Monday, October 22, 2007
Week 10
It was great to read that you all feel that you are benefiting from the interactive nature of SAL's classes. I agree that the small class size is a critical piece of our program. That is one of the reasons I love teaching here! Since we are still working on comparing and contrasting a topic, please tell me about another aspect of your life here (outside of the classroom) and how it is similar or different from your life in your country.
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To live in other country causes changes of life pattern. After I came here, my life pattern also has changed a lot. At first, I am living here regularly by my time table. Because, for studying English here, I gave up what I can do in my country, I want to do my best. Otherwise, I will regret I didn’t do my best later. Therefore, planned life is very important for me. On the contrary, in my country, I don’t have any plan to follow. Even though I tried to study hard, I can not use my time efficiently without plan. Furthermore, there is more time to be alone; studying, having a meal, and shopping alone. Since many international students have their own plans and appointments, it is difficult to do everything together. In Korea, even I couldn’t imagine having a meal and shopping alone. I think most international students have these differences between here and their country.
When comparing the life of U.S with the life of my country, many aspects of my life are changed. First of all, the present life has much time to spare. The life of my country was really busy every day. I usually spent much time in the workplace. I even worked in weekend and a holiday. My living was pressed with work. On the other hand, the life of U.S gives me enough time to enjoy something like fun. I can travel with my family wherever I want to go. Maybe, I seem to have no anxiety. Of course, I have the difficulty to study English, and I should study very hard. However, I satisfy with this life.
Aspect of my life in The U.S. and Thailand:diffent, yet alike. Even though the two countries differ in weather such as I never have used an overcoat in Thailand because the weather is warm more than in The U.S. What's more, tast of food in The U.S. does not have spicy compared to tast of food in Thailand despite of It have many Thai restaurants in The U.S. Furthermor, their differences have similarities such as: human, I can meet nice prople both in The U.S. and Thailand; facilities, public transportations help me to go everywhere that I want when I live in The U.S., I use them in Thailand are the same. Finally, aspect of my life in The U.S. and Thailand almost are the same. I can make new friends who they are nice, dine in restaurants where they are luxurious or learn new knowledge that thay are useful. They make me happy in The U.S. and Thailand.
Since I came here, I felt freedom and a lot of differences. All of scenery watched is English; I felt very exciting. In addition, I have to speak to everyone in English. It’s totally different. However, I felt familiar when I was in Chinese restaurant; I saw a lot of Chinese words and heard a lot of people speaking Chinese. I was very surprised at that moment because here is American. In spite of the Chinese, I also heard different languages in American, especially in California. If there are many Japanese around this area, you would hear they speak Japanese to each other; on the other hand, Korean, Chinese and others are the same as the Japanese. This situation makes me feel different and familiar.
I already have been stayng in the U.S. for about 6months. Whether it was long or not, it has gave me a lot of changes. In Korea, I was really busy because I had a lot of things to do; however, in the U.S. I have kind of time which can take a rest and have fun my life. It is really big difference for me. I know I can have like this time in Korea, but when I am in Korea, I feel I have to be in hurry, so it makes me busy. Futhermore, now I am not in observation from my parents, so I feel more free. I can hang out with my friends as much as I want because I don't have any curfew and lookout. Because of this fact, I have to care of myself and make my life here tightened, but it is hard as you know...
+ Nice to see you teacher in IH :)
After I came here, the biggest change thing compared with life in my country is that I am able to hang out lately whenever I can. In contrast, in Korea, my parents always consider about whether I come back home until midnight or not, and they were really strict about it. Therefore, I was under curfew hour before I came here. I understand it because I know their mind, however, I could feel free and I just like the fact that I don’t need to worry about curfew hour in U.S life. In addition, in U.S, there are a lot of famous and interesting places where I didn’t go, so I try to get chances to travel there. If I am in Korea, traveling somewhere in different states in U.S will be difficult and need long term to go. However, in here, I have opportunities to travel there easily and shortly by using term, from Friday to Sunday. Because of it, I want to enjoy traveling U.S as much as I can. That’s why nowadays I am looking for somewhere or special thing to do every weekend. These two things are different from my life in my country.
I want to talk about the differences of residential environment in Taiwan and in America. I think the most important reason of the difference in residential environment is density of population. In Taiwan, especially in Taipei, most people live in apartment or large building because of increasing population and insufficient land. On the contrary, I think most people in America have their own house with a yard, including my sister’s house that I live now. I like the quality of the residential environment here. It’s convenient for me to walk or jog around the community for exercise. And I can see all kinds of decorations of houses in the neighborhood, those houses are so beautiful that I want to have one in Taiwan. However, it’s more inconvenient to go anywhere if we haven’t a car or we want to go somewhere at midnight. But in Taiwan, no matter how late it is, I can still find delicious food that suddenly appear to my mind at midnight. And I can buy anything without driving for a long distance. I think this is the biggest difference in the two countries.
