It is the last day in America. Tomorrow we will fly back to China.
I am a little tired, a little happy, also a little sad.
To be continued...
2008年8月23日星期六
2008年8月13日星期三
Leaving Day
The other American REU students are leaving today. I feel a little sad and we will also leave soon. It is really a happy time to be with all the guys. Even though we have some difference in our living style, our opinions towards something due to the different cultural background. But I feel very happy to know them, talk with them and learn from them. We have had meals together, we have been to musuems together, and we have enjoyed the short time here together!
2008年8月11日星期一
American Beauty
These days I have seen several American films which have won the best film of Oscar, like Shakespeare in love, the English patient, Kramer VS Kramer, and American Beauty. Among these films, I think this one--American Beauty has given the greatest impression on me.
I cannot say I have understood the film totally. It is really not an ordinary movie--strange music, abnormal story in a normal American family. I really wonder how it can win the Oscar Award. According to the other three films I have seen, I thought the Academy Award for best picture should be given to a film that at least can be understood by public, however, I think American Beauty is not such a film.
It is mainly about a story about an unhappy American family--a girl, father and mother. It seems to be a most ordinary family in American. They own a big house, the three would leave together by their own car in the morning and the parents would go to see their daughter's performance in school. However, this is also a family filled with quarrels. The couple do not love each other and they dream of different things even though they sleep in the same bed together. The daughter is bored with her parents because she thinks they do not care about her.
Everyone seems just to chase what he wants instead of caring about others. But finally one night things seem to become quite different. The mother who tried to kill her husband because of the mass and boring life she cannot suffer gives up for the reason that she notices she still needs this family and she still loves him. The father who wanted to make love with a best friend of his daughter also does nothing because he realizes his life is great and he also love this family. But the father has also been killed due to some misunderstanding and an accident.
I cannot say I love this film but it really makes me think a lot about life, family and love.
I cannot say I have understood the film totally. It is really not an ordinary movie--strange music, abnormal story in a normal American family. I really wonder how it can win the Oscar Award. According to the other three films I have seen, I thought the Academy Award for best picture should be given to a film that at least can be understood by public, however, I think American Beauty is not such a film.
It is mainly about a story about an unhappy American family--a girl, father and mother. It seems to be a most ordinary family in American. They own a big house, the three would leave together by their own car in the morning and the parents would go to see their daughter's performance in school. However, this is also a family filled with quarrels. The couple do not love each other and they dream of different things even though they sleep in the same bed together. The daughter is bored with her parents because she thinks they do not care about her.
Everyone seems just to chase what he wants instead of caring about others. But finally one night things seem to become quite different. The mother who tried to kill her husband because of the mass and boring life she cannot suffer gives up for the reason that she notices she still needs this family and she still loves him. The father who wanted to make love with a best friend of his daughter also does nothing because he realizes his life is great and he also love this family. But the father has also been killed due to some misunderstanding and an accident.
I cannot say I love this film but it really makes me think a lot about life, family and love.
2008年7月29日星期二
Greenfield Trip
Last Saturday we went to Greenfield village. I should write something about it early, but the poster really needs a long time.
Greenfield village is a small and cute area about the history of Ford. As everyone knows, Ford is a famous company producing cars, machines and so on. The village is filled with historic houses which Ford had either lived in or done some research in. In fact, houses there are moved from other places far away. What is amazing, they are all preserved in good condition as if there still lives someone. It is very interesting that we can see some people who work in the village dressing in ancient-style clothes and play some old games. Walking around the village I just felt like I was in the 18th or 19th century. Small wood houses with a window through which you could see the beautiful scenery outside, carts which are moved by horses --- all of these things are making me feel the peaceful and relaxing life.
After visiting the village, we went to Henry Ford Museum. What a pity that I have not found the bus Mindy mentioned before, but we really had a happy time there. The museum is just like a book telling us the history of American industry. However, it is more interesting than reading a thick textbook at home. Here we were actually walking through the history. There are old big train, different kinds of cars, huge machines, guns and planes..... I really felt the time is so limited that I could not see all the things in display. There was also a chololate exhibition. But I am not a fan of chololate. So it seemed less attractive to me.
The last activity is the IMAX film. The screen is so big that almost all the front wall is covered by the screen. And there are speakers set up all over the theatre. The name of the film is Dark Knight. It is a latest film which published this year. The servants in the theatre told us all the tickets had been sold out. But actually I am a little disappointed because the 3D effect is not so effective as I imagined. This is the first time I have seen a film in American theatre and this is also the first time I have seen IMAX film.
