A visit to Da Jhong Temple(大眾廟)

Great big arch, at the Da Jhong Temple in Hsing Jhung City looks exactly like the one most Taipei people remember from their childhood which they usually go to the temple with their grandparents. The traditional-styled sculpture lining along the little alley heading to the main shrine remaindered me the time my father brought me here praying that I would have a peaceful and safe year in the US, before I was gone last year. This year, as I came back peacefully with lots of substantial memory, dad suggested me to go back to the Da Jhong Temple to show my appreciation to those divinities of the earth and local for their blessings.
In the early morning, I arrived the shrine with a faithful mind. Entering the main hall, there were already disciples of the temple doing their routine praying and some people like me carrying couple offerings were looking for sign that guided us how to go through different divinities. Totally we had to light up twelve incenses, and sticking each of them into each of incense burners (the one with three legs) in front of different divinities. There were 9 different divinities in the temple and each of them had their own works for human. One of them sitting in the main hall was Dizang(地藏王菩薩) who saved people from the hell. She said "Not until the hells are emptied will I become a Buddha; Not until all beings are saved will I certify to Bodhi.” . I stuck one of my incense into her incense burner for her deed.
Actually, in the middle of my visit, I took a browse of the traditional architecture in the temple. The roof was impressively decorated by all the finely carved and sculptured art work of Chinese traditions.
One of the design, caught my attention was a superb technic called“Cassion” (藻井) used on construction and decoration for thousand years on oriental temple and palace. Layers of colored panel crossed and laid on each other constructing an solemn atmosphere.
I wasn’t too long for me to finish the whole process which most of the young generation were not patient enough to realize the meditation in it. I came out from the door which had been used on dome guarded by two stone tiger sculpture, and they seemed smiling.

Go Virginia Tech

Remembering there was a homicidal case that a student killed 32 people in Virginia Tech, I still couldn’t relate it to Virginia’s best engineering school I was visiting. Virginia Tech, located in the Blacksburg in the western Virginia, offered the student in Virginia and the rest of a world a great place to study. In the tech, there is usually 300000 students study in different variety of subjects. Since Virginia is based on agri-business, the tech has great Agricultural science program for those who is interested on Agriculture. In fact, the Virginia Tech used to have the 7th fastest super computer in the world.
The early morning, Jackie and I woke up early and hit the road. That was a long drive, totally 146 miles. We drove through the farm, factory, city such as Lynchburg, Bedford, and even we drove by a row of gasoline tank when we were in Bedford. Finally, until we almost hit the Blue Ridges, we took a exit toward Virginia Tech.
The campus was humongous that took us a little while trying to figure out where to park. As we parked the car and found ourselves on the map, there were only 5 minutes left until the first head of campus tour leave. In the rush, I took a glance around the tech campus, the hoary-style castles, towers and halls congregated around the central great lawn. The students with books and laptop strode upon the marble pave way whether they were going to a class, or just sauntered around. Also, I realized that Virginia tech had many Asian population as well as any other engineering schools.
As we arrive the guest center, there were already some teenagers with their parents assembled and waited for the campus tour. The students led us this morning was from Agricultural engineering. Filled with willingness, they were so nice and poised to show their campus and environment, but what impressed me was their way to walk. They could walk backward steadily and fast without bumping with each other or flipped over. That was really funny.
As one of the students told me that Virginia tech combine dinning credit, bus pass, laundry machine, security system and other different function in order to simplify different cards and systems, we passed through the library and media center which amazed me because of its modern design and avant-garde.
In the end of the campus tour, we finally went to the building of engineering school where the student lucked the building and committed the crime but it was still full of student who walked around for the class. It was a busy building.
The counselor gave us a little presentation about the engineering school which I might be interested. She said all student would be required equipped a laptop that could transform into the notepad. Before students graduated, they had to do a project which such as making an airplane, a manpower submarine or a concrete canoe. I through that was very important for a student to do a practical project to apply what they had learnt in their daily life. Also, it was also a different way to learn by dealing with such thing like budget, teamwork and achievement.
After the tour, my mom and I were hungry and exhausted because we walked around the campus the whole morning. We wanted to find some place for lunch, but it was very hard to shuttle between heavy traffic and humongous campus, so finally we went to a place called “ Five Guys”. This fast food restaurant was known for its thick and old-fashioned burgers and fresh cutted and fried French fries. It was my treat for my mom’s 7 hours marathon driving.
We grabbed a handful of peanut, sat and talked waiting for our meal. The restaurant claimed that everything in this restaurant was made in US. When it was our turn to pick up our lunch, the clerk announced my name “ Hwa ”. Seldom, people pronounce my name in the way it supposed to be, but this time the clerk pronounced it really accurate. As I picked up the bag, it was so heavy. I took out the burger. Two piece of paddies with layers of cheese, tomatoes and lettuce barely piled on a small bun. I took a bite and realized that it just fit my big bloody opened mouth. I bet the whole burger weight a pound. The French fries was really fresh and crispy but a little bit greasy. After I finished everything, I finally realized why its called “five guys” because their burgers was really big. Well, everything in the America is big, so is people.
It was a great day the I had oppitunity to see an classical American engineering school. If I got a chance, I might apply Virginia Tech. Actually, I was already a faithful Tech fan with my “VT cap”.

