Three visits of New York, three different impressions

 This weekend I went to New York for the third time. You might wonder why. Actually more than a month ago on June 24th, I visited New York for the first time following the tour guide and had a general impression of New York, especially Manhattan: big and modern.  We first of all climbed up to the 86th floor of the Empire Building which gave a bird's eye view of the many skyscrapers of Manhattan and helped us know about the different locations.We took a boat tour around Manhattan, observed the many skyscrapers, many of them with glass windows, we observed Statue of Liberty and also passed under the three bridges connecting the five boroughs of New York, Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge. At night we lived in a luxurious hotel. My first impression of New York is like a rich, tall, modern, fashionable girl enjoying every advantage God gives her. New York, to be exact, Manhattan, seems to be the center or gathering place of every thing good.

      The second time I went to New York was on June 28th after we finished our 6-day travel from Boston. We ordered a cheap but clean family inn in Flushing in the area of Queen. The second time gave me quite a different impression of New York. The buildings in Flushing are much lower and shabby, streets and stores   are so much old-fashioned and dirty. I kept wondering is this also New York?  But New York is just like this, made up of different parts and elements. the second time my impression of New York is that New York  are not always nor everywhere as modern or rich or prosperous.

     The third time I went to New York was this Friday. I still lived in the same family inn in Flushing, but this time I arrived in Flushing at night. I found the streets and buildings in Flushing are much better-looking. The stores are full of various goods, fruits, vegetables and they are cheap. 

Central Park- garden of New York

      If there were no Central Park, Manhattan would be jungle of concrete on an island, totally lifeless and miserable no matter how rich or modern it is. But with Central Park in the central part of Manhattan near the fifth avenue, the city finds life and balance. As I wonder around in Central Park, noticing the skyscrapers beside the central park, realizing how human beings need grass and trees and a place to take a deep breath.

large area of grass 

taking a carriage around the park

skyscraper behind the trees

baseball court in the park

Observing the service in Battell Chapel

     This morning I went to Battell Chapel of Yale University to observe the worship of people in the church and also know about the procedure. The procedure began formally at half past ten. First the children sang the with the accompanying music played by piano. And then a pastor led the people to read the words on a handout which was a welcome and call to worship. And then the hymn "Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart" was played and sung by all the people in the church together . Then pastor call people to confess. people in the church began to read the prayer of confession. And then people began to fall into silent reflection. There is one procedure where  people shake hands with people sitting around them which I think is well meant. Then there were several rounds of procedures which I don't quite understand. For example an old decent couple went to the table which is set with a vase of flowers and two long lighted candles and other things, and then the old couple lighted another two short candles. Different pastors presided different procedures and hymns were played and sung sometimes by a group of singers and sometimes sung together with all the people in the church. But during the whole process nobody made noises, they were all very devout and solemn. I was also very impressed by the beautiful hymns sung and played, very peaceful and soothing.

A Feast for Readers---- Summer Book Sales of Pequot Library

  As a teacher, I often go to bookstores to buy books. But after I went to America, I found I couldn't afford to buy the books here. So I was very excited when Carrie told us that there would be a book sales at very cheap prices at the end of July. A few days ago Siggy emailed us, giving us the exact information about the book sales. I also searched in the internet and found that this time is the annual summer book sales which lasts from  Friday, July 25, 2014 to Tuesday, July 29, 2014 and it is the best book sale in New England, which provides over 140,000 books, CDs, DVDs, records, etc. Admission is free and open to the public. All Sale proceeds help fund Pequot Library's over 375 yearly inter-generational programs and events. 

     Carrie arranged a school bus to take us this Saturday to the library and back to Yale, but I couldn't wait till afternoon, so I discussed with Julia and we agreed to go there by train in the morning and then take the school bus back to Yale. This Saturday morning, we took the 9:25 (p.m.) train to Southport, CT where Pequot Library is located. Later there was an anecdote on our way to Southport which I's like to mention. Because the 9:25 train doesn't stop at Southport, so we got off the train one stop before Southport at Fairfield. But after we asked a person on the platform of Fairfield station, we knew that Southport is not within walking distance from Fairfield. Just when we were worried and trying to figure out a way to get to Southport, a middle-aged Asian woman came to us and asked us "what's up?" After she heard we were going to Pequot Library in Southport, she offered us a free ride there because she lives in Southport and just saw her daughter off to New York. We thanked her and got on her car. Actually she didn't know the exact position of  Pequot Library, but she took all the trouble to wind the way and ask the way for us. We really appreciated her kindness and willingness to help, and we even don't know her name!

