Journal # 10 Beach Party

Last Friday, I had a chance to join the Beach Party which was organized by ALP at Corona Del Mar Beach. That was the first time I went to beach since I have been America. The beach is very beautiful but the sea is so cold. That’s why I could not jump into the water and swim. However, I had a very good time there. I took a lot photos for Michelle and Vanessa (my friend, not our teach ^^). We went to the pier and took photos then; we walked around the neighborhood there to see the beautiful houses there and took pictures. Around 5pm, it was time for the Barbecue party. So pity that Michelle could not join with us because she had a appointment with her friends. We enjoyed the hot dog very much. Thanks to the ALP’s Staffs and ALP’s Teachers for their hard working on the party in order to has a very exciting party for us. During the party time, we has been interviewed by the ALP’s cameraman, so much fun and joys ^^. After that we played volleyball. Before we left, we had taken a big photo for all ALP’s teachers and students there.

LIFE

from internet
When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee. A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. ! The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes." The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. "Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else---the small stuff. "If you put the sand into ! the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you. "Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the ! golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand" One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend." --->>I like this sentence and always do like this ^^-- hahaha

Journal # 8

After staying here for 7 weeks, I realize that there are a lot of differences between the California and my home city.
First of all is the traffic system. The US has a very huge freeway system. I was surprised by the highway here, the speed is very high. Moreover, the transportation here in California is very convenience. At the first week, I could find the bus route to go to school by myself on internet. In Ho Chi Minh city, buses are always late and they are not very convenience. The roads in Vietnam are much smaller than in US so that we always have traffic jam which can last for many hours.
Secondly, the food is so different. In Vietnam we always have rice for meals in contrast US always have bread for their meals.
Thirdly, teaching styles in US are much different to Vietnam. The teaching method that I am studying here is very integrated. Using a lot of new technology in teaching is effective. For example, in the Advance Grammar class with Mr. Sean, all the notes in class were typed in Microsoft word and were posted on the Backboard. It is very easy for us to review the lesson. In Vietnam, most of professors use the passive way to teach. They come to class and talk about the topic of that day and students are working very hard in order to take note. It made me pay less attention to what my professor are saying and have no time for question.
They are some big differences between Vietnam and US that I have learned since I was here.

IYC introduction in 2007 ^^

free writting ^^

I have been in US for almost on month and will stay here for a long time. Looking the photographs that I toke in Ho Chi Minh city remind me a lot memories. I miss my family and my friends so much. I miss the Vietnamese food. I have tasted the Vietnamese food in Little Sai Gon but it is not the same.
My home town is Ho Chi Minh City which is considered the biggest city and the most dynamic city in Viet Nam. I miss my city so much. There is a big park in front of the Independent Palace where I use to hang out with my friends every Sunday morning for coffee. Then, we went shopping in Diamond department store on the opposite side of the park.
I use to take part in the International Youth Club – IYC, a voluntary club, in Viet Nam. That is an amazing organization. After one year being a member in IYC, I grown up a lot. I have learned a lot from the activities of IYC. Through the exchange programs with the volunteer students from America, Singapore, Korea and other Asian countries I have chance to learn about other countries culture. We also do some social work together. I have lot of foreign friends. Until now, we still keep in touch with each other even it will be very hard to meet each other again.

Sunniers from Korean and IYCers - Viet Nam

The "Green Voluntee Campaign" in Ben Tre with the international students

view more -->> http://www.flickr.com/photos/creation/sets/72157602144696909/

and my IYC

We are IYC ^^

IYC aslso mean I and You Connect!! that's our slogan.

view more -->> http://www.flickr.com/photos/creation/sets/72157604527820938/

journal #6 national holiday.

