View at Williams College. 

Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

Eric Carle Museum at Amherst.

Who is Eric Carle? I did not know him at all before I went to study in New York. Eric Carle is a very famous author/illustrator who writes /draws a lot of children's picture books. Almost all the Elementary School students read his books in America. Nowadays, I believe students both in Taiwan and Japan would have the opportunity to access his books. He is the author and illustrator of " The Very Hungry Caterpillar", "The Grouchy Ladybug" ," Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" and so forth.

The reason for me to visit Eric Carle's museum was because I had been using his books as reference and teaching materials to apply to my own teaching in the past. I would like to know more about him, who writes and illustrates so well for children. I noticed that children are appeal to his colourful pictures as well as his ways of telling stories. In his books, children could create his/her own story through his/her imagination.

It is very important to have imagination and creative thinking. Children, particularly, have that talents, before the reality fade/damage them away. Pictures, colours, characters or even the spaces in each picture book tell different stories from different child. I hope that we, future parents and teachers, could try our best to create an environment for young children to explore their imagination and creation in every possible way.

Norman Rockwell Museum

Norman Rockwell Museum at Stockbridge.

Norman Rockwell is the artist Americans know best. Millions of people saw each of his cover illustrations fro the Saturday Evening Post. Perhaps the most obvious reason for the popularity of Rockwell's work is its subject matter--he painted America and Americans. His themes are rooted in American values and our pride in those values. The American family was at the core of Norman Rockwell's work.

I knew about Norman Rockwell from a friend and I had a chance to see his painting in New York in 2002. Since then, I just could not help loving his paintings. His each painting tell you a story in detail. I remembered that I even did some lesson plans in Art after enjoyed his paintings so much. I think that everyone even young children could tell stories from his paintings. Using imagination to put yourself in Norman Rockwell's art works and you will find out more and more details that he tried to express to audience. One of my favourite paintings of his work is "A Day in the Life of a Girl" which has 25 small clips described how the little girl spent her day in a vivid and amazing way.

I learned more about Norman Rockwell and the stories behind some of the paintings by visiting his museum this time. I am sure that I will always go back to see his work when there is a chance. If you are interested in his work, please check this website out--www.nrm.org
If you would like to pay a visit to there, do not forget to count how many different signature he sign on his work. 6? 7? Or even more???

The Top School of My Super Prince Charming.

Williams College established in 1793


This was my 2nd time to visit this TOP 1 College in America, Williams College. I would not know about this school if it was not the college of my super prince charming. However, I loved it since the first sight I saw it that summer in 2003.

Williams College was established in 1793 and it is located at Williams town in Massachusetts. It is a college town and you could be able to access your necessary nearby the campus. Staying there could be the most wonderful thing in the world, I believe. When you are there, all you could feel is free and peace. People there are so much friendly and always wear their smiles when they see you no matter whether they know you or not.

I love Williams College not just because it was the school of my super prince charming but because its whole environment. I enjoyed so much each time there even just sitting at the grass around campus but doing nothing. I came there in winter this time but I did not see it covered with white snow--I bet it will far more beautiful than I could imagine. My first time here was in summer time. I, and, was here this winter, therefore, I promise to myself that I will make my trips to Williams College possible AT LEAST another 3 times--spring, autumn and again winter with snow. Or...If there will be any chance to be a student there or find a job there--I would certainly do it :)

2 cups of tea from Captain.

Maggie and Jennifer with 2 cups of tea at Williamstown.

Getting a cup of tea is not a hard thing when you live in cities. However, it become a big problem when you don't have a car and you are living in a very country side. That's what happened to Maggie and I that day when we stayed in Williamstown on 3 of January, 2005.

We were a bit freezing in Williamstown because we just came back from the campus. After walking in the rainy evening for up to 15 minutes, both of us felt a bit chilly. There was no any tea/coffee provided in the motel we stayed. Maggie rang the reception to ask were there anywhere we could get some hot tea/coffee. The gentleman told Maggie that we could get some hot tea/coffee from Dunkin Donuts which was 6 miles away. That was impossible for Maggie and I walked (because we did not have a car) 6 miles to just get a cup of tea/coffee. Therefore, that so nice gentleman decided to help us out---so he made us 2 cups of hot tea :) How nice he was. We realised that he was a captain before.

All the people we met during this trip were so nice and unforgettable, I think.

Get A Free Ride from Two Generous And Kind Ladies.

Amherst College

Amherst College is another top college in America. However, we (Maggie and I) did not have the chance to visit the campus for we were rushing to catch the coach to the next destination--stockbridge.

What happened to our trip from Eric Carle Museum to downtown Amherst was amazing and totally unforgettable. We had been waiting for the bus to come for more than 10 minutes, however, we just did not see any bus moved around. The time of catching our next coach was approaching and we just could not miss that coach--that was the one and only in a day. We were busy in asking people to see whether they could be so nice to give us a free ride to downtown Amherst to catch the coach. The luck was not with us at the beginning because everyone we asked was not going that direction. We kept watching the time and started to think the alternative ways to get to stockbridge. Meanwhile, we heard the sounds of horn behind us, two ladies offered a free ride for us if we needed. Oh...Thank God!! The two ladies talked to us and drove as fest as they could to send us to downtown Amherst in time. We, finally, arrived at bus stop before the coach appeared.

I could not believe that we were so fortunate and of course, I could not believe there are people so nice to give 2 strangers a free ride. Thank you for the 2 kind ladies and wish you all my bests from the bottom of my heart.

I LOVE CHILDREN !! :)

Cute little boy--JiaShu


I think that I would never keep myself away from children. I just LOVE children too much. Looking at their innocent faces, cute actions and talks... I could not get rid of all those. Some people may think differently from me. To me, children are all angles and they all have their own talents in every aspect. As an educator, I believe that we, adults need to provide more opportunity for children to explore their world. They have their own voices and ways of thinking which could help develop their confidence as well as their creation. In addition, please do not think that the children's talks are nonsense---they are learning to express themselves as well as present their imagination to look at the world around them. In addition, read with you children as often and much as you could.

This cute little boy is JiaShu (家樹), Homeboy's nephew. I think that I love him more than Homeboy now. He is so cute, isn't he?