Martin Luther King Day Celebration

This Friday night, we had a celebration about Martin Luther King Day and the Voices of Unity Choir was there too. I had really good time there not only because getting to know more about the meaning and effects of Martin Luther King's life  in young generations but also I learned to  accomplish my own life's true value. 
At the very beginning, my friends and I were really surprised about the beautiful and well done music from the Voices of Unity Choir. They did a great job of giving an awesome performance of showing children's gift about singing. 
After then, one of my friend, Cloe, she gave a speech about her experience since she joined MSO which is multi-culture Student Organization has an amazing influence on students' life on campus. 
After speeches, there is a DV show about students, staff and faculty's ideas about the reasons about why Martin Luther King's life still matters today. I agree with how his spirit had the power on young people's dreams and encourage them to make them come true. Moreover, the true value of his life has given me a hint to think about life. It doesn't really matter how big your dream and passion are but it matters what are you doing a day.
This week is black education week which is a great opportunity for me to know more about American history.    

Snow Day No School Day and Chinese New Year's Eve

This is an amazing gift for us that we don't have school today to celebrate Chinese New Year.
I just had enough time to talk to my family- my mum, my dad, my cousins and my aunts. It is so good that I could see them and heard they had delicious food. I wish everyone has a happy new year.

Chicago Trip - China Town

Chinese New Year is coming soon, ISA had prepared a trip to Chicago China town this weekend. We had so much fun this time, we had real Chinese food and drinks, visited all kinds of stores in China town and we sang karaoke.It was an amazing trip to celebrate Chinese New Year.
On Saturday morning, we got up so early like 6 am and got ready to take a train to Chicago. We made it to Waterloo train station. Luckily, the train came on time and we all got on the train. On the way to Chicago, it was a so interesting trip. Guys were watching their Chinese movies and Mengting and I were watching the passing by beautiful views. It was so quiet and beautiful outside the train. Sherard who is from Bahamas has been hanging out with us all the time and we were just keeping teaching him how to speak Chinese and Chinese culture. He had so much fun to get access to a totally new and different culture.
Three hours later, we made it Chicago and  it was not that cold and windy as I thought. We took subways to China town was so convenient transportation. When four of us just got China town, we were super excited to see Chinese characters, Oriental markets, restaurants everywhere. We were automatically start talking in Chinese.It was a very happy and busy town. A lot of people came for Chinese New Year which we called Spring Festival in China. Everyplace was crowed with people not only Asians but also some Americans. Red festival decorations were pasted or hanged everywhere.
We couldn't wait and went into a busy and famous restaurant. After we sat down and started eating Chinese food, I was about to cry. It has been a long time no eating such kind of delicious food. We had very good conversations together. And everyone all felt like missing home cook more.
Anyway, China town is a very good place for us to go at this special time in a year. I wish everyone has a very happy and good new year.

New Year New Semester and New start

I am so excited about coming back to school to see all the friends and study new things.
Last night, it was bingo night. I went bingo even though I didn't win anything I still had a lot of fun to play bingo with friends together. It was so much fun about hearing people screaming about "bingo" and running for their prises.
Today is the first day of school, we had a big snow today however, I am so happy sitting in classroom to learn something.I got to motivate myself keep working hard to achieve whatever I want from this semester.
Tonight, we had Tuesday night worship. Travis talked about giving and taking. I am so thankful for those friendly families whomever have given homes for us.
By this new year and new semester, I wish I could have whatever I wanted got done and happy new year!

Looking for....

Last Sunday, I went to church with CCH people to raise money for CCH girls house. When we were at church and listening Travis' talk, I was so excited to see how close my relationship with God and how much belief do I have for God. After then, some CCH people were sharing their testimony with people to show how CCH and Jesus made a difference in their lives. When I think about my experience getting to know God, I was so thankful to my friend who told me about Jesus. And I felt God is working in my life to show me his love and holy spirit.
This Thursday night, I went to Robyn's house to visit her and making thank you note to the people who will donate their money for getting the CCH girls house. I am so thankful for those whoever support CCH.
Saturday, I went to prayer room and spent an hour down there praying with some other friends. It is so hard for myself to believe that my heart strongly touched by praying.
Since I know there is still a chance for me to go to Mexico for the spring break missionary trip. I am hoping so much about my growth abroad.     

Christmas is coming

Since Christmas is coming, each family has started decorating their Christmas Trees. However, for those families who are unable to afford  Christmas Trees is really a sad thing.  Trine University has been donating Christmas Trees to those families for years.
 This year, I was in charge of  decorating Christmas Tree representing ISA. I was so excited about my first time choosing decorations and decorating. The first step was we went to Wal-mart getting decorations. My group picked up two main colors we want to use: Red and Gold. Since we are representing ISA, we chose some special decorations like: Peace, Joy, Hope. And I had an idea of getting a Card and write Merry Christmas in different languages on it.
Decorating Christmas Tree is not tough but if you want it looks very nice you have to put some efforts on it.
The very first step is also the very important step is putting up the Tree. You need to be very patient to make sure every branch looks luxuriant.  After then, it is ready to be decorated by ornaments. Since we have two main colors, you really need to separate them kind of in order. The last step is to put the top. The Christmas Tree was nicely done.      
It is a very interesting experience of decorating a Christmas Tree. I have been excited about decorating another one for next year.

Thanksgiving

As an international students far away from home, I have so much love from my host family. I do not feel any alone and I feel warm and being loved. I am so thankful for those people who love me and whom I love.
I came to stay with my host family from last year. We were suppose to go to Lee's house to meet family members and have thanksgiving lunch to celebrate thanksgiving day.
However, it was from yesterday I broke out in a rash. After I took some medicine and this morning it spread to everywhere on my body. Then we decided to go to hospital. My host mum just always be there for me and comfort me and care about me .I am so thankful for her love. I am not scared at all and be positive to face it. It is a special thanksgiving for me to be thankful for love. 

