Xiao went to school M-Th this week, attending her first ESL course in the U.S. She is not very pleased with the class and I can't blame her.
National University has put all 8 International Students in the same ESL class, even though they are all at different English language levels and abilities. One of the students cannot speak or understand a single word of English, while Xiao is able to read and write fairly well and can also understand and communicate quite a bit. This is not the best of situations. There are much better language schools out there that have specific classes for different levels of students...but, Xiao wants to continue at National, finishing this course and taking one more ESL course next month.
After her ESL courses, Xiao plans to start her courses in her major, Business Administration.
Ashley and I have been talking with Xiao quite a bit and helping her figure out things, like how to transfer from one school to another, if she decides to do that down the line.
Xiao is out for dinner tonight, with her Chinese friends. This is a good break for her, after a long and intense week of studying.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
First day of school!
Today was Xiao's first day of ESL classes at National University. My friend Laura, who is also hosting a Chinese student, picked her up this morning and drove both students to school. Xiao will be home around 4:30 or 5 today and I will be anxious to hear all about her day!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
The little bird has flown!
Xiao spent a semi-quiet week at home, studying her English by watching movies, etc. But, she did go out to dinner twice with her new Chinese friends...on Tuesday and Thursday.
We are having a heat wave here and I had trouble sleeping Thursday night...we all did. Xiao was out for dinner and didn't get home till about 1:30 am....She left about 1:45 pm today to go to Karaoke with her friends....and then, the group drove up to S.F. to meet some more Chinese friends. They all went to dinner in SF and then went clubbing till the bars closed at 2:30 am. Xioa got home about 4 am!
Xiao has decided that she will stay with me in September, but is not going to want food included in her rental agreement. She wants to try shopping and cooking on her own.I will get $100 less from the university, but be off the hook for this responsibility...which is good because in the past 2 weeks she really hasn't eaten much here...either claiming not to be hungry....or going out to dinner last minute with her friends. The new arrangement will work better for both of us.
I am very glad that Xiao has met some young people to have fun with and speak Chinese with. Nevertheless, she quickly went from being a dependent young lady, who wanted to spend time with me and wanted me to take her everywhere (the first two weeks), to someone that either stays in her room to watch movies and chat on IM with her friends in China, or goes out with her new friends. I guess this is normal, especially since she can speak Chinese with these people, which is so much easier for her...and, after all, I am hardly her age....but, the situation still made a 180 degree shift overnight....after I introduced her to the Chinese group on http://www.meetup.com/. Xiao's behavior is totally normal. She is feeling comfortable with her new pals and is feeling her freedom now and liking it. Being in America is a new, exciting experience for her. I just need to readjust to the new parameters and expectations of this adventure and move on. The little bird has flown!
We are having a heat wave here and I had trouble sleeping Thursday night...we all did. Xiao was out for dinner and didn't get home till about 1:30 am....She left about 1:45 pm today to go to Karaoke with her friends....and then, the group drove up to S.F. to meet some more Chinese friends. They all went to dinner in SF and then went clubbing till the bars closed at 2:30 am. Xioa got home about 4 am!
Xiao has decided that she will stay with me in September, but is not going to want food included in her rental agreement. She wants to try shopping and cooking on her own.I will get $100 less from the university, but be off the hook for this responsibility...which is good because in the past 2 weeks she really hasn't eaten much here...either claiming not to be hungry....or going out to dinner last minute with her friends. The new arrangement will work better for both of us.
I am very glad that Xiao has met some young people to have fun with and speak Chinese with. Nevertheless, she quickly went from being a dependent young lady, who wanted to spend time with me and wanted me to take her everywhere (the first two weeks), to someone that either stays in her room to watch movies and chat on IM with her friends in China, or goes out with her new friends. I guess this is normal, especially since she can speak Chinese with these people, which is so much easier for her...and, after all, I am hardly her age....but, the situation still made a 180 degree shift overnight....after I introduced her to the Chinese group on http://www.meetup.com/. Xiao's behavior is totally normal. She is feeling comfortable with her new pals and is feeling her freedom now and liking it. Being in America is a new, exciting experience for her. I just need to readjust to the new parameters and expectations of this adventure and move on. The little bird has flown!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Xiao's fun weekend!
