White House

Due to the tragedy on 9/11/2001, the security in Washington, D.C. has become very strict. The police looked at our movement every single minute. The tour guide said we could take picture with the police before, but not now. If you go close to them, they will stop you and warn you against going any closer. I don't understand why the terrorists have been making the world nervous. Last week, there was another boom found before the airplane took off. If the bomb was not found, I think I won't sit here and peacefully writing my blog. I hope that terroristic attacks will disappear in the world someday.

Who is the King

Who is the King? I am the King! See how many kings I have. There are many fast food store, but I like Burger King the most. Whenever I go to watch movies, I always buy my lunch in Burger King. However, it is not good to eat too much. I think you know why there are a lot of BIG people in America - FAST FOOD.

Annapolis, MD

The United State Naval Academy is in Annapolis, MD. While on the way to Washington, D.C., we stop by Annapolis and took Harbor Queen, a ferry, to sightsee the naval school. This school is very beautiful. I wish I could go inside and take some pictures. This navy stuff makes me recall my army life. One, Two, One, Two, One, Two ......

First Time

March 25 was my first time to wear LBJ III. I remember I shot many three-point shoots. This shoes really hepled. (I know it is just my self-satisfaction.) Before I met those PACE University Taiwanese students who play basketball, I had played basketball for a long time, probably 10 months. I haven't played basketball since March 26. It has been a while again. Life is so busy. Right now I work from Monday to Friday. I deeply feel what kind of life is busy. Everyday I wake up in the morning and come back in the night. After dinner, it is almost about time to take a rest. Sometimes I don't want to go out on the weekend; I just want to stay at home and relax my mind and body. I believe some of you will agree with me.

NBA Tank - Shaquille O'neal

Can you see how big O'neal's hand is? I think my hand is only a half of his. I took Allen to walk around NYC, and the NBA store is the one he absolutely wanted to visit. Although I have been here several times, I didn't take any picture here before. There are several NBA stars' hand models, such as Tim Duncan, Vince Carter, Jason Kidd, and Tracy McGrady.

Rockefeller Center

Rarely can a person take a picture without other people involved in the rockefeller center. I was lucky to be the one. I don't know why on the day I took this picture had only a few people there. I guess maybe because it was weekdays.

Homemade Lunch

This was the first time to invite friends to come to my home and have a meal. Because they are too shy, they asked me not to post their names on my blog. Let me introduce you the menu: baked garlicky chicken (香蒜烤雞排), shrimp with salt and black pepper (椒鹽蝦), preserved green soybean (涼拌毛豆), corn soup(玉米濃湯), and the dessert - Junior's cheesecake from my friend. I don't know if the lunch was good, but my friends said good. Maybe you can try it someday!

Anniversary

As I updated this blog yesterday, I noticed that I have created this blog for one year! Recall last year I was waiting for admission at this time. It has been a year since I started the American academic life. During the school time, I always deal with assignments, papers, or presentations. American academy has totally different style from Taiwanese one. Even now I still do not speak so often in class. I will answer professors' questions when they ask me, but I won't raise my hand to answer the questions. Consequently, sometimes some of my participation points will be taken away. However, so far everything seems to be fine; I have great GPA and nice presentations. Although it is summer now, I do not give myself a break. I am seeking an internship opportunity now. I hope someday during next month I will get one. Next semester I will take MBA courses at Lubin Business School, which I haven't had any experience. I don't know whether I will do well as in CSIS School, but I wil do my best!!

Leborn James III

Let me introduce you my new basketball shoes - Lebron James III. Actually I like Michael Jordan XXI the most, but it is too expensive. It is about $190, which is about 6200 in Taiwan Dollars. I gave up! Orz! Therefore, I bought the second choice - Vince Carter V, which costs $125, about 4000 in Taiwan Dollars. After two days, I returned VC V because I felt it was still too expensive. Unexpectedly, I saw Labron James III in NBA Store on Fifth Avenue. It was on sale and cost only $90, about 2900 in Taiwan Dollars. I don't know why it was so cheap. The only reason I can guess is that was the last pair. Thanks God! It is my size. I decided to buy them without hesitation. I have only worn them once, and on that day I became a very good shooter. I think the shoes are really helpful!

