Happy New Year

Time flies. Today is the last day of 2007. Tomorrow will be 2008. I can't believe it. I feel very happy this year. The biggest gift I got is the Cell phone from GiveMe10. From the activity, I need to speak English 10 minutes every day, write an essay, post the pictures into the GiveMe10. My writing has been improved a lot. I am so happy. Thanks for my dear partner, Jennifer. She is my sister and lives in LA now. I start my blog this year to record my life. I get this idea from GiveMe10. If you have time, please visit my blog and leave your comments. I appreciate your comments. I also join the Studio Classroom recording. It is a new feature-Pro and Con. You can watch me at 6:30AM or 7:00PM on 1/11/08 for 45 seconds at TV. The channel is GoodTV-#15. I am a little nervous. Although it is not very good, I do my best.

I also join the Friday night. I get new messages and join the small group which Teacher Steve leads after class. You can find many students there. Their English is pretty good. They are so cute. I often talk to Teacher Bill and Naomi before Friday night. They are so friendly. My sister will come back next year. We will go to visit Studio Classroom by then. I am so excited and can't wait its coming.

I went to USA and visit my sister this year. We went to take the cruise. It is very interesting and relax. The service is pretty good. I like the Golf car-small and cute. Thanks my sister Jennifer and my brother in law Peter for the tour. The tour is so nice. I have a sweet memory.

I listen to Advance every day. Although I may miss the program sometimes, I try to catch it up during the weekend. That is why I order MP3 with magazine together. I will not miss the class. I have a wonderful time this year and grows up a lot. How about you? What is your wish next year? I hope everyone is fine and keeps going. I will keep practicing English. May all of you have a wonderful fruit next year. Love~ Cynthia

2007 CMI Christmas Party

I have worked in CMI Group since last November. We have Christmas Party every year. This is the second year I attend it. It is very interesting. Here are pictures we take this year. Everyone wears hair decoration. We take pictures with AA, Director, CEO, & FAD co-workers. Although I didn't get any prize this year, I feel happy to join the party. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year~

We take pictures with my co-workers in the office.

Every has a cute smile. Isn't it like the one my niece makes in her kindergarten?

2007 Studio Classroom Rally

I attend Studio Classroom Rally every year. As the day, 22 December, comes, I am so exciting to join the Rally. I can meet teachers and enjoy the Rally. All teachers work hard to prepare the show. Teachers Steve, Andrea, and Campbell host the show. Sunshine Singer sings lots of song to introduce the origin of Christmas. There are magic shows and one film. One husband sells his bicycle to buy hair pins for her wife. Her wife sells her long hair to buy the safety helmet for her husband. Both of them sacrifice their precious stuffs for the other. It is so touched. This is the Christmas spirit-Sacrifice, Jesus's Love. My dad likes to watch magic. If he comes, he would like it. He can't sit for a long time. He would feel tired and couldn't stand up. May God bless him.

This is the first picture I take before the show. Naomi, Stephinine, and me. Stephinine is Naomi's sister. She comes here to visit her sister. This is her first time to Taiwan. She just arrived here one week ago.



Rachel and me. She is studio classroom teacher. She likes to cook.

Deniel and me. He will get married with Andrea next Feb, 2008. Congratulation! I attend Steve's class on Friday night. Daniel and Steve are good partners. Steve is so popular. Every student wants to take pictures with him after the show. I don't have a chance to take a picture with him. You do a great job, Teacher Steve.

The show stage is so good. I try to take a picture for you to see. It is so dark that you could not see it. You only can see me. Sorry~If you want to see it, join the Studio Classroom Rally next year. Don't miss it again~ There is a live show this year. My sister, Jennifer, can enjoy the show at the same in the America. We are so happy to join it. I heard that 300 people can't enter into the show due to the seat limitation previous show in the afternoon. Please come to the show early, otherwise you may miss it even you have tickets.