  

Book Sales on the lawn of Pequot Library
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     When we arrived in Pequot Library, the first thing which came into our view are the white tents pitched on the big green lawn. Inside the tents there were many book stands of different categories which were shown on the signs beside the stands.  Behind the tents is the library. Inside the library there were also a lot of book stands. There were already some people going in and out of the tents.  Some already found what they wanted and sat down on the lawn or the bench, reading the books they had bought. Many people brought big cloth or fabric bags with them to carry books. Many of the books on sale just cost one dollar, CDs or DVDs were 3 dollars, some sitcom DVDs were very cheap. Actually I really wanted to buy a lot of English film DVDs but they were easily broken or damaged so finally I had to give up and just bought 4 DVDs. The books were good bargains, too. There were a lot of books about literature and biographies or autobiographies which I wanted to buy. If I lived in America, I would buy a lot of books from the book sales. Finally I had to give up a lot of good books and my favorite books.

inside the tent of the book sales

 What made me not so upset about buying enough books was that I also travelled around Southport before we bought books. Southport is a very beautiful town with many well-designed gardens and houses. And the people of Southport are very friendly too. Except the middle-aged lady who gave us a  free ride to Southport. There were two local people who volunteered to take the pictures for me and Julia. We felt very warm in our heart. Southport is not only beautiful for its scenery but also for its people.

 sea of wild flowers 

Today we made a joke and I made a joke

     This afternoon, as I mentioned in the previous blog, we got the door of the bathroom locked somehow and just couldn't open the door. Actually we find the door of the bathroom has no key at all, usually we can lock the door from inside when we are in the bathroom, but today because maybe one of us locked the door from inside by mistake before he/she went out of the bathroom, then a blast of wind shut the door and locked it. Although we tried many different ways to open it from outside, we failed. Frustrated, I and Joana went out of home to seek help from our neighbor.  The guy living in the house next to ours happened to be painting the porch of his house. I approached him and then asked, "Excuse me, sir. We are our next-door neighbor, can you do us a favor? Our door of the bathroom was locked, we just couldn't open it. "  Joana than added " do you have a ladder?" She planned to put the ladder under the window of the bathroom and have someone get into the bathroom and then open the door.The young guy answered very readily, "let me check, maybe we can find a way to solve the problem." Then he followed us to our apartment. After he examined our door, he inserted something like a big coin into the center of metal handle and then turned about 90 degrees of the center of the handle and opened the door immediately. We were very surprised, we didn't try the easiest way! We all made a mistake! We just tried the difficult and complicated ways which we usually adopt back in China, but didn't realize we should observe a little more carefully and try the simplest way!
       In the end, I made a joke too. After the neighbor was about to go back home, I found it necessary to offer him a cup of juice, so I asked him " Do you want to have a drink?"  Our neighbor asked, " you mean having beer or ( a word I didn't hear quite clearly but probably meaning wine or alcohol ) outside?" I soon realized I made a mistake, I said "juice, juice". After the neighbor was gone, my roommates made fun of me for this joke. From now on, I must pay attention to my choice of words. "drink" does not mean juice or soft drink, it may mean beer or alcoholic drink.

the neighborhood I live in

      Before I came to America, I found an apartment outside Yale University. On the one hand, I wanted to save my expense, on the other hand, I want to know more about American people and their lives.  After about a month's search in the internet and then contact with the owner of the apartment, I finally chose an apartment in Tilton Street near Science Hill of Yale University. But I completely had no idea about the living environment of the neighborhood of the apartment where I was going to spend 40 days. Is the neighborhood safe? Are the neighbors nice or cold or even hostile?  Certainly I had no choice nor time to consider these, but I was really a little uneasy about it?

      After I arrived in New Haven, I couldn't wait to have a look at the neighborhood the day before I moved into the apartment on June 30th. As I set foot on Mansfield which leads to Tilton Street, I found the neighborhood very quiet and cool because the street was shaded by a lot of old trees on both of its sides. Tilton street is a bit narrower than Mansfield but it was also quiet and cool. Along the street there are 3-story houses painted in yellow, white, green or light blue or brown or dark grey side by side. The third floor of these houses are usually attics.  In front of all the houses are lawns, with plants or flowers.The  white window frames, the green lawns and the either pink or yellow or blue or green walls make a very pleasant picture. At least the natural environment is good, I thought and felt a little assured about living in this neighborhood.

