Dinner With My Mentors

On November 30th, I had a special dinner time with my mentors at Alice's home. Alice, one of my group members in my team, was responsible for preparing food, and I was responsibke for inviting our mentors and lead them to Alice's home. We invited four mentors, Kimberly, Tempestt, Amanda, and Monique and one mentee Leanda. As I mentioned in a last article that I sent the invitation to them and we decided to meet in front of Citibank at 6:20pm . It was very convenient for us that we meeted in front of Citibank because we would take a bus Q46 which station is near Citibank. Everything went smoothly. When we arrived at Alice's home, she almost prepared well. She made a lot of food by herself during Thanksgiving vocation. For example, dumplings, prok pies, and pancakes. Also, she prepared vegatables, fruits, and snack. Most of them were great, but she prepared too much to finish all the food. We introduted the history of food and the material to them. I thought it was a good communcation between East and West cultures. For me, it was a wonderful experience because I learned how to express Taiwanese food and show our culture to foreigners. Thanks for their supporting me in this semester. I believe we will have great activities in next semester.

Thanksgiving Party

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving party with Dabbie's family on November 23.
Through Project AIM, Rosa provided me the great opportunity to experiencea traditional Thanksgiving food and happy family time.

Although I thought the party might start from dinner time, my partner Yen-Ting and I were picked up by Frank, Dabbie's husband at 12:30pm at St. John's University. Although the weather was rainy and cold at that day, we were looking forward to visit their home. When we arrived their home, Dabbie was busy in the kitchen. Yen-Ting and I soon decided to help her. We help cut cheese, sausage, and ham and place them on the beautiful plates, which Dabbie's mother gave her many years ago. While we were all in the kitchen, Dabbie told us a romatic story about Thanksgiving and also introduce some traditional food. After a while, many Dabbie's relations came together, and we use Yahoo! Messager to say hello to their another relaton who was in Arizona and did not come back. I found Americans as treasure their family as Chinese do. What a sweet family.

Lunch started at 2:00pm. Dabbie prepared a lot of delicious food for us. I did not see most of them, but they were really delicious. Dabbie said they usually prepare their customers favorate dishes. Yen-Ting and I tasted every dish. We felt so comfortable because they were very nice and friendly. After lunch, we spent some time playing cards. They taught us two new games, and I also taught them the gane

we play in Taiwan. It was a lot of fun! We all liked the games. After eating cakes and drinking coffee, it was 8:30pm. It was time to go home. Dabbie's son sent us home.

I love these cute 15 people. I treasure our friendship.

Woodburry One Day Trip

On November 22, my friend and I had a wonderful Woodburry one day trip. The trip could also be called an advanture, because we both did not go to Woodburry before. Although some friends told us that we can wait for November 25 in which there will have a big sales on Thinksgiving Holiday, we decided to go there in advance because we knew there will be too crowd to shop anything.

Before the trip, we asked some friends and searched a few websites to check the schedules of bus and train. We planed to go shopping all day, so we got up at 6:50am to get on the first bus 8:30am at Port Authority Bus Terminal. It was spent 40 minutes from 169 st. subway station to Port Authority Bus Terminal station. Because we were new there, we spent some time to find the ticket shop. We asked some customers and the policemen, and finally found that the ticket shop is at second floor and the bus would be at gate 310 which is at third floor. How strange it is. In Taiwan the ticket shop and bus are usually on first floor. That is why we could not find them easily.

We were very excited when we arrived at Woodburry at 9:30am. These stores opened at 10:00am and closed at 9:30pm. There are too many stores to shop in one day. We checked the maps and planed to buy our torget goals first and then looked for others. I thought we were good planners and cooperatored very well because we finished all our plans and bought what we need, such as hats, scarfs, sweaters, overcoats, shoes, boots, hand creams, and so on. We spent almost 12 hours at Woodburry, but we can not go allover these stores. So, you know how large it is. Although, when we got home at 11:30pm and tired out, we were satisfied with ourselves and also the wonderful trip. I think we are good parters. I am looking for another advanture with her.

