First Three Weeks Being An Adult.

Finally, I have my first weekend in Boston!

Took by my partner Nikita in front of my collage building.

1) School.

Register. Drop. Register again. Drop again. The same course. It happened in my first two weeks. Couldn't make the decision, I changed my mind every day until last Thursday. 

Finally, I am taking 16 credits this semester. 

And I already get two credits, painful but exciting!

Last two weekends, we had 9 to 5 classes every day. It was a kinda "boot camp," teaching us photo shooting and making videos. So carrying the heavy tripods, mics and cameras, I had four wonderful days.

I took a video of my partner's dancing story and edited it in Final Cut Pro. It was so interesting to cut the interview video, put them together and add music and photos. 

 

From the top of Hyatt across the Charles river.

One of the courses really opens a new world for me-- Data Storytelling.

I have been interested in data for a long time. In my capstone paper, I analyzed the data of the digital subscription of The New York Times, which was time consuming but interesting. 

I am thrilled at the new course, which teaches us to search, analyze, and request for data from internet and government. 

In China, we are allowed to request public records. There were few university students requesting the government officials to show the government records, but failed. And every request was regarded as super brave.

I cannot say how exciting I am that I could make request for public records, which can be everything I want to know. 

Political asylum is a topic that I have been curious about for a long time. I am surprised to learn that the top reason for Chinese to apply for the asylum in America is One Child Policy.

Though I may never get the data I want, but I would fight for it. It feels good to have the right and use it.

2) Commute.

Somehow, I live super close to Boston College. It takes me one hour to commute every day. So you will see me sitting in the train, reading The Wall Street Journal with highlight pen every morning. 

One thing annoys me a lot. I see the train passing every morning when I walk to the station! Maybe it's just bad luck, or the train doesn't like me. ;(

I didn't get any time for football games. But at least I can feel the game on the train. 

Last Saturday after the class, I was surprise to see the train was full-packed. It started to rain, but the happiness from the BC fans can't be diminished. It reminded the football games in Oklahoma last year.

Winter is coming. I hope I can catch the train every morning, instead of standing in the snow and waiting for ages.

Rails.

3) As an adult.

To be honest, it is my first time to feel like an adult.

Though studying in States last year, I was in a big group. I had my friends living next door. I had advisers who took care of everything for me, including courses, housing and etc. OU provided me chances to meet with Americans, such as OU cousin and host family. I couldn't work so I relied on my parents financially, though feeling sorry.

But everything is different.

From housing to courses, I have to make every decision by myself. I am too old to totally rely on my parents. I don’t have a group to connect with. Though I have nice classmates and generous professors, I feel I am all alone some time. The feeling that I need to be a fully grown-up shows in my head every moment. Four years after turning into 18-years-old, I finally feel I am obligated to take every responsibility for myself. I know it is late, but I am still happy but scared.

Room. Desks and Chairs assembled by myself.

Everything seems to get better.

Put gym into my schedule. Start to cook. Had my furniture arrived and assembled. Get used to the transportation and the walking pace. Two or more cups of coffee a day. Try to finish homework in school before heading back home. Write journal every day. Fall asleep with music on.

Love life! ;)

 

I couldn't blink or close my eyes every night when I walked out. The sunset is amazing.

What? My Package Flew to Oklahoma?!

As soon as I signed the lease, I started to use my address for everything. 

The other day, I ordered a textbook on Amazon. Tracking the package, I found it was delivered. But, I didn't see the package. 

Where did Amazon send my textbook?!!!!

Just in case, I checked the order again. OMG! I forgot to change the address on Amazon. The book lies in front of the door in Oklahoma!

I couldn't fly to Oklahoma just to get the textbook, though I'd like to.

Posting a status on Facebook about the situation, a girl suggested me to call the club house in the complex to see if they get the package.

I called and explained. 

"You must come here and show your student ID," the girl on the phone said.

"But I am in Boston." I almost cried.

Finally, she checked the package list. Unfortunately, it was not in the club house. 

Suddenly, I remembered my old roommates may still live there.

She recommended me to contact Amazon to see if they could waive the returning fee.

So I had an amazing conversation with the customer service.

The staff checked my order and decided to give me the refund, even without returning the book!

My brain stopped working for a moment, and I thought I couldn't understand English.

But this was MY fault. I put the wrong address.

Though the textbook is cheap, I am still so happy and relieved. 