After enjoying Happy Hour on Thursday and going out with the same people on Saturday, Xiao left at 9:15 am on Sunday to go to their BBQ in a Cupertino park. She left early on Sunday because she wanted to help them get set up, as a thank you for them taking her to buy a cell phone on Saturday.
I didn't make it to the BBQ, as I had to finish a writing project. :(
Her friend Fei called me about 2 pm and said they were headed to Valley Fair Mall to go shopping. That was great news, as I hadn't had a chance to take Xiao there yet and wanted her to see it.
After the mall, the group drove to San Mateo to have dinner. Xiao finally got home around 11 pm.
She was really tired on Monday.....probably from all the fun she had during the weekend!
This week, she has been studying her English, as her classes start next week. After spending the weekend with other Chinese who have been in the U.S. for a few years, Xiao realized that her English is not as good as it needs to be....and she has decided to take about 4-5 months of ESL classes before starting classes for her major. I think this is a great idea.....the better she can understand, speak, and write English, the more successful she will be with her other classes.
I didn't make it to the BBQ, as I had to finish a writing project. :(
Her friend Fei called me about 2 pm and said they were headed to Valley Fair Mall to go shopping. That was great news, as I hadn't had a chance to take Xiao there yet and wanted her to see it.
After the mall, the group drove to San Mateo to have dinner. Xiao finally got home around 11 pm.
She was really tired on Monday.....probably from all the fun she had during the weekend!
This week, she has been studying her English, as her classes start next week. After spending the weekend with other Chinese who have been in the U.S. for a few years, Xiao realized that her English is not as good as it needs to be....and she has decided to take about 4-5 months of ESL classes before starting classes for her major. I think this is a great idea.....the better she can understand, speak, and write English, the more successful she will be with her other classes.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Xiao goes out on her own!
I am so glad that I found the group of Chinese American young people on Meetup.com...
On Thursday, they had a Happy Hour meeting from 6 - 8 pm at Fuel restaurant, which is very close to my home. I drove Xiao to Fuel and gave her my cell phone.
When the event was over, I spoke with Xiao and also spoke with a wonderful gal in that group. Her name is Fay. Fay has been in the U.S. for several years and speaks perfect English, as do a few of the others in the group. She told me that they were all going to go for dinner in Cupertino and they would call me when they were finished and drive Xiao home. How nice!
Xiao got home about 10:30 pm...I was already in bed.
I spoke with Xiao about the event the next day. She had a wonderful time. About 15 people were at the Happy Hour....many Chinese, some from TaiWan, etc. All of them were very nice and very helpful. In fact, they offered to help her find a pre-paid cell phone. Today, Steven came and picked her up and they are still out shopping for the cell phone...or having fun.....or both!
It is wonderful that Xiao has met a group of young people like this. They are having a BBQ tomorrow at a park in Cupertino. Xiao is going. I may go also...and if I do, Xiao has offered to pay for my entrance fee. She is sooooo sweet. I am so lucky to have her staying with me.
On Thursday, they had a Happy Hour meeting from 6 - 8 pm at Fuel restaurant, which is very close to my home. I drove Xiao to Fuel and gave her my cell phone.
When the event was over, I spoke with Xiao and also spoke with a wonderful gal in that group. Her name is Fay. Fay has been in the U.S. for several years and speaks perfect English, as do a few of the others in the group. She told me that they were all going to go for dinner in Cupertino and they would call me when they were finished and drive Xiao home. How nice!
Xiao got home about 10:30 pm...I was already in bed.
I spoke with Xiao about the event the next day. She had a wonderful time. About 15 people were at the Happy Hour....many Chinese, some from TaiWan, etc. All of them were very nice and very helpful. In fact, they offered to help her find a pre-paid cell phone. Today, Steven came and picked her up and they are still out shopping for the cell phone...or having fun.....or both!
It is wonderful that Xiao has met a group of young people like this. They are having a BBQ tomorrow at a park in Cupertino. Xiao is going. I may go also...and if I do, Xiao has offered to pay for my entrance fee. She is sooooo sweet. I am so lucky to have her staying with me.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Vasona Park BBQ
Yesterday, National University took the new international students on a driving tour of San Jose (downtown).
