Today was pretty fun as my parents and I went to Dad's company's summer picnic. The best part was that I got to see my friend Moonway as his father also works at Arcadia Design Systems, Inc.
Unlike the other company picnics we have been to, this one had fewer activities. I don't recall seeing any carnival games, raffles or anything of the sort. On the other hand, the venue was quite large, and there were several areas for sports. It was also nice to hang out with Moonway for almost the entire afternoon!
In other news...
I'm taking summer Spanish and reading classes at Foothill College right now. Reading generally isn't my favorite subject, but some of the books for the class are quite interesting. So at least it's not as boring as the other literature classes I've taken. :-)
Currently reading: The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper
Saturday, July 1, 2000
Wednesday, June 14, 2000
just graduated from middle school :-)
I graduated from Egan Junior High School today. Class of 2000, hell yeah!
Last day of school
The ceremony began with the 7th grade orchestra performing "Pomp and Circumstance." This was followed by the school administrators and valedictorians giving their speeches. Unfortunately, it was extremely hot outside, and we had to sit there for about two hours. I have no idea why the hell they picked the middle of the day for graduation. I'm equally surprised nobody thought of using the auditorium instead.
After the speeches and the handing out of the diplomas, it was time to say goodbye to my teachers and classmates. As a gesture of appreciation, I gave a thank-you card to every teacher I've ever had, as well as our principal and counselor. I even got a hug from my 8th grade English teacher, Mrs. Green, which was a little awkward as I always had a bit of a secret crush on her. *blush*
I'm also very proud to say that I've never been late or missed a single class. I admittedly took a couple of days off for family trips in elementary school. However, I decided to shoot for perfect attendance ever since I found out Springer recognized students who showed up every day. While it sadly turned out Egan didn't have such an award, that doesn't make it any less of an achievement!
Looking back
To me, the best part of middle school was Mrs. Andersen's cooking class. That alone made 8th grade very memorable. I also loved Ms. McLaughlin's science class; she always knew how to brighten up an otherwise dull day with her sense of humor. Another awesome teacher was Ms. Keon; she loved first-person shooters and was kind of cute. Hehe. It seems science teachers are cool like that. I'm also very fond of my computer teacher, Ms. Sessions, and my algebra teacher, Mrs. Massaro, both of whom were extremely kind.
The LAYC dances were also pretty fun, even though they weren't actually organized by Egan. I kind of regret only going to three of them in 7th grade. Funnily enough, I never went to Egan's own dances, although I'm sure there will be some in high school.
But middle school wasn't all fun and games: my least favorite experience was when this Russian kid named Alex kept picking on me. I certainly hope this guy won't show up at Los Altos High School in the fall. There were a few other kids who would make fun of me as well, but that changed after we found out we were all fans of first-person shooters. It seems common interests can turn bullies into buddies.
I must also admit that I've gotten into trouble a couple of times. In one instance, Mr. Smith sent me to the office because I cracked one too many inappropriate jokes in history class. To make matters worse, the teacher-in-charge had a reputation for being tough on students who break rules. But because Mr. Gonella and I knew each other pretty well, and all he did was make me pick up some trash during lunch. You see, it helps to have friends in high places.
There's also that time when my industrial technology teacher sent me outside for being annoying. Mr. Grijalva later admitted he was in a bad mood at the time; he never brought it up again, but I could tell he felt bad about it.
Despite the annoying kids and the run-ins with school rules, my two years at Egan weren't too bad. I definitely hope to go back and visit sometime. But right now, it's time to enjoy summer. :-)
Update: To celebrate graduation, my family went to a restaurant in Palo Alto for dinner. Their cranberry mashed potatoes were really good. Yum!
Currently playing: Melt Down by Jagex Software
Last day of school
The ceremony began with the 7th grade orchestra performing "Pomp and Circumstance." This was followed by the school administrators and valedictorians giving their speeches. Unfortunately, it was extremely hot outside, and we had to sit there for about two hours. I have no idea why the hell they picked the middle of the day for graduation. I'm equally surprised nobody thought of using the auditorium instead.
After the speeches and the handing out of the diplomas, it was time to say goodbye to my teachers and classmates. As a gesture of appreciation, I gave a thank-you card to every teacher I've ever had, as well as our principal and counselor. I even got a hug from my 8th grade English teacher, Mrs. Green, which was a little awkward as I always had a bit of a secret crush on her. *blush*
I'm also very proud to say that I've never been late or missed a single class. I admittedly took a couple of days off for family trips in elementary school. However, I decided to shoot for perfect attendance ever since I found out Springer recognized students who showed up every day. While it sadly turned out Egan didn't have such an award, that doesn't make it any less of an achievement!
