How to improve speaking skills

It has been more than one year since I came to the U.S. Not to mention learning the new culture is difficult, I found it very hard to join in a casual conversation with New Yorkers. Granted, I don't have many things in common with natives, but the real problem seems to be my lack of language skills. So what should I do to improve my verbal ability? I started to observe people who have great language skills and found one thing in common in them: they all like to speak! Of course they like to speak. It is not difficult to think that one should do something in order to be good at doing that thing! So the answer to my question is that I need to like speaking in order to speak better. It was brave of me to come to the U.S. Now I should be a bit braver and speak up! Let's not be shy people! We will reach where we want to be if we keep chasing our dreams!

What is important to be a good learner?

I believe one of the most important things to be a good learner is to have a balanced life. For instance, if you sit at your desk, study 8 hours a day, and do nothing else, you may end up having a back problem and/or falling into a slump.

So what to do in order to have a balance? You need a hobby that will refresh yourself. I recommend working out/running/swimming/yoga that makes you move your body. After emitting your physical energy, you will notice that your stress has gone -- forever. Then, you are ready to get a good night sleep and start anew working on your stuff the next day.

Also, make some time to meet someone and have some fun! Talk to you loved ones! You will never be happy without those who will cheer for you and cry for you. Life is long and short. Have a happy life!

How to become a great learner

There is an easy way to be a great leaner. It is to teach others. What do you have to do in order to teach others? First you have to understand what you are trying to teach them. And then based upon your knowledge and understanding, you should try to make them understand what you understood. In this way, your knowledge can be maximized.

Teaching itself is another learning experience. When you teach something, you realize what you had misunderstood.

What I have written above is not necessarily a new concept. Everybody already knows it. It is the easiest way to become the greatest learner. Then why not everyone is a great learner?

There can be many reasons, but my guess is that we try to avoid it because the process is painful. It requires a lot of commitment, which most of the people do not favor. Moreover, you get pressurized when people are counting on you. Thus, the easiest way to be a great learner maybe includes somewhat hard elements.

So what? Are you going to give up like that? Try it! The most important reason I write something on this blog is to teach myself something. I suggest you do the same!

Important learner's mind

Now I realized something. Maybe the most important thing in my life. I need to really improve what I'm doing. In order to do so I really tire to learn something. In order to do so I really try to write something int brain. I need to do it.

For instance, I found the reason why I have not mastered English yet. It is because although I try very hard to expose myself to English, I never have try make it mine. Which means, I did not try hard enough to have the language in the core of my brain. 

If I has mastered it, I could have learned Chibese or Japanese and even mastered it. 

Let's try harder. Form knowledge in my brain. Visualize them. Make it yours. They are all yours. Take them. 

You got this. 

You are very close. 

Transfer Student

What will happen if someone transfers to another school? Will it be better for her or worse?

I am transferring to another school from this fall. It was a big decision for me as I love my friends at the previous school. But I chose to step forward because you will never know what is out there unless you personally try to find out about it.

We have only one chance to do something. This moment does not come back. That is why we have to do our best, cherish every moment in our lives. I know it is difficult especially when bad things happen.

Transferring can be overwhelming to some people. You have got to say good bye to your friends, professors, and other acquaintances. You will most definitely see them again in the future no matter where you go, so do not forget to make a good impression even though you are leaving. You will have to say hello to all the new people at the new school. This part maybe easy. It may be difficult for you to be accepted by the students who were already studying at the new one. Don't panic. Just be yourself and be gentle and nice to other people. They will notice that you are just like one of them.

People are sometime too cliquey to be friends with. They will know the importance of being nice to other people when they actually encounter situations at a work place.

Every day is a new day. Live to the fullest. Don't regret yesterday. Step by step make progress.
You can do this.
Cheers!

Love ends

When love ends, it ends. Have you ever resuscitate your love in your life? I haven't, sadly. Recently my love ended when we decided not to see each other anymore. It hurt. It was not my first time being in love, but the pain didn't change -- instead it got worse. 

