• What qualities does a strong teacher possess?
  
  In my opinion a strong teacher has to be resourceful, s/he has to be ready to change the plan if the students need extra practice or just another explanation to understand the topic better. As teachers of a language we have the possibility to know our students likes, dislikes, ambitions, so it is really interesting to be ready to listen to them, not just to correct their accuracy or to test their fluency but also to work on values and attitudes.
• Describe someone from your home country who has influenced your decision to become a teacher. In your own words, could you share with us how that person has been an inspiration to you?
  
  Honestly I became a teacher by chance. When I started studying English I didn't mean to be a teacher, I wanted to become an English translator. One evening a friend from my theatre class called me because she had heard that her sister (an English teacher) was looking for an assistant to help her in the classroom.
  
  

  I started helping teachers for fun, and to have extra money to spend with my friends, but after a couple of years I discovered that I was actually enjoying being with the students.

  
  
  I was really happy in the classroom and so I decided to study to become an English teacher. I have been a teacher for ten years and I still feel really happy in the classroom.
• Give an example of an outstanding teacher in your local US community and describe what you have learned from this individual.
  
  I've had the possibility to be in different classes and I've met many outstanding teachers. One of the teachers in the Spanish department is really outstanding in my opinion because I enjoy being in her class very much. She teaches Spanish level VI and apart from the fact that the level of the students is really good I think that the rhythm of the class is better than in the other classrooms because of the teacher's personality. She cares a lot about her students, she works with them a lot and the students feel it, that's why they work a lot too. I see her work hard every day to improve her classes and she has lately taken a course to learn how to use a projection station so that she can use technology in her class. She knows the students use technology at home and it is absolutely going to improve their learning. I think the key words are "keep up", teachers have to keep working hard in order to be better professionals.

"Give me a fish and I eat for a day, teach me to fish and I eat for a life time."
This is the difference a teacher can make in a person's life.

What makes a good teacher? Who is the best teacher? I fear answering this, knowing that there are many fine teachers all with different personalities and teaching styles. I will try to determine, in my view, three of the essential qualities of a good teacher:

1. Basic knowledge of his / her subject.
2. A passion for teaching - born of the belief that everyone has the ability and the right to an education.
3. Good communication skills.

Back ground knowledge is both the grasp of a realm of knowledge and a way of looking at the world. It is not only an affair of the classroom, but also at its best, knowledge is a way of life. It requires curiosity and the ability to find new meaning in familiar data, the ability to understand things in context, and to relate minute data to general theories. With out a basic knowledge of his/ her subject, at a teacher best hinders the progress of his / her students. By passing along inaccurate or blatantly incorrect information, a teacher runs the risk of endangering students and others. We certainly want a teacher with good knowledge to teach in the medical schools!!!

I am certain that the first English language instruction I received in my fifth grade class discouraged many of the students from continuing their English language studies. For if they tried to use the English being taught by my first English teacher, they would never be understood by a native speaker. Because my primary school was very rural, we did not have the luxury of a degree English teacher. My first English teacher had a very elementary understanding of English. She had not the slightest idea how to pronounce many of the words in English. For example, a simple word like "the", she taught us to pronounce as "tee - hee". She was doing the best she could, but we developed many incorrect habits and misunderstandings that were difficult to correct. After 2 years of English in Namkam village, I could neither read nor write in English; all I had learned was the alphabet and the numbers 0 - 100. I learned how to write my own name however, I was 1 of 3 only students able to do so. In high school I worked very hard to improve my English, but it was not until I went to Rajabhat Institute Buriram University that I had the chance to study English with a native speaker. At last I began making progress!!!

The second characteristic, a passion for teaching, is not something you can learn from a book. Nor does a high score on the TOEFL test guarantee that you will be a good English teacher.

Good teaching that encourages enthusiastic learners - comes from within like a calling from the heart.

The passion it comes to your mind that you want to become a teacher, or you would never. The passion is important to build personal qualities or unity of character too.

Dr. Jeanne Bazemore, the Principal of North Coast Preparatory and Performing Arts Academy, in Arcata, California is a very good example of this. She teaches with her head and with her heart. She believes students can do or learn well if they are supported and encouraged. I will not forget the cold moonlit night when we celebrated the Loy Krathong ceremony on the Moonstone beach. Accompanied by several students and their parents, teachers and Dr. Bazemore (70 years old on bundled up in a big heavy coat). We set the flower - filled floating bowls with the gentle waves. The light from the candle danced across the smiling faces of everyone, warming the hearts of all. That I knew students learned through their head and through their heart to understand other culture and the world. Dr. Bazemore knows the name of every students and calling them by name, always greeting students and colleagues pleasantly. She often asks a student about something that had earlier worried him / her i.e: Suesan, is your mother recovering from her surgery? She resists being the sarcastic, or funny, when a student makes a foolish comment in class. She tells a student the unvarnished truth, privately i.e: "John, I honestly suspect you", "George, you are not working hard enough". She never gives up on a student, or categorizes or bands him / her permanently. She is a poet, weaving with her colorful magic language from a passion for her subject. Dr. Jeanne Bazemore is the great school principal and teacher that I never met before!!!

The third quality of a good teacher is good communication skill with students. That is can not found through a test either. It would be like studying acting through post. Either you have it or you do not, if it is with you, it grows with experience. A good teacher knows the difference between asking students to listen to you and hear you - and acting upon it. A good teacher hear students and question them thoroughly enough to know just how they are confused by an issue. A good teacher shows that you can change your mind, when evidence and logic suggest it. Being on the edge of your subject and interests; exhibiting the some question in your field that you would have your students feel. Perceiving the results of class as "my students know ABC" rather than "I covered ABC in my class" and knowing the difference between the two. A good teacher is friend with students but not buddies; the obligations of the latter relationship limit one's freedom to teach well and caring about kids that make a difference.

Again I will use Dr. Jeanne Bazemore as an example. On the first day of school, all students and teachers gathered in the main hall for an exercise in. Dr. Bazemore asked students about what they can do to bring great peace and harmony into the world? Students worked in group of 5-6 together with freshman, sophomore, senior and junior include exchange students. They shared ideas, discussed and presented by acting through their ideas. Dr. Bazemore listened with her heart and critical thinking how she can teach students to become a good people in this world?