Night Safari-The Prom

Spring is always the season when everything and every creature resuscitate for the new year, but to us, teenagers is the season to graduate, to leave and to step on a new journey. Cherished the coming of spring and the ending of the good memories, American school or church usually has a dance called “Prom” for those who will leave for the other new challenge of life. In the end of my year, I will graduate from my American exchange year too.
Remember in the end of the winter, I met a girl in a Mormon church in Richmond. As my dad told me, I should have friends I could talk on the phone, I have been her friend for half year. We talked a lot and had lots of fun. Although we were both very busy people, we still tried to share fun in each of our daily life. Day by day, I have learnt lots of different things from. She shared me her experience on fencing, dealing with animals and people and I shared some of my working experience with plants and American. That have been the luckiest thing I have had in my visit-to have somebody to talk and to share my loneliness.
As the end of the school year came, her church had held a prom for those who wanted to meet new friends or to say “good bye” to old friends. That was my pleasure to be her prom date, invited to her first prom.
In March, I received an invitation from Mormon Church about the prom in Richmond Metro Zoo. To me, the prom was a fresh term especially the prom in a Zoo. Dance with monkeys?
Seriously, I had no experience about the prom, Meanwhile, My host mom’s daughter, school picture photographer came home to see her mom. She was an expert of prom because she took prom picture for many high schools and universities. She knew some tradition of prom and told me that I needed to have a certain color of tie to match my prom date’s dress and also I needed to have a corsage for my prom date. To me, go to prom was like to go to take SAT that serious. I talked to her and figure out the color of dress and corsage. I checked on the ebay and found a good solid color tie.
When everything settled down, I talked with her again but she said she got a free dress with different color. How a surprise! I went online and change my order. Good thing that I could change the deal. Well! As my host mom told me “The woman has right to change.” That was my first lesson.
The madam brought me to Richmond was very nice. She had been driving her sons and other teens to Richmond for more social chance for a long time. She also made dress and corsage for those girls and boys. My corsage for my date was a little white rose with silky leaf and sparkling pearls which looked very elegant and fascinating.
The afternoon before the prom night, two vans with ten kids crowded headed to Richmond. Ya Hoo!
On the van, I had met many people from other schools. They all dressed up really pretty and handsome. Everybody seem happy and expecting the prom.
We arrived the zoo, I came out the van with a little bit little boy-nervousness. I didn’t what would my date looked like nor what to talk with her. I stepped into the zoo, handed my ticket and then I saw her parents. They were all excited about their daughter’s first prom. Her dad brought a big cannon camera to take a good shot of her daughter and her mother was really excited and dressed her daughter up. I talked with them for while. They led me to the hall which hosted the prom. I saw her in the middle of the hall looking at me. She was so pretty, wore very simple but graceful sky blue dress. With a little shining blue sprinkle on the top of her inborn bright black hair, She was really unique in the crowd. She sweetly put a little red flower hairpin that I gave her a gift of friendship in my palm and told me to help her put on. I carefully stuck the hairpin into her topknot. Suddenly, I knew we were the most special couple in the whole prom. Her dad rapidly took couple shot of us. I was nervous so I didn’t even talk to her immediately. Later, we sat outside of prom hall where had some seats and tables for those who were waiting for prom picture. She was a little nervous too. To prepare for prom, her mother helped her to dress up and to arrange the hair. Actually, before I came to prom, I was working in the school garden in muddy field with sweat. Although I took a really good shower, my face looked like over cooked moon cake.
We both didn’t like fast music such as Rock and Roll or Pop music but classic and slow gentle music. Totally, we danced four times. Even I felt headache in the loud music. We chatted a lot with other different people. There was only one fast song we danced the tap dance, sounded like a Scottish song. I couldn’t catch the melody and didn’t know when should I kick or tap at first. Later, We figured out what were we supposed to do. That was fun to follow the melody and move the body, but to her, Good thing she took her high heel shoes off, so she didn’t need to ruin her foot. By the way, I was trying so hard not to step on her foot and finally everything were fine.
As I felt sleepy, the prom ended at 10:00 o’clock. Coming after the prom, the After-prom party was a relaxing activity to do after heavy suits and dresses. After we changed into casual clothes, we met together and took a little tour train to the interior are of the zoo to see animals and to experience different kinds of carnival facility. That was exciting on that over occupied tour train which was transformed from a little truck. We actually needed to jump out and pushed the tour train when it headed a so-called high hill.
The light of carnival atmosphere led the prom night to the climax. After a prom, we were tired and hungry. She brought me to the consession and we had some pizza and awesome smoothie for the energy until midnight. Talking with people, we knew that the sky ride was lots of fun. We lined up for the sky ride with one of my friend in front of us. Well, my date was technically taken because each of the ride can sat two people, he didn’t have a date so he naturally “shared” mine. That was fine, but later I had to sit by myself. While the sky ride was rising from the ground to around 30 feet tall upon the air, I was freezing cold and a sudden acrophobia. The breeze of night passed through my feet with a little drop of lake. The moon hung on the other side of sky. What a night voyage! Just like the poem of Li-Bai, he said ” Tonight only has moon drinking with me, so I drink with myself and my shadow and the moon as triple”. Well, that was simply enjoying oneself. Graduated, I started whispering some song such as “ The rain drops are falling on my head”. The rain was still falling on my head but I knew I would be no longer alone because I had my head.
The night passed so fast that I couldn’t realize the ringing of 12 o’clock was already knocked. As the princess in the “ Cinderella” had to go home before the mid-night, the prince tonight had to go the wooden hill too. After the palm tree climbing, I was really tired and my hands were so sour. I didn’t how came I could have that kind of strength and speed to climb a 20 feet tall palm tree within minute. I through that was because I was very happy and I knew my prom date was cheering for me.
We walked to the tour train station waiting for the next train brought us to the entrance of the zoo. Sitting on the train, Her parents appeared in front of us. It is always good to see adults when you feel tired. At least, they made me feel safety and comfy. I asked her” Are you happy? “. She replied me with a sweet smile. I through I had done a good job and I was happy too.
In the story of “ Cinderella “, the princess had a beautiful pumpkin wagon was her ride, but it was pity that the fact was, when the time passed 12 o’clock, the wagon reform to a real pumpkin and the handsome white horses turned into little mice. Fortunately, tonight I didn’t need to worry about my ride. As we walked outward the zoo, a GMC truck parked in front of me. I remembered my dad had a little box-car, and that was our truck. I always feel really safety when I sat in the back seat watching my dad rolling the steering wheel.
On the way to her house, I felt really happy and I couldn’t believe I was invited to her house for a weekend. It would be a great chance for me to see the other American family. When we arrived their home, It was actually 1 o’clock, well, “ Good Morning and I will go to sleep.” The prom was really meaningful and joyful, I couldn’t image the coming weekend.

