2002 - Alice Song Weekly 宋 旻 潔 週 記

Issue:616 Date: 06/13/2002

(18) 衷心的感謝
Heartfelt Thanks - by Alice Song's mother

There is an old saying in China: "when son or daughter leaves family at a thousand mile distance ,the mother worries very much about him or her at home". But in the four months of my daughter's staying in USA, as her mother, I miss my daughter very much ,but I don't feel a lot of worry about her. Because I know my daughter is in a very fine environment. She told me in the first E- mail: "don't worry about me, I'm so happy because everyone here is so kind to me", after then , constantly in her E- mail my daughter described her rich and colorful life in St. Louis. That makes us feel very happy. We know although my daughter is in a foreign country alone, however, there are many fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and many teachers, classmates giving her warmth, love, care, and admiration, and thus she got a period of life full of beauty and unforgettable.

Therefore, representing our whole family I want to express our heartfelt thanks to all friends in St. Louis who have been taking care of my daughter in these four months.

Thanks to a fine lady Dr. Ching-ling Tai, The vice-president of Nanjing/St. Louis sister city committee and the home room teacher of my daughter at SLUH. She arranged for all this culture exchanges program of NFLS and SLUH. So it makes my daughter get an opportunity to study the western culture and experience American home life. We heartily thank her for arranging everything for my daughter in the four months thoughtfully. With her help, my daughter can study in USA carefree enough and feel the life of western culture with enthusiasm. My daughter told us more than once: "Dr. Tai is really really kind". We thank her for everything done for my daughter, Dr. Tai's good care of my daughter surrounded her all the time, and made my daughter complete the study life of four months successfully.

Dr. Robert Bannister, The president of SLUH. We heartily thank him for providing the exchange opportunity of two friendly school between China and America. What is more touching us was his personally attending the dinner welcoming my daughter's arrival on January 29, Such kindness of welcome was given to a girl when she set her foot on the land of USA just now and traveled alone to a foreign country for the first time. I can imagine how happy my daughter was at that time! And also, how moved with happiness our family was at the sight of this report with the photographs in SCANews.com.

The Spicers, the first host family of my daughter. This is a family full of fun, warm and mirth. Richard, Sophie, Claka, Sam and Jack, these 5 brothers and sisters immediately made my daughter forget being away from home. Even that two-year old dog Skmp also become a good friend of my daughter. At the first weekend, they took my daughter to visit the big Arch which is the symbol of St. Louis and see the Mississippi River which is very famous in the world. They selected a nice dress for my daughter for her first dance party and made her very beautiful. The first time going to American school, The first time attending a home party, The first time watching live game, The first time visiting American church. Many first times in America, my daughter realized in her stay at Spicers. We heartily thank The Spicers for their concern and help. They made my daughter got a wonderful experience about Many the first time in American ,and let my daughter enjoy her first month's life in the United States!

The Hemenways, the second host family of my daughter. This is a fine and elegant family loving music and art. My daughter spent the spring break and the Easter joyfully in their home. From many E-mails of my daughter, we knew Zach, a genius organist and musician in the future. He took her to visit the biggest and the most beautiful church in St. Louis.

The sweet music played on the biggest organ of St. Louis by Zach gave my daughter a happy and worthy time. We also knew Mrs. Hemenway, a mother of elegance and wisdom. She took my daughter to the Art Museum, visited the zoo, did a Chinese meal especially for her. At the spring break's afternoon, Mrs. Hemenway took a walk with my daughter and talked freely together. At Easter, Mrs. Hemenway prepared a beautiful and abundant Basket of Easter Eggs for my daughter. Of course we also knew many members in their family: Mr. Hemenway is so humorous, little brother Drew explained the knowledge of driving a car in detail for my daughter, Zach's uncle showed lots of lovely birds and gave her many beautiful peacock feathers, Zach's grandpa accepted a Chinese painting happily because that is drawing by my daughter for his birthday. Certainly, that funny dog Bogey also brought much happiness for my daughter. In a short time, my daughter got along well with their family and lived as if in her own home. We heartily thank them, for giving so much friendship to my daughter, and taking a young girl coming from far away as their own daughter, as a true member of their family!