This school, North Coast Preparatory and Performing Arts Academy (NPA) formerly known as Big Lagoon Charter School presents a rigorous college preparatory program with a strong emphasis on the arts and sciences. Their curriculum includes critical thinking, travel, musical and dramatic performances, community service, analytical and creative writing, and university-level courses. Students are also encouraged to participate in courses taught at College of the Redwoods and at Humboldt State University, where Principal, Dr. Jean Bazemore, is a Professor Emeritus. She believes in the importance of nurturing young people so that they are willing to look and see the world around them in a new way. She seeks to "provide creative, innovative and effective ways through which students can make positive contributions to enhance the quality of life for themselves and for others." In keeping with the school's mission and vision, all NPA juniors and seniors participate in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program and are candidates for an IB Diploma. The IB Program is a challenging, internationally designed two-year curriculum, and the diploma is widely recognized by the world's leading universities. A primary goal of the IB program is to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

Which component of the teaching is more important? If it knowledge, or the ability to pass it on? Well, it very much depends on the class one is teaching. If you are in a post - graduate class, knowledge is more important than presentation. The students of the class are filtered stuff. They expect information from the teacher. Half the knowledge is where to find it, but if one is teaching in a school or plus two class, the ability to communicate is more important than the knowledge itself. Here teaching is innovation become true. Teachers have to find independent, natural and new methods for presentation of the subject and the topics. The emphasis has to be more on how to tell than what to tell. Guiding the student in such a way that the student discovers the facts, assumes a theory and figures a way to test the truth of it.

In sense everyone in the world is teacher. We teach our children, our parents, our co-workers various times in our lives. However, some of us become successfully great teachers. I believe this happen when a teacher believes in the power of education and when you teach with the belief that everyone can learn. When the student does not learn the way the teacher teaches, then the good teacher finds a way to teach so that the student can learn. Those who are successful in these respects alone can become good teachers at this stage. Even with a limited knowledge a person can become a good teacher, if she / he has abilities. My mother, Mrs. Seeda Pakpain has influenced my decision to become a teacher. She is a farmer and she finished only grade 4 but she had taught me well with all of her knowledge. She has high aptitude and good communication skill but her knowledge is limited!! She wanted me to become an English teacher a language that she never learned but recognized it is importance as a universal language. By believing in me and supporting me the Rogatien Foundation has inspired me, I promise myself to be the best English teacher as I can be. The Rogatien Foundation continued financial and emotional support me to come to USA as AFS Visiting Teacher Program. The Rogatien Foundation has an annual seminar to share knowledge and exchange experiences thereby helping teachers learn new methods, teaching skills and knowledge. With out my mother and the Rogatien Foundation I do not know that how far I could. THANK YOU SO MUCH that you be here for me.

A strong teacher has rich knowledge, intelligence, and patience. A strong teacher knows what the students should learn and how the students can grasp the knowledge. A strong teacher knows how to control classes and how to cultivate respectful students.

Grandfather - the person who has influenced my decision to become a teacher

When I was a fourth grader, I moved from a little town to a city and lived with my grandfather who worked as a middle school teacher for many years. My grandfather was in his seventies then. Many people came and visited him, especially during some major holidays. I asked my grandfather who those people were, and he told me they were his students. I asked him why they often visited him; he said because they loved him.

My father once told me that my grandfather was a wonderful teacher. He was a caring and compassionate person. In the 1960s, when people were poor, in my grandfather's classes, there were some students whose parents couldn't afford their children's tuition and wanted to let their children leave school. Having heard that, my grandfather went to talk with those parents and told them he would sponsor their children. Therefore those students could continue with their school education. However, my grandfather's salary was not high at all, so to support those students, he had to live an extremely frugal life. Those students didn't disappoint him. They rewarded him by working very hard.

During those years, he sponsored many students and eventually they became very talented people and made a lot of contribution to society. Knowing all this, I was really deeply touched. It was then that I made up my mind that I would become a teacher who is the engineer of human soul.

So before the national college entrance examination, without hesitation I chose Qiqihar Normal University. Now I have been working as a high school English teacher for more than 6 years. Now together with my students I am still sponsoring two students from rural area of Inner Mongolia. Without my grandfather's influence, I wouldn't be doing such an honorable occupation.

Mr. Hilton - a great teacher

When I was in Erskine Academy which is in South China, Maine, I observed a history class taught by Mr. Hilton, a social studies teacher. That class was about Egypt. Instead of asking the students to read books and then answer some questions, he assigned the students different roles. Some students were farmers, some local officials, some cooks, etc. He told the students to do some research about their roles and then make a presentation next period. Next period the students did a wonderful job by playing their parts. Some students said, "I am a farmer from Egypt. I live in a city called Cairo. Cairo is a city with people." Some students even put on some costumes, which made the class very lively and relaxing. In a very relaxed atmosphere the students learned about geographic position, population, agriculture, and food of Egypt. I really think this teaching method is excellent, because the students will have a lasting impression of what they learned. In the meantime, students have a lot of fun.

A strong teacher for me, has to be very diligent to find new things and new methods for the kids. He should have to be very patient, loving kindness, always smiling and have sense of humour, don't be very serious because when you lose your power of laugh, you'll lose your power to think straight too.

My father has a lot influences for me to become a teacher. He worked hard every day of his life (he passed away) in his coconut and fruit farms. He was very tired but I saw his smiling, laughing and happiness on his face everyday because he really loved his job. I saw many kinds of fruits that he raised grew up very fast. (he was very good at raising, learning by doing) I felt so happy to see his fruits growing like when I see the students growing in their knowledge. And he liked giving his fruits to the neighbors, he's a generous man. He told me to study to be a teacher to share my knowledge for others even we can get only few salary for teachers in Thailand, but it's enough for paying in daily life if we pay only necessary things don't be so luxurious.

While little girls dream about becoming doctors, nurses, dentists, etc., I had no idea exactly what I wanted to be. Meanwhile, I knew that I adored the English Language.

We are a family of teachers that is deeply in love with English. I didn't wonder why my dad nicknamed me "Apple" and my younger brother "Ko-Ko". My mom was also an English teacher. I've been fortunate to have valuable family support for learning English: cassette tapes for English conversation, after school individual English class, nice English books, an English tutor in summer and TV programs in English at home. The emphasis on learning English is not common for rural families in Thailand.

My dad had a great deal of influence over my growing up, and his life lessons still affect me to this day. At the dinner table, sitting on the front porch, or traveling in a car, he'd draw us into discussions about what really makes us happy and successful in life and the importance of knowing English. We never tired of hearing about his experience when he participated with the AFS as an educator in New Zealand in 1989.

My dad always set a good example for me. Both he and my mother taught me how to be a good teacher. That lesson wasn't spoken but rather taught through their example and through their actions. I could tell my father held me to some pretty high standards in terms of working hard, being knowledgeable and prepared, and keeping organized. He always was and still is my hero.

