Good neighbors is more important than the good house.

Last year, I rented a house in the south part of Madison. It was nice and the neighbors are so friendly. After the first weekend, the landlord asked us whether we noticed something unacceptable from our neighbors or not. The question was strange for us! Later, in maybe the next weekend, we understood that question. Our neighbors were three guys who love parties a lot. I can say there were a party every single weekend. During their parties, they turned on the music so loudly, in some nights, I saw the lights were shaking, and even the floor, I felt it shaking under my feet. Even if we text them asking them to decrease the volume, they just low it for a while, then they increased it again. It maybe hard to find a house or apartment, but it way harder to find  good neighbors.

Finding an Apartment !

Hello everyone,

When I came to Madison on June 2014, I had hard time to find an apartment because all contracts start in August. It took a week to find an apartment. Actually, I did not like the old apartment, but I did not have another choice. Therefore, I moved to another apartment after 7 months.

The Picnic

Hi all, it was the first time for me to attend picnic with the ESL classes.I really enjoyed my time there, I have met almost all my teachers who taught me during last two years. I also have met their families. I liked the games and activities , my children liked that as well. The food was a lot, I filled my plate. However, since I was busy with my children, I just covered and put it side. Unfortunately, someone thought that I finished, then he throw it away. No problem, I really enjoy my time with friends a lot.

Picnic!

Hello everyone.

Last Wednesday, we all went to picnic. As you guys know, I cooked Korean food such as Kimchi- fried- rice, and Bulgogi which is Korean style BBQ. To be honest, I just brought the ingredients and equipments such as flying pans, tuna. Many Korean students helped me for making Korean food and they are all great cook except me! I ate a lot of food from all over the world as well as Korean food, and it was really nice!

A picnic on wednesday !

Hello everyone !

I hope you have a great weekend.

Since I have been a year in Madison, It was not the first picnic that I have attended with ESL department at UW-Madsion. It is true that I was not a student at UW-Madsion last Summer, but one of my best friends was a student there and she invited me. However, this Summer, I had a lot of fun because I met new people and started talking without feel embarrassed. Also, when I came back to my apartment, I decided to walk because Vilas park is not far from where I live. I walked with my friend, Mary and her husband. We talked a lot and I had fun with them.

Watching baseball play in Milwaukee !

Hi guys !

Although this weekend was longer than usual weekend, I did not do any special things except for the Friday which was the beginning of the weekend. I went to the Milwaukee with 2 economics graduate students who are my department mentor. The game was Milwaukee Brewers vs Pittsburgh Pirates. Since we were from Madison, we were supposed to support Milwaukee Brewers. However, one Korean player, whose name is Kang Jungho, was playing for Pittsburgh team. So it was kind of awkward for us. Actually when Kang Jungho hit the homerun, we could not help but jubilating. But sooner we realized that every people surrounding us was looking at us. Anyway, Milwaekee won the game and Korean player did well even though his team lost.  We thought it was the best scenario for us, who are the Korean from Madison. It was great experience and really entertaining!

A Great Friday!

This Friday was first day of Eid Al-Fiter which means we broke our fasting. However, in the morning, I went to Mosque with friends to pray and greet other Muslims. Then, my friends and I decided to go Chicago. We went to Willis Tower which is the tallest building there. This building consists of 108 floors, and there are 3 ledge boxes which made of glass on 103 floor. Those boxes extend 3 or 4 feet outside the building. I was so scared to step in a ledge box, and I have tried many times to do it. At the end, I stepped for a few minutes and took some pictures. It was fun.

Eid Al-Fiter

It is Eid Al-Fiter, wow!!

This occasion is considered really important festival for all Muslims. It comes after Ramadan when Muslims break their fasting. Usually people wake up early, take breakfast, then go to the Eid prayer, then there is a speech. People insist on wearing new clothes and provide sweets and chocolate ( a lot of them) in the morning. They also exchange gifts. At home, people keep meeting for three days or more. Unfortunately, this is fourth Eid for me far away from my family. However, I have many friends her, and when I go to the mosque, I feel all people are my friends. I really enjoy my time during Eid.

Full weekend

This weekend was so nice. I met a friend on saturday, she visited me at home with her daughter. Then on sunday, I was invited from Sudanese couple to the breakfast at sunset. I have met a lot of people there from different countries. The food was variety from different countries as well. Usually, I like to attend this kind of meeting, chatting with new people helps me to gain new experiences, and of course, help my English language to be better.

Great weekend!

Hi everyone.

This weekend, my friend from rochester visited Madison. He was on the road trip beginning from Rochester through state of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and Iowa. Madison was semi final destination for him. We went to Thai restaurant located east side on campus and Memorial Union. After that we went to Chicago.  We went several great food in the Chicago such as deep dish pizza and dim sum. It was really great!

Dinner with Young and Joe

On Saturday, a member of our church Young invitied our family to her house for dinner.
Her husband Joe has just come home after three month's medical treatment to overcome diabetes complications.

