26. Advice for Pre-Gophers

The very first thing you need to keep in mind----bring ALL your documents: passport, I-20, transcript. Please make sure to bring them all with you when you take a flight, pass the customs, and go to school for the documents check in. Even remember to bring your documents whenever leave the U.S.. I had left my I-20 in my dormitory when my first time went back to China during the winter break. Then when I came back to the states I couldn’t pass the customs until my friend sent my I-20 form to me. Anyway I was so lucky.

Once you choose U of M, you must get prepared for the winter in Minnesota. You will believe that any clothes will be warm enough for the winter here.

From my personal experience, I would not encourage you to buy too many clothes before you leave. Just bring what you have for different seasons, then enjoy the shopping later. For example, I have a few of clothes are in the bottom of drawer that I’ve never touched. Especially for girls, girls like to follow the latest trend of fashion of outfits. So the local dressing style might leading your taste of choose clothes. In short, save room for your baggage to bring something that is necessary, and shopping for clothes here.

Should you worry about eating? Of course you shouldn’t. The only thing you ought to worry about is how to stop increasing weight and maybe you need to lose your weight when you leave here. You can never imagine how many delicious foods here. Restaurants in different countries are located in U of M because it is an international university. You can find Mexican restaurant, Korean restaurant, Japanese restaurant and Italian restaurant. You can even see a Vietnamese restaurant. All of them are perfect. Of course you will not miss the best Chinese food to eat by reason that Chinese restaurant is always packed and everyone likes it including me.

As for living, usually freshmen are required to live in dormitory, however a few people were moved into off campus apartment during their freshman year. But as my point of view it is better to live in dorm at least for the first semester. I would say it is really helpful to adapt to college life sooner and better. Particularly, for international students, living with native speakers will improve your English rapidly.

U-pass! Going everywhere. U-pass is a prepay unlimited bus card you can get for the whole semester. I bought one at the beginning of the first semester because I live in one of the school resident hall which is located off campus. For student who is going to live in other dormitory, campus connector is really convenience. There are both east bank and west bank routes. East bank is towards St. Paul campus. If you live in Bailey Hall you may have to take the campus connector as daily transportation.

Subjectively, the most important thing you may need to get prepared, yourself. Take few minutes to think about your motivation, why are you going to study abroad? Why is it better than stay in your home country? What will you get or lose when you are going to study abroad？Then make a plan and set a goal for yourself as a college achievement.

Last but not least, one of the biggest challenges for international students must be homesick.Language barriers and differences in lifestyle may cause the feeling of loneliness. I believe you will come over it           

            Welcome to the University of Minnesota!

25. Internet: Online Social Networks

Now probably most of students have their own blog or profile online, and the first thing they are going to do when connecting to the Internet might be log on social networking sites such as, Facebook, Myspace and Twitter. Some of students even set the site as his or her home page on the computer. I still remember the first time when I created my own account on Facebook everything seems new for me. Then I started adding friends, editing my profile and checking others’. In the beginning, I keep updating status frequently, posting photos on my profile, and chatting with friends online. But later on, I found that is just waste of time and it shouldn’t be included in my daily routine, I have something more important to do such as my schoolwork or spending time with my family. Just like when I became, as the majority of Facebook user are teenagers, there arises some problem.

In contrast, there are some people find themselves more comfortable on the Internet. Especially for people who are unremarkable in the real life, it gives them a chance to be somebody else. They could have a better expression on social network sites to share their feeling of life and try to make more friends. Social networking is a new way of communication. 

In my point of view, it is necessary for students to communicate with others through online social networking although it might spend some time. It will be an improvement of interrelationship as long as students use online social networks properly.

24. An Image Analysis

                                                     The Edenton Ladies Tea Party

This is a political cartoon shows a society of patriotic ladies at Edenton in North Carolina. There is a woman in the left of the picture who is pouring some tea into a pauper’s hat. A woman stooping in front of the desk is signing the petition. There is another woman sitting at the table flirting with a man. The woman next to her is holding a hammer with an angry look. There is a woman standing behind them is drinking a large bowl of tea. A slavery woman next to her, who is serving a puill pen and peeking at the petition on the desk curiously. Besides, there is a dog peeing on a box of tea and licking a child in front of the desk. The child is playing with a plate of cookies under the desk.

