New Semester, New Start

Hi, my name is Tsung-Po, Hsu. People also call me Hermes. I'm now a graduated student in Boston University.

Here, I would like to share anything what I've experienced and saw. Please feel free to leave any comment or suggestion. Here is the blog that I communicate with people. Welcome for viewing this fantastic blog.

Poem Selection - Brightness

In the dark heavy raining night

The wilderness all in my sight

At the end is the path that belong to us

Yo, how can I find the way in the numerous rugged roads without light?

May I beg some light, my lord?

The brightness helps me running forward

Brightness? He spoke flustered

I got no way to find for

Go find the brightness that you needed

The Best and The Brightest Talent

    Since President Obama mentioned that the U.S. cannot close its door for foreign students, who can bring much competitive advantages into the nation without mentioning H1-B issue, I consider that the President is likely to set those two issues apart at this moment. In my view, I don't see the relativity between letting foreign students to study in the U.S. and the demand of H-1B visa. In contrast, illegal labors are "the" problem that the U.S. government has to deal with insistently.

    The U.S. should be proud of the choices that foreign students have made were right due to the high quality of education environment and development. Many students in Taiwan are looking forward having education in this country, which has the best educational environment and fruitful social development. We foreign students came here with our dreams and hope one day we can bring the American experience back home to benefit our countries. In order to pursue higher and more modern quality of education, we'd rather spend much more money studying abroad and overcome the barrier of languages and homesickness than feel regret not to do it. We feel appreciated that the U.S. didn't block international students resulting from the 911 attacks because those hijackers were used to be educated in the U.S.

    I also agree with the President Obama's view of "the best and the brightest talent". Even though we'er not master what we're learning yet, at least we got more confidence that we're welcomed and the U.S. is taking advantages of us as well. However, not every American holds as positive attitude as Obama does. Most of international students are clear of the purpose why they're here. We do what we should do in the U.S. and we're not planning for staying here for squeezing local job opportunities. Though the unemployment rate is getting higher and higher, honesty, international students have nothing to do with it. The economic crisis affects globally, and we're also helping the society to find the way out through our hard work. The problem of illegal employment has to be solved to help those discouraged workers.

    Last, I understand that the rising tuition within universities in the U.S .The most important thing is that how do we use the education resources effectively to maximum our capacity in learning. As long as the U.S. still opens its door, I'll keep doing what I think is right and encouraging other students to study in the nation of freedom and liberty. Again, thanks President Obama for his objective and wise opinion.

Making Friends or Enemies?

    According to Obama, president of the United States, 30,000 additional troops will be sent to Afghanistan in order to reinforce the military power to fight against Taliban. From September 11, 2001, the United States had never stopped suppressing the power of terrorists, especially the members of Taliban. President Obama gave a speech in West Point on December 1 to re-announce his decision and to reconcile the misunderstood from those who doubt his judgment.

    At the beginning of his speech, he repeated his decision firmly to cite the thoughtful decision that he made would not be pull back. He claimed that the action to send additional troops to Afghanistan is the preparation for withdrawing American military force gradually. He hopes the forces of the United States can begin to transfer out of the Afghanistan in July of 2011. Obama insists that the military action that has taken place in Middle East after 911 has a significant impact in reducing the power of terrorists. In the speech, he mentioned his decision in three major approaches as follow. First, the U.S. will help to deny al Qaeda a safe haven. Second, the U.S. will help Afghanistan to fight against Taliban and to weaken its force. Third, the U.S. will support Afghanistan and its government to strengthen its security and economy. He also emphasized that the United States will mainly focus its own benefits and interests.

    Although it's hard to sympathize the pain that the United States has since 911 attacks, I admire that the U.S. wasn't depressed because of this tragedy. I believe president Obama has the faith to do anything that those prior presidents couldn't do to maintain the dignity of the U.S. and to secure the world's peace. I consider that the U.S. as a positive role model in the world in terms of the liberty and development. I am looking forward to see his action would ease any fight and keep people away from fear. However, I worry about that will other alliance buy what Obama has planned?

Changes In Society

    Today, the United States has changed a lot and it is still changing in terms of politics, citizens, and also environment. In the past decades, people with different colors were discriminated in American society. In contrast to it used to be, surprisingly, Americans elected an African American president last year. The result of the election was out of my presumption because I assumed that the United States would have an African American president in the near future, but not today.

    Such astonished change - the key word that also helped Obama won the election - in the United States encouraged my girlfriend and me to discuss about it. She also wanted me to share some comments for her assignment regarding this kind of political activity. Actually I have no idea why those students who major in art have to talk about it.

