First Time Experiencing American Christmas Day

(The content of this post happened on Dec 25th, 2013 PST)

One of the most important holiday in America, Christmas, finally arrived. This year to me is very different, I first time experienced the real Christmas in America. From decorating Christmas tree 2 weeks ago, to opening the gifts under tree, I got lots of good memories here in San Diego. Our Christmas tree is super big, although many people would buy a real tree, but we still use a fake one. It is pretty good though.

Elisa got her gifts on Christmas day.

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Science Center & The Prado at Balboa Park

(The content of this post happened on Dec 24th, 2013 PST)

Our plan today was to go to the San Diego Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, it is a science museum and planetarium in Balboa Park, there is also a IMAX theater in it. We did not watch the movie because the first movie of that day started at noon, and that was way too late, we had Christmas eve church service to go at afternoon. We went to their regular science gallery, it have many instrument that show science principles for both kids and adults. Although I have visited this kind of places many times in Taiwan, I still like it very much, I love to watch and understand how things work.

The Prado at Balboa Park

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The San Diego Harbor Boat Tours in Downtown

(The content of this post happened on Dec 23rd, 2013 PST)

Today was uncle Paul's second day in San Diego, he said that he want to take boys and me to many places and good restaurants in San Diego during the break, so I was excited everyday morning, waiting for new experiences. Our plan today was to go to the Downtown San Diego and take a harbor boat tour.

The view on the boat of the harbor tour.

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Shopping in the Mall & Uncle Paul's Arrival

(The content of this post happened on Dec 22nd, 2013 PST)

On the second day of Christmas holidays, Mr. Paul Anderson arrived San Diego, and he was going to stay here for a week. Mr. Anderson is my host mom's dad, he was also my dad's host dad. Our relationship is very special, I will be in this family was because of his help. A month ago, I was in Ipswich finding a new host family, my dad asked Mr. Anderson for help, since Mr. Anderson is used to be my dad's host dad when my dad was studying in America's college, and they still keep in touch. Mr. Anderson is very nice, ha asked his daughter, Karen, if she would like to host me, and she agreed. So that is why I will be in here.

I always call Mr. Anderson "Uncle Paul", since every time when my dad is telling me his story in America, he always says "Uncle Paul". Uncle Paul live in Chico, a town in Northern California, a town which my dad used to study in. Because of his coming, we cleaned the house and went shopping at the mall.

Since I am in San Diego, the mall in here will be bigger than in South Dakota. Although it is just a mall, but to me, this was my first time visiting the REAL mall in America, so I took many pictures. This is also my first time visiting the real Apple Store, not a Apple authorized reseller. I love this store so much! We then went eat at a restaurant called Red Robin, it is a restaurant just like T.G.I. Fridays, their food are very good.

The Apple Store in the mall

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5 Days Before Xmas - Lights Decoration of Houses

Time flies, it's December 20th already. I have been in America for more then 4 months. A very important day in America, Christmas, is coming soon. Today was my last day at school before the 10 days Christmas break, my school ends at 1 o'clock today. It can be seen, Christmas is a really important day to them. Some students in school wear Christmas costume or hat these days before break, and student restaurant offers "Christmas meal", that's really cool.

The Lights Decoration of Houses

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Busy weekend - Visiting Downtown and Bicycling

This weekend was my second weekends in San Diego. Jason, Ethan, Brennan and I went playing "laser tag" last weekend. It is a really fun game, we used laser gun attack others to get points. Every player have to wear a special cloths that has many sensors on it, so the computer know who has been shot. We played the game in a dark room, it has many walls so the player can hide and not to be attacked. After playing 3 games, everyone were all very tired, but it was really fun!

Having dinner at Coronado bay, San Diego this weekend.

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First day in San Diego Del Norte High School

My new school in San Diego is called Del Norte High School. Del Norte High School is a public high school located in 4S Ranch of San Diego, the school was founded in 2009, it is a very new school, and it is big. The school campus included all kinds of classroom, from art room to Mac lab, and a huge library, all kinds of sports ground (included swimming pool), and a big plaza surrounded by all buildings.

the main entrance

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From Aberdeen to San Diego

Saturday, November 30th was my last day staying in Ipswich with Barb and JJ. My airplane was at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and Styles had a party on 2 o'clock, it was a very busy day. I finished packing my package before Saturday, and I went shopping with schoolmates on Black Friday, I bought an iPad Air on Black Friday, since it had a really good discount.

