08/09/08- Welcome BBQ

Since Kerry was in the hospital because she didn’t feel good with her foot, it is kind of quiet in the house. I am not going to talk all the time, anyway. So Larry decided to hold a Welcome BBQ for me. We went to the hospital and told Kerry about this and then we went to the grocery store to get some food. We had some BBQ chickens and corns. I think it was quite good. I actually felt the warmth from him.

08/12/08- Home meeting

This is the first Wednesday meeting I have since I came here. I met Joe Gould, who is the principal of the Christian Academy. Also, I met Ryan’s (許元愷) host parents-Yorks.  The church would have a meeting every week on Wednesdays. Because I was so displeasing about the school and I wanted someone that could tell me more information about it. Kerry called Joe and see if he could tell me more because he is the principal. He did come and tell me a lot. I felt safer and more stable after the conversation. I was thinking about transforming to public school. But after I went through with Joe, I think I might try at least a semester.

08/14/08-Tanking I got up early today because I’m going to hang out with Goulds today. I went into town with Larry and ate my breakfast at KC’s. Later, Mr. Gould and his youngest son-Phil came and picked me up. We went to the daunt shop first because they haven’t ate breakfast yet. We went back to the Gould’s house after that. Mr. Gould took me to the academy because he wanted meet to meet one of my teacher. The one that I have met is Jay Hale. He has served in the U.S. Army for 28 years. I had a great but short conversation. He said that I speak really good English. I was glad that he said that. Phil came and picked me up because we are heading one of Mr. Gould’s sons’ house. He is Matthew. He used to serve in the U.S. Air Force. I talked to him about my dad’s job a little bit. After I return to Mr. Gould’s house, Joe asked me to come and get some shelf to the academy. I went tanking with Phil and Lydia-Joe’s youngest daughter. It’s a special activity here in U.S. We put a water tank on the water then set chairs and drinks in it. We set in the tank and chatted. It took a couple hours to complete the short but fun trip. I really had a good time. I ate supper in Mr. Gould’s house. He later took me home. I had a great day, an interesting day.    

08/15/08-Visit Wichita

We got up early because we were going to visit my host mom’s sister who lives in Wichita. It took about 6 hours to get there. We went to Ulysses first to pick up grandpa and switched the vehicle. We stopped and buy some peaches, apples and corns for grandma. She has been living in the hospital since Feb. We also went to pick her up in the hospital. We stayed in Kerry’s sister’s house for a while. I had supper there. And I also met her daughter. Unfortunately, we needed to leave pretty early because if we don’t, we might not be able to sleep any. However, it was a nice trip.

              

08/16/08-Dorine’s arrival

  

My host sister-Dorine, a beautifal young lady from Netherland is going to arrive today. Larry and I went the laundry this morning for her bed sheet. Kerry stay at home to clean the house. We  were a little bit late when we got to the airport. But the flight had also delayed. So I guess I could say that we made there just on time. Dorine was tired and hungry after the flights. She came all the way from New York. We went to ate lunch and had a nice chat. She went to bed early because she was kind of exhausted. 

08/20/08-Home meeting 

 

Today is Wednesday again. And we are going to the York this evening. Tom and Carty York are Ryan’s host parents. They still didn’t have any news from Ryan or even from AYUSA then. I talked to them and told them that I think it’s because Ryan has some problem of his visa. But I think that Ryan would definitely make it here. At least I think so. Tom work in a milk factory. He has about 5500 cows that produce milk. We visited the factory. It was kind of amazing how they get things worked out. It was an interesting evening. 

