jingyang_nfls: I wonder if you can tell if I am in Yahoo messenger or not.

yeyj: You are.

yeyj: You even came a bit earlier.

jingyang_nfls: How come I have to send you a message before you can talk to me?

jingyang_nfls: Yes. I did nothing today, giving myself a break.

yeyj: Because one person should start the chat, right? But again, you are offline on my list right now.

jingyang_nfls: I really wanna go somewhere, like a bigger city. Biggest dream: jiafei could come here and visit me.

yeyj: Isn't chatting a break?

jingyang_nfls: Sure, but doing nothing is fun.

jingyang_nfls: That make sense.

yeyj: Your future home in Detroit will be very close to the town Jiafei living in, correct? Waterloo if I am not wrong.

jingyang_nfls: How early do you come to the computer lab?

yeyj: I just read your touching "friendship" piece.

jingyang_nfls: Yes. But I am not sure yet if we'll move to Detriot or not.

jingyang_nfls: is it really "touching" or you are just mocking it?

yeyj: Today I stayed in bed until 8.30, that made me miss the breakfast, then came here, started checking mail.

yeyj: Do you think I need to cheat you?

jingyang_nfls: No one will be here for my birthday. Friends are on their vacations. My sweet 16!!

yeyj: What is the date?

jingyang_nfls: Well, people say a lot of sacastic things. Not you.

jingyang_nfls: my birthday?

yeyj: Your honey honey flower season, is it?

jingyang_nfls: 7/30.

yeyj: So late!

jingyang_nfls: Ha. Guess that's right.

jingyang_nfls: so late?

yeyj: However, happy birthday to you first.

jingyang_nfls: You are just too young, I think you turned 15 in Feb.

yeyj: I used to spend my birthday in the holiday as well, that is Jan.6 Lunar new year. But this year, I felt quite lonely as well.

jingyang_nfls: Sorry. Same here.

yeyj: I am also the youngest among all the PRC coming with me, but not in my class. Their... Just a minute.

jingyang_nfls: age is only a number, right? only tradition make your Birthday a big deal.

jingyang_nfls: At least I have my parents with me.

jingyang_nfls: I am waiting...

yeyj: I was interrupted. Now, fine. The Singaporean's date interval is 1.1~12.30, I mean, for study.

yeyj: I don't catch what I was going to say!

jingyang_nfls: What are you talking about?

jingyang_nfls: is that a time, a date or what?

yeyj: You have been very calm... So shall we go on? What I said was the comparison of the 9.1~8.31 in China, can guess?

jingyang_nfls: Did you spend the new years eve in Singapore also? I don't exactly recall when you first went there.

yeyj: If you cannot, forget it.

yeyj: What do you mean? Recall what?

jingyang_nfls: When did you went to Singapore?

jingyang_nfls: 'cause I spent the "turning of the century" in front of the TV and with a couple of Chinese friends.

yeyj: I spend the Lunar new year, the mid-autumn festival, the 50 annivesary of PRC, the millenium... all here.

jingyang_nfls: Oh... Aren't you excited that you are going back in 4 months?

yeyj: I stayed in my room, listening to the radio, counted down and jotted down.

jingyang_nfls: How long are you going to stay in China?

jingyang_nfls: That's nice... What else do you do for fun, except for studying and studying?

yeyj: 5 months. Sometimes I really don't feel very happy while i think the date I return is coming.

jingyang_nfls: Don't worry. You've accomplished a lot, compared to other people. I wouldn't have the courage to go to Singapore in the first place.

yeyj: For fun? Hardly any. I merely write diary occasionally, noting words that I don't understand myself. That may be my style, always.

yeyj: Thanks. You said you had saved several chattings we did, right? How many?

jingyang_nfls: I don't keep a diary, a bit unusual for girls my age. There always the fear that my parents will look at it, I don't know to jepordize my innermost feelings.

yeyj: Why do you think it's strange?

jingyang_nfls: Three, I guess, Somehow missaved the second one.

yeyj: I've saved the recent three ones, but none before those.

yeyj: Shall I send the second one... Which is that?

jingyang_nfls: If you look around, there are a lot of book like hua ji, yu, ji or "don't cry in 17" there are like girls' diaries.

jingyang_nfls: That's all right.

yeyj: So nothing strange.

yeyj: What is right?

yeyj: Ok, tell me why did you hope to touch me with that friendship email, I was not so unhappy after all.

