【正文】 of the English Language program. I was asto unded by the generosity and honesty that I received from the people in Taiwa was a truly remarkable experience. In Taiwan, I lived with a Chinese family. This allowed me to assimilate my culture with the customs and habits of this particular Chinese family. We had long conversations about fundamen tal aspects of Chinese culture and philosophy. The family also brought me to all the Chinese festivals and celebrations. It was in Taiwan that I realize d I must return to college in the United States, and earn a degree in East A sian Studies. After spending a year in Taiwan, I returned to the United Stat es to plete my degree. My time Taiwan taught me so much about myself, and it gave me the perspective to see things from both a Western and Eastern po int of my return to the United States, my life has seen some exci ting changes. I got married about a year after I returned from Taiwan. My wi fe is originally from Venezuela, and she has introduced a new host of cultur al norms that I am learning about. During my free time I teach my motherin law English. She, of course, insists that I need to attain fluency in both S panish and Chinese. And that is exactly what I am doing. My wife and I are b oth students at Rutgers University, and we share our ambitions, hopes and ex pectation of attending graduate school. Currently I am a senior, majoring in East Asian Studies with a minor in Political growing importance of Asia as a determining factor in global economy and the increasing intera ction and merce of the U. S. with China, suggests to me that pursing a ca reer in law would be pertinent and appealing. My knowledge of Chinese cultur e and mastery of the Chinese language would be a very strong asset, and it w ould let me make a significant contribution to the political, mercial and cultural exchange between the U. S. and Asia. ************************************** Subject: UMass. Amherst Anthropology As a double major in Anthropology and Psychology at the University of Rhode Island, I have gained a strong background in both fields. My background is e specially strong in physical anthropology, my primary field of interest. Phy sical anthropology consumes my life。 I am a member of the NRA. I try to tell these folks that I belong to the NRA to fire my rifle. Oh my God! You fire real guns? with real bullets?!? they remark with a perplexed look on their face. Besid es having horns and claws, I now possess a tail and leathery wings. This is how it began five years ago. I had played on a soccer team for several years . As I grew older I began having difficultyplaying soccer because of shortne ss of breath. I was diagnosed as having mild asthma which ended my soccer ca reer and eliminated my participation in most physical sports. Shortly afterw ard, during a Boy Scout summer camp, I participated in riflery at their shoo ting range. This was the first time I had ever touched a firearm. To my amaz ement, I won the camp’s first place award for marksmanship. I was more than eager when a friend of mine asked me if I would like to join a shooting club . My parents were wary when I asked to join the rifle club. My mother feared guns, but my father felt there was no problem with trying this sport. Grate fully, he gave me the opportunity totry rifle marksmanship, despite secretly hoping that I would quit. Both of my parents were afraid of what people wou ld think about their son’s involvement with guns. Like my parents a majority of people believe that all firearms are dangerous to our society. All they remember are the hysterical news releases of street violence and injured chi am often asked how many deer I’ve shot. Frankly, I couldnever bring myself to injure another living creature and neitherwould most of the pet itors I have met. Yet, I keep finding myself defending the sport from all of the misconceptions that surround it. Most people have developed a negative impression of the sport and I have found that these prejudices are difficult , if not impossible, to rectify. Because of this conflict, I have bee an open minded individual. I express my opinions without reservation, and I hav e learned to accept opinions and viewpoints contrary to my own. I do not int end to alter what I enjoy because of the ignorance of friends and acquaintan ces. If people have a negative view of me simply because of the sport I am a ctive in, then they must be so superficial that they cannot see the person w ho I really am. I am no longer apprehensive of being perceived as a gun toti ng, trigger happy fanatic, even though I still endeavor to educate my friend s and relatives on the beauty of this sport. *********************************** Subject: East Asian Studies It’s not often that a kid growing up in smalltown New Mexico strikes up a p assion for Chinese civilization. Nevertheless, my interest in different cult ures flourished during my childhood and adolescence in New Mexico. The beaut y and breathtakingly scenic landscape of this state is enriched with the pro nounced cultural diversity brought about by Pueblo, Hopi and Navajo nations and a large Hispanic population that represents close to 50% of state. When I was in kindergarten I attended a bilingual school in Lemitar, a small town in southern New Mexico. Most of the children at this school were Hispanic. T his allowed me at a very early age to experience a language and culture diff erent from mine. My father has always had a keen interest in people from oth er countries and cultural backgrounds. As a librarian, my father has always encouraged me to read not only Western Philosophy, but Eastern Philosophy as well. In addition, he inspired me to see life from a different perspective. To a large extent, and by most definitions, I have always been a