Foreign Travel

@ The Dutch Square in Melaka, Malaysia

with Merlion in Singapore

    Foreign travel provides us with many good and interesting experiences. Certainly, the enjoyment of a trip plays a big role. The different places we visit give us different pleasures. For example, we can enjoy swimming or sunbathing at the beach, beautiful landscape and bird songs while hiking, and photo shooting at landmarks of a new country. 

    Moreover, when we visit any country, we can learn about new cultures through the people’s way of life. Some countries have a special way when they greet each other such as a handshake, cheek kiss, salutation and so on. The way people eat is also different in each country, for example, using a hand, spoon and fork, or spoon and knife. If we visit some countries during festival or national celebrations, we have a chance to learn their national traditions during our stay. Additionally, foreign travel provides us with a chance to make friends. For example, you might make new friends while spending your vacation in a home stay with local people. Above all, these experiences will become cherished memories in our life and may give us the desire to travel abroad more and more.

a Chinese kid and I in China

     my Chinese friends and I in China

@ Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion in Penang, Malaysia

@ Merdeka Square in KL, Malaysia

                           

A Good Person

      I am a small creature with soft fur and sharp claws. People often keep me as their pet. I like to curl up on the windowsill, purring and chasing mice. Exactly, I am a cat. Many people define what a good cat is. But in reverse, on my honor as a cat, I desire to define what a good person is. “Meawww…”

 

      A good person is the one who puts himself in the other person's shoes. It means that imagining you are in another person’s situation, especially when it is unpleasant or difficult. I believe that someone has their own reason to do something. Therefore, a good person is the one who don’t tell me off for scratching their furniture. But a good person is the one who knows that it is because I want to grind my claws. Furthermore, a good person would understand that sleeping at least 17 hours a day is a cat’s nature. It doesn’t mean cats are lazy. Whenever someone tries to understand the unusual things of others by being in their shoes, the one is a good person.
     A good person is the one who always respects the rights of others. For instance, a good person won’t cage me when I have an affair. Certainly, I know that you are anxious about me. You worry I may lose blood in fighting with other cats. But my slogan is that my Queen cannot be touched by any other Tom cats. Therefore, a good person is the one who let others to make their own decision in their lives even though how much he is close with them. 
     A good person is the one who is sincere. This definition is very simple and important. Generally, cats are straightforward. We show what we really think or feel through our speech and/or action. Yawning means happiness, for example. But to be a person is more complicated than a cat. A person’s smile doesn’t always mean happiness, for example. Sometimes, a person cannot show his real thought and feeling in some situations. This recognition is beyond my ability as a cat. However, as long as a person is sincere even though his thought and act are different, the person can be considered as a good person.
      Above all, we, as a person or a cat, cannot judge a person only from their appearance. For instance, a person who often goes to religious places might not be a good person. I have ever seen that some people leave their unwanted pets at the temple. On the other hands, a person who goes to bars or pubs might not be a bad person. I have seen the bar owner next block give some foods for stray dogs very often. Besides, our good person may be bad for others and others’ good person may be good for us. Therefore, to open mind and accept the differences between each other is another definition of a good person. And it makes the world more livable. “Meawww…”

Journey to Philly

 

      This is my first time in America but not the first time in foreign countries. Actually, I had been in China for a couple of weeks through a cultural exchange program and in Malaysia for one year as an exchange student at University Sains Malaysia. I'd learnt lots of experiences in those Asian countries and inspired me to find more chances to be in Europe or America. The U.S. Is one of the most destinations. I was very glad that I've got this opportunity.

      It was very long airplane journey I have had. It was around 6 hours from Bangkok to Tokyo and almost 12 hours from Tokyo to Detroit. Besides, we had to wait for 3 and 2 hours at Narita and Detroit Metro Airports consequently. Then -_-'' we spent nearly 2 hours from Detroit to Philadelphia. Therefore, the totality is 6+12+3+2+3=24 hours = 1 day. OMG What a long journey it was!!! I couldn't never imagine before how a restless girl as me could endure the very long journey on seat. Moreover, each meal on airplanes made me feel like a chick waiting for her mom to feed.

