Due to the experiment in the lab on Thursday, I nearly missed my first Thanksgiving at Gary’s house. Thanks to Dr. Lee who took me to Gary’s around 5:00pm when everybody in the house had finished their dessert, it was not too late for me to enjoy my turkey feast, but Anida had to microwave it for me. Frankly speaking, it was my first time to have turkey, since turkey breast sandwiches in Subway do not really count. I missed the process of cutting the whole turkey! Maybe next year…It was cold yesterday and this morning I saw it was snowing a little bit, but it’s fine as we either stayed in the car or the malls. Speaking of Black Friday, most of the malls open around 5am, and there are people waiting outside the gates to rush for the discounted goods. Of course, I am not that crazy, so we slept well and finished our breakfast, driving our car to get to those malls as we were pleased. I got the vacuum and the fabric steamer I wanted at reasonable prices-I can make such a good househusband. :) Since I accidentally ruined my favorite several shirts, I realized shirts are really delicate and they need my special care-THE FABRIC STEAMER! Anyways, I still haven’t found the color bleach in the malls. When it comes to shopping, it’s the same everywhere. I felt like I was in Shanghai when I was buying gloves in the new H&M store in Kenwood-people were waiting in a long line for H&M which only has styles but the quality. Say it’s shallow or whatever, I quite like H&M. My philosophy is that clothes cannot last forever after all. To some extent, I quite miss some of those Japanese brands which have better fitted clothes for me, but mostly I can only pay a relatively lower price for some brands like Calvin Klein, Clinique, Levi’s and so forth. Generally, I love shopping here as I can have more choice.

10am @ Bestbuy
Xmas is coming

I thought I could have watched the men’s football today, but again, I missed it, thanks to my Black Friday shopping. Since the football game is like a huge celebration here each time, I might as well try it once to see if I like it or not. It’s ok, because the tickets are free for us and I can get the next game’s tickets or I will just have to wait for next year’s game.

So far there is nothing much exciting, and that’s why I haven’t updated anything here. Mom said that she’s been waiting for the pictures in my album, but unfortunately I haven’t gotten any chance to go anywhere yet ever since my last Cincy Trip. Maybe travelling is not part of my agenda as I used to claim, since homework, exams and research work have already swallowed up pretty much all my time. I am not complaining this time, because I feel that I am really learning things. And I’ve got to say that something just feels right. I need a break sometimes, and it’s perfectly arranged at the end of the quarter, which is called “a winter break”. Several friends of mine are heading to Las Vegas as they don’t have to worry about their work in the lab, so tickets and hotels were booked a long time ago. Whereas for me, as much as I would love to go there, there is still something up in the air so far.

Lots of people have some opinions against Midwest, not just minority groups of people, but also some white people. While I don’t have any comments on this as long as I haven’t visited other places in the States. Sometimes I guess I am just too trivial to change some of the stereotypes here. As for the cars and things related, I am trying to make some time to study that slowly. There are plenty of cars and trucks on Craigslist, but as others said it still takes some time before I can find the “dream car”. Speaking of trucks, there are plenty there, and Gary has a good truck since he has to work around his houses in Cincinnati. I thought about trucks as well-it would be so cool to drive a truck. But some say it consumes more gas than you would expect, so that can basically rule out the possibility of buying a truck as far as I am concerned.

Last night I helped a senior classmate’s moving sale, and in return I got his microwave, TV and some other furniture. Now our living room looks like a human living room except that I have to buy the antenna device from Wal-mart this weekend. Obviously, having a car would make a lot more things more spontaneous, like for instance, if I think of something I need at 2:00 am, I could have driven my car to get it. It’s my dream so far-not hard to achieve but it takes time.

So after Thanksgiving next week, this quarter is actually coming to an end, which basically means the toughest time ahead-EXAMINATIONS! Let’s get ready for that, shall we?

So I suddenly realized that it’s time I started learning a little bit about driving and cars, since I am turning 27 and I still don’t know how to drive. It’s ridiculous, especially in this country where you basically are like disabled if you cannot drive. I always thought I could do it tomorrow, but time flies and I cannot believe I am freaking 27 years old already. I am sick of asking those to give me ride doggedly who are not reluctant, and I am tired of the grocery shopping schedule each Saturday morning. I want to be free like I used to be, and I want to be convenient. So, let’s talk about cars. Everything has to be started from the scratch and again, I suppose it’s just a matter of time. As much as I am looking forward to my friend’s visit during Christmas as well as the crazy busy study schedule, I hope to do something before the end of the year. So screw the NBA game in Indianapolis tomorrow, I am not going. I don’t watch NBA on TV at all, why am I supposed to spend a hundred bucks on the game of which I don’t even know the rules. Hopefully, the test of the traffic laws tomorrow will be easy enough for those who don’t even have an idea what a sedan is, such as me. I am getting it started gradually. No big deal, like I said, it’s just a matter of time and life will be easier soon. Screw you selfish people, I will survive whatever comes my way.

I had my first haircut here in the USA and it is not too bad. I have heard a lot about the haircut thing here since Asian hair texture is different from either Caucasian or African people’s hair, so most of my Chinese friends would go to the Chinese haircut club where it’s free to cut hair. But since I am here, I am “brave” enough to go the local salon to experience the American haircut to see what it really looks like. The guy finished my haircut in less than 10 minutes and he put some gel on my head afterwards. Unsurprisingly, the hair dresser is so gay that I am afraid that he is worried nobody would not recognize that, which is no big deal since it’s basically the same in China as well. The point is I noticed he put lots of Buddha figures in the store and he said he is good at cutting Asian hair, so that released me a little bit. It was fast but good, the only concern is it’s a little gay. I tipped $4 before I left the salon.