One obvious difference between Korea life and U.S life is a public trasnportatoin becuase i felt difficulties about it here. In Korea, even though i didn't try to drive i can commute easily in the evening. When i worked, the bus went around near the midnight and it is safe. But i always try to ride bus around 5pm in here becuase there is no bus after 7:30 and this last bus is not recommeded for women to ride. It make me avoid to meet friend and have a fun in the evening. I realize that the life without car in US is unbelivable. The similirity is lots of people,conveninet store, cars. I can't find similar stuff of culture until now.
The difference between my Korea life and U.S. life is life itself. To live in here is study for me. Whatever I do I have to use English except for hanging out with my Korean friends. For example, in here, to watch a TV is aldo study. Even though I can’t understand everything what they say on TV program, it is listening study for me. However, in Korea, to watch a TV is for fun. In addition, to read a newspaper is study too. Unfortunately, I don’t read newspaper frequently, but everything what I read through English is my reading study. In my opinion, therefore, major difference between Korea life and U.S life is life itself.
According to the differences for living in US and my country, Thailand, the first thing is about foods that have their own unique style. In addition, most American recipes are sandwiches that always contain a lot of carbs and meats. On the other hand, Thai dishes always have many kinds of vegetable from which help people to be healthy also. Furthermore, another mentioned point is the traditional aspect; for instance, the new year’s celebration between them is in a different day. In addition, the Thai new year day is on April 13 each year; however, either the international or American new year day is on January 1 as well. Actually, those are a couple of differences between them, on the other hand, either living in Thai style or American one have some similar aspects also. In my viewpoint, the most important similar thing is a main transportation that mostly people always prefer to go everywhere by their own cars; as a result, there are a lot of traffics wherever there are roads and cars. All in all, there are both advantages and disadvantages for living in each place; therefore, I have to adjust myself to fit into their differences for both eventually.
There are some differences between the German and American mentality and culture.
American would walk up to you, even if they do not know how you are. They start a small talk and maybe you talk with him or her for more than one hour. In Germany you would not meet so many people who starts a conversation with a stranger. Another difference between these two countries is the time schedule. German people are very on time, if they have an appointment. It would be rude to come late without a good reason. American does not care if someone comes later. Both countries have their advantages and disadvantages.
After coming to the U. S, the biggest change for me is that I need to cook for a many people everyday. Even though I don’t hate cooking, sometimes it’s tired for me to cook every day. In Taiwan, either I ate outside or my mother cooked for me so I don’t need to spend a lot of time on cooking. In addition, contrasting with Taiwan, the U.S has variety of race such as Africa American, Mexican, Japanese and Korean. Different race has different culture; consequently, I can observe the culture shock here. For example, I can go to Japan town to see some traditional ceremonies or talk with Korean about tae kwon do or Kimchi. To my mind, these two things is very different for me because if I stay in Taiwan, I can’t get these experience.
In my life style, the way to study in the library in America is different compared with in Korea. In the USA, I have limited study time because the public transportation schedule. From my bus schedule, the time of the last bus at a station where I usually wait the bus to go home is 9:34 pm. Thus, I have to get a light rail at least one hour before that time. If I miss a bus, I automatically call my brother and ask to pick me up although he is bothered this matter. On the other hand, I was able to study whenever I want to do in the library in Korea as I not only had my own car, but also was able to use a public transportation as if it was my car even though I did not know about time table. Actually, I used to study my major until over mid-night when I was university student. In conclusion, in the case of studying in the library, American has less possibility than Korea.
If you are asking yourself sometimes what you are doing, what do you response on this?
When I was in Korea, I had a job as PR manager. I had a brilliant social skill and conversation skill with media and peers. I was very confidence and safe in my life. While I was bored my everyday life and lost my dream. When I felt routine and had some question for me. What do you do now? What do you want to be in the future?
Making a new life is hard. I wanted to look for solution. I had eventually decided to meet new world, although I gave up the present safe life. In contrast, I am in US, besides I have no job and no family. Moreover I don’t have any amazing conversation skill in English. However I have new emotion such as challenge. When I was in Korea, most of people come up to me. Now is different from the past. I try to hug someone first and open my mind.
These are so challenge that I feel feeble. However I cannot stop meeting my new world. I hope that luck will be come in me soon.
When I decided to study in America, I knowed there will be several differences in my life. First, the language is the biggest problem. Although I have learned English for several years, it is still hard to live in American. In my country, we consider english is a mean for examination, so I lack the ability in listening and speaking. The second difference is food habit. I found American don't eat too much to avoid fall sleep in afternoon. On the contrary, people eat more and take a rest in the afternoon. I think to suit different culture is diffcult but interstsing.
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