged from the mound of blankets the way a pudgy maggot emerges from an egg too small for itself. The child wriggled a little bit more, its cocoon of blankets collapsing as it pulled itself up. Clad in merely a diaper, it sleepily clambered over the cot and plopped onto the floor, dragging itself down the stairs. 

The child's matted mess of orange hair appeared around the corner as it crawled into the kitchen on all fours. Pots and pans were hovering above the kitchen benches, rinsing themselves under the gurgle of running tap water. The air froze, and then the silhouette of a woman faded into sight. Her hair was stringy and pale, swaying about her lanky body, but her round face seemed to glow pleasantly in the soft sunlight. She was almost invisible and grayscale, but the baby seemed to clearly notice her and its chubby cheeks lifted as it grinned toothlessly at her. She turned back to her washing, her scrawny elbows brushing against her apron.

"Morning, Emmett," she said. The baby toddled past, crawling out the open door. "Stop that crawlin', it's undignified," she added, as Emmett's pudgy foot slipped out. Watching him pick himself up, she sighed and flicked off the tap.

The shed doors groaned as they swayed open. Another similarly dull, diaphanous figure crouched on top of a crate squinted as the light spilled into the room. As soon as the head of carroty locks came into view, Riley mumbled a greeting and went back to fiddling with a pocket watch. 

"Lily's up, right?" he croaked hoarsely. Emmett's beaming, rosy face peered into his hands, and then nodded, his curls bouncing. Riley clicked his tongue. "Fixed up the watch she had when she was alive," he said. "Gonna give it to her n' see what the other ghosts got."

When no answer came he turned his head in Emmett's direction. The toddler gave a guilty grin up at him, Riley's straw hat engulfing almost everything on his head above his smile. Riley sighed, plucking the hat off with his colourless fingers and knocking it on the crate, dust swirling into the band of light that stretched across the shed. "Need some new friends on this dang farm," he muttered. "All I got are some animals and a mute baby."

The children trickled out into the paddock, their bare feet trampling on top of the alfalfa as they hollered into the fresh air. Their washed out bodies occasionally appeared transparent as they twirled in the field, camouflaging with the sky. Emmett bounced on the tallest's shoulders, his head wobbling as the children stampeded along. A snake stole across the wooden patio, its body trailing behind it as it dove into the bush. Riley's sandal-clad foot lumbered onto the deck as he shuffled out, pausing to see the reptile's glimmering being shoot into the bush. 

"Snake?" Someone said behind him. Riley collapsed into the hammock, his body making a muffled thud in the material.  He hummed. 

A dumpy boy, not much older than fifteen or sixteen, stumbled after Riley and shut the flyscreen behind him. He paused to watch the ghost children gambol around a giggling Emmett, then his eyes travelled to the collapsed Riley. The boy grinned roguishly at Riley. "I died because of a snake bite."

"Hush it, Sammy, we all know."

"Just sayin'," Sammy murmured as he watched Riley shift in the hammock. "Say, why is it just us ghosts and Emmett?" 

An eye opened and studied the olive-skinned boy. Riley's head lifted up slowly, the hammock creaking along with him. "Like why he's stuck with us?"

Sammy nodded eagerly. Riley thoughtfully sat up, his eyes boring into the horizon. The sunlight was starting to dim, but it still glimmered in his weathered eyes. "Well, we're stuck here, for one."

"Hm?"

"This farm's on a graveyard. We're all stuck here, cause we're all buried here." Riley tilted his stubbled head towards Emmett. "Kid got abandoned on one of the hills. Lily took pity on him, and we owe her a lot." 

At that moment, the worn-out children traisped along the flattened path. The tallest boy set Emmett down and wearily entered the house, the others following. Emmett wobbled, trying to regain his balance. He tilted his head up at Sammy, the dimming light seeming to bounce off his lively features.

He promptly whipped around. The pair watched him as he tottered into the house. 

"Some place to be stuck, eh?" Sammy chuckled softly, his gaze moving over to the sinking sun. "A farm fulla ghosts."