Taiwan exchange student a ‘stranger’ in America

I am originally from Taiwan, being here four years, currently living in Martin and the United States is a very different world through my eyes that sometimes I feel I am a stranger here.

In Taiwan, the four seasons (spring, summer, fall, and winter) are not so obvious, so people in Taiwan often say there are only two seasons in Taiwan: warm and warmer.

The United States, on the other hand, the flowers and trees are blossoming in the spring, summer is very scary for me because sometimes there are some run-for-your-life thunderstorms that rarely happen in Taiwan, leaves are falling in the fall, and white Christmas in winter especially in 2004.

I still remember the experience that the first time I met the thunderstorm. I wasn’t sure if I needed to rush to Browning Hall. There is a basement in Browning Hall that was supposed to be safe. I was once told that whenever the storms stroke here, people lived on campus needed to go there. However, I decided to stay in my apartment and listen to the music since it was raining heavily. Three minutes later (not even the enough time for one song), the electricity went off. I did not know when it would be back on again. I couldn’t do anything without the light I did not even have a candle. Then I started wondering if I should leave my apartment. After sitting on my couch for ten minutes, I decided to go to Browning Hall.

When I arrived at Browning Hall’s basement, people were ready to leave and going back homes. They said the warning was finished. That was my first experience with the thunderstorm. I have the knowledge now that thunderstorms can cause serious damage and the next time I hear a thunderstorm warning, I will be running for my life.

Cheng-ho Chen Communications Taiwan

Parking still too dificult at UTM, getting worse

Where are the new freshmen coming in next fall going to park?

Parking on UTM’s campus is utterly ridiculous. In order to find a parking space for class, you have to leave out almost an hour or more before your class starts to find a space. For commuters it is always a very limited number of spaces to choose from. So, most of the time we end up parking on the side of the street near Grove Apartments,Bradley Bookstore,Micheal’s and everywhere else that you don’t even need a parking decal. So, what’s the point in even buying one? Maybe one day you will luck up and find a parking space in the lot across the street by the football gym,or maybe on your birthday or something you can park in one of the lots we are assigned to. Please UT Martin find some kind of way to get some more commuter parking and non-commuter parking is not so hot either. Help a sister out. I do not mind walking far distances, but it would be nice to have a choice.

April Jenkins Communications Memphis