We thanked God that he recovered from a serious condition and could come back home soon.
However, to prevent more serious diabetes complications, he had to have his one leg amputated. We all felt sorry for him and prayed for him to get over the disappointment of losing part of his leg.

We could see that Young is taking good care of Joe. Having family to rely on each other when we have hard time is really big blessing.

Sunday is a Fun day!

Hello everyone!
I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
I waited an interesting thing to happen and write about, but there was not any things. However, today is Sunday, and a friend told me that Sunday is a fun day. Is it a famous saying or a special event? I do not have any ideas. If anyone knows what it means, I am happy to tell me.

Trip to Newyork City!

Hi everyone.

I visited Newyork City 7/3 ~ 7/5. It was 3rd time to visit there but still great experience for me. I met one of my best friends from Univ of Rochester. We were hanging out and had a great time!

Serendepidity: From Three to Twelve.

Hello, all!

I hope all you had a great weekend.

Mine was great. My family went to Milwaukee this Friday and stayed over our friend's house for the weekend. For the last two years, it has been usual for us to spend our weekend in Milwaukee since we went to go to church to Milwaukee. Lee, a pastor of Korean Baptistist Church of Milwaukee, is the best friend of my husband, always invites us over his home and his family give us hospitality. For the last two years, our family and his family became really good friends. But this time we had another family from Dallas, Texas. It was really big reunion since this time everyone has a family.

Three young man who went to the same university in Korea met about 10 years later in the U.S. and this reunion gather three families of twelve people. We had a good talk, went to the zoo, saw the fireworks, and had a great dinner together. This weekend made me think that life is interesting because we never know what will happen next.  This time three years ago, my family was living in Korea and we never thought we would move to Madison and meet Lee's family. But we moved and met and this meeting became a big blessing to our family.

Now I look forward to seeing great things that will happen to us next this fall, next fall, or another 10 years later!

Weekend !

Hello every one! I hope you have a great weekend! As usual, I did not do interesting things on weekend. On Saturday, I went to sushi restaurant with a friend, and I invited her to stay over at my place. We spent our night talking and watching fireworks from the balcony. It was a nice view. Today, there is not any plans. I stay home, do homework and go to grocery store.

Fireworks

Hello,

Yesterday, on SAturday 4th June, my family and I went to the firework which is held in Sherwood hill. Since it was the first time for me, I was so excited. We were too close to the area launching the fireworks. I do not know what people usually do there; when we arrived, my son was upset because he doesn't have glow stick, so that my husband went walking to the Target to get some glow stick. It was so dark, but the fireworks were enough to lighten the whole area around us, and the colors were so bright. The sound was a little bit scary, I heard it in my ears and I felt it at my heart too. However, It was really enjoyable.

What I did during weekend.

 Hi all, this weekend has been so busy. I have been waiting for something amazing to write about it, but, unfortunately, nothing unusual happened. The only thing was unexpected that I thought the weather would be sunny, but it was raining. In fact, I really like raining; seeing water cleaning the trees and roads,  I feel peace and purity. However, it was not a good idea to wash my couch during this weekend, there was not an enough wind, not only that, but it also was raining. consequently, my couch is still not dried.

Great Saturday.

Hi everyone,

Yesterday, I met some Korean graduate students who major in Economics. Unfortunately although I was supposed to meet 9 people, 5 of them was too busy or sick to meet together. I heard several things about the life of PhD students and that is worse than I expected.... They said now is the happiest moment for me and recommended to enjoy everything.

Weekend!

Hello everyone! I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Mine was good. There was not anything interesting. On Saturday, I had dinner with my friends on State Street. We ate arabic food. Later, we went to friend's home, and we spend our night talking and watching TV. On Sunday, I stay home because it is raining, and do homework.

First summer in Madison.

Hi everyone. It is my first summer in Madison. Even though winter is terrible in Madison, I really enjoy the weather at this time. In Korea, it is very hot and humid in summer. But in Madison, it is not too hot and humid in summer yet. I hope this weather continues until winter come!

Summer in Madison

Hi All, I really enjoy my time in Madison during Summer. Because of hot weather at home, Saudi Arabia,I feel there is no real hot weather in Madison at all. Beside that, it rains a lot during summer, which I love it. In addition, Madison is famous in having a lot of ongoing activities for different ages in this time of year. For example, I love going to pick up some fruits, especially berry. I have done this experiences in fall, I went to apples farm. In fact, the apples were so delicious, fresh, and crunch. I'm looking forward to go during summer, maybe in July, to pick up some berry. By the way, I have received email from UW showing different farms with their dates and time, if you did not receive it, I love to send it for you.

It's summer !

This is my third semester in UW-Madison as ESL student. I have studied English for almost a year in Madison. I think Madison is a great place to spend your summer. The weather is sunny and warm but it is sometime rainy. I hope you have a great time in Madison!