Maybe this is one of the reasons that Amazon can grow so fast! 

From Oklahoma to Boston. What a difference!

Still, after a week in Boston, I still couldn't believe it's true: I am here in Boston!

Though I have been lived in United States for one year, it's totally a different place for me. From Oklahoma to Boston, what a difference!

The last sunset in my hometown Wenzhou

After an exhausting travel from China, I arrived in Boston.A brand new life is waiting for me.

I skyped with Maria and Janine when I was at the Hongkong Airport. Miss the friends!!!

1. Housing.

First thing to deal with is housing. I am so thankful that OU prepared the housing for all the International students. I was really desperate, since I knew nobody here in Boston, and it was really late to look for a room. 

Searching on Craigslist, I found a place. After seeing the house twice, I thought I liked it. So I filed the application and send the copy of my I-20 to the landlord. 

But I changed my mind as soon as I lay down on bed. The room is too old and too gloomy and cold. The next morning, when I started searching for housing again, I got the electric lease from the landlord. I was freaking out!

I contacted a friend, Troy, who lives in Illinois, to ask if I could say no the lease. Troy  comforted me and tell me to calm down. And he found me a girl in Boston, who works for a church!

In the same day, my second day in Boston, I found my room. I made the quick decision, and hope it is a good one.
It was a room with a small balcony in the third floor. I am satisfied with everything, expect I have three MALE roommates.
I didn't get the news until Sept 1. Before, the agency asked if I mind live with guys. I said no. But I didn't mean ONLY man. ;(
I have never lived with any guys except my dad and my brother. I couldn't picture me living with three MEN. I was shocked when I heard the news from the agency. Maybe I should have thought about this before I signed the lease.
Well, it just happened. And I guess I'll have to deal with it, at least, for now.

My room has a small balcony!!!

2. Transportation.
Boston is a nice city, especially with convenient commute. I can take the train to the most city, which is totally different from Norman, Oklahoma. I couldn't even do grocery by myself back to Norman.
But it is not very easy to do now neither. I walked to the Star Market happily, enjoying the sunshine and the beautiful scene. But I had to carry them for a 10-minute-walking. Though it was a short distance, but with carrying the stuff, it was not so easy. But I'll have to do that time to time since now, a good work out for my arms I guess.

The metro takes me everywhere.

The metros and the sunset.

Besides, I can get cabs easily here, though it is really expensive. The meter changes so fast, even faster than the cabs in Dubai!!
This morning, I tried Uber for the first time. I had to move my luggages to my new room, and there was no cabs. So I used the app Uber.
It was convenient and quick. But I found the Uber charged more than the meter showed. I guess I need to pay for the convenience.

3. HUGS?
I didn't do hug at all before Oklahoma. Chinese don't do hug usually.
But last year, the warm people I met in Oklahoma changed me. And I thought Americans do hug too.

So when the Americans I meet in Boston shake hands with me, like we usually do in China, I was a little bit shocked.
I asked the agency if people do hug in Boston, or it's just because I am Chinese. He told me that people won't hug until they are very close to each other. Girls hugs, but not guys. They hug on dates, but not to people they just meet.

It may because most people I met in Oklahoma were Europeans and Latin Americans, so we hugged each other a LOT! But Americans in Oklahoma hug too.

I don't really like the people here think Oklahoma is conservative, not civilized. It could be true in some part, but for me, I like WARM people. There will be a hard time for me to get used to the cold people.
I miss the bus drivers at OU, whom we said Thank you, Have a nice day to!




4. Chinese EVERYWHERE!
Because of so many reasons, I got to know maybe ten Chinese in the year at OU, really talked maybe five of them.
So I was really shocked when I walked on the street and see Chinese every second. WOW!!! We are really everywhere.
It has pros. There are a lot of Chinese restaurants and supermarkets here. The Chinatown has nice Cantonese cuisine.
The cons? I guess I'll just have to get used to that. Since 35% of the International students at BU are Chinese!

The Commomwealth Ave is really beautiful!

5. New Life in Boston.
I am still trying to settle down. I just got my mattress today, still waiting for the frame. I have nothing in my room. I still don't know my schedule as a tutor in the Writing Center, which could be a big challenge for me.
But I am sure that I will get through all these, and have a fantastic life in Boston. Though I may cry, I may feel depressed, I will try my best to live a happy life and learn things.

My college building. 

Saw kids walking together. Super cute!