I don't think I ever remember seeing my dad as happy as he was on the first day of my career- he drove me to school and proudly introduced me to school staff members that day.

After several years of teaching English, I learned from my experiences that the qualities a strong teacher possesses are the 3L's (Love, Learn, and Life).

Love: Teachers have to love their subjects, love their students, love teaching and they will foster the pupils' love of themselves and their subjects.

Inspiring teachers teach much more than facts and their subjects matter. They teach a way of being in the world. They help students discover the joy of becoming lifelong learners.

Learn: Teachers are someone who can learn from their students, who can learn with them and for them. They have a good knowledge of their subject, and their students and also use interesting techniques of teaching. If you know your subject well but don't relate well to students, you will only be successful with highly motivated students. Inspiring teachers understand that positive relationships with students serve as the foundation for successful teaching and learning.

Life: Your life style is so important to students. You are a daily example for them. So please always be nice if you would like your students to grow up well. You are a role model and can be an inspiration for your students. Think about teachers who have inspired you. Almost certainly there was a special relationship between you and them.

To learn more English, to be better teach my students and fulfill my dream, I am involved with AFS in their Visiting Teacher Program for one year in USA. That was definitely worth waiting for.

At St. Stephen's Episcopal School in Houston, my host school, teachers use the Montessori Method, which is pretty different from traditional. It is very interesting and challenging. I have studied hard from books and have observed the techniques of teaching in a Montessori school.

American teachers spend the whole day long with their students. All of the staff members are very nice teachers. I can't say who the best teacher in this school is because they are all wonderful. I really would like some Thai teachers to be here and see how hard these American teachers work.

I became comfortable with my new school by observing in several subjects and classes. I began sharing my culture. After that, I have much time to improve my English. I started in the Primary School and did the same work a Primary student does: matching words with pictures, working on my workbook, reading, listening to tales and sharing with the class about my hometown. Three months gone, I've finished Primary School. I can help the students with their individual lessons. I am very proud and appreciate being an assistant teacher here sometimes.

After Christmas I passed myself to the Lower Elementary School. I worked on the lessons about language: matching antonyms, synonyms, compound words, alphabetizing, rhyming words, periods for abbreviations, contractions, plurals, -ing, classifications, prefixes, suffixes, sentences, phrases, capital letters, contractions, commas, quotation marks and reading for understanding. I really enjoy learning that way and I intend to use these materials and methods in my classroom in Thailand.

At this class, I had a great time with a little boy from Saudi Arabia, who first was not happy to use English. He always saw me in his class and working on my lessons. One day he came to me and said, "Ms. Apple can you help me to do my work?" I really would love to help him. I appreciate that he realized how important English is and he is eager to learn more. Now we are friends. I am very happy that his English is going well.

If I were here one more year, I would go to Upper Elementary School and Middle School. Anyway it is a step closer to returning home. But before then, each day I spend in USA, I don't waste my time. Every minute here is time to learn, and I am always appreciative of what I have.

Teachers don't make a lot of money but teachers are very worthwhile. Teaching is the noblest profession. One day in Lower El, I read something that is very meaningful for my career. I really love it and would like to tell other teacher friends that:

I have been a teacher for sixteen years. I consider myself a good teacher. I can fulfill my duties very well. I am easy-going with my colleagues. All my kids respect me. After I came to America, and have observed more than forty American teachers, I find I still have a long way to go to be a great teacher.

When I was a child and later a teenager, I studied very hard .I often ranked one or two in my class, even in the whole school. Because of the background of my family, I couldn't enjoy the school life as the other kids. Then my teachers' help came. From the primary school to the high school, even later in college, all my teachers showed me great love and caring. In the primary school, Ms. Xizhen Fang, in the high school, Mr. Tangyi Qian, Mr. Bingguang Chen, and in the college, Ms. Ke Qiu and Ms. Peiqin Chen impressed me deeply. Without their confidence in me and their encouragement, I couldn't be what I am today. So, even when I was still in junior high school, I made a decision to be a teacher. I would like to treat my students as my teacher did to me. And I think no influence can match that of a teacher to young kids. I would give my students all my love and caring.

The teachers who most influenced me have much in common. They are kind to their students. They are considerate and they even devoted their spare time to helping whoever needs their help, especially, they are capable of dealing with difficulties. Mr. Qian often said to me: "Face life with smiles whatever you meet." Ms. Qiu said: "It's better to give than to receive," which becomes my motto.

To be a teacher means, "to give". I would like to give whatever I can to my students, then, in turn; they can serve our country with heart and soul.

From my teachers and through my own experience, I think, as a strong teacher, you must have the following characteristics:

Love and caring for children: as a teacher, we should love our students as we do to our own children. We should show that we have confidence in their success.

Good Judgment: We should think before we act and make decisions that are well considered and wise.

Rich knowledge of subject matter: In China, there is a famous saying: As a teacher, if you want to give your student a glass of water, you should have a bucket of water, which means as a teacher, you must be learned in the subject or field. And even now, people hope teachers also have rich knowledge of social life. After all, kids will go to society, where we expect them to contribute in a positive way. They should learn much about themselves and the environment in which they live.

Strategies of good teaching: As a teacher, it's not enough to have rich knowledge of subject matter, we should have skills about how to teach, how our students can enjoy and experience success as a result of our teaching.

Ability to build relationships and communication with students, parents, and colleagues: These partnerships and relationships are critically important to student success, and to a satisfying professional life.

A good sense of humor. It's important to our teaching, also important to our daily life to have a good sense of humor. The kids, of course, make mistakes in class, in school. How can we make them accept our suggestions? How can we persuade them to change their improper behavior? Humor will work.