I am so happy to meet Troy and Angela this time. They are Advance teachers. I am so touched by Tory's trip in Uganda. We are not shortage of anything here. We are so lucky. People in Uganda have been deprived the basic nessities of life: security, food, health care and education. We can denote money to World Vision, even it is a small amount. The most important thing is our love. It is a priceless treasure. Everyone can do it. I joined the 45th anniversity and talked with Troy and Angela that time. It really makes me a big difference. I am more happy than before. From then, we join the GiveMe10. I learn a lot during the activity and keep going on learning English.

I invite Jennifer to join the activity with me. We take the picture with Dr. Doris. She has been in Taiwn for 60 years to spread Love from God. Without her, we could not have Studio classroom. Thank you very much~

Bill is Advance Teacher. He likes to travel. He works hard on his blog: teacherbill.blogspot.com. He shares his life and interesting articles there. He even reads the articles lively there. You should visit it. It is very interesting. I often visit his blog and leave comments there.

Andrea is Let's talk in English teacher. She is so friendly. I like her teaching style. She teaches us once on Friday Night. She asked us to reoriginze the scripture. She comes from Canada. She is a German-Canadian.

Thank you, Studio Classroom. I like the Rally. It is interesting and warm to me. I am expecting the next year now. I have a wonderful time with you this year. I will keep going. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year~Love~

2007 Christmas Lunch with Frances at Royal Host

I got the grand prize from GiveMe10 this year. This is the biggest Christmas gift this year. I was so happy and took the picture with Naomi.

My dear sister, Frances, gives me the Hello Kitty sit for my new celler phone. I am so happy. They are so matched, aren't they?

Due to Frances has a business trip around Christmas, we decide to celebrate and change gifts in advance. Frances know I loves Hello Kitty a lot, so she gives it to me. She is so considerate. I am so touched. We know each other in USA, so we decide to choose an American restaurant for lunch. We choose the Royal Host. It is like Denny in USA.

Frances takes the picture for me and my celler phone. Isn't it cute? I put the Hello Kitty as the desk clothes. The background is a pink color. So pretty~

The food is delicious and simple-American style.

Frances just came back to Taiwan last year. We haven't celebrated Christmas together since I came back. She is a nice and sweet lady. She takes care of her family. Her parents must be happy to have her come back. She left her family since she was a senior high school student. I am so happy and have a good time with her. May we have a wonderful year next year~

2007 Christmas Tree Set up

After Thanksgiving holiday, Christmas is coming. I set up the Christmas tree with my niece, Irene together. Irene takes this picture for me. She is so smart. Our family loves her. If you go to America now, you will have a strong holiday feeling. The streets and houses are decorated with beautiful lights. Jennifer told me that the city, Cerritos, where she lives are decorated with lights now. It is so beautiful. I hope I can see it. It is so warm.

Chris, Irene, and Dad. I am happy that Dad feels better now. I wish he has a good health.

This is the Christmas tree. Although people don't decorate Christmas in Taiwan, I like to set the Christmas Tree up and make my family warm. We have the light on Christmas tree. Irene likes to turn off the light and see the beautiful Christmas tree.

Irene and me. I help Irene apply eye shadow. She is so happy.

Chris and Irene. Irene loves her dad a lot.

Grand Prize from GiveMe10

I can't believe it. I win Grand Prize From GiveMe10. I am one of three Grand Prize winners. When I find my name on the winner list, I can't believe it. I will get one Song Ericsson K850i. I call my sister, Jennifer, in LA immediately. She is my dear partner for 10 minutes practice every day. We use Yahoo instant messenger to talk. I also share my pictures and my thoughts there.

I know GiveMe10 when I join Studio Classroom 45th anniversary birthday. We make a promise to talk English 10 minutes every day there. I also attend Friday Night from that time. I am so happy that my writing has been improved a lot by writing one small paragraph every day. We also exchange real life experience with other attendants. Although the activity has been over, I found many lovers still keep going and leave feedback for me. I am so touched by that. Learning English will never end in my life.