Liberty Island Tour-Statue of Liberty

Since 1776, United Sates of America have been a strong practicing country of liberty and democracy, a country which spreads the messenger of liberty all over the world and protect those away from tyrant and autocrat. Also, United States is a union consisted by immigrants come from everywhere around the world. No wonder people call it “The Melting Pot”.100 years after independence, a friend of US, France gave American a gift to honor valuable ness of liberty. The French artist Frédéric Bartholdi spended years designed and scupture this 34 meters tall, 204 weight bronze statue called ” Liberty Enlightening the World”. Since 1889, the lady liberty had stood on the liberty island welcoming those immergrant who came for liberty. Far away from liberty lsland, you can still recognize the statue when you sail in the Hudson river. I cannot imagine how awesome it was for the immmergant from Europe to see this symbalic wonder. Although today we are in the jet age, the liberty lady is still standing there enlighting the world with liberty and justice.
In the early morning of Mannhutan, the cloud was still sleeping, lazily swung among the skyscapers and the eraly seagull in the urban atmosphere. The breeze laughed at the people when people had funny face on as it passed through their legs. Walking to the Battery Park, My mom and I were still sleepy because of sleeping late. Suddenly, A little cuttie sneaked in front of us and quickly ran into the bushes next to us. A Squarol! We were excited to see a bunch of cute squarol waking a walk leisurly,even in the world biggest city.
Far away, we merely saw a tiny shadow in the middle of Hudson Bay’s morning mist. That is the Statue of Liberty. Facing the Hudson, the Statue of Libery stood still to welcam he coming of the new day with seagols ,sea waves and for sure, the tourists from the world. Part of tourist was us. We joined the line and tried to find out where was the end of the crowd. Really, We took a long walk and finally found the last person of the whole group meanwhile we had already walk for half mile away from the deck.2 hours wasn’t too long if you had lots of fun during the boringness fowaiting. My mom and chated, shared out happiness and appreciate the unexpected episodes. We met a couple from Spain who were just behind us. Because my mom had been to Spain before, she was really supprised and tried to talk to them. We excitedly trying to talk Spanish with each other. “Hola” and “Gracias” filled between our ice-breaking conversation and also broke the cold morning. Finally, That was our turn for Liberty Island Ferry.
As our ferry approaching the deck, the lady liberty seem to be enlarged. I could see very detail feature of the statue. The bronze rust on the light green statue reflected the wave of the river shining throughout the Hudson Harbor.
The liberty lsland is a little island where used to be a jail. My mom and I walked around the statue, took pictures and helped others taking pictures. I didn’t know since when I started being particular on taking pictures. In order to approach the certain angle, I had to kneel or even lie down on the ground. It seemed to be rediculus but I did put something awesome in my SD memory card beside traditional people-in-the-middle pictures.
You know, sometimes people feel unexplainablly touched when they stand beside something monumental. I felt the same thing while I realized the statue was too tall that everything near her range would just being covered by her shadow. Her face and her eyes were looking in the same direction firmly. That remindered me that she has been standing there for hundreds of years. Certainly not everybody can do that. If she could feel, sh must be really tired.
After the visit of the statue, we were ready to go, meanwhile the police started dispersing the crowd, I didn’t know the reason but we just went rapidly to the harbor back to the ferry. The ferry started and brought us back to the urbanizec real world. Well, 3 o’clock afternoon, my heart were still throbing.

Ma Mam Mia

Located in the downtown New York City, the Broadway is known of its Broadway Show. Since 18th century, the New York City has been the center of American theatre. Many familiar dramas such as Chicago, Phantom of Opera and Cat are all come from Broadway.
It is my first time to be in New York City, the most imagine for me is not the tall buildings and busy people. In contrary, I was expecting the Broadway Show. Theatre can usually present a culture concern rationally. A player on the stage can present a family or a shadow of a society. A conflict and a climax can also express the mood of people and the movement of the society. The stage and props can also show the art and economy of a nation.
Couple weeks before the trip, I checked the Internet for information of Broadway Show ticket. When I saw the price, the first thing came to my mind was “Taiwanese Headache” which my mom always made fun of me because I didn’t like to spend money, but after my theatre teacher who lived in New York before suggested me to try if I could find the half price ticket online, I finally found out an acceptable price. A little asks could save me hundred bucks.
The show we saw was “Ma Ma Mia” which had been played in Taiwan before but I hadn’t had a chance to see it. The Ma Ma Mia is talking about a young girl has no daddy. Before her marriage, she wanted to find her father and accidentally read her mother’s diary about her three former boyfriends. She sends the invitation to each of “father candidates” to here wedding. She also needs to figure out who is her real dad among three men. The story is happened in the Greece, a romantic and mythic state
First time appreciating a formal show, there was nothing could cover my curiosity and happiness. Mom and I lined up for the show in front of the Winter Garden Theater on the Broadway. We were all excited and expecting to see the show. Entering the performance hall, we saw many people wore formal clothing and looked like ladies and gentlemen walking around and talked with each other elegantly. The spotlight and the elaborate architecture constructed an atmosphere of beau monde.
The show started with a happy girl sang about how happy she was to get married. She invited her cousins, aunts and her “dads”. Her mom was a hard-working money lover. She sang the song “ Money! Money!” in the very cute way. Other flat characters and dancer gathered together and tried to hook the audience as the money hooks mankind.
The girl’s fiancé was an employee who had a strong infatuation with diving and fishing. The night before wedding, he even went to diving with his buddies. The girl’s aunts were totally different. One of them was a mammon, and the other was expedition. Three fathers had their own personality too. They were successful businessman, explorer and normal person. In addition, there was always a strong single parent momma. They tried to find the perfect match with each other on the crazy little island. How “Ma Ma Mia” it was
Bowing, the certain slowly fell as feathers. That was a great night with my momma. A good theatre always reflected a deep part of people’s mind, which wasn’t expose too much. In the final scene, the girl decided to let her mother being her father. Mother always support and love children. I love my mom and glad that she cam come.

