What I like in the USA, top 10 list - part II

FIVE: Loving pets

I had observed that most of the people I had met have a pet or pets at home. I often  see people jogging or walking their dogs. You cannot really see any stray dog or cats like we sometimes see in Taiwan. They will take their dogs for walk  on a daily basis, keep pets  in indoor, get dogs nice dog house outdoor, feed their pets well, take them to the doctor when sick. Besides, I like the fact that they clean their pets excrement when walking them. Most importantly, they treat their pets like family. They will love and take good care of their pets.


FOUR: Obeying the traffic rules

I can't forget how dangerous and tense every time when my roommate and I try to walk across the street to get some food from the McDonald's right by the campus or when we try to get to the restaurant in the walking distance from our place. Although we complain about no sidewalk or zebra crossing for passengers or how fast people driving there, if I think it over, I have to appreciate people in there following the traffic rules, or my roommate and I would probably...(you imagine by yourself). Drivers will let the passengers go first and not really run through the red/yellow light. Besides, American drivers are very "polite" to the school bus. I took bus to school most of the time, and the bus driver would stop the bus only when there is a bus stop sign. I am appreciated some of the nice bus driver will drop my roommate and I closer to our place even though there is not stop sign.


THREE: Diversity

Walking in the campus, it is quite obvious to see the diversity of Americans. In class, my classmates were white, African, or middle Americans, and occasionally I could meet people from Europe. Can you imagine that you were actually able to talking and meeting people from different countries or background without flying to somewhere? It is always interesting to meet diverse people and know some culture from them. I feel like my perceptions and point of views about this world had been widen rapidly and grown rich. While I was very cautious to respect various cultures from friends of diversity, I had tried to share my knowledge of my county and its culture. I am one of few Asian around in school and sometimes I would feel people saw me differently and treat me a bit differently. However, as my supervisor once told me, they may be intimidate to interact with you for the lack of experience or knowledge of you and your culture. As a result, I usually show them my smile in the hope to ease their intimidating as well as mine. I was lucky being in a multi-cultural community with diverse Americans


TWO: Chinese class and students

Interesting enough. I was first worried very much about my Chinese class under the pressure of my students who were school staff, faculty, and instructors. However, I ended up loving my Chinese class and my students. I spent LOTS OF time preparing my first lesson before start, and my roommate wondered many times why I was so anxious and worried about my first Chinese classes. Perhaps I am a perfectionist and wanted my students to have interest in Mandarin and motivation on learning it. Plus, it was the first year for my school to have Chinese course, and certainly I was on a task to do it great so that they will keep Mandarin course for next academic year. I had enjoyed teaching Chinese to my students for 3 reasons. Firstly, I have freedom to design my own schedule and class, so I can decide what to teach or focus. (That actually gave me freedom AND pressure.) I like to add some cultural After all, part of my Fulbright mission
Secondly, my students were motivated. I am not sure if it was because of my teaching methods and lively and serious style or they were really interested in learning. Sometimes, they made some humor or laughter during class.

Last but not least, my students were supportive and cooperative, especially Anzhu, Madan, Xiongming, and Keting. Whenever I saw their performance in class or heard them using some Chinese outside of the classroom, it is always an encouragement for me. Seeing their growth in their Chinese ability, I feel I have to keep working hard in the hope to benefit their growth in Mandarin the most. I was so lucky to have my students in the class.


ONE: Friends

At first, I notice it was a bit hard to make friends here due to my skin color and personality. I tend to be a quite person in front of people if I don't know them. Most of the time when I was around my roommate, people tend to talk to her. I was fine with it though since she is talkative and easy going person. Plus, her English is much better than mine. Even though, I try to make friends with my smile and it works. There were a few times that people said they like my smile and give me a name like princess or angel. (Well, "princess" only for a time, but I am not kidding here!)

I was extremely lucky to be able to meet some nice and caring people and even make friends with them. Besides my roommate (I think we have become a lifelong friend), I had made three friends. I called them secretly "The Three Musketeers" because they three are work related and all take good care of my roommate and I. (Later, I give them different name though. They are liar, gangster, bad guy respectively and me as a thief.) The first couple of months since I was back, I terribly miss them and come to the realization that they may be the only and important reason to go back.

Knowing not all of my friends I met in the States are able to see my post here, I still want to show my most appreciation here. It's never easy for me if I didn't meet you. I have a wonderful year in NC, USA is because of you, my dearest friends.

What I like in the USA, top 10 list - part I

It is going to be one year after I was back to Taiwan. I miss my life in the States often and often wish I could done some things whenever the memory flashes back to me. Therefore, I am planning to write something following up my life in the States for two purposes. First purpose is to keep the record and the other one is to help me reflect what I could done better or what I can share with people whoever might need this kind of information.

