Blog for yuf2

We've got 11 days left before we go back. How time flies, right?

To tell the truth, I wasn't used to everything here at first. I wasn't used to the food I ate here; I couldn't get used to the price of food and drink here...There were so many things I didn't like so much about America at first. However, now I quite like the place here. I sort of integrate myself to the American culture now. On the morning, I say 'Good morning' to strangers too now. I can even cook pizza for myself now and quite enjoy it. But I will be back in a few days...It is really a pity.

We've just gone to Short Pump. I remembered the first time I went there I didn't buy anything. I just took some pictures there. However, this afternoon I found that I had so many things that I wanted to buy for my parents and friends. But time is so limited, I just bought a dress to my dear sister. I hope tomorrow some of us can go there together.

Talking of things here in America, I'd like to say that people here are very friendly, at least in Richmond. Although I also met some guys who were not so kindly to Chinese people, I still think that most of Americans are friendly to us. It seems to me that people here have a quite peaceful life. I enjoy the life here.

The summer program has taught me a lot of things which I believe will help me a lot in my future. I will never forget the people I've met here and the things I've experienced here.

I suddenly remembered on the night of my thanks giving in July, Jennifer told us to do what they usually do on Thanks Giving Day. Now I want to do it again: I feel thankful for my parents who brought me to the earth so that I can experience happiness and sorrow in the world, and for those who have ever helped me in my life. I feel thankful for everything.

We had a lecture on painting this morning. It was good.
Before that, I didn't expect that he was going to paint there for the whole lesson. Many of the students may think it was boring watching other people painting for almost 2 hours. However, since I am interested in painting and drawing, I consider it quite interesting.
Anyway, I don't want to say anything more about the painting skills of his for he seems to be quite famous, thus I guess his skills must be excellent. As a matter of fact, I learn much more about pursuing dreams from him.
During his painting, he allows us to talk with him. We asked him many questions about painting and himself. He said that neither of his parents supported him when he decided to be an artist in the future. But he stuck to his own idea and went straight for it. It must take great courage to do so, I think. Anyway, he succeeds. I really appreciate his words about dream and rules. Rules are made to be broken. Well, this is an interesting sentence. But it's really hard to make. I mean, how many people have the courage to break the rules that have been designed for many years? It takes time and efforts. But few people dare to risk. I admire those who can stick to their dream no matter what others say or do. Seeing him successful, I believe that you can be what you want to be.
I hope I can be the one I want myself to be.

It is an interesting title, right? But we did have a wonderful Thanks Giving in July~!^_^ It was so wonderful~~
After the Hawaii Party we went home and found a new friend. That's Jeniffer. She is Phuc's good friend. I heard that she prepared almost the whole day to give us a traditional Thanks Giving evening. She's an amazing cooker~~^_^

Our dear Jeniffer. Thanks for the food~~

When she was doing the cooking, we went to the kitchen and helped her.(Actually, we were just looking around and taking some pictures) We helped her to peal the potatoes and smashed them so that we can have smashed potatoes that night. And it was the most popular dish that night.

The smashed potatoes.

We also had some bread and turkey. They were all very delicious. It was a fantastic Thanks Giving in July. I will never forget it.
On the second day, Phuc took us to the church. I was moved by the atmosphere. Later, she drove almost two hours to another shopping mall and the waterside.
Phuc is very kind. She did a lot of things for us, which makes us deeply moved. During these two days, she prepared so many interesting activities for us and spent most of her time driving. It must make her tired. However, she always seems so energetic.
Thank you so much, Phuc! We all like you~

I slept quite well in Phuc's house.
After a nice breakfast, we went to the flea market where you can buy really cheap things. I searched carefully to see whether there were anything I want, however, I didn't buy anything for I thought it should take efforts when I go back to China. But anyway, it was a good experience to see the market.
Later, we went to a supermarket to buy something for the 'Hawaii Party' that was held in her friend's house. At first we were all puzzled at the 'Hawaii Party'. Phuc' told us that it was a party held by them almost once a year. Everyone will bring something there and take his/her friends to the party. But you're supposed to wear like Hawaii in that party. She dressed us up(with all kinds of colorful clothes) and we went to the party.
The party was fun. We ATE a lot there.^_^ Among all the food there, we still think Phuc's fried rice was the best one~~It was really delicious.
Americans are very friendly. Although people in the party may not know each other quite well, they still can talk and become friends. Sometimes, I wondered why Americans would hold such kind of party. Because it seemed to me quite troublesome to some extent. After the party, you have to clean the house and do many other things. Later, I came to a conclusion that, unlike Chinese people, maybe they don't have so much time to get together. Thus they hold some parties like this once in a year so that friends can get together and meet each other.
I think holding parties is a good way to maintain friendship and making new friends. I like this party.

Last Friday night, we went to Phuc's house.
She is really kind to us. Because her house is a little far away from school, she drove us to her home at that night. After the canal walking, we were quite tired then. She drove about more than 1.5 hour to get there.
It was about 10 o'clock when we arrived, I guess. Her house is amazing. Entering the door, we can see the kitchen. Turning left, there's a guest hall. Go though the kitchen, you can see the family's room. There are many musical instruments in the house, which gives me surprise. I heard from her that her brother plays quite well drum and piano.
When we saw her room, all of us cried out. It is a real girl's room. The whole room is very colorful. You can see many different colors there, such as green, red and yellow. There are three beds for the three sisters. There are many different fashionable clothes hanging in the room, which almost made all the girls envy.^_^
We toured all the rooms and it was time to go to bed. Her two sisters are very nice and interesting. Ilizabeth is a very active and outgoing girl. She talked and played with Phuc, which made us laugh happily.
Actually, the scene of them playing together reminded me of my sisters in China. We used to play together like them. However, since I studied in Beijing and my elder sister studied in Xi'an, we all lived in different places. Thus, we don't have many time to spend together. I really missed them.
But I didn't think too much that night for I was too tired. I fell asleep quickly to enjoy the second day.^_^

We had two lectures this morning. I am not interested in business, thus I don't quite like the first one. I really like the second one. It's very interesting. Mr.Yang seemed to be telling stories to us. It's fun.

There's one sentence that I appreciate most in his lectutre. "Wherever you go, never give up your dream." It's really wonderful. It's exactly what I always believe in. Be yourself. It's always easy to say but hard to do, right? You will meet a lot of difficulties when you really want to be youself. Some people say, those who want to be themselves and who don't care about what others say are actually to some extent self-contempted. I don't know. Perhaps, it's ture in some aspects. However, they may be confident. It's hard to say. I am not confident, but I want to be myself. But sometimes, people don't accept you for who you really are. They usually accept you when you are what they want you to be. That may be one of the reasons why it's so difficult to be oneself.

Pursuing happiness is our goal of life. Sometimes, we say, we want to make our dreams come ture but it's very hard. I know it's hard. But I still will try my best to realize my dream even if it seems so hard to achieve. Human beings are...hard to expect. You don't know how strong they are and how powerful they can be. I think that once you've decided what you want to do, you can make it as long as you've tried your best. Even if you don't achieve your goal at last, you will feel good because you've ever tried.

I hope I can make my dream come ture.

I belive I can.