I have been interviewed!
On Thursday, August of 21st, two reporters from the Austin Statesman came to me and we had a very friendly interview. I shared my plans and goals of this year which I really want to tell to the American students. The following websites are the shortcuts to the interview:
1) http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1485820904/bctid1747186881
2) http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNDAxMzM0ODg=.html）
The first week in Austin with my new friends
Before I came to Austin, the area was described as a suburban district with cattle, horses and strong accent to me.
But after one week, I eventually found Austin a wonderful choice for me.
Being a visitor to a foreign country is not an easy job. But with the help of the local friends, everything has changed.
For the first time I arrived, I stayed with Doctor Michael Hydak, a helpful man who is in charge of foreign languages teaching of this area. I stayed with him for the weekend and it was the first time that I walked a dog.
As a requirement of the Austin Independent School District(AISD), I attended the five-day orientation for all the 400 new teachers of AISD. Every morning, Michael picked me up at my host family at about 7 am and I spent a whole day in the Akins High School in the far south until 4:30pm.
During the orientation, We had conferences, meetings, activities. We discussed about the Principle of Learning, Accountable Talk, TEKS(Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills), Classroom Issues, Critiera and Teaching Evaluations. I certainly benefit a lot from the orientation, not only because of the methodological knowledge, but also new friends.
In the orientation I met my new colleague, Japanese teacher Chad Park, who is going to share the classroom with me for the whole year. He's stayed in Japan for 5 years and got married to a Japanese lady who is graceful and virtuous. He is going to be a father soon.
After the weekend, with the help of a Chinese couple I moved to Carlotta's house which is located in the 49th east street. She is a wonderful lady with 2 little girls. We shared a lot of interesting things in China. I taught the girls Chinese and told them a lot of Chinese Culture such as Chinese food, Chinese currency. They learned how to count with one hand from 1 to 10 and make Chinese paper folding.
And today is Austin back to school duty free day. I took a bus to the mall with a help of a bus map and bought a pair of new shoes at $19.99 with $49.99 as the original price --- tax free!
Haha, that's the end of my first week in Austin! Next week I will move to my new apartment and start the new life!