方便的公車系統

來UIUC訪問的身份是faculty/staff坐公車都不用錢，且公車到站可以透過網路即時查詢，可以輸入站牌名字或交叉路口，就可以知道公車到站的時間，省去班車誤點，或者不知何時才有公車到站的無聊等候。這得誇讚URBANA/CHAMPAIGN區域的公車系統真是發達與先進。其它如果一般身份也可以去辦年票，一年的費用為60元，對每天需通勤，或常搭的百姓也算便宜方便。

買車記

來美國的第一個星期租了一部mini-van，但隨即還車後，感覺沒車像沒脚一樣，特別是全家真的需要一部車子代步。因此有一天和TONY聊起，他很熱心載著我跑遍附近的車商。不是價格太貴，就是車子不中意。本來鍾意的是日本車，無耐價位合適的車商剛好沒有日本的休旅車。陪我去試車的TONY教授，一直不建議我買DODGE的車，他說引擎很不好，機油又會有一層沉澱物。

最後在學校旁邊的一家車商那裏去看車，看中一部FORD WINDSTAR SE 2003年式的車，哩程數為68100哩，且只有一個車主，試了車之後覺得引擎性能及內裝都還算不錯，但開價$6995，若含所有過戶及牌照文件費等，內含一年保固要價約$7700。因此沒有當場決定要買。

回來搜尋一下網站相關資料，隔天下午自已再去一趟，出價$6200含所有的費用及一年保固，本來車商覺得不可能成交，我也跟他說我也不是很中意這部，我比較喜歡日本車，而且我也不急著買。因此起身要離去，銷售員就說他要問經理是否可以成交，結果就這樣當場寫一些文件，開了張支票，車子再開到對面的保險公司，保全險自負額$1000，半年保費529元。再加租屋火險及失竊險一年要價100元，總共約629元。車子就可以安心上路了。

3800cc的車子是我比較擔心耗油問題，其它都還算滿意。隔天到SEARS做了機油更換，前後輪胎對調以及燈炮更換等，共花了約86元。唯一不滿意的是換燈炮，燈泡錢1.5，工資26元???當了一次冤大頭！下次記得到WALMART買燈炮，自已換，工錢自已賺～～～

在美國舒適的家

在Urbana的東南方離uiuc校園約2~3mile的距離，是一個還算新的公寓，共有四層樓，兩大棟對立而設。租的房子在四樓，擁有小閣樓的兩層式公寓，共有三間房間、三套衛浴，一間廚房，一間寬敞的客廳連著餐廳，還有一個大陽台，採用中央空調，環境優雅舒適。對我們一家五口來說，空間相當的足够，每月800元房租，算是物超所值。旁邊有一個公園、還有一個mall，有一間24小時營業的生鮮超級市場(County Market)、一間百貨超級市場、加油站、藥局、銀行、麥當勞、漢堡王、比薩店、還有二間中國餐廳，生活機能還算非常的方便。

出發紀行

8月10日(一)晚上11:55搭乘BR016長榮半夜飛機，5個人總共有10件大行李，５件小行李，一字排開還相當壯觀! 光是張羅行李箱以及運這些行李，就頗大費周章．所幸在多方親朋好友的協助與幫忙下，一一解決．倒是實驗室的同學及助理們竟然出其不意跑來送機，真是大感意外！還帶來了系旗合照，真是有趣！！！
在LA的入關與行李檢查， 也是一件大工程，所幸在飛機上這些小孩有睡飽，養足了精神，因此動員所有的人，總共四台行李車，浩浩蕩蕩完成了入關行李檢查，這件也是旅程中最難解決的問題～
在芝加哥轉機等待了足足四個多小時，頗為無聊，又冷，加上一路照顧小孩到那兒就快要體力透支了! 但小孩們卻是體力驚人，等了四小時，也足足玩了四小時！
到了目的地”香檳城”已是接近中午了，提領完行李，在機場租了一部mini van，順便等待開會完要趕來的主任以及台灣去的哲博士後研究員一起到機場幫忙運行李～終於５人１５件行李總算平平安安到達了租屋的公寓～～～






　

租屋簽約連繋與細節確認

因誠學弟無法接機, 租屋一些細節也需要親自處理, 因此再次確認一些房屋的細節! 確認我租的是一個有閣樓的樣式, 樓下二間房間, 其中一間為套房有衛浴, 樓上有一個房間和衛浴, 她說我的小孩應該會很喜歡樓上的那個房間!

