Blog for zhangf

Its the 3rd day we r here in Richmond. I still feel dizzy coz of the time difference, but things r getting better and better. Anyway, its the first time for me to be away from home for such a long time, and I have to learn more than independence.
Forget abt the flight, life here is quite nice and relax. There r not as many ppl as in Shanghai. The style of the city is different too. I luv the beautiful sun shine, the blue sky and the green lawn. We took a lot of pics, and most of them r really cool.
Today, we get a tour of Richmond. It's fun. I enjoyed it and get a rough idea of the city I will spend 3 weeks in. The nature makes me feel so comfortable and relaxed. I hope I will have a chance to have a close and detailed look at it, and maybe by myself.
In the capital building, I learnt a lot of American history as well as Richmond ones. The history of Richmond, Virginia as a modern city dates to the early seventeenth century, and is crucial to the development of the colony of Virginia, the United States Revolutionary War, and the Civil War. After Reconstruction, Richmond's location helped it develop a diversified economy and as a land transportation hub. Richmond attracted businesses relocating from other parts of the country as one of the northernmost cities of the right-to-work states.
Of course I miss my home, my daddy n mommy, and also my baby dog. I will take care of myself for them, n hope everything is going well with them.

Just back from shopping, exhausted and starvieling. We replaced taking photos with buying things today. But it was amazing! Thanks to Hernan for taking us shopping today. It cost patience to wait for ppl. I bought clothes and bags, and also lots of stuff in the wal-mart. I feel Im crazy some way. haha
Besides shopping, the lectures today were impressive too. I found the difference between American professors and Chinese ones. They r not in same styles. American professors r humourous and their lessons r vivid, while Chinese professors r mostly severe. I cant say which one is better, but I prefer taking interesting lectures.
I learnt a lot from the lectures, and I will review my notes to grap it thoroughly.
Gonna sleep, good nite!

Since I bought a lot of food materials from Wal-mart last nite, I come to make lunch myself. Burgers r the most typical American style lunch. Well, its also easy to make. Just put put everything together: bacon, salad, cheese, bread. Done! What surprised me is that it was delicious! Btw, Im really good at cooking somehow, and nobody taught me before. I enjoy making tasty food, and also share the joy with ppl, especially Chinese food.

Mentioned of food, the writing lecture today was fun. Though I heard abt brainstorming before, its first time for us to participate in it. Our title was Food, and our best key words were culture, vegetarian and monk. I found it interesting and special from others. This kind of method does help to write papers when u was assigned with a big subject. It helps to gain the clue from the mess, so that u can focus on what u r most interested in.

I got several pics of my baby dog Romeo from my friend unexpectfully. He looks so cute on the photos. We took them when he was 2 months old, and now he is already a young handsome fellow. I miss him badly, and maybe he will be stronger and bigger when I go back home.

Thank for Eric, we had a chance to go to another shopping center last nite. I forgot its name, but its on the hill and we passed through lots of forests on our way there. Eric is really nice that he explained a lot of American history and Richmond culture to us, making the tour more fun.

The life here is simple and peaceful. Ppl live in the suburb, enjoying the fresh air and nature environment, and get what they want in the nearest shopping center. But we all found that food and materials here r much more expensive than them in China. I was told its because of the Aphtae Epizootic. America reduced the quantity of inporting animals from Europe and Asia. There r fewer cattle and pigs available for eating, so that it increases the price of meet and beaf.

I become thinking abt the everyday big meals in Shanghai, coz they cost much less. I can have whatever I want such as Japanese tapanyaki, Italian food, BBQ etc...Fine, just as if Im on diet and losing weight here.

We girls r more looking forward to shopping in USA. We hope that we have a chance to go shopping in Williamsburg's outlets. Another group came late from Fudan went there yesterday, and they bought a lot of cheap and fansy clothes. Envy them~

TGIF! Thank God its Friday. We r leaving for our weekend's tour tomorrow, exciting! I just organized everything, bikini, clothes, suncream, feeling like going for vacation. My friend told me that VA beach is fun. Lots of ppl go there for holidays. I like sun shine and sea. They make me feel free and relaxing, some memories as well.

I have been away from home one week. I think I already adapt to my life here, dining, living, and study. But coz of the time difference, there's a little problem of connecting with my friends and parents in Shanghai. I miss them and I guess they miss me too. What the good thing is that I realize how important to me they r. U will learn to treasure it only when u lose sth.

I should go to sleep now in order to have best spirit tomorrow.
Btw, this is our dinner today, pizza! Very nice taste and also made by myself!

Finally we got back from our little trip at weekends. It was so fun!