I have thought over and over that I want to list my top 10 things that I like the most during my time in the USA. To begin with, the following list is based on my personal experience and I am sure I might miss something or not include something due to the lack of the experience, so please just simply enjoy reading it, not thinking too much. Here we begin.

TEN: Pull pork BBQ

When hearing BBQ, I thought of our style of BBQ and was mouthwatering actually, but it is not the BBQ I imaged. I was told that the BBQ from North Carolina is very different and tasty and I was lucky to try some BBQ when I was there.The first time I had pull pork BBQ is the first time my supervisor took me to meet with the school faculty (Dan, Don and Xudong) at Skylight Inn.I can not tell what is in the source, but it was really good.

    

NINE: Sports/American football

I like sports and play some sports when I was a student. I have a couple of the opportunities to watch the football games. Most of Americans are really into sports and support their team a lot. Although, I don't know very well about football rules, it was fun watching it and being able to talk about games with friends. (Side note: Going to tailgates are really cool experience seeing people's passion to their supported them and having fun before games.)

   

EIGHT: Kitchen/house facility

I was impressed the facility in the house. There are AC, heater, dish washer, oven, toaster, and so on to make life easier and convenient.  In Taiwan, we hang our clothes somewhere like balcony or outdoor space to dry clothes. However, every family here has a dryer for clothes. Sometimes I have to worry that what not to put in the dry, but in general it is so convenience to do laundry. I like the food disposer a lot. We normally store the leftover to the trash truck for pigs in Taiwan and it helps me a lot when I cook NOT well. I normally force me to finish up the food I cook, but sometimes it will still a bit leftover I cannot really finish. Besides, microwave is so helpful for people like me who don't cook well. ;)

SEVEN: Fast food restaurants

I don't like fast food but the variety of fast food restaurants here makes me want to try at least one time at different ones, like McDonald's, KFC,  Burger King, Arby's, Taco Bell,Five Guys', Bojangle's, Chick-fil-A. I like the fact of free refilling drink when eating at the fast food restaurant. It is kind of my way to ease my desire for getting different tea at tea shop when in Taiwan by refilling different drinks and taking some home here. There is a Burger King around PCC, so I went there to eat and study at least one time at week, so that may be the reason why  I hadn't eaten any burgers or fries until 3 months after I got back to Taiwan. Even though I have to say some of the burgers and fries are really much better than we have in Taiwan.

  

SIX: Holidays

I had been lucky enough to celebrate most of American holidays with friends. My favorite holidays are Halloween and Christmas. Knowing holidays is one thing; experiencing them is another. Thanks to friends, I had experienced some very authentic holiday celebration and holiday spirit. I was amazed how they prepare the food for feast. Man and women work together to prepare the food. I felt holiday spirit when having Halloween dinner with a friend's family and decorating a Christmas tree. I was a bit shocked when seeing children "open" their Christmas presents.  I was glad to be able topartly join egg hunting on Easter Day. These holidays are great opportunity to learn the culture and build the friendship. On top of that, I really had a great time and deeply realize the importance of each holiday to the American.

(Flashback) I lost my debit card

While I am helping an ETA to report the lost of his bank ATM card. It reminded me of my time to report the lost of my debit card in the States. FYI, I have ONLY one debit card.

It is so convenient to use credit/debit card in the States and most of the stores take cards. However, the risk for me to use the debit card is I sometimes would use too much money if I didn't keep the record. Unlike the ATM cards, you have to report the lost of your debit card since strangers might pick up your card to use it and it seems happened here quite normally. However, that is the experience I had never had to deal with since I don't really use credit cards in Taiwan.

I still remember clearly the night I lost my card. It was after Chinese class and Dan offered a ride to supermarket as he would usually do on the way back.  When I realized I couldn't find my card at checkout counter, I was a bit nervous since I was pretty sure that I have the ONLY card with me all the time. However, we still looked over the supermarket but failed to find it. On the way home, I pretend clam to tell Dan that I probably left the card home which I didn't think so.

(Well... sometimes I don't really trust myself fully since I am clumsy and forgettable, but this time I know I am right with the card lost no matter how hard I was trying to deny it.)

Anyway, I reported the lost of the card after I had searched everywhere in my room, jacket packets, and bags. I hesitated. I was thinking maybe my supervisor can help me with it or tell me what to do. The only problem I thought of was my phone minutes. My phone is pre-paid plan and I was afraid the call would be cut off  in the middle of the phone call.  However, it didn't occur to me that I would not be able to fully understand what the operator said. Umm.. I didn't understand because of his accent and fast talking speed.

Even though, it worked out. I did it. (Side Note: You don't even need to go to the bank to get a new card They can mail it to you. Sweet! The second frustration I have next with the operator is to report the problem of my Kindle. Not only not to understand his questions but hardly to know how to describe my kindle problem well.)