Looking out from the window on the plane to Minneapolis

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Last Day in Ipswich High School

Since my host mom, Barb, works very long time, and my only roommate, JJ, went to school to play sports every night, I am boring and at home along most of the time. And most of the time I also have to make supper myself, but I am not good at making foods, so I consider to change a host family. Two and half months ago, I asked my agency for help, and I got an notice these days that my host family would be in San Diego, California. They are my dad's host family's daughter, my dad was studying in USA 20 years ago, too. My dad's host dad, Paul, is very nice. He know that I do not have new host family to go now, so he asked his daughter, Karen, and she said that I can stay at their house. It is so unbelievable that 20 years later, I am going to stay at the same host family with my dad!

The surprise party on my digital photography class. 

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Visiting the elevator where Barb works

Wow. It has been few weeks that I did not post. There was nothing special that worth to post these day, but today, after the home visiting with my local representative, Heidi, Barb took JJ and me to the places she works. The company that Barb works is called "South Dakota Wheat Growers", it has many locations, Barb works at the one in Roscoe. Roscoe is a town that is 15 miles west from Ipswich, it has only 300 people. The view was very beautiful on the drive to Roscoe, I even saw lots of birds flying home!

Barb and me were on the top of the elevator.

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Photos of My Daily Life in School So Far

It has been almost 3 months since the school started, but I never shared my daily life in school except homecoming week. Actually, the school here is very different from the school in Taiwan. Like the school activities and the school lunch, and the relationship between teachers and students, we are just like friends.

Government class~

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Making supper with JJ ourself

Barb works very long time this season, sometime she even came home at 12 o'clock. Because of this, JJ and me have to make supper our-self most of the time. Two weeks before, we ate microwave food most of the time, but now, we find some ways that we can eat healthier. Such as making egg, pizza and Korean pancake.

Making the Korean pancake

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Veterans Day & Some more photos around Ipswich

One of the photos around Ipswich.

Before sharing photos around Ipswich, I want to share some photos about the activity in school today. Since today was 11 Nov, 2013, it was the Veterans Day in America. According to Wikipedia, Veterans Day is an official United States holiday that honors people who have served in armed service, also known as veterans. All school students, include middle and elementary school students, all gathered in the gym this afternoon and listened to a speech. Today was pretty special to me, because we do not celebrate Veterans Day in Taiwan.

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Cool photos that I took for photography class

My second hour class, digital photography class, is one of my favorite class. We took many photos and edit them. I always got good grades on this class, because I love taking pictures, and because of this, my teacher, Mrs. Shimitz chose to attend Northern State University Workshop & Art Exhibition. Today, I am going to share some of the photos that I took and edited for the digital photographic class in the past two months. Please notice, all photos had only been edited on Google+ Photos and ipiccy.com, although I have professional softwares such as Photoshop, but I did not use them. And all pictures were taken with HTC J smartphone camera, even a cellphone's camera could be awesome! By the way, "HTC" is a creative brand that comes from Taiwan!

One of the photos - ONLY edited on Google+!

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Going Bowling With Schoolmates

(The content of this post happened on 8 Oct, 2013 CDT)

Since Barb have to work very long most of the time, JJ and I have no many things to do after school. Also, there are no many place to go in Ipswich, the only way to go watch movies or do something else is to go out with schoolmates who can drive. So I asked some on my schoolmates to go out with me, one of my schoolmate, Mike, said he could take me and some more people to go bowling in Aberdeen. That was pretty nice because I never played blowing before, this was my first experience. Actually, this was my second time went out with Mike, we went watching movie last time with Hanna and Claudia.

My first time playing bowling

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Random Pictures - Month 1~2

It have been almost a month since I posted my first post of this blog on October 12th, 2013, and there are total 23 post so far, which means I post almost everyday, isn't that nice? I tried to spent some time to write post everyday, but since sometime I did not have that much time, I had some day did not post. And because my English skill is not very good, sometimes English grammar in my post might be wrong, but I am here to learn, I believe the incorrect grammar will be less and less.

