Wandering Wonders: My Hilarious Evening at Wang Yujia’s Minnesota Orchestra Concert
Last year when I was looking for a job, I found a writer’s position opening at Minnesota Orchestra. As an admirer of the Minnesota Orchestra, imagining working with the musicians encouraged me to apply for the job. Therefore, I searched and watched videos on YouTube and got to know many conductors. With YouTube’s recommendation, I was led to a young conductor, and upon searching for his information, I got to know his girlfriend was from China, named Wang Yujia. That was my first time heard of Wang Yujia.
About one month ago, the Chinese social media Xiaohongshu kept notifying me about Wang Yujia. Most of the information and comments were about how she wore provocatively in her show and very few comments about her professionalism. At the same time, Minnesota Orchestra’s newsletter informed that Wang Yujia would play with them in Minnesota. I decided to attend this concert, to reward myself for my hard work.
Because I purchased the ticket in late time and could only afford the cheapest one, I let the ticket system choose seats for me. When walked into the hall, I got to know that my seat was on the third floor. It was too far that I couldn’t see the mumian on the platform clearly. Worse was that there was a rail in front of me, I could only watch the player on the left platform between the bars of the rail.
The old gentleman who sat by me was wise: he brought a pair of telescopes with him. As for me, I didn’t know classical music, even though I had taken a course on Music Appreciation in college, I couldn’t tell all the names of the instruments, no need to mention appreciating the music. But my neighbor was obviously an expert. He dressed in a vest. He echoed the rhymes with his hands, shoulders, and head. A satisfied smile hung on his face, the smile I have only seen on children who got their satisfied toys. After one piece of performance ended, he stood up, clapped the loudest, shouted “Oh–ho, whistled, and talked to himself, “Amazing, That’s amazing!” I asked him if he was a musician, and he said no, he plays a bit of Guitar. But he’s a fan of classic music. He said he was very excited about this concert because he had dreamed of these pieces of music to be performed. And today, Wang Yujia made his dream come true, and she made it so perfectly!
Wang Yujia wore a golden shinning short dress with tassels on the bottom. According to the audience on Xiaohongshu, she’s exposed her beautiful shoulders and back. She also wore high-heeled golden shoes. My neighbor said her heels were six inches high, and he also added, “You never know what she would wear until she shows up.” My neighbor is definitely Wang Yujia’s super fan!
After the concert ended, I went to my next step: looking for my parked car. I have no sense of direction. Without GPS, I can’t drive anywhere. But I was sure I could make it this time, because after parked my car, I took a photo of the parking number. But the aisles outside the concert hall were so alike, each one looked like the one I came in. I followed the biggest group of people turning right. Through the skyway, I got outside the door, but it didn’t look like the parking lot I parked my car. I walked upwards and, on the turning, I saw a young couple. The girl was from Asia––maybe because Wang Yujia was from China, I found many Asian audiences and heard many people speak Chinese. This couple seemed couldn’t find their car too. They kept going upward, I went down, along with the exit sign, and got out of the building. Standing by the street and trying to recall the road I drove through; I still couldn’t figure out the direction or which entrance I went in. And it was cold outside. I returned to the first floor of the building (it should be the Hilton Hotel), where I met the young couple again. The girl smiled at me. I said to them that I couldn’t find my car, and the young man said with an embarrassed smile, “Same here.”
I quickly climbed the stairs and walked through the skyway. While walking, I thought that it was a punishment for I left my husband and two kids at home, and I was alone to enjoy the musical night. (The truth is my kids and husband don’t like orchestra). Returning to the concert hall, I found no one was there. Standing there and hesitating for a while, I turned left. Luckily, a young man in a black suit and carrying a black backpack showed up. I ran to him. Getting close, I noticed he just put on lip balm––he must be an exquisite person who loves life. I asked him if he knew the parking lot. He said yes, I showed him my parking picture, he said he also parked in that area, and I needed to walk backward. How fortunate, or I would miss it again and waste time! He pressed the elevator button and asked me if I was there for the concert, I said yes and asked him the same question, he said he belongs to the New York Orchestra. I walked too fast and was too tired to ask him what instrument he was playing. When the elevator reached level 2, he held the door open and pointed to the parking lot, saying my car must be in that area. Then he wished me good luck. What a kind man! I could only say thanks again and again.