Dinner Invitation

One of mentees in my Project A.I.M. group called me this evening. She said that she want to invite several mentors to have some activities together, but she did not sure how to do it. I thought it is a good way to communicate with these nice persons and share our experience with each other. We discussed a lot about whom we will invite, when the date is, which place is better, and what kind of food we will prepare. Finually, we decided to have a dinner party at her home. We planed to handmade some traditional Taiwanese noodle food by ourselves. For example, steamed dumplings, cakes within green onion, and so on. I had sent them the invitation by email, and I will contact them in few days to make sure if all of them have free time to come. I feel excited to hold this dinner party. It will be very interesting to introduce these delicious food to my dear mentors. Hope they will like it.

Broadway Show: The Color Purple

On November 16, I saw my first Broadway show "The Color Purple " in New York. From Project A.I.M., I got a cheap ticket which was only US$15.00. The show started at 8:00pm at Broadway Theatre which is a classic theater. When I entered the theater, I saw that many people derssed formal clothes, stood and drank in front of the bar, and talked to strangers to share their opinions about the show. I found that there are something different from Taiwan. In Taiwan's National Chiang Kai Shek Cultural Center in Taipei, there is no bar provideing many wines before the performance. Most of shows performed in Taiwan start at 7:30pm, and it will be not inconvenient for audiences to go home late.

Before seeing the show, I had read some related information from the offical webside of the color purple: "The 2005-2006 Tony Award nominations were announced May 16th. Color Purple was nominated for 11 Tony Awards including Best Musical." I expected to see the top performance. I did not understand all the story, but I enjoyed in their resonant singings, beautiful actions, realistic spaces, and stage lighting. My friends and I all agreed that it was amazing and worth to gain the awards. Although it was almost 11:30pm when I arrived my home, I still felt very excited and looked forward to next Broadway show.

What a Wonderful Forest Valley Retreat!

On November 10--12, I participated in a Project AIM retreat which was hold at Forest Valley YMCA at upstate New York. I had a lot of fun and got many new experiences from this trip. Forest Valley YMCA is a nature environment with fresh air, clean river, a wide of meadows and forests, and many wooden castles. When we arrived at Forest Valley YMCA at the first night, we were surprised at that many stars were seen on the dark air. I do not have the beautiful experience in any city.

Also, I learned much from these useful classes and outdoor activities, for example immersion in St. John's Values, conflict management, cross-cultural experience and team building. In these classes, I realized the importance of trust, love, confidence, cooperation, and team work. Especially in the class of team building, I was delivered to cross a small hole by many tall guys. The rule is that you can't touch the lines and bells. If the bells rang, you can't win the score. I must relax and trust them to pass me. Fortunately, because of our love and cooperation, all of us pass it. In these classes, I challenged myself and had a lot of fun.

During the trip, there are many great dishes, and free to eat. Also, I made many new friends Michelle, Sisi, Julia, Alica, Amanda,Vincent, Michael, Leanda, Tempestt.... I love their lovely personality. Before we left the camp, we exchange our MSN, and took many pictures. I love this retreat! Thank you, Rosa! Thank you, Project AIM!

A Magic Trick in Class

In today's writing class, my teacher showed us an interesting magic trick. I did not know if he learned the trick in recent time, but it was really successful to attract everyone's attention. He asked me choose one card from many playing cards, but not let him know which one I selected. After we had some conversation, he found out the card I choose quickly. I was very surprised at he can play this magic trick.

Although playing cards is just the basic magic trick, I am still interested in how and why it happened. I knew there might be some secrets in the cards or some skills the player used, but I can't tell. A magic trick is really a good entertainment to have close relationships and bring happiness to people. Playing a magic trick is not only the important part of the show, but also creates the feeling and atmosphere which everyone enjoy and attract in it. Because of playing the little magic trick, my teacher created a fun and joyful environment in class.