This image was published in a London Newspaper in March 1775 which British drew it to making fun of American. The image shows that women also played an important role in the American Revolution. Women did not sign petitions before the 1770s. However, as we can see in the picture, there are ladies in different positions are going to sign the petition to boycott English goods, especially, tea. The picture of the Edenton Ladies Tea Party is one of the earliest organized groups of women that influenced public policy.

23. My Thanksgiving in MN

     This Thanksgiving is my first Thanksgiving spending in Minnesota. Last year I went to New York with my friend, Wendy and Sharon. But this year we decided to spend the holiday in different places. Wendy has been to Chicago, Sharon was in Miami while I was just stay at home. Fortunately, my first Thanksgiving here wasn't boring at all since I had a friend who was coming from Indiana. Her name is   Tizzy, but usually been called dizzy. She is my neighbor in Beijing. Actually we had never been to a same school but our parents know each other very much. That's why we still neighbor when we all moved.

     Tizzy called me two days before Thanksgiving said "what is the airport code of your city?" 

     I couldn't believe my ears then asked "what did you say?" 

     She said in hurry "three letters airport code."

     I finally got her, "MSP. Are you booking a flight? Are you coming? When? " The phone ended with my tons of questions.

     Tizzy arrived Minnesota in the afternoon on November 25th, then we went to my aunt Joy's house for a family party.(In China, people called their parent's friends who is about the same age with their parent's as uncle or aunt to show respect.) Joy has a daughter and a son. Her daughter, Melody, who is a student from Harvard University did all cooking with her friends for the Thanksgiving night. Later on, when everyone was coming, they curved the turkey and the party was started. It was a sweet family party! At Thursday midnight, we went to Premium Outlet for "black Friday" shopping. However we weren't stay there for long because of the unbearable cold weather, especially for Tizzy who had never experienced the winter in Minnesota. When backed from Outlet around 3am, we slept till the next afternoon. 

     Tizzy said, what she likes most was one-day tour in Mall of America on Saturday. It wasn't only because there were lots of good deals but also it is a indoor shopping mall :P

22. Harry Potter and Yuki

I have never missed a Harry Potter movie though I’m not a Harry Potter fan. It is only because it’s too popular for me to ignore it. I watched Harry Potter 7---- Harry Porrer and the Deathly Hallows with my roommates on Sunday night which was fantastic and reminds me of my memory of the passing ten years with Harry Potter. People in my generation are mostly growing up with Harry Potter. The Harry Potter here not only means the name of this specific character or the book, it’s everything about Harry Potter.

As Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone came out in 2001, it was a bomb. Then, in few years a Harry Potter trend are slowly filtering into people's minds. Remember when Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire came out in 2005, all my friends were talking about Harry’s hairstyle, especially girls. It seems like high school students are highly concern about Harry Potter movies. Some of them are keep tracking it.

     For all the actors in Harry Potter movies, people almost treat them as the real characters. During filming, actors even call each other as the name in movie. Such as, Daniel Radcliffe, both crew and his fans prefer to call him Harry, because they are Harry, Hermione and Ron in our eyes.

     When all the actors were growing up, I found some of them surprised me while some disappointed me. Daniel again, who disappointed me the most. He is neither tall nor handsome when he grew up. Contrarily, Emma Watson, the more grown the more beautiful. She has become a graceful young lady. Well, why didn’t they change actors? Actually it doesn’t really matter who they are and how they are looking when they grew up. Keep the original actors are in order to keep the initial characteristics of Harry Potter and satisfied all fans.

21. Chinese Spring Festival

There is no doubt that the Spring Festival is the most important an celebrated in China, which is very similar to Christmas in west countries. Spring Festival is a festival for family reunion. People living far from home go back and get together with their families. The Spring Festival falls on the 1st day of the 1st lunar month which means the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one. And the Chinese government now stipulates people have seven days off for the Chinese Lunar New Year. Theose days off are always during the winter break for students, so it doesn’t really matter as I was a student there. Moreover, since China has 56 minorities, although all the minorities celebrate the Spring Festival almost at the same day as Han people, they have different customs. In general, Chinese people celebrate the Spring Festival in the following ways.