I enjoy this trip!
2008年7月22日星期二
2008年7月21日星期一
Art Fair
It is really an interesting and amazing event! I have not taken part in such a big art fair in China before!
It seems that the whole area of Ann Arbor is under the atmosphere of this activity. The central part of this town is filled up with art shows held by artists from all over America. There are paintings, pottery, sculptures and all the other styles of art you can imagine. It also includes a modern art style-- action art. In front of the Diag, a man dressed in western-style clothe with a cane in his hand makes his face grey just like a puppet. He has a basket in front of himself used for begging. He keeps the same posture all the time. Once people put some coins into his basket, he would do some interesting action and change his posture. Many people are amazed by this amusing person and stand around him. When a boy comes up to give money to him, he shakes hand with the boy and then grasps the boy's hand without relaxing. The boy has no idea without putting more money to the basket, but the man has not loose the boy's hand. Everyone laughs.
Despite the traditional art style, there are also some common commodity in the art fair like clothe, bag and jewelry. I buy a necklace for my mother. It is made of silver with a light red pearl in it. I like the talking with the salesman. They are not eager to sell their commodity, on the contrary, they just like a friend of you to discuss some topic you both are interested in. I enjoy the harmony relationship between people.
It seems that the whole area of Ann Arbor is under the atmosphere of this activity. The central part of this town is filled up with art shows held by artists from all over America. There are paintings, pottery, sculptures and all the other styles of art you can imagine. It also includes a modern art style-- action art. In front of the Diag, a man dressed in western-style clothe with a cane in his hand makes his face grey just like a puppet. He has a basket in front of himself used for begging. He keeps the same posture all the time. Once people put some coins into his basket, he would do some interesting action and change his posture. Many people are amazed by this amusing person and stand around him. When a boy comes up to give money to him, he shakes hand with the boy and then grasps the boy's hand without relaxing. The boy has no idea without putting more money to the basket, but the man has not loose the boy's hand. Everyone laughs.
Despite the traditional art style, there are also some common commodity in the art fair like clothe, bag and jewelry. I buy a necklace for my mother. It is made of silver with a light red pearl in it. I like the talking with the salesman. They are not eager to sell their commodity, on the contrary, they just like a friend of you to discuss some topic you both are interested in. I enjoy the harmony relationship between people.
2008年7月14日星期一
The Arboretum
There is an arboretum next to the house I live. I have been there twice, but now I have not walk around the whole area in it yet. I really quite like this place, the place with natural beauty and peaceful life.
There is also an arboretum in Beijing which is located in a part of a mountain. Compared to the one here in Ann Arbor, that one in Beijing is a place filled with man-made landscape. I think it is very strange contrasted to the traditional Chinese culture in which people put much emphasis on natural aesthetics, now the Chinese buildings and parks etc. contain more and more man-made elements, while western people seem to be more concerned about keeping the original site of nature.
Yesterday I went to the arboretum here again. This time I chose the narrow path around lawn. There are several big lawns in it. I saw some people play games like soccer and frisbee there, some just sit on the grass, talk with each other or just enjoy the sunshine. And I could always meet couples with their dog in the path. Sometimes receiving a smile or a simple greeting "Hello" from strangers would make me feel at my own hometown.
A lot kind of plants are in the arboretum like tall trees, small yellow flowers and so on. But I could not tell their names. Nobody picked up flowers here including kids. Huron River also goes across here. Water in the river is quite clear. I have not seen such natural scene for a long time living in city.
Enjoy sunshine! Enjoy Arboretum!
2008年7月9日星期三
Our Research Group
Matteo Tegoni A quite interesting person! He comes from Italy. When he is in the lab, all the air in lab seems to be lively. The lab is filled with Italian songs--He likes to whistle while doing experiments. He will leave soon on this Friday. Miss you, Matteo!
Saumen Chakraborty He comes from Indian and has been in the lab for two year. He speaks standard Indian English and you can never tell whether he is saying three or two! He likes to laugh and talk with others. He likes Chinese food and insists on that the best Chinese food is in Indian!
Anna Peacock She is really as beautiful as a peacock! She comes from England. She likes to smile and always treats people nice just like a big sister!
Curtis Schneider Strong man!
Allana Mancino She seems to be quiet sometimes.
