The workshop at Crowne Plaza Hotel

              


We went to the Crowne Plaza for our Personal Leadership and Dvelopement Workshop last week, and the workshop lasted three days. However, the scheduel was very tight so I did not get much time to enjoy the beautiful beach there. Fortunatley, our our classroom was located on the Bay View floor, which is the top floor of the hotel, so we could see the ocean through the windows the whole time. 


Professor Newman divided us into five teams on the second day of the workshop, and all my teammates were native English speakers.  So, it was very frustrating for me when we were preparing a presentation for our final class at the hotel because they spoke very fast. Therefore, I had to pay very close attention to what they were saying and asked many times if they could repeat what they said. They treated me as their baby sister, and let me do the easiest part of the presentation. I felt very sad and became very quiet as we finsished the presentation. I wanted to work with them as a team, even though I might be younger, and could not speak as good as english as they could. I was so bummed. However, on the otherside, I appreciated that they did not speak slow english just for me knowing I am Chinese, as I do not want to inconvenience them. I believe that we the International students must go through these kinds of trials before we really start to learn here in America. For this is the reason I have come to another county, to escape the familiar, and force the unfamiliar as to learn more than the average person could know. I can not complain, I spent a lot of time on the part of the presentation that was assigned to me, and I believe that i did a very good job. I am just happy I did not give up or have a bad attitude about the whole situation of being treated like a baby. The only way to combat my teamates preconceived idea anout me (being a baby) is to prove to them that I am qualified to do the same quality of work they do. So I am going to going out of my comfort zone, I will not complain, and am focusing on the things that I CAN do now!

relax

BBQ with verble workshop classmates

The verble workshop finished last week, and more amd more students are coming as we near the first day of official class. I have decided to tak the CFA exam in December. I can only imagine how busy i will be in my first term at Pepperdine, but i dont mind hard work and I actually perfer a busy scheduel. I will focus on my studies and my Lord and I will be fine.
 I got my car, however, I need a lot of practice before I really drive.
Today i just wanted to relax a little and prepare my self for the splash.

This week is full of blessings

This week is full of blessings.

1. Last Sunday, I watched the baptism of new believers at Church. I was so touched that I could not help but to cry.  Two years on the same day I was baptized in God's name. I am so happy for those new believers. They are so blessed to be in the truth.
2. I passed the written driving test, and got a temporary driver's license on Monday. Now I am trying to get a good car with a good price. It will be hard work for me, because I know nothing about cars. Fortunately, I have a lot of amazing friends, and they can give me advice on this topic.
3.I have been awarded a Graduate Research Assistantship,and I will work with Prof. Samuel Seaman starting in September. I have met Prof. Samuel twice on campus,he is a really nice person,and its going to be a very great experience to work with him, I am positive that I will be receiving more than just a social security number and money from this experience. I gotta to say, I am so so so so blessed by my Lord.

4.Finally, I ate Chinese food in America this week. I mean real Chinese food. I went to Chinese restaurant in Ohio before, but all the food there was so American. Chinese don’t eat that kind of food, and I do not know why American call it "Chinese restaurant".haha. I cooked egg and tomato, which is the most traditional and easiest Chinese food. I ate it with rice, and it was so good.
5. My family and all my friends are doing good.

Frist week at Pepperdine Uiversity

I cannot believe that I have already been in Malibu for a week. Time always goes faster when you are a lot fun.
Pepperdine is an amazing school. Everyone here is very nice and helpful. I guess that is because Pepperdine is a Christian school. People are always nice when God is with them.
My classes start at 1pm every day, but I go to school at 7:20am with Maria who teaches at Pepperdine University. She has offered to take me to school every day until I get my own car.
Most days I spend my mornings at the library and then I go to a place I call "open air" to have my lunch. I like to read from the Bible under the sunshine before I go to my first class. The amazing thing is that you can always see the beautiful ocean, no matter where you are at the campus.
Most of the time Maria and I go straight home after school, but sometimes we also love to go to the beach and walk a little while before going home. We love the fresh air and the sounds of the ocean.
First week at Pepperdine University----I am doing pretty well. The only thing I am worried about is the on-campus part time job. There are many people and the job positions are limited. If I’m lucky, then I will be one with a job. We will see.
Have a good weekend.