The 23rd day of the 12th lunar month is called Preliminary Eve. People offer sacrifice to the kitchen god at that time. Now however, most families make delicious food to enjoy themselves. Then all the department stores and markets will be super busy when the New Year’s coming, because everyone is going to purchase for “New Year Goods”. That we called goods for the New Year are not only grocery but also various decorations, new clothes and shoes for the children as well as gifts for the elderly, friends and relatives.

Then people begin decorating their clean rooms featuring an atmosphere of rejoicing and festivity. Doors will be pasted with Spring Festival couplets, highlighting Chinese calligraphy with black characters on red paper. The Chinese character "Fu" which means blessing will be pasted upside down. Because in Chinese, the "reversed Fu" is homophonic with "happiness comes". Whats more, Red paper-cuttings can be put on window or wall and brightly colored New Year paintings with auspicious meanings may be put on the wall. People believe that those decorations can bring house owners' good wishes for the New Year in lucky and health.

There is another important part in Chinese culture----food. Of course, food is indispensable in Spring Festival. At the Spring Festival Eve, all the family members will sit and eat dinner together. The meal is much more luxurious than usual. In the North of China, people usually making dumplings for their New Year meal. After the dinner, family will sit together and waiting for the celebration broadcast on China Central Television Station (CCTV). That is almost become a new custom in recent years. Then at the midnight, people might go out to see fireworks. Finally, the most excited part in Chinese New Year is that elder generations will give child a red envelope with “Lucky money” in it. Although I’m not a kid anymore, I still enjoy the atmosphere in Spring Festival. I enjoy every moment of time with my family.  

20. Superhero Power

     If I can have a superpower I wish it is a ability to scan anything I saw and turn it to real. However, all the objects I have turned would just exist for 72 hours. Under this circumstances, I can have all the thing I want to buy through window shopping. I can help beggar by scanning some bread from the bakery. I can make a copy of my classmate's book when I left mine at home. I might also scan a fancy clothes which I won't wear twice to attend to a ball.
     However, this superpower can be used in a extensive range of situations except things with illegal copy right, such as money. Excess illegal moeny would lead to a matter of inflation.
     This superpower would be helpful in some case of urgency or something I might only need for one time which is unnecessary for me to own it.

19. Snowing

     While I was talking over about the unusual warm winter last week, it started snowing on Friday night.It is the first snow in this winter.The temperature was going down in last week. On Friday night, we had a party in a friend's house and watch movie together.When the movie was almost end, someone looked outside and thought about going back.
     Suddenly, he said "it's snowing!"
     "Are you kidding me?" I asked.
     Then everyone was looking outside of the window, we found that it was real snowing. We feel excited and planed to go out. My friend's house is few blocks from downtown Minneapolis.That would be interesting if we went out at a snowing late night. I wore everything I could wear to keep warm, but once I went outdoor I would never get enough.After a long way walking, we finally got to downtown Minneapolis. Quite streets covered with silver light snow which were so fantastical.

     By the way, although I love snowboarding, I haven't been snowboarding here in Minnesota. I'm thinking about go snowboarding with friends during Thanksgiving. I can't wait anymore!

18. A True Friend

Natali is my best friend. We met each other since high school. We were desk-mate who always hang out together, study together, go through all the happy and sorrow.  She make me realized the truth of a real friend.
A true friend is someone who will always stand by your side when someone else hurts you.
A true friend will ask you for help, while a common friend will come to you for help.
A true friend will stay away from you when you are in a relationship, but she will be there for you at once when you feel down or break up.
A common friend never see you cry while a real friend will let you cry on her shoulder.
A real friend will worry about you when she can not reach you instead complaining. 
A real friend is someone who is understanding and always a good listener to you.