Since I came to America, I have observed more than forty teachers. Most of them, in a Chinese' view are good teachers. We can learn much from them. Among them, Ms. Jo Vander Stoep, the principal of Sakai, an intermediate school, also my Mum impresses me deeply. We spend time together nearly every day. She is always taking a positive attitude to life. This is very important to us Chinese. Because whatever we Chinese do, we often consider, "If I fail, what will happen?" But my Mum often says to me, "We learn more from our mistakes than from our success." If you think it is right, the only you should think is how I can do my best, and to learn from mistakes. When she is talking to her students, she has the ability to lead the kids to the right conclusion step by step. She persuaded a very old man to change his idea: One day, Sakai invited a dozen of old Japanese-Americans to the school to introduce the great wrong done to the Japanese-Americans in Bainbridge Island. Just after the class, a very old man wanted to smoke a cigarette outside the school office. My Mum saw this, and walked over to him, saying, 'According to our law none can smoke in school. But I can make an exception to you today. But can you please smoke cigarette a little later? You see, the kids are going home. They can see you smoking here. I promise you can smoke a little later.' My Mum said all this with smiles on her face. I'm glad to see the old man accepted her suggestion. She also lives a happy life well planned. Before I came to America, my Mum had made a detailed plan for my stay with them. So I knew what I would do in September, in October, during Thanksgiving; when we would go traveling and where we would go traveling. I enjoyed a wonderful life with them. As far as I know, we Chinese seldom make plans in detail even live a life without plans. Neither do schools. So now, in America, I have formed a good habit: make plans. In March, I will go traveling with my Dad2 in Washington D.C. I have made detailed plans. And I have surfed the Internet to get enough information about what I will see there.

I once read a passage about a Korea-America who walked in the snow to get help for his wife and child. But he was found dead later. So during the holiday (Feb 16-20), on the way to Winthrop, I asked My Mum and Aunt Jackie (my third host family): 'If our car broke down on the way, what could we do?' My Mum said: "We are not worried because we have a man here. Your Aunt Jackie & I will wait in our car and you will get help for us." "How cruel Mum and Aunt!" I joked. "We are not cruel but just helpless." We had a good laugh. Mum's humor made the long drive much easier.

I have observed her teaching twice. Her ability to control the class reminded me of the saying:

All great teachers are leading; all great leaders are teaching.

A qualified teacher, in my opinion, is one who knows his/ her students very well, who can arouse students' interest or stimulate students' motivation in learning, who can guide students how to seek knowledge and apply knowledge to practice, who is always responsible, creative and enthusiastic and who, most of all, respects and loves every student whoever he/ she is.

I am lucky to work with my mentor teacher here in Whitworth Public Elementary School in Dallas, OR. She teaches the 1st grade. There are 24 students in total in her class. What I see every day is how the kids enjoy their school. 1st grade is the first year American kids stay in school a whole day. The schedule is similar every week, numbers and letters are kind of boring, and kids are too young to focus their attention for a long time. But my mentor teacher Mrs. Wright is such a patient and creative teacher as can make everything dull interesting and make every bit of mess organized. For example, she showed kids what symmetrical is by making a butterfly sandwich with bread and candies. They were supposed to cut the bread in equal halves as butterfly wings and decorate them in a symmetrical way. When the kids were eating their creative "butterflies",

I learned that learning sometimes can be very "delicious". Kids' creativity is cultivated by a variety of drawing, painting, designing, and hand-making - different things in class every day like this.

Kids are different from each other in reading ability. Mrs. Wright sorts them into different groups according to their levels and arranges different assignments for them, so that every kid can learn something and make progress within their ability. Math is tough. But Mrs. Wright's math class can be a fun game or a tense match against the teacher. So in her class, even the slowest student can enjoy reading and math.

She keeps a guinea pig and different kinds of insects like cockroach, ants, cocoons, worms, butterflies, which kids always love watching and playing with. They also have chances to see and touch real turtle shell, swordfish bone and various seashells. They also get ideas of how long a blue whale is, how big a penguin is or what whale blubber is for through different interesting experiments. They can even hold a crazy beach party that is full of fun. All of these make me believe that nature is never far away from us in this class only if the teacher is creative enough.

Mrs. Wright is always patient with those slow students and problem students. She spares no effort to help them rather than lose patience or temper. By setting her own example, she teaches her students how to respect and love others.

What impressed me most is Mrs. Wright's appeal to the kids. While she is reading a story or singing a song, she can always hold their attention with her lively voice and vivid expressions. I think this is what a remarkable teacher should possess- fascinating teaching- a teaching art. She makes students love school, enjoy school, which is definitely important to a beginner in their future and even lifelong learning.

I am a high school teacher in China. I have seen a lot of differences in teaching between us and truly learned something different from Mrs. Wright. I admire her devotion and her way of teaching, which illustrate what qualities an outstanding teacher should possess.

When somebody asks me who made you want to be a teacher? I always think of my cousin. My cousin became a teacher when he was eighteen years old. At that time, I was in the elementary school. When winter vacation came, my cousin always come to pick me up to his house. He played with me and taught me Chinese and math. I heard him talk about his teaching and his students a lot. I admired him at that time.

The school my brother taught in is one of the key schools in my county. I studied there when I was in middle school and high school. When I was in Grade10, my brother taught me Physics. He is a really good teacher. All the students like him and all the teachers speak highly of him, too. At that time I hoped I would be a teacher like him.

Why do I want to be a teacher? In my family, my mom is a teacher who teaches in primary school, my sister is a teacher who teaches Chinese .When I was little, I want to be a teacher too. In China, people call teacher as "the engineer of human being's anima". So the people in china respect the teachers. I want my students learn a lot of me, and get the respect from people, I am like the gardener and my students are like the flower in the garden, In my host school, I think my mentor Paula is a teacher who works very hard, she is knowledgeable , she can teach her students a lot of things out of the textbook, she is very knowledgeable I heard from my liaison that her grandson almost quitted school, but when he had my mentor's class, he studied very hard so that now he is the university.

What should I say to you? So, mom told me that why don't you tell your friends about going to see the deer at Chris and Christy's house. I agreed with mom.

After school, on Tuesday 13, Feb. 2007, Christy and Isaac came to see mom. (Isaac's Mimi) Christy told mom about deer coming to eat grain near her house, then mom told me to go and have a look at Christy's deer.

I went to Christy's house and sat by the window to watch the deer. Before sitting to wait to watch the deer, Christy, Isaac and I went outside to feed the grain on the ground for the deer, then went back inside. Around 5:45 pm, I saw eight deer, come to eat the grain. I was very, very excited.

They came to eat the grain near the house around 20 feet away. I would like to take some photos, but when I had opened the door, the deer heard and went back further than the first time. So, I changed my mind, just only to have a look. Not too long after, the other group of deer came again, I counted them. They came only five deer, but I felt very happy.

I was very happy that day;

I have never had this chance in Thailand.

I didn't believe that I would see the wild deer come by the house. I had known about America but believed that it was all cities like New York or Bangkok.

When I was young, America was nothing more than a word for a place far, far from my home. All that changed when I was given an opportunity by the Rogatien Foundation and AFS Organization, to make my way across the ocean to The United States of America. Once I passed the English comprehension test given by AFS, I was fortunate enough to receive the continued financial and emotional support from Rogatien Foundation that made it possible for me to come to America. I would like to say "THANK YOU SO MUCH", for it is because of you that I can see the world with my own eyes.