Looking back
To me, the best part of middle school was Mrs. Andersen's cooking class. That alone made 8th grade very memorable. I also loved Ms. McLaughlin's science class; she always knew how to brighten up an otherwise dull day with her sense of humor. Another awesome teacher was Ms. Keon; she loved first-person shooters and was kind of cute. Hehe. It seems science teachers are cool like that. I'm also very fond of my computer teacher, Ms. Sessions, and my algebra teacher, Mrs. Massaro, both of whom were extremely kind.
The LAYC dances were also pretty fun, even though they weren't actually organized by Egan. I kind of regret only going to three of them in 7th grade. Funnily enough, I never went to Egan's own dances, although I'm sure there will be some in high school.
But middle school wasn't all fun and games: my least favorite experience was when this Russian kid named Alex kept picking on me. I certainly hope this guy won't show up at Los Altos High School in the fall. There were a few other kids who would make fun of me as well, but that changed after we found out we were all fans of first-person shooters. It seems common interests can turn bullies into buddies.
I must also admit that I've gotten into trouble a couple of times. In one instance, Mr. Smith sent me to the office because I cracked one too many inappropriate jokes in history class. To make matters worse, the teacher-in-charge had a reputation for being tough on students who break rules. But because Mr. Gonella and I knew each other pretty well, and all he did was make me pick up some trash during lunch. You see, it helps to have friends in high places.
There's also that time when my industrial technology teacher sent me outside for being annoying. Mr. Grijalva later admitted he was in a bad mood at the time; he never brought it up again, but I could tell he felt bad about it.
Despite the annoying kids and the run-ins with school rules, my two years at Egan weren't too bad. I definitely hope to go back and visit sometime. But right now, it's time to enjoy summer. :-)
Update: To celebrate graduation, my family went to a restaurant in Palo Alto for dinner. Their cranberry mashed potatoes were really good. Yum!
Currently playing: Melt Down by Jagex Software
Monday, May 29, 2000
Memorial Day weekend report
I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend!
The highlight of the long weekend was when my parents and I went hiking in Pinnacles National Monument with the Lin family. The place was very hot and dry when we went there for the first time a few years ago, so I had preferred to stay home at first. Moonway wasn't too interested in going either, and opted to play computer games at my house instead. Hell, even my mother wasn't a big fan of that place.
However, Dad insisted on going there anyway because this was something our two families had agreed on. The good news was that the weather turned out to be slightly cooler than expected. But to be honest, the monument wasn't super interesting save for two small caves and a handful of unique rock formations. That said, it was still nice to hang out with Moonway for the entire afternoon. I also suggested inviting his family back to our house for dinner, but Mom wouldn't hear any of it. Oh well.
Currently playing: Asphyx Assault Fighter
The highlight of the long weekend was when my parents and I went hiking in Pinnacles National Monument with the Lin family. The place was very hot and dry when we went there for the first time a few years ago, so I had preferred to stay home at first. Moonway wasn't too interested in going either, and opted to play computer games at my house instead. Hell, even my mother wasn't a big fan of that place.
However, Dad insisted on going there anyway because this was something our two families had agreed on. The good news was that the weather turned out to be slightly cooler than expected. But to be honest, the monument wasn't super interesting save for two small caves and a handful of unique rock formations. That said, it was still nice to hang out with Moonway for the entire afternoon. I also suggested inviting his family back to our house for dinner, but Mom wouldn't hear any of it. Oh well.
Currently playing: Asphyx Assault Fighter
Wednesday, May 10, 2000
Mr. Hagan charged with statutory rape :-(
I am in shock as I write this: one of the teachers at Egan, Mr. Hagan, was arrested yesterday for having sex with two underage high school girls. One of the bitches apparently couldn't keep her mouth shut and told her parents, so that's how the incident came to light. This hit very close to home as Mr. Hagan was one of my P.E. teachers.
The age of consent is 18 in California, which essentially means one must be an adult before they can legally (ahem) engage in sexual activity. But from what I've heard, the girls had lied about their age. If that's the case, then Mr. Hagan isn't to blame. He is one of the most well-liked teachers at my school, and I really hope the charges will be dropped.
May 19 update: The Mountain View Voice has published two articles relating to Mr. Hagan's arrest. You can read them here and here.