Roommate's Birthday Week 室友的生日週慶祝

托室友的福，這個星期吃了好多蛋糕，不同於台灣的蛋糕，這邊的人都自己做蛋糕的，雖然我也想要自已做，一來對自己做蛋糕沒什麼信心，二來是我得去買很多材料，再來就是時間緊迫，所以我在Food Lion買蛋糕給室友囉！

Thanks to my roommate. I had a lot of cake this week. Different from the cake in Taiwan, people here make their own cake. Although I was desperately wanting to make one for the roommate,  I bought a cake at Food Lion with the help of my supervisor. Well, firstly I don't have confidence in making cake and then I have to buy lots of ingredients which I don't have time and transportation to do shopping.)

我選了草莓口味的，希望室友有個甜蜜的一年。(再加上一些"飲料"當禮物)

I chose the flavor of the strawberry to wish my roommate a sweet year. (Also, I bought some her favorite "drink" as her birthday gift.)

接下來的幾天，學校幫九月的壽星慶生喔，再加上貼心的Megan也帶我們去橄欖球賽慶祝室友的生日，當然她也做了一個蛋糕與大家分享喔！她做了個巧克力蛋糕，非常非常好吃！真希望自己也有像她的手藝。

The next days, the school held a birthday party for September birthday girls and boys. Megan also took us to a football game to celebrate the roommate's birthday by making a  chocolate cake(Btw, it was very yummy). I wish myself to be able to make a delicious cake like hers.

Unknown sadness & My Hobbies? 莫名的難過 & 這是我的興趣嗎？

It was so nice to know that there are some friends caring about you. This morning I posted a statue on Fackbook and later a few friends left some texts on fb to cheer me up. Then I met M on campus. He was checking on me too. I felt he was very sweet at that time.

今早很高興知道有幾個朋友在關心你。我在臉書上寫"今天天氣很好，可是心情很糟，出去晒晒太陽吧！，接著有幾個朋友就留言鼓勵我， 在校園，遇到一個朋友，他也關心我是否有什麼事發生，嗯，心裡甜甜的呢！

Actually there was nothing bad happened. I was just cleaning some of the stuff in my room which I was very relunctant to do. While sorting out the gifts I am going to give, writing thank you cards, looking around the closet what to take home, oh man, I became very moody. Yes, I was moody and I could not figure out the reasons. Then, I realized it was the sadness for leaving here this morning. 

事實是沒有什麼不好的事發生，我只是在整理房間裡的一些東西，而我很不情願去整理，分類要送人的禮物，寫感謝卡，看看衣櫥裡什麼東西要帶回去，唉，我突然覺得很難過，而我在當下並不知道為什麼情緒不穩，直到今早我意識到我在難過我要離開了。

Anyway, I would like to share about today's speech class. The speech I made today did a great job to make me happy. This time we had to make a speech about hobbies that are not yours but your assigned partner's. In short, your partner's hobbies are now your hobbies. We were asked to write our own speech about hobbies as an assignment to hand in class, so we did not that the speech would be switched. Therefore, I try to be funny on my hobbies which were singing, scootering and man hunting. (If you know me, you will know I have no guts to do man hunting.) My partner is a man and I could not image his only hobby is to make people laugh. What an interesting person. In fact, when I first read his speech, I could not help laughing.

不管怎樣，我要分享一下今天的演講，我很高興我這次的演講講得不錯。這一次我們的主題是「興趣」，但是不是演講你的嗜好，而是你同學的，簡言之，你同學的嗜好現在變成你的了。(老師這次要求我們寫講稿然後上課交，我們不並知道老師會交換我們的講稿，而我試著要風趣一點，所以寫了我大學時代的興趣：唱KTV、騎機車兜風、和獵男生--認識我的人都知道我根本我沒個膽去做這個…)我的夥伴是個男生，而他唯一的「興趣」就是帶給人們歡笑，真是一個有趣的人！事實上，當我讀他的講稿時，我忍不住笑出來了。

I am not sure why but the instructor only asked my partner and me what are the hobbies we have now in front of the class. Because of that, the whole class knew our interesting hobbies and kind of looked forward to hear our speeches. I felt pressure.

我不確定為什麼老師要在課堂上說我們兩個人的興趣，但是因為這樣，全班都知道我們兩個人的興趣，而且期待我們兩人的溝講。

Here are some lines of his speech draft.

I don't play video games, and I freaking hate playing golf... Since I was little I have been perfecting this hobby of mine...When the whole class is langhing at my shenanigans is when I feel the most alive. I crave the laughter. I would die for the attention. 