As an AFS cultural ambassador and exchange educator, my main goals have been to learn about the education system, culture and language of this small town on the beautiful coast of California, in the County of Humboldt, and to share the same aspects of our culture with members of my host community.

What can one person do to change the world? The answer, as I have already experienced in my host community is - a lot! Every day I am acting as a citizen ambassador, helping Americans to learn about Thai culture; our traditions, our history, music, family life, religious beliefs, schools, government and home communities. One of my first opportunities to share our culture was the night of the November full moon. I invited the students of NPA to celebrate the Festival of Loy Kra Thong. Each student made his or her own flower which was placed into a floating bowl, Kra Thong. Several students, dressed in traditional Thai costumes performed the Thai Candle Dance, Ramwong. When the sun had set, the students, several teachers and parents, as well as the school principal, Dr. Jeanne Bazemore, traveled to Moonstone Beach, where we set the bowls into the gentle waves. The light from the candles danced across the smiling faces of everyone, warming the hearts of all.

Every day I remind myself that I may be the only person from Thailand that people in my host communities will ever meet. I want to leave them with a good impression of our country and its people.

How can I succeed in conveying a positive image of my home country to those I encounter during my AFS journey? First, I must listen and learn to appreciate the values and beliefs of the people in my host community. And secondly, I believe that creating personal relationships based on trust, shared experiences (laughter being one of the best!), and mutual understanding, are also the basis for trust and cooperation between countries. I never pass up an opportunity to try new experiences or participate in discussions that may sow the seeds of understanding and friendship, as I did on the day I was fortunate enough to be included in the Banducci Family Thanksgiving. A traditional Thanksgiving - complete with turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, green beans and my own version of Pad Thai! Twenty members of the Banducci family, ranging in age from 16 to 93 all gathered around the table to give thanks for the blessings in their lives - the food on their plates, the good health they enjoyed and the added pleasure of two guests, one from Thailand and one from Germany. Family members traveled from as close as 5 minutes away, and as far away as Washington D.C. and New York. It is a very important American Holiday tradition! After finishing off the wonderful meal with several kinds of berry and pumpkin pies, everybody joined in for an enthusiastic game of "Charades." I had never heard of this game before, but I bravely volunteered to be on one of the two teams. Each team writes the name of a book, or a movie, or a song on a piece of paper which is folded up and put into a basket for the other team to pick out, read, and without words, "act out" the name on their piece of paper. The members of your own team have to guess the name of the book or song you are trying to act out. It is a wild, noisy, and fun game. I don't know which performance the family appreciated most, mine, as a non-native speaker, or Grandma's at age 93!!

When I am speaking in my capacity as teacher or ambassador, it is important to remember that I am not making a sales pitch. I am sharing and listening in the spirit of true dialogue.

To be effective, to create understanding and acceptance, I must first be a true friend. This is one of the unique opportunities that exchange participants have to change the world.

Over the course of the year, I have had opportunities to build many personal relationships. I have experienced the transformation that only comes from person to person, formal and informal communication. This leads to the building of trust, the building of understanding. Establishing personal friendships does not happen over night, but is a slow and challenging process that takes time, understanding and perseverance. I encounter frustration but I also gain inspiration and satisfaction; understanding and compassion. I reach out to people and try hard not leave any opportunity for conversation or discussion unmet!

Since I came here, I have traveled from school to school. I have found the education system is quite different from my own country. The students have fun learning at school. The elementary kids learn some necessary living skills besides the subjects. The middle school kids learn to do things buy themselves. They try to do all the things and are creative. The high school students work very hard here and discipline themselves very well in class. They do lots of reading. They learn some college courses in the high school and attend the state test. That's challenging.

I really enjoy the people here. Almost everyone here I met give me great help. My host family help solve every problem I met. They took me to take part in lots of social activities. We went to the concert in Union College or some other places several times. And I often go to Susan's book club. David gives me a drive to school every morning. At school, my mentors arrange my schedule to observe or do presentations. The teachers help me a lot, too. When I went the library, the librarian always recommend me some good books and good movies very patiently.

If a teacher stands in front of the students, he or she should be like an actor, skillful, attractive and knowledgeable. He can organize his class very well. And the students admire him and are willing to learn the subject well.

I am having a good time here. I have met a lot of nice people like my mentor Paula Overholtzer, my liaison Barbara Rogers, also my host family, there are two teachers Vicki Carter and Kelly Christel who give me a ride to school and home. They are so nice and wonderful teachers in my mind. Also, I am nice to the people around me, the teachers who work in main office called me sunshine. And my liaison called me as the ambassador of China.

Time flies, I have already stayed here for 6months, in the first semester, I have been to 13 schools in my district from kindergarten to high school. I have made about 80 presentations in these schools; I try to let more people know about China. In the second semester, I am teaching Chinese Culture which is elective class in Battle Ground High School, I have two classes every day; they are first period which has 24 students and second period which has 30 students. All my students are from 9th grade to 12th grade. I teach them Chinese culture and at the same time I teach them some Chinese so that they can speak some Chinese if they go to China. February 18th, it is Chinese New Year, so I called it "Chinese new year week"; all I taught is about Spring Festival. I taught them what people eat and what people do during Spring Festival. I taught my students how to sing New Year song in Chinese, I taught them how to make Chinese lantern, also I hang them in the school hallway, I got a lot of compliments from the teachers and students. I also held a Chinese New Year party in my classroom, we played games and each student got a present that I brought from China. At the end of class, my students told me that it was really fun.

I'm proud of the students of C.K. Burns School for their wonderful understanding and performance in Thai culture. They learned in just three sessions to perform singing, dancing and Thai mask making with outstanding results.

I changed my bulletin board in the hallway. We had a Chinese New Year party in the classroom, cooking some rice and egg-flower soup, making paper lanterns, dancing dragon around the building. The dragon took me and the 1st grade kids hours to finish. They painted parts of sheets, I sewed them together, and we then painted a box yellow and red, hot glued its teeth, tongue, eyes, horns, nostrils and hanging down stuff on both the head and the whole body. The dragon is as long as 8-9 meters. I held the head, flipping open the mouth and swinging the head, and the kids lined up under the body, followed by a team of instrument players, making cheering noise. We had great fun.