I posted most of the post with many pictures and words. Sometimes, when small interesting things happened, I captured that moment,  but I might not be able to write that many words with a single photo. So now, I am going to share those "small interesting things" photos that I took in the past two months. Enjoy~

A dad and his son - in Minneapolis airport

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Participating NSU Workshop & Art Exhibition

Today was such a special and happy day, because I went to the Northern State University in Aberdeen and did not go to school. About two weeks before, my digital photography teacher, Mrs. Shimitz, asked me to join the Northern State University Workshop & Art Exhibition. She said NSU (Northern State University) have this activity every year, and it is for all high school students. We can submit our artwork, it can be any type of art, like water paint or digital photo. NSU will exhibit them in their art department, and choose 3 best arts on the final day.

My artwork in the exhibition

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The Homecoming Week

(The content of this post happened on 13 Sept, 2013 CDT)

One of the most important activity in America's high school each year, is Homecoming. According to Wikipedia, homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni of a school, it includes activities such as sports, culture events, and a parade through the streets of the town. Of course, Ipswich High School have homecoming, too. We have a whole "homecoming week", during this week, we have activities in SRP hour (after lunch) everyday, and all-day activity on Friday.

Exchange students on the float of homecoming parade

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Experience of America's Chinese Restaurant

 (The content of this post happened on 22 Sept, 2013 CDT)

September 22, I have been here for a month and some more days. Today, we went Aberdeen to bought some groceries, then, we have lunch in Aberdeen. But lunch today was special, because it was Chinese food! I had been two months did not eat Chinese food, so I was pretty excited. There are 3 Chinese restaurant in Aberdeen, we went to the one which is on Main Street. It is a buffet restaurant, we can choose what whatever we want.

It's Chinese restaurant!

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Having fun at Wylie Park in Aberdeen

(The content of this post happened on 7 Sept, 2013 CDT)

Barb work at a company called South Dakota Wheat Growers, it is a company about farming in South Dakota. The company had an internship program meeting in Aberdeen Wylie Park on weekend, and Barb took JJ and me together with her because Wylie Park is a amusement park which as some fun stuff such as kart racing.

Kart racing

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Went Trick or Treating like a kid on Halloween

Today, 31 Oct, 2013, is Halloween! The BIG THING of Halloween is to trick-or-treating! I of course went trick-or-treating, too. But you may think this is kids' activity, actually, that was also what I think. JJ and my original plan was to give out the candies that we prepared for kids. But since Kevin called and ask me to go trick-or-treating with him, I left candies home, and went out with him. He prepared some costume for us because we do not have any. I got a mask which has a scary face (It is a movie character's face but I do not know who he is), and JJ got a pair of ninja knife.

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Two Crazy Snowy Days - Playing in the snow

Since the last snowy night on the day before yesterday, it has not snow again (or very little), but the snow from that night has been no melt, so JJ and I played in the snow these two days all of the time after school.

The scene I saw in the morning the day before yesterday.

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Watching Volleyball Game at School

(The content of this post happened on 3 Sept, 2013 CDT)

Most of the time, JJ and me had not many things can do after school except study and using our cell phone. So we often find some activities to do, such as playing basketball or go to the school game. There were many games held in Ipswich, most of the time, it was girl volley ball game, and sometimes was football game. Other schools' team player will come to our gym and have game, of course, our school's team will also play games at other school, such as Aberdeen Central High School.

This was the first we went to school and watch the game. We went home after school and had supper, and we went to school again. All of the audience supposed to pay 3 dollars for entering, but since I bought an activities ticket for 15 dollars, I can enter all school games and activities for free. There were many people in the gym, some are home teams' (our school's) parents and schoolmate, some are visitors'.

When JJ and I arrived, I saw there already have many of my schoolmates, most of them are in school band, they have to play bands during the games' break time. But JJ and I sat on the top ourself, because we did not know them very much. Before the game start, we have to pay tribute to the America by standing up and put the right hand on the heart when national anthem was playing by the band. Although I am not American, but since I was in their nation, I still do so. The game was pretty exciting, all players all played very hard, plus the visitors' cheering, we really enjoyed the game.

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Helping barb washing the vehicle

We did not have many things to do yesterday, we went to the fire department to wash Barb's pickup truck and went Aberdeen to meet Styles and have supper at night. Since Barb also work at the Ipswich fire department, we could easily go in. Barb works only when there is a fire in town, she do not get paid.