New York Public Library - Science, Industry, and Business Library

For my research paper, I went to one of the NYPL branchs, which specifically focuses on Science, Industry and Business. The topic of my research paper was about Social Entrepreneur, a term that was totally new to me. The more research I did, the more understanding I got. As the paper went on, I admired the social entrepreneurs more and more. Social entrepreneurship has become hotter and hotter. They help people rather than spending money. They go to the place where business doesn't exist due to the higher risk and the less financial reward; they come up with whole new ideas that we usually do not think about. Indeed, they are dream makers. We dream, and they make the dreams come true. They make the world a better place! I think you will not get too much information about this topic in Taiwan, but it is relatively hot topic in the U.S. and the U.K. If you want to know more about them, send me a message. I can give you more detailed information.

Snow, Snow,Snow, and Show

February 12, 2006, a blizzard arrived in New York. Compare to the one on the New Year's Day, this was more serious than you can imagine. Mayor asked the public to stay at home, and did not drive unless they really needed. Some schools were closed, but not mine. :(
The first picture you see is not fog, it is snow. It came very sharp and heavy. After several hours, my neighborhood became the second picture. I know many of you envy me. I actually enjoy the beginning after snow comes because it is so soft and pure. However, it will become dirty, annoying and dangerous after several days. When snow become ice, it is very dangerous to walk on it because you may slip and fall. More days later, when ice melts, it becomes wet everywhere. I guess you can not feel what I say about snow here. Someday if you have chance to live with snow, you will know what I'm saying.

Woodbury Common Premium Outlets

By the tax free week, Sandra's husband drove Sandra, Wakko and me to Woodbury Outlets, a wonderful place for people having budget for expenses. I bought one pair of Banana Republic sandals, one Banana Republic T-shirt, and one pair of Puma shoes. As I mentioned at the beginning, we went there with the tax-free minds. Surprisingly, I paid tax when I checked out. One cashier told me that the free tax was only in New York "City." Oh, my God! What a surprise! I think I have learned a lesson - make sure the situation before you go on.

A Lunch on Chinese New Year's Eve

Sandra, the third from the right, invited me to have a lunch with some of our friends before Chinese New Year. It was good to have a meal with them on the special day in this foreign place. This was the second time that I didn't have the family reunion dinner with my family. My mom said that the first time, she couldn't eat so well because I was not home. I hope this year she would feel better. For real, I didn't feel so much about the Chinese New Year here because I was listening to the lectures, and taking notes in school when you were celebreating the Chinese New Year.

Birthday Dinner & Gift

In the first picture, the winter coat on me is my birthday gift from Wakko. I had been struggling against the coldness till I got this coat. My birthday dinner was held in Gyu-Kaku, a Japanese BBQ restaurant. Although there are several Gyu-Kaku restaurants in Taiwan, I haven't been to any of them. The dinner was delicious, and the gift is very helpful. I enjoy both of them. Thanks for giving me such a nice day for my birthday, Wakko!

Hot Pot

January in New York City is very cold, so the best food will be something very hot. I went to a ShaBu-ShaBu restaurant near my home with Wakko after we came back from South Sea Port. It was also the day I went to pay my tuition. There is only one word that can describe my feeling - expensive! We are always stuffed whenever we eat there, and have to walk to home because we need a little bit exercise. Otherwise, I think we will not need breakfast, even lunch.

Abercrombie & Fitch

Some of you know about A&F, and have asked me to buy on your behelf. Needless to say, their clothing is good. However, according to my finanical capability, they are expensive as well. Happily, one of my friend, Claire, bought the A&F T-shirt for me as my birthday gift this year. Thanks, Claire!

