Friday, August 24, 2007
Final Friday, Our Last Day in the Golden State!
We organized our baggage, suitcase, and boxes. We washed our stinky clothes and packed our precious belongings. It was our last day. The kids spent the afternoon swimming in the pool and skateboarding with Jason. Jason played with them until sunset. Cheryl and I spent the whole day getting ready to go home.
Before you know it, a month went by in a blink of an eye. Fun never last as long as we want them to be. Now it's time to go home and get ready for school. Are you ready?
Before you know it, a month went by in a blink of an eye. Fun never last as long as we want them to be. Now it's time to go home and get ready for school. Are you ready?
Thursday Shopping Spree~~~~
I don't like shopping, repeat, I don't like shopping! Omg (oh my goodness), shopping with kids can drive you crazy. The question that you will come to hate is "Teacher Paul, can I buy this?" Why? Because they will ask you a million times, that's why!!! We shopped and walked for hours and miles. I had to continuously tell them, "Look but don't touch!"
Anyhow, we shopped the entire day and we went home and Fred cooked for us again!
Anyhow, we shopped the entire day and we went home and Fred cooked for us again!
San Diego Amigo!
Shamu Shamu Shamu! Do you know what a Shamu is? Shamu is a killer whale and we got to see it at SeaWorld San Diego. It was about a two hour drive and my brother Jason came along with us. For the first time, I didn't have to drive. I drove for many weeks now and I have driven more than 2500 miles. It was a nice change. The picture blow is my brother Jason and me. Of course you can see that I am the handsome one in the family ;)
We saw amazing shows that were performed by the trainers and the marine animals such as shamu, dolphin, otters, seal, and others. However, the best show was the Shamu, it was astonishing that animals and humans can perform in harmony. We sat in soak zone and this was the place where you can get wet. At the end of the show, we were all drenched with salt water.
Do you know what is the most expensive fish? It's not toro from tuna in Japan. It's the anchovies in SeaWorld. We bought two trays of fish to feed the dolphin and they were the size of your pinkie finger. Each tray has four fish and the dolphins ate them up in a blink of an eye. What an expensive treat!
At the end of the day, we let the park and we headed to a famous restaurant in San Diego for some buffalo wings. Buffalo wings are chicken wings and drumsticks cooked in spicy sauce. They were closed when we got there but fortunately, we could still buy them and take them to go. Since we couldn't eat inside, after they gave us the food, we ate outside on the ground. It was our special picnic in San Diego!
We saw amazing shows that were performed by the trainers and the marine animals such as shamu, dolphin, otters, seal, and others. However, the best show was the Shamu, it was astonishing that animals and humans can perform in harmony. We sat in soak zone and this was the place where you can get wet. At the end of the show, we were all drenched with salt water.
Do you know what is the most expensive fish? It's not toro from tuna in Japan. It's the anchovies in SeaWorld. We bought two trays of fish to feed the dolphin and they were the size of your pinkie finger. Each tray has four fish and the dolphins ate them up in a blink of an eye. What an expensive treat!
At the end of the day, we let the park and we headed to a famous restaurant in San Diego for some buffalo wings. Buffalo wings are chicken wings and drumsticks cooked in spicy sauce. They were closed when we got there but fortunately, we could still buy them and take them to go. Since we couldn't eat inside, after they gave us the food, we ate outside on the ground. It was our special picnic in San Diego!
Beach Bum Tuesday
Santa Monica here we come! Chasing the waves on a Tuesday afternoon was perfect. Not too many people and the weather, as always in California, PERFECT!
Out of all the places I've traveled, California has the best weather in my opinion. Sunshine all year long and very easy to fall in love with. While we were at the beach, the fog set in toward the end of the afternoon. It was a amazing sight because the fog engulfed the entire pier. It looked like the pier disappeared.
That's right, we went to the beach, swam, and ate lots of sand. Even though it was Tuesday, there was still a good crowd. Some people were tanning, cycling, rollerblading, and surfing. We bought a boogie board to body surf too. The beach was really clean and the water was a little chilly. But that's okay, because it was a hot day.
It was a amazing day at the beach, full of fun and laughters. We washed off and fought the traffic and went back home.
Out of all the places I've traveled, California has the best weather in my opinion. Sunshine all year long and very easy to fall in love with. While we were at the beach, the fog set in toward the end of the afternoon. It was a amazing sight because the fog engulfed the entire pier. It looked like the pier disappeared.