jingyang_nfls: wait a second, there's another friend that logged on mms. I have to say something to her. Forget to shut it off.

yeyj: Who is that? I feel so admiring.

jingyang_nfls: You sounded gloomy, I think. Besides, it was raining outside last night, and I felt a little down.

yeyj: Down... So you wanted to cheer me up then?

jingyang_nfls: She lives in Washington state, my elementary classmate.

yeyj: As well as yourself?

yeyj: May be just impulsion...

jingyang_nfls: I guess so. I am always effected by seasons.

yeyj: But all those words must have the same kind of... What?

yeyj: There are no seasons in Singapore.

jingyang_nfls: This is a strange age.

yeyj: So sad.

yeyj: Sure, but why are all the thing becoming strange when we are this big?

jingyang_nfls: That's all right, I am sick of snow, but always had a special affection for rain.

yeyj: The colour seems to be unsuitable.

yeyj: Sick of snow? I am yenning for it!

jingyang_nfls: I cannot answer that question.. too complicated.

jingyang_nfls: Not when you have so much of it.

yeyj: Are you still working on two messengers? I think so.

jingyang_nfls: Yes. This is a total mess. Wait a sec, I'll say goodbye to her.

yeyj: There is too much rain in Singapore, so irritating that I feel nothing, or very few.

yeyj: Because I had few experience of that.

jingyang_nfls: There.

jingyang_nfls: I feel relieved.

yeyj: Some people once mentioned you have some special thoughts of the forest after rain.

jingyang_nfls: I'd love to live in London because of its rainy weather.

jingyang_nfls: who? what?

yeyj: So you hate it? That's a...

jingyang_nfls: I cannot not walk at all after a big snow storm

jingyang_nfls: The snow is 21 inches thick, at the most.

jingyang_nfls: I think I got that number right, oh well.

yeyj: How deep is 21 inches?

jingyang_nfls: a inch is 2.54 cm.

jingyang_nfls: Do the math...

yeyj: I was thrilled whenever there is snow, but haven't seen it for more than two years.

yeyj: It didn't snow the winter before last in Nanjing, but the weather's abnormally cold last year.

yeyj: -7?? though.

jingyang_nfls: Sorry, network error again.

jingyang_nfls: Why do I have to have so many problems today?

yeyj: Are you calculating or... I see.

jingyang_nfls: Some one is hold a big party in the dorm, they play loud rock music, really bothers me.

jingyang_nfls: My mind is in a total mess right now.

jingyang_nfls: Just don't feel so happy these days.

yeyj: I made a bad thing. It is quite quiet here. Students besides me are sending email as well.

jingyang_nfls: Not much things makes me excited.

jingyang_nfls: you made a bad thing?

jingyang_nfls: Oh, I wish I can go back to China to visit for the summer, jiafei could do so this summer, I think.

yeyj: Why? You've done very much work these days, haven't you? I was really wasting time. But don't misunderstand me again, chatting is the most meaningful part, or I'll prefer to die this week.

yeyj: I cannot pay a visit... Again will admire you.

jingyang_nfls: I wish I have the time to waste.. being a student is the most horrible thing in the world. Did I tell you that next year is going to be hell for me? 10 standard tests.

yeyj: You told me that once, but not seemed to be 10.

jingyang_nfls: Summer should be a time to enjoy the actual life, not learning more math or whatever.

jingyang_nfls: AP tests and SAT IIs.

yeyj: Grade 11 looks so important. Is Grade 10 also senior?

jingyang_nfls: Do you get to take AP test in Singapore? like skipping a math class and go to the higher one?

jingyang_nfls: grade 10 is sophomore. grade 12 is senior.

jingyang_nfls: I don't even wanna think about it, this year has been bad enough.

jingyang_nfls: Told you I almost died. All these so I can go a top college.

jingyang_nfls: There's always so many demandings from parents, we want you to accomplish this, we need you to do that.

yeyj: I am surely becoming lazier in holidays. In Singapore, we do have the kinda thing that learning different subjects in distinct grades, that is, no AP. What do all those capital letters stand for?

jingyang_nfls: I mean, I want it badly, too. Don't put pressure on me.

jingyang_nfls: Advanced placement.

jingyang_nfls: What's your parents like? They must be really good to support you to go to singapore.

yeyj: I've no idea how to release you. The studying life is not so nice as in China?

