Learning keeps me looking young

趙薇

Whenever someone tells me that I look younger than my actual age, I know it may not be 100% true, but I am still flattered. My heart fills with joy and excitement. I love to learn. The curiosity to seek out new knowledge is what keeps my life significant and meaningful. I am sure this drive keeps me looking young because I have never stopped learning all these years. 我和我先生 To tell you the ture, I have had an unusual experience living here in the United States over the past ten years. Every time I look back, my heart always fills with pride and thankfulness. September 10th,1999 was a big day in my life. My family was reunited here in New York City. My daughter and I arrived landed in the JFK airport that day. My husband drove us from the airport to the Bronx where we would stay. I couldn't help with excitement as we were approaching our home there. The familiar street name and address number appeared in front of my eyes. You know, I wrote this address in my letters to my husband for dozens of times before. It's a three family house which belong to my husband's grandma. It's also a place where my husband grew up.  女儿身后就是在Bronx(布朗市)的家（1999） After the initial excitement, I later found that The Bronx was a place with few Asian faces. I had to adjust to the new life. Everything was new to me, I had to stay home to take care of my daughter instead of working. My life changed a lot, from an accomplished sculpture designer to an unappreciative housewife. I couldn't find pride in my work anymore. I also lost the sense of security in making money with my own hands. I felt kind of lost and out of place. 雕塑设计是我来美之前的工作 Whenever I walked on the street, I seemed to be deaf and dumb. I could neither speak nor understand because of my limited English. During the day, it was hard for me to go out to shop and socialize with my neighbors. When the night sky fell, people did not go out. I really missed the colorful nightlife back in China. I couldn't adapt to the lifestyle here in New York at all. I was so homesick that it made me thinking of going back to the place where I grew up. 我的花布设计稿 One day, when we visited Chinatown, I saw the familiar faces and heard familiar voices. I felt extremely comfortable even though it was every crowded. I was going crazy shopping from store to store. I had tea an dim-sum with my relatives. My homesickness finally got a temporary relief.It was at that time, I began to learn English in Chinatown. At the same time, I took a course in textile design. Lucky enough for me with my art background, I became a textile designer after graduating from that course. Once again, I enjoyed a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment brought on with my professional work in the art field. Learning enlivened my life 百老汇音乐剧《The King and I》演员表 From time to time, I wondered whether the lucky star was always following me. In the Spring of 2003, my nine-year-old daughter was chosen as a cast member for the Broadway Show "The King and I.” As her guardian on the national tour, we traveled around the country for close two years. I made friends along the way during the tour. I learned many things from different people about the American culture. 《The King and I》海报 贝儿在试装 Now my life is full of hope and happiness. I have a happy family with our own house. I attended and graduated from college. I remember a famous proverb which says "Opportunity never knocks on your door twice.” In my case, opportunity not only knocked on my door twice, but three times. Each time, I gained more understanding of this life.  To live in the United States is to have an American dream. My American dream has slowly come true. I love this world. I love this beautiful, colorful life. All of this can not come true without the will to learn new things. I truly believe learning continuously makes me smiling every day. This is the secret which keeps me looking young.