In English class, we played a game following the rule of American jury system. That is the first time for me to get to know another verdict process besides lawyers’ decision.

A jury composes of 12 persons whose vacations are always unrelated with law. Facing the materials and opinions given in the court, ALL 12 members in jury must unanimously agree on whether someone is guilty or innocent. If the jurors cannot agree on a verdict, the case is tried again, in front of a new jury. Now jury system is operated in many parts of the United States.

This system is said to be the best and fairest way to find out what really happened. I have no all-round idea about it because of limited experience. But whatever to say, it will undoubtedly avoid corruption to some extent.

Cleveland has been losing its population and fame these decades, but it is still of dignity for something including a baseball team “Indians”, a world famous opera hall “Severance Hall”, several art museums and its medical research.

During Thanksgiving ho- liday, my husband and I went to Cleveland Mu- seum of Natural History to appreciate the culture of the splendid city in history. The museum is composed of five main parts — continents of the world, creature evolution, environmental change,the wildlife park, and souvenir shops.

Exhibition’s content and depth are not as profound as that of China, but Americans are really good at taking full advantage of visual and acoustical feelings. And they are skilled in advertising themselves and promoting sales.

今天，一个一同上英语课的台湾女孩送了两罐海鲜浓汤给我们，很合老公的口味，我们曾在北京西四附近的一家华天小吃吃过相似的奶油蘑菇汤。在这里认识的台湾人大多是很热情和友好的，只是她们总是无意识得称我们为中国人，而自称台湾人，让人感到非常遗憾。

刚刚过去的周日对大多数人而言不过是个普通平常的日子而已，而对于我和老公，却是很有意义的一天——距我们第一次正式约会整整三周年了，一个共处异国他乡的纪念日！

老公先陪我去考驾照，虽然我的英语听力还有些困难，在老公这个临时翻译员的帮助下还是顺利办完了手续。考试的环节倒显得最为容易，因为在国内考过驾照，而且中美两国的交规比较相似，当然也有一些不同，比如美国交规很重视“校车”的安全，在孩子上下车时同车道和相邻车道的所有车辆必须在10 feet的范围内停车。

拿到驾照后，我和老公高高兴兴去采购庆祝纪念日和感恩节的食物。火鸡实在太太了，我们的胃口都小，就选了一盒切片火鸡；也买了做新疆抓饭用的羊排和胡萝卜，这对我的厨艺可真是挑战啊；然后我选了爱吃的零食点心和蔬菜；当然，水果也是不可少的，除了橙子葡萄之类，也买了些美国芒果和樱桃，不过我是再不会尝黑莓啦。

吃过午饭，我们开车去看电影，虽然我很想自己开，但因为下起了小雨，经验值太低的我只能等待下次机会。雨不大，可以开着车窗，空气十分清新，听着中国音乐穿行美国的大街小巷，心想也算个不错的纪念日！我们选了两部目前北美排行榜前两位的电影——Borat和Flushed away。一个关于异国人旅行美国的经历；另一个是典型的美国式卡通。听着影院里周围观众此起彼伏的放声大笑，我和老公也相视而笑^_^情节是可笑的，而美国人的特殊笑声则更为有趣。

从电影院出来，已经八点多了，外面居然下起了小雪，据说是“the lake snow”，因为与城市北面的Erie Lake息息相关。我们扣紧衣服抬头望着飘落的雪花，想起多雪的故乡，顿觉亲切而又浪漫……

I came across this article somewhere on the web this afternoon and was really interested in reading it. It was a reply post to a question “Why do you dislike China?” on an online forum. I have been witnessing the bias that people in the US hold towards China especially in their public medias since I came to this country and was always reluctant to comment at any circumstances.

The author (lulu926) is probably an ABC (America Born Chinese) and his knowledge on both sides totally changed my view of my Chinese-American fellows.

China’s image in America will always be tinged with bias and discrimmination purely based on the opposing govermental philosohpies. I mean, we learn about communisim and socialism in our American schools, and the teachers say that China’s communist. The kids get the impression that China is a barbaric totalitarian country where people have no rights. When I talk to American kids about communisim or China, all they tell me is that “isn’t that where a brain surgeon makes the same amount of money as a bus driver?”

People talk about China’s human/civil rights problems and the government’s control, but I find that largely based on the American understanding that resulted from the Red Scare. China now follows democratic communism. China has a bill of rights also. China has a market economy. Most of our American understanding is purposely outdated. This, i feel is almost like propoganda. No one teaches the kids the current issues or even the way actual governments function. All we know is that communism is bad and China is communist. Read the rest of this entry »