Oh my gosh...

Guess what I found at China Town? A Shaolin Hung Gar Martial Arts Aacademy!!!! I checked to see if they had a website, and they did! http://www.winchellpcwoo.com/index.html
It's too cool. If you click on the links, you can access a lot of film clips with people doing forms.

Aaaaannndd I went to see their class today! Well, the class had already ended...it said on the schedule it was an adult class, but the master there told me no adults came in the end (they want their holiday) so this kid's class started at noon and lasted for two hours. Too bad. But he chatted on and on telling me about their grandmaster and how his father was born in the states and worked in the marine but went back to China and so even though the grandmaster was born in China he was born a US citizen. He told me the grandmaster is world renowned and all that and was head or started up this big kungfu academy in Hong Kong. And guess what? He's met Bruce Lee before!!!!!!!

I was thinking that they only focused on Hung Gar and not like where I (and my siblings) went where we also practiced Long Fist. But this master told me they studied both the Northern and Southern styles. They have 5 masters in all: 2 women, 2 men, and the grandmaster who takes over on Sundays. So I'll very probably see him tomorrow. What's more intimidating is a lot of students here have Tae Kwon Dao, karate backgrounds, and some are policemen or judges and even some work undercover(?). Hmm.

I'll write more after class tomorrow. The master told me I can wear comfortable clothes and join them. Practically everybody's there on Sunday. It sounds pretty good, 'cause he keeps stressing that they aren't like other martial academies and don't care about advertising and they're like a family.

We'll see:)

Christopher Myers!

He came to class!! It was great~ He's humble and down-to-earth and really funny sometimes. And TALL. I think the most interesting part was when he demonstrated working with acedate.





Our professor was really sweet. Guess what she made him?



It's a big cookie! Doesn't it look just like his book cover? Haha.
She even made ginger snaps for everyone! It was sooooooo delicious~~~ They were all gone in a snap.

Then we all went out to dinner together. We went to a Thai restaurant called Brown Sugar Cafe across from Simmons. They served really quick. Then we took a picture. I'm so glad I brought my camera^____^ (I got a ginger snap from the professor afterwards, heehee...)

Finally!

Our internet broke down last Saturday....we called comcast, but they cancelled our appointment on Monday without calling beforehand. (ok, fine) They rescheduled to come on Wednesday afternoon. Me and my roommates scheduled around so that at least one of us could be here during the time they were supposed to come. They called my roommate for a confirmation, but since she was in class she missed by 5 or 10 minutes, and they skipped and won't come back!(aarrgghh) So they rescheduled again to come Thursday afternoon, and they finally did---about one and a half hour late---but left soon when the guy checked to make sure it wasn't their problem. It turned out that all along we were using the linksys from downstairs...we didn't even know it. And it turned out that theirs wasn't working, about the same time ours wasn't working. Anyway. Somehow we got the internet again, but we're going to cut off comcast, ha. We really really really really really don't appreciate their attitude. So we're changing to Verizon, which is much cheaper. It sure isn't convenient without the internet these days.
Now I gotta catch up on a lotta stuff!

T Token...

Here's what it looks like:

More Packages~~~

Yeah! I got two more textbooks and my checks came too!!! I just looooove getting packages.

Oh, I heard Stephanie say yesterday that ther was a fire on the residence campus yesterday morning around nine. Crystal saw the smoke too. I heard all the kids were standing outside in their pajamas, waiting to go back in. Good thing nobody was hurt. The fire started in the machinery room...it's not suspicious though.

We're going to meet Christopher Myers later~~ We might even have dinner with him^^

Ooooooeeeeeoooooeeeeee~~~

Me and my roommate Stephanie went to the Museum of Fine Arts this morning. We looked around the Greek and Roman exhibit, the Egyptian room, and then went to the bookstore. We weren't even in there for 5 minutes, and the fire alarm went off!!!!! Everyone was shooed out, the fire engines came--2, and two firemen got out and went inside. I'll bet it was a false alarm...somebody probably accidently triggered it. Anyway. I had had to put my backpack in the coatroom, and this guy wouldn't let me have it. He said I could get it afterwards. He did for the guy before me=.=

So we waited and waited outside under the hot sun, as it was around 11:40, and after 20 minutes we finally crowded in again.

Interesting.

P.S. I got 2 of my textbooks today! One just in time for my afternoon class.

Found 1 book~

I went to Harvard Square~~ We took the T to Harvard Coop, Curious George, and Harvard Bookstore. None had the books I wanted=.= Anyway, Harvard Coop is HUGE. I only knew today that books are arranged in alphabetical order by the authors' last names. Stupid.:p
We walked around in the warm sun, which was really nice. It was getting late, so I decided to go to Porter Square Bookstore to try my luck. My roommate went back to go to the Museum of Fine Arts for her homework. We were gonna go together, but it was getting late, so we went our own ways. Turned out the museum closed before 5. @@

Wwell, I'm really tired, but it was a pretty good day, considering I found "Lies and Other Tall Tales" and would get "Blues Journey" by Tuesday^^ (both are illustrated by Christopher Myers who's coming to class next Wednesday~~:))

Busted Blinds...

