University of Texas China Care
Big Brother/Big Sister
China Care hosts a Big Brother Big Sister Program which encourages close companionship between a student volunteer and one of the adopted Chinese children. Outside of China Care's playgroups, they meet one-on-one and form a close bond through games, activities, and spending quality time together. To sign up for Texas China Care's Big Brother Big Sister Program, e-mail Playgroup Director Lucy Liu at lucyliu2k@gmail.com.
PREVIOUS BIG SISTERS:
Big Sisters: Esther Kwak, Shirley Yang, Rachel Shin
Little Sisters: Hannah and Rachel Raymond
“We love to bake together, decorate cupcakes, paint our nails, play with the dogs, and do crafts!”
Little Sisters: Hannah and Rachel Raymond
“We love to bake together, decorate cupcakes, paint our nails, play with the dogs, and do crafts!”
Big Sisters: Stephanie Kan
Little Sisters: Allie Harwood
“Allie and I love to visit parks/playgrounds, draw, talk about princesses, and be adventurous together!”
Little Sisters: Allie Harwood
“Allie and I love to visit parks/playgrounds, draw, talk about princesses, and be adventurous together!”
Big Sisters: Molly Sun
Little Sisters: Meilan Hardin
“Meilan LOVES horses and exercising! She has Monopoly: Horses Edition, pictures of horses all over her room, miniature horses, and even a life-size horse plushie. When we are together, we love to play soccer, play monopoly, eat Heather(her mom)'s delicious cooking, and talk about what's happening in our lives right now. I love the Hardin family. =)”
Little Sisters: Meilan Hardin
“Meilan LOVES horses and exercising! She has Monopoly: Horses Edition, pictures of horses all over her room, miniature horses, and even a life-size horse plushie. When we are together, we love to play soccer, play monopoly, eat Heather(her mom)'s delicious cooking, and talk about what's happening in our lives right now. I love the Hardin family. =)”
Big Sister: Victoria Wang
Little Sister: Jian Jian Heath
"My little sister and I enjoy using our imaginations to play pretend bank and school. We also love to go out and about around Austin to eat, play, and various other fun adventures."
Little Sister: Jian Jian Heath
"My little sister and I enjoy using our imaginations to play pretend bank and school. We also love to go out and about around Austin to eat, play, and various other fun adventures."
Big Sister: An Pham
Little Sister: Samantha Gargano
"Samantha and I love to play Uno, color, make jokes and play board games together!"
Little Sister: Samantha Gargano
"Samantha and I love to play Uno, color, make jokes and play board games together!"
Big Sister: Trisha Wong
Little Sister: Jade and Julie
"My Little Sisters and I get to see each other nearly everyday! We have a very busy, yet fun schedule! The girls' hobbies are soccer, Chinese dance, and playing violin. Julie and Jade love art projects so we try to do them as often as we can! They also like to put their heads together and beat me in Connect Four! I am so lucky to be a part of their lives, and I look forward to learning more about them! Now, I can finally tell them apart, can you?"
Little Sister: Jade and Julie
"My Little Sisters and I get to see each other nearly everyday! We have a very busy, yet fun schedule! The girls' hobbies are soccer, Chinese dance, and playing violin. Julie and Jade love art projects so we try to do them as often as we can! They also like to put their heads together and beat me in Connect Four! I am so lucky to be a part of their lives, and I look forward to learning more about them! Now, I can finally tell them apart, can you?"
BIG BROTHER/BIG SISTER CANDIDATES:
Name: Michael Sishung Hung
Year: Senior
College: Psychology/Sociology
Hometown: Houston, TX
Other Activities: Taiwanese American Student Association, Vietnamese Student Association, UT Electronic Music Studio
Hobbies: Music & composition, Motorcycles
Something Interesting About Yourself: I spent the past summer in Beijing studying Mandarin in an Intensive Chinese course. I was under a language pledge and was not allowed to speak English for two months! My very first experience in China when my plane landed was getting quarantined for H1N1 by the Chinese officials because of a stuffy nose.
