A Sincere Letter to New Immigrants

Dear New Immigrants:

        Welcome to an extremely diverse country— the United States. New life will be excited and challenged for new immigrants. There are few useful tips I’d like to give you; and I hope those tips can help you integrate into this country and live better as soon as possible.

      1.     Smile at for everyone

Keep smiling when you are greeting and chatting with others.  As you may have heard,  we know American is a country of smiling faces, so you have to remember to that show your smiling face to others—even strangers—whenever and wherever you can. It seems like a difficult task for some people who don't have doesn’t has this custom in his or her original country. But now, you are a new immigrant to this country, and you should adapt and adjust yourself quickly as soon as you embark on a new life in the United States. As the saying goes that:  when in Rome, do in Rome as Rome do.  

      2.     Make Eyes contact when you talk with your talker

In the United States, eyes contact is an act of showing respect to others; and it is very important body language when you are talking to others. If you don’t have eyes contact or avoid looking at a talker’s eyes, American might would think you might be able to telling a lie or disrespect to the speaker talker during the conversation. You need to learn how to use eyes contact when you speak  or listen  with your talkers; despite the fact that most new immigrants don’t like to look directelly in each others' eyes at talker’s eyes in their own country.

      3.     Drive carefully and legally

New immigrants, please drive carefully and legally every day, because you might not be able to afford tickets!.   It This  is said that American is a country driven by automobiles; hence, people—new immigrants are no exception— who are living in the United States depend on vehicles every day.  As a result of lots of cars, drivers should pay attention to driving. On the other hand, most drivers admire about his driving skill to others, how careful and legal he is. However, it might not be true for every driver. There are some situations easily always neglect  overlook by us, and easy to get tickets; but, you need to know such as don’t run yellow lights, don’t take a short cut through drive-through, don’t drive in the on HOV lane when you are single driver, don’t drive and driunk (including a few beers), don't go over speed limit—especially in school zone (20 mile) etc.     

     4.     Make an appointment before a meeting

Making an appointment is a very common custom in all important meetings. For instance: medical appointment, dental appointment, job interview, parents-teacher conferences  meeting, even friends visiting etc. Almost all meetings need an make appointment in advance, so new immigrants don’t forget to do that before you go to a meeting.  If you don not, maybe you may be  would wasting your time.

      5.     Insurance is necessary

Insurance can reduce and pay for your loss, protect your benefit in case accidents happened; and help your  to live easier and better in the United States, so it is a definitely necessary for  to new immigrants. There are all kinds of insurances that impact and affect your lifeve, such as car insurance, medical insurance, dental insurance and house insurance etc. Nowadays, insurance is also an optional matter in many other countries. However, it is a necessary matter here; otherwise, your life might be able to throw into dilemma without insurance. Last, if you were low-income family, you could apply for Medicaid (Medicaid helps pays for the medical care to the poor).  

      6.     File tax returnsing  on time duly

Please remember to file your tax returning before 15^th of April every year. To pay taxes is an obligation of every citizen and resident; therefore, new immigrants should make and file your tax returning on time every year.  Perhaps, this is a totally new conception for some people who didn’t know that before they came to the United States;. bBecause some governments make taxes for their citizen compulsively; so people from those countries have no idea  about this for that. It doesn’t matter. New immigrants can find a lot of relative information about it on the from Internet. Libraries also offer free tax help. Just don’t forget to make and file your tax punctually.

      7.     Stay positive and avoid being negative in public

Americans are very polite people, and they always stay positive rather than being negative in public. You can often hear Americans praise and compliment for others, like “Great… Awesome….” —even to for  a passerby—in all public places. Encouragement is a basic policy for education and socializing in the United States, especially in conversation. Hence, don’t make say any negative comments words and sentences in public conversation, even though you think the person isn’t very  awfully nice. You only can pour out that to your close friends and family. In addition, speaking in a low voice is also another polite cumstom  way in public.

There are just a few I just concluded brief tips for new immigrants from my life experience; and you will find out know more and more tips, and live better and better in the future.  Have a nice life in the United States.

We Need to Help Each Other





In my experience, immigrants help each other whenever we can. Most of the time, immigrants— as a person who is away from his or her homeland—would feels lonely and helpless when they confront difficulties or problems.  This is a time that we really need help each other.

We are so lucky that our friends (my friends and my husband’s friends) always give us a hand whenever we need; as the saying goes (a quote said that) “A friend in need is a friend indeed”. Every time, our entire family goes to travelling by airplane, we never call a taxi. Because some my husband’s friends always takes (send) us to the airport. As long as we take a call to them, they would be very happily agree to do (to promise for) this unpaid job. In addition, our friends were also provided a better service than cab drivers. They helped us to move our luggage, and don't (didn’t) forget to say “Have a nice trip” to us along with their sincerely smile—that puts us in (would give) a good mood for our trip; moreover, it sends a gust of warmth thought our bodies.  
There were also so many situations that people--even strangers--help would give you a willingly help in the United States, . I remember one time; I brought my stepson to an indoor playground at south center mall. My cell phone had slipped out of  was escaped from my jacket due to its shallow pocket; but I wasn't didn’t aware of that at all until a kind man warned me. He said “Ma’am, is it your cell phone on the ground?” with his friendly voice. At that time, I realized think how kind and honest he is. Because I had many experience when like that, thieves picked my pocket to steal money and cell phones in my own country. I didn’t feel safe, and I had to must put my back pack in front of my chest when I walked in public place with crowed people. However, people in the United States are warmhearted and obliging. I think—maybe, because the US is a country of immigrants—people had similar experience before, so they understand clearly about that everyone needs help, and everyone should offer help to others. 