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Kevin's Birthday party

(The content of this post happened on 1 Sept, 2013 CDT)

It was already September, 2013! I have been staying in Ipswich for over two weeks, the school also started for a while. I have made some friends here. One of my friend, Kevin Charlton was going to held a party to celebrate his birthday on September 1st. He invited JJ and me to go. He said it would be a awesome party, and they will prepare supper and some snacks.

The night at the party

Since Kevin's house is also in Ipswich, we just need to walk there, it is very near. We arrived at 4 o'clock. Some more people were already there, they are all my classmates. We did some interesting things that I have never done before, such as cutting the firewood. They said   those wood were for the campfire at night. I never used ax before, this was my first experience. It was so heavy that I could not hold it for too long. They taught me how to use it to cut the firewood, very soon, I could hold it and cut wood very well! I am a good learner! Haha :)

Kevin's family kept many cats. 3 of them were kitties that was only few months old. I love them very much, they are so cute! It is very comfortable to hold them, because they are very soft and warm, and they are also very nice.

Cute kitty

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A small surprise for Barb

This might be the shortest post on my blog, because I just want to share a cool thing that I made with JJ last weekend.

Since Barb had to work last Saturday, there were only JJ and I at home. We did not have many things to do. On afternoon, JJ said he want to practice football on the lawn which is next to our house, I thought he was only playing football. But when the next time I went out, I saw he put leaves together to make word "Barb". I came and help. I made it more beautiful and neat, I also add some more words. When it was all finished, looks very pretty.

JJ and the "leaves art"

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Just got my Bluetooth keyboard

Since I started writing my blog, it took me at least 45 minutes a day on writing and thinking what to write, because my English skill is not good. Sometimes, I have time when I was outside such as waiting host family at the hospital. I think instead of playing my phone, why not write blog posts? So I bought a Logitech Bluetooth keyboard on eBay, it can connect to my phone, and I can type on the real keyboard easily instead of the small screen keyboard.

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"Moving Spencer to College" Trip - Day 3

(The content of this post happened on 26 Aug, 2013 CDT)

Finally, it was the last day of the trip. We did not have many plans for today. I wanted to go to the Badlands National Park that was also located in South Dakota, but Spencer had a doctor appointment, and it was a 5 hours drive to Ipswich, so we could not go.

We met Spencer at the hospital in Rapid City. JJ and I were waiting at the visitor waiting area playing our phones, about 2 hours later, they finally finished. In the parking lot, I saw Barb hugged Spencer and say goodbye, then, it was time to leave.

But big things happened when we just left hospital two blocks. Our trailer were hit by a car! When we were driving straight on the road which has 3 lanes, the driver of the car behind us decided to change its lane, but she did not notice us, then we got hit. We had really bad luck that day, the weather was hot, plus Barb just left her son, all of us were not happy. I was sitting in the front, I remember the time we got hit, I just heard "BANG", and I felt like something bumped us, I thought it was the blast of tire, but since Barb yelled "Somebody just hit us", I knew it was not that simple.

Fortunately, there were a gas station which has car-repair station next to the scene. By the time Barb drove in, there was a men came and help us. He helped us to call the police and asked if we have seen the licence number of the car that hit us, but we did not. The car which hit us ran away. We got off and saw the tire of the trailer behind us was crashed, Styles began to cry. He was scared, he knew something happened, so we could not get home on time.

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It started to snow!

Although I haven't finished writing posts about big things that happened before, like Trip and first day at school, I still want to write today's diary. It was too special today, it started to snow!  Actually, it started at the night before yesterday, but those days had only a little bit. Today did not have very much too, but it was snowing when I was walking to school. I have seen snowing days and played with snow before, but only a few time during the trip in foreign country like Japan and Korea, so snow actually are "new things" to me.

The night before yesterday

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"Moving Spencer to College" Trip - Day 2

(The content of this post happened on 25 Aug, 2013 CDT)

The second day of the trip was absolutely unforgettable!!! Because we visited Mount Rushmore, the mountain which is very famous and can be seen on many Movies or shows!

Mount Rushmore was remodeled in the show I like - "Phineas and Ferb"

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"Moving Spencer to College" Trip - Day 1

(The content of this post happened on 24 Aug, 2013 CDT)

My second weekend in Ipswich were big days, because we were moving out my host brother, Spencer, to college. The college which Spencer was going to is Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota. It is a 5 hour drive from Ipswich, so we planned to go for 3 days, we can go somewhere else like Mt. Rushmore, and we had Monday off!