Joe Jankolovits I think he is the first person to come in the lab everyday! He told me he would be in the lab at eight a.m. while others always come around 9:30. He always works hard. Next week maybe I will be working with him. Be hard-working next week!
Ted Boron At the first day I came to the lab, he taught me the safety rules and introduce every thing in detail for me. He speaks a little slow and walks in a peaceful pace. Going along with him, you can feel really calm and comfortable.
I Enjoying working in the lab with all the guys!2008年7月7日星期一
First day in the lab
Today is the first day we have been in the lab.
It is really a research group with harmony. Everyone is nice and kind. In the morning there is an interesting and special activity called coffee time. All the people go to a coffee store together ordering one's own favourite drink and then walk and talk together to the lab. Then the work of this day starts.
Our group is just like a international family. Almost everyone comes from a different nation. I have three mentors in the lab, Matteo, Joe and Sun. They come from different countries. Joe is American and he comes from the state of New Jersey. Sun is from Asia (Sorry, I donot quite get what he comes from). He knows a lot of Chinese words and he has a Chinese name. Matteo is the guy I would recommend eagerly. He comes from Italy. His spoken English is quite interesting with a strange accent of Italian. At the same time it makes me hard to understand him. Sometimes it is just like to hear another language rather than English. However, he is really a cute man. This week I will work with him to do some experiments aiming at synthesizing a compound including two metallacrowns. He told me the basis and comprehensive knowledge of metallacrown. I think he is a very perfect teacher! Every time after he has told me something, he would ask "any questions?" to inspire me to think. Thinking about new ideas is really important for a scientist.
I have learned the safety rules and the research plan of this week.
Good start! Looking forward to the experiments tomorrow!
It is really a research group with harmony. Everyone is nice and kind. In the morning there is an interesting and special activity called coffee time. All the people go to a coffee store together ordering one's own favourite drink and then walk and talk together to the lab. Then the work of this day starts.
Our group is just like a international family. Almost everyone comes from a different nation. I have three mentors in the lab, Matteo, Joe and Sun. They come from different countries. Joe is American and he comes from the state of New Jersey. Sun is from Asia (Sorry, I donot quite get what he comes from). He knows a lot of Chinese words and he has a Chinese name. Matteo is the guy I would recommend eagerly. He comes from Italy. His spoken English is quite interesting with a strange accent of Italian. At the same time it makes me hard to understand him. Sometimes it is just like to hear another language rather than English. However, he is really a cute man. This week I will work with him to do some experiments aiming at synthesizing a compound including two metallacrowns. He told me the basis and comprehensive knowledge of metallacrown. I think he is a very perfect teacher! Every time after he has told me something, he would ask "any questions?" to inspire me to think. Thinking about new ideas is really important for a scientist.
I have learned the safety rules and the research plan of this week.
Good start! Looking forward to the experiments tomorrow!
2008年7月6日星期日
The first Chinese meal
We have been in Ann Arbor for four days already. It is really a beautiful place with wonderful scenery and kind people. I really love this small town!
But there are still some problems. One is about the food. The American food is really quite different from that of Chinese. Althrough there are many kinds of food here, like hot dog, hamburger, pie, pizza, I do not really like them. I miss Chinese food!
Today some of us went to a Chinese market and buy some material for cook. We have had vegetables, salt and oil now. Yes, the things are quite limited. We borrow some cook stuff from American students here but the American cook tools are quite different from Chinese ones. We have make some mistakes during the cook. Everyone takes part in the process. Xiaochuan and I make the most part. Xiaochuan used the knife as a scoop. What is amazing, we have made a big meal!
Everybody thinks it is the most delicious meal since we have been here! We have already made a plan for cook in the future hoping to have more chance to eat Chinese food!
Do it yourselves! A wonderful day!
But there are still some problems. One is about the food. The American food is really quite different from that of Chinese. Althrough there are many kinds of food here, like hot dog, hamburger, pie, pizza, I do not really like them. I miss Chinese food!
Today some of us went to a Chinese market and buy some material for cook. We have had vegetables, salt and oil now. Yes, the things are quite limited. We borrow some cook stuff from American students here but the American cook tools are quite different from Chinese ones. We have make some mistakes during the cook. Everyone takes part in the process. Xiaochuan and I make the most part. Xiaochuan used the knife as a scoop. What is amazing, we have made a big meal!
Everybody thinks it is the most delicious meal since we have been here! We have already made a plan for cook in the future hoping to have more chance to eat Chinese food!
Do it yourselves! A wonderful day!
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