US life

At the moment, I am at home.
It is so difficult to say goodbye to the place which I had stayed for one month, especially the people there.
In the last week, we traveled through New York and Washington D.C.. We really had a good memory there.
New York is such a busy city, but a little dirty. Standing in the Time Square, I can feel the world's purse. It is a great place for shopping. What is strange is that all the shops in America close at very early time.We find a good brand that is H&M.
On the top of Empire Building, I can see the city clearly.
What I can not tolerate is the subway in New York. There are even mouse there, let alone the dangerous atmosphere.
......
Washington gave me a feeling that I had in Richmond, peaceful and significent.

In the afternoon, I revisit the family I had visited last time with Emma.

When we arrived, their cat was there. We are both afraid of animals, but Emma is braver than me and she decided to push the bell.

The cat strolled away, so I go upstairs and wait. It seems that nobody is at home except two dogs. Suddenly, I realize a terrible thing that the cat is coming. The more terrible thing happens that I am the target of the cat. She is walking towards me and I want to run, however I am shocked and can not move at all. I scream Emma's name, but she can't help. The cat still is walking towards me. She suddenly stops beside me, my leg can feel her fur. I feel terrible. I keep calling Emma's name and the cat begins to make circles around my feet, keep using her fur touching me. I am so frightened by her.
This is the most horrible moment I spend. I think I will die.
After a moment, she goes away and I am exhausted with my legs trembling and heart beating fast.
I quickly go away and she keeps watching us.
After we leave a message, we decide to go. On the way back to GRC, it dawns on me that the cat remembers me only. Because that time I went to their house, I touched her when Bailey was holding her with her arms, but Emma didn't. I am shocked by this great realization. That 's why the cat keeps staying around me, because she knows me. How interesting!
Though I am too frightened by the cat, I still feel happy that I am remembered by a cat.

I have bought a lot of presents for my relatives and I still need more. It is so tiring that I have so many relatives. We go to the Short Pump and I want to buy something in body-shop, for in the mainland of China, there are no kind of this shop. I'd like to buy some as presents to my mother and aunt.

We don't have much to do this week. Write paper and prepare for the trip to New York and Washington D.C. . I E-mailed my paper to John yesterday and he revised it very carefully and gave me a lot of advice. Thank you, John. I am so glad we have you as our intern. It is very nice to make friends with you. We all like you so much.
Actually, time is far from enough for the trip. We have so many places to go in such a short time. It will be a regret if we don't visit some well-known places.

We 'll take good use of the time.

P.S.: I am very happy at the moment, because just now in the library a student asked me some question, though I could not answer it. I am stupid? Why? That's because I feel I am now gradually becoming a part of the VCU. I have the feeling that I am a student of VCU. I am melting into it. I like that!

Shelley

Today, our schedule is pretty full.

In the morning, we have a painting lecture. The professor brings all his stuff to the room and is painting during the two hours. He tells us to be brave to ask questions during his painting and he can make it.
He is drawing his brother- in - law. At first, he just uses pencil to sketch a background on the paper, according to the picture he took before hand. It is not quite the same. However, he begins to add colors on it.
He is like a kind uncle. Because I sits just beside him, I have a nice talk with him. Discuss the talent and hard working. Know the reason that why he began painting and chooses it as his lifetime career.
He tells a story to us. Playing with matches, he and his brother was shouted by their neighborhood but they ignored her. As a result, the lady called the fire police. They were took to a fire station and had a tour inside it. When the tour finished, they were asked to paint what they saw in the fire station. Back home. they began to paint. But he did a bad job and his brother began to be his teacher. Soon, he could draw well. And their paintings were hung on the wall of the fire station, which made him extremely proud. He brought his friends to see his drawings. Years later, he became a professor in painting, meanwhile, his brother gave it up and became a truck driver.
Once his choice was strongly against by his parents. They preferred him to be an engineer, but he decided to hold on to his belief. He dropped his home and pursued his dream. I am envy of his courage. I ask him whether he would be regretful if he was not so successful as he is today. He smiles and says he won't for he likes making mistakes. He is engaging in what he likes and it has nothing to do with his success. I like his attitude towards life. I wish I could be him when I have to make a choice in my life.

In the afternoon, we have an acting lecture. It is so magical for actors.

In the evening, we enjoy the jazz a lot. Though I am not familiar with jazz, I still have fun.

By the way, at noon, I bought three cups in starbucks. They are really nice and cheap. I strongly recommend you if you want to buy something back as presents.

Then, I go to the Ucrops. And I find every time I go there, I will surely spend a lot of money. Most money I have spent in Us is for the food I eat, quite different from what I thought before.

Glad to say Terrence finally remembers my Chinese name. Great!

Shelley

I have been in America for more than two weeks and get used to the peaceful life here.

I have many first tries here.

