11

To David and Karen,

這裡是我到美國來唸 EE PhD 的第一個家，也是我充滿回憶的一個地方。剛開始過來時還完全不了解美國的租屋環境和文化，經過一段時間後，對同儕們的租屋經驗略有耳聞後，才了解這裡的環境和各項條件真的很好，也非常慶幸一到美國就能夠住在這裡。我很喜歡待在這裡的日子，結果一路就住到了博士畢業，又待了快一年才因為工作的需要而搬走。

住在這裡我感受到很多的安全感和溫暖。你們非常重視社區的安全，除了對監視攝影和密碼鎖的更換等事情非常重視以外，還時時提醒各位房客許多應該注意的細節，以確保社區的安全，經過我這幾年的經驗，覺得你們做的這些真的對大家非常有幫助！而這裡因為許多鄰居們都也是來異地生活的台灣學生，大家互相照應、分享生活，許多人在這裡交到許多好朋友甚至遇到了另一半，這些都是珍貴且深刻的連結。因為我個性比較害羞怕生，這樣的環境是我剛來美國時非常需要的，我的留學生活也因為住在這裡而總是充滿了溫暖。

最後要特別謝謝這些年來你們的照顧，你們真是最親切又熱情的房東，對我的各種需求，可以說是有求必應。你們還常常跟我分享在美國生活的許多小知識，從各種食衣住行的資訊和省錢方式，到文化差異，甚至是在我打網球的興趣上，都從跟你們聊天的過程中學到了很多東西，在這些地方真的受到你們的照顧非常多。我也很高興能從第二年開始幫你們當館長，幫忙管理備用鑰匙等東西，以及處理房客們臨時遇到的小狀況。在處理這些事情的過程中我學到很多有趣的東西，也因此認識了很多鄰居。因為有時我研究工作的繁忙或是需要離開LA，所以有幾次不能及時幫忙的情況，也很謝謝你們和其他館長的體諒。

離開之後，我會想念這個地方的 :)

This is my very first home in the US. When I first came here I has no clues about what one would expect in a rental house and how bad the experiences could be. Not until I heard many of my peers' rental experiences, I learned how comfortable and safe this place is. Then I realized that I was so lucky to find this place at the beginning of my journey in LA. I like this place so much that I stayed until almost a year after I finished my EE PhD. Finally, I needed to move in 2021 summer because of my job.

During the years I stayed here, I felt safe and included. You always put community safety in the first place. All units have CCTVs and passwords of all the gates are changed every year. You also tell us many tips to keep ourselves safe. After all these years, I have learned how important and helpful those things are. Besides, since many of the neighbors are Taiwanese students, we get along with each other very easily. Some of us become very closed friends, and some have even found their other halves here. These connections we established here are invaluable for all of us.

Finally I want to thank you for your care and all the help you have offered me. You are very kind and warm hearted landlords who always answer my questions and take care of my concerns. I've also learned a lot from you about the life and cultures in the US, money saving tips, and even fun facts about my favorite sport, tennis. It was my pleasure to become a house manager in my second year and to help the tenants since then. I really enjoy the job because I learned a lot from it, and also got to know many neighbors. There were many times I was too busy working on my research to help the neighbors. I am also thankful to your understanding of such situations.

I will definitely miss this place.

耕世 5/28/2021

10

致親愛的David和Karen

非常謝謝你們過去這六年的照料，希望能透過這封信簡單的表達我的感激。

回首往昔，猶記得剛決定要來USC就讀博班時還四處打聽推薦的房東，很幸運地透過朋友介紹認識David和Karen這對待人充滿熱心的房東，透過幾次的郵件來回很快就決定租下一戶，沒想到這一住就是六年。剛開學的第一個月兩位就很熱心的邀請所有數十位新住戶一同吃自助餐，讓大家互相自我介紹，令彼此能有機會進一步認識不同背景的左鄰右舍，這讓剛到美國人生地不熟的我可以與大家互相交換寶貴的留學生活經驗，進而順利融入新的環境。之後每月初的早午餐會也謝謝你們提供美味的餐點，從第一年的多元餐點到逐步演變成主打台灣特色的早午餐，透過品嚐你們親手烹煮的台灣道地肉羹湯和滷肉飯讓我感受到你們對於住戶的熱情與用心，早餐會時大家一起邊用餐邊分享生活中的點點滴滴，這樣的活動每每點綴著我忙碌的學生研究生活。

