My first Independence Day in the US

My first Independence Day was crazy and fun. Fabiana, Asuncion, Ann and I planned to spend this festive holiday together. But our plan was changed. Fabiana would have a test on Wednesday and it rained cats and dogs all day so I decided not to go watch the fireworks. All of a sudden, Apple called and asked me out with her. Of course, I said yes. Apple picked me up at about 8 pm. then we had Malaysian dinner because we were starving. We left the restuarant at 8.30 pm, picked up Tip (our friend) then headed for Rice University, the place that we parked our car. We decided to take the Metro because it was more convenient.

Apple was very excited because it was her first time and our first time taking the Metro. We were there but didn't know which station we should get off. We saw many people at the Metro station, we thought everybody might have the same destination which is Downtown. Apple saw one family, she was sure that this family had the same destination as us, she said that we would get off at the same station as them. We arrived at the transit station, Apple told us to get off because we were near the park, we could see the fireworks but that family was still on the Metro. We followed the fireworks, we ran and then stopped to take a picture several times. We were almost there but we saw a large group of people coming from that way. We were afraid that our fear might be true. We decided to asked one guy whether the fireworks were already finished. The answer was YES. We were laughing like crazy all the way back to Rice University.

Our day hadn't finished yet, we headed to the Starbuck at Westheimer because it was too early to go home. We chitchatted until midnight then we went home. I spent a night at Apple's house like I've done for almost the past two weeks. We couldn't sleep so we kept talking until 2.30 am.

At ELS

June 23, 2006 was my last day at ELS, it was difficult for me to say "Goodbye" to my friends and my teacher. Things went out pretty good at the beginning I didn't feel that depressed (which was weird because I'm a sensitive and emotional kind of person) but I ended up crying when I had to say goodbye to Nathan, Mafer and Marianna. It was quite strange because I didn't cry when I left Thailand, my family and my friends. Maybe it is because with my family and my friends in Thailand, I know that I can go back and see them whenever I want. But with my friends at ELS, this maybe the last time I met them. It was very SAD!!!

I've had hundreds of good memories in ELS. I still remembered my first day in ELS. I was quite nervous because I didn't know anyone and at that time I wasn't confident with my English. Jay was the first person that I talked with, he interviewed me and told me that there was a Thai student here. I was very surprised because I didn't expect to see Thai people in ELS. My first session was the most difficult session, I had to adapt myself to the American stlye of studying. We had to discuss and talk a lot in the class unlike the Asian style.

Nathan was my first teacher, I'd met him in every morning classes for 3 months. In the first three months, everytime I had to talk in front of him I was very nervous. Believe it or not? It's happened to many Asian students. It might because he has a high expectation. But I really appreciate and thank you him for this because I've learned a lot. After the first three months, everythings went out pretty good, I got used to living here, I was able to express myself better and overcome my shyness of speaking English. Since then I'm very talkative and as a result I've improved my speaking skill pretty fast.

Seven months at ELS is one of the happiest moment in my life. I've met many good friends and teachers. It makes me feel that I'm never alone in a foreign country. I feel lucky that I've met good people like them.

Thank you my friends (Sofia, Tais, Fabiana, Asuncion, Rena, P'Ple, P'Supit, Jade, Daiki, Sung, Yochi, Vicente, Allyne, Rafael, Alejandro, Carlos, Alice, Wannessa, Howard, Ann, Sandra, Mafer, Teressa, Jungnam and others that I didn't mention) for an invaluable friendship.

Thank you my friend and my teacher Nathan for his inestimable friendship, his understanding, pieces of good advice and for believing in me.

Thank you my friend and my teacher Jay for his help on my essay for a graduate school and his crazy ideas that always make me laugh.