Happy New Year!

Hi all!!!

How's your winter break? I hope all is good. I myself had a great break, and now it's the first week of spring semester at Augsburg.

Let's first talk about the break. Winter break started on December 18th. I still remember that I submitted my third paper for Professor Crockett by 10AM that day, then rushed back to Urness to vacate my room and carry my luggage to temporary room in Mortenson. That night my roommate came picking me up and drove me to her house. I spent a few days there before going back to Augsburg to work at Institutional Advancement office. Before I left, the Wallners gave me a bag of gift, inside were a mug, a chocolate milk box, a spoon with milk chocolate and some chocolate candy bars. I still have not used any of them except the mug, because the gift is truly meaningful to me.
On December 22nd I left for Oklahoma City by noon. Thanks to the escort that Augsburg DPS provides, I reached the light rail station for free and then spent 1.75usd to travel to airport terminal (I have to say that I find the escort extremely helpful, and Augsburg's location near light rail station is truly convenient for students to go to such places as Target, Cub Food, Mall of America, Smiley Clinic, etc.) I reached OK by 7PM, met my sister's friend and then was taken to a Vietnamese Pho restaurant. There is no word to describe what I felt the moment I ate the food whose taste is truly from home country. During the 8 days in OK, I was lucky to enjoy more Vietnamese dishes that I longed for over the past 4 months. The family I stayed with is very kind and nice, and they have two girls at the age of 6 and 8, who remind me of my nieces. They also gave me 3 jackets as Christmas gift as they heard of the cold weather in Minnesota.
The night before I departed for Minneapolis again I bade adieu to each member of the family, the two little girls said they wish I would come back soon, which I myself hope I can. I reached Minneapolis in the afternoon. Rimi and Jamyang, two of my close friends at Augsburg, took the light rail and helped me carry my suitcases back to Augsburg.
The next day Sang Pham (a junior at Augsburg, also a Vietnamese immigrant) took Rimi, Lucia, Jamyang and me to Chue Xue Lee's place. We had a great night playing ping pong, singing karaoke, eating and cheering one another "Happy New Year". It is here at Augsburg that I meet people who I believe will be my friends for a lifetime. Later on I had a special guest, which made my already great holiday even greater.

And so, now it's almost the end of the first week of spring term. This term I take 5 classes, including:

• HON111 - Honors Effective Writing, Instructor: Professor Colin Irvine. This class is a very important class at Augsburg, as it helps students enhance their writing skills, which is necessary for their success in other classes as well. As writing is one of my hobbies, I hope I can write better both academic and daily writings at the end of this semester. My first impression about Professor Irvine is that he has a good sense of humor and he is willing to help students.
• HON130 - Liberating Letters: Humanist Tradition, Instructor: Professor Robert Groven. Professor Groven is also the director of Honors Program, and I really like his lectures. I am told by many upper-class students in Honors Program that this is one of the most challenging Honors classes. My impression so far about the class is that it is challenging yet very interesting, and covering a lot of knowledge about Western culture and history. Now I am reading Odyssey and Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth with Billy Moyer. I really like the Odyssey, as I am always interested in stories about Greek Gods and Goddess. This class is divided into 4 units, each of which covers a historical period. At the end of each unit, there will be a trial, in which students take turns in different roles: prosecutors, defenders, jury. Each trial will charge a character, or a concept, or an idea in the context the students learn in each unit. I'll update you guys with my first trial experience ;)
• MIS260 - Problem Solving for Business, Instructor: Professor Nora Braun. In this class we mainly work with Excel 2007, and at the end of the semester, we'll have project that requires public speaking skills and knowledge from the course. One thing I notice is that in all courses, all professors encourage students to speak up, to practice public speaking, and various skills needed for future career and academic success.
• MKT252 - Principles of Marketing, Instructor: Professor Rodney Greder. This class covers one of the most interesting parts of business area that I really like. All the concepts about marketing, customer values, etc. excite my curiosity to explore more. Now I am thinking about taking minor in marketing. In this class students are given a chance to write a marketing plan about real products and working with real customers. My group will be working with a group member's family business to make a marketing plan for his mother's bank. Though it's just the beginning of the course, I am already in love with this course. This course material relates much to my previous business course BUS242. A repetition of primary knowledge in business is very crucial for further study and working, I believe.
• HPE001 - Foundation of Fitness, Instructor: Jared Evans. This is a pass/no pass class. I decided to take it with a view of enhancing my health and enduring ability. I am determined to set up a schedule of at least 3 days a week working out at the gym. Kennedy Center is where the gym located, and it is equipped with many machines that will help you maintain a good health.

All of my courses are highly demanding: to get 4.0 in these classes I have to get grades of 94-100/100. This semester is promising to be very challenging and busy. However, because those classes are interesting to me, I believe I can do well in those classes. Last term I got a GPA of 3.625, with two 4.0 in business and economics classes, 3.5 in HON120 and 3.0 in HON100 (which is a disappointment for me, as I did try very hard to study religion and Christianity). Hopefully this spring term I will enhance my grades much more :) I am also looking for a research project with URGO, and intend to apply for First-Year Resident Advisor position. I'll give you more information about these two later.

One last thing, I love Augsburg. I love being an Auggie. I love my majors. I love my friends here. And I want to say thank to many members of the faculty and staff who are supporting me and making me feel so welcomed here. At present some trouble is happening, I am hoping for the best to come so that I can fully have the experience of an Auggie from beginning to graduation. And I am grateful for all the help and concerns that people are giving me. I am keeping my chin up and try to work my way through everything. Hope all of us will have a successful and happy year!