One of the ropes broke. Now it's half way up and hanging slanted. Pfoosh.

Didn't waste the weather~

The internet has been very unstable this week.....pfoosh.

I'm trying to remember what happened yesterday....oh yeah, I ran around returning and trying to check out books in the college and public library~ that's the most annoying thing: scrambling around just to get the materials that you need to read for class, in which most are reserved--some 24-hour reserved--and it's a big fight to get the books. I have to admit it keeps me moving and exercising though. That's good. But I really don't like getting 24-hour reserves....I feel like I have to finish in a rush, rush to the library to recheck it out (fortunately), rush back home to read it in a rush, then rush back to recheck or return it. Pfoosh. But I'm sure it'll get a little better when I get my own textbook.

After I got what I can, I walked further down to see if I can find Barns & Noble. I wanted to buy a couple of books--particularly "Lies and Other Tall Tales" and "Blues Journey"-- by Christpoher Myers, or at least illustrated by him. I have never heard of his name before, and I'm nor too fond of his art style, but some really intrigue me. He's coming to talk to us in class next week:) I found none in the store=.= But the lady at the desk was very nice and gave me instructions to Harvard Square, where I'll find Harvard Coop & Curious George. She even drew a simple map for me~ Very nice of her right? I wanted to rush over right away, but it would be quite a walk and it was already 6:30. I finally decided to head back and do some studying. I'll go on Sunday^^

Yesterday me and my roommate--seeing that the sun was out and very nice, since it was said to rain--went to Stop & Shop for some grocery shopping together. It was really fun. I bought a sweatshirt at Walgreen's (only 3.99!!), and we both bought a bunch of food at S&S. I wanted waffles, and she told the me the banana bread one was really good. I grabbed it to give it a try. Not so bad actually, but I would prefer other flavors:P Funny thing was, we spent about the same amount of money on food...I "thought" I could spare myself a long period of grocery shopping...ah hum.

Today we went to the Children's Book Festival~~ The weather--supposedly to rain--was reeeeeeeaaaalllly nice~~ It was even pretty hot. We grabbed some free stuff, squeezed with parents and children in the book"tent" where Target sold books, listened to a Clifford story read by the author's daughter, then headed to au bon pain for lunch. And then, we went Trader Joe's, where they sell cheaper stuff. Not all, but a lot. And guess what? Me and Stephanie-same roommate-carried full brown paper bags home. Yup. And now I'm sure I'm through with food shopping for quite..a....while.. My area in the freezer is crammed.

Tomorrow we're going to Harvard Square!! Hopefully I can, no, I will finish my reading and my paper due on Monday by tonight, or by tomorrow morning. I have two other papers, but they're not due until Thursday. Man...the hardest part is reading all the literary stuff. We have lots to read, but lots I just don't get it. Plus that book is a 24-hour reserve.....can't complain. I'll have to remember to ask if anyone wants to form a study group on Monday.

Well, good luck to me! Goin' back to my work....(this is a nice way for recess)

P.S. Why did I not waste the weather? Because it was said to rain these couple of days, but the
weather is sooo nice. So we went out~ Of course there will be guilt from going out when
there's still work to do, but there will be more guilt if we stayed in and studied in such
nice weather. I'm glad I bore the guilt of the former.

ChinaTown~

We-me, Pam, Phil, and Pam's colleague Yaja(?)-went to Chinatown for dinner this evening. First we went to Happy Buddha 彌勒齋, cuz Yaja is a vegetarian. Me and Pam ordered dumplings, but....they just didn't taste too good. Then we went to Taiwan Cafe 海之味-Pam loves their 小籠湯包. She ordered noodles, I tried some and they were good. Then came the 小籠湯包.....actually,大籠湯包@@ They were BIG. The ones I had in Taiwan were much smaller...and tasted better. Sorry, but that's true:p There's not much to see at night, but we did see the words 禮義廉恥 and 天下為公. I also saw the word 財 on the ground.

As we were walking to the T station, we were talking about Chinese and Britain's history, and Phil brought up the idea that lots of trouble in history started with Britain.....hmm, interesting perspective eh?

How I got enrolled into my 3rd course...