That's right, we went to the beach, swam, and ate lots of sand. Even though it was Tuesday, there was still a good crowd. Some people were tanning, cycling, rollerblading, and surfing. We bought a boogie board to body surf too. The beach was really clean and the water was a little chilly. But that's okay, because it was a hot day.
It was a amazing day at the beach, full of fun and laughters. We washed off and fought the traffic and went back home.
Universal Studios Hollywood!
Today we went to Universal Studios in Hollywood. This is the place where many great movies and tv shows have been filmed. In the morning, after breakfast, we had to drive against traffic past downtown Los Angeles to get to Hollywood. There were so many cars on the road, kids were amazed.
Right after we visited the Haunted House of Hollywood, we went to the Nickelodeon Splash Zone. It was really hot so the kids got really wet. What a fantastic way to cool off. After we visited couple attractions, we had El Pollo Loco for lunch and it was Jackie's favorite. Jackie loved chicken.
At night before we left, we shopped for a while. Kids got the toys and souvenirs that they wanted. At the theme park, I met two cute Japanese girls. I showed Jackie how to pick up on girls and I got their number and email. Kids were laughing and giggling the whole time. I even took a picture with one of the girls with Jordan. It was a long day and we had fun.
Right after we visited the Haunted House of Hollywood, we went to the Nickelodeon Splash Zone. It was really hot so the kids got really wet. What a fantastic way to cool off. After we visited couple attractions, we had El Pollo Loco for lunch and it was Jackie's favorite. Jackie loved chicken.
At night before we left, we shopped for a while. Kids got the toys and souvenirs that they wanted. At the theme park, I met two cute Japanese girls. I showed Jackie how to pick up on girls and I got their number and email. Kids were laughing and giggling the whole time. I even took a picture with one of the girls with Jordan. It was a long day and we had fun.
Adios Calvin
On Saturday evening, we said goodbye to Calvin. Calvin was going home earlier because his school had already started. Calvin goes to Dominican Republic International School.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Don't Want to Leave~
On Saturday 18th, the last day at the ranch, Teacher Cheryl and I watched the kids perform in the show at Rawhide Ranch. It was a hot hot day and all the parents came to see their kids. Cameras were everywhere, people standing and cheering for the show. It was a sight to see!Betty, Jacky, Valerie, and Calvin performed in the animal show where they stood and commanded their goats. Betty and Valerie couldn't really hold their goats, and it was funny to see the goat moving all around. Jacky handled his goat alright, but he wasn't smiling much. Calvin did an exceptional job. His goat stood by his side while Calvin smiled at the judge and audience.
Joe was selected to be in the sheep busting, and he won first place! His sheep, named Boogoo Boogoo, wasn't running in the beginning, but once the sheep started to run, it took off. Joe hung on tightly and stayed on the sheep until the finish. The crowd was full of energy, and Joe stood proudly in the arena as he was given the award.Jordan made a great impression on the counselors; he was chosen to ride in the horse show. He was the youngest and the smallest in the group. The horse that Jordan rode was called Dart; she was a full-size horse. I was really surprised the way Jordan handled the horse. Jordan commanded Dart with confidence; he circled, jogged, turned, and walked the horse. It was really impressive.
Before we left, Betty and Valerie took pictures with her counselor and said their goodbyes. Jacky was really down because he didn't want to leave the camp but mostly because he met two special girls that stole his heart. Jacky fell in love! J acky has a crush on these two girls; one brunette and one blond. Jacky was so sad he cried for a couple of days. For most of the kids, it was a summer of fun but for Jacky, it was more than that. It was his Summer of Love!
This will be a chapter in their childhood that they will forever remember. All in all, the camp was very successful and an unforgettable experience for all the kids. I am really glad and proud that we have chosen the right camp for them. Not only did they have fun but they also learned to be more independent. They took on new responsibilities by taking care of themselves and the animals. These two weeks, they lived without a tv, electronics, and other distractions. They made friends and memories that they will treasure and embrace for their rest of their lives.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Let's Go Cowboys!
Yeehaw! At Rawhide Ranch, we don't say yes, we say Yeehaw! That's right, y'all! It's round up time! We got to the ranch in the evening, and everyone was assigned to a group. Jacky and Calvin, the little ones, and the girls were in their own group. The kids sat in front of the amphitheatre and were introduced to all the camp consellors and staffs. For dinner, we had a buffet and, everyone ate together.At the camp, all the kids came from California except us. That made us pretty special. There were about 180 students in total and about 35 staffs and 35 L.I.Ts. The LIT stands for Leader-In Training, and they are older teenagers who were there to help out the staff. These older students learn how to become leaders through their program.
