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April 20 To commemorate the very first Speech Day ever in SISUAfter one month of revising nearly 37 speeches in all, we finally have the Speech Day tomorrow. After the Obama lecture, I'm more motivated to devote myself to APS. For that, I will take the plunge no matter what. Thank my 37 babies who would like to do the same with me. I believe one day very soon in the future, when we look back, we'll smile. Anyway, the very first Speech Day in SISU will be commemorated... To be continued. January 01 The time differenceDec. 31, so many of my friends are sending me messages or write something on their blogs to celebrate the last day of 2008 or reminisce the whole past year. Now it's Jan. 1, 2009,beijing time. Happy new year to all my friends and beloved ones back home. Even I'm still in Dec. 31, 2008, CST, my computer is always in Beijing time. So this morning, I got up early enough to call my mom and dad since usually the three of us are always together during those special moments. Yesterday, I finally got my own book by EMS. Big thanks to my publisher who spent more than 400RMB to deliver them. When I actually open the book(Music to our ears: unforgettable songs of the 20th century), it feels wierd. It feels like touching your new-born baby for the first time (even I never did that). It feels good, or even grrrrreat! I gave it to my roommate for her birthday present and she's very happy. The other day I went to Prof. Lucas's house, for the first time I went to my idol's house. I can't even believe it. For a long period of time I was reading his book, commicating with those great ideas in words. It's interesting for most of the time, I felt like what I say can't fully express what I mean when I'm in a conversation with him. Somehow some of us are usually living in different time but the time difference can never isolate those shared minds which deeply touch our soul, like love, hope, joy and respect towards life.
Just something to note at the end of 2008. More to expect in 2009... December 19 East, west, home is the best!West coast is a bit different to me. First it's warm, but not as warm as I imagined. Second, LA has so many Chinese, which makes speaking Manderine (and sometimes Cantonese) feel ease at home. Then it's really a big rocky place. That means you can't go anywhere without a car. Last but not least, Hollywood is really something there which makes film shooting almost an everyday activity. Of course, stars are everywhere just like those in the sky. But as a big city girl, I feel myself more attracted to NYC than LA, but it never hurts to go have a look and travel around in the west. Vegas is a night city cuz in the daytime it just looks "stupid" if you know what I mean. But there's this grand Grand Canyon there which is just breathtaking. I love it . There's always a lot to talk about man & nature in the state. The respect for mother nature is not something people talk about but something in their blood. That's somthing I like. San Fran. is an interesting city with hills everywhere. The Lombra street is the typical example to show it's not so easy to live on the hill, climbing on which is just killing me. But the Union Square is just like Nanjing Rd., except it got some top-notch Amereican shopping malls like Barneys, Bloomingdales, Nordstroms and Macy's. That's the real disneyland for me. (Hope those retailers can stand the test of economic recess here or everywhere.)
After going east and west coast in the state, I'm at the end of this semester, preparing for what I've got to do in the near future. Even I like them both very much but to me, Home is still the best. I'm coming back home before the spring festival. Can't wait to see my beloved friends and families.... December 01 Thanksgiving in MadisonHow time flies here, maybe it’s just me. A month passed full of different excitement of everythhing. I feel myself more adaptive to the American style of living and thinking. November is a hell of month in the state with the biggest spotlight of thanksgiving. For the first time in my life, thanksgiving really means something. I mean really with all the turkey, give thanks ritual and the black Friday.
Roommate and neighbours are all out travelling and gathering with families. In the morning of the Thursday when the snow stopped for a while and the sun came out and I was getting ready to go to Cara’s house to taste her yummy fish soup but end up having thanksgiving dinner with the landllady who is a very nice women with her two daughters, Lucy and Ava and whole bunch of her friends and their kids. It’s really a big party.
From appetizers to turkey, I do enjoy the typical thanksgiving dinner in an American family. It’s a day for family reunion and reflection on the entire year and even one’s life and truely give thanks to those who leave a deep mark in our lives. Turkey, as I always imagined, is big and tasty. I can’t get enough of it.(I can just get turkey legs in Shanghai, never the entire one.) Mash potato, sweet potato and yams are all good with a bit Shrimp cocktail. It never hurts to have a bit French brie cheese before dinner(I love the cheese even a bit mouldy.) and of course with my favorite cranberry sauce which I feel myself addicted to. I just want to have it with everything I eat.
The day after is the black Friday. Usually people don’t sleep on Thursday and stay up the entire night shopping for their best deals they can ever get in an entire year. We weren’t that crazy but still get up early to an outlet factory store where I can get all sorts of presents for my families and friends. My best deal is probably a COACH bag for my mom. Hope she will like it. Friday night we were invited to Prof. Pan’s house to join them with some other graduate students. He’s such a nice prof who actually is a lecture prof. in Fudan University. His wife’s cooking is very good, which made all of us full and happy on that night with all the talking about our own lives in America. I learned a lot there.
After all sorts of typical activities in the week, here I am pondering upon all these rituals here in the State. The market is not so good, wallstreet and mainstreet alike. But people would still find a way to reward themselves, mostly by eating and shopping which are something I like to do. It’s fortunate to have someone or something to thank on that particular day. When I heard people thanking their parents, spouse, children and friends, I was moved since it’s exactly the ones I want to thank. I’m thankful for those who make my life meaningful and full of love. My first thanksgiving in America, I love it.
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