Learn to be happy

Job hunting is indeed a very tedious and depressive business. True me I know how it feels like now I am part of it. However, I learn to be happy and gracious for what I still have. I have a lovely family, a loyal and kind husband and most importantly a cute as button son, names Andrew. In our life, we can avoid the ups and downs. What really matters is how to manage our emotion when a little bumps come our way. Can we remain calm in the face of not only happiness, but also sadness? As long as we can't learn to be happy, we will always be engulfed in the misery of mood swings.

Expectation, expectation, expectation

This morning when Steve Perry explained why African American male has low high school graduation rate (NY close to 28 %), he considered low expectations to be the main cause. His explanation is that when teachers and school admins expect less of the students, the students will tend to act the way as they are expected. Based on Vroom's expectancy theory of motivation, other's expectations lead you to fullfill the type of performances/attitudes others expect of you. Now I am a mom and for the first time, feel like I am learning what education is about (despite my PhD in Education...how ironic...), I can't agree more with Perry. Andrew, mommy very possibly can't promise you enough tuition to go to Harvard, but this mommy can guarantee: I will always (okay, maybe sometimes remember to) be proud of you. I will alwsys expect the best from you. Remember always be true to all endeavors.

New Baby

Eric and I are expecting our first baby. Despite a little discomfort and concern about our future finance, we are overall wrapped in joy and excitement. Eric has been a wonderful hubby and already a very devoted father (I am jealous : P) Can't really imagine how I will gradually loose the only waist line left ^^ I guess I have to say good bye to my fancy dress for a while.....

Home Improvement

Was not too happy with the bare guest bedroom and decided to jazz it up with a tiny budget. Overall, here's a list of spedning.

headaboard: $ 78 (Target.com)
fabric for the curtain: $5 (Ikea)
flowers: $.75 (from Walmart....I know..such a steal)
Curtain rod: $4.67 (Walmart)
Little circle string deco: $2.5 (Walmart clearance item)
Labour: Free (Dorothy sew the curatins and Eric install the rob, great team work ^^ give me five !)

Grand Total: about $ 100

Peter the Rabbit

Found several tiny cute bunnies in our wegetable patch. From the little buroughs theye make, we can assume they are already making themselves very comfortable in the patch. Unfortunately, I accidentally cut a little piece of one bunny's ear off when I was trimming the grass. On my defense, I was aware of them and already chased 3 bunnies off before I trimmed the grass. Anyway, still miss that little one. Poor guy...When we are trying to help him out, he still ran veyr fast. Not too worry, after some antibiotic ointment and a day's rest in our house, he is happily back to the patch with his family. He looks pretty ok, when we check on him today.

Big Fat Juicy Caterpillar

Eric and I found a big fat juicy, maybe crunchy (Euw!!!!)caterpillar when we are picking tomatos from our vegetable patch. He is so soft on the touch and cute!! (can't believe I would describe a caterpillar as cute, but he truely is cute....). Today we found out he is gone...and we noticed there are more birds flying over the vegetable patch today...so we are thinking....the little caterpillar probably won't be able to make it to a beautiful butterfly....but anyway, best wishes greeny....we will miss u...

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is coming soon. Just thought this would be the time to express my gratitude. First of all, really want to thank the wonderful students and Ms. Hollrah for helping me out this semester. Their energy and spirit amazes me. Also, want to thank the teachers and volunteers who make this culture exchange project run smoothly. Second of all, I want to thank Eric for his never ending support and care. Because of him, I feel like I am stronger to take on more responsibilities and accomplisher something bigger. Also want to thank my friends and family for being there for me. I am thankful.

A memorable page in Human History

Small World

My friend, Tomoko Tanekura from my exchange student program at Saint' Mary of the Woods college in Indiana, 1O years ago found me on gmail today!!! Can you believe that? I thought we loose touch ^^ Isn't this a small world? I really think we should thank Google, such an innovative cooperation, that makes a lot of things possible in this world.

Sincereity

Chat with Sumi this morning. My impression of her is positive, sincere and energetic. S he sent a letter to other teachers explaining her and her students' progress on our project. I was so touched when she told me her students was able to reflect on immigration issues becasue of our project. I am so excited to hear this. Afterall, we are all like fish living in water. The longer we stay indoctrinated by the norm, the lesser chance we have to change our surroundings, which greatly influnce who we are. This is usually how we react to experiences 1. eye opening experience 2. seeking change 3. reinevnting yourself
But of course you can refuse to change, but WHY? I just feel it's silly and VERY boring to refuse to change.

Relationship

Had a long talk with two friends who are deeply in love, yet deeply confused at the same time (:S). I am really worried about them and was afraid that one worng decision from one side can ruin a potential bright future among them. I will pray for them and hope they will be all right.