第二年開始有幸當上館長幫助各位房客處理生活中的大小事，儘管雜事不斷，我也依然享受當館長的五年時間，這當中透過幫助各位住戶讓我有機會與大家有更多的互動，與諸多房客從一開始的點頭之交到大家會互相約出門四處走走，更甚者連離開後都會有不時的互動。儘管在異鄉孜孜不倦的追求博士學位是讓人感受疲倦甚至不時有挫折感，但看著大家努力在美國實現自己的人生目標總能不斷地激勵我繼續努力下去。在洛杉磯，David跟Karen不只提供我一個寧靜且安全的居住環境，更提供我可以不停在挫折中前進的環境，在這裡只能再次說聲感謝你們多年來的照顧。將來有機會遇到想來USC就讀的學弟妹，我一定會再次提到你們兩位提供的優質居住環境，希望我下次回到洛杉磯能有機會再跟你們碰面聊天。

祝 身體健康

To David and Karen,

Thanks for your care over the past six year. I would like to express my gratitude through this letter.

I can still remember the time when I decided to come to USC for my PhD study. I asked around for house rental recommendations. Luckily, I heard from a friend about this warm hearted landlord family, David and Karen. After a few email iterations I decided to move in here. It was hard to imagine that I stayed for six years then! In the first month I moved in, they invited all new tenants for a buffet. There, we introduced ourselves and got to know each other. As a clueless grad student who just came to the US, it was a great chance to meet the neighbors and exchange our experiences, which helped us fit in to the new environment. I am also thankful for the delicious food you brought us in the tenants gathering every month. I can feel your warmness and care from your home-made Taiwanese food (pork thick soup and braised pork rice bowl). Every month we shared our lives and memories while enjoying the food, which was a precious memory for me in my busy PhD studying live.

Since my second year here I was a house manager who helped other tenants and took care of many housekeeping errands. Though there were many trivial chores and errands, I did enjoy being a manager. Helping the tenants, I got more involved with them, and we still hang out even after we moved out. Pursuing a PhD degree in a foreign country was difficult and sometimes frustrating to me, but I was inspired a lot by those people around me who worked hard and finally fulfilled their dreams. In LA, you provided not only a safe and quiet place to stay, but also an environment where I can strive despite all the setbacks. Thank you! I will recommend this place to future USC students, and I hope I will meet you again next time I visit LA.

林廷儒 4/30/2021

9

非常謝謝你們這段時間的照料，太多內心話不好意思寫在官方版會放在網路上的文字。一直覺得很幸運能住在這裡，相信你們也感受到我父母對於我身處在異地的一切擔憂與關注。在來之前，就聽聞這裡的治安不佳，很謝謝你們特別強調你們在居住安全上做的努力，以及學校所提供的安全規劃，要不我父母可能每天在台灣過著提心吊膽的日子。我也很意外的發現，我父親的刷鍋具行為居然讓 Karen印象深刻，不過他的確有點捨不得，畢竟我真的從未離開家，所以真的格外感謝你們保證我在這裡住宿的安全。

在學習期間，我也有機會到學校附近不同朋友的家拜訪，看過不同的房子、大型公寓，比較下來，你們所提供的居住環境與價格是最好的，房子內用具齊全，每當有任何問題時，一通電話工人馬上就會過來修理，有些朋友家可能烘乾機壞了一個月房東仍未處理，而大型公寓的住宿完全就看個人運氣。你們也有一個良好親友介紹傳統，保障這裡的住戶品質，也讓彼此成為互相鼓勵的好友。在這一年半的住宿期間，我的房間剛好碰到了政府的檢查，歷經了幾週的廁所裝修，雖然整修期間房間充滿著一些灰，但很喜歡翻新的廁所和拉門，謝謝你們特地選用最好最新的材料，看過我房間的朋友們都說拉門很漂亮！謝謝你們非常用心的打理這一切！