jingyang_nfls: Probably better. But do they have 20 quzzies and tests in one week?

jingyang_nfls: Here, everything is on your own. The teachers don't care how well you do.

yeyj: Surely my parents wanted me to come here, although my mum wasn't very steady at first. Ladies are usually like that.

yeyj: No possible!

jingyang_nfls: One day I reached a breaking point and I jumped in the room and said I want no more of this,

jingyang_nfls: but still went on to take the tests next day, did worse than usual , but all right.

yeyj: I haven't experienced that hell thing... Jie told me the senior life is much more difficult, but I don't think there would be so much work even in Senior 3.

jingyang_nfls: Senior life, as I told you, will probably be the most easy year in high school here.

jingyang_nfls: college don't look at your grades.

yeyj: I tried to worked hard from someday on, while then could not bear the boredom and wet to sleep again.

yeyj: So you will enjoy a happy year in your new home?

jingyang_nfls: Don't sleep, spend your day outside, that's what a teen should do.

jingyang_nfls: I don't like to be the new girl in school, with everyone's little group, it's especially hard to get adjusted to in the U.S.

yeyj: I understand you somehow. But I want to study, where is the problem? I don't know.

jingyang_nfls: Internet makes a person more depressed.

jingyang_nfls: What I learned from my health class.

jingyang_nfls: nonsense.

yeyj: So your computer is depressed every hour also?

yeyj: I type so slowly, every time have to compain to myself.

jingyang_nfls: Not the subjects I don't like, like history, spanish.

yeyj: You are not a new girl any more while I am he new one in my school.

jingyang_nfls: Ignore the stuff I said about the computer.

yeyj: How many languages have you learnt?

jingyang_nfls: 4. Ha. kidding. I forgot most of my French.

jingyang_nfls: You have Chinese students...

jingyang_nfls: common background, right?

yeyj: We only have Germany, French, Japanese, Malay and Tamil in my school, but we PRC are not allowed to learn it.

jingyang_nfls: that's discrimination! Why not?

yeyj: Are you referring to my present classsmates?

jingyang_nfls: How many more restrictions do they put on you guys?

jingyang_nfls: yes.

yeyj: What is discrimination?

yeyj: Yes?

jingyang_nfls: prejudice again other people.

jingyang_nfls: does not totally fit in here.

jingyang_nfls: Yes, i was referring to your present classmates.

yeyj: We are usually allowed to learn to very basic things, apart from maths, because the school only want us to do well in the O-level while subjects like biology and language are not included.

yeyj: Except English and Chinese, these two are in O-level.

jingyang_nfls: does the o-level exam determine everything? like where you do after graduation?

jingyang_nfls: where you go.

yeyj: My classmates now are all Chinese, thus their parents or grandparents are mainly from China.

jingyang_nfls: Why do you think they are different from NFLS classmates?

yeyj: Although they don't know so much about the Chinese culture any more, still seem to be friendly to me. Very much.

jingyang_nfls: What is Singapore's culture?

yeyj: Some PRC think Singaporean students are thick-headed, because they are not as old as them.

jingyang_nfls: How many PRC students came with you to this school?

yeyj: Singapore's culture is a mixture of Chinese, Malay and Indian. However, there are some details that have been changed.

jingyang_nfls: Are you guys the same age?

yeyj: This year there are 33 others, more than ten of them were born in 1983.

jingyang_nfls: sorry, I could not tell what kinda enviroment and culture that would be.

jingyang_nfls: all went to the same grade?

yeyj: Generally Singaporean student doesn't work as well as us for they haven't learnt so much. But they are just bad in Science.

jingyang_nfls: How did you find out about the entrance exam in the first place, i mean your school is different from Zhu Haifeng's.

jingyang_nfls: Science doesn't bother me at all.

jingyang_nfls: Chinese are always good at Science and math.

yeyj: My father get the information from the colleague of my aunt. I don't know how he worked it out.

yeyj: Then I went to Hangzhou to attend the exam.

jingyang_nfls: it's such a common fact that my classmates here are not surprised if Chinese students get math awards.

yeyj: But the local students have lost that advantage, I mean, Science.

jingyang_nfls: That did the exam cover?

jingyang_nfls: and how many people went to take it?

yeyj: English(compre, compo), Math(in Chinses), IQ and face-to-face "tete-a-tete".

