Having friendship partner is one of the best experience I've gained here. I stayed at their house, went to their church and school. I had a great time there. Spending time with them just for 3 days, I think I understand about Americans way of living more than the period of 3 months since my arrival. I feel so lucky that you introduced me this program. Thank you very much.
Faithfully, Ploy (you can use them and put my name in, if you want to. I don't mind at all.)
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Hi, Peggy,
I am a newer on UCSC campus and eager to improve my listening and spoken English by contacting some native speakers. ___ said that you could provide thus opptunities for someone like me. Here say thanks firstly. It's the tenth day after I arrival in American. I like the UCSC campus very much. Thanks again. Best. (new visiting scholar from China)
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Aloha Peggy,
Thank you and your volunteers so much for arrival arrangement, airport picking up from Professor Truett Bobo and housing hospitility from Julie&Kevin Barid family.
I learned a lot of information about Santa Cruz from you. I have found a permanent room to stay and I'm starting my postdoc work in UCSC. Again, thank you all so much for all your help. I greatly appreciate the assistance you have provided me.
Best Regards,
[new postdoc from China/Hawaii]
It is a pleasure to attend your actions for my classmate and I. Thank you very much!
Good wishes [new postdoctoral researcher from China]
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We would like to express our gratitude to you for your understanding and prayer....
we thank HIM for having been able to get acquainted with you.
I saw news that there was a earthquake in northern California. So I feel a little worried about you. Are everyone OK? I think you all should be very well, because you are Christians, God will bless you forever.
Things go pretty well with me. I have a lot of offers, all from China and international big companies... the spring is coming, we can have delightful sunshine again, just like California, I miss the sunshine there very much. I miss you all very much…
Bless,
From Beijing in a cold winter snowing day night
[Chinese PhD student alumni of 2008-09 earned PhD from Peking University 2009]
Dear Peggy,It is a long time not to write to you. I got your message from the facebook and some good news from ISI Santa Cruz. ISI is a very kind orgnazation for our international students. I think half of my spare time activities in UCSC were with ISI. You are the first person I know when I went to U.S. ISI gave us a lot of help indeed and some good instructions, which is highly appreciated in my whole life.
When I came back from September, I am busy with different issues, teaching, researching and family, etc. Even though I don't have too much time for a rest, I can recall you in mind several times a week. I am looking forward to the next time to visit UCSC and we can meet. You are also welcome to Tsinghua, Beijing, China.
Wishing happy Christmas and New Year holidays to your whole family and all the ISI members.
(It is my great honor that my letter can be quoted in your news)
Yours, "Leon" Cao (PhD student, and advisor to grad students, Tsinghua University, China)
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Thank you so much for everything you and ISI has done for us in the past three months. I wish we could stay longer with you nice people ^^ If I have a chance, I will definitely go back to Santa Cruz and visit you, and I will introduce more new friends to you. Thank you again for your great help! Merry Christmas! Wish you a happy mood everyday^^
Sincerely yours, (undergrad, Fudan University)
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Bebe and Fred are really nice people and we've hanged out twice! Today they treated me to a chinese restaurant in capitola for lunch and we were all enjoying it very much! They are interested in China and what I do in China and they'd love to share with my their family, their business of running an NPO for the child adoption and their hobbies~ Bebe is really nice and considerate and caring and fred is quite humorous. I do enjoy our time together, despite the huge generation difference we still find something to talk about in common, that's amazing!!!
Thank you so much for networking and everything you do for the ISI!
Sincerely yours, (undergrad, Fudan University)
*********** Fall 2009 *********** ["*" indicates name changed to protect privacy]
"I believe the new student/scholars will be deeply impressed by the warmth and kindness of our ISI friends."
Bob, president UCSC Chinese Student-Scholar Association --------------
"I really appreciate what ISI has done and will do."
Xiao*/China, Literature Fudan University ---------
"Thanks for your mail, your concern and the arragement for piking me up. ...I am glade to be included in the ISI Santa Cruz email list. Because my english is not so good, I do wish to find a partner to practise my engish and also have a friendship with the partner. My research field is optics, microscopy and bio-photonics. Matching the field is not so important. Wish to see you in your future event."