From the web, I knew that the first 1000 attendants who get 25 fruits will get the M-Mag. When I received Thank You Card with M-Mag, I was so happy and excited. It was a big encouragement to me. I was one of the first 1000 attendants. The activity began from 01Apr07, but the first day I joined GiveMe10 was 18May07. I was 1.5 month behind others. Can I be one of 1000 people? The date I received Thank you Card was 24July07.

Studio Classroom also has gifts for individual team who have 45 fruits when the activity expires. They will have the winner list on 15Nov07. I just remember this message and dream that if I have a chance, I just want a MP3 to practice my English due to my MP3 has broken. It is just a little dream in my mind. Nobody knows that. When the date 15Nov07 comes, I just visit the GiveMe10 and find the winner list. My name is there. Is it me? There may be same name in Taipei. I am so surprised. I can't believe it. I just call studio classroom. The customer service tells me that they still process it and will send out the letter to the winner. They don't know now. So I just wait. I take half day off today. When I arrive home and open the mail box, I find the prompt delivery from Studio Classroom. It is me. I am exactly the one who win the phone. I shout I get the Grand Prize, tell my parents, and call my dear sister in LA immediately. I am so excited.

I want to share this honor with my family and thank you Studio Classroom. You provide the English blog for English lovers. We learn a lot. Our English also has been improved a lot. I never thought I can write a long paragraph. My sister can't believe that when she saw my writing. I am not afraid to write the essay and have more confidence now. I want to thank you God. It is a biggest blessing from you. I don't think I have such a good luck. I never had it before. From my memory, the first luck I won in my life was the movie " Superman" ticket by drawing the colors when I was a little girl. After that, I never had won anythings yet. So this is the gift from God. My mother says that in order to encourage my efforts to English, God gives me this big gift. Thank you God. I grow up a lot from this activity.

Studio Classroom creates an English environment for us. My sister and I began to listen to Studio Classroom when we were junior high school students. We could only listen to the radio program at that time. If we missed one program, we had to find another program later. The time might be very late. We didn't sleep in order to listen the program. We used the clock to wake us up. It was an unforgettable memory. My sister knew God from bible study. Studio classroom is our window of world and a friend of life. We started from Let's talk in English and Studio Classroom. We listen to Advance now. Studio Classroom keeps growing. We can watch the show in TV for Let's talk in English and Studio Classroom. We can watch Topic Talk Video in the web. My father is an English lover. He also watched the Let's talk in English show. We can listen to the program and watch the show all over the world. My sister, Jennifer, in LA listens to the program every day. We are so lucky in Taiwan that we can talk to teachers here. They are so nice and friendly. I like the way teachers teach. They explain words lively. I also know what happen in the world from the class. Thanks Doris Brougham created the Studio Classroom in Taiwan. Without your effort, we can't have this environment here.

We love you, Studio Classroom.

Cynthia Huang

Poor Dad : He can't poo poo well.

Have you ever thought that you can't poo poo well one day? If it is me, I must feel embarrassed and painful. My dad didn't poo poo well yesterday. He couldn't poo poo by himself, therefore my mom bought medicine to help the movement. But dad still didn't poo poo clearly. There is some poo poo in his rump. I have a pity on him, but can't do anything. I just encourage dad to push poo poo out as his best as he can.

Health is the most important. Although we can earn money, we couldn't buy the health. If you lost your health, it couldn't come back again. It will make the family out of order. All family member will be influenced. As you know, everyone needs to work. If you are sick, who will take care you? You will spend a lot medicine expense you never thought before. The spending is so quickly and out of the budget. Not only the spending, your heart also handles lot of pressure. We should exercise to keep us in a good shape.

My Little Thought Today

It is not easy to earn money, but easy to spend out now. According to our low salary and high spending, it is hard to save money. My mom bought the steamed buns in the markets due to they are cheaper 2 dollars each than to buy in the store nearby. My parents save money from a small amount. One dollar is a small amount. If you save one by one, it will become a large amount.