Speak Mandarin? Basic Knowledge
Have Transportation? I will most likely have my motorcycle in Mid October.
Availability: Sunday (Anytime in afternoon) Monday (After 2pm) Tuesday (After 12pm) Wednesday (After 12 pm) Thursday (After 2pm) Friday (Anytime in afternoon)
Year: Senior
College: Psychology/Sociology
Hometown: Houston, TX
Other Activities: Taiwanese American Student Association, Vietnamese Student Association, UT Electronic Music Studio
Hobbies: Music & composition, Motorcycles
Something Interesting About Yourself: I spent the past summer in Beijing studying Mandarin in an Intensive Chinese course. I was under a language pledge and was not allowed to speak English for two months! My very first experience in China when my plane landed was getting quarantined for H1N1 by the Chinese officials because of a stuffy nose.
Speak Mandarin? Basic Knowledge
Have Transportation? I will most likely have my motorcycle in Mid October.
Availability: Sunday (Anytime in afternoon) Monday (After 2pm) Tuesday (After 12pm) Wednesday (After 12 pm) Thursday (After 2pm) Friday (Anytime in afternoon)
Name: Brian Kao
Year: Senior
College: Natural Sciences/Liberal Arts
Hometown: Port Lavara, TX
Other Activities: Asian American Campus Ministry, Student Volunteer Board
Hobbies: Ultimate Frisbee, Swing Dancing, Football, Piano, Bike Riding, Transformers
Something Interesting About Yourself: I often recognize people by their hair. When people change their hair, I don’t recognize them anymore.
Speak Mandarin? Basic Knowledge
Have Transportation? Yes
Availability: Sunday (After 2pm, flexible) Monday (After 7pm) Tuesday (After 6pm) Wednesday (After 6pm) Thursday (After 7pm) Friday (After 3pm) Saturday (flexible)
Year: Senior
College: Natural Sciences/Liberal Arts
Hometown: Port Lavara, TX
Other Activities: Asian American Campus Ministry, Student Volunteer Board
Hobbies: Ultimate Frisbee, Swing Dancing, Football, Piano, Bike Riding, Transformers
Something Interesting About Yourself: I often recognize people by their hair. When people change their hair, I don’t recognize them anymore.
Speak Mandarin? Basic Knowledge
Have Transportation? Yes
Availability: Sunday (After 2pm, flexible) Monday (After 7pm) Tuesday (After 6pm) Wednesday (After 6pm) Thursday (After 7pm) Friday (After 3pm) Saturday (flexible)
Name: Alice Niu
Year: Junior
College: Natural Sciences
Hometown: Houston, TX
Other Activities: Pre-Dental Society
Hobbies: Tennis, Ping Pong, Drawing, Crafts, Piano
Something Interesting About Yourself: I was born in China and moved here at the age of 6. I am from Chengdu, China.
Speak Mandarin? Yes
Have Transportation? No
Availability: Friday (After 4pm) Saturday (3-6pm)
Year: Junior
College: Natural Sciences
Hometown: Houston, TX
Other Activities: Pre-Dental Society
Hobbies: Tennis, Ping Pong, Drawing, Crafts, Piano
Something Interesting About Yourself: I was born in China and moved here at the age of 6. I am from Chengdu, China.
Speak Mandarin? Yes
Have Transportation? No
Availability: Friday (After 4pm) Saturday (3-6pm)
Name: Kathy Tian
Year: Freshman
College: Business
Hometown: Plano (Dallas), Texas
Other Activities: Texas Exes, Honors Business Association, Business Honors Program Steering Committee
Hobbies: Watching good movies and TV shows, Chinese cultural dancing, cello, music in general, running, having fun with friends
Something Interesting About Yourself: My favorite childhood memories involve making dumplings and watching Chinese movies with my parents and grandparents around Chinese New Year.
