Blog for qint

Key Word: The Legacy of Canoeing
Yesterday we finally went canoeing though without the promised stars in the sky because it's in the day.Because of the paper stuff, we had a awefully long morning and had to get a quick meal. That's the biggest mistake I've made that day. I didn't know how long the canoeing is and how demanding it is. It was when we were already exhausted that they told us it's just 1-3 of the journey, which beat me instantly. I didn't know I was supposed to bring enough water and food to provide energy for the tiring journey, etc. There were so many "I didn't know"s, which left me totally unprepare, physically and mentally. The results include my right hand, which I used a lot during the canoeing, is still sore.
I guess it will be a long time before I will ever be in a the kind of boat on which I have to count on myself to move it in the river. The total miles I've done that horrile afternoon must be more than the sum of the miles I'd done in several journeys.
But, when I looked back, I really started to admire my self. One won't exactly know what it really feels like less they try it. And once one's made it, it not a big deal any more. I started to take pride in myself for accomplishing the mission impossilbe. This experience may seem boring to outsides, but the people involved, including me, can learn a lesson which will never be easily forgotten.
Always keep doing.

Key Word: Jazz
VCU is famous for its art department. It's such a great honor to attend these inspiring lectures and meet such passionate artists. Though I'm not a art student which means I have a vague idea about what art is in the real essence and can't appreciate art very well, but I can tell how professional and dedicated they are.
What impresses me most is the live jazz class. Actually, I've never been to a live Jazz concert. And this lecture seems to me as a mini concert. The professor and "his band" showed us how Jazz various and how it goes. They also displayed different styles of music like bossa nova, which is my favourite.
I assumed Jazz is in a soothy, elegant and happy tone. Jazz is anything but anger. But refering to the professor, he thinks Jazz blends these emotions together. And I asked Billy how he thinks of the tone of Jazz, he thinks it's bouncing and swinging. Incisive.

Key Word: Dilemma
How time flies. It is only a blink of eyes that we have stayed this long. I still remember how exciting I first came here and how I was amazed by every little beautiful house here. But now I am so used to there that I seldom lift my eyes to appreciate them. And the most dramatic change I find out about myself is that I start to love American styled food. I almost have the ambition to eat around the restaurants because there is little chance I might be here again in the foreseeable future.
But on the other hand, I am more and more turned on by the fact we will go to New York soon. All of us start to plan our tour around New York by searching on the Internet and asking close friends, trying to tailor a perfect and most efficient plan which means wasting no single minute in New York city. How can two days ever be enough? There are so many things to see and so many things to figure out. Nobody is an expert at New York. I am a little bit worried about how things are gonna work out. A slightest mistake of timing might ruin a whole day's plan. And we have no traffic means other than our legs. I guess I can make up my hiking in New York...
O.K.. Complaints time over. Back to my topic. These two emotions basically contradict. Magically, they coexist well in my mind.
Who will beat the other?

Key Word: Excursion to Monticello and Charlottesville.
Finally, I learned how to pronounce the names of these two places after being there twice. I guess I still have a vague idea about most of the beauty of Charlottesville because I've only seen several streets and UVA. But I'm quite impressed by Thomas Jefferson's residence in Monticello. He's such a diligent and smart person. He personified the slogan of never too old to learn. He taught himself so many things which would still very difficult even with a tutor, He has such an extensive hobbies and manages to do everthing well. He's good at learning from other cultures. Thus, there are so many thing to see in his house. The more I stayed there, the more I'm surprised by his visions and thoughts. Residence tells a lot about a person's interest and character. The house is so charming. So is his life. Everything there has a long story to tell. That's what history stands for----- things to remember and to learn.

Key Word : Feel of Home
Though we have to miss the hiking trip, we still had a great time during our homevisit to Mr Reams' nice, cozy and comfortable big house.
He so nice and humerous, as we have found out before when he was giving us a tour of the library. Besides, he has such a harmonious and happy family. The doggy came to us as a big surprise. Everybody likes to be with her and fortunately, she seems to like us, too. The meals they served are so delicious that we like it better than anything we ate in the restaurant since we came here. I guess it's because there's a feel of home coming along with it. For how long haven't I eaten food my mother makes? At this point, I have to admit, I miss you very much, mum. I've always denied being a baby depending on her. O.K.. I am. It's until I'm thousands miles away from home when I realize how much I belong to that piece of land and how much I can't l am accustomed to the life there and how much I can't live without people far away on the other side of the planet.
Back to the point, we have a long, further and nice conversation with Dan's family. They have such a hard-working and smart son and such a kind and caring mother and such a happy and interesting dad. I can imagine how many laughters and how much joy and fun they had and will have in that warm family. When the dad's reading and the mother's preparing food, the son is diligently solving assignments and dreaming a big dream. Though nothing fancy and nothing dramatic happen, the simplest form of family relations toughes me the deepest. On vocations and festivals, they will drive a long way, sometimes even in turn, to drive to holiday
resorts to refresh themselves, which is very rare in a traditional family because both daughter or little sons and mothers can't drive, not to say have the mood of spending the holidays in a crowded, remote and strange tourist attraction. On weekends, they will do some community service or charitable and humanitarian activities to reward society. There are plenty of things to do, like taking care of the yard and the dog and cleaning the house and buying some groceries. They are so close to nature that they seldom feel alone and depressed.
That's a kind of life we are longing for. But we have to be pretty rich to realize our dreams. Why the expensive things are considered luxury and ordinary people can't get access to is because if the goods are not so scare and pecious, they are not luxurious anymore. And
people easily get it here in America as long as being a middle class. That's gap between the living standard, I suppose. But we are making steady progress. Someday somehow, we are gonna make it.

Key Word: Lecture
I've waited a long time for business-related lectures. Luckily, VCU invited many celebrities to give us lessons on commerce. I listened to their thoughts and come up with new ideas and perspectives. It's important to be open-minded and have international visions.
The lecturers shared with us their experiences and outlook on life, even some suggestions for adaption of American culture. What does it take to be successful? You need luck, of course. But it's obviously not the most crucial thing. Always bear in mind you have to work hard. Then you must be rewarded in a way. Expect some ups and downs. You have to pay the price sometimes. Never ever give up your dreams because interest is the best teacher. Follow your heart to keep pursuing excellence.
America offers great platform of individualism. Count on your self to clear all the barriers to promising future. There are plenty of romantic stories about how one change his life from scratch and all by his own efforts. There are so many heroes in American history.
Maybe this principle applies to everywhere in the world. Don't be jealous of others. Keep working. There will be a day when thing will go your way.