Benjamin Thinking

 

不知道應該是要開心還是怎樣... 第一次在美國看醫生:P

"A senior new member finally makes his very first speech in the toastmasters club"- a lot of fellow toastmasters must whisper. (Pause) Yes! Here I am. I decided to move one step ahead before the anniversary of joining the MIIS toastmasters club has come. "No more waiting," I told myself.

 

王永慶, 2008年辭世, 享年92歲.

在台灣, 沒有幾個人像他一樣有著這麼傳奇的背景, 相信有絕大多數的台灣人是景仰他的.

幾天前, 老爸轉寄一封內含王永慶的一席話的e-mail給全家, 讀了之後覺得很有道理, 也希望可以時時檢視自己, 帶了多少"火柴"在身上...

 

------------- 王永慶的一席話 ------------------

一根火柴棒價值不到一毛錢 ，一棟房子價值數百萬元 ..

但是一根火柴棒卻可以摧毀一棟房子，可見微不足道的潛在破壞力。

一旦發作起來其攻堅滅頂的力量， 無物能禦 。

在EAPP上課, 人數最多的國藉是日本人, 而日本人的形象我想大家也猜得到: 時髦、有型、雅痞! 上學第一天自我介紹時我們就注意到了幾個日本型男, 其中有一個40幾歲的型男Hideo不但打扮有型, 還是一個apple的愛用者! 有品味的穿著配上高科技的加持, 又加了不少分! 大家還不熟時, 每天都會忍不住偷看他又在把玩他的iPhone! 我相信這個... 應該刺激到了不少男性朋友XD

這一張畢業證書可不是容易的, Monterey Institute的EAPP課程是一個非常扎實的訓練, 兩個星期以前, 我還在為了每一門課的Final Project忙得焦頭爛額.

主要的Final Project有二: "研究報告"以及"座談會"

一年半以前, 我還在公司跟當時的主管溝通未來的規劃; 如今, 我終於踏出國家大門, 前往未來兩年的家以及夢想實踐地. 說真的, 心裡真的五味雜陳! 既期待又沉重, 既開心又傷感... 

距離登機只剩下10分鐘, 希望一切都可以順心!

確定要念的學校到出國前仍有近四個半月的空檔, 經過媽媽以及太太的建議, 我決定去外貿協會(International Trade Institute)的國際人才培育中心參加該中心所提供的商務英語班. 由於該短期課程需要人數達到一定人數後才會開課, 再加上每一班以12人為上限, 故最後我選擇了「Meetings」以及「Business English IV」兩門課.

「Meetings」

人生當中總是有兩種選擇: 快樂地活, 悲傷地活!

話要經常說才會流利, 腦子也是要經常動才會靈活喔~

就是因為如此, 不知從何時開始, 我又開始喜歡心算, 然後再使用計算機來驗證結果!
但是這只不過使用到腦子的極小區塊的腦細胞而已, 所以, 在心情放鬆的時刻, 剛好又在報紙上看到免費的SU DO KU練習, 就會想要來試試身手!

兩周前, 於ITI (國際人才培育中心)的老師Helen建議我可以去參加Toastmasters Club, 原因是這個非營利組織提供很好的機會來養成public speaking / leadership的技巧; 兩周後, 我寫信給president of the club - Justin, 他很快就回信給我, 並歡迎我前往參加...

當天, President Justin is unavoidably absent (註) 所以就由Ben來代理; Ben是一位外國人, 談吐自如(我原本預期都是說得還可以的台灣人來參加), 一開始先來個開場白, 接下來就依序由不同的人依照事先預訂好的agenda來進行.

古人說:「工欲善其事, 必先利其器」 這句話一直是大家耳熟能詳的,
今年, 將要踏上別人國家的國土去追求知識, 不能少的, 當然是一台可以陪我全天候備戰的"戰鬥機" - VAIO SZ
說到這裡, 一些"Pro"的玩家可能會不以為然, 但會選擇這一台, 可以說是有緣故的...

在還沒有說明緣故之前, 先來說說"歷史"吧~
提到我使用PC的歷史, 可說是很早很早的時候開始...

今天是個不忙碌的星期六...
一般而言, 這一天會非常忙碌, 反常地, Denny's House顯得悠閒... 或許這也是一個好吧, in some ways~~

下午茶時間過後, 來了一對夫妻, 來自Ukraine (烏克蘭), 住在首都the city of Kiev (Kyiv)
老公在交通大學任教, 教物理學的, 已經教了五年, 老婆則沒有問她; 他們已經住在新竹十年了...

Below is the recommended timetable for applying to universities in the United States. It is sometimes possible to complete the process more quickly, but you may have a much more limited choice of schools. Planning ahead gives you sufficient time to make successful applications to the universities of your choice.

12 TO 18 MONTHS PRIOR to the academic year in which you hope to enroll, begin to consider, research, and do the following:

• What are your reasons for wanting to study in the United States?
• Which universities offer your subject and specialization?
• Will you need financial assistance?
• Begin narrowing down your choices of schools to approximately 10 to 20 institutions, and make sure they meet your academic, financial, lifestyle, and other needs.
• Find out application deadlines. This will affect when you take the standardized tests required for admission since test results must reach admissions offices
  no later than these deadlines. The tests should be taken in advance of submitting university application forms.
• Register to take paper-based GRE Subject Tests if required by the universities to which you are applying.

12 MONTHS PRIOR to enrollment, start to complete the following (months indicated are estimates):

August

• Continue narrowing down your choice of schools.  While some students apply to more, 5 to 10 well-researched choices are sufficient.
• Contact universities for application and financial aid forms and catalogs.
• Register to take the TOEFL and the GRE General Test, GRE Writing Assessment, GMAT, or other admissions tests, as necessary

September – December

• Continue narrowing down your choice of schools.  While some students apply to more, 5 to 10 well-researched choices are sufficient.
• Request official transcripts from your undergraduate institution.
• Brief your recommenders and request letters of reference from them.
• Draft personal statements or statements of purpose and research proposals, if requested.
• Submit completed application forms (for admission as well as financial aid).
• Double check that transcripts and references have been sent.
  
• Take the necessary admissions tests.

January – March

• University application deadlines must be met.

April – June

• Letters of acceptance or rejection arrive. Decide which university to attend, notify the admissions office of your decision, complete and return any forms they require.
• Send letters of regret to those universities you turn down.
• Organize finances (arrange to transfer funds to a U.S. bank; make sure you have funds for travel and expenses on arrival).
• Finalize arrangements for housing and medical insurance with your university.
• Notify any sponsoring organizations of your plans.

June – August

• Use information from your Form I-20 or DS-2019 to fill out the SEVIS Form I-901 and pay the $100 required SEVIS fee (see SEVIS information for description of SEVIS form and fee).
• Upon receipt of your I-20 and SEVIS I-901 payment receipt, apply to your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for a visa. This should be as far in advance of your departure date as possible (see "Visas").
• Contact your nearest EducationUSA information and advising center to let them know that you have been accepted to a U.S. institution.
• Make travel arrangements, planning to arrive in time for the university's orientation program.
• Contact the International Student Office at your university with details of your arrival plans, and confirm details of any orientation for new students held by the university.

Getting Ready to Go
Once you know that you are going to study in the United States, you will probably have many questions about visas, accommodations, health insurance, banking, how to study, and other "predeparture" information. Most EducationUSA information and advising centers conduct predeparture orientation presentations in the summer, and some may also offer sessions midyear. Contact your nearest center for their schedule and to reserve space for these popular events. Some centers may charge a fee for this service.