Aboutthreeweeksago,wehostedahighschoolstudentfromJapanfor10daysforherspringbreakintheUS.HernameisPatriciaandsheishalfItalian,1/4Brazilianand1/4Japanese.
Patriciaisverymature,politeandsweet.HerEnglishisverygood.ShemovedtoJapanwhenshewastwelveaboutsixyearsagowhenherparentsacceptedajobthere.ShecouldnotspeakJapaneseatallatthetimeandJapaneseissohardtolearnforawesterner.Shefeltverylonelyandhate...[
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YesterdaywastheValentine'sDay.OliviabroughthomeacardshemadeformeandDad.IaskedhowherValentine'sDaywent,shesaidgoodbutthenshesaid:"Iprobablyshouldnottellyouthis,butIamgoingtotellyou.""What?"weasked."Aboyaskedmeout"sheansweredwithastareatourfaces."What?!Whatdoyoumean'askingyouout'?"Wewereshockedasshejustturned12eventhoughshementionedbeforethatacoupleofthegirlss...[
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Acoupleofweeksago,OliviaandEvanhadtheirannualcheckup.Oliviajustturned12andEvan9.Hereisthestat.SinceOliviaissensitivetoweightnow,wearenotgoingtodisclosehereJ.
Evan:56¼inches(~143cm),80percentileforweightand90percentileforheight
Olivia:65.5inches(~166cm),90percentileforbothweightandheight[
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DuringthedrivingtoGranna'shouseforThanksgiving,Oliviatoldusabouther"jobplan"duringherschoolyearsbeforeshegetsarealjob.Shementionedaboutbabysittingthroughmiddle&highschoolandcollege,workingatWAWAassoonasshemeetstheminimumagerequirement(asitiskindofcooltomeetpeoplesheknowsintheneighborhoodthere),workingforapetstore,etc.
Iaskedher:"Howaboutbeinganinternforacompany?Youdon'twantt...[
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EversinceOliviastartedthemiddleschoolinthefall,Ialmostneverseeherstudyathomeexceptdoingsomeprojects.Shehasalwaysbeen"runningaround"busydoingalltheseextra-curricularactivities.Iwasactuallyalittleworriedabouthowsheisdoingatschool.Well,wereceivedaniceemailfromhermiddleteacherrecentlyanditkindaputmymindatease.IthoughtitwasveryniceofhersendingusthisnoteandletusknowhowOliviaisdoingatschool.Theemailreads...[
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Well,regardlesshowwefeelaboutit,Oliviaisbecomingateenagerandstartedhermiddleschoolthisyear!Thereareacoupleofchangesinherlife.First,sheworksasaconsolerintrainingintheafter-schoolprogramattheelementaryschoolshejustgraduatedandgothertuitioncutinhalf.Sotechnically,OliviaisnowEvan'steacherattheafter-schoolprogram.Second,Daddygotheratrackphonewhichsheisresponsibleforallchargesassociatedwithit.Olivialove...[
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Alittleoveramonthago,Olivia,EvanandIwentbacktoChinatovisitmyfamily,especiallymydadwhohasbeensick.Evanhadn'tbeentotheGreatWall,soonaverybeautifulfallday,togetherwithacoupleoftouristsfromSingaporeandGermany,wewenttoJuYongGuan(JuYongPass/Gate),whichisfamousforthesteepnessofthissectionofthewall.EventhoughEvanisskinny,heisverygoodatclimbingandhelovestoleadthepack.HeledtheentiretimewhenweclimbedtheFoXia...[
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Mommyhasbeen"bad"–hasn'tupdatedthisblogforahalfyearnow,thelongestIhaveeverstopped.AlthoughDaddyhastoldmelongtimeagotonottoforcemyselftokeepupthisblogbutmommystillfeelsguiltyfornotwritingforsuchalongtime.NotthatIdidn'thaveanythingtowriteaboutyoutwobuteitherIfeltunsettlingfromthestressatworktobeinthemoodtowriteorIsimplydidn'thavethetimeevenifIwasinthemood.YouwillunderstandwhatIamsayingwhe...[
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RightafterOliviamettheminimumagerequirementof11atthebeginningoftheyear,shespentafullSaturdayattendingAmericanRedCrossBabysitter'strainingcourse(infantstogradeschool)andgothercertificate.ShecamehomeinhighspiritandcreatedherfirstresumeandprintedthemonverynicepagerthatDaddyusedtoprinthisresumewhenhewaslookingforjob(Iwasnotsurewhethershegotthisideaherselforitwassuggestedbythetrainer).Sheplanedtogiveth...[
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Acoupleofweeksago,perinvitationoftheWomen'sForumofoursite,aformerchiefofstaffofthecompanycameandgaveaspeechaboutherprofessionalcareerasawomen.Atthebeginningofhertalk,sheplayedthisshortvideocalled"TheOneFlawinWomen".Itresonateswithmanyoftheaudienceandsomepeoplehadtearsintheireyes.IwanttopostitinthisblogbecauseIwanttoshareitwithOliviathatsheshouldbeproudtobeawoman.Iwanttotellherthattherewi...[
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