MY FEELING!

"Do not run through life
so fast that you forget
not only where you have been
but also where you are going.
Life is not a race,
but a journey to be savored
each step of the way."

February 24, 2007 was the day I left my hometown. I left the bones my parents and my close friends and I moved to another country. It was the United States of America.

When I stepped off the airplane, I felt scared. The police stood in front of the door. They looked bigger and taller than me. They didn't look friendly and especially their skin looked very different from the skin of Asians like me.

Everything for me was very strange, My new life confused me. I didn't know the street I lived on. I didn't know how to use money. I didn't know the prices of anything. I didn't know how to drive a car. My skin dried and I got acne. I had allergies from the California grasses. The language was different. The weather was also different. I felt scared by criminals when I went outside alone. I had to depend on others for everything. I couldn’t do anything myself.

Teacher, I miss my parent so so much, but I never and forever will see them again, because they went far far away.

I try to always remember ,"I need to try more and more, because everything is just beginning."

Hello, Classmates

Hi, my name is Cecilia.

I am going to write a story on the blog soon.

See you in class!

Jelly Belly Visitor Center and Factory!

Jelly Belly Visitor Center and Factory

Hi, teacher and everybody! How is your weekend going? Did you get a chance to relax yet this holiday?

I want to introduce you and your family to a tourist destination where you can go shopping and dining. That’s the Jelly Belly Visitor Center and Factory.

L ook at these pictures. What are they? Can you guess? The flower on the cake, the egg and butterfly on the grass, the flower basket, and the cottage with a pine tree all were decorated with Jelly Belly candy. It’s wonderful

During the 40 minute free tour, a tour guide will walk you through the factory. She will you the state of the art candy making machines. More than 150 different flavored candies are made there. The process is clean, automated and professionally administrated.

You will enjoy the natural aromas of cappuccino, lemon, kiwi, coconut, cinnamon toast and more. If you on a diet, don’t worry, they have a lot of candies without sugar for you choose from. At the end of the tour, you’ll receive two free bags of jelly beans with their compliments.

The Jelly Belly Visitor Center and Factory is located in Fairfield, California, approximately one hour driving time from San Leandro. It’s open from 9am to 5pm. You should come before 4pm if want to take part in the free tour.

I hope you and your family have a nice tour!

THE PRICELESS

The mother was repairing dinner in the kitchen, suddenly little boy ran in and gave her a piece of paper. After she wiped up her hand on apron, his mom opened and read:

- For cutting the grass: 5$

- Clean up my bedroom: 1$

- For go to the market with mom: 50 cent

- For babysitting my young brother: 25 cent

- For take out garbage: 1$

- Good final test: 5$

- For sweep the yard: 2$

Total you owe me: 14.75 $

After she read, looked at her son who waiting for the answer. She took a pen, turns the paper over and wrote:

- Nine months ten days I carried you in my belly: free

- Beside and took care when you felt sick: free

- The tears you made my cry years ago: free

- Sleepless to worried for your future: free

- All the toys, food, clothes you had: free

- And the most expensive, that’s my love for you: too free

After he read this page, he feel moved and said: “I love you very much”. And then he wrote the sentence with big letter: “YOU WILL BE PAY FULL”

Source: www.tuoitre.com.vn if you don't read Vietnamese, scrool to the bottom half of the page - Translate from: "Condensed Chicken Soup for the Soul"

THE MYSTERY SPOT

If, on occasion, you come to Santa Cruz, California, don't forget to visit a famous place called The Mystery Spot.

It was discovered in 1939 and opened to the public in the 1940's. In this spot it seems like the laws of gravity do not apply. Things seem very strange. It can make you dizzy.

When you stand on one side a line you may seem shorter than your friend. If you and your friend change places than you will seem taller than your friend. If you drop a ball put down a slide it looks like the ball is rollingup hill. I didn't believe my eyes. I was stupified!

The plants in the forest are odd, too! The branches of the plants are all leaning toward one side. When you walk around this spot your body inclines forward 30 degrees even though the ground looks level. You need to be in good health when you go there because it will make you feel dizzy. I felt dizzy for several days.

If you don't believe me, go and find out for yourself!

MOTHER`S DAY!!!!!!

HELLO! Class,Today i talking about Mother`sDay.In must latincountrys,we celebrated in May10.On this oliday,Im send money and flowers to my mom,money to my sisters and my mother-in-law.This mont is very special for me, is my birthday too.im feeling little sad becose my family is in my country but my two dauthers,and my husban, give me; happines.In this country celebrate at secon sunday from this monts,the people was on restaurant,or gotten some gifs,Althroug some peoples thougt this is bad is only business,stores,and merchant to take advantage,sale more expensive.If you felt good done this is O.k,My father told; each head is a word.

Welcome to Viet Nam!

WELCOME TO VIET NAM!

Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is the first place in Viet Nam that you should visit. It's beautiful, animated, noisy and friendly. There are a lot of famous places you can visit: Independence Palace, Ho Chi Minh Museum - Nha Rong Wharf, Lotus Lake Park, Suoi Tien Tourist Area (Fairies Stream), Van Thanh Park and Ben Thanh Market are worth seeing.

At Ben Thanh Market you can buy handmade souvenirs including traditional Vietnamese clothing like the "Non La” - hat made of latanier leaves and the Ao Dai formal dress.

The second place I want to introduce is Hanoi. Hanoi is the capital of Viet Nam. Life in Hanoi is calmer. It isn't as noisy and animated as Ho Chi Minh City. Ba Dinh Square is the place where Uncle Ho read the "Independence Declaration" on September 2nd, 1945.

There are also many other interesting towns, cities and beautiful places to visit. Ha Dong is a small town famous for its silk. Ha Long Bay (the Bay of the Descending Dragon) is often touted by proud Vietnamese as the world's eighth wonder. Among the main attractions of Ha Long Bay are the calm water and the thousands of limestone mountains dotting the seascape.

Sapa is an old French hill station, nestled among the Hoang Lien Son Mountains near the Chinese border. Because of its situation near the tallest mountain range in our country, it is possibly the most scenic location in Vietnam. Members of the Black Hmong ethnic minority live near the town. Other ethnic minorities come to Sapa for the weekly market.

Vietnamese are funny, friendly and open-hearted. Welcome to Viet Nam, I hope you have a good trip!

Hi, Classmates

My name is Nghia. I will write a story very soon!