As expected, I found my car in two minutes.
To a person like me who is weak in operational ability, driving a car is a big challenge to me, the most difficult work in my life. I had spent five years, taking two times in traffic rule test and four times on road test to get my driver’s license. Driving into the city is always a challenge too. Without any surprise, I exited the wrong way last night, and it took me another eight minutes to reach the parking lot. I followed the signs in the parking lot, but I didn’t know why and how I drove out of the parking lot! I had to make a turn and reenter the parking lot. It was full of cars. I finally found a narrow space by the wall pillar. I thought my small car (2019 Chevrolet Spark) could make it––I chose this style for easy parking. It was a left parking space. To be honest, I haven’t done much parallel or backing parking because places I had been had wide parking lots. I started making a left turn a little bit early and then my car side hit the wall. I heard the scratching sound. I couldn’t make a reserve but to move forward and parked it awkwardly.
The light was dim last night, plus, I was in a hurry, so I didn’t pay more attention to the scratching. This morning when I checked my car. Oh my god, it was a big scratching and dent, right under the door. It reminded me of my dream one day ago: I dreamed that my nose was bleeding. I checked online the next morning, and it said, I needed to be careful because that meant bad luck and accidents may happen. I thought the scratch was the bad luck. Luckily, it was a small accident, and I didn’t hurt myself or other people or hit another’s car. I am a guru in persuading and comforting myself!
Suppose my dream would tell me this accident would happen, but I still would come to the concert. Art is a magic thing: it can help people build new, beautiful scenes. As for me, a drawing, a photo, a song, a piece of rhythm, a video, or even the views outside of my car window can make me think about my beautiful time in my youth and imagine beautiful future scenes. No need to mention this was an over two-hour concert. The music, performance, lights, and setting together create a brand-new world for me. Engaged in it, I felt peaceful, harmonious, romantic, and warm. At least, in those two hours, I have temporally forgotten my struggles and unhappiness in real life. I have regained confidence in life and re-established my hope.
This is published in the North Pine County News on April 3, 2024.
How to Nurture Lifelong Healthy Habits in Your Kids
Helping kids grow into healthy adults isn’t about enforcing strict rules or obsessing over perfection. It’s about steady influence, quiet modeling, and the little conversations that add up over years. Children don’t just need advice — they need a roadmap they can actually follow. And as a parent, you’re the one drawing that map, whether you realize it or not.
Make Food Choices That Matter
Helping your kids understand the value of nutrition starts with showing them that what they eat fuels how they feel. When they reach for a snack, guide them toward options that nourish — like a crisp apple, a handful of almonds, or a smoothie blended with real fruit. These small choices shape their relationship with food over time, showing them that eating well isn’t about restriction, but about feeling strong, focused, and energized. The goal isn’t perfection, but consistency — and the more you normalize those decisions, the more second nature they become.
Lead by Example
You can’t expect your kids to eat vegetables or prioritize sleep if you’re constantly skipping meals and running on four hours of rest. They pay more attention to what you do than what you say, even if they act like they’re ignoring you. If health is something you model consistently — whether it’s making time for walks, drinking water, or just slowing down when you’re stressed — it becomes part of the atmosphere they grow up in. Over time, those habits become background noise for them, something familiar and normalized.
Create Posters That Inspire
Sometimes the simplest way to encourage healthy habits is by turning your walls into gentle, colorful reminders. Designing posters with uplifting messages about nourishing food, joyful movement, and taking care of the body can spark positive conversations and reinforce what you’re modeling at home. Let your child help choose the quotes or colors so it feels personal and empowering rather than preachy. Using a free online printable poster maker to stand out, you can easily design, customize, and print high-quality posters with ready-made templates and intuitive editing tools.