At night, lights out was at 9:30 pm, and the boys slept in the teepees while the girls slept in the fort. The overall environment was amazing and very safe. There are no cars or traffic anywhere near the ranch, and there are lots of room for the campers to run around.
The morning call was at 6:30 am, and they rose the flag at 6:50 am. After breakfast, the kids went off and did their duties and chores. First thing in the morning was to clean up after all the animals and to feed them. The kids ride horses everyday, and they also have five other classes to take such as animal science, archery, riflery, driver's education, etc. Once they complete the driver's education, they get a chance to drive a horse carriage.
They also have fun games and sports to participate in. The kids also get to take a dip in the pool after they pass the swim test. Some of the little 5 year-old girls can swim like a fish, and I have to say, our students are pretty good swimmers! They are as good as the American kids.
During the break, Cheryl and I were looking for the boys and I said to Cheryl, "I bet Calvin and Jacky are at the store buying snacks and drinks!" Indeed, they were. Calvin and Jacky were eating already by the time we got there, and they were sharing their goods with others as well. I am really glad our kids got along with the Californians, especially Jordan who is really outgoing, and he's gotten to know a lot of other kids already.
The girls were doing well, and they loved the classes. Valerie is more outgoing than Betty. She socialized with other kids, and Betty tagged along. 
Overall, both of them are having lots of fun without the boys, and the boys are having lots of fun without us.The purposes of the camp are to learn responsibility, to gain independence, and to be able to adapt into a new environment. These are the goals and I can already see that they are progressing, and at the same time, they are forgetting how to speak Chinese :P
Saturday at Dodgers Stadium
On Saturday, we went to see the Dodgers in downtown Los Angeles. The Dodgers were playing against the Diamondbacks from Arizona. It was a long drive in traffic to the stadium. For lunch, we had Dodger Dogs, and they were great. It's an American tradition to have hot dogs and peanuts at baseball games. 
Most people think basketball is the most popular sport in America, but baseball is actually America's favorite past time. The kids learned a little bit about the game, and they experienced its unique atmosphere.
Most people think basketball is the most popular sport in America, but baseball is actually America's favorite past time. The kids learned a little bit about the game, and they experienced its unique atmosphere.Saturday, August 4, 2007
Nice and Easy Saturday
We woke up this morning and took it nice and slow. I assigned them some reading and some work to do. Everybody worked and relaxed. For lunch we had Round Table sirloin steak pizza and gourmet veggie pizza. We also had buffalo wings (chicken wings, honey barbeque and spicy).In the afternoon, the kids took a nice cool dip in the pool with Teacher Cheryl. Joe came out of the pool dripping wet, and he walked into the house. We told the kids several times to make sure to dry themselves when they get out of the pool. Not only is it disrespectful but it's also dangerous because once the floor is wet, it can be slippery, and accidents tend to happen.
To correct their bad habits, telling them is never enough. They need to learn by doing. Most parents just get angry at them, but that's not enough. They will correct their behavior by doing the right thing, so I had Joe wipe and clean up the whole floor. I also had Betty and Valerie do the same thing because they also made the floor all wet.
At night, Fred came by the house and prepared dinner for all of us. He also brought a dog for the kids to play with. During preparation, Jordan was very enthusiastic and helpful to Fred. Fred noticed that Jordan is very different; he asks a lot of questions, and he likes to get involved.After dinner, I talked to the kids about responsibilities and discussed their behavior and bad habits. Each of them has his own strengths and weaknesses. I talked to everyone and told them they need to learn from each other. They need to help each other out and correct each other when others make mistakes.
Disneyland and California Adventure Theme Park
Today we got up early and had some waffles for breakfast. Everyone got ready, and we jumped into the Ford Expedition. We've been driving around in this car for a couple of days now. We call this car the Dinosaur because it is so big. It can seat from eight up to ten people in this SUV. The seats are like sofas, very soft. However, the downside is that it guzzles down massive amounts of gas. Anyhow, we headed off to Disneyland, and it took us about 25 minutes to get there. Before we left the car, I reminded everyone to put on sunscreen. Jacky started to play with the lotion and put too much on his face.
We parked the car and took the tram to the ticket office. We bought tickets to both theme parks; Disneyland and California Adventure Park. We got there pretty early and went on lots of rides. We were also lucky there weren't a lot of people at the park, so the lines were pretty short. We didn't have to wait in line for more than forty minutes. 