16. The end of the world

     End of the world would be a quiet topic in my imagination. If 6 billion people on the earth notice that the earth will no longer rotate, in a common way like every single day, which we may not value it so much and which we did nothing at all. But it is still a day like every day in the seven-ending-world-day. If everybody knows there is going to be the end, people will not talk about that. 
     So for me, there will be more silence filling in my world. I do not want to be specific in what I will do on each day and I do not want it sounds like a perfect plan. Instead, I like the feeling when walking on my way when I really do not care about the way. So one thing I would do is spending time with most precious people in my life which are my parents, best friends and their parents, however, only if they agree with my plan. I would be really exciting if I can go to somewhere like Tibet or Alps, some highest altitude of the earth, which has smallest population density on the earth, watching the stunning beautiful sunset, feeling the falling down of the sun as well as the human's earth,  instead using the word hiding, I would rather address it as isolating, keeping me in a pure way of being a human being. 

15.My Happy Halloween

Chinese American Network had a Pumpkin Carving Event this Thursday. The event started at 5:30pm, but as a member I got there an hour earlier to help the preparation. At 5pm, after we done with all the decoration, people came one after another, each person could buy a pumpkin from the entrance and prepare to carve it. When we started carve pumpkin everyone had a hard time working on the cleaning part. Because before we start carve the pumpkin we have to scoop the inside out till it looks like a lantern, then thinking about what to draw on the surface. I spent a lot of time of designing. I was thinking about does it need to be something scary, like a scared face or ghost. Finally I determined to carve a Baby Paul Frank, Halloween edition. A baby evil must be cute and puzzled as long as I can make it recognize enough.

On Friday I went to a friend’s party which is downstairs at my apartment. Everyone dressed up as whatever they want. Some of them were animals, some were dressing in different occupations, others are inhuman creatures, such as mummies, vampires and so on.

Last but not least, I went to Valley Scare on Saturday with my roommate. That was fascinating though I’ve been to Valley Fair before. The night time Valley Scare had a wonderful atmosphere which is totally different with in the daytime.

What an unforgettable Halloween I have ever had!

14.Writing and Reading Progress

    I feel my writing skills has improved since I took this course. For instance, as I learned description. I know how to make essay longer and enrich. Through writing in 5 senses, my essay will convey the pictures in my mind to readers. Also after I learned the basic structure of academic writing, I have a more clear mind before each time I write. With lots of practicing in class and homework assignments, I find myself more comfortable in writing. Namely, when I was writing the first essay, I really appreciated the peer review and teacher’s feedback that has a great help during revising of my essay.

    As for writing, I’m lack of vocabulary that I still need a lot more reading. On the one hand, I don’t have enough time to read. On the other hand, I need to improve my reading strategies. Instead of looking up the dictionary all the time, I should try to guess the meaning of words, this kind of strategy can promote my reading efficiency.

In fact, I’ve never keep writing a diary or blog. Although I don’t really like this kind of assignments, this free style writing helps me a lot of getting familiar with different sorts of topics honestly.

13. "Lose Weight" for A Better Life

Nowadays, overweight has been a big problem in society. Because fat is incompatible with good health and lead people become lazy, or losing confidence.

In fact, the word "skinny" has no bearing on me since I was young. People called me chubby girl because I have a baby face. My mother always says that girl’s will become thinner when they are growing up. However, when I turned to teenager, I don’t believe in baby fat anymore and start thinking of how to lose weight and become thinner just like other girls do.

In other word, to keep a nice body figure is not all about losing weight, it’s a life attitude. Living in a healthy life style of regularity daily schedule, weekly work out and eating habits. Those are things you should keep in mind to build a good body instead of focusing on lose weight.

Always remember there is no short cut of losing weight. Sometimes people try various ways to lose weight, such as take some medicines, drink tea and by some equipments. They are seems like the most efficient methods to lose weight that you can see the result immediately. But if you don’t do any exercise at the mean time, the losing pounds will quickly come back. Even there are people get sick by the special medicines which have a risk of their health.

Actually, the most effective way to lose weight is quite simple---- living with a good diet and properly exercising. What makes it work is determination. In my senior year in high school, after I was accepted by the University, I didn’t take the general college entrance examination. I took some classes in the Foreign Study University in Beijing and started body training. During that time, I worked out three times a week and keep in a well-balanced diet. It wasn’t totally on a diet but ate only fruits and vegetables every day. In addition, I got enough sleep since said “goodbye” to tons of homework. First, weights were come off so slowly. But as I was keep doing the same things for three months, I finally lost 15pounds.