     After I settled down in Tilton Street I couldn't help feeling that I made a wise choice because this neighborhood is not only picturesque, cool , but also a very friendly and warm neighborhood. The second Saturday after I arrived in Yale, we went to outlet to shop. When I returned from Clinton outlet and got off the taxi, the bag which contained my wallet with cash and two credit cards and passport slipped from my lap and dropped on Mansfield street, but I didn't realize I lost my bag at all, so did my partners until late at night. When I realized I lost it, it was already two to three hours later. I was really very worried, I checked everywhere for my wallet but found no trace of it. As the last resort I called 911 taking the suggestion of my partners. When 911 contacted Yale police during the call, Yale police told 911 somebody had already found my wallet and handed in my wallet to Yale police! When I heard "They found the wallet", I couldn't believe my ears. I kept asking the policeman did someone really find my wallet and hand it in to Yale police and the answer was confirmative. So someone who lives in our neighborhood must find my wallet and hand  it in to Yale police without hesitation at all because it happened just a couple of hours ago. The day when I claimed my belongings in Yale police, I asked the policeman who picked up my wallet and handed it in because I wanted to thank her/him, the policeman told the person who found my wallet didn't leave name or address.  How nice a person he/she is! Our neighbors are also very ready to help us. This afternoon the door of our bathroom couldn't be opened. After we tried in vain many ways to open it, I and Joana asked our neighbor a young guy who was painting his house to help us, he dropped his work and agreed to help us very readily and solved our problem quickly.

      How nice neighbors we have! I feel very lucky to have so nice neighbors in a foreign country like America. 

the crossroad of Mansfield Street and Tilton Street

Tilton Street

Mansfield Street

4+x group

    When you read the title of this blog, you may find it difficult to figure out what 4+x group  is. Actually this is the name of us five-member group who are living under the same roof temporarily in America at present. As for the name, it is given by Ricky's wife, 4 refers to our four girls( I prefer girls instead of women) -Susan, Sunny, Joanna, Ricky's wife-- and X refers to Ricky because Ricky is the only boy and his ID card number ends with the letter x. 4+x group seemed to be a strange group at first, at least on my part, although Sunny and Joanna are very familiar with each other, and  the Rickys are a couple, I was not familiar with either Sunny or Joanna.I was not familiar with Ricky's wife. Sunny and Joanna were not familiar with Ricky's wife, either. It was this trip to Yale which brought us together. We not only share the same apartment but also cook together, go to the grocery together, and share housework together, we are like a temporary family and live very harmoniously just like a real family. We tolerate each other and cooperate together. We tell jokes and amuse each other. Just think of it,  it's even difficult for a real family to adjust and adapt to each other. Look at the dishes we made together you will see how happy we are together!
   

   
                                                         

“A Home – & The Word Never Had So Much Meaning Before”---A Visit to Mark Twain's House in Hartford

  Yesterday, we had a field trip to Mark Twain's House in Hartford. 

    Actually, although I know Mark Twain was a very famous writer before I visited his house in Hartford, I thought I knew a lot about him already,  I didn't know he had ever lived in so luxurious a house in his life in Hartford. I just know he was born into a very plain family alongside Mississippi River and had ever been a pilot and apprentice and he had written a lot of short stories and his most popular work was children's favorite: The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn.

     So when I got off the school bus which took us to the foot of Mark Twain's House, I was really amazed. Mark Twain's House is a three-story red-brick building, which is located at the top of a large slope of lawn. As we followed the tour guide to visit the house, we knew that  this building is made up of 23 rooms with a long and large roofed corridor or veranda. the interior of  the house is lavishly and exquisitely decorated and furnished which really cost a large fortune of Mark Twain and his wife in 1873, actually the cost of the house was mostly from Mark Twain's wife Olivia "Livy" Clemens. The house even had a round protruded greenhouse or garden house connecting the large study room. In the nursery room, we saw a lot of toys and beds and books and there is a spacious school room with a lot of pictures and books. Obviously Mark Twain spent his happiest and most productive years in this house. In this house he wrote a lot of books among which The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn is the most well-known. It is a pity that visitors are not allowed to take any pictures of the interior of the house, which is so warm and beautiful!

