My Experiences in Huntington, WV by Jianhua Zhang

 I feel that Huntington is a wonderful place, the people are friendly and Marshall University is a good place to study. So, I think Huntington is a good place for living and studying.

Huntington WV is a wonderful and beautiful place .The state of West Virginia has a long history in the USA. It is a very beautiful mountain state, so it is also called "wild and wonderful". Huntington is a tri-state and the second largest city in WV. I visited the Huntington Museum of Art. It has many beautiful parks, such as Ritter park, Rotary park, and Riverfront park which is on the Ohio River . The Ohio River is a very famous river in the USA and also very beautiful. The weather in Huntington is very good, not so hot in summer and warm in winter. The sky is always blue and the atmosphere is very clean. I have taken many beautiful pictures in Huntington so that I can remember the things I 've enjoyed about this place. 

I found the people in Huntington are very kind and friendly. They greet you with smiles and hellos. I remember the first day when I came to Marshall University, some American students greeted me positively with smiles and welcomes, and shook hands with me. They also invited me to watch the next day's football game. I also remember when I came to the federal office to get a security number, the lady officer who waited on for me was very polite and kind to me. When she knew I was from China, she asked some questions such as, "Do you miss your home?" "When will you go back to China", and she wished me good luck . People in Huntington are glad to help others. I remember when I conducted a survey and an interview with some American students from Marshall University that they were all very kind and glad to answer my questions. I have especially felt that our teachers are very friendly to us. I felt they are not only teachers, but also our friends. Indeed, they are our best friends in the USA. 

Marshall University is good for studying and training. Marshall University is considered one of the best universities in WV. Marshall University is a source of hometown pride for most of the city's 50,000 residents. The campus of Marshall University is very beautiful. Marshall University has many good students and teachers. Marshall University also has many international students who are from many countries, so it is experienced in teaching international students English and their majors. The studying conditions are also good. There is students center for students to study, act, shop, eat and have a break. There is a library named Drinko Library for students to borrow books and read magazines and periodicals. I often went to the library to use the computer in the library, because it has access to the Internet and is open 24-hour almost everyday. This is very convenient for studying and getting information. Marshall University also has many sports fields. It has a football stadium, baseball field, softball field, basketball field, tennis field, etc. I have watched 2 football games at the football stadium, and I learned some knowledge about it, I think this is useful to learn Marshall University's culture. Another reason I think Marshall University is good for studying is that the cost of living in Huntington is lower than other cities in the USA. I think the University Courtyard where I am living is convenient to live in. The University Courtyard is rented only to students, and it is near Marshall University (it only takes about 15 minutes to walk to the library), so it is very appropriate for students to live and study. There are also computers and sports equipment at the leasing center of the University Courtyard. I often went to leasing center to do exercises and use the computers and sometimes printed papers. I felt that I am living easy. 

I will go back to China pretty soon. I miss my family very much, but I think I will never forget my life in Huntington, WV. I will also never forget my teachers at Marshall University-Nikki Thacker, Drew Ciccarello, Jane Taylor, Cary S. Metcalf, Teresa A. Daniel, and our friends working at Center for International Programs of Marshall University - William A. Edwards, Zhao QingQing, and Cao Jiong.