Joecy

Very cool that you actually sent them a email! I appreciate that! Interesting that big as XM, they haven't done anything with Chinese speaking population. I actually found a press release they had in 2005, said they would have a Korean radio, might launch a Chinese one in 2006. But nothing happens...

Hi there, I'm back from camping! You probably can tell from the topic that I was miserable from the long drive We drove 5 hours to the Upper Peninsular in Michigan, where all you see on the road are trees and rocks, rocks and tree, and some dead trees. Nothing to do on the drive, I can't read because I get dizzy. I also want to keep the driver, my husband accompanied so he wouldn't feel like just being our driver. So, we listened to Sirius, the radio tailed to car all the way, until I can puke on those repeating top 10 pop songs! Even listening to those songs so many times, I still can't sing along like my teen daughters do. Somehow, those English lyrics couldn't registered, or make sense to me. How I wanted to listen to Chinese songs when driving. I miss listening to my favorite Chinese songs, singing along and feeling free like a bird... So I checked the 100+ channels on Sirius, there is Spanish speaking channel, even Korean, but no Chinese! Aaaaarghhh! I understand driving long distance in the US is very very common, but most Chinese are still in the habit of taking bus or train. Then we can play cards and eat lot of sunflower seeds on the bus/train. What do you listen on a road trip? What do you do to kill boredom if stuck in a car for 10 hours?

Mick, Thanks for the explanation on that confusing ring of sausage Coke is a great one too! Chinese would know what this is though. Anything else, like the use of Kleenex?

Doug, great suggestion on learning from the children's book! I'm doing this with my daughter, very fun to read together with her. These are the ones I found very interesting: Amelia Bedila Junie B Jones Rainbow fairies...and all the other fairies books... Now she moves to Captain Underpants, funny comic, even I couldn't stop reading. For most of our Chinese, we missed the entire English class on humor. This part of my English level is lower than kindergartens. I often have straight face when American is telling a joke. One big difference on reading I noticed: The ability to read is very emphasized in US education. There are also so many fun series books for children, which makes reading easier and more enjoyable. The ability to read a lot, read different types of book is not emphasized in Chinese education. The other sad part is, not many fun Children book available in Chinese, which makes it harder for kids to fall in love with reading in Chinese. I saw my daughter making great process in reading English, but not much on Chinese.....

Hi Allon, thanks for the sharing! Lose 5lbs first week in China? How do you do it? I have gained 10lbs since I'm in the US, can't get ride of that extra!! What is the 40 to 140 in 4 hours rule?

We have to go to a Chinese grocery store when we are out of rice! How do you cook that thick steak? Do you have a grill in Nanning?

Love your story, Ruby! My eyes became watery reading how you adopted Sugar. You have such a kind heart, not easy to always be patient to listen... You will be a great mom!! And thank you for moderating this forum.

I know these Companies/Brands have been in the US for as long as people can remember, they dominate the market, probably had very cute Advertisement, and those ads. songs stuck in your head as a child. But very hard for Chinese ladies to figure out what are you talking about??? Bring me a box of Kleenex (tissue paper. What about other brands? So discriminated ). http://www.mysavings.com/img/link/large/5246.jpg Bring a ring of bologna to a tailgate party (sausage in a ring shape) http://www.chermakeprivatelabel.com/how-we-make-it/options/images/R_Bol_group.jpg What else??

Haven't been to a tailgate party(too old??), only walked by some at the concern parking lot. Loud music and drinks. I had to search what is a "ring of bolanga". The Amercians' habit of using brand name is very unique, and drives me crazy! (we should definitely start a new topic on this!!) Like "please hand me a box of Kleenex" , why don't you just say "hand me a box of tissue paper" and bring some sausage?! http://www.eckrich.com/public/images/pages/products/lunchmeat/bologna_cotto_salami/ringbologna.jpg And what is NASCAR vids?

Catherine, You are such a good role model for all Chinese ladies. You know what you are passionate about, and you took action! - finishing 2 online courses and got qualified is not easy! Like Larry said, I believe you will succeed once you set your direction! The whole universe will work it's magic to help you achieve your goal!

Welcome Zhenghong! Thank you for sharing your journey! I was in Chengdu, very close to Chongqing. Do you cook spicy food at home(你在家做辣菜吗?)

Yep, missed the chance to sit the magical month, which supposed to cure/prevent all healthy issues We will have to let Ruby and Mrs.Gravestey update us their findings.