I am not only a helping acceptor but also a helping giver; because I believe one principle that “Gaining from the world, repaying more to the world”. I like to make a birthday cake as an absolutely surprise for my classmates, teachers and friends on their birthday once in a while. Frequently, I also like to offer take a free ride for my classmates and friends who don’t have their own car .  Also Besides, I usually like to help my classmates and friends to solve their problems. For example: I helped my classmate to apply a library card; because she has no idea about that at all as a new immigrant.  I gave some directions to my friends. , such as: where they could buy more specific foods from their countries, ; where they could buy a used piano, ; where is the nearest swimming pool in this neighborhood…For strangers who need help, I am also happy to help them. I would volunteer to open the door for disabiliedty people; I would like to pick up raise the fallen toddlers at to my feet; I would like to reach stuff from the high shelf for old people…In a word, we are living in a (harmonious) society nowadays; and so we need to help each other whenever and wherever we can.

Review of The Shaw shank Redemption

 

The Shaw shank Redemption is a movie based on a story of breaking prison. Since it is a criminal story, people prefer to comment its negative more than positive. But I have different opinions from others; I think it an inspirational movie in fact. In order to express my opinions, so I write this movie review to share some my points of view with you.

In my opinions, The Shaw shank Redemption is a dramatic movie.  In 1947, the leading character Andy was a banker who was convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. Based on the strong circumstantial evidence, he was sentenced to life sentences at Shaw shank prison.  At the beginning of his prison life, Andy met lots of problems there. Such as: fellow inmates pushed him aside; gay gangs did the sexual assault to him.  On the other hand, thanks to Andy’s wisdom and financial experiments, he quickly befriended by most of his fellow inmates, and he has his best friend in the prison —Red; even prison guards and warden took advantages of him (The warden made use of Andy to laundry the money under the false identity of Randall Stevens). Moreover, Andy expanded the prison library for his inmates. That seems like an impossible matter for people in prison, but Andy did it. At the same time, he played a donate long play over the public address system for all inmates to hear.   All he did just want to enlighten and impart one allegory to his inmates--that is everyone should have and maintain his hope when placed in a hopeless position. In 1965, one young man (Tommy) was brought into Andy and Red’s circle friends. Tommy revealed that one of his fellow inmates at another prison had claimed to murder Andy’s wife and her lover—this might prove that Andy was indeed not guilty. Andy reported for the warden that he wanted to appeal his case. Because of fearing the end of his money that Andy was looking after for him and fearing that Andy might disclose his corruption if Andy released, the warden put the guard leader up to kill Tommy and claiming he was an escapee. Andy was clear about that he would stay at Shaw shank prison for the remainder for his life after Tommy’s death. The ending of the story astonished everyone that Andy told his best friend (Red) of his dream of living in a Mexican-pacific ocean town, and instructed Red to find a box Andy left after he was freed.   The day before Andy carrying out his plan, he took the warden’s ledge, suit and shoes away. Midnight was coming... Andy made his escape through the tunnel (Andy had dug it with a small rock hammer over the last two decades) and a narrow sewage drain during a thunderstorm. The second day morning, Andy used the identity of Randall Stevens to withdraw warden’s all money from several banks; at the same time, he sent the evident of warden’s corruption to a news paper. Finally Andy got his redemption by breaking prison and gaining warden’s money despite its illegal behavior. When Andy’s best friend—Red was freed, he followed Andy’s advice to find the box and travelled to Mexico where he met his best friend---Andy. 

In my point of view, The Shaw shank Redemption is also a philosophical movie--despite of its criminal theme--because there are some significant scripts that we should be worth thinking deeply about. As following:

·        Remember, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things; and no good thing ever dies.

·        I guess it comes down to a simple choice: get busy living or get busy dying.

·        Fear can hold you prisoner.  Hope can set you free. A stronger can save himself.  A great man can save another.

All scripts in the movie convicted two major believes to us(The whole script conveyed two major believes to us): one is hope; another (the other)is freedom. I absolutely impressed by those classical scripts, and I also realize the meanings of them. Everyone (whether he/she is a physical free man or not) needs hope that pushes us insist on our dreams and advance bravely is necessary for our life. When we meet frustrations, difficulties and failures, so long as we adhere to do it along a firmly hope, and we would success in the end. Just like Andy, nobody could image that he could dig a tunnel for escaping with a rock hammer.  But he has a strongly hope and unshakable believe in his heart--that is why he could do that.

Ten years ago, one of my friends recommended this movie to me... but I was not interested in it at that time. I didn’t like the movie that happened in the prison, because I thought the movie with prisoners were violent, cruel, sanguinary and insignificance.  But the Shaw shank Redemption totally changed my mind for that.  Indeed, it was a successful movie with breaking prison; moreover, it was an ancestor for story of breaking prison. In 2005, a TV play series that named “Prison Break” soon was being popular at home and abroad on FOX channel and Internet. Although “Prison Break” was a copy edition for the Shaw Shank Redemption, a lot of people were still crazy for it. I am also like both, not only the dramatic story but also the philosophical scripts inside. If you were also interested in dramatic story, I’d like to recommend you to watch them.  This is an absolutely excellent movie that you shouldn’t miss it.