A Call for Action on Climate Change
In January 1970, the Environmental Teach-in decided to call their one-off event held on April 22, Earth Day. The day's success led to it becoming a regular event. Senator Gaylord Nelson, an environmental activist in the U.S. Senate, took a leading role in organizing the celebration, to demonstrate popular political support for an environmental agenda. He modeled it on the highly effective Vietnam War protests of the time. Senator Nelson staffed the office with college students and selected Denis Hayes (a Harvard student and Stanford graduate) as the National Coordinator of activities. It was the era of student political activism and outdoor protests that attracted news cameras. The nationwide event included opposition to the Vietnam War on the agenda. Pete Seeger was a keynote speaker and performer at the event held in Washington DC. Paul Newman and Ali McGraw attended the event held in New York City.

According to Santa Barbara Community Environmental Council: "The story goes that Earth Day was conceived by Senator Gaylord Nelson after a trip he took to Santa Barbara right after that horrific oil spill off our coast in 1969. He was so outraged by what he saw that he went back to Washington and passed a bill designating April 22 as a national day to celebrate the earth."

Senator Nelson stated that Earth Day "worked" because of the spontaneous response at the grassroots level. Though he felt his committee had neither the time nor resources to organize the 20 million demonstrators and the thousands of schools and local communities that participated, these things did happen. According to the Senator, "It organized itself."

The "holiday" proved extremely popular in the United States. The first Earth Day, in 1970, had participants and celebrants in two thousand colleges and universities, roughly ten thousand primary and secondary schools, and hundreds of communities across the United States. More importantly, it "brought 20 million Americans out into the spring sunshine for peaceful demonstrations in favor of environmental reform."

Senator Nelson directly credited the first Earth Day with persuading U.S. politicians that environmental legislation had a substantial, lasting constituency. Many important laws were passed by the Congress in the wake of the 1970 Earth Day, including the Clean Air Act, laws to protect drinking water, wild lands and the ocean. The EPA was created within three years of the first Earth Day. In 1971 Senator Gaylord Nelson announced an 'Earth Week' - for the third week of April - as a yearly event.

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month was enacted by Public Law 102-450 on October 28, 1992. The purpose of the law was to honor the achievements of Asian/Pacific Americans and to recognize their contributions to the United States. This recognition was the culmination of Jeanie Jew's efforts in the 1970's to establish Asian Pacific American Heritage Week. Following the United States bicentennial in 1976, Jew realized that Asian Pacific Americans were "were excluded from those stories during celebrations of the country's bicentennial. We were literally ignored even though we were part of building this country."

A year later, Jew enlisted the support of Rep. Frank Horton (R-NY) who, along with Rep. Norman Mineta, (D-CA), introduced House Resolution 540. This resolution proclaimed the first ten days of May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Week. Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga introduced similar legislation into the Senate.

May was selected for the recognition because two significant events in history took place in that month: Japanese immigrants first arrived in the United States on May 7, 1843, and the transcontinental railroad was completed on May 10, 1869 (Golden Spike Day). Furthermore, since school is still in session during May, educators could capitalize on the opportunity to include APA history into the curriculum.

On Oct. 2, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed the Joint Resolution and the first Asian Pacific American Heritage Week was celebrated in May 1979. In 1992, the week was expanded to a month-long recognition when President George Bush signed the law permanently designating May of each year as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The law was unanimously supported by both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Cinco de Mayo ("The Fifth of May" in Spanish) is a national holiday in Mexico which is also widely celebrated in the United States. It commemorates the victory of a Mexican force of 4,500 men, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, over Napoleon III's French occupational forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

In the United States, much like St. Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo is observed by many Americans regardless of ethnic origins, particularly along the border states where there is a large hispanic population. The largest of these celebrations are found in the larger cities such as Denver, Colorado; Los Angeles, California; Dallas, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; Houston, Texas; and Phoenix, Arizona. Although it is no more an officially recognized holiday than St. Patrick's Day in the United States, many cities display Cinco de Mayo banners while school districts hold special events to educate students about its historical significance, especially in the Spanish language classes. Commercial interests in the United States have capitalized on the celebration with advertising for products and services with an emphasis on foods, beverages, and music. To balance that, however, many multi-ethnic communities hold special events and celebrations which highlight the Mexican-hispanic culture, especially in its music and regional dancing.

Mother's Day is a day honoring mothers which is celebrated on different days throughout the world. Most honor mothers by giving them gifts, both simple and elaborate, and giving them a day to relax while everyone else takes care of the home.

The origins of the holiday vary, as people celebrate it at different times of the year. One school of thought claims this day emerged from a custom of mother worship in ancient Greece. Mother worship - which kept a festival to Cybele, a great mother of gods, and Rhea, the wife of Cronus - was held around the Vernal Equinox around Asia Minor and eventually in Rome itself from the Ides of March (March 15) to March 18. The romans also had another holiday,Matronalia, that was dedicated to Juno, though mothers were usually given gifts on this day. In the United States, Mother's Day was originally conceived by social activist Julia Ward Howe during the American Civil War with a call to unite women against war. She wrote the Mother's Day Proclamation. In Ireland and the British Isles, the day now simply celebrates motherhood and thanking mothers. According to the National Restaurant Association, Mother's Day is now the most popular day of the year to dine out at a restaurant in the United States.

Howe failed in her attempt to get formal recognition of a Mother's Day for Peace. Her idea was influenced by Ann Jarvis, a young Appalachian homemaker who, starting in 1858, had attempted to improve sanitation through what she called Mothers' Work Days. She organized women throughout the Civil War to work for better sanitary conditions for both sides, and in 1868 she began work to reconcile Union and Confederate neighbors. In parts of the United States it is customary to plant tomatoes outdoors after mother's day (and not before.) When Jarvis died, her daughter, named Anna Jarvis, started the crusade to found a memorial day for women. The first such Mother's Day was celebrated in Grafton, West Virginia, on May 10, 1908, in the church where the elder Ann Jarvis had taught Sunday School. Grafton is the home to the International Mother's Day Shrine. From there, the custom caught on - spreading eventually to 45 states. The holiday was declared officially by somes states beginning in 1912. In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national Mother's Day.

Mother's Day in the US will be celebrated on May 13 of this year. Remember to celebrate your mother (host mothers included)!

For more information on Mother's Day and to see when Mother's Day occurs in different countries:

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead." While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war).

Moina Michael conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co- workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need.

Over the years, many have forgotten the original meaning of Memorial Day and many traditions have since diminished. To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps."

The history of Father's Day is very interesting. The thought for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. The idea of having the Father's Day came to the mind of Sonora Smart while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909.

After the death of her mother, she along with her siblings was raised by her father, William Jackson Smart. Sonora wanted to tell her father how special he was. Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.