The age of consent is 18 in California, which essentially means one must be an adult before they can legally (ahem) engage in sexual activity. But from what I've heard, the girls had lied about their age. If that's the case, then Mr. Hagan isn't to blame. He is one of the most well-liked teachers at my school, and I really hope the charges will be dropped.
May 19 update: The Mountain View Voice has published two articles relating to Mr. Hagan's arrest. You can read them here and here.
Sunday, April 23, 2000
spring break + Taiwan trip report
The break was good as my family went to Taiwan. Mom and I came back yesterday without Dad as he is staying for business. The main reason for the trip was to see our relatives, but that doesn't mean we didn't have fun!
Days 1 and 2
Our journey began with a long flight across the Pacific. I was expecting the worst because we had an unpleasant experience with China Airlines when we went to Taiwan five years ago. For one, the dry air made the outbound flight uncomfortable. There are few things more annoying than not being able to sneeze. I also couldn't sleep due to the noise. Blah.
However, this flight was much better. The best part was getting to see End of Days on the plane. I liked the movie despite the critical reviews. It was also nice to get some sleep this time.
The plane landed at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport about 13 hours later. Grandpa picked us up and took us to his home in Tainan after we got our luggage. Bien-Chuan has lived with his companion Ms. Chen since my grandmother Shiao-Mei passed away from diabetes. I never met Shiao-Mei but have always considered Ms. Chen family and called her Grandma.
We arrived in Tainan after a four-hour drive. The evening was uneventful except for a stop at a night market after dinner. In addition to food stands, there were also carnival games. I enjoyed throwing darts at balloons even though I didn't pop enough to win a prize.
Day 3
The day's focus was Anping Fort — also known as Fort Zeelandia — which was built by the Dutch in the 17th century and later surrendered to the Chinese following a major battle. It was well-preserved despite its age. I'm not big on historic sites but had fun pretending to fire the cannons. Sometimes you just want to bring out your inner child.
Mom wanted to visit her sister Jill at her new house. I went to watch TV while they caught up... and the first thing that came up was a hentai anime. It seems the media regulatory agencies in Taiwan aren't as strict as their U.S. counterparts. I saw a guy put something in a girl's butt before I could change channels. Gross.
Day 4
Bien-Chuan and Ms. Chen had brought their friends Mrs. Mao and Mrs. Chou when they visited us two years ago. I really liked Mrs. Mao — not only did she help around the house, she was a great cook too. You could say Mom has competition.
Mrs. Mao must have remembered that I loved her food because she invited us all to her house for lunch. Everything she made was delicious. I was very honored that Mrs. Mao would do this for me. She even gave me a kiss on the cheek as we parted ways. Yeah, that wasn't awkward at all. *blush*
Later in the evening — after dinner and some rest — my parents took me to see a spiritual healer that Jill had referred us to. She figured he could treat my autism and had recommended his services. The guy said something had "scared my soul away" when I was three years old. He then had us perform a ritual to "return my soul." The whole thing was pretty strange. I was tired afterwards and quickly fell asleep in the car.
Day 5
It was already morning when I woke up again. I was so sound asleep that my father had to literally pick me up and carry me back into the house. That guy must have magically drained my life force. Or have I been watching too many horror movies?
The adults got seafood noodles for breakfast while I was asleep. Although I got up pretty late, they made sure to save some for me. I'm glad they did because the noodles were delicious.
We visited Jill again at her condo in the afternoon. Mom was trying to figure out how to use the shower when the spigot broke loose and caused the bathroom to flood. This created a dangerous situation because an electrical outlet was just next to the shower. To make matters worse, Jill had left to teach a class. Imagine our relief when we finally reached her on her cell phone and got her to send someone over.
Our party checked into Caesar Park Hotel before going on a boat cruise. The vessel had windows that allowed people to see underwater. That was a cool experience. I should mention that our hotel was really nice. This was actually the only time we stayed at a hotel during the trip.
Day 6
Grandpa took us to Kenting National Park as it's very popular. The views here were incredible. The park is also home to the famous Eluanbi Lighthouse. I had heard the panorama from the top was even better, but the lighthouse was closed for repairs. This was a major disappointment even though the staff were kind enough to let us take pictures at the entrance. I certainly hope to come back in the future.
One thing I really enjoyed on our last visit was lighting fireworks with my grandfather. That was so much fun that we decided to do it again. The recent presidential election was the perfect excuse to buy fireworks. They were expensive but worth the price. There's nothing more thrilling than blowing shit up!
