DTS--experiencing the USA

                                                         Experiencing the USA

          Hi, my name is Yixuan Gong, coming from Beijing. I am excited and a little nervous about my upcoming life in America, because I am not familiar with their culture and life, just having watched some movies and TV series that are more dramatic than real, like Gossip Girl and The Big Bang Theory. After 15 hours flight, I arrived at Columbus with my mother. Going out the airport, I breathed the fresh air and saw the great environment, feeling curious about everything. People in Columbus are very nice and polite. When I walk on street or shopping in stores, strangers and workers smile and say “have a good day”, “hi, guys”, which make me feel warm.

              Two weeks later, our pre-vocation was held at stadium. It is very different from the opening ceremony in China. The outgoing students and school band made it more alive and interesting. Everyone yelled our school’s name and made O-H-I-O by hands. One day later, we began our study life formally. The study pattern is different from China. In our high school, we have to take many classes and do lots of homework everyday, not to mention that we need to finish them immediately at the same day. One of the reasons of this phenomenon is that there are billions of people in China, which makes the competition more intense. In contrast, studying in USA makes me feel more comfortable. We can have more time to do and revise our assignment, for instance, holding more flexible time to do whatever we like. Furthermore, varieties of activities are held everyday, such as sport games, fitness classes and parties. We can attend what we want to make new friends, learn more American cultures and strengthen our relationship strategy instead of just facing the textbook.  At the first day, for instance, my math class leaving much homework, I did them for a whole afternoon. In the     evening, my two American roommates advised me to rest and have fun with them, which made me feel surprised and warm. Now, I am trying to adapt to their life. I joined a bridge activity, meeting new friends every Friday, chatting with them and enjoying the delicious food. Besides it, I signed in a conversation program in which I know a nice girl. We try the great restaurant, go to the fitness class and cook together! Affected by them, my Chinese roommate and I attended rock climbing and watched movies at AMC, seeking new things to try, which make our life more colorful.

             Nevertheless, there is still some culture shock. For example, the public transportation is less convenient than China. Before the class, the number of bus is few and the interval time is so long, especially on Sunday, which makes my mother have waited for 3 hours. Eventually, I called a taxi and she did not go    back to hotel until 11:30pm. Another big difference is the food. In China, we have various foods to eat with sorts of cooking methods. Conversely, I have to eat meat and fried everyday that I think it is very unhealthy. And the few vegetable is row with strange sauces. Moreover, beverage is cold with ice except some coffee. I cannot enjoy them! One more thing surprised me is that in my original opinion American people would dress delicately, maybe influenced by New York Fashion Work. However, they wear casual clothes to class, which makes me have to change my clothe style, cause in China I like to wear skirt and high-heal shoes—it is very common wear in Beijing.

             Although there are some culture difference between China and America, I think they are not the big deal. With the time passing, I fit in the circumstance better and enjoy the more colorful life here!