The Noblots, the third host family of my daughter. This is a teenagers' family filled with vitality and youth because there is a son Drew who loves sports and a daughter Tizzi who loves dance. Apparently, My daughter immediately joined into this new family. The first day Alice arrived at the new family, Drew took her to watch a baseball game. He explained baseball rules to her in detail and broadened her horizon. Then, The Noblots arranged many colorful activities for my daughter. They took her to the Missouri Botanical Garden, visited Grant's farm, and took part in community activities of awarding a medal to a boy scout. Especially they took her along to take part in the Drew's junior ring ceremony and the dance that gave my daughter another wonderful and unforgettable day!

My daughter likes the Harley gift very much and especially likes that dog Lucy. She told us: The dog is so cute, so friendly! May I have a dog like it when I come back? She telexed us a photo of 'Alice and Lucy' that was taken by Mr. Noblot. When we saw the beautiful Lucy, we understood why my daughter likes it so much. We heartily appreciate The Noblots for everything that they have done for my daughter. The love of their whole family made my daughter feel both friendliness, kindness and warmth!

The Wises, the fourth host family of my daughter. They have three lovely and cute children: Mike, Micki and Madeline. My daughter spent the last month in USA with them. My daughter enjoyed their special Mother's day celebration, enjoyed the knowledge that she had got about STL history from Mr. Wise. She also liked the western fashion dessert did by Mrs. Wise personally, and she enjoyed letting the kids taste Chinese spring rolls did by herself. The life of my daughter in USA will be ended satisfactorily in The Wise's family, and we also heartily appreciate The Wise for their friendship and love.

We still want to thank the teachers of the SLUH. My daughter has mentioned Mr. Murray more than once, she enjoyed the history lesson that is full of philosophic theory and gives her a great view of American culture, history and American's spirit. My daughter studied so hard to complete the history homework of the family tree. Especially, she was so moved by the arrangement of getting a gift on the junior ring ceremony by Mr. Murray. I believe my daughter will remember that fine time forever! Mr. Kovarik, in whose English lessons my daughter not only enjoyed the original literature but also appreciated his way of creative thinking by using American mother tongue.

Mr. Mills always used the method of discussion and elicitation to explain mathematics so that expanded my daughter's way of logical thinking. Mr. O'keefe, he used those wonderful movies and pictures to help my daughter overcome a variety of difficulties in studying biology for the first time and finally enjoy the profound features of biology. Mr. Rittenhous made the computer lesson so interesting that my daughter enjoyed his humorous way of teaching and shared his life experiences. Still there is Mrs. Bugnitz, who used breathtaking ways of doing art and often took care of my daughter. Although having studied in SLUH only for four months, my daughter told us proudly: "This is the best school in St. Louis with teachers second to none" We thank all the teachers heartily, The seed of knowledge that you imparted to my daughter will return to China and Nanjing with the girl together. I believe it can blossom across national boundaries.

Finally, we want to thank St. Louis Chinese American News. The homepage of Alice Song's Weekly (http://www.scanews.com/nanjing/alicesong) not only gave my daughter a window for revealing her feelings of study in the USA but also enable us to follow my daughter's footprints conveniently and quickly. I want to tell them, from now on scanews.com will be a place where our family will often go.

Four months passed in no time. It seems Like Alice had just started yesterday. But everything is so wonderful, it will be in the heart forever not only of my daughter but also of our entire family.

I remember four months ago, my daughter wrote when she applied for visa: "If I can go to St. Louis, after four months, when I return to our motherland I believe that I can have many friends in St. Louis and St. Louis also will own me, a new Chinese friend. "Now, I can delightfully say, the fine wishes of my daughter have been realized. Not only my daughter, but also our family have became friends of St. Louis. We honestly welcome our St. Louis friends to come to China and Nanjing. Please have a look at our Motherland that has a 5000 year's history, and please have a look at our home town that is lovely and beautiful!