Xia Sun
Submitted to APA News & Review
"Letter Home" Essay Contest, Posted: Mar 31, 2005
Dear Dad and Mum,
How are you recently? Do you have the same feelings that time is just like lightning? I can’t believe that I left our house in China and have been in Stockton, CA, for more than five months now! I am glad that everything is going smooth and well. Absolutely, I do miss you, but the novelty makes me too busy to be homesick and still keep me as curious as when I first set foot here in this state. My heart is brimming over with all the miracles I almost felt in this state. I hope you can also experience and be surrounded by these fresh things, which you haven’t gone through, with me.
You know how excited I am! I have been attending free English classes in an adult school nearby for almost one month. When I visited and registered at school the first time, I could not believe my ears when they told me that I could choose any subject without having to pay. I really appreciated it. This encourages people from all over the world to learn English without any financial worries and helps to promote the language among newcomers. I like this kind of class. The teacher is very humorous and active. I can learn not only the English language, the history and culture of America, but also the way to teach effectively. Luckily, I even took my free flu shot at this school, oh, this kind of good things, have you ever heard before? Now, I also realize that students will take a test named ESL when they finish the study. For every student who passes the test, the school will get $250 from the government for improving its facilities.
The life is very quiet. The air is clear and everything is so clean. Although it is winter now, the weather is just like autumn in our hometown. Stockton is a farm city and has not suffered much from pollution. Endless farmland opens my heart. All kinds of natural colors excite my brain. Birds flying leisurely in thee sky bring harmony. The landscape seems to be a picture drawn with a magic wand. Dad and mum, can you imagine what a beautiful city I’m living now? You must love here, let alone me.
I still remember the feeling when I took the RN test in Oakland in the end of December. On the way there, my eyes were refreshed and comforted. I only saw two main colors, green from the grass and trees and the color of asphalt from the roads. I did not see any patch of soil without plants. I like the night view of the freeway. Lines of cars seemed like a long dragon running fast on the broad highway, especially, when the cars on the opposite side running toward us like rows of red lanterns greeting us, without end.
Dad and mum, please don’t worry about me. People are kind due to the God in their hearts. They like to help others and share their blessings with others just like bible teaches. Every Sunday morning, they do to church to receive Gods encouragement. They do what God tells them to, that is, treat people kindly. It seems this is the largest part of their life. Whenever they feel weak, they will ask the Holy Father to give them strength. Surprisingly, I have been to church for only several times and I am fully touched by the Holy Spirit.
Since I came, I saw the deep trust among people. When I checked out at the dollar tree store with a few greeting cards in my hands, the cashier only asked me how many I wanted to pay for without counting them. I was really amazed. You might say we should trust one another, but I'm sure such a degree of trust will also shock you.
You know there are overweight people in our country who have difficulty in finding a decent job. But here, it is the paradise of big people. They have more confidence in themselves rather than low self-esteem due to their size. During the medical check up in Stockton, I met a doctor who did impress me a lot as a successful career woman. Even thought she is almost a big person beyond your eyes, she deserves that job because she never lets her body influence her job and mind. This I really encouraging to me. No matter how we look like, we are all Gods children and we are entitled to the same equal rights.
Dad and mum, guess what? I saw the parade for legal homosexual marriage rights when I went to Stockton County Public Library! This is one thing that totally opens my eyes and yours; further more, this is the first time to know homosexuals can fight for their rights, which are not accepted by some conservative people. They speak out their minds loudly, do what they think is right, and ask others to advocate for them, never care about the others thinking.
This is individualism, this is freedom, and this is equality in this land.
Before I came to Stockton, I hardly heard about this city. I never wondered what kind of freedom people have in the states since I have accepted the way it is in China. I never stood how come someone would say that welfare was wonderful, why US was the most developed “Supercountry”. Now I am here in the land of Eagle, I begin to see the answers and I am eager to know more about this magic land. I have tasted a little bit of this very different culture and I am trying to know more about this awesome State and Country.
Dad and mum, all above is what I have seen with my eyes. How’s your feeling? Now, I can picture your astonished faces. I feel there are still a lot of wonders that I have not recognized, but I’m looking forward to perceiving them by my heart one day.
Best wishes to you from the bottom of my heart.
Love and Miss,
You’re pretty daughter
Page
1 of 1
|