jingyang_nfls: I can feel it. Although I am taking Calculus, I think my high school math skill is worsening everyday.

jingyang_nfls: IQ???

jingyang_nfls: how do they test you on that?

yeyj: There are other about ten students who took the exam in Hangzhou, and two of them went here.

jingyang_nfls: what did you get? genius level?

jingyang_nfls: Did you visit the beautiful city after taking the exam?

yeyj: I've no idea why it was IQ test, just... There are several pictures, let you find the relationship between and choose the right one.

jingyang_nfls: interesting... I kinda wanna test myself sometime.

jingyang_nfls: probably won't be as high as you.

yeyj: I didn't get any title, but know that I was the highest in English among them(at least all the southern students), you can imagine the general level.

jingyang_nfls: You were pretty good in English, esp. your oral english.

yeyj: We visited the city for only half day, boat through the West Lake, visit several places of interest, no much celebration activities.

jingyang_nfls: Are you going to follow a literature major or science major after high school?

jingyang_nfls: and the "broken bridge'?

yeyj: But I think there are many students in NFLS who are much better than me. Chen Yi won the first prise in the National Oral English Competition, you know?

yeyj: Sorry, the "special" prize.

jingyang_nfls: Who's that? did she already graduate/

jingyang_nfls: ?

jingyang_nfls: I've seen the news, but I don't remember her name.

yeyj: She is as old as us, used to be in Class 5.

jingyang_nfls: Sorry, don't know anyone from class 5 except for Ni Dan.

jingyang_nfls: Still waiting for those several "unanswered question".

yeyj: No need to remind you. I don't think there is the division of literature or science major here... You may choose Art, science and econamy together in the junior college.

yeyj: When going to university, I haven't thought so much.

jingyang_nfls: you are sure that you are going to a university in Singapore?

yeyj: What are they, the questios?

jingyang_nfls: or do you have other plans in mind?

jingyang_nfls: Did you visit the "broken Bridge".

jingyang_nfls: ?

yeyj: Uncertain. No PRC feel like doing so. However, some of them will stay here.

yeyj: ?? Visit the bridge, what do you mean?

jingyang_nfls: "the broken bridge" in Hangzhou.

jingyang_nfls: Duan Qiao.

jingyang_nfls: Don't ask me to write in Pingying. I am terrible at that.

yeyj: We saw the bridge, not broken, not special, nothing attracting at all.

yeyj: I thought you were referring to the Cambridge.

jingyang_nfls: Always thought it would be a romanic place, oh, well.'

yeyj: i hate that university somehow.

jingyang_nfls: You think it is worth it to go to Singapore after all?

yeyj: Hangzhou is quite modern now, and the West Lake is nothing placcid.

jingyang_nfls: My dream college--stanford--- still a dream to be made true.

jingyang_nfls: British accent is cool, though..

yeyj: Not really... But I shall try my best to work on. That's what we've chosen, as you told me. Go o along our ways, I think I'll lose many things while gaining much others as well.

jingyang_nfls: even though I tried, I could not say anything in a brit accent.

yeyj: It's quite late. How long can you stay online?

yeyj: So sad.

jingyang_nfls: Cannot have everything, might as well not to regret it.

jingyang_nfls: You are not going to be here tomorrow, so I can stay a little longer.

jingyang_nfls: I am not sure. The moment I type " I have to go", I have to go.

yeyj: Yesterday my roommate went out with a Chinese girl who had lived in the US for only two years, then he told me he was impressed, aiming to speak standad American English from now on.

jingyang_nfls: I didn't do anything during the day, might as well not do anything tonight except for chatting.

jingyang_nfls: went out, you mean" date"?

yeyj: He's brought the Crazy English by Li Yang, Stone Cliz, ever heard of that?

jingyang_nfls: personally, I like American English better, more freedom-like. Just made that word up.

jingyang_nfls: Nope. Not at all.

yeyj: No, with other two girls. They went the shopping road, bought CD, sang songs,and had lunch at the KFC.

jingyang_nfls: Haven't had supper yet. My family are active during the night.

yeyj: I see.

jingyang_nfls: Talk about KFC. You like Western food?

yeyj: You were trying to speak AE even in Junior 1, roght?

yeyj: Right?

jingyang_nfls: AE?

jingyang_nfls: oh, I get it.

jingyang_nfls: the way I pronouce "can", I pronouce it in the American way.

jingyang_nfls: sounds a lot better.