Ensure Wellness Is Part of Everyday Conversation
Kids don’t need lectures about cholesterol and glucose levels, but they do benefit from hearing why you do what you do. Whether you’re choosing a snack, moving your body, or deciding to go to bed earlier, saying those reasons out loud helps frame healthy habits as intentional. Instead of a monologue, create space for their curiosity and ideas. When they ask why you’re eating a salad or going for a run, answer with honesty, not pressure — that’s how you plant the seeds of self-awareness.
Let Movement Be Joyful, Not Punishment
Physical activity shouldn’t feel like a consequence for something they ate or a task they have to tick off. When movement is tied to play, fun, and family time, kids develop a lasting association with it. Dance in the living room. Walk to the store. Shoot hoops after dinner. It doesn’t need to be structured to be impactful — it just needs to be something they enjoy enough to carry with them into adulthood.
Encourage Sleep Without Making It a Battle
Sleep hygiene is one of those underrated areas that parents often overlook — or treat as a nightly showdown. Instead of fighting about bedtime, focus on creating rituals that make rest feel like a reward, not a punishment. Dimming lights, reading together, and creating a peaceful room environment can quietly cue their bodies to wind down. As they grow, that sense of rhythm can help them protect their own sleep without you needing to enforce it.
Foster Emotional Health as Much as Physical
Helping kids develop the tools to understand and express their emotions is as vital as teaching them to brush their teeth. Emotional well-being plays a huge role in physical health, and it’s your job to make sure they have room to feel, reflect, and regulate. You don’t need to solve every meltdown or force positivity — you just need to show that emotions are welcome and manageable. When children know they won’t be judged or dismissed, they’re more likely to open up, ask for help, and manage stress without destructive habits.
Teach Them to Think, Not Obey
Perhaps the most underrated skill you can give your child is critical thinking. Instead of simply telling them what to do, involve them in choices. Ask questions like “What would feel good to your body right now?” or “How did that meal make you feel afterward?” By making them active participants instead of passive followers, you give them the tools to make decisions long after you’re no longer right beside them. That confidence builds independence — and with it, healthier long-term choices.
Healthy kids don’t come from perfectly structured schedules or clean eating spreadsheets — they grow from connection, modeling, and small wins that build over time. As a parent, your presence and participation matter more than any Pinterest-worthy meal plan or chore chart. Show them what care looks like in the everyday: eating with intention, moving because it feels good, talking about feelings, getting sleep, and making room for joy. That’s what sticks — not the rules, but the rhythm.
This article is written by Heather Kerns.
Final Reflection
The digital writing course has taught me to appreciate and write literary narratives, create Wikipedia articles, produce a podcast, and develop a new page on my website to research the topic that had confused me: why knowledge worries people. In addition to acquiring these digital writing skills that will benefit me in my job search, I have mostly resolved my confusion about knowledge.
My most significant accomplishment in this course is my WordPress website. Previously, my posts were scattered on a single page and appeared messy on my website. Now, I have organized my pages, menus, and sub-items, categorizing my posts into different pages. I have also enhanced the design of my website, making it look more professional and attractive. In the future, when I have the time, I plan to edit each post using my editing skills, add photos to some blog entries, and publish more content. I intend to keep my website running and make it my online home.
Although the podcast is not my favorite aspect, I have learned how to start one, incorporate music, and apply fade-in and fade-out effects to the music. I have gained valuable insights from my classmates; their podcasts sound fantastic, and some even include authentic interview dialogues. I have a lot to study and practice when it comes to podcasting.
The assignment of writing a Wikipedia article has also been an incredible journey, as it has familiarized me with the process of creating a Wikipedia page. In the future, I plan to contribute more articles to Wikipedia, particularly on topics related to Chinese culture and China that are currently absent from the platform.
My Shallow Analysis of Ukraine’s Success
As Russia deployed its armies along the border of Ukraine, I conducted some research on Ukraine and felt relieved when Putin announced that he would not invade. However, on the day Russia attacked Ukraine (February 24), like many others, I began to worry that Ukraine might fall within a matter of hours or days.
But then President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared in videos, encouraging the people of Ukraine to defend their country and making his famous statement, “I don’t need a ride, I need weapons.” Like many others, I realized that Ukraine was not as weak as we had imagined. They are a strong and courageous people, willing to fight for their country!