        Samuel and Olivia "Livy" Clemens were married in 1870 and moved to Hartford in 1871.In 1873‚ they engaged New York architect Edward Tuckerman Potter to design their house. The family moved into their house on September 19‚ 1874. Construction delays and the ever-increasing costs of building their dream home frustrated Sam. In spite of this‚ he was enamored with the finished product‚ saying‚ “It is a home - & the word never had so much meaning before.”

      It was also in this house, Mark Twain experienced his saddest time in life, because of  failure in investment on a Compositor, financial problems drove Mark Twain and Livy to move the family to Europe in 1891. Their eldest daughter, Susy died in 1896, which made it too hard for Mark Twain and his wife to return to their Hartford home‚ and so in 1903 Mark Twain sold the house.

   

       It's another surprise for me that Mrs Stower who wrote "Uncle Tom's Cabin" also lived very near Mark Twain. Obviously Mrs Stower favored light-colored house. So her house is quite different picture. Personally I prefer Mrs Stower's House.

    

A trip to Thimble Islands

   The second week of our study in Yale, we went to Thimble Islands, which was an amazing trip. Although we just took a boat travelling through the many small or large islands, we enjoyed a lot.

the wooden deck 

  The captain of the boat is a very nice guy, he acted as a tour guide, too. From his introduction of Thimble Islands, we know that Thimble Islands consist of about 100 to 365 small islands depending on where the line is drawn between an island and a mere rock. Among the many small islands, about 23 islands are inhabite. Some of the  islands are just rocks. Some of the islands are large but low and therefore only seen in a low tide, some of them are  reefs. Some of the islands are used as the location of lighthouses. Some of the inhabited islands are really isolated beautiful small paradises. Besides the beautiful houses surrounded by thick woods, there are even pavilions or small bridges built on these islands. Some of the island-owners must be very rich because we found they had even private yachts.    

                                                           inhabited island with a pavilion

low island

twin islands connected by a bridge

inhabited island anchored with yachts

very small rock island 

                                                               water recreation activities

a busy-scheduled but very worthy trip

This afternoon we were scheduled to have a trip to a beach and then go to hike in a wood and then go to Carrie’s house and if time permits, we were going to an outlet.

Later when we arrived at the gym, we were told by the teachers that because the bus driver have to drive back before 4:30 pm so the trip to an outlet was cancelled.

After about half an hour’s drive, the bus stopped at a large parking lot and all of us got off. Obviously the first destination-the beach-was near. Before our eyes stretched a large area of green grassland and then trees. We walked along a pathway. Along the pathway there are not very tall trees, plants and beautiful flowers and wild fruits whose names we don’t know. We can see the beautiful cloud very easily because there were no buildings nor tall trees within our view. How wonderful it was to be so close to the nature and also to the sky! As the pathway zigzagged, finally we got a glimpse of blue, yes, “Wow, the sea” ,“Wow, the beach”, everyone of us exclaimed excitedly and quickened the steps and hurried forward. I also couldn’t wait to see the beautiful beach and followed them forward. The first thing that jumped into my eyes was blueness of the sea, which was so crystal blue and clear just that seemed even unreal. The sea rippled with slow rhythm. How can it be so boundless in either direction. For a moment I was awe-struck by the sea and remained still for a moment. Then I realized I must take pictures of the sea and the beautiful beach, because the second thing that jumped into my eyes was the colorful beach. The beach is not very broad but it was full of clear sand and very suitable for strolling. There were many people in the beach. They were all dressed in various different colors of bathing suits, some sitting on the chairs some lying on the sand of the beach some playing in the sea. They must find us funny because we were just like typical travelers, not wearing bathing suits and posing different gestures on the beach and taking pictures from the beginning to the end, but what did it matter , we just enjoyed ourselves and laughed merrily all the way.

After about 30- or 40- minute stay on the beach we set off again for the second destination: Peters Memorial Wood. Before we began our hiking in the wood, Carrie asked us to remain silent while we walked in the wood in order not to disturb the birds. We followed her words and her steps. We were like a team of explorers and enjoyed the wood silently, occasionally taking photos of the spectacular trees.