The National Father's Day Committee was formed in New York City in 1926. A Joint Resolution of Congress recognized the Father's day in 1956 and in 1966 President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. Thus, the Father's Day was born in memory and appreciation by a daughter who believed that her father and all other fathers should be honored with a special day.

There are many things that I did for fun in winter time. First of all, last weekend I went to ski at Boyne in the North of Michigan with my host family.

I stayed there for three days. I took a class of ski for two hours and I crashed more than ten times. Don't ask me, did I sore? You know what, it's really sore all the parts of my body. But it's really fun and I don't believe myself that how can I done it with the high hills. It's awesome.

Second of all, I did the ice skating in the lake in Pinckney which is close to my other host family's house. And I also rode the snowmobile. It's really fun too. I'd like to say thank you to my host families and host schools that give me a chance to have a really good time here.

I arrived to the US on January 20 and the following morning my mentor teacher came to my host house to pick me up because we were going to go skiing. I was really excited about that because I hadn't been skiing before. Everything was new to me, I mean EVERYTHING: not only the activity itself but the clothes, the food at the ski center, even the vocabulary to fill in the form to rent my equipment! Since it was a Sunday morning many people were there enjoying the freezing but sunny day. It started snowing the minute we got there. I was amazed!!! My mentor teacher's husband was my instructor and he was really patient and caring. By the end of the afternoon I was able to ski on my own. Can you believe it? I could not believe my eyes!!!! It was a wonderful day although the following day my legs and knees hurt badly!

"Imagine you are standing a top a 6,800 foot peak looking down upon a pristine blanket of newly groomed snow. As you prepare to descend along a forested glen you glance up and see the majestic 14,000 foot peak of Mount Shasta. You breathe in the fresh air and notice the soothing calm around you. You smile, adjust your goggles and take that big first turn of the day - heaven? No, better it is Mount Shasta Ski Park, California USA."

From the text on internet about Mt. Shasta, I was very exciting because I never see snow, I never ski or snow boarding - and I had a cool experience.

Friday afternoon of January 19, 2007, I joined with AFS ski trip caravanned from Arcata to Mt. Shasta Ski Park California. There were about 30 people on this trip. During the way I admired the sunset on the mountains across the valley .We arrived hotel around 7.30 pm. After I checked in to my warm room with Nan-Thai student, Buchin-Turkish student and Madonna- Indonesian student, all of us went to the famous restaurant-the Round Table pizza for dinner party and we ended the day with soaked in the hot tub at hotel.

Saturday January 20, 2007. Because of exciting for my first ski lesson so I got up early around 5.45 in the morning, despite my many layers of clothing, protect me from the frost some how managed to penetrate through and chill me to the bone. We were the early birds waiting for breakfast at lobby. After finished breakfast about 7.30 am we headed up hotel to Mt. Shasta. At Mt. Shasta ski park, smooth white carpeted runs cover the mountain, a warm atmosphere was found in the ski lesson class. This made me the perfect ski destination. First time skiing? Then I enrolled in the amazing learning center programs, and private ski lesson guarantee course - beautifully groomed beginning and intermediate trails. Students and teachers who never ski or snow boarding took the lesson joined with other people from corners of California or Oregon. I was very happy and enjoyed skiing. Sometimes I fell, sometimes I could not remember how to stop ski, my teacher said "give me pizza" I did ploughed ski into snow with pizza piece shape so I can stopped. Wow!!! It was very fun. I want my students and my family ski like this in Thailand too but we do not have snow there maybe we will come to USA for ski or snow boarding someday!!!.

Sunday January 21, 2007. My body was still sore; it no longer felt weak, from my first skiing yesterday. We were woken by hotel morning call service at 6 in the morning, packing our stuff, had breakfast and check out. At 8.30 am our car moved to Mt. Shasta where I picked up my two - day ticket. Today the highlight and exciting for me was got off the chair lift and a run down hill. At the run's top I stood almost 6,150 feet directly above the tram base. The mountain just drops award at my feet, a straight, very, very, very steep drop to the valley floor. There were many trails so I chose to ski in the easiest trail for beginner skiing. There just is not anything like this in Thailand. At 1.30 pm I dragged myself away for lunch and returned ski gears, got ready to go home at 2 pm.

I had the amazing winter experiences here, friends, good times, and low prices. I have no doubt about why people like ski or snow boarding and why Mt. Shasta is the best ski resort to visit in the northern reaches of California. I smiled, waved my hand and read this:

"The 424 acres of ski able terrain, accessed by three chairlifts and one surface lift. That is 32 trails covering 1,390 vertical feet of skiing. Of that terrain 20 % is for beginner, 55% are intermediate runs, and 25% are for advanced skier or boarders. 1.75 miles marks longest trail run back to the main lodge with picturesque scenery along the way.

275 inches of annual snowfall a year provides plenty of white fluffy stuff to go around.

A variety of groomed runs, powder steeps, forested glens and two park with a Super Half pipe to keep people happy."

February 16th was my last day in Stevens Brook Elementary School in North Bridgton, Maine. At around 3:30, teachers gave me a great going away party. After the party, Nancy Capone, the music teacher took me to her house where I met her husband David, who tunes piano. Both Nancy and David were very warm. What attracted me most was their log house. Almost everything of their house is made of logs, including the door latch, which makes the house unique and simple. First they showed me around the house, on the second story there is a deck where they can see the beautiful Pleasant Mountain. Another thing that attracted me in their house was the chimney which was made of rocks. At first I thought it was a decoration in the log house, because it matched the log house perfectly. Later they told me it was a chimney.

Because it was already 4:00 pm, David suggested we go skiing right away. I asked them where we will go skiing. To my surprise, they told me just around their house. Just around the house? Seeing my puzzled expression, David said, "we have a big piece of land, which is about EIGHTY ACRES." It was unbelievably big! We went out and they showed me how to put on the skis and how to use the ski poles. Then my first cross-country skiing adventure kicked off. In order to make it easy for us to ski in the woods, David had already got some trails broken in the afternoon. With David leading the way, I could easily slide in the woods. Oh, another member of the skiing team was Luciano, their beloved dog. Actually he was right in front of the team. About ten minutes later I found David was a little tired, so I volunteered to break trails. Seeing me doing pretty well, they agreed and said, "You are a natural athlete." Because it was my first time to do cross-country skiing, I also felt proud of myself. I was sliding forward, humming to myself when I stepped on one of my skis and fell down. I wanted to struggle to stand up, but I couldn't. It was so embarrassing. Then with Nancy's help, I got back on my feet. Then David said, "We take back what we said just now." Then everyone burst into laughter.