The motivation that makes me do something was gone for good. My arms and legs are too lazy to go out side to provide my nose with fresh air. 

I just want to be alone. I know it will go away soon but for now I want to grieve for what I had with her. 

It's gonna be alright. 

Externship interview

An externship opportunity is coming towards me. I will have a telephone interview with a firm tomorrow. I am very excited!

Externship is similar to internship except that it happens during the semester and you are paying for it. You earn credits instead of getting paid. An upside is you can gain valuable experiences and connections, but you are working for free and even paying for it. 

However, I am very excited about this interview because the firm is where I want to be. I am sure that the place will be a living teacher for me. 

I heard I can survive in the U.S. even if I don't have anything but passion. I am passionate and I want to succeed!

We got this. 

Don't give up. 

Friends

Friends are one of the most important things in my life. I cannot live without them, nor can I succeed in this battle ground. They are the people who always give supports no matter how my life is miserable. I love them.

Recently I had a great time with my friend. We went to the MET, saw beautiful arts and sculptures, and took a lot of pictures. I like him, who has supported my goals and dreams no matter how ridiculous they were.

Can you imagine a world without an ally? It is important that you find a right person to be friends with and support her/him as mush as you would like to be supported. Interests aside, you've gotta find someone really cares about you.

I was very lucky to find this guy in New York, where lonely people pretend to be too busy to have an actually interpersonal activities while doing Facebook, Tinder, etc. and while spending times with their pets.

You can find friends. Don't worry.

Move out

In New York, many students have to move at least a few times. The rent is so high that I couldn't get a room big enough for me to put a bed and a desk. I just bought a matress to sleep on because I didn't want to spend too much money on things which I eventually will have to throw away.

It is small but it feels good to have my own place only for myself. 

Airport

I'm at the airport right now to go to Chicago. I have never been there in my life. Officially this is my first visit.

The reason for this visit is to have job interviews. I need a job to earn money. 

Suddenly I found it interesting that we pay for our education but actually we learn more when we actually get paid and work. Work experience is something you cannot buy with your money. But degrees you can. 

I want to work and earn money. The rent fees in New York is really high. I share my apartment with two friends and you pay $4600 per month. However, salaries in New York is also relatively higher than other states.

You got this. 

Good luck. 

Cover letters

I spent hours on rewriting my cover letters for the job interviews. I will have seven interviews tomorrow. Some required me to bring a cover letter, and the other didn't. I decided to bring seven cover letters because I thought it would improve my chance to get the job. 

I have a great attitude toward work that I am very proud of. I am a hard worker. I used to worry about my life all the time. But I realized that I didn't have to worry about anything as long as I did my best on what I was doing. I am doing my best. I enjoy what I do. Thus, I will not worry about anything and just enjoy the miracle of life.

Apartment rents in NYC are ridiculous. But the funny thing is I am still paying the rent in order to stay in New York. How ridiculous is that! I will learn and learn to earn more than how much I spend here. 

You can do this. 

Good luck. 

The Interview

I had an interview at a firm in the financial district in Manhattan. Wearing the best suit I have, I walked to the subway station nearest to my place. On the wait for the train, I saw a lady reading a book in hard hand. How diligent, I thought. I slowly walked through the financial district. The GPS was working, but I headed to a wrong direction. Using the GPS was always tricky when I did not know the direction I am heading to. There must be some ways to figure out about which direction I should be headed before making a trial-and-error.
I arrived at the office where I would have the interview 30 mins early. It was too early to get in. I decided to stay at a cafe next to the building instead of going into the office and waiting. I took some photos of mine. The tie I was wearing was a gift from my girl friend. With my phone, I took a photo of myself and sent it to my girl friend.
I took the interview. It took about 20mins. I nailed it. Yes. I felt as if I deserved a nice meal, so I went to Five Guys. Haha! Laugh as mush as you want. This was a nice meal for me.

You can do this. Good night.