After we finished our hiking in the wood, we set off for the final destination: Carrie’s house. Carrie was so kind that she invited all of us to her house. The moment I went into the courtyard, my eyes were caught by the bowl of flowers hanging beside the entrance gate which seemed to smile and greet every guest who entered the house, and then I smelt light fragrance, soon I found in front of me a tree blooming with white flowers but behind the fence. On the left there were a lot of flowers whose names I didn’t know. As I stepped forward, I found there was a grape tree on my right side, just under the window of the living room. There were so many different plants in the yard that I find it difficult to focus on just one of them.  What attracted me more is the backyard which I soon found. It was so spacious that it must cover about two basketball courts. What’s more, there are two very tall big trees which provide shade over almost all the backyard. Between the two big trees there is a white super big hammock which is really eye-catching! After we lingered on the backyard and tried the hammock and took pictures with it, we visited Carrie’s house. This house is more than a hundred years old but it’s still in good shape. Carrie displayed everything she had collected and made room like a mini-museum and of course the house is very lovely and comfortable too.  What a wonderful house it is , so close to nature and so fit to live in!

how good to be a student again!

     I graduated from school in 1997. During the past 17 years I have been teaching in the same university and never entered a college as a student any more. I love my students and I love to teach everything I know to them,both knowledge and life experience. Actually I had been quite engaged in my teaching work and I think most of students acknowledged my effort paid in my teaching. At the same time I had been quite engaged in my family. I had my child to raise and cultivate; I had my parents and parents in-law to tend to, many of the things are trivial but important. As time went by, I pass my 30s, and then 40s.  I feel I have been drained both physically and mentally. I felt I am more and more  in short of energy and knowledge. Secretly in the middle of the night I wished to have the chance to go to campus and absorb knowledge and breathe some fresh air...
       This summer my dream came true. How wonderful it is to be a student again and come to think of it, it is in Yale, the distinguished university in the world! I and my colleagues soon had teachers, two very nice ladies, dear Siggy and Carrie, they are so wonderful teachers that I couldn't help my admiration of them. Every morning after I  put on my backpack, I set off to the classroom in English language institute.On my way to the classroom the street is lined with beautiful old trees which give quite a lot of shade,  the birds sing to me, the neighbors sit at their porch and greet us friendly by saying simple Chinese "Ni Hao"(English means "hello") and neighbors sometimes ask us " Are you a Yale student?", I nodded proudly to them, how good it is to be a student again!  

                                                            on the way to the classroom


       Every day we observe the classes of  English teachers in Yale and we learn  both knowledge and different teaching methods and approaches from them too. I am especially excited when I learn a new teaching technique from them and I also learn a lot about cultural differences.  After class observation, Siggy and Carrie organize us to share what each of us learn from the classes we observe  and I and my colleagues communicate very eagerly with Siggy and Carrie and sometimes we have different opinions and even argue or debate, how fun it is to study. To study is like absorbing new energy and I feel very refreshed after the class although we feel tired physically. But every day there are so many things which are so new to our ears and eye that we don't feel tired any more!  With my backpack, I  went to the library, went to art gallery, went to every corner of Yale and took a lot of pictures wherever I went. I may be an old student in Yale but who cares!

on the lawn before the library

on the lawn before the dining hall

“Made in China” in American Outlets

I am a Chinese, so I am very interested in things or phenomena related to China or Chinese. Before I went to America, I heard there are a lot of cheap Chinese products in other countries but I’ve never experienced the power of “Made in China”. Last weekend, when I went shopping in Clinton crossing outlets in U.S.A. , I really felt the strong impact of “Made in China”.

Before I left for America, my 15-year-old daughter asked me to buy some shoes like Nike or Adidas for her, so I went directly to the store which sold Nike shoes. There were so many different kinds of Nike shoes displayed on the racks and they were of so many different color that I found it hard to choose. Just as I was looking at the shoes I found “made in China” printed on the inside of the shoes! Actually there are so many shops in Clinton crossing outlets which sold clothes or shoes made in China, including famous brands like Nike and Adidas.

     Later I knew because the labor is much cheaper in China, so in order to cut the expense on labor, many internationally famous brands choose to set up factories in China, and also in other Asian countries. In the outlets there are also a lot of clothes made in Vietnam, made in Cambodia, made in Indonesia, etc.

Yale Library

Library should be the most beautiful building in a university. It's no exception for a distinguished university like Yale university. 

Located in the center of Yale campus rises a very tall Gothic building-a stunning beauty: Sterling Memorial Library, the largest library of Yale. It was founded in 1918 by John William Sterling, a rich Yale alumnus who donated $17 million dollars for the library. Both the inside and outside of Sterling Memorial Library are very gorgeous. In front of the library, there is large area of lawn. According to the introduction of the people working in there are about 11 or 12 libraries in Yale. 

the inside corridor 

 ceiling

periodical reading room