Born in America, I spoke English, not Chinese, the language of my ancestors (祖先). When I was three, my parents began to teach me Chinese with colorful picture cards, but I pushed them aside, My mom believed I would learn when I was ready. But the time never came

On a Chinese New Year's Eve, my uncle spoke to me in Chinese, but I just stared at him, confused, shaking my head. "Still can't speak Chinese?” He said, "You can't even buy a fish in Chinatown(唐人街)”.

“Hey, this is America, not China. I'll get some right now with or without Chinese.” I replied and turned to my mom for permission.

“Remember to ask for fresh fish, Xin Xian Yu, " she said, giving me a $20 bill. I repeated the words, running downstairs into the streets of Chinatown.

I found the fish store soon. It was very crowded. I'd like to buy some fresh fish, I shouted to the man. But he paid no attention to my English words and turned to serve the next customer. People behind laughed at me. I felt angry, “fresh fish. Xian Sheng Yu, please.” “Very Xian Sheng,” I repeated. The crowd laughed even louder. My face turned red and I ran back home empty-handed, except for the $20 bill in my pocket.

Should I laugh or cry? They're Chinese. I should feel right at home. Instead, I was the joke, a shame to the language

Rat and Mole are at home all day. Mole is bored. He says, “I want to visit Badger. ” But Rat tells him, “Badger lives in the middle of the Wild Wood. It’s a long way to go in winter. ”

But Mole still wants to go. When Rat is sleeping, he puts on a coat and goes into the Wild Wood. It is cold, first it is fun. But then it gets dark. Mole sees strange little faces in the wood. The faces have sharp teeth. He hears strange noises and he is afraid. Poor Mole runs and runs through the wood. Then he sees a hole(洞) inside a tree and stays there.

When Rat wakes up at home, he calls, “Mole, Mole!” but Mole doesn’t answer. And Mole’s coat isn’t there. Rat thinks, “Mole is visiting Badger. Oh, no! Mole is in the Wild Wood!” he puts on his coat and takes a gun(枪) with him. He goes along the path to the Wild Wood. He sees the strange faces with sharp teeth. But they see Rat’s gun, and go away. Rat calls and calls, “Mole, where are you? It’s me—Rat. ”

At last, Mole answers. “Rat, I’m here! In the tree! I am very afraid!” he says in a little voice.

“Don’t worry, Mole,” says Rat, “Let’s go home now!”

But Mole is very tired. He wants to sleep, so Rat sits and waits. While Mole is sleeping, it begins to snow. The snow is white and it covers all the paths.

Later, Mole wakes up. Then the two friends set off through the white woods. Everything is different with the snow and soon Rat and Mole are lost. They walk for hours but they cannot find the way home. They are tired, and cold, and hungry.

Suddenly, Rat sees a sign in the snow. The sign says, “Mr Badger”.

“It’s Badger’s front door,” says Rat. He is very excited.

They ring the doorbell. “Who is it?” calls Badger.

“Oh, Badger,” cries Rat. “It’s me, Rat, and my friend Mole, and we are lost in the snow. ”

Bob comes out of the station and at once he doesn’t know where to go. He comes to see his good friend, Peter. Peter is a worker. He works in a factory, but Bob doesn’t know where the factory is.

He walks along the street. He passes a hospital, a post office, a bookshop and at last he gets to a school. Some students are coming out, so he asks one of them, “Excuse me. Do you know where the Red Star Factory is?”

“Of course, I know. I live near there. My father works in that factory. It’s outside this town,” answers the boy.

“Is it far from here? Can you show me the way, please?” Bob asks again.

“I’m going home now. Will you come with me? We can go there by bus.”