這裡分享一下他寫的東西：我不打電動而且我非常厭惡打高爾夫球…當我是小孩子的時候，我就將這個興趣完美化了…當全班在笑我的笑話時，那是我覺得我還活著的時候。我渴望笑聲，也渴望得到注意。

Most importantly, I learned the "knock knock joke" because he use one in his closing. (I mean I heard it before but never really figured out what it was.) Knock knock. Who's there? Little old lady. Little old lady who? Wow, I didn't realize that you all were such good yodelers.

重要的是，因為這次演講我學到了"knock knock"的笑話。(我是指我以前聽過，但從沒真的了解那是什麼。)

敲敲門。誰在那？，是個嬌小的老太太，誰是嬌小的老太太? 哇我不知道你們是很棒的yodelers)

Meanwhile, he also did a great job to turn my hobbies into his. I did not talk about man hunting in my speech draft because I felt it might be improper to talk about it before the audience. I wish I had his revised speech draft so that I could show you because it was sooo hilarious. I kind of remember one part. " I like to sing Karaoke with men at night and have breakfast after singing. I would hop on a man's scooter and head to breakfast store and then see the sunrise...Gosh, I wish I could have the creativity he has. The whole class laughed.  I think he is a really laughter-maker, isn't he?

而他也很棒！他很成功地把我的興趣變成他的了，我並沒有在我的講稿裡說太多獵男人的事，因為我覺得這可能不太適合跟聽眾們說，但我真希望我有他改過的講稿，所以有可以跟你們分享，因為真的很好笑！我有點記得" 我喜歡跟男人唱KTV，晚上唱完歌後可以去吃早餐。我會跳上男生的機車，然後前往早餐店，再去看日出…真的是，我希望我能有像他一樣的創造力，全班都笑了，我想他真的是一個帶來歡笑的人。

Making going away gifts 製作小禮物

Here are my plans for making gifts.

Chinese knot- auspiciousness 

Little card with Chinese characters "吉祥" hanging below the Chinese knot+ my Chinese stamp on the back of the card.

Thank you card: Print Xiexie in Chinese calligraphy font to put on the card.

我的規劃是：

吉祥結

吉祥話+我的印章(吉祥話後面)

卡片上面有謝謝的書法字

終於完成小禮物的製作！

Phew! I finally finish the present making.

There are a few ones I made earlier: Chinese paper cut and Chinese knots as hair decorations.
還有一些是之前完成的：剪紙+ 中國結髮飾

I really want to make more, but I did not have materials left. Hehe.. YEAH!! Hope my friends will like the gift I made to them.

我是真的想要多做一些，但是沒有材料了。耶!! 希望我的朋友會喜歡我做給他們的小禮物！

The lesson from Lindt Truffle Chocolate

I felt like I was so silly that I just found out one thing today. I have some chocolate every month during some period of time. I have noticed the wrappings of the chocolate are different which are red, yellow, and blue. Besides, I have noticed the chocolate are different in these three different wrappings. Even though I had never thought of it carefully that what exactly is the difference between these three chocolates. Now I know it clearly when I had these three ones together today.

The red wrapping one - black chocolate
The gold one - white chocolate
The blue one- white chocolate with cocoa nibs (my favorite)

P.S: The Lidnt Truffie Chocolate I had were in a cherry blossom cup. Both the cup and chocolate are gifts from Parker's family when I visited them after my first week in the USA. They were meaningful presents for me because it was my first warmth I received and felt since I arrived this country.

我實在是很蠢，現在才發現一件事，今天吃剛完了Parker家人送的巧克力（對我意義非凡，因為是我到美國的第一個星期，第一份收到的「溫馨」。），我每個月某個時候都會吃個二、三顆，我知道包裝不一樣，紅色、金色和藍色…也知道裡面的巧克力不一樣，但我從來沒有去細想，今天第一次三顆不一樣巧克力一起吃，才明顯的分別出到底是那裡不同…
紅色--黑巧克力
金色--白巧克力
藍色--白巧克力加可可粒 (我最愛的)

The thought I have from today is: although we don't like to be compared with someone or some people, it is quite easy and obvious to know the difference, strength, weakness of each person if you are put to compared with other people. It is like a job interview. The interviewers can tell who may be the better candidate for the job position if they interview interviewees in a row. However, if you just see every interviewee individually without comparison, he or she has different personal traits and strength. It may be a little tough to tell who may be more suitable for the position.

所以，今天的感想是：雖然我們都不喜歡被比較，但是有時候被一起比較時，差別和落差真的很容易馬上被分辨出來，就有點像在工作面試時，面試官接連著面試時，可能一眼馬上比能分辨誰比較合適…但是如果把面試者個個打散時，每個人其實都有特色，可能很難馬上分的很清楚每個人特色…