International Education Week

This week is international educational week. We had a lot of events and a lot of fun.

Monday, we had an annual international thanksgiving dinner at whitman club house. Most of the international students, all the Residence Directors, some staff and some professors came for the dinner. We heard different Rds talking about their different thanksgiving home activity.
On Wednesday, cafeteria served  lots of delicious sushi again. I love sushi so much.

Thursday night, a bunch of international students  went to Henry Park Elementary School. We talked about China, Japan, South Korea, Tai wan and African counties. We even taught some kid how to write Chinese calligraphy. It was a fun night to teach kids about international culture.
Friday afternoon some of the international students went to food fair at IPFW.

It was an awesome week, I cannot wait our international night in spring semester.

Wacky Wednesday - Sushi Night

The International Education Week is coming next soon. Lets just warm up. Last night, members of MSO and international students, we get together in cafeteria and made variety kinds of sushi. Mai, Cloe and I were helping with making veggie sushi. 
We got all the ingredients ready: a plate of squash, a plate of carrots, a plate of celery and a plate of sushi rice. We first lay the roll mat on the table and put the seaweed on the mat. Second, dipping some sushi water to prevent rice from sticky and start putting rice on seaweed. It is a long time work, you have to be very patient. Once you have the rice all cover the seaweed, you can start putting some vegetables by the edge. Remember do not put that much or you would have trouble rolling it together. After you roll it together, the last step is to cut then off and decorate them.
It was a lot of making sushi and it is also a great experience for me to know different culture. When you see everyone was enjoying the food, I feel so warm that no matter where you are from we can share our culture. 
Sharing my culture with people is the most enjoyable thing I would like to do when I am overseas.     

Big Day- Shopping Day

Time flies, it is almost get to the end of this fall semester, but Thanksgiving is coming soon, Christmas is coming after then. How exciting life is here.  
By the time, I just feel that it is time to go shopping and have some fun off school. Some members of Multicultural Students Organization and International Students Association got together and went shopping yesterday the whole afternoon. When you walked in to the mall, you would feel it is the time of  winter but also the time of celebration. There are winter coats, scuffs, hats and boots everywhere. I saw a lot of decorations and a lot of goods on sale. 
I got a red cute dress for the annual international thanksgiving dinner and nice black coat. Also, scuffs,hats, and boots, I got totally ready for winter. lol. 
In the big shopping mall, I got the chance to eat some Chinese food which made my day. 
I really enjoyed my crazy shopping day- a lot of fun, and spent a lot of money. 

Exciting Campus Life

This is my second fall semester here in America. I get involved with a busy but exciting life. I love this small campus and I love living in Alwood. I get to know all the girls on my floor and we hang out all the time.
Tonight, we just had a floor activity- get fancy for some wings. We went to BWs and had some good wings. The time together always passed so fast, we had good time, good talk and good food. On the way back school, we have been silly together and laughed so hard.
Last weekend, we went to Ceder Point which is an amusement park famous for its roller coasters. This was my first time on roller coasters. I had been so scared to go. Luckily, all of my friends kept telling me "you will be fine, you will be fine". I am so glad that I had those friends to encourage me be on a roller coaster. I did like this new experience especially on Halloween.
My favorite new life is getting to know Jesus and God. I went up to Michigan for Fall Retreat with Christian Campus House friends last month. The weekend was my first time camping in US. It was an amazing trip. We got the chance to watch sunset by Michigan lake. The time we were singing , my heart was touched. I watched two friends got baptized in the lake. It was a super happy thing to see my friends find their belief .   
I am so thankful for God bringing me here and picking me up to know about Jesus.
I am so thankful for all of my friends and the good time we hang out.
My life here is amazing, exciting and brilliant.
I love Trine so much.

Homecoming Week

The homecoming week of this year was a lot of fun which is a big part of college students' life. I went to football game, dueling piano show, and the Sunday morning worship.

For me it is really a great chance to experience different cultures. It was a sunny, warm and nice day. Before the football game started, my friends and I all painted our faces fro the game. Brandi painted her face with Trine blue as background and a white capital letter "T".Sara had a white shape thing as thunder and a blue capital letter "T' on her face. We were standing up on the bleachers of the first row and shouting at top of lung the whole game. I love shouting loudly with my friends together at the football game. It was not a competitive game, eventually Trine Thunder won it easily. Football is really a big culture thing I learned since I came here. The football players, the football couches, the cheer leaders, audiences, and photographers are altogether making a whole good game. Sometimes, it is not only a game it is a spirit. When you see those injured athletes supporting their team, when you see football players playing hard, when you hear cheer leaders cheering at their top voice, when you enjoy the game and shout for your team and see them win. Is it a sports spirit to bring everyone together ? People love seeing team work.
I also had a very good night listening a piano show in Fabiani Theater with my friends. The two male performers are very professional and hilarious. They pretty much played all the types English music no matter it is classical, country or popular.One of the guy even can sing as Lady Gaga. They know music well. They were really good at asking audience to join their show. During the performance, we were pretty much involved with making sounds and cheering. Even though I was not familiar with the most of the songs they played, it was a great night to hang out. 
The Second day morning,Sunday morning, we got together at Fabiani theater again with CCH people,their family and alumni. We sang beautiful songs which touched my heart. Christian music always has a power bringing me closer to God. Travis gave us a great speech.
Homecoming week give a chance for students to see family and let family know what our college life looks like. It is so sweet and happy to see family,having some meals together and spending a wonderful weekend on campus.

I was happy hanging out with my friends but I wish next year or the year after the next my parents will also be able to come and visit me. That will be so sweet to expect.   I love Trine's homecoming.