My Dream Land MIT

Since I was fifth grade, I have had a strong interest on engineering. In our daily life, everything is based on engineering whether it is a giant building or just a piece of chocolate. Engineer is the brain and the human of human civilization.
I remember when I was child, my mom gave me toys such as playing block, which I need to think and create. My sister and I liked to create new stuff. Sometimes we combine many different kinds of toys to make a new shape or a new function; even we try to do ‘’surgery’’ on my sister’s Barbie doll. Later in the kindergarten, we still like to create.
Since 2003, my life had been full of scientific research project. My first long-term project was to analyze the principle of fluid dynamics in order to make an efficient aircraft. Since very early, I have realized and learned the spirit of science and the way of science such as teamwork. Science had been my interest and ambition through my academic life.
Maybe it is too early to establish an aim, I am still ambitious to make contribute my life on science and industrial, and my aim is to universalize and graduate replace the gas-consuming society. That will be my goal!
MIT had been the top engineering school for a long time. Professors and students have been inventing the new technology and create a new world day by day.
Located in Cambridge in Boston in, MIT is next to downtown Boston, Charles River and Harvard University.
In the morning of my first trip to Boston, we went to the MIT on the local subway system T. I had campus tour that day but I almost missed it because the campus was so big that takes me hours to figure out how to get to the other end. In the rush hours with my mom, we took a glance of MIT’s landscape. State Media laboratory center lied on the corner of the Greek style old main buildings with a modern face and impressive shape. The great dome of the Barker’s library was facing the downtown Boston across from the Charles River which is gorges but also harmonious with the trees and sky. Walking through the campus was other kinds of joy.
The campus tour started with hundreds of high school students and their worried parents at noon. In the crowd, most of them were oriental face and the rest of them were local American. They were all looked similar somehow. Maybe they are all nervous but curious about the school they were looking for. I glanced upward the great dome of the right wing of the whole building. The indirect light on the concrete surface reflected tender brightness but also create an awesome atmosphere.
The leading guide led us to the student center across from the busy intersection. Around the corner, there was the modern theater consisted by 3 main frame. It sounded like these 3 frames, which looked like unbelievable, supported the whole construction. The student center was a busy place. Student come for lunch or just grab and go. Beside the dining area, there was a big Olympic standard size swimming pool with bright lighting and great audience seats. As Mr. Pepper in his book Creative Factory: MIT “ Swimming half hour is the best way to relax.” The swimming pool probably will be my favorite place to go when I feel stress.
After the right wing, we went to the opposite side of the campus. We passed the tallest building known as “The Green Building” in MIT. Each year during the Halloween, the student will use the nitrogen liquid freeze the pumpkin and drop them from the top of the building, which are about 30 floors. Sounds cool, doesn’t it.
Suddenly after we passed two layers of glass screen, there lied a great big building. Maybe I should not say “a”, it was actually a pile of buildings known as State Center. In the front of the building, it looked a section of the airplane and the rest of orange building was just lying in random directions without any support. I doubted it would support itself well, but it seemed to be all right. Maybe that was the feature of MIT and MIT beavers, crazy but accurate awesomely.
We came back to the Endless alley, the sunshine came though the every glasses screen of every windows. In the end of the alley, we got out of the building. Facing us, there was the view of the Back Bay area of Boston. The tallest building was Hancock hall and the on prior to it was Prudential Center. Below the city, Charles River brought the spirit and the duck for this city.
In the opposite side of the Charles River, the Great Dome known as Barker’s library dignifiedly raise straight up on the bank. Wow! That is the temple of the industrial science to me. The great building was written “ Massachusetts Institute of Technology”. Although every letters ”U” looked like “V”, I could recognize it right away. After the campus tour, I came back to the Dome, took pictures and admire how import to me to see this spiritual creation. I was touched and briefly talked with the building; I kneel down, touched and felt the concrete ground. The whole building graduate became a part of my heart and my soul. I guest it was one of my homes, the home for me to struggle and to persuade. I kissed the ground with my skinny lips and quickly stood up. Meanwhile I knew that was where I should belong. Yeah! That is where I belong. I think now my aim is clear enough and close enough. It doesn’t matter if it is hard to enter the school. As Master Cheng Yang said,” If you have well, the power to achieve it will come with it.”

The first experience of tractor

Sorry I haven’t shared something recently since I was too busy on swimming tournament and my family’s coming. Those were all raining days. The low pressure had just passed by the east so we got couple week heavy rain. Actually, I love rain and I still remember when I was in Hue-Lien for junior high school, every single day in summer, I was expecting the heavy rain with lightning after the sultry morning. Virginia, in fact is not that humanity than Taiwan though it still close to the Atlantic Ocean.
The rain always washed the earth and the air. I think that is why I love the atmosphere after a heavy rain. The air always emits some grass smell and soil odor. Also, the soil became very soft and full of earthworm. Yeah! That is the sign of life and our young mother nature.
Since last month, we had started germinated many kinds of seeds in Agriscience class. Now, those little babies were all germinated with a little or a big sprout and couple leaves, reflected with the vivid sunshine. Our green house seemed to be too crowded to expend the plantation so our teacher Mr. G decided to move the seedling out and plant them into the ground after the frost season and even some of cold crop can go out first.
Yesterday afternoon, we went to the garage for tractor. I didn’t know how strong the tractor is when I first saw the light-green John Deere trade mark but after Mr. G operated it, the engine started groaning like a water buffalo. My Japanese friend J jumped on the tractor first. Mr. G taught him how to switch gearshift and use and speed the engine. He drove to the school’s backyard and stopped it. We helped Mr. G to install the steel plow on the back hook of the tractor. That thing is obviously heavy. We barely installed it and saw the tractor just gently lifted the whole plow. Amazing!
I drove the tractor back to the school garden. I didn’t know I was able to control that green beast. I push the bar, speeded the engine and then pull my foot back. The tractor then went forward slowly. As I pull my foot back, the tractor suddenly started running.
It was excited to drive the 1 yard-diameter-wheel vehicle in the muddy road. Although I was just a beginning tractor driver, I still tried very hard to control the tractor but sometimes I couldn’t really see what it in the front. Actually, I almost hit the school mailbox in a corner. I thought I would crash it with 1 inch.
When we arrive the field. Mr. G taught us to plow the land. He drove cross the field and put down the steel plow in the end of the field. While the tractor was driving forward, the plow behind started tilling the ground. I meant the plow was really big and can easily flip 1.5 feet deep of soil. Almighty technology.
Mr. G let me try to plow the land. I didn’t feel that nervous than my first driving. Instead of that, I just tried to do things like my teacher. On the right hand side of my seat was the control of the plow. If I push to the end, it will leave the plow, but I just drop the plow into the ground, shift the gearshift to the backward and pull my foot on gas pedal. The tractor smoothly tore the ground behind me without any noise. As the technology developed everyday, it changes our way to live, produce and consume rapidly. How people use the technology properly is an important issue. It is a good experience to get closer to the really applied technology.

