At the Jyiont(?) Bar

See, how big the smiles were. Sipping the beer treated by Jasimine and Chris, chatting with Tina and Jasimine, Marian and I smiled with all our teeth!

At the Jyiont(?) Bar

It's a bar where a single woman of any age can go without worrying about the possibility of having any trouble. I tried to image that I was there alone on an ordinary afternoon to kill my time as I wanted. The experience was special.

The Concert at the Phoenix Park

The concert at the Phoenix Park is one of my best memories. It was a perfect fusion of nature, people, and entertainment. People brought their kids and pets with them, sitting in their portable chairs, or lying on their blankets. What I I like was, people didn't drink and eat a lot on this occasion as they often do when relaxing. Then there was music played by a small band, guiter and singing; and dance participated mostly by kids. Except for people, music and dance, there was beautiful scenery. The river was clean and blue. Two or three persons were fishing nearby. The bridges of different styles looked comfortable and solid. The grass on this side of the bank and the trees on the other side of the river help to extend my view of the small stage. The distance was just right. Finally, the weather was perfect. The sun was setting slowly, shedding light on the clouds, and bringing richness of colors. Wasn't it heaven on earth?

Class-article presentation

This afternoon, David, Marian and I made a presentataion about the article concerning our research area. It is interesting to know what my collegues are doing. That helps with my teaching and research. David's introduction of equivalence of translation has something to do with my interest field. The criticism today tends to be much more open. There is enriched vision, yet continuation of tradition.
Doing research is tedious to me, but it is rewarding.
Due to limit of time, Tina wasn't able to do her presentation. Our management of timing was not good. I look forward to her presentation.

the Hmong' search for freedom and identity

The poem "Journey to America" condenses the Hmong's history and the younger generation's sense of identity in four stanzas. The poet raises a question "Where was I from?" to his father in the first stanza. The second stanza, narrated from his father's point of view, reveals how his people fled out of Laos for freedom, enduriong hunger, pain and restlessness, and also risking their lives at any moment. The third stanza continues the journey for freedom more from the poet's point of view. The father's account is a memory of adversity, while the boy's is of pride and confidence. The last stanza ends up strong with a declaration. The Hmong lost their homeland, but they are free in a new land, America.
In conclusion, the poem reveals how the Hmong remember their painful history and how they take pride in being Hmong and being free in America. The poet's optimistic attitude towards his identity is impressive.

My favorite food

My favorite food

Ma Po ToFu
Nicole Chen
China
Ma Po ToFu is my favorite food. It is easy to make and can go without meat, and it tastes just great, spicy and hot! As I used to be a picky eater, my mother had a hard time pressing me to eat more. However, once there was Ma Po ToFu, my mother would simply leave me alone, because I ate more than I should. How to make it?
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
¼ pound pork, minced (You can omit it for a vegetarian version.)
2 tablespoons chopped scallions
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon fresh ginger
1 tablespoon Chinese chile sauce (crushed chiles in oil) or crushed dried red chile pepper
1 tablespoon ground Sichuan red peppercorn
3/4 cup water
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 pound firm ToFu, cut into ½-inch cubes
1 teaspoons cornstarch
Step 1: Heat a wok, then heat the oil in it. Brown the pork, then remove and reserve it.
Sep 2: Stir-fry the scallions, garlic, ginger, chile sauce, ToFu, and the reserved pork.
Step 3: Stir gently to coat the ToFu with the liquid, then cover and reduce heat. Simmer for 3-5 minutes.
Step 4: If desired, thicken the liquid by adding cornstarch (dissolved in 2 tablespoons water to make a paste). Garnish with more ground Sichuan pepper to taste. Serve with rice.
Yield: 2 servings.
Heat scale: Hot
Tip: Sichuan red peppercorns or “huajiao” (flower pepper) give Sichuan food its distinctive state. Cayenne or red chili peppers are not interchangeable with them.

The Pow-Wow Trip

After Madison, we came north to Pow Wow for the Indians' celebration of the Earth Day. I saw the proceeding parade and listened to their singing. I was held by the atmosphere. The pity was, we didn't stay their long. Before I tried to finger out what was really going on , we had to leave.

When we slept the way to and back, Tracy and Kim were concentrated in driving. They could be the best part of the day.

Hinchleys Dairy Farm-Madison

The Hinchleys Dairy Farm Tour was impressive. I saw it with my eyes, I did milking with my hands, I picked and tasted the raspberries , I touched and felt some small and big animals

, and I also touched the big machines, yet I still found it beyond my imagination. How could Tina and her family manage such an enormous farm, even with the help of part-time workers? Working aroud the year? Tina knows what she is doing, and takes pride in what she does. I admire her strength and wisdom.

Hinchleys Dairy Farm-Madison

Don't they look comfortable with each other?

Hinchleys Fairy Farm-Madison

Don't they look more than comfortable with each other?

Fish, fish, fish

We all smelled fish and smell fish.

Fish, fish, fish

Very professional?

Fish, fish, fish

Fish,fish,and fish

Poor Jasmine, fish does't bite a philosopher's bait.

The host family's space for gardening

A visit to our host family

We had a wonderful time with our host family. They are Monty, Beth, and Beth's father, Richard. They prepared grilled sausages stuffed either with lamb or pork. Different sauses came along for the sausages. Mouth-watering food! Then there was salad of different kinds of vegetable. After that, there was dessert. I just loved the blueberries! Oh, some fancy Italian wine was there for us, who they called as their special guests. It was an honor and pleasure to be entertained and treated with great courtesy. What made the visit most special was that some food was of Polish flavor because they wanted to share with us their tradition as their ancestors came from Poland. Besides, some food was made with the herbs they planted. Time was short and passed fast but it has become one precious part of my memory...

An old wise man and a middle-aged woman

Chippewa Valley Museum

Chippewa Valley Museum was fantastic. To see history of the Chippewa people and the early European settlers, and the process of develop-ment on site was exciting. What I like most is our tour guide. The old man himself is a legend to me. I like the story of his having trouble with his cow which he finally got rid of. I couldn't help laughing about the mother's smooth hands favored by the cow. I enjoyed sitting in the classroom for children, connecting them to my childhood memories. When I imagined his school days as a boy with crystal eyes, I had my childhood memories back: the keen senses of smell, of touching, and of catching particular words or things which I believed were only meant to me. Talking with the old guide was also delightful. He is intelligent and kind, not supposedly grouchy. He has lived long enough to be a wise man.

In Chinese tradition, I'm already at the age of knowing my fate. I guess that's why I thought I took the gentleman as the best part of my visit to the Museum.