My very 1st writing

When I just came to America, I didn't have any knowledge about computers. So, of course, I didn't know that Microsoft word existed. I had to type up and save the assignment as email drafts until I met Microsoft word. Whenever I received writing assignments, it was just so inconvenient. Well, this means that I still do have the very first drafts from 10/6/2009. It was from my first term at my college in the United States = the beginning of my international life.
My first essay assignment was to write a letter to my landlord. I am sure there were some scenarios to it, but I, unfortunately, don't remember. Before I came to the US, English was my least least least favorite subject. I almost failed all the English classes in my high school. I couldn't communicate well with people who didn't speak Japanese (of course). My first host family in Australia must have had a hard time hosting me for 14 days. Thank you very much to my Australian host family and sister (I don't think they are reading my blog though). Well, it is just another story of my international life.

Anyway, 

let me share my first writing assignments with you all!

Dear landload.

Hello. This is Vivian. I have stay this accommo

Landload... ... oh landload, it's unfinished.

Dear landload.

Hello. This is Vivian. I have stay this accommodation with my family for several weeks.

Inhabitants who live in here are so kind include you, even though we are from different country and can't speak Eenglish well. We are happy to feel that we can use to stay here step by step.

We feel comfortable without one thing.

It is air-conditioners. I  am wondering that air-conditioners are broken by some thing. It is comming soon on winter.

Would you mind fixing or checking these air-conditioner before starting on winter.

Regard,

Vivi

Obviously, I couldn't speak Eenglish well. Although my family & I felt so comfortable without one thing, I am asking "landload" to fix that. noooo!! Someone! Stop meee!!

I just remember that the assignment was too hard for me. Especially, it's because I had never asked anyone for a help. It's really not my thing to ask someone for a help. So, I basically didn't know how to ask others to do something for me to begin with. Plus, I had to write the assignments in English. Yes, it took forever to complete it... I couldn't ask for a help from the ESL teacher or friends. Even if I did, I'm sure I couldn't explain this simple reason of why I can't do the assignment well.

Seriously,

international students & people who learn different languages..

Don't give up!

It feels so weird that I can see all of the mistakes now although I did't see anything then. I used to have a lot more confidence, so I am sure I thought this assignment was perfect at the time. (-_-)

It's kinda funny for me to look back my international life. 

Maybe, I should share other drafts as well on my blog.

Until then,

Smile

:)

University of Oregon

It's kind of fun to visit a school which you DON'T go to. Don't you think so?

Well, it is for me. Especially, when I am in a different country like right now, it's kind of fun... more like interesting. The atmosphere is different. The fashion of students are different. The buildings are different. To me, it's like "visiting a place." Of course, it's not so fun when I go to my school even though I am in a different country; US. The purpose of coming to the school is different. I heard that the buildings of "University of Oregon (U of O)" are pretty. So, I went to check it out!

This "Women's Memorial Hall" is my favorite building at UofO.

I pretended to be a sophisticated person. But it didn't turn out right (-_-).. hahaha

My super honest personality is showing you all that "pretending" doesn't quite work right with me. *sigh*  

The last two pictures are the lights at one of the stairs to go to the second floor at one of the library. The lights are for us to see the steps. The size is probably about 10cm x 10cm. Yes, it's not that big at all. Not many people seem to notice that the lights have so much detailed decoration. Oh gosh.. WHY?

Although my elementary school was 139 years old when I graduated, but it didn't have any detailed decorations like that. My junior high school & high school were relatively new (20 years old), so it wasn't as cool as I hoped. haha It was a fun day visiting a different school! Not only buildings were interesting, but I also saw a lot of hippies, international students, and people with green and yellow colors. My school has a lot less of these. I also have visited to UCLA in California, but U of O definitely has a different style in comparison to UCLA. I hope I can visit other universities as well while I am in the US!!

I assume that my dear readers have been in a school once, please share your thoughts about your schools.

What was your school like?

Was it old or new? Was it pretty?

I am so excited to read that.

Talk to you later

smile!

:)

Transportation

One of the shocking things that I have faced since I came to Oregon was transportation. In Japan, we use public transportation all the time. When Garfy and I were in Japan, we took trains and buses to go everywhere.