PYSA Swimming Champ

Since October in last year, I have been swimming for YMCA Stingrays Swim team. During the spring season, I have joined many swimming meets won couple times. In the end of the season, my coach Ms. P invited Vini and I went to a YMCA Championship of Virginia. That was my pleasure to participate this great experience.
The meet was located in the Bedford where the World War One Memorial was. The day after noon, Ms. P took us to the Bedford. The Bedford YMCA Swimming pool was a 6-lane pool. Hundreds of people crowded in the rest area. I got a booklet of the list of events. Totally, we have 124 events. I had 12 events totally, the meet last 3 days. What a big meets. I couldn’t wait to swim!
My first event was 200-yard freestyle. Maybe I was a little bit nervous when I divided into the water, the water was extremely cold. Despite I couldn’t adjust the water temperature in the first lap, I still swam very hard trying to get abreast with others. Finally, I finished 200 yard. Good thing that I wasn’t the last one but my explosive force of my kicks was still needed enhanced. Later, I had 100 Individual Medley (Free style, Breast stroke, Back stroke, butterfly). I was doing pretty well. Although, I wasn’t very good at butterfly and backstroke but I could catch up by my breaststroke. I ended the first day with so-so performance but I knew the most important session for me was the second day.
The next day, I got up in the early morning, had a great breakfast and ready for the coming events. Afternoon, in my first entire breast stroke event (50 yards breaststroke), I knew according to the each seed times of my competitors, I was the fastest in my age group so everything I did was just helping myself to calm down and relax. I was humming the song “ You are my sunshine “ right before diving into the water. My body smoothly penetrated the surface of the water, made the first stroke and the next. I tried to not to breathe to much in order not to slow down the speed so since couple months ago, I started training myself doing proper strokes without too many times of breathe. Also, the affect of each breath was a critical point. Since my first training, Coach, K taught me to swim 25 yards continually without breath. Although that was really hard, I have done many times. Another critical point was the turning and the first push. Ms. P taught me to count “ Apple Peach Pumpkin Pie” to do the first push and then “ Strawberry Shortcake to do the first kick. In the training, I could slide in the water for almost 10 yards before starting swimming. 41 seconds wasn’t too long. My both hands touched the side of the pool and stop the automatic timer. I wasn’t the first one in my heat but the first one in my age group. Also I broke my record by 3 taking off 3 seconds.
I also swam relay for my team. I was good at breaststroke so each time I always catch up others by breaststroke but if I swam freestyle, I was the one slow down the speed. As Ms. P said, most of the times, swimmers separated into 2 different kinds. One was good at breaststroke and butterfly; the other was freestyle and backstroke. Maybe I should make my breaststroke better and better. The national record for 100 yards breaststroke is 59.09 seconds and that will be my aim.
During the three days, we lived in Day Inn Motel. It was my first time to live I an American motel. Everything was fresh and fun although it was funny that I was too tall, the blanket couldn’t cover my feet. I thought that was the reason I woke up so early! I was satisfied with the motel breakfast. I could get cereal, waffle, bread, biscuit and juice from the breakfast bar. It was very important for athletics to have a great breakfast.
In the end of the meet, I even became a timer for my brother. I had timing experience before but I was still excited. My brother had 500 yards free style so he needs to swim 10 laps. Every time when my brother did a flip turn, the water splashed all over my pants but I didn’t car and still cheered for my brother. After the heat, I pushed the stop button stopping the timer and also ended the whole championship.
I performance very well and got a golden medal and a bronze medal totally. Also, I made many friends of in my team and other team. It was great and substantial weekend.

My Strawberry!

My strawberry!
Since I have taken The Agriscience in the school, I’ve learned the knowledge about the progress of Agriscience and how to plant a plant. I couldn’t wait to cultivate my own plant. Fortunately, my host mom brought me to Lowe’s, a warehouse for every need of a house. I was expecting to plant strawberry because I through USA is a country where strawberry and cherry (which is very expensive in Taiwan) are cheap and easy to grow. Finally, I found out boxes of strawberry runners and picked up two kinds of strawberry: Tristar and Surecrop.
Replanting the strawberry from the box to regular pots wasn’t a difficult work but you need to handle it carefully. I carefully move my strawberry from the box, separate them and replanted into the pots though I caught cold and felt dizzy that day. Because each box has about 10 strawberry plants crowded in a small area, they didn’t seem to be healthy when I planted it. Physically, they pretty weak then. I separated them into 3 boxes watered them and put in my host mom’s garden room. Supposedly, I could have my first harvest during May.
Everyday, I came back from school and walked into the garden room checking my baby strawberries. Since the first day I check them, they grew awfully fast. Couple days later, they seemed to adjust the new environment completely. A week later, some of them seem to be 3 or 4 inches tall. Now, I have to put them under sun in the most time of the day to prevent they to be too leggy. My host mom taught me how to water them as they need. Too much or too little are not good for them. She took my hand and put on one of her plant. I felt the top soil is really dry and definedly need some water so we water them. To water the strawberry, I need to use the same logic too.
My said she will teach me how to strawberry short cake when I harvest. Normally, strawberry is for eating freshly. Some of friends like to eat strawberry with yogurt and cream or eat with cake. I purely just want to top the strawberry on my daily cereal bowl.
Strawberry is a romantic plants. As my host mom said “ it has the most beautiful flower among the fruit plants.” It is also excited to me cultivate and take care of a plants with love and expect. Day by day, the strawberry grows taller and taller. When will I have Ruby-strawberry?

Puppies!

These days have been cold and windy. Actually, it made me a little homesick because of the weather. I remembered during the winter of Taiwan. We have monsoon from the northeast. The cold air carries water vapor from the sea can really make me feeling cold as it enters my body. While the cold weather was driving me crazy, our family had really good news. Our Joonburg, the blue heeler girl had Puppies!
The afternoon of February 6th, Joonburg had the first puppy that is a boy. Couple hours later, she had another one who is a boy too. Unfortunately, one of the puppies died before it was born but in the late evening, we got another boy. The next day, which was Chinese New Year, we had another one, but again, one of them just fell asleep and never woke up. Totally, we had two puppies. One with big spot on the eye called ”Shiner” and the other one called ”Breezier”. Viva!
We were all excited about the new lives coming. Since 2 and half months ago, weeks. At the start, they just stayed away from each other. When they touched each other, they would just bark and still had not right chemical. After the week, we moved them to the neighbor’s pen to see if they would mate in the different place. Neighbor Tart separate them in the different place and couple days later put them together to see if they would miss each other. Anyway, they didn’t seem like they like each other so we had no choice but gave up.
Two weeks later after she came back home, we found out her belly growing bigger and bigger day by day. We were so happy and looked forward to see what will the puppies look like. There came a question, we didn’t know whose puppies father. Actually, Joonburg had three chances to get pregnant. The first guy was the one who is living in the third paragraph in this article now. The second guy was our little boy Ret Butler, the Pomeranian. We freed him in order to chase the deer away from eating our plants and he was a really naughty boy. He likes to urinate on everything to reasonably declare his territory but he had a strange habit. He liked to smell and even licked on Joonburg buttocks. In fact, we saw him being able to make Joonburg lying down so we didn’t underestimate this boy at all. By the way, another guy was Neighbor’s golden retriever. Once a while, Joonburg unusually sneak out of the property and came back couple hours later. Maybe she was dating with her boyfriend.
Finally, everyone wanted to know whose is it badly. Can you imagine how the mixture of a blue heeler and a Pomeranian look like?
During Joonburg childbirth, our host mom had a touching experience. She saved one of those puppies that are alive. When she found out the second puppy was born, she quickly knew the puppy had problem to live, she was calm and tried to help the puppy. She uses her hand and blew air into puppy’s tiny mouth and pushed his teeny-weeny ribs. I am a student of lifeguard but I never knew how to do CPR for doggie. As I said, it was a state-in-arts ”high technology”. I was happy to see a saved life.
Life is always cherished and holy. I am glad I can sit here and tell you a story today because of my mom and my dad. Maybe somewhere in the future, I will have my own ”puppies (babies)”. I must be a good dad!