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The first time shopping at walmart

(The content of this post happened on 19 Aug, 2013 CDT)

My host family will go Aberdeen almost every weekend, the major reason is to shop at Walmart. Walmart is a hypermarkets that sells almost everything, from food to television, we can get all of them from Walmart. Every weekend, we go Aberdeen to have lunch and shop at Walmart. We will buy enough food for the whole week.

My was very excited when the first time visiting Walmart, I saw many "new" and interesting things. Here has some pictures, I will describe each of them under the picture.

Entering Walmart

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The first day at school

(The content of this post happened on 20 Aug, 2013 CDT)

After spending 3 days with families in Ipswich, It is time to go to school. Ipswich Public School started on August 20th, but before the school started, there was a open-house day. Since whether students or parents can visit the school classroom and meet the school teacher, freshmen and people new to the school, like me, can find the correct class room.

Library

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First visit to the farm

(The content of this post happened on 18 Aug, 2013 CDT)

Barb have two brother and two sister, they all live in town or near Ipswich. On my second day in Ipswich, Barb took me and JJ to the her sister' farm. The farm is few mile west from Ipswich, it is not very big, there were only few farmhouse that keep animals.

The house in the farm

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Walking around Ipswich

(The content of this post happened on 18 Aug, 2013 CDT)

I do not have school during my first 3 days here, so I just walk around Ipswich, go to the farm or go Aberdeen, which is the 3rd biggest city in South Dakota. Ipswich is a very tiny town, the population is soon 1000. Walking around Ipswich only take like half an hour. So of course, there will not be many stores in Ipswich.


View Larger Map

There are a subway, a groceries store, a bank, a restaurant and 2 gas stations with convenience store. There is also a post office and... maybe some more stores (I'm not sure). Because we are on the highway intersection, the gas stations are important.

Bank

Subway

Gas station

Restaurent

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The first night at the new house

(The content of this post happened on 17 Aug, 2013 CDT)

After supper, I chatted with my host mom, she said that his son, Spencer, are moving out to the college next week. So he is cleaning his room and packing his stuff. His college is Black Hills State University in spearfish, South Dakota. It is a 3.5 hours drive from Ipswich, Barb says we (Me, Barb and JJ) are all going together for a trip, after moving Spencer, we will stay at Rapid City and go to Mount Rushmore.

After chatting with my host family, it was time to go to bed. Barb told me to sleep in her room, on a king size bed. She said she had already washed the bedding, and she will sleep on the couch. Because his son, Spencer, have not move all of the things out of his room. But I told Barb I should not sleep in her room. So I asked Spencer if he can sleep with Barb in Barb's room, he said yes.

The first night in the new place would not be easy to fall asleep. Different bed, different room, and different feeling. Also, there were different "sounds", like the train comes by and the Cuckoo clock sound. Fortunately, I did not have the problem that most of the exchange student have, the time difference problem. I woke up at 9 o'clock on the following day, unlike JJ, he slept till noon!

Trains!

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First meet with my host family

(The content of this post happened on 17 Aug, 2013 CDT)

After arrived Aberdeen airport, my host mom, host sister, styles and my roommate were already waiting there. My roommate is also an exchange student, but he came here 2 weeks earlier than me. They help me to carry my packages, even a 3 years old kid, Styles wanted to help! They then take me to a amusement park, there had many temporary rides and stalls selling ice cream, just like the picture in the movie! And we watched a BMX show, young kids performing bicycle stunts, that's awesome, and Styles love it very much.

Arrived Aberdeen!

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From Taipei to Aberdeen

(The content of this post happened on 16-17 Aug, 2013 CDT)

I stayed in America for almost two months, but I had never written a blog before, so I am going to review some cool and important things that happened in past two months.

To be an exchange student, there are bunch of paper works to do. Such as visa application and many agreements. But after that, but the most important thing is to take the plane. From leaving Taiwan, transfer the plane, to entering the USA everything have to done by yourself, and if anything happened, asking people that speak unfamiliar language is the only way to help. So it's such a big challenge that I have to overcome.

Packing the packages

The last night to sleep in my room

The rendezvous notice

Me

Me and my partners at the Check-in desk

TPE to LAX

My boarding pass

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