"HCM Television Cup"


The Independent Palace

In my home country, the biggest national holiday is the Independent day on 30th of April. In 1975, the South of Viet Nam was liberated from the puppet government. Since 1988, the Ho Chi Minh city Television has organized a bicycle race called “HCM Television Cup” to celebrate this national holiday. The route of this racing is often from Ha Noi ,the capitol of Viet Nam, to Ho Chi Minh City. Usually, the winner finishes the race in front of the Independent Palace on 11:30 AM. The race started in the early of April and finished by the 30th of April. During that month, the people of where the race goes though celebrated for the race and for the athletes. After twenty years, the “HCM Television Cup” becomes the icon of the Independent Day in Viet Nam. Beside this activity, the HCM community organizes the meeting for veterans on around the country to help them meet each other and review the memories.
The next day of the Independent Day is the International Labor Day, so we always have a long holiday. In almost shopping centers, it is the seasonal discount time. People do shopping everywhere. At night, there are some outdoor stages in the center of the city for the music shows. A lot of people hang out and the streets are very crowded. We have lot of fun on this holiday.

Knott's Berry Farm.

Vanessa and Rachel

In front of the Camp Snoopy

Knott’s Berry Farm.
Last Friday, all ALP’s students were offered a trip to Knott’s Berry Farm which is considered “America first theme park”. That is nice place to go in South California beside the Disneyland. We gathered at CP-100 at 9:45 and then started at around 10:30, however it just toke us 15 munities to get to the park by bus. Everyone looked very excited. Then, we got the tickets and started a wonderful day at Knott. We also toke a lot pictures there beside enjoyed the extremely crazy games there. I was going in group of four Vietnamese students who are my close friends here in Cal Sate. Two of us did not play any games because they were scared by the fast and strong rosters. The other two, including me, enjoyed some games hi hihi. I had tried the Log Ride first and I had pay $10 for the key chain. It was so excited but I got wet after the ride. Because of the wet clothing my friend and I tried the Perilous Plunge and we totally wet at that time but it’s funny. We toke the Calico Railroad to go around the park and found out a lot of games were waiting for us. After that we went to the Ghost Town and the Indian Trails to create some awesome pictures. It’s time for lunch, we tasted the Mexican style fried chicken which are sour and hot. It was not a good choice however that was an experience. Then, Vanessa and I played some small game and we had won 2 little yellow cutie ducks. That’s the only present I got at that day. We walked around the Fiesta Village and the Camp Snoopy to take photograph and enjoyed the Snoopy show. I had taken some picture with the Snoopy dog and his friends. Due to the bad lunch we had tasted, we decided to try the Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant. On the Knott’s map printed that “no visit is complete without a piece of our famous fried chicken or boysenberry pie” and I totally agree with that phrase after my dinner. We finished our dinner at 6:40 and it was the time to gather at the flagpole to come back school. My brother picked me up at CP-100 right after the bus arrived. It was a tired day but I had a lot of fun there. That night I had a good sleep.

Vietnamese cuisine - "Canh Chua" - Sour Soup

"Canh Chua" in English is Sour Soup.
Vietnamese Sour Soup is the famous soup of the Mekong river religion of Southern Viet Nam. It is a healthy dish which made with fishes and various types of vegetable. I do not know much about the history of this dish because it has been became a very common dish in our Vietnamese family meals long time ago. Sine was a little child; I have loved this dish very much.

In different areas in Viet Nam, there are different recipes of Sour Soup. And time by time, people have created a lot of new kind of Sour Soup such as Chicken Sour Soup, Shrimp Sour Soup, and ect. But I still like the Fish Sour Soup best.

Catfish Sour Soup recipe (Sai Gon style)
(Severing 4 person)

½ kg Catfish
200g Tomato
200g Pineapple
100g Okra
200g Bean sprouts
10g Tamarind
20g herb, long coriander
Spice inclued salt, sugar, chili and fish sauce.

1. Purify all the fish and vegetable
2. Boiled 2 liters water in a cooking pot
3. Add the tamarind to make the sour taste. Cook in 2-3 munities and then, fish out all the tamarind.
4. Add the catfish and the tomato to the pot. Cook in 10 munities
5. Add 2g of salt, 10g sugar, 2-3 spoons of fish sauce into the soup
6. Add the pineapple, okras, bean sprouts which were cut in to smal pieces and cook till it boilded again.
7. Add the chili and the herb on top.
8. Sever with rice or vermicelli