Maybe it wasn’t an idea weight compare to other skinny girls, but at least, I accustomed to a healthy lifestyle.

12. The First Snow in My Memory

I was born in Hunan, a province in south of China where is humid and warn. So, usually it doesn’t snow for a few years there in Hunan. Conversely, it was colder than the winter in Beijing. It might be snowed sometimes when I was little, but the most impressive snow in my memory happens in the year when I was nine. I have never seen snowing like that before, and the heavily snow was memorable in my childhood.

One day I woke up in the morning, some white crystal things cover on the ground and the whole world turned to silver. I could hardly believe that was snowing. The whole world just covered by snow after one night, and still snow little by little during the day. I dressed warm then went out excited. I couldn’t wait to come close to the world of fairy tale. Feeling soft by stepping on the snow and it melted in a flash even though I treated it lightly.

Later on, my best friends and I made snowmen and had snowball fights in front of my house. The snow was perfect for snowball fights. Cold but happy, the snow brought me an unforgettable pleasure in my childhood.

10. Education

  

The education system in American is much more individual than in China. Namely, there isn't any optional course in Chinese normal high school. Even though for Chinese college students, they have to take courses that called "optional" those are suppose to be taken depend on whatever they like. With regard to study, students are forced to study and have no time to do things for their own interests. In some case, students perhaps don't know they take responsibility for themselves once they leave from their parents since they were demanded to do everything.

    As for making change of Chinese education system, the College entrance examination would definitely be the first critical point which I want to change since I am from China. The worst part about the special college entrance examination which called Gao Kao in China, is that the simple exam which takes two days will in somehow determines a student's whole life. That seems unfair to judge someone’s ability by one exam. Regardless of what they did before the exam day, the scores they get in Gao Kao will be the only inference or indicator to determine who is qualified for better education. However, it doesn't necessary indicate who really deserves it.

9. CAN's BBQ Event

Going through a midterm-week with no more than four hours sleep everyday and cramming for exams, I was extremely exhausted. When I was done the whole week, I went back home to checked my mailbox as a daily routine, and then I found there would be a BBQ event holding in two hours by CAN “Chinese American Network” ---- a student association that I involved in. At the moment, I decided to go without hesitate.

The BBQ event was hold at Father Hennepin Park where located along Mississippi river. It wasn’t a place you would pay attention while people were passing by, but there was no doubt that it was a good spot for BBQ and fishing. When we got there, the BBQ was already started. Some people were eating around the fire, some people were chatting around and meeting new friends, others were playing frisbee and football on the grass. I was on a diet last week. But actually, I ate a lot on Friday night

While I was about to leave, someone told me to get some s’mores. “S’more? ” I asked what is it. My friend Heather told me that was a kind of dessert made of three simple treats: marshmallow, chocolate and graham crackers.

Firstly, toast marshmallow above the campfire still the surface turn brown and molten inside. Secondly, place a piece of chocolate and toasted marshmallow in graham crackers. Finally, eat as eating a burger. It tasted so soft and sweet with the smile of chocolate. Besides, I’ve heard the name of s’more came from a camp, when a girl asked her father if she could have some more food. Soon I asked for more s’more as expected.

Luckily I went to a fun and delicious BBQ which was the best ending of a tough week!

8. What I want to be?

        When I was young, everyone around me had a fantasy of becoming a scientist, and I was no exception. Not only by reason that scientists were the top talent in our society, but also due to their contributions to human. They could invent machines to improve our life; they could also explore nature to protect the living environment. At that time, scientists was the greatest occupation in children's mind. Because it seems cool! But later on, I found that it had nothing to do with me because I wasn't good at science at all. I chose arts for my subjects preference when I was in high school and then set up new goals in my life.

        However, my dream was keep changing over time. When I was in primary school, I found myself interested in music and saw most of my friends can play an instrument, then I asked my mom to send me to learning piano. I started dreaming about  become a musician, a pianist. But I soon found I wasn't kind of person who would be easily concentrated on doing a long time repetitive work.

        After three years involved in my high school TV station, I found myself comfortable working in the media. Therefore, my goal is to be a radio and television producer so far. That's why I'm planning  to major in mass communication.