Afterwards, National hosted a BBQ in Vasona Park in Los Gatos. We had the opportunity to meet other international students, already enrolled at National...and were treated to an American BBQ of hamburgers and chips.
I brought Mollie, Shayla, and Buddy to the BBQ and they were a big hit with most of the students. One, in particular, "Ken", really loved them...and was happy to take the leash and feed them some left-overs.
Ken (his American name) is from Inner Mongolia. He is 25, and in the MBA program at National. Ken is the only other student in a host family stay, as all the others are staying with family or friends. Ken's host family is from Taiwan and they live in Saratoga.
Ken is an open-minded, outgoing, enthusiastic person, who is interested in everything and wants to partake in everything. He and Xiao are very very similar in personality. Ken has never seen a beach or the ocean....and so, I invited him to go with us when we venture there with the doggies. He enthusiastically said, "Yes, I want to go with you!" I have a feeling we might be doing quite a bit together over the next several months.
Xiao and I both feel that we were lucky to be put together. She is a wonderful young lady....full of life...and very accommodating....And she feels very very happy to be staying with me. I hope she stays for quite a while.
School does not begin until Sept 1, so we have about 9 more days to "play",
Afterwards, National hosted a BBQ in Vasona Park in Los Gatos. We had the opportunity to meet other international students, already enrolled at National...and were treated to an American BBQ of hamburgers and chips.
I brought Mollie, Shayla, and Buddy to the BBQ and they were a big hit with most of the students. One, in particular, "Ken", really loved them...and was happy to take the leash and feed them some left-overs.
Ken (his American name) is from Inner Mongolia. He is 25, and in the MBA program at National. Ken is the only other student in a host family stay, as all the others are staying with family or friends. Ken's host family is from Taiwan and they live in Saratoga.
Ken is an open-minded, outgoing, enthusiastic person, who is interested in everything and wants to partake in everything. He and Xiao are very very similar in personality. Ken has never seen a beach or the ocean....and so, I invited him to go with us when we venture there with the doggies. He enthusiastically said, "Yes, I want to go with you!" I have a feeling we might be doing quite a bit together over the next several months.
Xiao and I both feel that we were lucky to be put together. She is a wonderful young lady....full of life...and very accommodating....And she feels very very happy to be staying with me. I hope she stays for quite a while.
School does not begin until Sept 1, so we have about 9 more days to "play",
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Orientation Day at National University!
Yesterday, we had a lovely American breakfast with my dear friend Nancy. Nancy and Earl have been bringing their dogs to stay with me since 2001. Sadly, dear Earl passed away about 2 weeks ago. Such a wonderfully kind man. Nancy is a vivacious and positive lady, who spent her first 46 years as a single woman and travel agent, traveling the world. She met and married Earl in her late 40's and they were happily married for 39 years. She continued to travel with him to many exotic places. Nancy wanted to meet Xiao and treated us to a delicious breakfast of eggs, bacon, hash browns, waffles and pancakes at iHop (International House of Pancakes).....Yum. She has invited us to come by her home also, so that Xiao can meet the famous "Iggster!" (Nancy's little poodle)
Today, Xiao is at National University's Orientation Day. I drove her there this morning at 8:30 and then returned there about 10 am, just to see what was happening and to meet the other international students. There are six students, 4 from China, 1 from Japan, and 1 from Viet Nam. They are all very nice and most can speak English as well as Xiao, which is awesome. I will see them all tomorrow at the BBQ at Vasona Lake. I plan to bring Mollie, Shayla, and Buddy also.
I will pick Xiao up from Orientation at about 5 pm today....and I am looking forward to hearing all about her first day at National.
Today, Xiao is at National University's Orientation Day. I drove her there this morning at 8:30 and then returned there about 10 am, just to see what was happening and to meet the other international students. There are six students, 4 from China, 1 from Japan, and 1 from Viet Nam. They are all very nice and most can speak English as well as Xiao, which is awesome. I will see them all tomorrow at the BBQ at Vasona Lake. I plan to bring Mollie, Shayla, and Buddy also.
I will pick Xiao up from Orientation at about 5 pm today....and I am looking forward to hearing all about her first day at National.
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