時光飛逝，沒想到一年半的時間就這樣過了，雖然這段期間發生了很多事情，但大家都平安健康是最重要的，感謝你們對我及家人的關心，期待未來保持聯繫，我會懷念David的email、Karen分享的各種小故事，以及你們做的肉羹湯和滷肉飯的！也感謝你們為新住戶舉辦的聚餐，很幸運的能在前年參加到～最後還是很高興能住在這裡，讓我能有一個良好的學習環境，可以好好體驗這裡的一切。文筆欠佳請見諒，仍未能完整表達心中所想，僅在有限版面寫下感謝。

祝 身體健康 事事順心 房客多多 天天開心

Thank you for taking care everything during the tenancy. It is a little shy to speak up all my thought. I feel very lucky to live here. You knew how my parents were worried about me staying in a foreign country. I really appreciate the safety policy you announced for necessary home security because I heard about the poor security around USC before I came. My parents would live in fearful without knowing your safety policy. I am also surprised that my dad’s behavior of washing pots impressed Karen. Actually, he was really worried about me because I had never lived outside. Hence, really thank you for assuring him my safety.

I have compared my rental house with other houses where my friends lived, and I found out my rental house with complete furniture is located in a more friendly environment but with lower rent. Also, the worker would fix the problem very soon if any issues were found. My friends who lived in another place could spend more than one month contacting their landlord for resolving any issues. I like the referral system for introducing friends to assure the tenant quality, which also helps each other becoming good friends in the end. In this one and half year, my room was under the government inspection. Although there was a little messy during bathroom renovation, I really liked the new bathroom and the sliding door. Thank you for choosing the best and newest material. All my friends commended this beautiful sliding door. Thank you for helping handling these difficult problems.

I can’t imagine one and half year was so short as time flies. In spite of all unfortunate things in 2020, all the tenants remain safe and healthy. Thank you for taking care of me again. I will definitely miss the emails from David, the stories Karen shared with me, and delicious food of pork thick soup and braised pork on rice. I felt lucky and thankful for attending the dinner party with new tenants before the last year. Thank you for providing such a good place for studying and living. It is hard to write down all appreciation within this short page.

Hope you healthy and happy.

Winnie, Jan. 17, 2021

8

Dear Karen & David ~ 時間真得飛快,一年多的相處竟然就到了分離的時候;非常謝謝你們像父母的照顧和勞心,我們全部的房客都平安在異地成長和體驗生活! 想起當初找房和與您見面,Karen的貼心和David的熱情真得是讓我安心很多;也常常和家人說起早餐會以及平時麻煩您的瑣事~在美生活沒想像中便利,但也許是待不夠久,也認識不夠深,有您們當"顧問",我也因此解決並更了解了許多事~很開心每每跟Karen聊教育的感覺,文化的差異以及教養問題都是我想持續了解的事!當然,也可以深深感受您們對於自己孩子傑出成就的驕傲~那種滿足,期待自己也能帶給自己的父母^^.另外,很幸運能在許多烤肉活動中吃到David抓的魚,並且聽您聊生活的感受,有種爸爸的感覺!這是在異地思念家人時很有解愁的體驗~最後希望您們能身體平安,到處飛行的旅程都順利舒適! Best Wishes,
佩蓉 Helen, Nov 20, 2016

7

I am so thankful that my friend recommended me to move here. I lived in an apartment before I got here. That was a 5B3B apartment for $1375 per month and I had to share the living room, bathroom and kitchen with 6 undergrad girls. It was a terrible experience since both roommates and neighbors are noise at night and they don’t clean the kitchen after use it. The most serious thing is they don’t respect others, one of my roommate trespassed to other roommate’s room. After I moved here, everything is much better. It is a really quiet area and neighbors are really respectful! I don't need to share the bath room since everyone one got their own bathroom. Every month, the landlord will send someone to clean the house and my room. Now I feel I can enjoy my life here and more focus on school!