To take care of old person is not easy. You should have love. It is our obligation to take care of our family, but it is not enough in the family. Love is more important. It is the foundation of the family. Otherwise, we will lost patience easily and keep complains. When we are child, our parents take care of us. As we grow up, our parents become older. I never think about it until one day my father is sick. When I look up the pictures my mother took before, I found her hair became white due to take care of my father. I never think about that my parents get older day by day. I still keep going and try to find out the true love in the family. Sometimes I lost patience, and love. I hate myself at that time. I am not a good lady. I should love my parents more. I hope I can change myself. Spread my true love to others. God! Please help me.

My Dear Sister-Jennifer

My sister, Jennifer, is a lovely lady. Her dream is to take care of a family. These are the scarfs she made this year. So wonderful. She made the blue one as my birthday gift. The last one is her first scarft for her husband, Peter. I send her a kitty one. Doesn't she look so pretty?

Social Revolution

Studio Classroom will have a new feature next year. It is my pleasure to join the recording on 11/2/07. I will be on TV for 45 seconds next Jan. I am so excited. This is my first time on TV. My pronunciation is not very good. If I speak too quickly, it will become worse. I repeat each word three times slowly. Try to make it clear when recording. I took half day off on 11/2/07. I am the first one to record. I record twice that day. Although it is not perfect, I try my best. Here is my outline.

My name is Cynthia. As far as socializing on the Internet, I stand on the Pro-side.

First, we can share our life in the blog and album. It makes our relationships closer. I use instant messenger to talk with my sister in LA so I can practice English 10 minutes every day.

Second, we can exchange real-life experiences over Internet, like Yahoo-Answer, Give Me10, and English Corner.

Third, companies can sell products and answer question on-line. They can arrange on-line interview or video conference to save time and travel expenses.

Fourth, we can avoid stereotype by outlook and get to know each other better.

And lastly, customers can do on-line shopping. It is convenient for people who can’t go out, like my friend who has a new born baby at home.

Best of all, we can listen to Studio Classroom all over the world by Internet.

We should have 8 people to record, but only two show up. Others do not come and do not call us. It is not polite. I don't like that. People should be responsible for their behaviors.

The Parable of the Shrewd Manager

We learn this parable from Bible Luke 16: 1-15. It is interesting. It discusses about God and Money. It is hard to satisfy both. You may love one and hate the other. As you know, money is very powerful. We often pursue it by giving up the things we should do. When we earn more, we want more. It is hard to satisfy our needs. People are selfish when making decision. Bible teaches us we should be careful how to use it and use money to encourage people to look God. We should focus on our heart and don't become the salves of money.

Here are the question Teacher Steve proposed last Friday:

1. Do you always worry about money?
2. Do you give up the thing you should do to earn money?
3. Is it hard for you to give up money?
4. Do you always in debt?

We need money in real life. How to earn it and make it? It is wisdom. If we are poor, God still loves us. We should service and bless others. Be selfless.

When God Ran by Benny Hester

Almighty God,
The Great I Am
Immoveable Rock,
Omnipotent powerful

Awesome Lord,
Victorious Warrior
Mighty Conquerer,
Commanding King of Kings
And the only time,
the only time I ever saw Him run
Was when He ran to me,

Took me in His arms, held my head to His chest
And said "My son's come home again".
Looked in my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice
He said "Son, do you know I still love you?"

It caught me by surprise when God ran

The day I left Home, I knew I'd broken His heart
I wondered if
Things would ever be the same,

Then one night,
I remembered His love for me
And down that dusty road, ahead I could see
It was the only time,
the only time I ever saw Him run

Was when He ran to me,
Took me in His arms, held my head to His chest
And said "My son's come home again".
Looked in my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice
He said "Son, do you know I still love you?"

It caught me by surprise, It dropped me to my knees
When God ran

Bridge
Holy God, Righteous One
Who turned my way Now I know,
You've been waiting
For this day

Good Karma by Dalai Lama 2005

Instructions for Life

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
3. Follow the three R's: Respect for self, Respect for other's and Responsibility for all your actions.
4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great relationship.
7. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
8. Spend some time alone every day.
9. Open arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.
12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.
13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.
14. Share you knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.
15. Be gentle with the earth.
16. Once a year, go some place you've never been before.
17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

It is a nice reading, but short. I like the point two, six, seven, and twelve. How about you?

