WONDERLAND

13 hours long journey sitting on a plane! Only those who has experienced it can tell the feeling. My mother told me to drink lot of water and go to restroom frequently in order to stretch arms and legs. However, I was sitting between two others, so it's quite embrassing to walk out and in.

I don't know how much days I need to rest before I can regain my energy!

(This entry is a amandment recalling my feeling that day:)

Two lectures, one writing workshop and the tour to Walmart and Short Pump crammed in one day. I can’t imagine a same busy day as today.

During the lessons, I try hard to grab every word form the professor. The morning lecture was mostly understandable to me, but the one in the afternoon really challenged my listing and vocabulary. It depressed me at first with long period of confusion but I gradually follow up the pace. The professor used a lot of big words I never knew, somehow I was a little bit discouraged.

The writing workshop turned out to be a great fun, with everyone painting the wall and ideas popping up here and there. I have never done such kind of activity back in China. It helps to gather ideas and encourages thinking a lot. The three instructors are cute! I look forward to meeting them again soon.

Getting the VCU Card is another tough process, which took a long time. However, seeing my smiling face a the Card rewarded me with great pleasure. I lately found out that I was wearing the same T-shirt as I wore when taking my Fudan Card. What a coincidence!

About the trip to Waltmall and Short Pump, just too many things to see. Two hours seems like a flash of time and we had to skip our dinner to save more time for window shopping.

Now I am sitting in front of the computer, terribly tired but totally happy. What’s going to happen tomorrow? I just can’t wait!

Fudan's library leaves me the impression of being very acient with broken books and shelves everywhere, the color of which was pale and faint. However, VCU library turned out to be bright and colorful, with beautiful pictures on walls of the first floors.

The tour around library proved to be interesting and exciting. I have always thought of librarian job as quite but beautiful, sitting in the sea of books and smiling at the people checking out books. Today’s tour backed up my theory, but added something more to my understanding of the job as a librarian. Working in the library can be both peaceful and vigorous!

Our guide Dan Ream created great fun during the whole trip by telling his amusing experiences while working in the VCU library. His passion for the library impressed me much. I even want to a librarian myself!

The different voice limit on each floor seemed very special but reasonable. And the audio video service on the third floor is simply cool. All the machines there look so professional! I hope that I can have a try on one of them!

I have a library-mania since the first thing I would like to see on arrival of a college is the library. VCU establish a fine image by its well-equipped library. I quite agree with Mr. Ream that the time one need to find the library link on a university’s webpage implies the level of that university.

Thanks to “Dream” for such a wonderful tour!

The micropage raised great curiosity

Such a large collection!

This is Alice suffering from severer Potter-mania. My symptoms become extreme serious when a latest edition of the Harry Potter is to be released or a Harry Potter film is on show. And today is the day. My fellows couldn't bear my passion; all kept a certain distance form me.

The Imax Dome is cool. The curve screen makes the special effect of the shining splash of the magic curse and the CG image of Demonter even more splendid. It’s totally different to see a film in a theater from at home.

Since the 5th book of Harry Potter is too long, the film has to be abridged to fit the time limit, the plot has some inevitable flaws, but the visual effect generates enormous impact! Those who haven’t seen Harry Potter before was fascinated also by it.

Harry's 5th year adventure began with the duel with Demonter and end in the death of Sirius Black. Although having read the book before, I still burst to tears when Sirius fall at the green light of Averda Curse. As the final book of the Potter Serial will be on sale soon, I could wait to know the final fate of Harry, Herminon and Ron. I cross my fingers for their final survival.

The sudden rain after the film turned the experience much more exciting. We four rushed to Mitchell’s car, finding another two left there, so they had to sit in the back of the car, which turned out to be a wonderful deed.

Thanks to Mitchell for the ride and the offer to the concert, although the rain spoiled it at last.

"Two things awe me most, the starry sky above me and the moral law within me."
---- Kant

The last several American days kept me fully engaged and provided me with plenty of fun by the visual enjoyment of IMAX and the shopping pleasure of Short Pump.

However, today, the peaceful night sky and the twinkling star helped me to regain my calmness and generate some of my thoughts. It's so lucky to be born a planet full of life in the vast universe, and able to acquire such large knowledge of our surroundings. Looking at the star map and amazed how human-beings have learnt!

