Tuesday, February 18, 2014
Winter Olympics in Pullman
Snow, sled, slope, and sounds of kids' laughing -- Pullman's Winter Olympics finally started!
After a few nights' snowing, the white had piled up. The slope in front of my apartment became the best place for local Winter Olympics.
It was a beautiful day while a ray of sunlight passing through the window shone on me and woke me up! "Great! It's a sunny day!" I thought as I finally got myself out of my warm and cozy bed, walking into the living room, opening the curtains with my strengthless morning hands. What came into sight were many kids, with their colorful winter coats, heavy winter boots, and mom-asks-me-to-wear winter gloves, lining up near my balcony, where happened to be at the top of the slop. They queued up excitedly for taking turns to enjoy the exciting moment of sledding down the slope.
It's a long slope that was covered by thick, white, and clean snow with few trees. During summer time, it's an ideal place for outdoor BBQ, picnic, or concert. Some people like to sit under the shades of trees to read or take a nap. When winter comes, it's the most popular place for kids in this neighborhood as the playground is covered with snow, and no one can be seen in the basketball court. Parents know where to find their kids.
"Ah~~~"
"Ha, Ha, Ha!"
"Hee, Hee, Hee!"
A kid just sledded down with a happy hail, which excited other kids in line. Many kids held their plastic sleds as if Harry Potter with his Nimbus Two Thousand, waiting for the moment of joy combined with speed, chill, and sunshine.
"Hee, Hee, Hee!"
"Ha, Ha, Ha!"
"Ah~~~"
Sunlight bit their cheeks; cold air beat their faces; clothes fluttered; screams erupted. Laughing, screaming, talking, and yelling! That's the beginning of Pullman's Winter Olympics!
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Ying, your descriptions are so specific and great, like when you wrote about your 'strengthless morning hands,' and 'sunlight bit their cheeks,' etc!! It reminds me about what we have been reading about - teaching our students to be specific and detailed!! I felt the bright chilly morning through your descriptions!!!
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading, I was curious about how long you've been in Pullman and how often these fun things happen!!
It seems like such a positive story that would create a cheerful day, I was just wondering about maybe putting more about how it set the tone for your day or the way it made you feel!! I feel cheerful after reading it and imagining the scene!!
Trisha, thanks for your feedback. I have been in Pullman for almost two years. There isn't much snow in Taiwan, so seeing, stepping, and playing snow are novel to me! Also, I will try to revise my writing as you suggested!
DeleteI love how descriptive your writing is Ying! I also like your connection to the Olympics. It makes me wonder about the scene, which you eluded to, when it is not snowing. I agree with Trish's comment, it is great but it makes me wonder how you were feeling watching this all take place.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, Rae! It is very interesting to watch kids playing sleds. They yelled and screamed and laughed in a very happy and exciting way. I can see some kids were very afraid when they sat on the sled, but they still wanted to try! I actually watched for a while and opened my window to tell them being careful when they sled down!
DeleteI liked your post about the winter Olympics happening outside your apartment. I love watching the Olympics. I wonder if any of those kids were playing like they were in the Olympics themselves. Your comment about Harry Potter made me laugh and gave a great description of how they were eagerly waiting their turn. Does this happen every time when it snows?
ReplyDeleteWhen the kids were playing, two or three older children (probably in 5th or 6th grade) were taking charge of who goes first, who is the next, and how they should sit on the sled. I was amazed that they kept the order well! This only happened happened when it snowed heavily and when there was enough height of snow to support the weight of kids and sleds
DeleteYing,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your winter olympic piece. The first sentence with all of the "s" sounds is fabulous. Plus from your description I can picture the snow, your balcony and what all of the children look like.
One thought as I read this it that it might be 2 different pieces. A descriptive piece about snow and another about the olympics right out your window. Or another idea is creating a poem. The dialogue of the children laughing reminds me that you could turn some or all into a fun poem. Either way--you have a great descriptive piece Ying.
This was a great piece! I could picture a lot of this in my head as I was reading it. I even think this could turn into a children's book! You do a great job with descriptive words and I think that if you added pictures this would be a story my kids would love to read!
ReplyDelete