Saturday, December 27, 2008

Great Days

This two days, I mostly spent time with an Indian guy.
We are in the same room in the hostel.

He is a PhD student of Stanford!! and his major is computer electronics.
He is sponsered by Indian government and the government pays all of his tuition.
So, he doesn't have to pay by himself.
Moreover, he got a scholarship from Stanford, and Stanford gives him 2,000 dollars a month.
He said he spends 1,000 dollars each month and doesn't spend all the money.
So, he can save 1,000 dollars a month, which is much more than average salary in India.
He graduated from Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), the most prestigious college in India.
He got a Bachelors Degree and Masters Degree from IIT.

As you can imagine, he is so smart but he doesn't show off his intelligence.
He said he will not get a job in America.
He will be back to India after he gets PhD. He said he wants to become a professor.
Actually, he has a lot of option about his career.

He is a PhD student of Stanford.
He can stay in America and get a high position in a company and get a large income.

However, he will be back to India.
Although India is getting economic power, it is still a developing country.
It is obvious to get more money in America.
He is anxious about the future of India.

Now, many people go to America to study more.
And, some of them are supported by government financially.
But, most of them are not back to India and get a job in America.

His ambition is to maintain many Indian intellectuals in India.
He is afraid of such situation. He thinks India cannot keep developing by that way.
To make India strong, it is necessary to get intellectuals stay in India.
So, he wants to become a professor in India.


I hope he becomes a great professor and he can definitely become that one.
He has a soft attitude to others.


I leave Chicago tomorrow morning.
The flight is 6:20 in the morning.... so early.....
I'm not sure that I can get up such early.
So, I'm going to the airport tonight (maybe 12 or 1), though it's dangerous to take a subway in midnight.


Anyway, it was a wonderful days in Chicago!
I enjoyed everything here.
I won't forget the time I spent here.


Thursday, December 25, 2008

Christmas in Chicago

The city was so quiet today...
Most of shops were closed.


We had almost nowhere to visit.
And, it was so cold today... honestly it was freezing...


First, we planed to see University of Chicago.
So, we took a train and rode off in the closest station.


..however, we couldn't find University of Chicago and it was so cold, so we gave up to look for it and came back to the main area.


Almost all shops were closed. It was not easy to find a restaurant.
As I wrote many times, it was really cold today.

We couldn't be outside.
Finally, we stayed in Union Station and killed a time.


After that we went to Sears Tower, the tallest building in America.
We wait for another person, who is Brazilian and now is working in Canada.

....We couldn't meet...
It is because he was waiting for us in our room.
Also, we waited him for 50 minutes inside of Sears Tower.

We went up and saw the whole city from 103 floor in Sears Tower.
The view was amazing, even though there were little light from office buildings because of Christmas break.


I upload a photo of the night view of Chicago.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Chicago

I haven't updated for almost one month.
I restart my Blog again.

Now, I'm in Chicago!!
It's so cold,
not cold, it's freezing!!

The temperature of the last night was only 7 degree.
I experienced such low temperature for the first time in my life!

Yesterday, I came to Chicago.
Actually, I stayed at my friend's house on 17th - 22nd.

and, I write about my plan in winter break.

-28th: stay in Chicago
28-29th: stay in my friend's house (D.C)
29th - Jan 3rd: stay in my friend's house (Delaware)
4th - 7th: stay in my friend's grandfather's house (New Jersey) and go to New York every day for four days
7th - 9th : back to the friend's house (Delaware)
9th - 11th: go to Philadelphia or Baltimore (not sure)
11th - 20th: stay in my friend's house (Richmond)


I came to Chicago alone.
But, I could make friends here and we went sightseeing together today.
and, we are also together together tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.



About Chicago
As you can imagine, Chicago is a big city.
It was fun to walk and see buildings, and I enjoyed everyplace today.

At the same time, however, I'm so sad now.
There are many poor people here. They ask for money to people.
I became so sad especially when I noticed many people are young, 20s or 30s.
They say "I'm hungry. Give me money."
I don't know that they are really poor.
But, I gave money to four or five people today.
The amount is less than 1 dollar, though.

People say we shouldn't give them money. They might see us rich and might attack us.

I know my action doesn't work for them.
But, I can't bear to see their situation.
Now, I'm in America! which has the biggest economy in the world.
It's not exaggerated to say America dominates today's world.
However, there many people who are suffered from daily life.
and, most cases, they are black.
I knew there still exist the economic divergence between blacks and white.

A college I attend now is in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Most people there are white retires. One of my black friends said blacks cannot live in Williamsburg because the land is too expensive for them. So, they live away from Williamsburg.
And, many black people are working with low wage job.


Couple hours ago, I called my black friend and talked about that.
She explained about the history of Chicago and how many blacks came to and started living in Chicago.

I hope they have standard life as many people in America have.
I don't want to see young blacks ask for money.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Do they know it's Christmas

December 2nd, today....
Time passes so fast. And, Christmas is coming.

One thing:
We have to know a lot of poverty exists in the world.
I write a lryrics of "Do they know its Christmas"

Do they know its Christmas

It's Christmas time
There's no need to be afraid
At Christmas time, we let in light and we banish shade
And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy
Throw your arms around the world at Christmastime
But say a prayer
Pray for the other ones
At Christmastime it's hard, but when you're having fun

There's a world outside your window
And it's a world of dread and fear
Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears
And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clangingchimes of doom
Well tonight thank God it's instead of you

And there won't be snow in Africa this Christmastime
The greatest gift they'll get this year is life
Where nothing ever grows
No rain nor rivers flow
Do they know it's Christmastime at all?

(Here's to you) raise a glass for everyone
(Here's to you) underneath that burning sun
Do they know it's Christmastime at all?

Feed the world
Feed the world

Feed the world

Let them know it's Christmastime

Feed the world
Let them know it's Christmastime

Monday, December 1, 2008

Good Break

I could spend most relaxed and enjoyable time ever since I came here!
I stayed in my friends' house for whole days in this break.

His family was so nice, so kind father and friendly mother.
I want to be like them when I get my family someday. I felt a importance of family at the same time.
We put ornaments on Christmas tree and decorated house with a lot of lights.
It was so fun.

I lived apart from my parents for almost three years since I got into a college. And, I didn't go back to my home on Christmas day. Even when I was back to my home, I didn't spend time with my family. I hung out with my high school friends or junior high friends.
I felt it's so important to have a time with my parents and talk with them.

I realized that I'll be sad when I have children in the future and they don't spend time with me.
So, I might make my parents have that feeling.


By the way, I stayed in Springfield, Northern Virginia.
But, I stayed in Alexandria only on Friday.
I hung out another friend whose house is in Alexandria and I stayed in his home.
His parents and uncle are Vietnamese and they came to America 21 years ago. And, my friend was born in America.
They are all friendly to me.


It was a good break!
and, I have to study a lot because I was lazy and didn't study at all in this break.
.... I have two papers and dues are on next Monday.
OK, I start studying now.