This reminded me of the time when I was young and went to Disneyland with my family. Fred, my former stepfather, took me to Disneyland, and we had to wait in line for a long time. For some rides, we even waited for more than two hours. Under the hot blazing sun, two hours can be tough.
Fortunately for us, we went through the lines pretty quickly, and everyone went on most of the attractions except for one person, Jacky. He didn't want to go on the rides, and I didn't want him to ruin the day for everyone else, so he waited by most of the exits. The whole day he went on only a couple of rides.In the afternoon, after we had lunch, we ran to the other park. We went on several great rides. First, we went on Soaring, a flying simulator that let you feel like you were flying through California. Afterwards, we went on a water ride and everyone got soaked. It was fantastic, and everyone was screaming for more. So we ran and went on more rides. Jordan insisted he wanted to go on the Mickey Mouse rollercoaster because he said that last time he wasn't tall enough. Joe didn't go on because Jacky and Calvin didn't want to go on it, and Joe was also feeling tired.
At night, Disney had fireworks, and we laid down on the floor and watched the sky light up as fireworks flared above us. Jordan fell asleep as soon as his body hit the floor. He slept on the ground like a baby as if he was in a cradle. After the fireworks, we had some pizza, and we went back to Disneyland to catch Fantasmic. It's a Mickey Mouse performance on water with laser, dance, and special effects. What a spectacular performance, and the audiemce loved it!
Today was the first day that Disneyland Park opened 'til midnight, so we went on more rides until the park closed. We had an exhausting day and all the kids fell asleep before I started the engine. We were the last ones to leave Disneyland, and we got home around 1:30 am. They took turns showering and ate some food before they went to bed. It was a long and tiring day, but it was also very memorable.Thursday, August 2, 2007
Thursday Kids Discovery Science Museum
Yesterday was a long, exhausting day, so today everyone got up later and took it slow. The kids now can take care themselves and prepare their own breakfast. 
They also know their duties and chores such as dishwashing, garbage dumping, bathroom cleaning, etc. There are lots to do, and everyone needs to do their part in order to keep the house in shape.
For lunch, I took everyone to Pat and Oscar's. This restaurant is famous for their chicken wings, salads, and breadsticks. This is just one of the many special restaurants that we went to. Teacher Cheryl and the kids really enjoyed the restaurants that we've been eating at. I might be skinny but I take eating-out very seriously. My favorite thing to do while I travel is to eat--eat well!! 
Eating well doesn't always mean eating fancy food. It doesn't matter which country you go to; in order to eat well, you must know where locals eat! California is a hometown of mine, and I definitely know where to take them. 
Jacky told me that the food is so much better than the food he, Joe, and Jordan had last time when they were here in America with their parents. It was good to hear him say that, and Joe and Jordan nodded in agreement. Jordan loved the food so much his tooth fell out!
Immediately afterwards, we took a short drive to the Discovery Science Museum and spent several hours there. They are many exhibitions: dinosaurs, body parts, a grocery store, physical science, chemical science, pirates, and others. Everything is interactive and educational, and kids asked a lot of questions. Jordan, in particular, played with other American kids. He was the most outgoing on the trip. He really stands out, and he is very much like kids here in California. Although, sometimes he can be a little too naughty, but overall he is great!
From the museum, we headed back to Diamond Bar and visited my schools. We went by my high school and middle school. At the school, I showed them the classrooms and the playgrounds where I spent some of my childhood. It was a very nostalgic moment for me. We also dropped by my old house near the hilltop. We hiked up the hill by the water tower and ran around a bit. 
One thing I noticed was that the kids are not very athletic. None of them can do pull ups or climb on the poles. The kids and Teacher Cheryl had problems hiking up the hill. It was really strange. At night, we went back home, and the kids went to the park with Teacher Cheryl while I stayed home and updated the blog.
My brothers and mom came home and told me some of the kids peed all over the toilet, and the floor and the bathroom smelled horribly. I knew it wasn't the girls, and I knew it wasn't the older boys because I told them to be neat and careful the last few days. It was Joe and Jordan who peed all over the place. So I talked to them and now they are responsible for cleaning the bathrooms. The little boys need to be more responsible in the house, not only in their own homes but in the homes of others too.
The longer I live with them the more I realize they need discipline, especially the boys. They are used to people serving them, cleaning up after them, feeding them, and doing things they want. They think the whole world revolves around them. The boys need to learn how to be more responsible and to take things more seriously. Joe tells me when Jacky and him pee on the floor at home, Aunty will clean it up. I told them next time if they peed on the floor at home or at another person's house, they will use their own shirt to wipe the floor. Today, I made Joe and Jordan feel like they were Aunty, and I made sure they learned that cleaning the toilet is no fun.
