Visit Toronto City Hall

  On Aug 15th, my classmates from MicroSkills LINK and I went to Toronto City Hall under the leadership of our instructor, Joseph. City Hall is located at the intersection of Queen Street West and Bay Street. This area is also called Nathan Phillips Square to in honour of the former Mayor Nathan Phillips, who proposed and scheduled the new City Hall. Old City Hall, which now is court house, is nearby. It was a worthwhile tour because I have learnt more about Canada.

  When we got out from the subway, through modern Eaton Centre, a group of Romanesque Revival style buildings lit up our eyes. It is so charming, towering magnificence, classic and royal. It is the Old City Hall which is surrounded with skyscraper. It is so different and special. The clock tower records hundreds of years history of Toronto. It is constructed of sandstone, grey stone, and brown stone[1]. What confused me is that people had an original budget of $600,000 in 1889 but it cost more than $2.5 million at completion. It is more similar to China. Nowadays a great deal of blame from folks attaches to many Chinese local governments for tending to go in for government house in a large scale and exterior glorify.

  On the square in front of City Hall, there are many animal(pig, dog, cock) sculpture heads in the shallow pool, more like those in the Chinese Emperor's Summer Palace. Some of us were attracted by them and taken many pictures until they found they lost the line. As we departed as a group, I promised Joseph to bring up the rear. So I was the last one. Fortunately, Joseph realized this problem and returned when we became anxious. We followed him and continued our tour.
  City Hall is a group of modern buildings. The main part is twist arc towers hugging a white disk-like council chamber. The east tower is taller than the west one. The City Hall is nicknamed "The Eye of the Government" because it resembles a large eye in a plan view[2].
  I visited inside of the the Eye. Someone told me it was like a mushroom growing from the ground. But I tended to think it as  a welling fountain - my own version. The moral of clear and cold water spouting from the well represents ideas and thoughts bursting out from Councillors' brain storming. I also visited the library entrance, which is the top 1 or 2 libraries in the world on the first floor. I visited other places. I am impressed by three things. One was Mayor's reception office. It is impossible in China. I saw all the Councillors and Mayor Ford in a group picture. I regretted that I didn't meet any one of them that day. There was an oil painting of old Toronto. What if I lived in the time described by the oil painting? Another one was a mystical bronzing bottle. Everyone could write something and put it into the bottle. It would not be opened until 2050. The third one is the Business Information, Registration & Consultations office. The purpose of this organization is encouraging people to start their own businesses. I know there are many organizations or offices to help people begin their businesses or careers. Our government focuses on people's needs. The government does really the right things. 
  When we went out, I found another advertisement - "Your city never sleeps. Call or click 24/7. toronto.ca/311". It reminded me of similar famous Chinese quotation "Service the people from heart and soul," which was more abstract. But I preferred the previous one because the first one was more romantic and concrete.

  Another difference between Canada and China is that people can have a picnic in front of City Hall in Canada; In China, nobody can picnic in front of a government office, let alone enter and visit inside. Furthermore, to keep the streets neat, city management will confiscate everything if you have a small business on the roadside. There were some conflicts between them and small business man sometime. Nowadays the conflicts tend to become more and bigger. I think government should focus more on people's livelihood over prestige projects.
  I gathered some useful information about Canada and also learned some different and similar things between China and Canada. It was interesting but really worth thinking over.

References:
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_City_Hall_(Toronto)
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_City_Hall