Proposal Meeting

Passed my proposal Yeah! feel there are still so many things piling up in my to do list. Spent a great weekend with B and H. Wish Eric and be there with me, had it not be his Gout.....I guess illeness or a big event in your life can change how you perceive things completely.

Finished the book "pay it forward" H and I were joking about having the same assignemnt for her kids as well ^^

Visit Jamie in Houston

Jamie transfered to Houston. Eric and I visited him over the weekend. His house looks very nice. Needs just a but of TLC and family ^^

IT Office Remodel

Some people in IT (Instructional Technology) suggest that we should remodel our office. So under Dr. Hughes's leadership, Eric, Rachel and I repaint the wall to a delicious pumpkin color ^^

Ms. Hollrah's classes

Had a lot of fun hanging out in Ms. Hollrah's class. She is such a great teacher, very fun, charistmatic and energetic. Her kids are so great and intelligent. Today we passed out the blog grouping, everybody is so excited. Hope Ms. Kim and the kids from Australia will feel the same as well. Have a great weekend. Everybody!

My second Korean Audience, Yeah!

Got a message from Hyejeong ^^ I am so so so happy. Really can't wait to read more about her on her blog http://blog.naver.com/thsgpwjdcjsw. Almost all students at Anderson High school already set up their blog. We also have about 22 students from Australia. I am really excited about the first culture exchange on blogs next week! Hope all the participants will have a lot of fun as well.

New Semester

Yeah, Fall semester is coming and looks like the weather is getting coller (Finally.....). I come to Anderson High almost everyday, but had a lot of fun observing Rachel's class. Her kids are awesome and Rachel is such a great teacher. Her classroom is always disciplined, but full of fun ^^ Feel like I am back in high school again ^^ Ha! Ha...that would be long tiem ago. Getting really old..

Lead your life fully

Heard Randy Pausch passed away last Friday. While feeling sad about the loss of a noble soul, I am sure his spirit will be an inspiration for many of us, who are working hard to make ours dream come true. To Dr. Randy Pausch!



"Fullfilling other's dream is even greater than fullfilling ours"-Randy Pausch, 2008

一塊地總有一粒種子適合 There will be a piece of land that is fit for this little seed

The gist of this story is that a girl encountered a lot of trouble finidn jobs, but her mom always encourages her to try something else. Evetually she found a job that fits her, a counselor at a school for deaf children. She did the job very well and eventually opened her own schools for the deaf. She also makes a lot of money selling equipments for special aid kids. The moral of this story is that a mothers' endless love is like the enduring seed, and the protagonist's successful is like the success of this seed to grow and thrive.


有一個女孩，沒考上大學，被安排在本村的小學教書，由於講不清數學題，不到一週被學生轟下台。

母親為她擦了擦眼淚，安慰說，滿肚子的東西，有人倒得出來，有人倒不出來，沒必要為這個傷心，也許有更適合你的事情等著你去做。

後來，她又隨本村的夥伴一起外出打工，不幸的是，她又被老闆轟了回來，原因是剪裁衣服的時候，手腳太慢了，品質也過不了關。

母親對女兒說，手腳總是有快有慢，別人已經幹了很多年了，而你一直在念書，怎麼快得了呢？

女兒先後當過紡織工，幹過市場管理員，做過會計，但無一例外，都半途而廢，然而每次女兒沮喪回來時，母親總安慰她，從沒有抱怨。

三十歲時，女兒憑著一點語言天賦，做了聾啞學校的輔導員，後來她又開辦了一家殘障學校，再後來，她在許多城市開辦了殘障人用品連鎖店，她已經是一個擁有幾千萬資產的老闆了。

那就是前些年她連連失敗，自己都覺得前途渺茫的時候，是什麼原因讓母親對她那麼有信心呢？

有一天，功成名就的女兒湊到已經年邁的母親面前，她想得到一個一直以來想知道的答案，母親的回答樸素而簡單，她說，一塊地，不適合種麥子，可以試試種豆子，豆子也長不好的話，可以種瓜果，瓜果也不濟的話，撒上一些蕎麥種子一定能開花，因為一塊地，總有一粒種子適合它，也終會有屬於它的一片收成。

聽完母親的話，女兒落淚了，她明白了，實際上，母親恆久而不絕的信念和愛，就是一粒堅韌的種子，她的奇蹟，就是這粒種子執著而生長出的奇蹟。

The immigration solution

In order to become more prepared for Rachel's class for Fall, I was tring to read more articles/books on the three big topics: immigration, terrorism and promoting diversity. Came across this book at the UT library by Macdonadl, Hanson and Malanga. Even though not agreeing with them 100%, figured there is nothing wrong knowing more about this issue at a different angle.