First day

July the 21st, we departed from VCU to the Busch Garden in Williamsburg. Coz of the rain, it was little cool, and we were almost frozen on the bus. Busch garden is a kinda amusement park, full of exciting rides and shows. It's European style, divided into 5 areas: England, Ireland, France, Germany and Italy. We rode most of them, but the most scary one. After riding, I could hardly feel my legs and my insides were huddled together. Especially the one named "Le scoot log flume" made me totally wet. 5 hours later, we moved to the Virginia Beach, checking in and having dinner.

Second day

It was on Sunday morning that we woke up pretty early than usual. Abt at 9:30, I was already on the beach n playing volleyball with those guys. Basically, I was helpless to our team coz I could not run fast on the sand. There was a red alarm of storm so I didnt swim in the sea. I just played cards for the whole afternoon instead. As for dinner, I had seafood and some local traditional food. It was good and the restaurant looked nice too.

Third day, Today

Its Monday again! Though I feel unwilling to leave, we began to go back to the Univ. At least we still have one day off. We spent 2 hours in the living museum of Williamsburg with ppl wearing, acting, and talking in colonial time's American way. They were friendly. I visited some different houses for different uses, such as shoes making, church, priting office, bakery etc. In addition to the special rooms, there were also some programs and performances showing ppl the history of wars and the revolution. Well study time over, its shopping time again! There's a huge outlet mall in Williamsburg within dozens of brands. Two hours r definitely too short, but I bought lots of things, guess, nike, reebok,ck and tommy hilfiger. Aha ha ha......

I can't remember how long it took me since my computer got attacked by the virus. The attack was serious this time and made it didnt work. It was killing me coz that my laptop is the only way I can connect with others in China. The most important thing is all the photos I took during the passed days were inside it. I refused to lose the precious memorials.

Fortunantly, it was fixed by some one really good at it. I appreciate it very much. And that means I should write my VCU blogs!

Its the second time we go to the Short Pump and the Wal-mart and maybe the last time. Things there r obviously more expensive than the outlet in Williamsburg. But we couldnt help buying sth not to waste time.

It rains today while it doesnt always rain here. It reminds me of Shanghai, coz it always rains there, making ppl feel upset. I havent connect with my parents for couple days for the virus. I miss them but I dont eager go home. Im getting used to the life here, though it is tiring sometimes and the condition is not as good as before. But anyway, its a special and rare experiece for me. I think I can learn more from it.

Its humilate today. We walked along the canal after dinner, but the weather was killing me. Maybe it was abt to rain soon, so that it was wet and hot. Mosquitos bit me severl times and I killed one as revenge.

Tomorrow we r going to have a home visit. Our hostest is Hernan. He is not a typical American but I suppose it will be more fun to have an idea abt Colombian family living in US. We r also looking forward to the big dinner. Haha.

But I still have no idea abt what to do in the free day. I wonder there's another choice besides the lake outing.

I just got back from the home visit of Hernan. It was fun, and we ate a lot. Im totally full and satisefied. We went to the Ukrops first and bought sth we need, and cooked some Chinese food for everyone. They made us a Virginia's ham and semon fish. All of them were great!

Hernan's friends from Colombia joined our dinner. We chatted a lot, abt everything, such as Chinese culture, politics, movies and so on. We exchanged our mind on the extra problems. They seem to be very interested in we Chinese and what we think. Of course, we r also interested in theirs.

There's sth should to be mentioned. They own two big dogs, Aspin and Kiwi. They r brother and sister, and they r both white and huge. Kiwi is agressive after hurt by someone, but Aspin is very friendly and nice. Since she's eight years old, she doesnt move much. We took a lot of pictures with her, and offered her good massages. She was like the Queen, coz she behaves.

The ppl we met were all pretty kind and nice. I also got some ham to take back. I learnt a lot abt American families' living style. I enjoyed it quite much. Big houses, beautiful gardens and huge dogs, that's the meaning of true lives. The most important thing is freedom. They could hardly believe that our passports got taken away by our teacher. I told them he's afraid of us running away, and they turned to be shocked, "unbelievable", that's what they reacted.

We should had our rights to decided what we do and where we go. But, obviously, we do not have them. We r under controlled everywhere, in China, even in U.S. No change. How can they treat us like prisoners? I cant understand. I belong to myself, not anyone else. I really doubt it!

Pretty tired I am. We drove for 2 hours to get to the lake site. It is beautiful and the weather is just fine. I went to swim for a while. I like the temperature of the water.

After hiking, we played soccer and card game. Im already very tired and everyone fell asleep on the way back.

Oh, its raining again~time for bed.