American chilren& Older peole

Observations of children and adults:

Judging by my observations, defer from public and private places, most of the American children are educated in various ways.
In public, like in the restaurant or the market, American children tend to be quiet and polite. In their own spaces, they are given more freedom while they are not spoiled by their parents.



Ask older Americans Questions

From my survey, I have found out that American older people are quite different with older people in my country. For most of them, they are inclined to stay wherever we are right now after their retirements. They don’t depend on their children. As for the lives after the retirements, they want to relax a little bit through travelling while, they point out that they might also work as well as relax. Because the tedious retired lives are not exciting and they need the senses of fulfillments and also money.

American family

Since a young age, I was told that American families tended to be more far away than the families in China. We were educated that American students were more independent especially when they reached the age of 18 in that American families were kind of separated. While, after chatting and observing American families from my perspective, my stereotype has changed a lot to some extents.

It true that most Americans tend to live their own lives beyond their parents. So, they may move to a larger city in pursuit of better career opportunities. Or, some of them just want to taste other experiences. In such way, many parents, sisters and brothers live in different areas. Just like my host family, they moved 3 times before setting their home here in Eau Claire. My roommate’s family, moved to Minnesota from Arizona 8 years ago. As for such situations, it is very hard for their families to keep in touch with other relatives. However, as in their small family, they are kind of very close. Parents respect children while at the same time not spoil them. There are certain extents of freedom, too. Also, as the numbers of their families, there are usually 1 or 2. At the thoughts of education qualities and living standards, parents are more realist today.

American families are quite interesting to study for that sometimes they seem very much close while sometimes, they are really far away from each others.

If I can choose, I would prefer to live in a “salad bowl” country. The reasons are following:

Firstly, i want to say that “melting pot” is definitely creative, however, once set feet into the “melting pot”, one will no longer be oneself. I mean, our unique characteristics would disappear without any doubts. So, even though the “melting pot” might produce something fantastic beyond the original ingredients, the ingredients are considered as victims by my point of view. Just like the ethnic groups: once started living in this brand new country, they were inclined to and highly encouraged to retain their cultures. If the society was a “melting pot”, their cultural treasures would no longer exist.

While, “salad bowl” is quite different. In this case, in this dish, apple is still apple, oranges are oranges. The ingredients’ characteristics are still kept with the delicious dish. Also, at the same time, the fruits are united by the white cream and be hold by a solid bowl. Every group is still what they used to be while in addition, they have formed a solid and united entirety.

So, I would like to be a place where my natural characteristics can be retained and also at the same time I can do something new, which I mean I can play a new role in such society without losing my nature.

Would you have a gun in your own home, why or why not?

As soon as I saw the topic, I remembered that my first time of seeing a real gun at a store in the Eau Claire Mall. Yes, it was my first time to see a gun, even though without bullets. I was excited as well as frightened. Why that I behaved like a freak from the Mars? You know, in China, guns are forbidden publicly and privately, while, only the army and the police have the rights to use guns. Such policy is quoted from the Chinese Constitution.

And I know that gun plays a significant role in America. Many fields in America rely on gun industry. So, citizens here are, supposed to have guns for fun of hunting and also for their safeties.

While, as for me, even if I have the right to have a gun, I will not have one in my own home. The followings are my reasons. Guns are symbols of insecurity, although it is always thought of protective. Guns, same like the controversial new clear powers, are signs of distrust. Owning a gun at home, may smooth or light the psychological pressures, but it may also lead to the selflessly terror. So, as for me, who is a kind of timid people, even dare not holding the weapon which can lead to deadly harms. That’s so cruel. And also, if I visit my friend who has a gun under her pillow or in the drawer, I would definitely be scared. So, I want my home to be a safety land where there is no violence, no gun fires, and only it has is the interactive trust.

In conclusion, I would not keep a gun in my home as for my own concerns and others’ safety.

Who should be respected most? Young adult, middle-aged, or senior citizens?

First of all, let’s see the characters that these three groups of citizens: Young people are energetic and fresh. Middle-aged adult undertake the major responsibilities of building and constructing their countries. While, though it seems that the senior people are regarded to be the weakest point of our society, personally to say, they are some bodies we should respect most.