The Art Reception in Longwood Center of Visual Art

The Art Reception in Longwood Center of Visual Art
My host mom is a professional artist participates in many kinds of local art program and group. Fortunately, our local university, the Longwood University had established an art center for art exhibition or artist meeting. Every seasons, they have regular reception for the new coming art works. I am glad that I have the pleasure to participate this reception for mind and appetite (Actually I cannot wait!).
After swimming training, Vini and I walked to the Art center. On the way, the beauty of this charming little town came to my eyes. Farmville used to be a downtown for farmers shopping and gathering together. Since 1839, the Longwood College in Farmville has trained thousand of teachers for basic education and higher-level -occupational training personnel. Couple years ago, Longwood changed into the 4-year university with more resource and development. It has also brought the town lots of benefits on living quality and educational source. Obviously, the prize of the real estate has come up really quick. Lots of invest gives the town some public construction like the Art Center. It also makes the town classically elegant.
Although I was really hungry after swimming (the human mind is still operated by food), I was really excited and attracted by the art works. The topic of this season is the African Art From Permanent Collection. Though those little black native African masks were pretty cute but a little bit scary, I still loved the rural African wild atmosphere among that masterpiece.
But, actually the most thing catch my eyes was a assembled sculpture ” The Higgins’s Patent Headache Machine” by Richard C. McClintock. It is consist by several fancy gears in a church-like building. Beside the main machine, there is a little house ironically called “ the sitting house” and an old man with a ball head sitting under a big hammer, which is the end of the machine. When you rotate the handle of the base of the machine, it operates the whole machine and finally gives the man a big strike on his smooth head.
I like the idea and the constructional style and skills of the machine. It makes me laugh because I believe every busy people in this industrial and urbanized society is building his or her own patent headache machine. I hope I can stop build mine. Thank Mr. McClintock. He reminder me the fact that my machine is almost finished.
The gears were really fascinating for me. I took about 30 pictures and videos in every angles of the view of the machine and tried to figure out how it operates. My” special” behavior finally became a part of the artwork. People were interested about why this crazy boy stands around the sculpture for half hour with a camera.
Of course, the emphasis of the reception naturally felt on those delicious foods. On the big table, there were salad, fruit mixed, tacos, pastries, cheesecake, cocktails and chocolate-coated strawberry. Several servers shuttled gently among crowd with plates of beautiful pastries. I cough the moment and took the picture of this server with a big smile. I hanged around among people, artworks and food happily with the relaxed mood. Life is art, isn’t it?

The Outer Bank beach

That was a midnight while I arrived the beach of North Carolina. The tiredness overcame me, through I still help camp staff to unload the car. My eyes dimmed with sleep and my brain covered with impatient. After I carried everything, put them in my room and settle down myself, I realized this is my first time being to the Atlantic Ocean. I, a wild child from my wild island can hardly wait to see the ocean again. I walked outward the door, climbed on the deck of the house. Suddenly, the wind of the Atlantic blew toward me with roar and salt. At midnight, the waves of the ocean were still clear with bright moonlight. 100 yards away from the coast, the waves came slowly but bumped into the sand and made loud eco. Amazing grace!
Actually, I forgot how cold the coast was. Especially in the winter, walked with the wind is very crazy. So? I am a crazy young boy!
Tiredness calmed me down and let me fell asleep with the melody of waves.
The morning of the next morning, I got up before the sun, changed clothes and remembered to put my heavy coat. I couldn’t wait until I saw the dawn of the morning. I walked toward the balcony, open the French window. The wind of the morning gave me a big hug and a big kiss on my forehead. Frozen my tear on eyebrows and shucked my hair like a durian. A great eastern coast style “Buenos Dias”(Spanish good morning). Good enough! I better went into the house.
A few moments later, seagulls came to our balcony. They hovered around 10 feet above my head. The first seagull passed through the roof rapidly but the others flew through the roof relaxed. I could see their beak, tiny eyes, white belly and black tail. Soon, another cool wind hit the bird to other direction. They flew before my eyes and left a M-shaped shadow disappearing in the edge the sea. Standing on the balcony, I watch the seagulls until it was out of sight with happiness. My mom said there is a Native American tradition. If you look a hawk in the position above them and can able to see its back leather, it is a good omen for your health and fortune. Although I didn’t see the hawk, instead of that, a little fortune of a little seagull is good enough for one day.
All day long, the rain fell on the balcony, house and sand. The wave of the sea was still going on. After raining, several strangers dug on the coast and threw the san into the sea and yelled to the sea. An old couple walked on the beach with hand in hand. The man took out a branch from his pocket, draw a heart and wrote,” I love you.” on the soft sands. They took pictures with each other and together, then stepped out of my sight with the big heart left. I liked to watch people, so is the sea, but the sea is more tolerable than everybody.
The night came again. The moonlight spilled everywhere and the night like the day. The reflecting silver sand connected to the silver waves. The night was still cold and wet, but in my dream, there was a paradise called” Outer Bank”, the place with dolphins and pirates.

The Agriscience field trip to local tractor company

Farmville is a little town raised based on Farming industry. Farm is well known as the farming place and the “ Ville” is the meaning of Village in French. Every farmer around here usually bought the agricultural supply and equipment in the downtown. Also, the town itself is a crop distributional center. In the other word, we can say Farmville testify the growth of the farming society in the south side Virginia.
Since the 1944, there has been a tractor company in the downtown serving the farmer around here. Fortunately, we have chance to visit the company and learn more about the agriculture.
This afternoon, we went to the company. In this around 10 acres area, lay about 100 vehicles. Hunting jeeps, Motorcycles and tractors are all brand new and cool. The storekeeper led us pass through the motorcycles and 4-wheels jeep and motorcycles in the store. It is very popular in Virginia to play motorcycle called the “dirt bike”. Although I don’t like this kind of sport at all, those motorcycles are all very cool and fashion to me. Later, we went to the workshop in the company. There parked about 4 giant tractors on the jack. The diameter of the wheel is about 4 feet long. The atmosphere of workshop was full of gasoline odor so I couldn’t breath comfortably.
Although it wasn’t smell good but the workshop was really organized and safe. The storekeeper said that the safety of every employee is the top priority. It is really important. Usually, the basic workers are all college-graduated and well trained. It is not a cheap job in the US.
Also, the storekeeper showed us about the history of the agricultural machines. There were two most important people, one was John Deere who invented steel plow and the other one was Cyrus McCormick who invented reaper. Their inventions graduate developed to the tractor and combine today. Now, the USA doesn’t produce this kind of machine. The foreign corporations own most of companies and the Japan exports the most agricultural equipments. The world changes rapidly, day by day.
After the visiting, I receive a T-shirt as a souvenir. I really got many things in this trip. It let me know and experience more about how important and the agriculture and Agriscience is, even the today’s society.
In the end of the trip, we went to the Dairy Queen as a treat. Of course, the retails are the final result of the whole agricultural process. Eating is simply the answer. This afternoon, I enjoyed the happy day with sweatiness of the Dairy Queen’s Snicker Bizzurd

The Snowy dawn

No more cotton skyline,
No more earth walked toward me,
Though snowflakes falls still.