jingyang_nfls: How could you remember that?

yeyj: We usually eat Chinese cooking in Singapore while chicken is too common as well. I just enjoy it, nothing much.

jingyang_nfls: When my dad was in Hong Kong, He had too much chicken, he swear that he'll never touch it the rest of his life.

yeyj: You told me you would speak "tomato" in the other way round several times, didn't you?

jingyang_nfls: vegetable is scarce here. too much meat and I am sick of it.

yeyj: I am not sated of chicken so far.

jingyang_nfls: Did I? ha, don't remember that as well.

jingyang_nfls: We all remember little incidents that each other didn't pay attention to.

yeyj: Similar to Singapore. But we can eat ample fruits, all imported.

jingyang_nfls: and seafood?

yeyj: Mm, I agree. Can you recall you letter with the phto now?

jingyang_nfls: I don't get a lot here. We get all of our rice and shimp from Chicago.

jingyang_nfls: yes. finally.

yeyj: Seafood? Much fish, but I haven't got the chance to eat any nice species. Actually i hate seafood.

jingyang_nfls: they are not really native americans though, just actors to earn money.

yeyj: Who?

jingyang_nfls: Come on, how could you say that.

yeyj: What do you mean?

jingyang_nfls: the people that are in the picture.

jingyang_nfls: the picture i sent you, don't you remember?

yeyj: The picture you send me? The... Indians were fake?

yeyj: I can't imagine. You said it was a reserve.

jingyang_nfls: they are indians, but they don't do that dance anymore.

jingyang_nfls: They work in the Casinos.

yeyj: How can all actors live there?

yeyj: Things have changed.

yeyj: So much.

jingyang_nfls: There's a Casino over there and they earn their living by gambling.

yeyj: There are nothing original in Singapore as well, as a lovely rainforest island,

jingyang_nfls: Indians here have a sad life and a low status.

yeyj: I don't understand.

yeyj: Worse than Negro?

yeyj: The whites are cruel.

jingyang_nfls: yes. And don't use that word.

yeyj: Is it offending soeone?

yeyj: Someone.

jingyang_nfls: if you say it here, someone might sue you or kill you because this is really bad.

yeyj: I know. Thank you.

jingyang_nfls: very offensive. This is refering to the slaves.

jingyang_nfls: by the way, Negro means "black" in Spanish.

yeyj: Aren't the offending those poor people then?

yeyj: What about American? How do you like them?

jingyang_nfls: please rearrange your word, I don't quite get what you are referring to.

yeyj: I don't understand, why the world has become this bad. How do you feel about the American?

jingyang_nfls: I don't know if you know this, but there are drug, alcohol and violence problems.

yeyj: We learnt all those problems in Politics, considered as the incorrigable trouble of capitalism.

yeyj: But I find this incorrect in Singapore. This country is too small.

yeyj: Why are we getting more serious at all time?

yeyj: Even the computers...

yeyj: I am waiting.

jingyang_nfls: hello?

jingyang_nfls: Are you still there?

jingyang_nfls: network error again.

yeyj: Disconnect again?

jingyang_nfls: Yes.

yeyj: Fine, can we go on?

yeyj: What's the date today? So many bugs.

jingyang_nfls: Mom's getting mad, not much longer.

jingyang_nfls: 5 min at most.

yeyj: What do you mean?

jingyang_nfls: 6/16

jingyang_nfls: I cannot stay much longer.

jingyang_nfls: When will we chat next time?

yeyj: Not the next Monday.

yeyj: Maybe Thurdays in Singapore.

yeyj: or earlier

jingyang_nfls: just tell me when you can, not when you cannot.

yeyj: I would inform you by emailing

jingyang_nfls: time?

yeyj: if I have the time

yeyj: I would tell you then

jingyang_nfls: Ok. I'll write you emails. You have time to check them,right?

yeyj: When are having three days' math training the next week.

jingyang_nfls: "a thousand a thousand".

yeyj: It shouldn't take much time, but I know nothing about it.

jingyang_nfls: heard of that? from Shakespears's "the tempest" meaning goodbye.

yeyj: I may have enough time to open my mail box.

yeyj: Never.

jingyang_nfls: Good luck and wish you'll do a great job in your math training.

yeyj: Have you said bye already?

jingyang_nfls: I am saying it, bye.

yeyj: Thank you and best wishes.

yeyj: Farewell.