      I arrived at Kelly Hall, Drexel University at night. The first dinner shocked me, a foot-long hamburger. :o How tiny Noona could finish this. During the first day, I had got a jet lag, being tired and slightly confused. In daytime class, I was sleepy, but i could't force my eyes to close at night. @_@ The bus tour day was the most tired for me. Actually, I really love taking photos but I couldn't because of being exhausted. Fortunately, I could adjust myself with the different time zone after a week. 

  

     Many things in the U.S. are different from Thailand. First of all, I would like to mention about foods. American food are plenty of carbohydrate and not as spicy as Thai food. I really miss Thai food. Anyhow I like the food at dinning hall. There are many kinds of food to choose. I love fruit, especially berries, yogurt, fish sometimes, and chinese food. I love eating many kinds of food but each a little. Although I eat a little compared to Americans, I eat a lot compared to my size. ^_^ Mentioned to Americans, I have no wonder why many of them are fat and paunchy – lots of carbo-consumption plus soda. Anyway, the second different thing is Americans' ways of life. People here are often in hurry, even eating, they are eating while walking or working in front of the screen. I think it will be better if they have some spare time to enjoy slow dance. However, people here are always on time. I really like it. I don't like being late and I'm rarely late. I believe that being punctual is a quality of a good man. Everyone has equal time a day, 24 hours. If ones are late, they do not only waste their own time but also do waste others'.

      There were many places in Philly I had visited and many more I'd love to visit. I love taking Photos. There are many beautiful places in Philly to shoot them through lenses. I also like to shoot the ways of lifestyle here. But it seems rather hard because many feel worried about what I will do about their photos. Sometimes, I have to ask for their permission but the photos I'll have got will not be natural. Y_Y

Last but not least, I am happy to be here. I've got lots of friends from many countries around the world. I've shared idea with them both in and outside class. As an English major student, having a chance to learn English in an English speaking country. I will have a social marketing which I can do it in real when I go back. Now I do miss Thailand. But after I go back, I surely do miss Philly and everyone here.

My favorite photos taken during the trip with my friends

And this, too, shall pass.

     I think I would see the movie "My Best Friend's Wedding" once,-- because there is a punch line "And this, too, shall pass" stated in the movie.

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     In fact the punch line is originated from the story of King Solomon and his great courtier, Benea. King Solomon had challanged Benea to find a magic ring, being able to make a happy man sad only staring at it and vanish the sadness from a man because of starring at it too. Obviously, King Solomon just wanted to challenge Benea, because there was no the magic ring.

     King Solomon had not seen Benea for months. Then Benea came back with a common gold ring. King Solomon laughed at him --Benea was cornered, run out of ideas. But when he saw the sentence engraved on the ring, King Solomon suddenly stopped his laugh. The Hebrew sentence was "Gimel, Zayin, Utd". It means "And this, too, shall pass".

     Although King Solomon liked to play tricks, he is a wise man. He knew that his smart courtier has succeeded.

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     "And this, too, shall pass" may not be the philosophy everyone could be appriciated. This is because the world wisdom could not be learned only from seeing or hearing, but we would get them clearly when something had been happened to us.

Similar to love, if we have never been in love, we would not know how painful the broken heart is.

Similar to fear of death, if we have never been come close to die, we would not know how fearful it is.

Similar to be kicked in the groin, if we have never been kicked, we would not know how suffering it is.

Similar to bearing a child, if we have never done it, we would not know if it is more suffering than being kicked in the groin.

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     Therefor, the ones who have never been disappointed, sad and suffering at the level of closing to die ...but not die, the one would know "And this, too, shall pass" is true.

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Translated into English by: Noona

Inspiration : And this, too, shall pass., a day Publishing