        What am I going to be? I'm still exploring.

6. The Dairy Day

I invent a new Dairy Day. (Although it haven’t appeared in public yet.)

To be honest, the initially reason of inventing this holiday is that I love dairy products!! However, the intention of this holiday is more than just a personal preference. It will be holding twice a year on the summer solstice and the winter solstice in countries all over the world. It is way to popularize dairy products in different seasons and show people about Dairy & Health. And of course, FUN! All the stores that selling dairy products will have a half price off saling event on that day which is like the black Friday on Thanksgiving. And there will be a dairy carnival with plenty of activities fit for people in different age to enjoy it. Also there will be some limit editions of dairy products on Dairy Day only.

    Moreover, another important theme of the dairy holiday is Health. There will be some public advertisements about dairy with life & health coming out that made by celebrity with non profit. Telling people about how does different dairies related to your body functions, and has effects on your health.

5. Procrastination

        I went to bed at 3am last night because there's a paper due this morning. I didn't finish it earlier although I spent the whole weekend working on it. Slept too late makes me feel extramely sleepy in the day time, and couldn't concentrate at all. Then I keep asking myself why it always happen to? Maybe I should really think about it. I've read an article online was talking about people who always delay the things have to be done which called procrastination. So am I one of them? 

       In order to explore more details about procrastination I start looking for resources on the Internet. While searching online there came out an self-testing website for people to know weather he/she has procrastination or just being lazy. It wasn't a professional psychology test website, at least it's worth to be consult. if you wanna try for fun, here's the link of the test page http://astro.sina.com.cn/t/2009-11-19/115265767.shtml (Sorry, Chinese version only)

So, what is procrastination? 

        Procrastination refers to the counterproductive deferment of actions or tasks to a later time. Psychologists often cite such behavioras a mechanism coping with the anxiety associated with starting or completing any task or decision. [Fiore, Neil A (2006). The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt- Free Play. New York: Penguin Group. ISBN 9781585425525.  p. 5] Schraw, Wadkins, and Olafson have proposed three criteria for a behavior to be classified as procrastination: it must be counterproductive, needless, and delaying. [Schraw, G., Wadkins, T., & Olafson, L. (2007). Doing the things we do: A grounded theory of academic procrastination [Electronic version]. Journal of Educational Psychology, Vol 99(1), 12-25.]

Procrastination may result in stress, a sense of guiltand crisis, severe loss of personal productivity, as well as social disapproval for not meeting responsibilities or commitments. These feelings combined may promote further procrastination. While it is regarded as normal for people to procrastinate to some degree, it becomes a problem when it impedes normal functioning. Chronic procrastination may be a sign of an underlying psychological disorder.

The cause of procrastination: 

        There are two main types of procrastination: the relaxed type and he tense-afraid type. Person who is a relaxed type really enjoy relaxing activities rather than task, he/she couldn't renounce the pleasure instead of facing the reality, doing things he/she unwilling to do. On the other, who is a tense-afraid type is habitually shirk responsibilities, because he/she's afraid being under pressure. He/she might usually have a plan which wasn't feasible. In particular, when the deadlines coming soon he/she feels over anxious.

Lastly, I summarized some tips of how to deal with procrastination, also for self-suggestion:

       1．To realize that there's no point of being procrastination, it couldn't help you to get your work done. Meanwhile, it's waste of time.

　　2． Write down all the reason of being procrastination.

　　3． Think about those reason carefully, and try to come over it.

　　4． Make a to do list then get started!

4. I miss the winter in Beijing

 
  Actually I don’t have a specifically favorite season. However in my memory, there are different seasons I like in different place I have lived. Back to my hometown Hunan, it's always raining. I can't even tell if there was a rainy season all wasn't, because it seems raining the whole year. Especially in summer, the weather was so muggy and hot. But I love the spring in Hunan which days are getting longer and warmer rapidly.
 
  Since I was 12 years old I moved to Beijing with my family. Then I quickly found out the winter in Beijing is so comfortable. Although the lowest temperature can drop to 15℃ below zero,  because of the dry weather you can't really feel that cold. Also the air conditioner is everywhere, once you get in a building you can take your coat off. Besides, In Beijing it's always windy and rarely rain. But the sand storm is getting worse nowadays.