Hi Yi-xxx, I was going to originally give you apartment 318 but the current tenants will not be out by the 11th and I did not want your family to get here and have no where to stay. So, I had 416 so that was vacant and I gave that to you. It is a 2 level apartment. Everything is pretty much on the main level except, there is 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom upstairs. I am sure your teenager would like that bedroom as it would be out of the way of everyone. This apartment is on the top floor of the apartment complex. Your unit is 1228 square feet altogether. Yes, we will be available at 12:30 pm on August 11th. Our office is open from 9am-5pm Monday-Friday and 9am-1pm on Saturdays. You will have water and electric in your apartment when you move in, however, you will want to switch those both over from CPM company's name to your name. I think you will only need your passport. If you have your SSN card, that will work, but many of our students have to prove they are from overseas and supply their passport. You can sign your lease the same day you move in. No problem there. Electric Company is Ameren Electric - Their phone number is 1-800-755-5000The Water Company is Illinois American Water Company - Their number is 1-800-422-2782

THanks,

Kristy

---------------------

Dear Kristy,

My frierd told me that he need to come back to Taiwan for some reasons while I arrive in Urbana. So I need to know more detail information in order to prepare some further detail articles for my rent unit in Cottage Grove. I have some problems for my rent unit as follows:

1. My friend said that you told him my unit is #318 where is located on the third floor. Howerever, you mail me that my rent unit is #416. Which one is correct? and you said that two bedrooms on the downstairs and the other bedroom is on the upstairs. So, Is it a two-story in my unit? and is it located on the top floor of this building? And how many square feet does my unit have?

2. I will arrive in the office of Cottage grove to meet you around 12:30 pm on August 11. Is this time in the office for you?

3. I wolud like to have the electricity and water supply in my rent unit while I move in the unit? What kind of document do I need to prepare? Do I need a SSN in hand? I am wonder that I can not get the SSN in time while I arrive.

4. Do I need to sign my lease document before I arrive in Urbana and move in the apartment? I am eager to hear from you as soon as possible.

Thank you very much!

Yi-XXX

接機連繫

本來誠學弟要安排來接機, 但因臨時有要事需回台灣處理, 剛好錯過我們抵達的時間, 因此安排好的接機突然有變化! 系主任他說要親自到機場接我們, 還開了一部mini van過來, 真是感激!
另外由於剛到的前些天需要趕辦一些手續, 因此打算第一個星期租一部車, 做為交通工具~~~

Dear Professor xxx,

Thanks very much for your message. I think renting a mini van at the Champaign Airport will be a very good idea. I understand that, upon your arrival, you will need transportation, from the airport to your apartment, for a party of five and a fair amount of luggage. You may not be able to transport all using one mini van. We will try to make an arrangement for one graduate student to meet you at the Airport when you arrive. I will have a meeting at 11 a.m. -12 noon on August 11. If you can wait at the CMI for a while, I should be able to come to the Airport to assist you at around 12:15 p.m. This way, we will have one mini van and two passenger cars to take care of your transportation needs. My cell phone number is XXXXXX, just in case you need it.

I look forward to seeing you in Champaign-Urbana.

Best regards,

XXX
-----Original Message-----
Subject: Visiting in UIUC

Dear professor XXX,
I am sorry that it is late to contact with you because I have a messy time
recently in order to arrange the temporary leave with my school work and to
prepare my visiting work.
It took me a long time to find an suitable apartment for my family during
staying in Illinos and YC gave me a lot of help concerning about the
matters of apartment renting. Finnally, I decide to rent a unit of an
apartment for 3-bedroom with two baths located on the S Cottage Grove Ave.
where is in the southeast of Urbana near the Sunnycrest Mall. Although this
apartment is a little far from campus but it seems to have a luxurious
living space and a good living functions. The main reason to choose living
in Urbana instead of Champaign is for my children studying in elementary
school. Although elementary school attendance districts in Urbana are based
on where you live. But, students who are Mandarin speakers and are limited
English proficient have the opportunity to attend King Elementary School no
matter where they live within Urbana. Therefore, I wrote an email to the
principal of The King school and she welcomed my children to attend the ESL
(English as a second language) classes which King school offered. Thus I
will register my children at King on the 13th of August.
As for my flight schedule, I will take the Eva airlines to Los Angels and
then take America airlines to airport Champaign/Urbana(CMI) through Chicago
and arrive in CMI at 11:20 a.m. on the 11th of August. Primarily, YC
will pick us up to my rented apartment but unluckly he needs to come back
Taiwan while I arrive.
Today, YC told me that if you has a leisure time you can pick us up. I
think it is to bother you because I know you are very busy in the
school/research work. Thus, If it is possible I plan to rent a mini-van for
one week in airport CMI as a vehicle so that it is convenent to do many
things about settling in a new place for my family. And I will visit you and
professor Tony in the afternoon of August 11 or the morning of August 12
which depends on your time. Thank you very much for your assistance
concerning about my visiting. You are always kind and enthusistic!

Best regards

XXX

歡迎使用SKYPE 線上聊天及視訊對話

各位好友：
我們即將出發前往美國，若想要找我們和我們聊天，歡迎您使用SKYPE進行線上聊天及視訊對話~~~
帳號是: yi-chich

但請先表明您是那一個好友, 為了安全以及避免產生不必要的困擾, 我們不和來路不明的陌生人對話~~~