For people soon to study abroad

This blog is two fold. One bit is just a journal, the second is when i have time add knowledge of what I know about studying abroad. This is the second subject.

Being july you begin to start thinking about what am I going to pack? It doesnt matter if it is a semester or a year, your going to bring basically the same thing. Clothes, camera, etc. But there is something I have found most people including myself the first time forget one important thing. Your own culture!

when studying abroad you are obviously excited at the chance to learn a new culture and society. however do not forget that the exchange goes both ways. The people you will meet or live with most likely have never been to your country, and likely know nothing of your culture. Before you leave remember to bring your culture with you.

This may seem counter intuitive, especially for americans. The world knows our culture right? No, mcdonalds and KFC do not count as culture. Kung Fu Panda is a fad. When I say american culture I mean family recipies, your music collection, games, hobbies and movies.

family recipies explain itself, if the world thinks that American food is what is found on the menu on KFC then show them what real american food is. Games you remember as a kid, like cards. You have card games that are popular, speed, egyptian rat screw, popular with americans are new to your new friends abroad. Whats easier than a 2$ deck of cards? Movies also seems a little unimaginative as the internet makes every blockbuster online illegally but this pirate world leaves out basically everything over 5 years old.

Your favorite movies when you were younger are ones most likely your family has never seen or heard of. I remember watching space jam with my host family in Japan and watching my host mother get a fit of giggles every time tweety bird came on screen. I remember introducing my host brother to Austin Powers and trying to explain all the jokes... It was great fun. My personal list of a few I am bringing to China include; Jack, ninja turtles, mrs doubtfire, forest gump, Austin Powers, War Games, Ferris Bullers day off. You get the idea.

also When you are planning what you pack think also of gifts. Especially if you are going to live in someone's home bring a gift. Calandars, hats of local teams or show a city logo, posters, or stuff from your city giftshop. Personally I like to bring children books, usually found from a library for pennies, they make great gifts for friends learning your language or just donations to the school.

Somethin to think about when you are planning for your trip.

The badass French

What happens when you take a bunch of internationals to a Texan Gun Range? You get some bad mudas. Ha ha. Arno, Enders, Victor, Alissa and myself went out today to enjoy a good ol' American passtime, skeet! This range was great. Just off 290E 10$ gets a round of 25 shoots from a skeet range. With electronic shooters no more hand cranking or figuring out just the right way to load a bird so it does not shatter during the launch is worth the drive.

Believe it or not the best shooter today was the Frenchman! Yea his first time handling a weapon and he outshot everyone. 5 solid hits and nicked two more! That was out of about 125 rounds. So if that was the best no one did well. But the important thing is that everyone hit something! First time out and wow.


The day did not end there. We all go shooting what else to do afterwards but some good BBQ! Heck yea! Dive out, 2 lbs of brisket, half pound of sasuage, chiken, turkey, ribs, bread, onions, pickles, cole slaw, potato salad, and beans. 9$ each it is a feast. The meat done so well there is no need for BBQ sauce, just a light sprinkle of salt and pepper and wooo, good eats.

yay texas fun.

I got a chinese name!!

Special thanks to Jack and Leo for helping me come up with this name and translate it. But I am told that the three symbols are not to be translated seperatly, so I am not an enlightened gloomy wheat stock. But I am told this pronunciation is very close to my name.

Texas Gal

HoO-Rah! Yea that's my gal. Yea boy. Alissa learned to shoot a shotgun. I headed up to Georgetown with my Remington and a case of ammo and we went to town. Well technically we went out of town as this range was a bit out there. But heck any trip is worth it if there is a chance to shoot a gun.

You should see the way Alissa took to that gun. She may never of fired a shotgun but she handled it like she was born with it. The first shot may have knocked her back but a couple of rounds later she was hitting 1 in 4. Those birds few up, flew out and BAM! Vaporized...

Did she enjoy it? She is a TEXAS GAL! She LOVED it. I swear God doesnt make'em like he does in Texas. Of course the problem with dating a hot blonde is that every dude west of the Mississippi will give chase. We first walked in to this gun range the big beer gut belly dudes running it nearly dropped thier sandwitches when she walked in and said she wanted to shoot. They started offering her food, and all sorts. You think they never saw a skirt before. And before you think it yes, one did come out to "check in" on "us" to see how we were doing. Oh my Alissa ate up attention. She loved the free lesson and tips.

Texas not only has the greatest ladies, Texas makes way too many dirty old men. But then again who can blame em? Well after all that we had lunch and I had to head home. Got home and what do you do after a skeet shoot? Clean the gun! As it was my first time I actually had to use Youtube to figure out how to take the gun apart. My cleaning kit had a good clear directions how to clean it. Only took a couple of hours to clean the gun. But wow what a day.