The morning came without any sunshine, suddenly, the cloud and the earth combined together with slowly rain. It confused me with the same color. The snow. Snow came to us, fell on the roof and landed on the freshly morning grass. As the fairy of winter came, she coated the land with her feather and silver hair. As soon as I opened my eyes, the whole universe came same to me. Like I came to heaven and the endless daydream. Now it comes true.
How Almighty the nature is, changed the usual house, usual tree and flowers and us, the mortal creature into the whole different world.
Irresistibly, I opened the door. There came the wind with a little mist of morning. I whispered” As usual.” But later I walked outward the porch and stepped on the soft and white snow. As in the dream, I felt I couldn’t know where the bottom was. Several steps later, I founded out that I was in the gorgeous winter palace. Snowy sloping driveway led me to the endless white land. As I walked through the trees, the oak branches with snow passed by my face. How frozen the snow is! Later I walked by the path in the garden. The spring was still going on but around the pond there were piled with snow. The pine tree I planted at the Christmas now became the real Christmas tree with real snow on it.
I took many pictures and enjoy the snowing hour and came into the house. In the way to the house, there was a small bush with little scarlet berry on it dressed with little snowballs. It let me a Chinese song” Seek plum flowers by snow”.
Far away, there was bell ringing all over the wood. There came our dog, the Red. Excitedly, he came with snow on his head and escape onto the porch. On the snow, he looked very pleasing and cute. After him, Kitty came to me trembling on the porch. They were both excited about the suddenly snowing.
I rested in garden room. Several birds flew across the house and landed on the birdfeeder for breakfast. Preeminently, there was a red bird stand in the crowd. I remembered my mom gave me a card with the same red bird on it. Soon, I took out the camera and binoculars, assembled them together and attempt to record this touching moment. While I just stepped out of the garden room, the red bird flew away and never came back. The gorgeousness always passes fast.
Afternoon was raining. The rain washed most of the snow or made them stick together. As we look back for the beautiful stuff in the pass, usually, it is gone already.
Cherish the every coming moment in our life!

The swimming team

The Swimming Team
Swimming is always my favorite since I have over came the fear of the water. I feel free like an astronaut when I am floating in the water. I like the water and wave pass through whole of the body. It is the natural massage. Also the speed in the water let me merge with the unexplainable power.
In the Fuqua School, I still keep my swimming skill and practice very hard to enhance my skills and stamina. I have joined our school team, “The Falcons” and the local YMCA swimming team, “The Stingray”. Everyday, I swim around 1 kilometer. It makes me have a regular exercising habit. Sometime, I want to take a challenge so I swim continually for 2 miles or more. I also join a “ Cross the English Channel Swimming Marathon” of the YMCA. I get to swim for 19 miles.
My coach is a patient and experienced teacher. She teaches me how to swim efficiently. I couldn’t do diving couple months ago. After she encouraged me try to jump into the water safely and smoothly, I tried many times to dive but like a cannon ball, I always splash over the place and hurt my belly. As a proverb says” Practice makes perfect”, I practice it everyday. I didn’t if it is because my belly becomes stronger for big crash or my diving skill is really better, I started feel better after diving. Gradually, I Started flying for couple yard and then entered the water. Now, I can accelerate myself since the deck, go into the water with a smooth curve in the air and start paddling after sliding for 25 yard.
The swimming team is like a big family. We have traveled to the other school for meeting. We practice together, laugh together and even sleep together in the activity bus. I made many friends in the team. They are all very good at swimming and friendly to me.
The latest meeting, we went to the Hargrave Military Academy for meeting. That was two hours from our school. On the bus, everybody crowded together and chatted. We arrived the pool and started warm up. The swimming pool has 26 lanes and the deep altitude. When I started swimming, I realized that the water is really powerful to make me floating. Sooner, the meeting started and I would have 4 events. I got to swim 500 yards continually in one event. Because it was the first time I swam in the large pool, I couldn’t realize the environment very well. I didn’t know which lane was mine so I spent lots of time on finding the lane. When I got the right lane, I wore my goggles in rush. While the second I jumped out the deck, suddenly I realized I wore the goggles upside down. Of course the rapid water took my goggles off so I stop in the other side and tried to put it back. I wasted lots of time on that. That was my most funny memory. Swimming is a great way to make your body natural and strong. Anyone can swim and it is not a dangerous activity at all when you go to the right place. To me, swimming is another way to social other people.

The New Coming Challenge

As a Chinese proverb says “ The little one (it can be a chance or a new idea) turns all. (一元復始)”, My life in the USA get to go to the other stage. The second semester comes. Like every step I made thought my whole life, The coming 5 months will be the other important era or even a turning point. New year brings new hopes and new chances.
I take Intro Theater, communication, Agricultural science and Creative writing this semester. This is the most fun choice I can take.
Theater has been the place I like to be for a long time since I met a teacher in the elementary school who was a member of The Paper windmill theatrical troupe(紙風車). This class is very fun until now (two lessons, 3 hours exactly). The teacher taught us how to be a good player. We get to learn to free our soul from our body and set opinions. To combine with the role you performance, you need to make your tone, blocking and attitude. It is a quiet challenging class.
As my Dad says “ Communication is a class for the whole life.” communication is like the second function of our mouth besides eating. I chose the class because I thought communication was technique stuff. In the class, we need to learn how to give a speech, go to an interview and a little bit businesses social skills. We have to do 8 big projects. Some of them are really cool. For example, you need to invite a well-known person in the town to give the class a speech or you have to go to a real interview in a university or a company. I think I can learn many things about that.
The agriculture science unexpected is not a class you don’t have many homework and exam. In the other hand, you get to do some project by using the multi-researching resource. Like my first homework is to find how many farmer and farms in your county, Virginia and the whole country. I spent two hours on it but did nothing. After that, I did it with my American friend who gave me some clue on searching the Internet. That was tired but the most fun part. I hope I can pass it.
The final class is the creative writing. Although I am an engineering person, I still have a sentimental mind and willing to express myself. The purpose to the class is to light up the fire of English writing and find out the beauty of the English literature. Through the mass writing and vast reading, certainly My English will improve a lot.
I enjoy the writing class. That will be fun.
The new semester, I expect myself to be more confident to talk to people and make my English natural like my Chinese. Also, I want to make myself opener and happier in the personality. The rest of the time in the U.S. is pretty important in my academic life. I will cherish every seconds I have and record it by camera and writing.And, of course I will post it on the blog. Welcome to visit my blog. Thank you for your support.

