Page 13 - 實中園地 第廿四卷第七期

The Newsletter of NEHS 108年第24卷第7期 實中園地

at Miller Middle School to experience their classes and photos with the students I met at school and with my host
campus life. Choosing the course they want to study and student.
maintaining the same class schedule every day is the most On our last day, it was a very emotional day for me
different part from Taiwan education, and we change because I met so many people and I was so sad that we
classrooms between every class. Another impressive had to leave. That day we went sightseeing, we rode a boat
difference to me is the sporty atmosphere there. Not only and went under the Golden Gate Bridge. Arielle helped us
do they have physical education classes every day, they take lots of photos during the boat ride. We also went on
also have locker rooms, which is something quite rare a cable car, it was so bumpy. Since I was standing, I have
in Taiwan. There are people in the sports field and court almost fallen backwards. However, it was so fun with all of
doing various sports all the time. The whole campus is full our friends on the cable car together. After that, we went
of dynamics and passions in learning. to Pier 39 and teachers gave us plenty of time to shop. We
Next, the most important thing to do in this trip is to all bought matching bracelets. Then teachers took us to a
live with my host family for eight days. Usually when we restaurant named Swiss Louis to eat crabs, the signature
were back home, we talked about the interesting things meal. The view overlooking the pier was just amazing
that happened in the school, we chatted about the game because we could see the sea lions from the windows!
of the day, we shared the differences in our daily lives, When we got on the bus and headed to the airport, Melody
and we planned where to go on trips. With all pleasant started crying and that made me sad too. However, I didn’t
experiences and daily interactions, I learned a lot of cry because I have finally got myself back from the parting
differences between local cultures there and our own sorrow hours after we said goodbye to our host families.
cultures. One of them is about donations. My host family After we got on the plane, I felt like I wanted to stay in
has always stocked their cupboards with lots of canned Cupertino forever but I also missed my friends and family
food prepared to be donated all the time. During this in Taiwan. So I was glad to leave San Francisco and return
visit, I even participated in two charity events: one was a to Taiwan at the end. This Cupertino trip will always be
school program to help the poor, and the other was to give one of my greatest memories throughout my life.
gratitude to the host of a Halloween party. And of course,
I had a lot of wonderful memories when we had trips 官嬡 / 國中部
together like going to a corn maze, pumpkin field, and During this 8-day stay in USA as an exchange student,
bowling alley and other interesting places! I experienced different lifestyles and school environment
When I learned that I was going to the world famous and have wonderful memories.
Silicon Valley in California, I have already imagined the My homestay classmate’s name is Vera. Her
various advanced technologies and high-tech industries I parents were from Taiwan. Vera is very cute, kind, and
would see at Cupertino. As expected, we visited world- has a sense of humor. At the first sight, both of us were a
renowned companies such as Intel, Portwell, and Cisco. little bit shy then we became very familiar with each other.
We learned about how Intel has grown from just 100 She kindly introduced me to her school friends. When we
people, when it was founded, to more than 100,000 people took photos together, Vera often put some funny gestures
around the world in 2018. The most impressive and that made us laugh. I went to classes with Vera and
surprising thing to me is the story about the representative there were many different courses such as language arts,
product microprocessors o Intel were first invented. At math, science, Chinese, search, history and sports. Their
that time, since the boss was very optimistic about its teachers are very energetic and interesting, and very open-
development, in order to retain its patent, Intel provided minded; they respect students’ opinions as well. There
their partnership companies microprocessor free of are a lot of reports or essays to be done for the course.
charge. For a small company that that has just started, it is The teacher only explained the general directions and
very risky to give up this money, but they made the right then waited for the results from the students. The teacher
decision back then and it changed their fate. For the next sat there and encouraged everyone to ask questions.
two visits, we got to better understand how their jobs were Teachers answered questions in detail and guided students
done and products of Portwell and Cisco were made after to learn independently. They adopted English Phonics
their presentations and the walk-through in their factories to pronounce Chinese words, which is quite different
and offices in person. It is indeed a privilege for me to see from ours classes in Taiwan. Although I spent only 3
the real work environments and to touch these high-tech days at Miller, I really enjoyed each class and had great
machines (with permission). experiences.
Food in USA is special. There are different
Abby Lin / IBSH flavors and tastes of French fries and Greek Pitas. There
are CoCo and TPTea in USA but with a little bit different
The second day I arrived at Cupertino, my host tastes compared with those in Taiwan. We also visited the
family took me to the beach, it was right next to the Apple HQ with full of high-tech devices and products,
Golden Gate Bridge, so I had an amazing view and took even the buildings were built innovatively and modernly
many beautiful pictures of the view. My host family and as well. On the 2nd floor, there is a small platform guests
I were taking silly photos of us jumping up as well as in can overlook and enjoy a fantastic view of the entire
weird postures. On the car ride home we were all so tired Apple HQ in a wonderful evening.
and soon fell asleep. At the moment to say goodbye, tears were running in
On Halloween, we went to their school and found my eyes so as Homestay Mom’s. I could not help buy cry.
that most of the students were dressed up to show their Separation from my host family was a great pain to my
great Halloween spirit. The school even had a Halloween heart! However, all the days as an exchange student are a
parade and costume contest for this special day. At night, challenge to me. Far away from home in Taiwan for me is
my host family brought us to a neighborhood where all an opportunity to grow and get more independence. It was
the decorations were so cool and a bit scary. I got so much indeed a rewarding experience at the end!
candy and had an awesome experience. I took a lot of 李沛頎 / 國中部

13 Cupertino Student Exchange