08/22/08-School service

Dorine and I went to the academy with Larry this morning. We cleaned doors and put wax on them. It was kind of tough job because all doors were terriblely dirty. I printed  walls in the gym with Mr. Gould after that. Then I went out and started to mow around the academy. I was exhausted  but glad because I think have done something for the school. There was another thing that made me quite happy- I ‘ll get my new lap-top tomorrow. I chatted with Dorine at that night. It was good and I actually felt I am no longer in the bad mood that I got since I arrived here.  But there was also a bad news. Dorine was actually going to leave us tomorrow because what she really want id the experience of American high school. And the academy couldn’t fit her expectation. I weren’t so happy about the education part, either. What I were worrying about was that we got few students in the school and I didn’t think the academy would be able to give me a fine education. But after I talked to Joe about that, I think there is a chance for me to stay there. But since Dorine wanted the experience of the real American high school. There’s nothing we could do to change the fact that she is going to leave. I was kind of upset about that because it really could get boring without her. However, that was her decision and we definitely don’t have any right to refuse that. She is going to Denver tomorrow with Yorks because there are going to pick Ryan up there. I’m going, too. I know Ryan will definitely be shock when he knows the truth of the academy. I have no idea if he will decide to leave or not.

Volunteer hours: 6 hours              Total hours: 6 hours

Dorine and me

08/24/08-Taiwanese approaching         

We left Syracuse somewhere around 9 A.M. Dorine left right after she checked her luggages. We had lunch at the airport. Then Tom and I went  to get security pass from the airline. We didn’t wait for a long time in frount of the gate. Ryan was surprise that I was there. I talked to him about the situation. Like I thought, he was so pleased about the school. But I told him that I’m going to stay and try for a least one semaster. He was hard concedering if he’s hoing to stay or not. I suggested him wait till the school start. “At least try even you don’t like how does it looks like” I said.

Ryan and Tom at Denver

08/27/08-Introduction of the national

With Mrs. Frazer and Mr. Gould Ryan and I had a little presentation of the Taiwanese national flag this morring. We expained the meaning of the color and the item. We also lift up the flag. It was kind of proud to see it was hanging there on the wall. I’m glad that I am able to do that. It really means a lot to me. I bet that students and teachers in the school were interested in it. 

08/28/08-School return picnic

  

『Let problem roll off your back just like water roll off ducks back』

Steven Chung

親愛的 AYUSA協會會員

感謝您對AYUSA長期的支持與肯定!協會活動如下:

活動主題:「九十七年AYUSA海外募書公益義賣活動」

活動日期:2008年9月13日(星期六)下午2時至5時

活動地點: 統一元氣館前廣場(台北車站對面)

「海外募書計畫」為國際愛優生文化教育交流協會AYUSA專案學員於美國進行高中交換期間自發性的愛心募書行動，更是學生們在感恩自身得以出國進行文化交流之餘回饋台灣的善念善行之一。

藉由學生於美國期間向同學及挨家挨戶募集而來的課外讀物，得以讓喜愛國際文化的民眾即使沒時間出國也能夠有機會品讀各國文化、認識各國民情、培養國際觀點，並透過本活動之公益義賣收入，間接幫助經濟力較弱的小菁英們爭取加入AYUSA出國之機會。

目的：

1.     協助國內小菁英們出國進行交換培養國際觀及競爭力

2.     建立榮譽感予募書學生們

3.     加強主辦、協辦、贊助單位企業形象

4.     提高主辦、協辦、贊助單位曝光率

5.     創造各單位有形無形價值

6.   建立主辦、協辦、贊助單位合作關係

主辦單位：國際愛優生文化教育交流協會

協辦單位：賴許柔文教基金會

贊助單位：台新金控(確認中)、長榮航空公司、蕎麥屋食品公司

重點內容：

l   高中樂團表演

l   貴賓致詞

l   藝人表演

l   義賣活動

l   企業認購

台灣學校：私立東山高中

在美校名：Westtown School

在美地區：PA賓州

台灣學校：台北市東山國中三年級

在美校名：Southside Baptist Academy

在美地區：PA賓州

台灣學校：台北市薇閣中學國三

在美校名：Cardinal O Hara High School

在美地區：PA賓州