I must confess that we accidentally started a fire with fireworks on our last trip. Story time: my grandfather found a nice spot along a river and suggested going there. I decided to shoot the fireworks from the bridge as it would be hard to set the river on fire. Yet we didn't notice the vegetation near the water. As luck would have it — and thanks to Murphy's law — a bottle rocket landed on some dry grass and caused it to ignite. Oh dear!
The good news is that my father and uncle managed to put out the fire before it could spread. That was a close call as we could have gotten in huge trouble. Dad and I played it safe this time and used an empty lot located conveniently close to Bien-Chuan's house. I'm glad we didn't get any complaints from neighbors.
Day 7
Time was tight as we had to leave for Taipei soon. However, the fireworks were so much fun that Dad took me back to the store to buy more. I got some firecrackers as it would be silly to light anything else in the daytime. They were noisy despite lasting only a few seconds.
Grandpa took us back to Taipei after lunch. I got to see my aunts Wei-Jen and Wei-Fang while my cousin Hui-Lin showed me his game collection. Wei-Fang also invited us to stay the night at her place. The bedroom was small but fairly comfortable.
Day 8
Dad dropped us off at the airport as he has to remain in Taiwan for a few more days. Mom and I checked in before boarding the flight back to San Francisco. This one was slightly shorter because the plane was going against the Earth's rotation. It was nice to get some rest after a long trip.
Conclusions
I had a great time even though the main purpose of our trip was to visit relatives. The best part was definitely the fireworks. This is a rare opportunity as consumer fireworks are illegal in Los Altos. The night markets were also exciting — I wish we had those in the Bay Area.
One thing to mention is that there are many stray dogs in Taiwan. They're not a common sight in the U.S. because we routinely euthanize feral animals. However, the dogs in Taiwan were generally docile and never bothered us.
The jet lag has kicked in now that the trip is over. Considering that school starts tomorrow for me, I better go get some rest so that I don't fall asleep in class. Peace.
Currently watching: End of Days
Days 1 and 2
Our journey began with a long flight across the Pacific. I was expecting the worst because we had an unpleasant experience with China Airlines when we went to Taiwan five years ago. For one, the dry air made the outbound flight uncomfortable. There are few things more annoying than not being able to sneeze. I also couldn't sleep due to the noise. Blah.
However, this flight was much better. The best part was getting to see End of Days on the plane. I liked the movie despite the critical reviews. It was also nice to get some sleep this time.
The plane landed at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport about 13 hours later. Grandpa picked us up and took us to his home in Tainan after we got our luggage. Bien-Chuan has lived with his companion Ms. Chen since my grandmother Shiao-Mei passed away from diabetes. I never met Shiao-Mei but have always considered Ms. Chen family and called her Grandma.
We arrived in Tainan after a four-hour drive. The evening was uneventful except for a stop at a night market after dinner. In addition to food stands, there were also carnival games. I enjoyed throwing darts at balloons even though I didn't pop enough to win a prize.
Day 3
The day's focus was Anping Fort — also known as Fort Zeelandia — which was built by the Dutch in the 17th century and later surrendered to the Chinese following a major battle. It was well-preserved despite its age. I'm not big on historic sites but had fun pretending to fire the cannons. Sometimes you just want to bring out your inner child.
Mom wanted to visit her sister Jill at her new house. I went to watch TV while they caught up... and the first thing that came up was a hentai anime. It seems the media regulatory agencies in Taiwan aren't as strict as their U.S. counterparts. I saw a guy put something in a girl's butt before I could change channels. Gross.
Day 4
Bien-Chuan and Ms. Chen had brought their friends Mrs. Mao and Mrs. Chou when they visited us two years ago. I really liked Mrs. Mao — not only did she help around the house, she was a great cook too. You could say Mom has competition.
Mrs. Mao must have remembered that I loved her food because she invited us all to her house for lunch. Everything she made was delicious. I was very honored that Mrs. Mao would do this for me. She even gave me a kiss on the cheek as we parted ways. Yeah, that wasn't awkward at all. *blush*
Later in the evening — after dinner and some rest — my parents took me to see a spiritual healer that Jill had referred us to. She figured he could treat my autism and had recommended his services. The guy said something had "scared my soul away" when I was three years old. He then had us perform a ritual to "return my soul." The whole thing was pretty strange. I was tired afterwards and quickly fell asleep in the car.
Day 5
It was already morning when I woke up again. I was so sound asleep that my father had to literally pick me up and carry me back into the house. That guy must have magically drained my life force. Or have I been watching too many horror movies?
The adults got seafood noodles for breakfast while I was asleep. