August 07, 2011
July 13, 2011
June 22, 2011
June 18, 2011
Some Little Things In Mind/ Murmuring
I should bring the lip balm, sun block, lotion, and umbrella for sunshine next time. Keep water with me all the time, since it's easy to feel thirsty. Also bring some special snacks, like seaweeds to share next time. It's a lot of fun to see the reactions of the kids. People should like rice cookies(旺旺) and instant noodles.
If it's hot in the daytime, and freezing at night as this time, just bring one big coat and that's enough, since I wouldn't go out at night. It's warm in the house and car.
Friends who I met besides the family:
1. Scott Moore-
I saw one guy look like Mr. Moore in military uniform, as soon as I got off the airplane at Sky Harbor airport. Not sure though, since I didn't have a chance to check.
2. Miss Bahe-
Met Miss Bahe at Walmart on 6/2. She said she was still teaching in Alchesay.
3. Lance-
Met in front of a store in Whiterive on 6/9. There were lots of tattoos around him. Didn't talk much, because we were about leaving.
Flights/Packages:
From Kaohsiung, Taipei, LAX(Los Angeles), to PHX(Phoenix)
Picked up my packages at LAX. I wrote $0 for question 15 on customs declaration form about
"Visitors -- the total value of all articles that will remain in the U.S., including commercial merchandises is:" I passed the customs with no problem, even with 2 large comforters. However, I pronounced "comforters" wrong, so the customs staff didn't understand what I say at first, and I needed to bring my packages through X-ray scanner again. Took the airport shuttle to terminal 1 to check my package again, but the staff said my packages were already checked to Phoenix, so I just brought the packages to where they loaded the packages on the plane. By the way, there was one more checkpoint before getting to the gate. It's more strict than in Taiwan, and I even needed to take off the shoes. Hard to believe Americans need to get through all of these even for domestic flights. People in Taiwan should already overthrow the government, if the government puts all of these on us.
On the way home:
Checked at the ticket counter, instead of the airport kiosks for self-service check-in at the airport, which couldn't find my reservation. I didn't know my packages were transferred to my flight directly, standing there for more than half an hour, before asking a staff to know this. Still required to change my tickets at China Airlines before boarding. There were so many people, even at midnight. Felt like waiting more than 30 minutes to get that done. It's the security checkpoint again. XD
By the way, the public phones suck at Sky Harbor airport, either broken, or volume too low to hear clearly.
Greyhound Bus:
Took city bus, route 13, outside door 22 or 21 on ticketing level at terminal 4 to Greyhound bus station, which cost $1.75. Got off at the first stop, 24th St, and the station was across the street. Seating is on a first-come, first- served basis, which sucks! People need to line up before the bus comes, and the east-bound or west-bound passengers can board the bus first. Almost couldn't get on the bus, because I didn't know that, and was thinking I should be the 6th or 7th on board and should have many seats left. There were many poor guys who couldn't get on the bus, because there was no seat. U-bus is much better and more comforatable.
If it's hot in the daytime, and freezing at night as this time, just bring one big coat and that's enough, since I wouldn't go out at night. It's warm in the house and car.
Friends who I met besides the family:
1. Scott Moore-
I saw one guy look like Mr. Moore in military uniform, as soon as I got off the airplane at Sky Harbor airport. Not sure though, since I didn't have a chance to check.
2. Miss Bahe-
Met Miss Bahe at Walmart on 6/2. She said she was still teaching in Alchesay.
3. Lance-
Met in front of a store in Whiterive on 6/9. There were lots of tattoos around him. Didn't talk much, because we were about leaving.
Flights/Packages:
From Kaohsiung, Taipei, LAX(Los Angeles), to PHX(Phoenix)
Picked up my packages at LAX. I wrote $0 for question 15 on customs declaration form about
"Visitors -- the total value of all articles that will remain in the U.S., including commercial merchandises is:" I passed the customs with no problem, even with 2 large comforters. However, I pronounced "comforters" wrong, so the customs staff didn't understand what I say at first, and I needed to bring my packages through X-ray scanner again. Took the airport shuttle to terminal 1 to check my package again, but the staff said my packages were already checked to Phoenix, so I just brought the packages to where they loaded the packages on the plane. By the way, there was one more checkpoint before getting to the gate. It's more strict than in Taiwan, and I even needed to take off the shoes. Hard to believe Americans need to get through all of these even for domestic flights. People in Taiwan should already overthrow the government, if the government puts all of these on us.
On the way home:
Checked at the ticket counter, instead of the airport kiosks for self-service check-in at the airport, which couldn't find my reservation. I didn't know my packages were transferred to my flight directly, standing there for more than half an hour, before asking a staff to know this. Still required to change my tickets at China Airlines before boarding. There were so many people, even at midnight. Felt like waiting more than 30 minutes to get that done. It's the security checkpoint again. XD
By the way, the public phones suck at Sky Harbor airport, either broken, or volume too low to hear clearly.
Greyhound Bus:
Took city bus, route 13, outside door 22 or 21 on ticketing level at terminal 4 to Greyhound bus station, which cost $1.75. Got off at the first stop, 24th St, and the station was across the street. Seating is on a first-come, first- served basis, which sucks! People need to line up before the bus comes, and the east-bound or west-bound passengers can board the bus first. Almost couldn't get on the bus, because I didn't know that, and was thinking I should be the 6th or 7th on board and should have many seats left. There were many poor guys who couldn't get on the bus, because there was no seat. U-bus is much better and more comforatable.
My 2nd Home
View Larger Map
I visited my 2nd home in Whiteriver from 5/31 to 6/14. Everything seems the same, though you can always find the differences. The house looks the same, but Jeremy doesn't stay there anymore, and people stay at different rooms. Everyone has their babies, except Eli and Paul. Eli and Paul are taller than me, and look like a man now.
The roads, the streets, and the houses look the same, but it's hard to believe that I forget the trail that I used to run on and the one I walk to wait for the school bus. I know the directions where they are, but just feel strange when I walk on them again. Maybe It's just too long for 9 years.
The air is dry as usual. However, it's so dry that I get the chapped lips, and even need to buy the lip balm, which I don't think I ever do before.The sun rises around 5am and sets around 8pm. It's so hot in the daytime, and the sunshine is too strong to open my eyes. I got sunburned on the first day of the arrival. Also, there are so many fires going on in Arizona at the same time and people always talk about the fires. These are not matched with my memory.
I don't see the ants, rats or cockroaches inside the house, and the foods don't spoil, even though you don't put them into the fridge. I really love this. By the way, I see more spiders and bees this time.
The fried bread with beans and tortillas taste delicious as before. The burgers in US is bigger and better than in Taiwan, but it's more expensive for McDonald's and Burger King. I remember it usually costs less than $5 for the combo in McDonald's 9 years ago, but it costs me almost $10 for the combo of chicken sandwich now. Everything is getting more expensive.
I try some new things this time. I went fishing and caught a catfish and a trout, which seemed the first time ever to catch something with the fishing pole. I like the fish here, because it tastes sweet, and doesn't have many fish bones. Play a new game called "Horseshoe." Also jump into the water at Big Rock. The water is so cold that take away the heat as soon as you are in the water.
Award for Kid of the Year
Got to watch out for some kids this time as well. Isaiah used to be my favorite kid. Now it's Jeremiah and Chunky's daughter(Sorry, but I don't know how to spell her name). The boys are much wilder now. I don't think any kid is that wild by then. Good I don't need to babysit them. :p
A Trip with Reggie
With Apache Girls
Maybe the young girls will have their babies by the time I visit again. ^^
With Apache Boys
There are many missing in the pictures. We will make it up next time.
My Dearest Apache Family
My dearest family, you know how much I love you guys. Wish you the best, and hopefully we will meet very soon. By the way, Reggie is missing in the picture, and I should find a way to put him in the picture.
Lastly, there are so many people I should thank for: Grandmom, Debbie, Mona, Chat, Yoke, and many more. Thanks for being so nice to me, and treating like I am one of the family members. Miss you all and take care of yourselves. Look forward to meeting you again.
May 26, 2011
May 08, 2011
VISA申請
填申請表，一開始那個美簽照片最花我的時間，後來發現了以下這個工具，可快速修改好照片。
美簽照片：
不用自己用軟體修改，美國政府就有提供線上照片工具，可以快速就修改好照片。http://travel.state.gov/_res/flash/cropper/FIG_cropper.html#
先上傳電子檔，把照片放大或縮小、拖拉到那個框框裡面，反正一直試到可以按"Crop Photo"，之後再按"Save Photo"，存到電腦裡面，再上傳到申請表就可以了。
P.S.我一開始試的時候，雖然明明頭都在框裡面，大小也都差不多，可是按Crop Photo一直還是叫我reposition photo，後來我就不管那個框框，放大一點，頭也拉高一點，就ok了。所以如果也一直叫你"reposition photo"的話，可以不理那個框框，隨便調調試試看，或許就ok了。
填寫申請表的部分，有網友分享過了，就不贅述。
另外分享，我當初上傳申請表的照片同護照照片，可是護照是兩年前辦的，所以後來就拿95年拍的大頭照，去相片館洗5x5的照片，因為自認看起來差不多，1組4張花了60元。最後，我自己比較雞婆，就直接自己把照片按照網路上寫的，貼在確認單的左下方，想說這樣比較省時間。
戶籍謄本：
因為預約單上一直有寫全戶戶籍謄本，所以就去申請了，只要帶本人的身份證和印章就可以申請了。因為父母戶口剛好分兩戶，所以兩個都有申請。一份20元。
預約面談當天：
之前看網路，有人說先到源訊檢查資料會快很多，因為預約時間是8:30，所以想說就先去源訊看看。因為是從南部坐客運上去的，所以一大早就到了，如果提早到的話，建議可直接坐電梯到6樓，反正外面有沙發，可以先坐著等到八點，開門進去就可以了。
小姐一開始會請你把護照、確認單、預約單、照片、兩張收據先拿出來，同時會問你是否有美簽和改過名字，剛好我都有。要把之前有美簽的護照和本人戶籍謄本（只要本人戶籍在的那份就好了，因為我戶口和父親在一起，母親的那份他就沒說要拿出來）準備好，同時他會要求你寫中英文名字，因為之前舊名也沒申請過護照，所以就大概寫了一下。很快就檢查好了，就直接去AIT排隊就好了。
到的時候剛好就輪到8:30開始排隊，寄完東西進去後，「記得跟工作人員說，資料已經檢查完了」，然後他就會請你直接走到源訊黃色牌子，一定要說，否則之前去源訊先檢查資料就白費了。
接下來就按照工作人員指示排隊，接受審查就對了。
源訊資料處理完後，就排隊準備進入黃色門後的房間，就開始正式美簽申請流程。
進去前牆上的電視就會放這個影片，先記清楚，待會就照著做，不要再讓那個官員跟你說一次，就會快一點（除非你的資料比較複雜或特殊）：
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0Fvj_wnQL4
按指紋這部分，簡單說個「你好」，就直接拿確認單上的條碼給他掃，掃完後，就按照影片中的方式按指紋，反正就大力點，因為不用力真得掃不到。
最後就排隊等待面試了，這時候可以觀察一下面試官都問些什麼問題，好事先再想要怎麼回答。輪到我的時候，是個長得像蘇珊大嬸或更像之前在Starking看到一個嘴巴可以塞進馬克杯的英文老師，反正就是個好人。
首先問「你為何要去美國？」我回答要去找我之前的host family。
他問"So you were an exchange student?" "High School"（之前何時去的）
接著問「現在的工作」、「工作多久了」、「前一份工作」，
最後問多久沒和我的host family碰面了，回答完後，就說"ok, have a nice trip"，
把快遞單撕給我了。
開心地填完快遞單後，排隊拿手機，稍微耽擱一下，可是出來的時候也才9:20，一開始進去的時候是8:20，一個小時就完成了，有先去源訊檢查真得少很多時間。
隔天下午三點資料審核完畢，後天就收到護照了。雖然另外準備了名片、存摺、保單等額外的資料，可是都沒有用到，之前也想很多，是否會因為找寄宿家庭，所以會多問些其他問題或比較難通過，後來好險很順利，終於不用再為美簽煩惱了。
這期間在網路上也找了很多相關的資料和網友的分享，讓我申請過程可以比較順利完成，所以最後再把我的經驗跟其他人分享，希望大家也能順利申請到VISA。