It is said that Americans are often accused of admiring youthful beauty and energy. Such believe is kind of acceptable. Is there anybody who doesn’t like beautiful and energetic staff? Let alone our brothers and sisters on the planet. While, here, I want to mention that though older group of citizens they are less pretty in their appearances, they own more than superficial appearances in their minds. They are their wisdoms of life, the experiences of their journeys.

At the thought of a wise man, the image of a gray-haired, white-bearded old man emerges into my mind. “Wise man”is a word which, I think, only the senior citizens deserve it. Without any denying that there are quite a number of middle-aged people who have tasted the bitterness and happiness of life. But the advices from the old should be highly respected. There is a saying in China: the bridges that the olds have passed are even more than the roads that the young people have taken. That is to say, the senior citizens have something more than us, the wisdom of life. So, there is no reason that we do not respect them as our spiritual leaders.

Moreover, the olds have already made so many contributions to our societies; they deserve placid and quite lives. Even now, they can provide some advices to the young and middle people when they are confronting some obstacles and down to losses.

You know, in China, every one of our citizens is taught to respect our senior citizens. We are supposed to give our seats to the olds in the public transportation. We are encouraged to use the respectable phrases when talking with olds. And they are given many priorities on the issues of medical, transportation, sites’ entrances fee, etc.

We should respect the senior citizens not only because they know more knowledge of life, but also they have already done something to our world.

Do you think people all over the world are basically the same or basically very different?

Well, as far as I am concerned, though we have numerous culture shocks, we, the people all over the world are basically the same. The followings are my opinions.


First of all, I am going to talk about the word “basically”. “Basically” means “fundamentally”. Yes, under the same inner characters of being kind-hearted, we people should be basically the same. That is to say, though we may behave in unlike ways, we may eat in various dishes or we may speak the different languages or dialects, our characters as human beings are the same which has been eternal for thousands of years since we were emerge on the planet.


Secondly, I think the everlasting sources that have driven us human being are very simple which are exactly the same no matter where you are from or no matter which culture you were raised up. Here they are: the need to get ourselves covered, the demand of eating one’s fill, the desire of pursuing a better living condition. I think the mentioned needs are something that can represent the inner voices of a majority or the 99% of our desires. The only seemingly differences we have are just like the different clothes. We try to pursue our desires and dreams through various means. So, that’s easy to understand that we human beings are born the same.


To sum up, I always hold the idea that cultures are something that we have created on our path to fulfill our same desires. Our goals and destinations are the same, the only difference is that we can use various methods to achieves our desires.

Walk Tour

Here are my photos of the walk tour~~~ :)

Eau Claire started here where Chippwa river and Eau Claire river meet.

This is Cameron-Drummond Slagsvold Building. It is the largest remaining commercial building from period(1893-1894) in Eau Claire.

This one is the State Theatre-Regional Arts Center. We can have fun here!

This is the city hall and the former pulic library. They were the symblos of a "progressive, promising, and aggressive commercial center."

It's the Herman Schlegelmilch House which was built in 1871. It has the effects of preventing fire.

MY definition of Culture

As far as I am concerned, culture is the combination of human traces. Some of them are left on the paper, on the land or in the hearts. Culture can be grouped as material category and spiritual category.

Generally, culture is social phenomenon which is the production of man’s long time workings. At the same time, it is the historical phenomenon which specifically, is the sedimentary deposits of social histories. Definitely, culture means a mixture of a nation’s history, geography, human environment, traditions, arts, rules, morals, the ways of thoughts, etc.

Parties&Classroom

Actually, what has given me the biggest shock is that American college school students know how to relax and entertain themselves. Yes, the numerous parties! You know in China, students tend to spend their leisure time in quiet ways, like: surfing on the internet, going to the library, doing sports, etc. One is busy on the campus social occasions, the other is quite quiet. As for me, when thinking about how to tide over my weekends, I prefer the soft atmosphere as well as the American’s little crazy campus life. Students in China, many of them fail to balance the entertainments and study. I think, combining the two elements with each other is the best policy.

Another contract I want to mention is the differences on the classroom participations between America and China college students. After 3 days’ classes, I notice that UWEC students are the very actively participants. Here I am not saying that students in China are not cooperative. Actually, in my home university classroom, we always like to be asked questions. Yes, a bit of passive. Now, at UWEC, students are the real and active participants. Haha, Chinese students tend to be shy at classrooms though they know the answers to the hard questions.