Speak Mandarin? Yes
Have Transportation? No
Availability: Sunday (2-7pm) Wednesday and Friday (2-6pm) Saturday (12-6pm)
Year: Freshman
College: Business
Hometown: Plano (Dallas), Texas
Other Activities: Texas Exes, Honors Business Association, Business Honors Program Steering Committee
Hobbies: Watching good movies and TV shows, Chinese cultural dancing, cello, music in general, running, having fun with friends
Something Interesting About Yourself: My favorite childhood memories involve making dumplings and watching Chinese movies with my parents and grandparents around Chinese New Year.
Speak Mandarin? Yes
Have Transportation? No
Availability: Sunday (2-7pm) Wednesday and Friday (2-6pm) Saturday (12-6pm)
Name: David Tsai
Year: Senior
College: Finance, Economics
Hometown: Richardson, TX
Other Activities: University Investors Association, UT Toastmasters
Hobbies: Basketball, working out, studying Chinese, reading, hiking
Something Interesting About Yourself: I played in the UT Mariachi band for two years. I studied abroad in Beijing Fall ‘09
Speak Mandarin? Limited proficiency
Have Transportation? Yes
Availability: Sun (All day), Mon (8 am – 1 pm, after 7 pm), Tues(after 7 pm), Wed (8 am – 1 pm, after 5 pm), Thurs(After 7 pm), Fri(All day), Sat(All day)
Year: Senior
College: Finance, Economics
Hometown: Richardson, TX
Other Activities: University Investors Association, UT Toastmasters
Hobbies: Basketball, working out, studying Chinese, reading, hiking
Something Interesting About Yourself: I played in the UT Mariachi band for two years. I studied abroad in Beijing Fall ‘09
Speak Mandarin? Limited proficiency
Have Transportation? Yes
Availability: Sun (All day), Mon (8 am – 1 pm, after 7 pm), Tues(after 7 pm), Wed (8 am – 1 pm, after 5 pm), Thurs(After 7 pm), Fri(All day), Sat(All day)
Name: Sarah Zou
Year: Senior (but will probably still be in Austin for another year)
College/Major: Marketing/Psychology
Hometown: Kanata, Ontario / Plano, TX
Other Activities: Business Partners
Hobbies: Cooking, reading, crafts and DIY projects, shopping, guitar
Something Interesting About Yourself: I was the first person in my extended family to be born outside of China, and all my relatives still live there. Also, I’ve been taking French since kindergarten and am probably equally fluent in Mandarin and French.
Speak Mandarin? (not required): Yes
Have Transportation? (not required): Yes
Availability?
Year: Senior (but will probably still be in Austin for another year)
College/Major: Marketing/Psychology
Hometown: Kanata, Ontario / Plano, TX
Other Activities: Business Partners
Hobbies: Cooking, reading, crafts and DIY projects, shopping, guitar
Something Interesting About Yourself: I was the first person in my extended family to be born outside of China, and all my relatives still live there. Also, I’ve been taking French since kindergarten and am probably equally fluent in Mandarin and French.
Speak Mandarin? (not required): Yes
Have Transportation? (not required): Yes
Availability?
- Sun: All day (except playgroup)
- Mon: Before 8 pm
- Tues: 4 – 6 pm
- Wed: Before 3 pm, after 5 pm
- Thurs: 4 – 6 pm
- Fri: All day
- Sat: All day
Name: Xinxin Wang
Year: Sophmore
College/Major: College of Natural Sciences- Mathematical Sciences (Statistics and Probability) and College of Liberal Arts – Business Economics
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Other Activities: Vietnamese Student Organization, Student Government, Uteach
Hobbies: I like to bake cookies/cakes, window shop for useless things and watch romantic comedies but mostly I just enjoy hanging out with my friends! I’m also a movie addict (especially for foreign films).
Something Interesting About Yourself: I have a six year old brother in Houston so I use to babysit all the time (and believe me, he’s a handful!)
Speak Mandarin? (not required): Yes.
Have Transportation? (not required): No.
