9/15 Jury duty

Few weeks ago I received a jury duty summon, this is the first time that I got called for jury duty. Don't know how long would that take, I arranged friends to watch Xander and Khai after schools. I was hoping that this duty would only last few days.

After checked in, the clerk told us that this is a capital murder trial, not a good case to be called and it may last a while. In addition, there were 105 people today waiting to be picked in the jury box.

After an hour waiting, we finally got called into the court. It was very exciting because I got to experience the scene that I saw on TV all the time (jury sit in the box and a judge in the front + lawyers from both sides) but I was also very worried that the computer would pick my name. I've gone through many excuses in my head and none of them sounds very good. The clerk started calling names and the judge asked them questions followed by the lawyers from both sides. They kept excusing some juries and calling new people, and some of the excuses from the jury including: "I have short attention", "I have no pay check", "I've read this case from newspaper", "I have medical condition", "I know about guns"....Every time when they excused one person, the whole group knew they might be the next one to be called. It was 12:10 pm and the judge decided to let us have lunch break and come back at 1:30 pm.

We went back to the court room and heard more names got called. More people got excused again, the whole group even got sent back to the waiting room because the judge and lawyers have to discuss something. Finally after 6 hours of picking, the 14 jury were finalized and we got to leave the court room. It's time to check out and collect our money. The clerk told us that she never seen it take that long to pick jurys ever. I received $36.50 that day, what a cheap labor I am. I'm still on call for the rest of the week and luckly that was it for me. No more jury duty for the rest of the week..Yeah.

Updated: 2 weeks later I read from the newspaper that the jury cannot make a decision so the case will be back to the court in January again.

身為美國公民的義務之一就是要當陪審圑員. 法院的電腦會隨機抽取樣本然後寄通知提醒你什麼時候要去法院當陪審員.當我一接到通知單,一則以喜一則以憂..喜的是可以親身體會在電視上看到的情節,憂的是不曉得要弄多久, 小孩子下課後要找別人看會很麻煩.

辦事員跟我們說今天這件案子是謀殺案,不是個好案子而且可能會弄很久.過了一個多小時終於傳我們到法院裡去, 好興奮哦..一直祈禱電腦不要挑我的名字, 我左右2個男士都被叫到前面去了吔, 我不會那麼幸運吧...2邊的律師可以輪流問這14位陪審員.為了挑有利於己方的陪審員, 2邊律師可以毫無理由的叫任何一個陪審員離開. 電腦會再挑下一個人到前面去坐著.法官會問陪審員們一些問題及讓他們說出審判此案有何因難之處...陪審員們好多都有理由像是:"我注意力很短", "我公司不付我薪水","我要常常上廁所", "我在報上看過這則新聞且瞭解的很清楚" 有的沒有的..被告律師每有一個新陪審員被叫, 他都一定會向前詢問問題,所以整個過程弄的好久

法院說先解散,大家去吃飯, 1點半過後再來集合. 好吧, 那我就回車上吃三明治, 睡個午覺再回來吧..同樣的步驟:挑陪審員, 問問題, 說他/她不能當的理由...過了半個鐘頭之後終於選出了14位陪審員..哦,好險.回去待侯室準備領錢.今天在這待了一天,法院會付你一天的薪水加上從家裡來回的車馬費:$36.50.真是廉價勞工.辦事員告訴我們整個禮拜每天晚上都要打電話看隔天要不要去報到,幸好就這樣子不用再回去報到了..真是新的體驗.

題外話:前幾天剛看到報紙,2個禮拜之後陪審圑過了好幾天還是不能做出一致的決定,所以檢方還會再上訴.

First time teaching at Chinese School 9/12/08

The Chinese school in Khai's class was missing a teacher. I've been with pre-school for 2 years while Xander and Khai were in the class plus I sub Khai's class 3 times last year, so I basically know how teacher presented her class. Furthermore, I know I can borrow all the teaching materials and toys from previous teacher, a Chinese school teacher therefore produced in our family.

I had to make sure that I got all the materials ready before 1st day of school. Kids and I had fun visiting dollar stores and picking up fun toys. I told Khai that he had to be very good in class because he is my little class helper from now on; Xander was jealous and said he wanted to be my class helper as well although he goes to different class than Khai.

I dressed in a nice shirt and picked up Wendy sandwitch to eat on the way to school; somehow a big drop of ketchup and mayo sauce dropped on my shirt. I went to school and hurried to wipe them off, too late, a big wet spot stayed there. Luckyly it was at the bottom of the shirt that I can tuck my shirt in the jeans and hide it with my teacher badge.

The class went pretty smooth and I got to meet new students with their parents. It was Chinese Full Moon Festival that night so we went out to see the moon and had some snacks. I think I did o.k. for the first night, but I was extremally hot. I don't know if it's the hot weather or I was too nervous. I heard another new teacher said she feel pretty hot as well. Must be both reasons.