Later this night, we had a long talk with our faculty, Mr. Xue. His life experience enlightened me a great deal. Although he narrated his painstaking process of studying in a most plain way, I could still feel the same as he did that time.

Here in the Richmond located in America, hundreds of mile away from my homeland, I am not alone at all. Not physically (cause the various activities), not mentally (cause so many considerate fellows around me).

I know I’m being a little sentimental since it’s the middle of the night. When all the brightness faded away with the moonlight, all there’s left is the profound thought in you deep heart.

Good night! Wish all of you a good night sleep.

There is so much to say about the trip to Busch Garden that I have to choose two scenes, trying to provided you with some insight of my trip. Although the funfair was really cool and worth writing, I still want to spare one entry for some emotional feelings.

The most impressive thing I experienced in Bushch Garden do not involve funfair facilities, but an old and kind shop assistant at a German souvenir shop. He was at his fifties, with some wrinkle beside his eyes, making him looks very gentle. The time I met him, he was standing in front of a wall of grandma clocks. Two little girls was standing beside, wondering what will happen if one clock approach 2 o'clock.

"Well, we will see it then." The shop assistant said in a slow and tender voice, pushing the the clock hands to 2 o'clock and immediately a little bird came out of the small window on top of the clock, singing a beautiful song.

Both girls laughed at the scene and I was simply moved by the shop assistant's deed. So considerate, so harmonious! It means little to adults, but a great many to the kids, especially when they recall later when they grow up, that pleasant afternoon.

The shop assistant keep on making every clock knocking, and the little girls together with me, enjoyed the performance of different clock. I smiled to him for appreciation, while he smiled to me in return. I felt true happiness!

"All we do is waiting, screaming and waiting to scream again."

That's exactly what we did in Busch Garden. Although most people tried at least one roller-skate, none of our group members dared to do so. However, we did do some activities which is already scary and exciting enough for us to scream.

"Escape from Pompell" was our first target, Inside the Pompell City, fire invaded every wall and corner, generating great heat as if my skin would burn to ashes. Rocks fell down frequently, missing me sharply. Finally we approached the exit: a tube full of water and we rushed down to the pool. We survived at last! and it was great fun.

We also tried the Flying Machine, the Battering Ram and Da Vinci's Cradle, all of which tightened you into the seat and did their best to rock you, making your heart beating fast, blood pouring in to head, etc.

A shop assistant told me that a Season Pass enables you go to Busch Garden more frequently and have discount on souvenirs. How I wish to live in America and go to Busch Garden every weekend!

Later that day, we arrived at Virginia Beach. After checking in the hotel, we rushed outside to the seaside and streets at once. The street was so crowded that we often had to stop, letting others pass first. The shops sold a great many beach stuff and we could hardly see them all.

When we were walking down the Atlantic Street for some sight-seeing, we were attracted by two boys playing guitar and singing songs on the pedestrian. We stooped, leaned against shop window and listened to them.

They are young, judging from their appearance and the shy smile on their faces. They looked beyond their audience rather tan straight into the audience's eyes. Probably, they haven't performed for long, maybe only one or two times, which made them look a little bit timid.

However, their voice was nice and gentle, and the music was good. moreover, They tried really hard to sing their songs and play their music, putting all of their emotion in to what they were doing. When they sang the line of "Life is too short, my friend", I knew they mean it heart and soul.

That night, we returned very late, although one of us suffered from cold. "How nice it is to play their favorite music without any worries at the beach!" My roommates signed.

I couldn't believe by ears when the front desk girl knocked on my door, telling me that "Ron Corio" was waiting for me at the GRC gate. I rushed down the stairs to grab my stuff, and ran all the way to the gate.

He did told me in emails that he would return the former day, but I had never imagined he would go to visit me in such a fast speed. I was simply trying to figure out a day for a visit to his home when he suddenly appeared, without my being prepared.

It was so pleasant and comfortable to see my dear professor standing there with the usual tender smile and relaxed gesture. He looked so vigorous that no traits on him suggested the suffering of a long flight just a single day before. "Hi, Alice." He waved at me, which seemed so familiar, together with his shining white hair and deep eyes.

We shook hands hardly and tightly, laughed at each other, saying "So nice to meet you" from deepest of heart. Then comes the short pause of silence, which is common after an extremely excited emotion. He taught me three English classes back in Fudan, and I find him like Aberforth Dumbledore and I am Harry Potter.