I originally planned to take 2 courses, cuz I'm not sure how much I can handle. Prof. Mercier encouraged me to take the writing course I to get started on my MFA. So I decided to try, and with determined steps I marched into the registrar----the class was full. DARN. I told the professor, and she said she could sign me up, so I went to the class last week. This professor said she had structured the class for 12 people and told me she would think about it. What if I don't get into the course? How should I schedule my classes for the next 1 1/2 year?

I talked to Prof. Mercier about this, and she said she will talk to that professor, no prob. But I said it was structured for 12 and......"You will be in that course. She has no choice. I'm the boss." She said it in a humorous way:P She is so cute.

What I love about Simmons...

Ok, aside from the fact that tuition is very costly, we do get 350 free print-out pages, which I think is more than enough, we can sign up for lockers without charge, and we can check out 50 books at most. Or can all graduate students check out 50? Anyway. I'm pleased with that. Here is a picture--of two full shelves of children's books~~



Isn't lovely? I wish I could carry it all home with me^^

Stupid Stupid Stupid...

Yesterday I received my textbook for the class, and I was sooooo happy it came on time!
When I got to class, I flipped it open to the contents page, and...it.was.very.different. I ordered the wrong edition.

So. I immediately ordered another one, the right one, and mailed this one back. Hopefully it will arrive soon.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

Whew...

Well, I just came back from school....I got a locker! We have to get a lock and put it on a locker before registering, and I thought I would get one in my apartment. When I checked out the lockers though, there were only a few left@@ So I rushed to the bookstore and bought a lock....6.80 plus tax--is that expensive? then rushed to locker 388, then rushed to register, for free!! Ain't that great?

That done, I headed to the library to print out an article. Well it wouldn't print, so I had to go to the campus card office--turned out my card wasn't activated, but it happened to a lot of students--then go back to the library and print.

I sure got plenty of exercise today!!^^

I got a tennis racket~

I bought a tennis racket today!! And then me, Pam, her roommate Phil, and Marshal went to play tennis. It was good~~ Pam and especially Marshal are really good. I also got a cheaper heair dryer, so I'm gonna return the one I bought at Bed, Bath & Beyond. I didn't know they were more expensive when I went. Anyway, after our game of tennis it started to drizzle, and then we went to a BBQ~Me and Pam shared some chicken wings, celery and fries.

It was a really nice day~~^^

P.S. I received 2 textbooks this morning!!

Guess what I found?

This afternoon I decided to go to Target to see if they had any cheap plastic drawers, and there was a Chinese supermarket around! I got all sorts of noodles, dumplings, thousand-year-old-eggs, tofu---forgot the soy sauce, but maybe they have it at Stop&Shop--and Cha! Hopefully it tastes the same as the ones we ate before.^^

First day of class~

I had my first class yesterday, but I was so exhausted when I got back.
This is the Contemporary Considerations class, and the poor professor, she had poison ivy@@
By the 2nd hour she was starting to get red and dismissed class an hour early. It was pretty fun though. We discussed which authors we would like to have to come in to class, cuz apparently Russell Freedman-which I don't know about but those who did said he was goooood- had a bad throat and the professor had like 4 other syllabuses we could choose from.
Today was a writing class, but I'm not sure if I can enroll yet. We did an exercise on character--she gave us 5 minutes to write from a little piggy prospective. The little piggy poem?
You count on your fingers and say:
This little piggy went to market,
This little piggy stayed at home,
This little piggy had roast beef,
This little piggy had none.
And this little piggy went "wee wee wee" all the way home...

We each chose a little piggy and wrote a small story from that piggy's prospective.

Aint't that fun?

I also got my library card today! I went to the Boston Public Library. The people there are very nice, and I can also have them transfer books to this library if it's elsewhere. There's only one level with books though. I could choose my library card color! They had blue and orange. Definitely blue. I'm not too fond of orange:P

Orientation~

This morning I got 5 Dunkin Donuts glazed donut holes....I couldn't resist it anymore:P They were 19cents each....not cheap but not that bad.

I got my new Student ID! We took our picture on the spot, but I don't like it:( Anyway, all went pretty well until I hit tuition...apparently they sent my bill all the way to Taiwan@@ But they printed a new one out for me, and I'll have to wait until the checks I ordered come in.

Textbooks are sooo expensive! My roommate Stephanie told me I could order some used ones through Amazon, which I did, cuz they're like 10 bucks cheaper! Even with the shipping I could save like 20 bucks.

We met Prof. Mercier today~~ She's really cute! She's very nice and very energetic and pretty funny....she's gonna work us hard though. I like my classmates--well, programmates?-too. They all seem very nice (so far). Here's the one thing I'm really happy about: Prof. Mercier told me I'm one of the younger students. HAHA.

Cream of Mushroom Eggs~~

Haha...here it is! Cream of Mushroom Eggs with Cheese Sandwich!