Wednesday Madness at Knott's
Today we went to another kid's amusement park. It's not as scary as Magic Mountain but it's more exciting than Disneyland. Today is a day to test their courage! Riding in the car, Jacky was already worried, and he couldn't even pick up his head. He was complaining in the car, so we made a rhyme for Jacky.
Here is the rhyme: "My name is Jacky, someone come help me. Everything's so scary. I need my mommy!"Everyone had a few laughs before we went in the park. The first ride we went on is the newest rollercoaster, and it's called the Silver Bullet. It was a great ride, but Joe and Jordan couldn't go on it because they were too short. Jordan looked disappointed, but we made sure the next ride he was able to go on.
Valerie, Betty, Joe, and Jordan went on most of the rides, and they were really brave. The rides are suppose to be scary, and if it wasn't scary, it wouldn't be an exciting theme park. American culture and Taiwanese culture vary on this aspect of entertainment. Excitement and a little bit of danger is a great way to have fun for Americans. It's like an adventure, and it takes some courage and will power to do it. I tried to make Jacky and Calvin go on the rides. They did go on some, but they started to cry and complain later in the day, so they sat out and watched us. It was hard to lead the group and get everybody excited about going on the rides once Calvin and Jacky started chickening out.
Toward the end of the day, it was Jordan, Joe, Betty, and myself that went on the last rollercoaster. Valerie crossed over and bailed out. She got cold feet the last minute, and she didn't wanted to ride. Betty was going to leave, but she decided to stay even though she was scared. Joe, Jordan, Betty, and I locked into the seat, and the rollercoaster took off! The rollercoaster is called the Boomerang, and it is amazingly fast and smooth at the same time. The fastest rollercoaster we went on is called the Xcelerator, and it went from zero to 130 kph. It was crazy fast! I was very proud of Betty and Jordan; they went on more rides than others. Calvin and Jacky need to learn from others; they need to be more brave and to complain less.
For dinner we had special treats from Knott's Berry Farm. We had their special chicken wings and funnel cake, and everyone loved it. After, we got back in the car, and everyone fell asleep before we got on the freeway. We had a very long day.Tuesday at Raging Waters
Lots of sun and sun burns! Hot hot hot, get a sun tan while it's hot. 
That's right! We went to a water park, and Raging Waters is the biggest water park in California. The day was scorching, and the ground got so hot that we had to tippy-toe across the pavement. Everyone had an exciting time. However, not everyone was brave and tough as you'd want them to be. You can take a guess at who got really scared... it's not the little ones, and it's not the girls! It's King Kong and Godzilla. Calvin and Jacky are the oldest and biggest in the group, but they are the biggest chickens. Both them cried, screamed, and yelled like little girls!
Still... everyone had a fantastic time at the water park. Valerie's waterproof camera came in handy, and we took lots of pictures and some videos in the water. People around us were impressed when they saw us using the camera in the water. Oh yea, you see the boys in the picture... if Jacky and Calvin kept eating, I think they would turn out just like them! On the way home, one of the tires flattened. Luckily, another car on the road honked and informed us. It was the rear right tire, and it had a cut on the side. Fortunately, the Lexus Rx400H came with a full size spare. I parked the car at the nearest gas station and changed the tire in about 15 mins. While I was working on the car, kids were fascinated, and they wondered how Teacher Paul would know how to work on the car. I told them, during high school I worked at a car 
shopm and that's how I learned how to fix a car. After taking the tire off, my brother wanted to help, so he tried to roll the tire around but the tire fell on the drinks, and the drinks splashed all over my face and shirt. It was fun to watch!
shopm and that's how I learned how to fix a car. After taking the tire off, my brother wanted to help, so he tried to roll the tire around but the tire fell on the drinks, and the drinks splashed all over my face and shirt. It was fun to watch!Overall this trip is not only about fun, but it's about becoming more independent, more brave, conquering your fears, developing a sense of responsibility, and growing to become a stronger person. I have already seen changes in some of them such as Jordan and Joe. They remember to do their chores without being told. Everyday, they have a job to do, and they are learning as they go. They are still having some problems one such as Calvin, who didn't take a shower for a few days. Jacky still can't control his eating habits, and he can be very lazy. Valerie is still too shy, and sometimes that can be disrespectful. This is just part of a process, and this is just the beginning..... (to be continued)
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