Since then, I have been watching the news about the war every day, hoping that Ukraine will drive the Russians out! The battle has been ongoing for two months, and it is clear that Ukraine is winning while Russia is losing. This war is destined to be recorded in history as the triumph of a small country over the world’s second-largest country!
How did this happen?
From the beginning, President Zelensky posted videos showcasing Ukraine’s determination to defeat Russia, criticizing Russia, and seeking assistance from other countries. We witnessed his impassioned speeches at the US Congress, the United Nations, the European Union, NATO conferences, the Japanese parliament, and the High Court of Parliament. He spoke candidly, vividly describing the damage Russia had inflicted upon his country, and his words moved the audience. He alternated between Ukrainian and English during his speeches.
In addition to President Zelensky, Oleksii Reznikov, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, played a crucial role in their national defense efforts. He reformed the Ukrainian army, implementing a flat management structure instead of a hierarchical one. Until now, we did not know the whereabouts of Ukraine’s main army or how the Ukrainian military operated.
In the modern world, network technology plays a critical role in warfare. Mykhailo Fedorov, the youngest minister in Ukraine, turned to cryptocurrency and social media as modern weapons. Since the start of the war, he contacted Elon Musk and secured his assistance in setting up Starlink for Ukraine, ensuring that Ukraine’s network would function and communication could flow. He also formed an alliance with the renowned hacker organization, Anonymous, to hack into Russian networks, gather Russian information, and display authentic and brutal war images to the Russian people.
Iryna Andriivna Vereshchuk, Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, became emotional when discussing how Russian armies mistreated Ukrainian women. She strongly rebuked the Chinese government, which donated only a small amount of money, sleeping bags, baby diapers, and milk instead of weapons. Ukraine Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya delivered a moving speech at the United Nations in English. When the Russian delegates threatened to quit the UN, Mr. Kyslytsya declared that one cannot quit after being fired. Vitali Klitschko, a former boxer and the mayor of Kyiv, stood with the people of the city and joined the army in the fight. Ukrainian activist Daria Kaleniuk shed tears as she recounted the suffering of Ukrainian children to Boris Johnny. A Ukrainian journalist, when Boris Johnny returned to attend a press conference, trembled as he spoke. These two reporters successfully persuaded Boris and secured his promise to offer assistance.
Some people laughed at President Zelensky because he was an actor rather than an experienced politician. Additionally, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine was a lawyer, and the mayor of Kyiv was a boxer. According to conventional wisdom, they were not considered qualified for their current positions. However, their actions have shown the world that they are a strongly united group, working with great effectiveness. Each individual is utilizing their strengths to the fullest. Zelensky has established a brave image and successfully persuaded international assistance. The Minister of Defense has transformed the army structure into a more modern, effective, and less deadly style. The mayor has stood as a muscular figure, motivating his colleagues. The young minister has utilized technology to unite people worldwide in the fight against Russia. The ambassador has presented a rational image for Ukraine in prestigious conferences. The Deputy Prime Minister has strongly condemned the mistreatment of Ukrainian women by the Russians and criticized the hypocrisy of the Chinese government while defending Ukraine’s dignity. The reporters have spoken humbly and honestly, garnering support from other countries.
Each person fulfills their role, working together to form a strong leadership group for Ukraine. Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that they will ultimately defeat the Russians and lead Ukraine towards a better future.
Experience in Revising My Blog
I started my WordPress website in April 2019, and for my Digital Writing course, I opened another WordPress website focused on the topic of knowledge worries people. However, a few days ago, when I was revising my posts and websites, I realized that it was unnecessary to have two separate blog websites. Instead, I could merge the website for my course into my existing blog as a new page.
Under the “Menu” in the “Appearance” section, I organized my pages into Home, Literature, Daily Life, TV/Movie/Music, Knowledge Causes Worries, and Contact. I also categorized my posts accordingly. With this structure in place, I began editing and revising my posts.
Firstly, I revised “Eight Chinese Classics You Must Read” by replacing it with the version I had edited for a blog writing position. Additionally, I made several grammar corrections to my “Play Review—Twelfth Night.”
I have now revised all of my posts under “Knowledge Causes Worries.” For example, I added references to “Understanding the Internet,” corrected grammar and usage mistakes in “My Digital Literacy Narrative—Television and I,” changed the title from “Television and I” to “Television and Me,” and capitalized “Narrative” in the title.
One of the main areas I focused on was revising my podcast titled “The Chained Mother of Eight in China—How Knowledge Worries People.” Unlike a research paper or printed article, the goal of a podcast is to deliver the content clearly and directly to the audience through listening. As a result, the podcast script should resemble a speech or dialogue. Keeping this in mind, I rewrote certain sections of my podcast.
In the original post, I used several long sentences with multiple clauses to describe the suffering of the poor women. For example, “Because this chained woman once was a beautiful 12-year-old girl and was kidnapped and sold to many men, who raped and tortured her, hammering off all her teeth and cutting off her tongue tip, now she becomes psychotic and is locked by a farmer and forced to give birth to at least eight children.” I have now rewritten it as, “Because this chained woman was once a pretty girl and an elementary school student. At the age of 12, she was kidnapped and sold to many men who raped and tortured her. They hammered off all her teeth, cut off her tongue tip, and damaged her vocal cords to prevent her from resisting. When a journalist found her, she had been locked up by a poor, uneducated farmer and forced to give birth to at least eight children.” Additionally, I added an opening line, “Hello, everyone; welcome to Ying’s channel,” to create a friendly and relaxed atmosphere for the audience.
Apart from revising the podcast script, I also improved the recording based on what I learned from my classmates’ podcasts. I divided the background music into four parts, inserted it before each paragraph, faded it out at the end of each segment to introduce my narrative, and removed any long pauses.
Running a website is not easy; it requires frequent log-ins and updates. My plan is to revise all of my posts, add a design, and make my blog my online home where I can share my confusion, thoughts, and feelings. I hope to eventually use it as a platform to promote my novels and connect with like-minded individuals.
My Wikipedia Experience
After reading the assignment requirements, I came up with three topics for my Wikipedia article: a book called “An Unfinished Life” written by Yu Juan, Ming Chu-cheng, my favorite political scientist, and TCK Publishing, the publisher I love the most. Although the author of the book has a link on Wikipedia, there is no English version or English introduction for the book, making it potentially difficult for English readers to understand. In the case of Ming Chu-cheng, there is a Wikidata page that provides information about him. Furthermore, the Wikipedia article requirements suggest that writing about a person is the most challenging. Therefore, I decided to choose TCK Publishing as the subject for my first Wikipedia article.
Since 2018, I have been applying for writer or editor positions at TCK Publishing. The nonfiction editing test involves editing the founder’s speech about the company, its mission, services, and advantages. To meet the requirements of Wikipedia, I searched for reliable sources that discuss the company and its founder and CEO, Tom Corson-Knowles. I selected a few independent and trustworthy sources to use as references.
After gathering the necessary information, I created an outline for the article, including sections on the company’s background, values, business scale, and the authors they have published. I completed my paper in Microsoft Word using the Chicago style with endnotes. During this process, checking each author to see if they have a Wikipedia page took a significant amount of time, as there are 46 authors, some of whom share names with existing Wikipedia articles.
Although I read the requirements for creating a Wikipedia article, I still needed to study new knowledge. Therefore, I revisited the criteria, Article Wizard, and tutorials. I signed up to become a Wikipedian and created my page. I copied and pasted the content from my Word document onto my Wikipedia page. However, the linked items did not appear on my page, so I had to manually link the Wikipedia pages to the related authors, requiring careful attention to avoid mistakes.
The challenge I encountered was linking the endnotes to the cited sources. Adding references to the endnote numbers was simple, but I spent a long time figuring out how to properly fill in the author’s name, article title, URL, and retrieval time using the cited sources template. During the editing process, I frequently previewed the article to check for any necessary corrections. Once I was satisfied that everything was well-done, I submitted my article.
Through the creation of my first Wikipedia article, I learned the importance of writing with an objective attitude and maintaining a neutral point of view. I sent my article to TCK Publishing and received feedback suggesting that I provide more information about the company’s history. I will search for additional supporting sources to address this feedback. When comparing my article to those of other publishers on Wikipedia, I realize that I still need to learn how to add an infobox, divide my article into sections, and make the lead section more concise.
Topic Proposal
My favorite writer, Sanmao, from Taiwan, once shared a story about a boy in the Western Sahara Desert, where most people are illiterate. The boy had a strong desire to learn how to read, and Sanmao taught him basic knowledge. However, in the end, he didn’t acquire much knowledge, and Sanmao remarked that it was fortunate because knowing too much would bring unhappiness and even pain. As a teenager, I didn’t fully grasp the meaning behind Sanmao’s words.
Twenty years later, while attending college in the United States, I gained a wealth of knowledge that I hadn’t acquired during my education in China. However, the more I learned, the more concerned and pessimistic I became about the state of the world and humanity. Particularly when I discovered environmental damage, climate change, population growth, wars, and historical falsehoods, I felt disheartened. I wondered why knowledge often leads people to worry and pessimism, and how one can overcome this negative realization.
In this topic, I aim to explore the nature of knowledge, how individuals acquire knowledge, and ways to overcome worries and pessimism associated with it. I will compare my educational experiences in China and the United States, the subjects I studied, and the perspectives I gained as a young person and later in life. During my youth, I focused solely on memorizing information to achieve high scores, enabling me to gain admission to a better school or secure promotions. Knowledge served as a means to improve my life. However, now I contemplate the significance of what I have learned and seek to connect that knowledge to my community, country, and the world as a whole. I have decided to find answers through research that will provide comfort and broaden my understanding of knowledge and the development of the world and humanity.
By sharing my insights, I hope to offer assistance to anyone who shares the same sense of confusion. My goal is to provide guidance and help individuals find solace in their quest for understanding.
How I Make My Podcast
I had no idea how to create a podcast, and I wasn’t even familiar with what a podcast was. To educate myself, I searched online to learn its definition and listened to podcasts using the Apple App and a post by my classmate, Heather Herbaugh-Abourezk. Through this exploration, I discovered that a podcast is an audio recording accompanied by background music.
The most crucial step in podcast production is establishing a theme, and fortunately, I had something on my mind that I wanted to express. Since January 27, when news about the “chained mother of eight” began circulating online, I became deeply invested in the story. I spent considerable time reading news articles, watching related videos, and engaging in discussions by leaving comments on posts. The four contradictory investigation reports issued by the local government further piqued my interest. The government sought to suppress this news and prohibited public discourse about it. In my social media platform, Xiaohongshu, I attempted to comment and write articles about the incident, but the media censored my remarks and eventually banned me from posting anything. These censorship measures and government control prompted me to contemplate China’s political system. Concurrently, the story of the unfortunate woman, who had once been a beautiful 12-year-old girl and had suffered rape, torture, and confinement, with her teeth knocked out and her tongue tip severed, filled me with anger, as it did many other Chinese individuals, especially those with daughters. This anger inspired me to reflect on the knowledge I had acquired in China, leading me to decide to discuss it in my first podcast.
With my podcast topic established, I needed to learn how to create it. I turned to YouTube videos for guidance and discovered that the first step was to download podcast creator software. I initially downloaded an app called Audio Editor, which was a music recording editor. I then obtained background music from a Chinese website, selecting a somber-sounding piece to match the tragic nature of my topic. However, I encountered difficulty in pasting the background music into the Audio Editor. I revisited some YouTube videos and downloaded another software called Audacity, which allowed me to successfully add the music and record my narration over it. Initially, the volume of my narration was too low, so I re-recorded it while adjusting the volume accordingly. Additionally, I realized that the background music was too long. Following a tutorial on YouTube, I learned how to trim it to the desired length.
After completing the editing process, I listened to the final product to ensure everything sounded good. I then saved it, which automatically converted the file into an MP3 format. Finally, I submitted the podcast to the assignment page and shared it on the discussion board.
Gao Ying's blog 