Dance in Richmond Mormons church

Remember last dance in October. I had no experience and nervous but still had the first dance in my life. To me, Dance is still a pretty sensitive activity, but fortunately, I was invited to the other dance again. This is my second time!
On the way to the Richmond, There were other teenagers in the car. I was pretty quiet at start. I tried to find some topic to talk but it was really had to find a topic to talk with foreign girls. Finally, We talked about the singer Avril Lavigne. Because I had listen couple of her songs so I could talk to them. I passed first challenge gladly.
When we arrived church, I was a little bit in the the friend who invited me needed to go to a meeting so Vini and I would have one hour to face strangers on our own. I didn’t want to be boring during the time so I walked around. This is a big church, which had many rooms and two big dooms. People were busy to prepare the dance. Once, I saw a man sat on a 3-people sofa. I sat next to him and started talk something. Finally, We talked very well. He is a fencing coach who had a daughter would be qualified in the National Olympic Fencing event. I met her daughter. She was not very tall but has a pair of spirited and keen eyes, wore a set of Chinese dress.
We had a good talking. She also guided me in the dance and taught me many things.
When the dance started, I tried to separate with Vini because it let me feel better and free to social with people signally. To become a friend of strangers was not a easy job, but I was fortunate to meet nice people and made many buddies. Those people were pretty like me (sort of geeks). Even, I danced with some of them and made many kinds of friend. One of them is the controller of music. I talked very happily.
In the middle of the dance, the friend who invited me came to me and danced with me. She taught me how to do the Waltz dance. Following the melody in she counted, my legs were still uncontrolled but I tried very hard to dance rightly and face her face. Finally, we danced happily without noticing other people’s feet. Later, I dances with other people and made other friends.
Unexpectedly, someone really amazed me. Before I came, my mom told me that I would meet the most beautiful girl in the world. I laughed at that and believed there was nothing there. Unfortunately or ironically fortunately, when I danced with a girl with oriental face, I watched her, fascinated. I didn’t know why but felt comfy to dance with her. Although my back and my palm hold on her waist were both swearing, I still tried to make a poised conversation. She was a Korean, fifteen years old and came here 2 years ago. That five minutes dance was still fascinate me until now.
At the midnight, my friend’s parents picked us up and sent us home. It was a really good night to sleep and make a good dream

German Traditional Christmas

Let’s get together and celebrate the 4th Sunday of advent with a German touch. Yes, it means you bundle up to enjoy some hot Gluenwein and apple cider outside in front of the fire. Like the real Christkindle-market in the streets of Munich, we will try to keep you warm and happy with some hearty food from the grill and steaming pots. Bratwurst and saucerkraut with soft pretzel. Stew with cornbread Roasted chestnuts.
Bring a Lantern to light up the place. It also helps to find your way back home after the 3rd Hunter’s tea, our specialty of house.
Last week before Christmas, we got an invitation from my host mom’s friend. Fortunately, we were invited to a traditional German Christmas dinner and party.
That was a windy and cold day. Before we went, Jackie gave me an early Christmas gift－a pair of gloves. Because today we will have party outside of the house, everybody wore as many clothes as they can. Her friend has a big farm with 150 sheep, chickens, dogs and peacocks. We arrived the house in the afternoon so the sun was still shiny. The sunshine passed through the branches among the old oak trees. The alternating black and white with a little big golden sunshine colored the grass like the fell leaves colored the land. How awesome it was. In front of this breath-taking beautiful atmosphere, I felt calm and comfy as an old farm boy……………………with sheep fecal stuff sticking under the bottom of my sneakers.
Entering the house, the host kindly took our coats and passed us a cup of apple cider (A kind of hot drink made by apple and spices). The hot fluid warmed me up really. Later, many people came with Christmas gift and a warm smile. Sooner later, our dinner started. We had a big pot of stew, which was served with southern traditional corn bread. The stew was a little bit spicy but delicious. Also, we had German juicy sausage with sour cabbage and pretzel. I liked the sour cabbage. It tasted a little bit like Taiwanese pickled cabbage. It was good to eat with salted sausage. For desert, we had German cherry and apple biscuit. The juicy fruit with crispy creamy biscuit was really fascinating.
After dinner, I sat with other people in front of the burning wood stove. The smoothly warm light made the whole room kinds of Christmas festival atmosphere.
Outside of the house, the full moon with moonlight spoiled upon the house and people. People hold their Hunter’s tea (a kind of mixed alcohol) and talked happily. I met many people who can speak a little bit Chinese. It made me a little bit homesick but also let me feel like home here. Moon and wind whispered around my ears “ Merry Christmas! Good night!”

Happy New year

3…2…1…Happy New Year! While the moment a big crystal ball touched the ground of the New York City, The New Year 2008 finally came. My friends and I shacked hand and Screamed with each other for this New Year. The atmosphere was full of happiness and wishes to the New Year.
This is my New Year party in America. My church here invited me to join the New Year Party. Since eight o’clock yesterday night, we gathered together for this moment. Like Potluck, everyone brought food and share with other people. We had many kinds of chips, dipping sauce, party salad bar, Twister (a kind of small cake with cream in it), cookies and drinks. Somebody also brought some games and cards. We played a game called “Apple-Apple”(you have to range the words in the red card and the words in the green card to make it making sense.). In the start of the party, I just watched football game on TV with my buddies. Later I met a Bryan who is from Texas and talked for a while. In the last 2 minutes of the year, my friend Wilson invited me to sit in front of the TV and counted down the rest of seconds. That was a interesting night.
Except fun and joy, the coming new year also means the new adventure of learning and cultivating. I appreciated I can study here for one year. With experience and confidence, I optimistically predict I will have a big growing and changing. In the new semester, I chose Theatre, Communication, Agricultural Science and Creative Writing as my new classes. I hoped I could get some fun and improve my English oral ability more. Also, I have a big plan of AYUSA book donations. We needed to collect some books for the kids in the countryside in Taiwan. I already had a good relationship with local church, school, community center and friends. I positively think that I can get some good books.
Reviewing the last year 2007, I am happy and proud of myself. In the second semester of the 9th grade(around Feb to June), I worked very hard and got many prizes. Especially, I got the 2nd prize of the science competition which make me feel ” Mission Completed” because I promise my friends in elementary school to join the competition. Also, I did much teamwork. With Josh, I did the thesis on Native American in the Latin America. That is a 10000 words- work. The most gratified thing is the exchange student program for sure. I could prepare the big test and interview by myself. Finally, Got the chance and the scholarship. 2007 is the head of “Era of good feelings” to me.
I am gratitude for the chances I had in the past and the coming chances in the future. Of course, there are always many respected people support me to do many creating and learning. I wish myself as a big tree growing and also preserving the experience and blessings in the growth ring for the coming challenges.