【华e生活】小记者：Charlotte Xiong 2025年10月20日
使用工具: ChatGPT
作为《华e生活》的记者，我有幸参加了今年的NC State Fair，这场始于1853年的传统盛会，如今依然洋溢着蓬勃的热情与浓厚的生活气息。
午后的阳光洒在会场的入口，空气中混合着油炸甜点的香气和青草的清新，迎面而来的，是一片热闹与欢腾。五彩的旗帜在空中飘扬，远处传来孩子们的尖叫声。人流入织，摊位一排排延伸开去，每一个角落都充满了惊喜与故事。
一进入展区，第一个映入眼帘的就是一家面食小吃摊，Old Grist Mill与其他小吃店不同的是，它不仅提供试吃，还详细向人们展示了内部制作过程，从揉面到下油锅，这使参观者们对入口食物进行了更深入的了解。
接着我们来到了农业展区，这里堆满了来自北卡各地的农作物和手工艺品，展台上摆着硕大的南瓜，光滑的西瓜，还有做工精致的蜂蜜蜡。今年的农业焦点无疑正是来自弗吉尼亚州的Albert Rodebaugh所种植的巨型南瓜 —— 重达2244.5磅。它静静地躺在展览馆中央，供所有参观者打卡，拍照。那一刻，我深切地感受到，土地的力量和人类的执着可以孕育出怎样的奇迹。
走出展厅，夜幕尚未降临，游乐区早已人声鼎沸。摩天轮缓缓转动，车厢在夕阳下闪烁着夺目的金光。我们排队乘坐，从高处俯瞰整个会场，灯光像星海一样铺展开来，音乐声，笑声，香气织成一副流动的画。那种热烈，让人似乎忘记了时间。
博览会的另一大亮点当然是食物。摊位前排着长长的队伍，空气中充满了烘烤与油炸的香味。那里不仅有fried cookie dough, 还有烟熏火鸡腿。虽然价格高达20美金，但是外酥里嫩的口感能让人一饱口服。甜与咸的交织，油与糖的混合，在那一刻似乎也变成了一种属于节日的味道。尽管热量惊人，但每一口都像是在品尝一种独北卡的快乐。
夜色渐深，湖面上映出一抹光亮。9点45分，烟花在空中绽放。红的，金的，蓝的光花在空中次第绽开，映照出了人群的笑脸。离开博览会时，我的脚步已经有些疲倦，但我的心情却格外充实。这场盛会像是一幅鲜活的画卷，把传统与现代，劳动与创造，生活与希望，织进了每个人的日常。它不仅仅是一年一度的节庆，更是一种象征—提醒我们珍惜平凡，热爱生活，相信努力的意义。
My Thoughts and Suggestions on the 2025 State Fair
By Charlotte Xiong, Reporter for Hua E-Life (ChatGpt)
October 20, 2025
As a reporter for Hua E-Life , I had the privilege of attending this year’s NC State Fair — a traditional event that began in 1853 and still brims with vibrant enthusiasm and the essence of everyday life.
The afternoon sun spilled over the entrance of the fairgrounds. In the air lingered the tantalizing aroma of fried treats mingled with the freshness of grass. A wave of cheerfulness swept over the crowd. Colorful flags fluttered in the breeze, and the distant squeals of children echoed through the air. Streams of visitors wove between rows of booths, each corner hiding surprises and stories waiting to be discovered.
The first sight that greeted us upon entering the exhibition area was a noodle food stall, called Old Grist Mill. Unlike other vendors, it not only offered samples but also demonstrated the entire preparation process—from kneading the dough to frying in oil—giving visitors a deeper appreciation for the food they were about to enjoy.
Next, we arrived at the agriculture exhibition zone, where booths were piled high with produce and handcrafted goods from across North Carolina. Massive pumpkins, glossy watermelons, and delicately crafted beeswax products adorned the displays. The undisputed star this year was a giant pumpkin grown by Albert Rodebaugh from Virginia, weighing a staggering 2,244.5 pounds. Resting quietly in the center of the hall, it became a must-see attraction for photo ops and awe. In that moment, I was deeply moved by the power of the land and the persistence of human effort—how together, they can create such miracles.
Stepping outside, the night had yet to fall, but the amusement area was already bursting with energy. The Ferris wheel turned slowly, its cabins gleaming in the golden light of the setting sun. We queued for a ride, and from high above, the fairgrounds spread out beneath us like a sea of stars—lights, music, laughter, and the scent of food weaving together into a living tapestry. The excitement made time feel as if it had paused.
One of the main highlights of the fair, of course, was the food. Long lines stretched in front of each stand, with the air thick with the rich smells of roasting and frying. Alongside classics like fried cookie dough, there were massive smoked turkey legs. Priced at $20, the turkey leg’s crispy exterior and tender inside were worth every cent. Sweet met savory, sugar met grease—and in that moment, it all tasted like a festival. Though calorie-heavy, every bite felt like a celebration of North Carolina’s unique joy.
As night fell, a shimmer of light reflected off the lake. At 9:45 PM, fireworks burst across the sky—reds, golds, blues lighting up the dark, reflecting smiles in the faces below.
By the time we left, our feet were tired, but our spirits were full. This fair felt like a living painting, blending tradition and modernity, labor and creativity, life and hope into something beautiful and shared. It’s more than just an annual celebration; it’s a reminder—to cherish the ordinary, to love life, and to believe in the value of hard work.