Sex and the City

This bakery shop is the one Carrie likes. A lot of people were making lines before it opened. I don't know whether because of Carrie or the quality of its cakes. I bought its cupcakes and cheese cakes. After eating the cupcakes, the only comment on it is - too sweet. I have no idea how much sugar they put, but it is true people were buying and buying. Although the cupcake is not my favorite, the cheese cake works fine on me. It is good, but it is expensive though. There is something I must mention it - Hamasaki Ayumi (濱崎步) went to there this January as well. If you take a look at ViVi (Japanese magazine), you will see it!

New Year Dinner

The first day of 2006, my friend, left, BoBo bought Wakko and me a New Year dinner. It was my first time drinking Martini. Well, all I can say is strong! I think I am not good at dealing with alcohol. Anyway, thanks to BoBo. I hope you have good memories with New York.

Forever understructure

The two famous museums - the Metropolitan Meseum of Art and Guggenheim - located on 5th Avenue were understructure at the time I visited. Last time when I went to the Metropolitan Meseum, it was understructure as well. I hope someday it will be in a good condition when I visit. As Guggenheim Meseum, I didn't hear about it before! Sorry for my poor Art knowledge. Inside of it was beautiful, but, for real, I don't think I will get too many notions of what those drawings mean. Therefore, I didn't buy the ticket; instead I just took some pictures in the lobby. If you like Art, I believe you will blame me for the idea of those great pictures. Sorry ~ I don't know much about ART!

Memory of John Lennon

John Lennon, a musical legend, influenced thousands and thousands people. Unfortunately, he was murdered on 8 December 1980. The Dokota, the first picture, the place where John Lennon lived, is located on the west side of Central Park. The Strawberry Fields is named after the song Strawberry Fields Forever in hornor of John Lennon. And the black-and-white mosaic is set near the west entrance of Central Park, where is close to the Dokota. The single word IMAGINE on the mosaic is the title of a popular Lennon song. On the Central Park official site, it says "Hardly a day goes by without some remembrance of John Lennon." I highly agree with it. Music is magic! While studying, I usually listen to light music; while writing papers, I likt to listen to pop music; while relaxing, I enjoy listening to rock-and-roll. I can not image my life without music. How about you?

2006 Happy New Year

　
This year I didn't go the Times Square to see the ball drop and welcome the new year - 2006. Instead, my friend, BoBo, went there, and therefore, I had thess pictures to post on my blog. Thanks, BoBo. It was very tired after the ball drop because last year I stood in front of Times Square 1 for more than 10 hours. This year I was thinking whether I should go. Finally, I gave up because I didn't want to get fatigue just for the 60 seconds. I watched TV at home instead. It was also fun!

Ellis Island

Ellis Island, the island of immigration, was a place where immigrants stayed before the immigration office issued their visas. Sixteen million immigrants had stayed on the island before entering the U.S. between 1892 and 1924. A former U.S. President's , George Washington, grandfather is also one of them. The island has become a museum island. In the museum, it exhibits a lot of stuff that the immigrants brought from their countries.

New York Stock Exchange

　

New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is the largest stock exchange in the world. New York is a great financial center in the world. If a company had a chance, they would absolutey put their stocks in NYSE. Embarrassingly, Taiwan Stock Exchange Corporation (TSEC) is influenced by NYSE. If NYSE goes limit-up, TSEC will goes up; on the other hand, if NYSE limits down, TSEC does the same. Taiwan, my country, is really dependent on the conditions of outside itself. I hope someday it will be independent!

Staten Island Mall

While BoBo spent her time visiting National Liberty Park, Wakko and I went to Staten Island, where we didn't go before. Since we had to wait for her, we dicided to go to Staten Island Mall. In the map, the mall appears to be close to the seaport. However it is not. It took us more than 30 minutes arriving there. The mall has no big difference from the others that in NYC, but the buildings on the island are mmore beautiful than city's.

macy's

　　
　　　
The world largest store - macy's. It is so large that you have to spend at least three hours to walk around the department store. When it is on sale, you had better go there asap; otherwise, even if you see something you like, it might not have your size. I had the exact experience. I went there during the holiday season which was Christmas, and I saw a jacket I liked. However, there was no size for me. What a pity! When macy's is on sale, it seems every one is a rich man!!