This is the first time I cook for my meals. Even when I am in BFSU, I still eat at the dining hall. Since I came here, I have to prepare all the means I need. I begin to worry about my health. There was something wrong with my mouth and it hurt. Therefore, I went to Ucrops and bought a lot of vegetables and fruit. I began to care for my own health.
Though we can not do some complicated cooking here, it is still a new experience for me! I like cooking!
The day before yesterday, I cooked some pizzas in our oven and dropped them on the bottom of the oven. There were a lot of smoke running out of the oven and the most terrible thing happened, our fire alarm rang! It frightened us a lot. We opened the door and let the smoke out. We were waiting for someone running here and shouting at us! But nothing happened and the fire alarm stopped later.
What a terrible evening I spent and I would never forget it.

This is also the first time I go abroad, especially with no parents. I began to learn how to adjust myself to the new environment!
Fortunately, people here are very kind and friendly. We sometimes talk that actually we don't have the feelings that we are abroad and we look the people here as foreigners. That's quite strange.

I like to stroll along the street myself, enjoy the peace. Looking all kinds of people passing me, I'm tasting happiness.

I like to talk with people and exchange our minds. It is said that: two persons have to apples, even if they exchange the apples, they still have one apple on hand. But if two minds are exchanged, you have two minds in your own. That is the magic of human thoughts.

I like to see life through different perspectives. America seems so different to me from what I learn in China. When you really touch it yourself, you know what it is.

I like to take adventures, just as I like exciting games.

I like freedom just as I will never stay in the same place for a long period.

I like nature just as I will never be confined to a narrow place.

The more I get used to America, the more I like it. It will be so hard for me to leave this country. Surely, I will come back if my dream is still here.

During the lectures, I can tell the different attitudes towards historical events. Are they wrong? Absolutely not. They just think in a different pattern. No absolute truth exists in the world. I am happy that I can learn a different thought from our traditional ones. Maybe I won't accept it, but I surely will respect it!

Finally, I get touch with my families. They are all well. I can feel they are no longer worried about me like when I was young! They believe their little girl has grown up and she can manage things herself. They'd rather give their daughter wings to fly rather than hold her tightly for fear she would fail in the life. I love you, mom and dad!

I believe I can fly.....................................

Shelley

First, I'll quote some words to tell you what is Monticello.

Monticello: American Icon and International Landmark. Monticello, his plantation near Charlottesville, Virginia, was the center of Jefferson's world. The word Monticello in Italian means "little mountain". To understand Thomas Jefferson, one must understand Monticello; it can be seen as his autobiographical statement. Monticello was a house, an ornamental landscape, a farm, a plantation, a smell mountain, and a large and diverse community. It encapsulated the interests, talents, ideals, ambitions, dreams, and realities of one of the most complex and interesting members of the bold and creative group we know as the Founding Fathers. Today Monticello is the only house in America designated as a United Nations World Heritage.

Can you guess what it is?

Have a little rest!

The house and flowers!

It is the third house of Thomas Jefferson. A guide gives us a detailed lecture of this house. But to be honest, I don't quite like the house. I think maybe it is resulted from the cultural difference between the eastern countries and the western ones.
When I enter the house, I feel I am confined. The house feels small and narrow to me at some point. I like the house which can make me feel wide and eye-opened. So that's not my taste.
Because almost all the things inside are original ones, they don't allow us to touch anything nor take pictures. They are afraid maybe we will destroy things.
Another reason why I don't like the place maybe is I am not quite familiar with Thomas Jefferson. In China, we don't have too much things on him, so... If I go to George Washington's house, things may be quite different.

Also, the most happiest thing to me is Hernan finally can remember my name!

At noon, we go to the downtown. Maybe we are too tired or that is not my style, we soon don't want walk any more. We find a place to sit on and wait for the bus to come.

I am so hungry. As soon as I arrive at the dorm, I cook the instant noodles as my lunch and dinner.

Time goes so fast these days. I can not stop them and notice them passing by. I am always feeling bad when we have to say goodbye to our American friends. We have built the friendship and let it grow stronger. How hard when the day comes when we have to say goodbye!

I sent E-mail to the girls I knew during the home visit yesterday and I am so excited to receive their E-mails today. It's great!

Shelley

Today is Sunday. Some of my classmates want to hike and some are still at their interns' homes. Therefore, I am alone in my dorm.

I am writing my blog when there is a knock on the door. I hurry to open it and to my surprise, I find John outside. He comes to ask if I have any plan today and I answer no. So we decide to see Simpson with Jiangmingjun and Chengmeng together.

On the way to the theater, we pick up John's brother. Since there is no time, we go to the theater directly.
John tells us his friend George will go with us. I remember he is the guy who played Uno with us one night. I guess he will not forget me.

After we buy the tickets, we enter the theater.
Actually, there is no Simpson's movie in China. This is the first time I see it. It is really very funny. And we all feel horrible if we have a father like that. The relation between the father and son is ridiculous. It makes me laugh a lot

.
After the movie, we pay a visit to John's home. We are eager to see John's little sister. Unlucky, she is sleeping. John gives a bible to me which I had mentioned to him once and I almost forget it.
Thank you, John.

When I get back to the dorm, I eat the Haagen-Dazs ice cream. I bought it from a grocery the day before. It is really much cheaper than it is in China and it also tastes good.

Having finished it, I go to the library, wanting to finish my paper. But when I have decided my topic, I am now in trouble with finding material to illustrate my points.
I am still trying!