Dao*/China postdoctoral researcher -----------
"I'm a senior to-be undergraduate studying English Literature. I come to U.S. to attend the exchange problem at UCSC. I learnt from my friend ("Shark") that your organization provides the pickup services to the international student. I'm working for a california registered NPO dedicating to the cultural exchanges between Chinese and U.S. students and the welfare of the underprivileged area in China, therefore it's been a great pleasure to know people from the organizations working for the welfare of the people."
Zou*/China ---------------
"I have arrived on campus for three days and am becoming more familiar with the things around me. I write this email just to express my heartful thanks to your help and Peri is really a nice and humorous woman. Thank you so much!"
Shi*/China ---------------
"I learn from her that you can give us great help. I am really grateful to your heartful help. I have many Chiristian friends here in China, and I learn from them the great love of Christianity. Your sincere help again show me the great love of Christianity! I come from Shanghai Fudan University, China. I am a girl who loves smiling. Thank you again for your great help! Sophia and I will surely enjoy our times staying with you! Thank you very much for your great help! Sincerely yours,"
"Thank you very much. I believe I can be a good member in your group because I believe God even I am still not a Christain. You are so nice. Thank you again."
"Thanks so much for ISI Santa Cruz! We really appreciate your great help! My husband is Jian Lao who is also on your pick up list. We booked a Family Student Housing (FSH) which has already been charged from this August. So we will be very grateful that we can arrive at the booked house. I am not sure whether this will cause any trouble to you. If there is anything I can do, please let me know~ Thanks again! Best wishes,Looking forward to seeing you! Wish you all the best!"
Xun*/China, PhD ---------------------
"Thanks a ton for all the pain you people took. Many thanks,"
Rajiv* & Promita* India/ Doctoral students, NASA ----------------
"I really appreciate what you are doing. It really offers us international students lots of convenience. It's my pleasure to on ISI email list for I-students and I hope I may also contribute sth. to this friendship program. Keep in contact!See you in CA!"
Ying*/China --------------------
"Thank you for this letter. Thank you for Ann's pick-up. Thank you for everything!
I really feel grateful about your deeds. And I must tell you my appretiation on Mrs. Ann Johnson. It was her who picked me up from SFO. She talked to me a lot, telling me many funny stories about Santa cruz, about california and about the States. And after knowing that one of my housemates was in need of a desk, she sent us one the very next day! It wil be never too much to say "thank you" to her!
Everything goes great on me! And plz do add me into your mail list to inform me on your current activities. I will definitely go there if I am free.
As for the American Friendship Partner, I do not want to bother anyone for my practcing English conversation. BUT I DO WANT MAKE FRIENDS! If any of you are interested in having a chat with a extrovert, energetic Chinese youngster, plz let me know. I am quite sure that with your accompany, the following 2 years of learning in Santa Cruz will be funny, exciting, fulfilling and happy. Best wishes,"
JuoZhi* /China Math PhD@UCSC ---------------------
"We... agree that you are doing a wonderful service for the students. Her host identified you as the “lady from the church” – “very nice.” She is a very nice, and thoughtful person – very respectful of our age – and wouldn’t let Loren carry her bags, etc., It was very cute since she is no baby herself."
Claudia,ISI Volunteer -------------------
"Another successful pickup! They took me out for lunch (Chinese food, natch) afterwards."
Pam, ISI volunteer -------------------
"Just a note to tell you that everything went well with the mattress pickup and delivery. After we finished with the delivery I spent an hour or so drinking tea and talking ... We probably could have talked all night. They both gave me gifts from China."
"I am very glad to hear from you so many news. Firstly, I'd like to say __treated me very friendly. We said we can be very good friends later on. it is very good for me to take part in Sunday 2-4's badminton at my house. I think I can make new friends."
Xue*/China
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************* June 2009 *************
"Dear Peggy, I cannot believe that my exchange program at UCSC has come to its end. I will fly back to Shanghai, China on June 17.
Before I bid adieu to Santa Cruz, I'd like to express my sincere gratitude for all you have offered to me, as well as to my Chinese friends through the ISI program. The shared merry moments with my new friends here will be treasured in my lifelong memories....
...I'm feeling great to know that we both have our own way to voice our soul. ...Let our friendship last long, Sincerely, Hai Shang,"
