Elisa Su - Taiwan
Posted: Feb. 18, 2006
911, that was the year I came to America to study. It was very amazing for me to see everyone get so united together. "God bless America" was played everywhere I went. So that's the beginning of my life in America. A little bit shocking and touching at the same time.
To tell you the turth, at first I missed Taiwan so much. I even called home and cried because everything was so different. I was afarid I was going to fail every course I was taking in school. In the end, that one and a half year at Rutgers was the most wonderful time in my life. I really learned how to study, how to speak up in class, how to be by myself in a foreign country.
After graduating, luckily, I found a part-time job teaching at Globe Institute of Technology. At the very beginning, I was afarid that no one would listen to me becasue I am not a native speaker. Suprisingly, my students were really nice and sweet. I started my teaching career at Globe. I've met so many wonderful people there, all the teachers and students. All of them made me feel at home. I've learned a lot from my students. I've learned how lucky I am to have the support of my family and friends. I've learned to appreciate the culture difference.
People may wonder why I am still here in America because if I go back to Taiwan, I might make a fortune there by teaching English. Honestly, I love America. I love the free spirit here. I love the diversity in the city. I love the individualism. I love being here. Though I am not making a million dollars a year, I am happy. I have friends here. I am helping people who barely speak English to give them a chance to learn the language, to be able to enjoy life. I am experiencing all the possibilities this country has to offer.