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    • I think you are right in that Tiffany should acknowledge her adoptive parents in all her decisions regarding her contact with her biological parents. They probably loved her as much as one would expect one's real (biological) parents would love their child. So, they must always have first priority over her as they brought her up. But is it really necessary to meet the biological parents ..? We'll hear later today what your classmates think about that.

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    • I agree that having roommates is essential for students who have been so used to living with their families, Liu Weifang (especially coming from so far away, like you). Those roommates then become very much like family and can stand with you through all circumstances, the good and the bad.

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    • Katrina, you mustn't forget your roommate, Wang Xiaoxu, when you think about your roommates! Now you have two roommates who study English with you; you are so fortunate! But I agree with you, after four years it must be very difficult to say goodbye ... Remember, however, friendships can last forever and don't have to end there!

      Do you really think there can be a valid reason for abandoning one's child, Katrina? Is poverty, or sickness, or unemployment, or whatever reason really valid? We'll hear what your class thinks about this .. ;-)

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    • Yes, roommates have taken the place of family if one has been living with them for so long, Zhang Ke. Family would of course always remain important, but so are the roommates too. I think it is a good thing that students have roommates during their years of study, in particular at university.

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    • Wow Men Yaqiong, so by the time you've finished your studies at university, you would have lived the same number of years with roommates as you lived with your family, i.e. 12 years?! No wonder you like your roommates so much and have adapted well living and sharing your life with them!

      I agree that Tiffany was lucky in the sense that she was adopted as not many orphaned or abandoned children get adopted (because people are mostly selfish and want only their own children). But do you really think any reason for abandoning one's child would be a valid reason ..?

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    • That is true, Xu Yang, that living with roommates for so long helps one to get on with other people. One doesn't really have a choice as you have to live with those roommates for a few years and it is better for oneself and for them to have good relationships. Yes, maybe her parents gave her life, but then she wasn't good enough any longer at the age of two ... Let's hear what your classmates say about this ..

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    • You are fortunate to have so many friends, Lily! But I think all your friends are fortunate too to have you as their friend, because I can see you have a caring heart for people and they must find much comfort in your friendship! And you're right that roommates later become like family (as they are the closest unit to family outside your real family). :)

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    • Well, congrats then on your second comment, Zhu Qianfeng (your other comment was during week 7b on 25 October)! But I guess you're asking me for forgiveness, not praying to me as I am not God to forgive sins. Okay, I guess you heard that while watching a foreign movie, but of course that is not completely correct! Yes, friendships are very important for us (crucial, as you said) and no human can be happy without friendships, I am sure about.

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    • I noticed your last comment, Long Yuan. It was made within the last 45 minutes before the class and that's why I missed it at first. Comments being made so late are mostly made in a rush and not well-thought through. And of course, students can't read through the worksheets when it is so close to the lesson. So, I am glad to see that you made your comment last night. Though I guess you must have been very tired by then as it was probably already close to midnight, right?!

      Then, secondly, you neglected to comment on the second part of the lesson ... I guess that was because you made this comment so late, right?

      About the roommates, interesting what you mentioned there. Maybe it only happens with boys as not one of the girls mentioned that to happen among them. I'm wondering about that.

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    • Do you mean the girl, Tiffany, in the story was lucky, Zhang Tianjiao? I agree with you that she shouldn't meet her biological parents. They'd abandoned her 14 years earlier and she grew up happily with her adoptive parents (not even knowing she was an adopted child). Now they've just confused her and made life more difficult for her. Let's see what your classmates say about that later today.

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