  With the weather is getting colder in Minnesota I start missing the winter in Beijing so badly. Even here isn't that cold than I thought but it's still going to be hard to get through.

3. Last Weekend

  My last weekend was begin with an unfortunate Friday, then end with a study Sunday. But luckily I had an amazing Saturday!
  Before I went to bed at Thursday night, myphone was almost run out of battery while I couldn't find the charge. Then I set up an alarm clock, shut it down and went to sleep. When I woke up in the next morning I found it was 10 o'clock which means I was totally over sleep and had no class left on Friday. It was unbelievable! Finally I found out iphone’s applications wouldn’t work when the power off, even if it was an alarm clock. I felt down the whole day because I was unintentionally absent for two classes that both attendance required.

  On Saturday, I went to Valley Fair with my friends. It was a sunny day, the weather was pretty good. When we get there, I found there are many different kinds of rides and attractions I have never tried.For example, power tower and several roller coaster in the challenge park.All the rides are different in height, speed and the figure of the track.It was really terrified in the beginning, but later on when I've played more than 2 rides I couldn't stop trying the rest.Those were very addictive. Besides, there is another Soak City Waterpark which is closed for season.

 Last but not least, there is a new Halloween season------Valleyscare opening soon. I’m so exciting and looking forward to go there again.

2. My life in U of M

  Remember last summer when I first came here I moved into University Village which is one of the on campus apartments. I was living in a 4 people apartment with single bedroom. Two of my roommates are Americans and there is another Russian. We got along very well and that was really helpful to me since I was living with some native speakers in my first year in the US.
  Before the semester started, I involoved in freshman orientaion & welcome week. That was a great chance to know all the resources on our campus and to meet people in my college and community. I would definitely say to all the freshman never miss the orientation, also take part in the activities as many as you like. Like me, I made a lot of friends in the welcome week.

  With the school starting, I found the most difficult parts of academic life for me is wirting. I rarely read English book other than textbooks back to China. Because under the pressure of the college entrance examination, students would hardly ever have time to do out school reading. Back to my freshman year, I took a physics class with writing intensive in the first semester, the textbook wasn't hard but I wasn't familiar with writing lab report neither paper in American style. Fortunately, I got through it.

  Besides, another part of my favorites in American life is the holiday. Since I was back to China during the Christmas break, Halloween becomes my favorite holiday. Everyone would be whoever or whatever they want at Halloween. The following picture was taken on the light rail. There were a group of people make up looks like zombies.

  As for the winter in MN, I would say it will be fine if you don't go out in the early morning or late night. Otherwise it would be freezing! I love U-Pass. That was a great deal for people who take buses more than twice a day. I dodn't have to worry about the balance left in my card then just take the bus anytime. Especially during the winter when I was too lazy to walk maybe just three stops. I was clearly remember the first snow on October10 last winter that was quite surprised me. I've never seen snowing in October before.


 



mini snow man



  There is no doubt that I miss my parents and especially home made food. However, in this summer I got one more thing to think of---- my dog HanGe, a four-month-old puppy as a new member in my family. Everytime when I'm talking with my dad on the phone, he says "Say HI to your sister". But HanGe has never done that. haha

  In a word, my freshman year was really colorful and I hope this would a good beginning of the second year of my college life!

 

1. Hi, I'm Yuki

Hi everyone! Welcome to Yuki's blog, written to you from the third floor.
Because of the late registration I'm new to the class.
My name is Yixuan Xie, I'm from Beijing, China. You can call me Yuki. I'm in CLA and now planning to major in mass communication.
This is my second year in college also the second year being study abroad. Fortunately, having gone through with the winter in Minnesota I found it wasn't as cold as I thought it would be.
I love to make friends in class!!
What I like to do in my spared time is hang out with friends, go shopping and sleep.
By the way, I love music, especially singing. I also like sports even though I don't exercise weekly. I play tennis, go skating and you might not know I'm also a snowboarder. (I can't wait to snowboard in Minnesota!!)
That's all about me. Feel free to leave comments.
I will see you guys in class^_^