搬來David 與 Karen 的房子之前，我住在學校附近的公寓，我跟六個隨機安排的美國大學生住一層，五間房三間衛浴$1375，共用廚房、客廳、浴室。因為室友跟鄰居常常在深夜開party很吵，室友用完廚房常不清，浴室要跟人共用不方便，因此住起來很不舒服。在一次室友擅自侵入另外一室友的房間後，我決定搬來現在這邊。 這裡我有自己的廚房浴室客廳跟房間，價格比原來那邊便宜，此外，環境安靜，鄰居也是台灣學生，大多會互相照顧，房東每月都會派人來整理房間跟公共區域，也有熱心"館長"幫大家關照住宿的大小事，讓我覺得住起來舒適多了!

Yu Chi Lin, May 12, 2015, Law

6

Hi all, I am Liang-Chih Wang who rent David's house for almost one year. To say honestly, the house is really good not only the house it self, but also the landlords-David and Karen. They love the house, so if you have any problems about the house or you want anything else, you can just ask them, and they will give you the hand. The house is very near USC(10 mins walk or 3 mins ride to gate 6) it is really convenient to anywhere. The house is newly remodeled, large restroom and wood kitchen, W/D in the room without quater. Quite neighbors, so you do not need to worry about the party durring the midnight. There is also a big garden, in the unit, whenever you want to hold a party more than 40 people will be fine(but don't hold the party after 11) Many people hear that the west of the USC are not safe than north; however, there are two yellow people(hired by USC) just stand not far from the house, and there are closed circuit televisions all around the house, so you don't need to worried about the security. I can promise, David's house is the safest house in the whole west area, because there no other unit have the CCTV. Please don't hesitate, just call David and make an appointment. I can promise you that you won't regret.

Liang-Chih Wang, June 29, 2012

5

"還記得剛來入取南加大時，錄取開心之餘，最頭痛的就是找房子了，在詳細做功課後，發現USC附近套房出租其實隱藏很多陷阱及危險，最後找到了Karen房東，一住就是兩年，因為住這裡真的很有家的感覺，Karen一家人都把我們當成自己小孩一樣看待，可以說是無微不至的照顧我們，每個月繳房租時，還會親自做早餐給我們吃，這是外面絕對不會有的事情，再來講到住房設施，真的是好得沒話說，因為Karen有自己的一個團隊來裝潢整個設施，所以他們會發自內心的考量到住戶的需求來量身打造整個設備，所以能讓我們住得很舒適，至於治安方面，也裝了很多監視攝影器，讓治安無死角，這讓異地學子在外安心念書，家長也可以放心。總之，這兩年很感謝Karen一家人的照顧，他們是我遇到最棒的房東，一輩子也不會忘記在這裡的快樂時光 :)"

Willy Chen, July 1, 2013

4

"Two year ago, when I first landed alone this world, I didn't have any idea how and where to find a residence. Fortunately, my friend just lived on this street and he told me that rumor said the area located on the west of USC with high criminal rate but he had never watched any robbery on this street. Hence, he drove me to find some rental information along the street. After we visited several rental houses, the quality of house is not very good. Suddenly, I found an opening just across his apartment. Next day, I went to this place to take a look. That is a first time I met Karen and David while they were working on remodeling of the house. I say hello to them, and then they found me stood outside their house. They happily walked to me and talked. After the talk, they knew me first year graduate student from Taiwan, and they are also from Taiwan. At the time, I could see the finishing due to the house under construction, but Karen still introduced and promised me all the details when the construction finished.

I trusted them and decided to live here. I though the decision is right. They are very friendly and take care of tenants very much. Also, the reply of maintenance request is very fast. Because they knew the criminal rate near USC is still high, they were willing to spend a lot of money on closed-circuits monitor to protect tenants safety that I have never seen any owner or rental agent company doing the same thing like them. The quality, environment and atmosphere is very good here. Even though rumor still said the area located on the west of USC with high criminal rate, I still have not seen any robbery on this street since I began to live here. I think this place is a nice choice to be your residence.