話說今年中文學校,煒勳的那班還少中文老師,學校要家長們出來幫忙. 我想說我已經跟了傑升跟煒勳上了2年的課,很熟悉老師的上課方式再加上我可以跟老師借講義及上課用的道具,就大膽的跟學校遞了我的履歷表.經過了一小時的電話面談, 我很幸運的當上了中文學校的學前班老師.說實話可能是因為沒有其他家長想要出來教吧.

我告訴煒勳他現在開始要好好好表現,因為他是我的小班長. 傑升一聽到就很嫉妒的說他也要當我班上的小班長,可是哥哥你是上別班的吶. 好吧,那要正式上課之前先去買好玩的玩具,下課後可以發給小朋友. 2個小朋友這邊這個好,那邊那個好,還一直問回家可不可以馬上玩. 哥哥跟弟弟幫我把禮物包好準備開學送給小朋友們.

終於是上學的第一天了. 媽媽我穿著乾淨的衣服開車帶小朋友去上課. 路途中買了漢堡來吃, 啊,一大片的蕃茄醬加美乃滋掉到我衣服上了. 到了學校趕快去廁所用溼紙巾擦一擦, 呀, 擦不掉啦..還好, 溼的地方還蠻下面的,可以塞進褲子裡再加上個老師的掛牌就看不到了.

第一次正式當老師好緊張哦.我的臉好熱,說話也說的很快. 第一班的小朋友是3~4歲. 班上有一半的學生在家不講中文或父母是外國人/ABC, 看他們一臉漠然的看著我, 只好自己放慢速度慢慢教. 一轉眼, 第一班就這樣上完了.第二班是給4~5歲的小朋友,他們比較大一點比較快進入情況. 先簡短的自我介紹就跟他們講嫦娥奔月的故事及帶他們到外面去賞月..第一個禮拜就這樣混過去了.

Pei-I's birthday 9/5

Yummy sushi 看起來不錯哦, 好多魚蛋.
My birthday tempura cheese cake 我的生日蛋糕
After the soda, 喝汽水後
Before the soda,喝汽水前
After the soda, 喝汽水後
Before the soda,喝汽水前
Take a picture before we ate them all..趁還沒吃前先照張相.


So today is my birthday and I get to choose a restaurant that I want to eat out. After thinking about it all day, I decided to go to Korean restaurant for korean BBQ where the waitress will serve you many yummy side dishes. We ordered the meats that we cooked on our table. Sean is the chef tonight. The meats were marinated in a special sauce and they all taste so good and tender. Xander and Khai love this place, Xander even require to come back here on his birthday.

My waitress serve us a tempura cheesecake, it's so yummy. The outside skin is deep fried but the cheese cake inside was so soft. MMM....What a special birthday dinner.

話說今天是我的生日,所以一整天就在想晚上到底要去吃什麼好,是要吃日本料理呢還是韓國菜? 肖恩3月生日時才去吃過日本料理,有點想念韓國菜的許多配菜,好吧,那就去吃韓國菜吧.

我們上次有來這家吃過,所以這次帶小朋友一起來吃.在上主菜之前,服務生會先給你十幾盤的小菜,有泡菜,海帶,蘿蔔乾及其他好好吃的小配菜.我們點了自己在桌上烤的韓國烤肉,店家的肉弄的很好吃,烤起來很軟,味道很好.小朋友都很好奇的看著我們烤肉.爸爸今晚是主廚..媽媽我呢就專心的吃飯.

服務生知道今晚是我的生日後要送我一個免費的點心, 是炸的起士蛋糕. 看起來不怎麼樣, 可是吃起來外表很酥,裏面的起士蛋糕很好吃呢.大家就這樣你一口我一口的很快就吃完了.傑升甚至還說他生日時也要來這家餐廳吃飯.

我們隔壁桌來了2位大陸人,一男一女,他們也跟我們一樣是點在桌上烤肉的.只見他們拚命的吃小菜及飯,小菜吃完了還請服務生再多給他們幾盤,總共要了2次哦..看他們烤肉及另一份晚餐也快吃完了.哇, 真會吃.

1st day of school 2008

9/2/08


Xander's first day of school --1st grade.
今天是傑升上一年級的第一天.

Good brothers..Khai:" When can I go to Xander's school?"

煒勳: " 我甚麼時候可以去上哥哥的學校?"

New classroom, new friends. 新教室, 新老師.

My school has a new sign this year. 學校今年做了新的招牌.

Playing puzzles. 我在玩拚圖.

Mummy will you stay with me? 媽媽妳留下來陪我, 好不好?

Kids have been pretty excited about the starting of schools. This year Xander will be in the first grand and Khai will be in the pre-K class. This morning is the first morning in the past 3 months that Xander wakes up before 6:40 am and in a cheerful mood. He can't wait to see his friends and to meet his new teacher.

We all take Xander to school and wait outside in the line to chat with friends. Finally time to enter his new classroom. We help Xander find his desk and where his locker is. Khai wants to stay in the classroom with Xander but we tell him that he gets to come to Xander's school next year. I go home with Khai and have a very quiet day with only one child at home. I love the school starts.

9/3/08 Khai's first day in the pre-K

Today is Khai's big day to go to Pre-K. He is very excited that it's his turn to go to school. He is kind of nervous to stay in the class and wants me to stay with him. I assure him that I'll pick him up in few hours. When I pick him up few hours later, he is having fun playing with his friends. Lucky me get to go to store all by myself and enjoy quiet 3 hours.

星期二傑升要升一年級了. 他一大早6點40分就起床了, 這可是過去3個月來他第一次起這麼早而且這麼興奮呢..吃完了早餐我們大家帶他去學校, 大家都在外面排隊準備進去上課. 大家陸續的進入教室, 幫傑升找好他的座位及他的櫃子. 他已經就續準備開始畫老師放在桌上的圖卡了..我跟煒勳說我們要回家了可是煒勳想要留在教室裡, 我跟他說明天他就可以去上課了...

回到家裡享受了很安靜的一天, 因為只有煒勳在家, 沒有哥哥陪他玩所以煒勳也很乖. 真高興學校開學了.

星期三換煒勳去上課, 我們也是一大早就出發所以煒勳有時間可以玩玩具. 他很緊張一直叫我留下來陪他. 我跟他說我會留一下下可是等一下我就會來接他. 我們玩了一下拚圖老師說要準備上課囉. 他跟著我到門口一直依依不拾, 老師看到了過來抱他過去並問他有沒有看奧運, 喜歡那一項運動? 這樣馬上就得到煒勳的注意力.

趁著小孩在上課我趕快去買菜..真安靜. 3 個月以來第一次自己出來買菜..悠閒的逛著市場並看看有那些衣服在出清....看看時間差不多了趕快去接煒勳...他在外面和小朋友們玩的很高興. 問他還要不要再來上課, 他說好. 現在學校開學了每天都要當司機接送他們了. 晚上早點睡吧.

Making dumplings 包水餃

Xander's dumplings

Pei-I's dumplings

The future chef.

Xander has been asking me to make dumplings for a while. I thought I'll make them before school starts. Mix all the ingredients and Xander is pretty excited to help me. He followed my instructions and started making yummy dumplings. Khai also tried to make some, but he got frustrated that he couldn't make one, so he went on playing toys. Tonight's dinner is boiled dumplings and fried dumplings. Yummy.

傑升已經問了好幾次可不可以包水餃, 想說趁開學前趕快做一做吧...好, 去超市把材料買一買, 混在一起. 開工囉. 傑升很興奮的在旁邊看我包, 他迫不及待的想要露一手..試了幾回他就可以把皮壓的很緊了吔..真是厲害...當天的晚餐就是煮水餃及煎餃了..嗯, 好吃.

Harvest tomato in the garden 收採蕃茄

Isn't it fat?

I'm a good helper, see how many tomatoes that I picked?

Khai: "I want to help too.."

This spring we planted 4 tomato plants and they started producing a lot in the August. We pretty much collect at least 1 pint of cherry tomatoes every day. We enjoy them a lot. A few days ago we went to garden and found out there were so many black stuff on the garden, take a closer look and I found a big fat tomato caterpillar. Look at somewhere else, we found more caterpillars. I was being nice and thought they will become butterfly later, so I told kids to remove them to somewhere else.

Talking to Sean about my discovering on the phone, he told me to kill those caterpillars immediately; otherwise they would eat most of our tomatoes. Besides, these caterpillars will become moth not beautiful butterfilies. I couldn't find a big rock to smash them, so I told Khai to find a bucket from the sand box and add some water. We found 12 caterpillars that evening and put them all in the bucket. Feel bad to kill them all. Haven't seen any later on. Guess they went somewhere else to save their lives. That's right, don't mess around with Pei-I's garden.

今天春天我們家花園種了4 株蕃茄, 到了八月份開始生了好多蕃茄. 每天都有好多蕃茄要採, 今天的蕃茄特別甜. 前幾天和小朋友又去採蕃茄, 咦, 地上怎麼有好多黑黑的東西呀? 往上一看, 天呀, 一隻又胖又肥的毛毛蟲, 再往旁邊一看, 啊, 又有一隻, 再看, 大叫, 又有一隻....心裡想, 不要殺死這些蟲子因為它們日後會變成美麗的蝴蝶吔. 好吧, 叫小朋友幫我把它們抓到旁邊的樹下去放生..數了數, 共找到至少12隻胖蟲...跟老公講電話時他說要趕快把那些蟲殺死, 要不然他們會吃掉大部份的蕃茄. 他又跟我說這些蟲是害蟲, 不要良心不安.....

在附近熊熊找不到大石頭壓死它們, 只好叫弟弟去拿桶子來裝些水..狠心的把這些蟲子們都丟進水裡...還好後來的幾天都沒有發現那些蟲子了..也許它們變聰明, 跑到別人家去養生了.