Another thing is that I finally got my contact lenses today and it’s quite ironic that I brought 12 pairs of glasses here from China. I guess I won’t be able to use those for some time. Had I known this, I would not have bought them at the first place. But it’s no big deal, since hopefully my prescription would stay the same, I will use them some day anyways. I know nothing is going to be changed if I wear contact lenses or glasses, but I guess I am just tired of the stereotypes that Chinese guys are always nerdy and geeky wearing glasses. Or I am just wanting to have a different look, that’s all. Studying for hours and working in the lab each day do put lots of pressure on me, which is not a bad thing, as I have been expecting this for a long time. One thing I don’t like is boredom which would kill me, and that’s one of the things I had to deal with a lot before I came here. I am fond of getting so busy that I forget to log on my MSN or check my Facebook. I like telling people that I am busy as hell, and this time it’s real. When everything feels right, I don’t have the bad temper or bad attitude that I used to have. Being single and living my life make me happy right now.

20 minutes ago, I finished the homework and now it’s almost midnight. Last week was quite miserable, especially on Friday, although I know it’s good to experience something I have not experienced to make my skin a little bit thicker. I had to pay the price for the failure of the presentation on Friday, so I spent my whole weekend doing the modification and homework. The over self-confidence definitely did not work out in front of my advisor since I did not understand the detailed principles of the instrument that I was introducing. 2 hours presentation was the longest on my record and it was the worst at the same time. I was told that I should not be discouraged and I should keep on doing what I am doing. Working 24/7 might be the life of a PhD student whose working hours are irrelevant to either holidays or weekends. It’s all about interest which determines success or failure. At least it applies on me.

I am sure next week is going to be better, as I am not giving up my hope somehow. Of course, technically, it’s supposed to be better as there are many things I am expecting. Sometimes I still cannot believe I am here and I feel I am not completely adjusted to this dramatic change of space. It’s been hard lately, and a trivial touching feeling sometimes could trigger the tears in my eyes, but I still have faith underneath and I am loving what I am doing-that’s what matters after all.

Michael used to tell me that I was immature, although I did not agree with him. After all these days I gradually started to realize that I am heading to the right direction where I would consider myself as a better human being. I thought people were all more mature than I was, but it’s barely the case when I came here to face some younger peers. Some of the things they do are really selfish and immature I have to admit, unfortunately. But I am not angry; I am just disappointed somehow. I don’t understand why it would be such a big deal to give someone a ride when it’s convenient, nor do I understand what the heck is wrong with cooking food for others. I did what I think is right and I conceive of those deeds as purely kindness, whereas what I got in return were purely unbelievable and disappointing. I have put too much expectation on something where I shouldn’t have. Or maybe they are just being selfish and inconsiderate, because they need to grow up to realize who they are. At any rate, maybe it’s because of the pressure that everybody is suffering that they forget to care about others. I am proud to see that everything is made in China, while they consider it to be total disappointment because they don’t think they belong to China any more. It’s a complicated issue here and I am sure as time goes by, I could have a better view of everything I am facing right now. Perhaps, it’s just as simple as having a haircut. Speaking of which, I think I do look bad without cutting my hair for more than two months!

The daylight saving time ends this morning when I woke up and now it looks like I have one hour more, since I could have gotten up at 10am instead of 9am. I like getting one hour younger. China used to do the same thing 20 years ago, but then it just stopped. I guess they don’t really care about the daylight saving time that much when China only has one time zone. “Why should we make it so complicated while people from all over the country all have Beijing time anyway?” I agree with it too. But setting one hour back automatically does make you feel you have like one hour more when you wake up in the morning. Of course, when this standard time ends, the one hour has to be paid back and that must not feel good I suppose. Some say this is purely for energy conservation, but I consider this to be ironic as the fact that everybody has to have a car to do daily things does not seem like energy conservation to me. Maybe they are just trying to waste less.

Friday lab Halloween party was supposed to be fun, for I wanted to get to know each one of those people from other 3 labs. And Michael did a good job by organizing the party. Of course I am sure what everybody loved most was that ice box full of 100 bottles of beers. Unfortunately, I was distracted by some lab work while I was playing Horn Whole with others and I ended up sitting in front of the computer for 4 hours when I walked out of the room only to find empty garbage bins. I did not feel good about it and I wished I could be like one of our lab members who had 7 bottles of beers and talked crazy things around everybody. Anyway maybe I was the one to blame. I shouldn’t have told Aaron that laser cutting job does not have to be finished by Friday. I did not manage well, I have to admit. Maybe I’ll just have to wait for next year’s Halloween Party when we are not the hosts. It sounds sad and everything mainly because my Saturday was not getting better as I only ended up playing cards at my friend’s house-everybody in the room wanted to get out but nobody has a car. The good thing is at least I did not spend the Halloween night all by myself.

As I get to the point where there are lots of things that cannot be determined by me, one side of me is getting concerned that I may not be able to have time to go to Las Vegas for Christmas, the other side of me is like I should work hard to make the best student and it doesn’t feel bad at all. Although I expected this before I came here and I made up my mind no matter how hard it gets I shall get through, when the time comes, I really wish it’s not today but tomorrow. I know I have to face it anyway if I want this. Life is harder for foreigners in this country and I can feel the bias and inequality sometimes no matter how trivial they seemingly are although I am sure people are trying to avoid this. But I guess they are just like some kind of facts that are inevitable.

I hope next week would be a little different and I still have the faith that I can hold on no matter what.