美簽照片：
不用自己用軟體修改，美國政府就有提供線上照片工具，可以快速就修改好照片。http://travel.state.gov/_res/flash/cropper/FIG_cropper.html#
先上傳電子檔，把照片放大或縮小、拖拉到那個框框裡面，反正一直試到可以按"Crop Photo"，之後再按"Save Photo"，存到電腦裡面，再上傳到申請表就可以了。
P.S.我一開始試的時候，雖然明明頭都在框裡面，大小也都差不多，可是按Crop Photo一直還是叫我reposition photo，後來我就不管那個框框，放大一點，頭也拉高一點，就ok了。所以如果也一直叫你"reposition photo"的話，可以不理那個框框，隨便調調試試看，或許就ok了。
填寫申請表的部分，有網友分享過了，就不贅述。
另外分享，我當初上傳申請表的照片同護照照片，可是護照是兩年前辦的，所以後來就拿95年拍的大頭照，去相片館洗5x5的照片，因為自認看起來差不多，1組4張花了60元。最後，我自己比較雞婆，就直接自己把照片按照網路上寫的，貼在確認單的左下方，想說這樣比較省時間。
戶籍謄本：
因為預約單上一直有寫全戶戶籍謄本，所以就去申請了，只要帶本人的身份證和印章就可以申請了。因為父母戶口剛好分兩戶，所以兩個都有申請。一份20元。
預約面談當天：
之前看網路，有人說先到源訊檢查資料會快很多，因為預約時間是8:30，所以想說就先去源訊看看。因為是從南部坐客運上去的，所以一大早就到了，如果提早到的話，建議可直接坐電梯到6樓，反正外面有沙發，可以先坐著等到八點，開門進去就可以了。
小姐一開始會請你把護照、確認單、預約單、照片、兩張收據先拿出來，同時會問你是否有美簽和改過名字，剛好我都有。要把之前有美簽的護照和本人戶籍謄本（只要本人戶籍在的那份就好了，因為我戶口和父親在一起，母親的那份他就沒說要拿出來）準備好，同時他會要求你寫中英文名字，因為之前舊名也沒申請過護照，所以就大概寫了一下。很快就檢查好了，就直接去AIT排隊就好了。
到的時候剛好就輪到8:30開始排隊，寄完東西進去後，「記得跟工作人員說，資料已經檢查完了」，然後他就會請你直接走到源訊黃色牌子，一定要說，否則之前去源訊先檢查資料就白費了。
接下來就按照工作人員指示排隊，接受審查就對了。
源訊資料處理完後，就排隊準備進入黃色門後的房間，就開始正式美簽申請流程。
進去前牆上的電視就會放這個影片，先記清楚，待會就照著做，不要再讓那個官員跟你說一次，就會快一點（除非你的資料比較複雜或特殊）：
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0Fvj_wnQL4
按指紋這部分，簡單說個「你好」，就直接拿確認單上的條碼給他掃，掃完後，就按照影片中的方式按指紋，反正就大力點，因為不用力真得掃不到。
最後就排隊等待面試了，這時候可以觀察一下面試官都問些什麼問題，好事先再想要怎麼回答。輪到我的時候，是個長得像蘇珊大嬸或更像之前在Starking看到一個嘴巴可以塞進馬克杯的英文老師，反正就是個好人。
首先問「你為何要去美國？」我回答要去找我之前的host family。
他問"So you were an exchange student?" "High School"（之前何時去的）
接著問「現在的工作」、「工作多久了」、「前一份工作」，
最後問多久沒和我的host family碰面了，回答完後，就說"ok, have a nice trip"，
把快遞單撕給我了。
開心地填完快遞單後，排隊拿手機，稍微耽擱一下，可是出來的時候也才9:20，一開始進去的時候是8:20，一個小時就完成了，有先去源訊檢查真得少很多時間。
隔天下午三點資料審核完畢，後天就收到護照了。雖然另外準備了名片、存摺、保單等額外的資料，可是都沒有用到，之前也想很多，是否會因為找寄宿家庭，所以會多問些其他問題或比較難通過，後來好險很順利，終於不用再為美簽煩惱了。
這期間在網路上也找了很多相關的資料和網友的分享，讓我申請過程可以比較順利完成，所以最後再把我的經驗跟其他人分享，希望大家也能順利申請到VISA。
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