Our Trip to Connecticut Coast

On the afternoon of 12th July, Yale University organized all the Chinese summer session teachers to the Connecticut coast. At 14:00 o'clock, the school bus started from the university gym. After about 45 minutes drive, we finally arrived at the coast.Though it was very hot under the sun, we were very excited after we got off the bus. We were stunned by the gorgeous scenery. We walked to the coast, talking excitedly and taking pictures here and there. On the way the the boat, we saw clean and blue sky with cotton-like clouds and flying seagulls. we saw clean and mirror-like light-blue sea with little waves patting on the coast. We also saw people,young and old, men and women lying or sitting on the sand,playing balls or running merrily on the sand. And we saw various styles of yachts and sailing boats berthing along the coast or sailing on the sea. After about 10 minutes'walk, we aboard the boat that was waiting for us. Then it took us to the sea around the islands. The captain was a gentleman-like old man who spoke very good English. He introduced the geographic characteristics, the history of the 23 islands and he even told us some romantic stories relating to some of the islands in detailed and sometimes humorous languages, which made us burst out to laugh from time to time. After almost an hour's boat trip on the sea, we got ashore. Of course, we wouldn't let go such a good chance of taking photos ashore. We made all kinds of postures and took a lot pictures for each other. Though unwilling to part from so beautiful a place, we got on the school bus which started off at 16:00. On the bus, still bathed in the excitement, we talked and laughed. After an hour's drive, we finally arrived at the university gym. What a wonderful afternoon we had.

Various yachts and sailing boats berthing along the coast.

Look at the beautiful islands, the beautiful sea, the blue sky and the white cotton-like clouds! Amazing! Right?

That is just one of the beautiful 28 islands on which only 23 are inhabited. Look at those gorgeous big stones. The old captain told us they have tens of thousands of years.

I am totally immersed in the beautiful scenery. A beautiful woman intoxicated by the beautiful scenery.

The beautiful lady sitting next to me is my respected Yale University teacher---Siggy. What a pity! We looked at different directions when we took the picture. Can you guess why? Because there were several photographers taking pictures for us at that time. We don't know at whom we should smile.

The first observation class in Yale and the Visit to the Library

Today I had my first observation class in Yale. I attended Carrie Allen's Reading and Writing class which is composed of 11 students,seven of whom are Chinese,one Russian,one Egyptian and one Japanese. In the following picture, Carrie walked round the round table telling students how to write a blog of detailed and vivid story of their childhood memory.

After observing teachers'classes and exchanging the reflections on different observation classes, we were led by Carrie to the library of Yale in which we were showed around every floor of the library by a handsome librarian.In the library, we found many thousands of books,magazines,CDs, DVDs for adults, teenagers and children. And we even found many books introducing our Chinese culture both in English and Chinese.

Our First Day in the House We've Rented

Today, Ricky and his wife, Sunny, Susan and I, we five were very happy, because we've finally moved into the house we pre-rented when we were in China.It is a three-story villa. we have live on the second floor. There are three bedrooms, a bathroom, a sitting room, a kitchen and a balcony. The Richy couple live in the bedroom with a balcony, Sunny and I live in the second largest bedroom and Susan live in the smallest one. After we finished all the necessary check in and check out procedures with the three previous Mexican tenants, we began thorough cleaning the house. After half an hour's through-cleaning, our house became very tidy, bright and cozy.

After we settled down, we five began cooking our first meal in the U.S. Since Sunny and Ricky are very good at cooking, they were mainly in charge of cooking rice and stir-frying dishes. The rest of us were in charge of preparation jobs, such as washing vegetable, cutting pork and washing bowls, chopsticks and spoons etc. After about 40 minutes, the first meal in our new house was prepared well which included fried pork with green pepper-our favorite cuisine, stewed steak with carrots and fried vegetable. Look at the following picture, what a rich and delicious supper we had!

Our Activities on Independence Day

Today is the Independence Day. On the previous day, our teacher told us there will be commemorating ceremony in the Grove Street Cemetery which is one of the most important public places in New Haven. So early today, we five got up at 7:30. After having breakfast, we started off to the cemetery at 8:30. At 9:00 am, we heard three loud firing of Musket Volley. Then,the sixty-third annual ceremonies began, whose purpose was to honor the signers of the Declaration of Independence. At first, Tim Wilkins made the opening remarks. Then, he made roll calls to pay tribute to whose 30 original members of the 1775 Colony of Connecticut. After that, a handsome gentleman introduce the story of Roger Sherman, a really important figure of the singers of the first Constitution in Connecticut. At the end of the ceremony, all the Americans present sang "God Bless America" together. 

My first day and first impression in U.S.A

Look! How excited, happy and proud I am in front of the statue of George Washington on my first day in U.S.A. Standing here, I was told that George Washington declared the independence of the United States just in front of the building of freedom.So the city of Philadelphia is actually the first capital of the United States.

This is another statue of George Washington in New York city. Our tourist guide told us that there are many statues of George Washington in many cities of the United Stated to commemorate the first president of U.S.A

When I arrived in the United States, I found that the sky is so high and blue with a lot cotton-like or animal-like clouds, the air is so fresh, the streets are so clean and there are so many vehicles running on streets,avenues and highways,but you can hardly see people walking in streets or avenues.There are many high and modern buildings as well as  classic European buildings or Gothic buildings in cities.You see, the following picture shows a striking contrast between the highest and modern building and a classic church. Can you guess where it is? Aha, it's in Boston.