Availibility?
Year: Sophmore
College/Major: College of Natural Sciences- Mathematical Sciences (Statistics and Probability) and College of Liberal Arts – Business Economics
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Other Activities: Vietnamese Student Organization, Student Government, Uteach
Hobbies: I like to bake cookies/cakes, window shop for useless things and watch romantic comedies but mostly I just enjoy hanging out with my friends! I’m also a movie addict (especially for foreign films).
Something Interesting About Yourself: I have a six year old brother in Houston so I use to babysit all the time (and believe me, he’s a handful!)
Speak Mandarin? (not required): Yes.
Have Transportation? (not required): No.
Availibility?
- Sun: 10am – 2pm
- Mon: 12pm – 5pm
- Tues: 5pm - 11pm
- Wed: 12pm – 5pm
- Thurs: Not available
- Fri: 12pm – 3 pm
- Sat: All day
Name: Hien Nguyen
Year: Junior
College/Major: Natural Science / Nutrition, Pre-Dent
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Other Activities: Texas Pre-Dental Society
Hobbies: Swimming, basketball, ping-pong, eating, cooking, cleaning, watching movies, bowling, volunteering, and playing poker.
Something Interesting About Yourself: One of my biggest passions in life is being healthy and living a long life. This passion of mine started when my father was diagnosed with high cholesterol. Learning that high cholesterol can lead to heart disease and strokes changed my personal views of life. Ever since then, I wanted to learn all I can about maintaining a healthy lifestyle so that I can spread this knowledge to others.
Speak Mandarin? (not required): No
Have Transportation? (not required): Yes
Availability?
Year: Junior
College/Major: Natural Science / Nutrition, Pre-Dent
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Other Activities: Texas Pre-Dental Society
Hobbies: Swimming, basketball, ping-pong, eating, cooking, cleaning, watching movies, bowling, volunteering, and playing poker.
Something Interesting About Yourself: One of my biggest passions in life is being healthy and living a long life. This passion of mine started when my father was diagnosed with high cholesterol. Learning that high cholesterol can lead to heart disease and strokes changed my personal views of life. Ever since then, I wanted to learn all I can about maintaining a healthy lifestyle so that I can spread this knowledge to others.
Speak Mandarin? (not required): No
Have Transportation? (not required): Yes
Availability?
- Sun: 10am – 7pm
- Mon: Before 12pm, After 1pm
- Tues: After 6pm
- Wed: Before 12pm
- Thurs:
- Fri: All day
- Sat: All day
Name: Brittany Wang
Year: Freshman
College/Major: BHP/Plan II/Pre-Med
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Other Activities: Honors Business Association, Texas Inter-faith, Plan 2 Undecided Newspaper
Hobbies: Cooking and baking, arts and crafts, riding bikes, trying new foods or sports, and doing spontaneous things
Something Interesting About Yourself: I love to travel and try new things. A couple of summers ago, I backpacked through China with my brothers. It was definitely an unforgettable experience. We visited the big cities like Shanghai and Beijing, but I also spent a lot of time in rural areas, which was something I had never experienced before.
Speak Mandarin? Yes
Have Transportation?: No
Availability?
Year: Freshman
College/Major: BHP/Plan II/Pre-Med
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Other Activities: Honors Business Association, Texas Inter-faith, Plan 2 Undecided Newspaper
Hobbies: Cooking and baking, arts and crafts, riding bikes, trying new foods or sports, and doing spontaneous things
Something Interesting About Yourself: I love to travel and try new things. A couple of summers ago, I backpacked through China with my brothers. It was definitely an unforgettable experience. We visited the big cities like Shanghai and Beijing, but I also spent a lot of time in rural areas, which was something I had never experienced before.
Speak Mandarin? Yes
Have Transportation?: No
Availability?
- Sun: Anytime
- Mon: --
- Tues: After 12:30pm
- Wed: --
- Thurs: --
- Fri: After 1:00pm
- Sat: Anytime