Canada – the Land of My Dream

  Canada is sustainable, peaceful. The people living here are freedom and friendly. The environment is suitable for human living. The air is fresh and the sky is blue. The government is democratic and people benefit from the social system. Canada is many Chinese dream land.
  Canada is a resource-rich but less population country. Government and people are both pay much attention on environment protection. Law enforcement officers enforce law strictly. Those three elements support its sustainable development.
  Canada is an example of avoiding cultural conflict. Multi-culture is one of Canada’s features. People with different racial, religious and cultural backgrounds live in this land. They reserve their special customs. No doubt they have conflict, but they respect each other and live here peacefully. Without government’s intentional guidance, avoiding culture conflict is impossible. The Canadian federal government has been described as the instigator of multiculturalism as an ideology[1][2]. Coexistence of different cultures is the base of Canada’s peace. Canada borders only on USA. Both countries are based on democratic. Christianity is the base religion for both. They have no essence conflict. This is another key to keep peaceful.
  Canada’s high tax and high benefit policy prevent the polarization of the rich and the poor. Children are told to be special and co-operate with others. They are told they should have their thought but not from authority. Everyone advocate positive attitude against negative one. Education is the motive power to promote the society.
  Peaceful and sustainable Canada depends on good system, good people and good government. God has gloried Canada and God will do so forever. I wish all people who have immigrated or will immigrate to Canada could understand the value of peace and become real one of Canadian. And I wish I can realize my Canadian dream.

References
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiculturalism_in_Canada
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Charter_of_Rights_and_Freedoms

Speaking English - Being Rich and Poor

  Daisy and I have a role play: Being Rich and Poor. If you have interesting in this, please click the follow link and you will hear it. Good or bad, please tell us and your advice is very important for us. Thank you very much.

Role Play : Being Rich and Poor
Voice Recorder >>

Visits of Shanghai Expo 2010

  Expo 2010 was held on both banks of the Huangpu River in the city of Shanghai, China, from May 1st to 31st October 2010. The theme of the exposition was "Better City – Better Life". The Shanghai World Expo was the largest World's Fair site ever at 5.28 square km. Over 73 million people had visited during the 184-day event, and 189 of the world's 196 nations and 50 organizations had participated. Without doubt, pavilions were most important during Expo. During the expo, the expo site was crowded with national pavilions, sculpture gardens, shops, a sports arena and clam-shaped performing arts center.[1] 

Expo Opening Night Fireworks

Expo Axis Night Time

  I was so lucky because I was working at Shanghai in 2010 and I had time to visit Expo 2010 many times. My greatest impression about Expo 2010 was that the expo site was crowded with people and there were long waiting lines. Although I was tired, I wanted to visit the exposition with my relatives and friends again and again because of different cultures, arts, thoughts, experience and so on.

  The China Pavilion was magnificent and spectacular. The inspiration was from corbel bracket, a type of crossbeam popularly used in traditional Chinese buildings. Massive bars were used to support the sloping brackets. The entire pavilion was painted bright red to resemble a "ding," a type of ancient bronze cauldron.[2] You could feel the glory, confidence, wisdom and knowledge of the Chinese people. Inside it the hand scroll Song Dynasty masterpiece Along the River During the Qingming Festival was re-adapted as a large-scale 3D animation[1] and visitors could even hear the voice from the screen. Through all these, we could get a fresh feel of the culture of China again.

China Pavilion

  I appreciated the Canada Pavilion with its theme of "The Living City: Inclusive, Sustainable, Creative". I expected the life of Australian boy. He told his player that he would become an astronaut who could play guitar as well. I sympathized in and respected Poland people. There were so many wars in this country but they are still living there. I was impressed with German high technology. The centerpiece of the pavilion was a massive LED swinging ball that interacted in turn with the volume of the audience[3]. The gorgeous Nepal Pavilion was in the form of an ancient Buddhist temple in Kathmandu, surrounded by traditional Nepalese houses[4], and captured important historic moments of the city. I also envied Norway’s nature and peaceful. The Saudi Arabia Pavilion was designed to resemble a giant oil tanker and you felt like you were flying over cities and deserts when you entered and saw the largest movie. A roof garden at the top of the Swiss Pavilion can be accessed via chair lift from the ground to the roof. Maybe this was the pioneer house for future.
  Many people stayed at the exposition until closing time. Although they were tired, I could feel their excite and regret. Everyone told each other which pavilions they had visited, what they had seen, and what they were interested in. They always said they were regretful that they did not have enough time and it was worth visiting many other pavilions.

References
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China_pavilion_at_Expo_2010
[2] http://english.cri.cn/6909/2010/01/21/1781s544131.htm
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expo_2010_pavilions#Germany
[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expo_2010_pavilions#Nepal