My first time of skiing (Feb.16th). I went to Sundown (in Dubuque) with high school kids I really had fun even I fell down many times.

I've moved to my new host family since February 16 in Vassalboro, ME. They invited me to go skiing in the early morning of February 17.

Skiing was never in my mind. It seemed like I would get big trouble with thick ski suit, heavy ski boots, long large skis, unpleasant ski poles and terrible cold weather with bunches of snow.

However, with their nice hospitality, I joined them and tried cross country ski as they suggested at Black Mountain ski resort. My trying didn't work, I fell down many times in deep snow, and it was so difficult to get up. Then I strongly had more confidence to give up.

My host family kept skiing every day in different places. Anyway, it was better for me to go with them than to be alone at home. Eventually, on the fourth day, I tried cross country ski again just because I felt boring with only watching and waiting for the time back home. Trying this time was much different from the first time. I felt more comfortable, relaxed and enjoyable. I could make balance without falling down in about one hour. My host family was proud of me, and we all had wonderful time along the way home. I agree with the saying,

"Whenever you fall down, you learn more." So don't give up, and learn to love difficulty."

I come from the South of China. I have never had the experience of skiing or ice-skating. During Feb 16 and Feb19, My first host family and my third host family and I went skiing in Winthrop. This is the second time I went skiing. But the first time I didn't learn to ski. So, in the beginning I was still scared to ski. My Mum said: "Without falling, we can't learn to ski. When I began to ski, I had many falls." All the others enjoyed themselves except that My Mum went skiing with me, giving me instructions when necessary and encouraged me when necessary. "Be patient and be adventurous " is what my Mum often said. Over many falls, I finally learned how to ski and I enjoyed the sport very much. Isn't it great that I have learned to ski in America?

Especially, during the skiing, my mum videoed my practice, which I will show my home students. I want to tell them: It's never too old to learn.

This is also what my Mum often says to me.

In the video, Mum says: The famous skier from China shows his form. He is a Nordic skier, you can tell by his good style. Hello, Skier! You're doing so well. You're a wonderful skier. We wish we could ski so well. Oh! There he goes! Skiing off! Look at the beautiful form and style. He goes and goes and goes and then he falls. Goodbye!" This will be the evidence how I enjoy my AFS life in the USA.

Last semester, I observed many teachers. But, I found most of the time, I couldn't understand the students. So, now I sit among the students, joining in their discussion. If I can't understand them, I will tell them directly. So bit by bit, I find I can understand much more than before.

I enjoy the AFS life. I am very grateful to my host families. I feel at home. Of course, I am leading an active life.

Now, I am staying in my second host family. My Mum2 and Dad2 try to make my stay comfortable and easier, which moves me deeply. Before the Chinese New Year, they bought many Chinese decorations to make our home Chinese. I try to do something for my host families, for example, I often make Chinese dishes for them, and they all greatly enjoy Chinese dishes. Whenever my Mum2 introduces me to other Americans, she never forgets to add: "He can make delicious Chinese dishes." I am very glad to hear this.

I went snow-shoeing on a December Sunday. It was a two-hour drive to a ski area called "Hoodoo". It was dry and warm in Dallas, but cold and snowy in the snow park. I still remember when we stepped out of the air-conditioned car into the snow world under 28°F, we could not help shivering. We put on our warm coats, scarf, gloves, and snowshoes to keep us warm. It was the first time for me to snowshoe, but it didn't take long for me to get used to walking with snowshoes.

I felt myself like a penguin walking on the Antarctica.

The snow was heavy, some place as deep as over my knee. So it was a good idea to follow my friends' steps. But I am kind of adventurous sometimes, so I stepped on new snow and once in a while lost balance. We stopped to admire the beautiful sights or have a rest and get some drink. It was silent and wild in the snow park. The branches covered with heavy snow shook some flakes down in the wind. We took pictures for each other and played with snow. The further we went on, the warmer we became. I even felt sweating after climbing over a small slope. I liked the refreshing snowflakes beating on my face. It was a nice hiking in the snow, a totally new and unforgettable experience to me, as I was born in a warm area in China and had never been to such a snow mountain resort.

Here I begin to learn many things. One of them is skiing. Before and after I came here, I was told it was very cold in winter here. But it was not as cold as it is supposed to be. We didn't have snow for a long time. I had been longing for snow. I think I'll have no chance to go skiing. At last there was a snow storm. We got about two-foot snow. How happy I was!

The first time I went skiing in LaFayette. It was a little downhill. I kept falling down. But the snow is so soft, I didn't feel hurt at all. The second time I went skiing on Lapland Lake. We went skiing on the track and a lake. The ground was so hard this time. But a strange thing happened. My hips didn't hurt but my head hurt a lot. The third time I got some skills of skiing. That was really nice.

I am in the west of America, the weather here is not very cold not too much snow, but People here told me that there is a lot of rain, and almost 8 months are raining, but it is green all the year round. So the scenery here is very beautiful. This year, it snowed in December, so that we cancelled school for 4 days. My host family and I made three huge snowmen, and called them snowmen family, there are dad mom and kid. We all like them very much and took pictures with them.

I live in Washington, but where I live is very close to Portland Oregon. It is just 30 minutes drive to Portland, so that we support the NBA team in Portland not Seattle, we think it is our team too. In Oregon, there is a very big mountain called Mount Hood. It is one of most famous and beautiful skiing resort. AFS held the activity there to ski, I went there too. It had a lot of fun when I skied there. It was my first time to ski; I tried very hard, and fell down a lot of times. But I really like it.

Many of our Visiting Teachers were able to take advantage of some school vacation time for independent travel. While we are always happy for you to have the opportunity to explore more areas of our country, please remember you must communicate your plans with local AFS volunteers as you consider traveling. Also, please note that your travel arrangements for the End of Stay Orientation have been arranged by AFS. As such, please do not plan any Independent Travel during the last two weeks of your stay. However, do take advantage of this time by spending it with your host family, colleagues and new friends - take advantage of the time you have left with them!

Our new office is located at the very most southern tip of the island, one block away from Battery Park and the Staten Island Ferry. We are very excited about our new space and are looking forward to enjoying downtown Manhattan all summer long!

Some resources that your colleagues have found useful are the local libraries, local school and Department of Education Websites, local university websites, and of course, Google!

A great Teacher Resource that you might already be using:

For any of you who will be teaching vocabulary when you return home, a great resource is puzzlemaker.com (http://www.puzzle maker.com/). As an example, I created the following puzzle for you. See if you can find your name: