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An App Helped Me Find Treasure
Zhaoxia Jin
BEFORE YOU READ:
Treasure usually refers to gold or jewels. However, it can refer to anything with value, not necessarily dollar value. Looking at the images on this page, what do you think the author means by treasure?
Surrounded by Trees, Flowers, and Grasses
I used to live in the central part of Shanghai. It is similar to New York City—a “concrete jungle.” I was not around nature. I did not see too many trees and flowers.
When I moved to Connecticut, I lived in a house that was surrounded by many kinds of trees, flowers, and grasses that were new to me. I was enjoying such a beautiful environment, but I didn’t know anything about it.
Learning More and Feeling Less Lonely
One day, I realized that I can use apps to help me learn about the plants. This opened a door to a whole new world. When I recognized a new flower, I made a friend and didn’t feel lonely.
Every morning, I was woken up by birds. I took my phone and went around my garden. I used the app to identify plants. The more I knew the plants, the more I was addicted to their different shapes, colors, and smells.
There are several tall trees in my backyard. They drop many fruits in autumn. The fruits are green. They are the size of ping pong balls, and very hard. They spread across the grass, which makes mowing very hard. Using my phone, I discovered that they are black walnuts, and you can eat them! This discovery makes me feel like I found a treasure.
Staying Curious
It is amazing how a simple app can make our lives so much more interesting than in the past. I look forward to keeping up with the latest technology trends and staying curious about the world around me.
AFTER YOU READ:
What is the treasure that the author finds? Why does it feel like a treasure to her? What feels like a treasure to you?
Zhaoxia Jin is a student at Shoreline Adult Education in North Branford, Connecticut. She is from China. She has been taking ESL classes for two years, and she has made a lot of progress. She wants to be able to communicate with local people and know the local culture.