    

    Differ from the aspect which came from other editors, I'd like to use political examples to describe changes in American society. In Taiwan, we consider that we're separated in political position with China. Unfortunately, I saw many Americans were still considered that we’re a part of China after I came here until I explained the difference to them. Similarly, one of my South Korean classmates told me the misunderstood of relationship between North and South Korean in many of Native Americans' mind. Because of the progress of quality in education, Native Americans are greatly influenced by modern concept and next one who is going to be benefitted will be their offspring. Significantly, parental influence and home education will make more positive impact than ever. Similarly, not only Native Americans, but also other people in the world are experiencing the same influence to help to make this world a better place.

    In addition, thanks to the globalization and technology, we can share news and information with somebody who lives abroad in seconds. Ideas and opinions are more acceptable by those Native Americans who were used to arrogant and overbearing. In short, people are putting more respect to others and are having more confident to build a harmonious society.

They Save Our Lives, Whom Would Save Theirs?

   PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) is a psychological trauma, which we can often see in some movies shown examples of how this mental illness affects our daily lives. In the film "Born on the Forth of July", for example, we observe the changes from which Ron has experienced a Vietnam War sergeant to a Vietnam Veterans. We can see the changes of a desperate veteran in mind and behavior affects his life after returning home. Since president Obama announced that more troops are going to Afghanistan, the problem of PTSD must be paid more attention to, because the government has responsibility to recover the trauma that those national heroes have suffered.

    Veterans, who were experienced so many kills, spatter of blood, and losing of fellows, were hurt deeply in mind, especially those survivors who just rescued from the battlefront. Many of them may feel guilty about it or the loneliness will hurt any of them deeply when the day they were considered useless after demobilized. Unfortunately, the new lives will not stop them from dreaming about the scenes what they were doing, like nightmares. What's more, the nightmares will go again and again no matter what kind of life they have or what social connection what they've been placed.

    One of the solutions is take them back to the place where is the most memorable place for them. A fresh memory is needed to cover the old and sorrowful one in addition to ease their psychological trauma. It's not 100% effective, but helps them to keep away from everlasting guilt, depression, and worry. We can let veterans visit those places to say goodbye to negative memories and to build more confidence for rest of their lives.

    In sum, PTSD is a mental illness, but it's preventable and curable. I hate to say that the United States is constantly sending troops into the battle zone to keep the global peace. However, at the time the U.S. government doing so, veterans' welfares have to be taken into account for appreciating their contribution.

The Happiest Moment of The Year

    There is nothing exciting more than traveling to San Francisco twice a month and spending almost half of November there. Despite the six-hour - such an exhausted journey - flight crossing the entire United States, it worth me to spend time hanging around with my girlfriend in a wormer place, especially it's about a month to Christmas.

    I must say that students, who study in east coast, are not as good in making activities than those in west coast. I travel here not only want to stay with my girlfriend, but to look for any opportunity seeking activities in San Francisco. Moreover, this is my first time having thanksgiving holiday in the U.S. and I chose a place, which has more friends and fun, to enjoy the rest of November. 

    My girlfriend started her graduate program, which is graphic design in San Francisco, a year earlier than I did in 2008. At the time, I just finished the ESL program there and started to prepare applications for graduate schools. I'm not telling a story how I met her, but sharing a feeling how lucky I am to have this long-distance relationship. After becoming a loving couple with her, which was two weeks after I arrived Boston, I started to realize that I just stepped in the kind of situation that is the most hazardous condition for loving couples. I've never wondered how long that I can keep her heart thousands miles away, but I knew that I wouldn't win her trust unless I respect my work and responsibility of being here. She is just the kind of girl who is so straight and honest that I want to get together with.

    Since the first day I arrived, I experienced the life what she has told me on the phone before. The major of what she studies needs creative ideas and sense to finish each artwork (homework). There are still so many hard works I couldn't sympathize until I had the chance doing homework by her side. I can suddenly realize that she is strong enough so I don't need to worry too much about her. Nonetheless, it's thanksgiving holiday. We decided to have our boring tedious lives funnier. We spared time picking food in the supermarket and prepared the dinner together. I enjoy every moment doing everything with my girlfriend and make sure we'll have good time in the rest of the holiday week.

    When the first time I landed at San Francisco, which was also the first city that I visited, I was attracted by the ever-sunshine weather and multi cultural environment. Honestly, my first impression of this city was a good place for travel, for people to enjoy the retirement, and for fun. However, I don't worry about my girlfriend even though she still studies in the city with many students who speak the same language with her. The program what she studies is tough and she barely has time hanging around them. What the most important is that we're pretty sure about the purpose of why we're here and what we're spending time and money for.