This is the first-ever guest post on my blog, written by an exceptional girl I know. She reveals what she has learned since studying in America and what she foresees in the near future. I hope you enjoy reading this, because I sure did!
It has been one and a half years since I left my parents in China and came here to the US. Such an adventure to a completely new land seems more exciting rather than scary to me. Recalling the past time, what occurred to me first is appreciation, appreciation for all the help I received from my roommates, alumni, new friends and even strangers. I survived culture shock, enjoying the virtue of different cultures while keeping my good Chinese values.
Life as a graduate student is simple and joyful. Classes, assignments and exams are the main melody of my student life. Many new trials definitely added more excitement to my routine and helped me grow up to be a more complete adult; first time to be a teaching assistant for graduate students who are generally older than me, first time talking about research topics with someone in my field in person, first time studying my health insurance policy and housing contract, first time cooking by myself...
There were many firsts, as you can see. It has been stressful, but I try to remember that a caterpillar will struggle in pain before it comes out of its cocoon and grow into a beautiful butterfly. The collisions of new and old living modes trigger anxiety, excitement, frustration and expectations. And in each collision, I chose the one I believed was right at that moment.
The pursuit of happiness is a long journey. A lot of people will show up in our lives but few of them stay, and even fewer will become our friends and that special someone. Talking with my fellows from different countries gave me an opportunity to think over the meaning of happiness.
What is your first reaction when we mention the sense of happiness in African countries? I was surprise when my African fellow told me that in the 1990s Nigeria was ranked top 10 on the happiness index. She continued to tell me, "People in Zimbabwe are happy. To see the sunrise tomorrow is happy. Life is simple. People in countries like Nigeria and Zimbabwe, whose life expectancy is about 50 years old, can still feel that sense of happiness." After our discussion, I came to this conclusion: Life is simple, but not easy. We need to fight for our happiness, however, peacefully.
Each conversation with my parents, each gathering with my friends, each adventure to a new city, each change I make in a new culture…I will take these as gifts and treat them appropriately. I will feel blessed and lucky every time. My parents often tell me that I am not entitled to have love and support from them, my friends or my future significant other. It is me who should prove that I deserve it.
To make peace with life, marry passion with it and be appreciative lights my new life here. Hassles about my foreign status, increasing studies, increasing workloads, and looking for the best of me and my significant other are going to be some of the many challenges and opportunities that lie in front of me in this new year. Hopefully I can survive. 
Happy New Year, my friends. I am always happy to meet and get to know all of you.
~Cindy
. There's going to be a lot of games, karaoking, and drinking going on that night that's for sure. I'm already nervous about the pictures and videos that will come out, but at least I know I will be having a good time in all of them!
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