Joecy

Great note, Msittig! Did your wife have teaching background before coming to the US?

Very nice of you to consider this option for your father-in-law!

Such a funny article, thanks for sharing Randy! The Chinese names are going outrageously complicated these day. A character from the emperor's dictionary? Yes, it's unique, special with good meaning, but you might not find it when typing on keyboard! Seems like the we Chinese are going from one extreme to another. At my parent's time when PRC was just established, the boy's name is around 卫国(protect the country), 爱国 (love the country) , the girls 来娣(come brother). Talking about English name, I was very surprised after coming to the US, that many of the popular English baby name were unheard in China, like Asthon, Jacob, Madison, Mackenna ..... Chinese are still lingering in the old fashion ones. My daughter's friend, an Caucasion girl, her parents' gave her a Chinese name -- Meili (美丽). I was very proud knowing they picked a Chinese name for their daughter. Somehow they bring back the glory of this dated Chinese name.

梁哲晨曦 LiangzheChenxi What a name! The characters all has such good meaning. The only downside, the kid might complain how long it will take him to write his name, especially during a test.

Hi Xiaoyan, nice to see you asking question and started to prepare for life in the US! I have taught Pinying in a local Chinese school on my 2nd year in the US. I lived in Michigan, our Chinese school has around 70 kids. These school are mostly volunteer based, the teacher are mostly parents, they might have their own kid in their class. My pay were like 15 dollars an hour, we teach 2 hours on every Sun. I didn't have teaching background, it was hard for me to figure out the teaching method -- trying to make Pinying fun to these American born Chinese who were very active and lively was tough, I scratched my head. Often getting excited for an idea and couldn't go to sleep. I think it might be easier for you coming as a English teacher. I stopped teaching to focus on my magazine. But it was a great experience! Me and my daughter all get connected with the Chinese Community, I learned the American born Chinese kids response to a different way of teaching... We are writing an article about teaching Chinese in the US. We interviewed couple Chinese women who teach in US university, private school, local Chinese school, or on their way to get degree ( teaching Chinese as a Foreign language) . Hope the article will be available before you embark to the US.

Well said, Thomas! I still need to learn how to care for others, ask about them, not always me me me!!

Doug, these are wonderful suggestions! I am sorry you have to retype everything, I appreciate your time and thoughts. I also felt the the warms our folks have here on the forum. Very special! Seems easier saying what you think behind a screen.. I admire your friend held a block party, I am not confident enough to do so, yet ;p But, I might go surprise my husband for lunch!

Hope to see a boost of Chinese learning in the US, make it a popular 2nd language in school, in stead of learning Spanish, everyone should have a chance to learn Chinese!! And Yes, Catherine, you and I won't become street begged then.

very fun! I watched it with my husband, parents and daughter. quite entertaining! Hope to hear what he said in the rest of the meeting though.

Mark Zuckerberg married a Chinese woman, said he had to learn Chinese so he could speak to his mother-in-law and wife's grandma! We are writing an article about " Being a Chinese teacher in the US" for our 2nd issue, looks like there will be growing need for Chinese teachers in the US?! 7 Famous People Who Surprised Us by Speaking Chinese When Mark Zuckerberg gave a Q&A in Mandarin Chinese, the Facebook founder left his audience of Beijing college students—and the rest of the world—stunned and impressed. http://time.com/3534248/mark-zuckerberg-facebook-chinese/ http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2012/5/29/1338306240071/Mark-Zuckerberg-and-Prisc-008.jpg ps. Sorry for being absent for a while. I have been traveling, 2 times to Detroit, 2 times to Chicago, my head just went exploded!! enough bad excuses... I want you guys to know I'm thinking about you!

Also like to hear from other Chinese woman on this topic.

Rawknee, I am so glad you said something about people worked at the GZ consulate. They made so many mistakes, can't believe they belong to the US government. I am so glad you and Wenyan and your son are together! That 5 years of fighting and waiting is not gonna be waste! When I feel something hard I am reluctant to do, I found myself going back to the dark days of that forever waiting immigration days. Then I told myself, if I can go through that, I can go through everything! On the other hand, the immigration seems moving a LOT faster these days! 3-5 months, approved and visa in hand! What a big difference!

But say if you were invited to american's house, for dinner. And you didn't bring anything. What would the American think of you?

Mm, interesting observation, Randy! Yeah, I agree that it will probably work, even better, cause people talk without the influence of gift at the beginning.

Let me guess, Dennise IMO= in law mother oh stay?

Rawknee, I am very touched by your story. I can't image 5 year after 2 years of waiting. Someday, I will write about CFL folks' story.

My parents are here visiting for 2 months. Now they were touring Yellow Stone Park with a local tourist group that speaks both Chinese and English. I'm on a break from my parents. This is their 2nd time in the US. Last year when they first visit, there was a "debate" on how long they should stay. My dad's first assumption was they would stay for 6 months, which were most of the other Chinese parents did. I told my husband, he looked a little surprised. He said he had never stay with his parents for more than 1 month after he was 18. We agreed to give 2 months a try. The funny thing was, after the first 2 weeks in the US, both my parents said they wanted to go back sooner, 2 months was too long! They were not very comfortable living in a environment where they didn't understand the language, they had no friend, and people seemed not respecting seniors as they did in China... On the other hand, my in-laws heard me talking about my parent's 2-month visit, they were like, "I envy your parents get to stay with you for 2 months!" My senior American lady friend would said, "wow, how nice! You and your daughter must be very happy!" I told them I was stressed out trying to find activities for them to do, fearing they would be bored to death in this little town. They said, "Don't worry, they just wanted to be around with their children and grandchildren." I sense that visiting grown up children for 2 months is not very common in the US culture. How long does your wife's parent visit? What do they usually do in the US?

He finally did this.... And, I helped

I thought it's a common practice - especially for hot pot in China. Every time, after devoured all the food on 100 little dishes for the hot pot, when savoring the deliciousness, we would say: I'm sure it's the magic from the poppy pit....

interesting but not surprising. My parents went through culture revolution and the 3-yr nature disaster when they were in growth spurt but had nothing to eat. They were material-less growing up. Having money, being able to get more things, being able to go to college were top items on their bucket list. When it come to us, they want to make sure their child have the chance to have things they didn't have. So they emphasize on the importance of being able to make money; going to college and owing things. Maybe US went through the same? At least China has the buying power

If a couple has a 3-4 year old child a drum would not be a good present. My impression is Americans are good at giving gifts. The Christmas gift is a little overwhelming, though. But very good practice to think about other people.

Interesting! never considered doll as unsuitable as gift to Chinese. Any gifts are not recommended to Americans?

Where are you going to stay in UK? You will need an address anyway.

wow, surprised they even have this in Chinese. Seems like they have both traditional and simplified Chinese choices on Amazon.

Rawknee, wonderful sharing! love to the read the details! Did you really go through 4 years and 10 months to bring your wife here?!!!! I wonder what's the longest waiting time in the history!