Designer Majors

What is your major?
Do you choose it by yourself or by parents?
Do you like your major?
Do you know your major before you study?
Do you want to design your major to meet your goal?

Not all students know their specific goal before choosing their major. They may choose their major by parents' suggestion or by economic trends. Designer Majors is the education article this month. It is a new concept to me. More and more students are not happy with existing degree programs, and would like to create their own. We can find this design in USA, but it is hard to find it in Taiwan. We are far behind. Hope we can map it out in the future.

In order to design majors, you have to be a self-starter. You have to know what you need and work hard to get there. That is your motivation to achieve the will. Designer majors stretch convention and become new cultural trends. From the article, ten years ago, only 410 interdisciplinary programs which include "individualized major programs" or designer degrees existed. Today, number has nearly tripled. Students can combine different subjects to solve problems. It is so interesting. I never thought it before.

Educational bureaucracies change slowly, so individualized programs are the places where new majors are created. It is a curriculum petri dish. Students will have a broad understanding of different fields.

The Power of Apology

Have you ever apologized to others? It is hard to say "I 'm sorry." You may feel em brassed and are afraid to admit the mistake. But a mature individual is one who can see problem from all sides. He/she will forgive and forget others. It will make your life and relationship a big difference. I learn this from the Advance today.

When we have problems, we try to to smooth them over. This can avoid the misunderstand. Don't let the sun go down before you make it right. Make it right before the day is over. This can remove the hurts. We have to learn to apologize first. This can create a positive change. We should value our friendship. If we have quarrel with others, this may escalate the tension and take the frustration out on the family. This causes the negative ripple effects. Believe yourself, if you want to have a beautiful life, you can transfer the negative ripple effects to the positive ones. Be brave to say "I'm sorry." If you want to do it, you can make it. Just open your heart. Everyone has a kind heart. If people apologize to you first, you will feel em brassed, too.

Mom & Dad

This is Dad & Mom. Dad fell down on 09Oct07. He wet the bed last two days. We feel nervous and can't sleep well at night. As we get older, our health is getting worse. That is the nature. We couldn't overcome it. Isn't it sad? Dad wanted to go to restroom, but he left the bed the wrong side. His head hit the comestic table and fell down. I think his mind is not clear, that caused him to the wrong side.
He could not stand well and like to sleep yesterday. So we went to the hospital on 10Oct07. The doctor do the X-ray, brain scan, blood, urine, and electrocardigram check. Thanks to God. The result is ok. But we have to observe Dad these days.
Dad had stomach caner, little stroke, diabetes, and a bone surgery. Due to osteoporosis, the fourth bone of rachis was squashed. Dad couldn't walk two years ago. He lived in the hospital to do the rehabilitation for 2 month. Mom takes care of Dad all th time. Her hand is hurt due to she needs to hold Dad. Without Mom, we can't take care of Dad well. Mom is the greatest woman in the world. May Dad & Mom recover soon. We love you~God bless us.

Happy Birthday~ Dear Jennifer~

Jennifer is my dear sister. 12Oct is her birthday. Happy Birthday to her~ May her wish come true~ Jennifer is a very kind lady. She likes to take care of the family and study the cook book. She can cook lots of delicious food. Do you see the scarfs we wear? Jennifer made it as my birthday gift. (Both of us was borned on Oct.) I like it so much~ I will not feel cold any more. I have my sister's love scarf now.

When I studied my master degree, I lived with my sister at Long Beach. She took care of me and helped me to be independent in USA. She was like my mother. Due to I had lots of studying pressure(My english is not very good.), I was not patient and easy to be angry at that time. She always forgave me. When I first drove the car, she was very nervous. She still let me drive her car. Thank you very much.