Msittig, Did you make that, and the picture too? It's very good looking food and picture!!! How did you make the black background? I'm glad your mom find the magazine informative. Sometimes, it's hard for American to image how their daily life could be so challenging to a Chinese, if they have never LIVED in a foreign country. You have lived in China , I'm sure you know it well. Please keep giving me ideas on how to improve the content mmm, I'm ashamed to say I have never been to Gua2. I missed the old Ark in Xintiandi, still can't believe we did a death metal concert there, that was probably the coolest thing ever happened to Xintiandi

I will start with myself. "Hello everyone , I'm Joecy". I like the 2nd sister "Jo" in the novel little women, so I picked my English name as Joe, but people say it's a boy's name so, I added "cy". I was born in Chengdu, grew up in Shanghai, worked as Marketing Communication for many years, met my husband through work, got married in Shanghai. In 2012, I arrived in the US in Philadelphia, first half years were full of culture shocks: I didn't know when to say "excuse me" when walking into American's personal bubble, this happened many times in grocery stores; I chased geese and squirrels, which was later defined as "stressing animals" by my husband; Language is hard. On every weekend, I would stop talking, nor English or Chinese, my brain was fried! I was also disconnected from China town and Chinese church, my friendship were all virtual with my friends/family in China. I was frustrated with finding jobs. Through a friend's personal journey, I was inspired to volunteer at a none profit organization for women, while working in a cookie store for part time. The volunteer experience led to my current none profit dream: create a platform to help Chinese immigrant women strive in the US. I produce a bilingual magazine with my own saving. Now the first issue is printed, hope people would like to subscribe, and let me what do you think.The first issue is free. I have 3 girls, two (by marriage) in high school and 1 in elementary, and a male cat to balance the family dynamics. In the US, I found myself cherish Chinese traditions, family and friends, way more than in China; I like to find the differences between US and China, this has becomes the drive for me to learn and grow. CFL is a very special platform. I hope more Chinese women with similar experiences will join us, and feel safe to share here.

I feel like we should introduce ourselves here, so we will know each other better, not just a name and picture See if you can cover below items in your introduction : Your profession in ChinaYour relation with US: came as K1, spouse, others? When did you arrive in the US? Are you a citizen? Any culture shocks in the first year ? Your current profession or your plan.Any children?Anything you like about US? Anything you miss from China?Anything else you'd like CFL know

I'm just starting to eat raw carrot with dips. Not sure about raw celery with dips yet.... I will test on my parents first when they come in a month

Very interesting to look at these stories again, should read to my daughter to learn Chinese history together.

Shanghai/Hangzhou has never been so beautiful! I never appreciated when living there, but I do now.

Hi Msittig, I'm glad you like the magazine! That tortillas egg ham is me and my daughter's favorite lunch! I had found your name very familiar..... now I know! You are the one always holding a camera, standing close to the stage, and you had very curly hair? Can't believe you even remember Harley's! I'm glad you and Jodi are settling down in CA! I will be happy to talk to her whenever she'd like to speak some more mandarin or Shanghai dialect?

Love this. That self-confidence in us Chinese women is usually very small, or gone completely. Very important for husbands to keep saying that to wives: Don't be afraid of being yourselves. I was quite upset with the first couple Chinese dishes prepared for my step daughters. They are ok with dumplings, but not all the stir fry I made (Well, I was not that good at cooking. Not all Chinese women are good at cooking, we used to be spoiled by our parents cooking everything for us.) I thought I tried so hard to learn cooking, rode bike to the Chinese grocery store, buried my head in the kitchen for the whole afternoon, chopping like crazy, and no one helped me(no know knows how to help), but the food was left over on the plates in a big pile. For the first couple months in the US, cooking was the only pride I had, kitchen was my kingdom, but that pride was gone... You have to pick up yourself, and adjust! Later, after many times of experiments, I realized there are some American food the girls didn't like either, and it is hard for people to get used to food they never had. I can't stand parmesan cheese! I started to learn western style: Pasta + tomato sauce+meat ball. Not grilling though, that's the husband's territory, he cooked a lot when the girls are here. As time goes by, they became used to my cooking, and found couple dishes they enjoyed. I grew thicker skin, learnt not to be that sensitive to rejection. Life goes on. We all love icecream!

Ruby, will you be able to find the snack you like in the Chinese grocery store?

Agree, hug and saying "I love you" are contagious! My mother-in law always says I love you before hanging up phone, but I couldn't say that, because I don't even say " I love you" to my parents. One time after talking and laughing, she said ," I love you" , and I said "I love you too," There it is. It then became easy to say ever since. Still not sure whether I will say "wo ai ni men" to my parents.....

Understand how it feel to see "Administrative Processing" every time! I'm glad you ratted their cage like Randy suggested! Hope the start of your journey in the US is exciting and rewarding! I remember my first job at a cookie store, they asked for social security card to fill in the tax section. Other than that, they just need your home address, contact information..

congratulations on marrying a fantastic Chinese women!

very sweet~