My first cooked meal~

Haha...I tried out a Campbell recipe today. You're supposed to use cheddar cheese soup to make the scrambled eggs, but I forgot what kind at Stop&Shop, so I used Cream of Mushrooms....it wasn't too bad actually^^ I had turkey breast to go with it.

So here's my first cooked dinner~^^ I forgot to take a picture though. Darn.

Oultet shopping!!

Sept.2, 2006

Pam and Bryan picked me up at noon, then we went to Framingham to pick up Marshall, a Cincinnati friend. We had lunch at 東漁屯, and the food came pretty slow. We couldn't tell whether the waiter was Cantonese or Chinese orTaiwanese. When he said "dimsum" it sounded pretty Cantonese, but then he said "打包" in Mandarin, and we couldn't understand most of his English. Hmm....

Then we got on the highway, and were stuck in a traffic jam for an hour before we reached the outlet in Wrenthom (?). The place was packed!! It's more crazy than an amusement park. Luckily we got a parking space, these Asians were backing out:P

Dinner was reeeaaallly yummy~~~ We went to Cracker Barrel's! I had eggs with sausage pattie and mashed potatoes with gravy~~~ yum yum yum. We also had a relay on the peg game:P At the checkout counter I couldn't resist it anymore--I picked up the cutest teddy bear^______^ It's always nice to have someone smile at you when you walk through the door:)

A new start~~

Sept.1, 2006

Today Aunt Sally and Uncle Ping helped me move in to my apartment. Besides a bed, shelf, desk, and a small table, the landlord also gave me a TV! Old of course, but still, a TV! Aunt Sally and Uncle Ping wanted to get me one but I felt I didn't need one. Anyway. We went down to the basement to check out the the washing and laundry machine, and I saw this small bookcase and asked the landlord for it. "Help yourself~" So then I also took a stand for my bedside table and Aunt Sally grabbed a pot of flowers:P

Pamela and her boyfriend bryan picked me up at night, we were supposed to go salsa dancing at MIT for his orientation party. We grabbed a late dinner at 狀元樓..Pu Pu Hotpot in English@@, then we just didn't go because we were really exhausted. It was still fun though. I ate my first fortune cookie (since coming here):) Here's my fortune: "When you squeeze an orange, orange juice comes out-because that's what's inside."

It cracked us up.

Candlewood Lake!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aug. 30,2006

So Aunt Sally showed me how to do stir-fry beans with 榨菜 and chicken breast. Then she showed me how to devil's eggs. I wonder why they're called "devil's"? It was neat~

Here comes the best part--we went to Candlewood Lake! (The biggest lake in CT) AND in their own boat!!!!! It's a searay. It was soooooooooooooo cool. They let me have the best seat, which is in front of the wheel. We brought Jordan too! He looks so funny and adorable with the wind in his face^^



Uncle Ping even let me drive the boat!!!!!!!!!!!! Ain't that the coolest thing ever??? You have to have a license to drive it. Too bad I didn't get a picture. But that's ok.

Here we are~


The sunset was just beautiful. At first it was kind of purplish, then it was all pink~



Then we had grilled steak, potato, and beans.

~A wonderful ending to a wonderful day~

Connecticut-4th day

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA~~I had Arby's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Yummy yummy yummy...

AND I got my FIRST manicure today. I chose fiji-a pale pink, but it totally doesn't match my skin color. Blech. I look like I have bubble gum stuck to my fingernails @@

Connecticut Aug.28

I finished reading all the Berenstain Bear books in Aunt Sally's library:) In the afternoon we went to Walmart--I had expected to come out with a couple of things in a bag, bbbbuuuuttt.....

I got the cart, and Aunt Sally would lead me down one lane after another, tossing item after item into the cart..."You need this.....take a couple of these...you should get this..." By the time we reached the check out counter the cart was overflowing--there was stuff beneath the cart too! Haha...it was fun.

Uncle Ping grilled pork ribs, and Amy was over for dinner and for the night^^ She helped me order a Cingular cell phone online, but it didn't work out. Oh well.

Ohohoh....I got icecream at McDonald's!! It sure tastes different from Taiwan's. :)

2nd day in Connecticut~

We went up to see Sarah!! She looks great^^

First day in Connecticut~Aug. 26

I saw Jordan~~~ He's the most adorable little thing! Aunt Sally showed me all his tricks: he could dance--jumping on his hind legs, roll around--both ways, speak(bark, actually), close the door with his front paws, and scratch at the door when he wants to come in from the yard. For dinner Aunt Sally made onions and beef, 麻婆豆腐(really spicy tofu), and chicken withe some broccoli and celery. Amy came for dinner, and she took me out to Coldstone for icecream. You can choose a flavor and add one thing on it--I put gummy bears into my vanilla ice cream:P

哈哈哈~~~

終於給我找到了~~~