"What kind of music do you guys like?"
A lot of interns would ask this question when we sit on their car, which gave me the impression that American are all fans for music.

I went to the open concert on Byrd Mountain with Ron, Mr. Xue and Fillips. The large crowd of people sitting on the ground with food and drink proved my assumption. They do love music a lot!

Ron told me that the guys on stage were playing a kind of "Blue-Grass" music which I can not recall originated from where. The singer looked very professional since he told jokes during intervals of the music, which make the atmosphere of the concert lively and agreeable. I like one of the song called "The ocean have us all" which was sung in a low and thick voice with a little sad emotion and some affection feelings.

It was also happy to see Ron meeting so many old friend on this public concert. "Ron has always be a sociable person", one of his friends told me. I saw him hugging with his students and neighbors.

"Has he come back from Russia?" An old lady asked me when she returned to her seat next to me and saw, to her surprise, Ron was actually sitting next to me, talking to his student.

When it grew darker and the moon climbed up, some people lit a candle with quivering flame and faint light, which seemed very poetic to me, together with the nice treat from Ron and the joyful moment of reunion.

I felt so content and grateful!

Home visit has always being one of my longings when coming to America, since it will provide me with the insight into the common life Americans lead. The trip to Cassie's home realized my dream.

We went to Cassie's apartment at first. It is not large, but very pleasant, although a lot mess piled on the floor since her roommate is moving out. We saw a "Bon Appetite" picture on the wall to the kitchen, which fits the kitchen very well.

Then we went to several malls and shops with Cassie and her roommate. We played the latest game from Disney maybe, using remote to control bowling and hit the target. The feeling was a little bit weird. I can never get to unreal or electronic things. We also dropped in a shop called "Dollar Tree", which sells all goods by only one dollar, something very similar to that of Shanghai.

Finally, we arrived in Cassie's home, a large house located in rural area. A great many ceramic-made frogs welcomed us at the front yard. Cassie's parents own a cozy and comfortable house, with two huge dogs and a pure black cat. Each of their rooms has colorfully-painted wall and photos arranged in a large frame. That is new to me cause I never did that back in China. The parents placed four frame on one wall of the kitchen, putting the high school graduating picture in the frame.

We sited in a "hotspot" for a long time, enjoyed the water bubbling and waving. Than all of us got an ice-cream from an ice-cream van, whose owner, a young lady smiled beautifully.

The dinner is the part I enjoyed most of this home visit. We ate roast potatoes, steak, and mushroom, with fruit bowl and cakes for desert. I love the potatoes with cheese, butter and bacon, such a different but wonderful taste! The steak was cooked very by Cassie's father, and the mushroom by her mother. Cassie is a lucky child!

We chatted a lot during the dinner, talking about topics form China and America to boyfriends and dating. The strange things is that we don't feel uncomfortable when talking with somebody elder than us. Cassie said that her parents treat her equally, respect her and they communicate a lot. I believe that is the reason.

The day was exhausting, since we played a lot with the two dogs (They kept on asking for petting with the poorest face) and talked and laughed throughout the dinner. However, I had never felt that happy.

Thanks to Cassie and her parents and her roommates and her pets and all that she provided us with at that wonderful day!

What kind of people can manage to serve as a president, design his own house, master five foreign languages and still maintain interest in the latest technology, astronomy and other fields?

The answer is Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States. He must be a genius! The tour around Monticello provided me with some general idea of Thomas Jefferson, his character, his life, his habit, etc.

I find it hard to imagine how a former president, so busy with his politics and his country, could spare such a lot of time to design the beautiful white house on top of Monticello. Every measurement has been carefully calculated, some of which were so precise that they can not be achieve during the construction. He did not only design the rough building of Monticello, but every detail ranged from the division of the yards to a single door for transporting food and drink.

The guide said that Thomas Jefferson was fond of new technology, that he use a lot ideas gained from his trip around the world to decorate his own house. The huge clock in the living room, the wine transporter (I forgot its name) in his bed room all originated from his trips to Europe.

It is awesome to think about Thomas Jefferson, after he passed away so many years, that he really exited in the world once to have made such great achievements. The trip to Monticello must be a unforgettable one among all that I have done in American.