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.