Finally, thanks Karen and David for helping me a lot and take care of me much"
​​
Ken Lin, June 02, 2012

3

"This is a great environment for USC students to live. House owners are really kind and thoughtful."
​
The advantages for living here are:​
​
• Safety:
Owners spend lots of time and money to keep this house safe. New CCTV, higher fence, high quality door locks (manual and digital), even USC securities around this house. I can promise this house safety.

• Cheapness:
Compare houses around this area, this house is the best choice! I can’t say rental fee of this house is the lowest price. However, consider the quality and price, you will find out it is worth! Whole new rooms, bath rooms, Living room, electronic and gas systems. You will have a wonderful environment to study in USC.

• Owners’ attitude:
Owners love to maintain and upgrade the quality of this house. Their daughters were USC students here, and they lived in here too. For owners, they consider us as their children. They love to listen every detail they can do further. Compare managers of other houses around here, owners are really responsible.
​
• Convenience:
Distance from this house to USC is short. You just ride bicycle 5 mins to get to USC. I strongly recommend USC students can choose this house into you consideration.

Tzu-Hsiang Chang, Master's of Material Engineering Graduate. Resident, 2010-2012

"I have been the tenant here for one year. During this period, I am very satisfied with the rooms, environment, and the atmosphere here. Karen is a the best landlord I have ever seen. She always makes her house in a optimum condition so that all the tenants can have a wonderful place to live. For the rooms, all of them have been remodeled and maintained very well. They are really new and stylish. For the environment, Karen arranges the worker for yard cleaning and garbage recycling so that the tenants can enjoy a clean, beautiful, and comfortable living place. For the safety, which is the most important, the landlord has applied the completed security system for the whole house. We don't have to worry about this thing and can live trustingly and safely. Furthermore, Karen also arranges a "gourmet fair" every month, so that all the people here can get together, enjoy a wonderful breakfast, and share the life experience to each other. The heart-warming atmosphere in this big family is really irreplaceable for the students. If you are still looking for the "wonderful" house and landlord, I sincerely recommend Karen and SoCalSLR!! It will be the best choice for you."
​​
Kevin, Master's of Electrical Engineering Student, Resident 2011-2012

1

"我应该算是在karen接手新房后，第一批入住1265的房客，住了一年半，对房屋，对房东都有比较直观的了解。在这里给所有想要找房的同学提供一些我个人的感受，其中如果有主观的地方，也请大家尽量自己去亲自了解。

关于房屋
房屋至少在我看过的西边的house里面，装修和设施是最好的。用了很多高档的装修材料、涂料，西边的房屋很少有这样的。单个房间的面积都不小，而且有自己的洗衣机和烘干机，也不需要投币，算是一项多出来的福利，也提高了价值。房屋因为是新装修，而且木地板非常好，所以整体感觉非常干净，而且没有蚊虫等困扰。

关于治安
西边的治安很多人都关心。我只说我看到的。前一年学校的小黄衣基本遍布了西边每一个十字路口，至少在1265相邻的好几个block都是这样的情况，一直到深夜。具体多深的夜我也不好说，反正我有2点回家还有人的。整体的治安应该是好很多了。另外房东在自家的院子里安装了很多监控报警装置，据说有12个之多，我觉得这也是很好的保安措施之一。关于房东房东一家都是很nice的华人。每月收房租的当天早上会到院子里搞一个早餐自助，大家自己拿吃的喝的，房东给大家做。房租、费用算的清楚有收据，如果房客觉得有需要改进的地方房东都会及时改进，非常有责任心。

关于邻居
整条街貌似是学生为主，不过这是我的个人感受，不是统计结果。Party偶有，不影响生活。离学校很近，步行7分钟到6号门。

关于以后
房东在做一个很长远的规划，计划陆续买进邻边的房子，加以改进。如果都能按照1265 的标准改进，应该是非常好的计划了。而且都会装有12摄像头，等等。"
​​
Zhou Li, Masters of Telecommunications and Electronics Resident 2010-2012