Welcome my brother in Claremont

Last week, Sean came to the beautiful city, Claremont, to visit me. He will stay here for a while and apply school as well as lean English here. It is not common that two brothers are staying together for a long time at this age, but I feel I am lucky. Since I regard the experience being here would actually develop and help Sean in certain way, it is my duty and pleasure to make it happen. 

There is one thing that I am happy about. Sean told me he is surprised that I got so many great friends who are eager to help me in many ways here. It's impressive to him, and, in fact, to me also, so I still want to say thank you to everyone who helps me and is being my friend. I love you all. Thank you!

Skiing & Super Bowl

Thanks to Paul, my first ski experience was so nice. He picked the Super Bowl day, knowing that no body will go skiing on that day, and we almost didn't need to wait for the lift. Although my balance was not so good and this was really the first time I put on the boots and skis, I enjoyed a lot and did not fall in the last time. 

One of the most amazing was that I can even ski without my gloves and it was totally not cold. To ski with such few clothes on was so special and memorable, not to mention this was my first time!

After skiing, I joined all the friends who were watching and betting on the Super Bowl game in Dan's house. This was also a nice party with exciting game which made me understand how interesting American football can be. That was a long day, but it's worth it!

I wish I can go skiing again soon!

ありがとう 私の日本語の先生たち

きょうから、毎週水曜日は、ぼくの日本語の勉強日です。

先生たちに感謝することが、たくさんあります。これからも、おねがいします。

ありかとうございます！

Documentary : Objectified

Apple's SVP of industrial design Jonathan Ive will show up in this documentary.

I want to watch it!  Please enjoy the trailer following:

Long Trip

I just finished a long trip. To where? Back to my home, and my most familiar foreign country: Japan. Now, I am in beautiful Claremont, California again. This time, I felt totally different emotion from 8 months ago.

May, 2008, I was a stranger to Claremont. The traffic here was terrifying, the sun was amazingly shining, and the language and culture were so special and interesting. Jan, 2009, I am a returned student. The traffic here is more acceptable than Taiwan, the sun is so warm and charming, and the language and culture are not so fresh to me anymore. The biggest difference, surprisingly, is that I miss Asia much more than last time.

In Taiwan, many friends were so nice that they arranged to meet with me even they were busy. The period I stayed in Taiwan was very short and I was almost meeting friends every day. Finally, I could play games until sunrise with them again. Finally, I could sit in the noisy tea shop and chat with them. Finally, I could lay on the sofa in Scott's home and watch movie with them. Finally, I talked about all kinds of stupid words and gossip all night again. It is somehow meaningless, but I miss it a bit.

My family and I went to Japan again. This time, we had four people together, no one missed. I could finally take the photo for them again, for three of them. 

Japan is still such a nice place to go for vacation and hot spring. This time, finally I tried a new Onsen hotel, 藏群, which is in Otaru and has a bar with free drink(including  kinds of alcohol). We revisited Otaru and ordered sushi with my poor new learned Japanese. As a result, we had one of the most amazing experience of eating sushi in Japan.

Thanks for Michie, the Tokyo part of this trip was enjoyable as well as tiring. Kamakura(鎌倉) and Yokohama(橫濱) now have different images in my mind and these two places are really really beautiful. The dinner, Isakaya(居酒屋), and cafe we went with Sean's friend, Mariko, and Michie were all special. I am glad to have some different experience and places to go in Japan.

In this long trip, I did a lot I have wanted to do for a while, but there were also many things I could not do. I met some people but I also missed some people that I could not meet or talk with this time. There is always no perfect trip. That's why the trip is always beautiful in memory and perfect in planning.

My wish in the beginning of this year: my family can be healthy and happy, my brother can get admission from the school he wants, my friends can be successful and cheerful, and I can get an internship.