If you are interested in reading our trip to Japan, here are the links for you!

(Tokyo, Tokyo Disney World, Nagano, Nara, Osaka, Kyoto 1, Kyoto 2, Japan)

I will never recommend you to compare transportation in Tokyo and in ... Oregon. It's just so inconvenient! I have to have a car to survive here in Oregon. However, there are always pros and cons about everything, so I am getting used to this.

Bus (city bus)
Capital city of Oregon, Salem, has public buses for everyone. The buses only run from only Monday through Friday. Weekend = no bus. Holidays = no bus. The bus which I take daily comes ONLY 5 times per day. If I miss a bus, I have to wait at least 1 hour to get another one. If I miss the last bus at 5:30pm, I have to wait... till the next day. Oh how sad. I have never experienced this situation before in my life. People's attitudes towards bus are very negative. A LOT of people say "only 'weirds' use bus." :(
Train
It's also very inconvenient (location and time -wise). Trains don't come every 5 minutes; they come every couple hours and we have to book the ticket through the website. However, I think it's really comfortable. (comfortable chair & enough space for everyone) If you are a Japanese or have been to Japan, you can imagine the inside of the trains... something like American style bullet trains. The stations are usually very pretty buildings. The train has a dining place where we can buy foods, drinks, and snacks. If I have to use trains to commute on the daily base, I will be not happy about it.

How do people transport?

Car!

People in Oregon use their cars all the time. Even within a walking distance, people use their cars. Oh, how rich. haha The people who have cars and who I met in Oregon HATE taking public transportation. It's interesting. We do have and use cars in Tokyo, but we also use public transportation.

Bicycle!! Walk!!

(especially when it's not raining)

The weather in Oregon is just so beautiful. Oregonians love sunshine! They appreciate how great weather it is outside and always talk about the weather. I had never appreciate the weather like Oregonians do when I was in Japan. Their life-style definitely helped me to realize what I couldn't pay attention to. It may sound so silly and boring to you. However, I noticed how boring my life was because I was seeing the world without paying attention to what we have already. My life has become more relaxed and peaceful. hehe

Since I don't have a car, I have to use the city bus, walk, or get a ride everywhere I go. It's a bit inconvenient for me as an international student since I want to travel around, shop, and hang out with my friends all the time. On the other hand, it's good for me because I can save some money and always have to walk (= a bit of working out?) haha

What is the transportation like in your city/country?

What do you use the most?

What was your experience with the transportation in a different place?

Talk to you soon!
smile

:)

Find out your Marriage Date

Since I write about the relationship as well, I thought it was an interesting article to share with you guys. This post is not about MY wedding date. I am not engaged or anything near that. haha
Before I say another word, here is a question for you.

Have you thought about marriage?

I have once.. well, more than once.. thought about "when am I going to get married?" I remember my friend telling me that her dream is to be a wonderful wife of a prince when she turns to 26. I am sure some of you have dreamed about being "princess" or "prince" of the most special person in the world in your life. or... some of you have heard somebody saying stuff like that.
Although I have talked with my best friend about by which age we will get married, I wasn't really interested in marrying someone. I didn't care about marriage as much as my friends did. I have always wanted to be a career woman! Work like crazy! I have dreamed about coming home and sleep immediately. I have a time for only friends and work!! BUT as I get older, people started talking about marriage around me. I went to some weddings. A lot of my friends on facebook are married now. Oh, I can feel how old I am really now. "Marriage" became more realistic with me.

Then, I saw this article on facebook. For my curiosity, I tried it. I would never thought I would click a link like this. It's almost scary how much others can influence me. Don't you agree? haha

It's a great app because...

• The app doesn't post the result on my facebook page
• I can decide whether I want to keep the result to myself only (or share with people)
• It takes a second to get the result
• It's fun

It's very simple.

1. Go to the website
2. Read the article (option)
3. Click NEXT under "Is it time I got married?"
4. link to your facebook
5. get the result

Here is a link to the page

Click and Jump to TIME Techland

I am not sure how accurate the result is.

But

just for fun..

aren't you curious to see your marriage date?

smile!

:)