Jennifer calls us from LA every day. I can't make it, either. She loves my parents a lot. Although she left Taiwan when she was very young, she takes care us a lot. When she has good things, she always share with us. She is so successful. She likes Hello Kitty very much. I choose this Hello Kitty cake to celebrate your birthday. Hope you like it. Happy Birthday to you~ Jennifer~

Ruthy and her baby

This is the pre-borned pictures. I almost can see the face. It is so amazing. I never see it before. The technology is unbelievable.

Baby is two month old now. He grows up a lot. How cute he is~

2007 CSULB

An-An, Ruthy, and I are good friends at CSULB. We are different types of person. Ruthy and I come back to Taiwan. An-An married with her husband this year. We eat brunch at I-HOP. They are very happy. I wish they have a baby, soon.




This is the Triangle Stadium at CSULB. If you see it on freeway, that means you are closed by the Califoria State University, Long beach.

This is the bookstore on the campus. You can buy some souvenirs there, but they are expensive. I bought one sweat shirt at 60% discount this time. It is a good deal.

This is a fountain in front of the international student center. I always pass it to the different buildings. Isn't it beautiful?

This is the apartment I lived before. I, Jennifer, and Ivy rent the 2nd floor together. It is a two bedroom apartment. We have lived here for 2 years. It has been remodeled. Jennifer got married from this apartment. We have a sweet memory here.

2007 Eat Burger at In-and-Out, Self-Check at War Mart, Drive the Car, & Eat Pretzels

I and Jennifer eat the In-and-Out burger. I eat the Veggie one. It is so delicious~ Many people buy fast food there. We have to wait for a while every time. I can't find it in Taiwan. I miss it.

I haven't drove the car since I came back to Taiwan in 2004. I want to try it this time. I don't want to lost that ability due to I took the driving test four times. I also renew my driving licence this year. Jennifer and Peter find one parking lot for me to practice. From the picture, do you see that? I can make it. I park the car there. I am so happy. Thanks Peter Jiu-Fu to practice with me. He must be very nervous. Jiu Fu, you are so brave.

This is a self-check counter at War-Mart. Jennifer teaches me how to do it. It is so convenient. You don't need to wait for a long line. You can save lots of time on shopping. We buy Yankee caps for Chris & Isabel.

This is a Pretzel shop at the Cerritos Mall. I can't find it in Taiwan, either. I would like to try it here. I am like a visitor to take pictures every where and try everything. Ha Ha Ha~

My Life Teacher-Studio Classroom

Jennifer, my sister, and I are the fans of Studioclassroom. We listen to Advanced now. Advanced is our window on the world. Teachers host each class. Although there are many difficult words, I can understand it after teachers' discussion. Not only can I learn English, but also I can know what happens in the world. There are different articles in the magazine, ex: teaching, health, art, relationships, education, news, travel, business, technology, music, and speed review. I like the way they teach. They use English to explain English. It is very helpful to us.

I have studied Let's talk in English and Studio Classroom since I was a junior high school student. I grow up with the magazine. The magazine has progressed a lot, too. We can watch TV program for Let's talk in English and Studioclassroom now. It is so lively. I could only listen to the radio program before. I listened the program according to the schedule. If I missed the program, I had to wait the late one. I might fall sleep in order to listen the lesson. Now I can listen to the class on line or by MP3. I can arrange the time by myself. It is so great. I like the skit and feature, too. They are very interesting. Jennifer said that studioclassrom has given her a new life. She wants to thank you to the Studio Classroom.

Bill and Naomi host the Advance. They like the chocolate. Jennifer bought the chocolate for them. This is the picture I took last Friday. Although it is a small gift, it expresses our thanks to the teachers. The teachers are very friendly. If you have chances, you can join the Friday night-Bible study. Many people come to Friday night, no matter you are students, house wife, or workers. We sing the English Bible song first. Then teachers will play the skit. After that, we have a small group to discuss the topic. It is very interesting. I feel very happy each Friday night. There are many English magazines in Taiwan. Studioclassrom is my favorite. Welcome you join us.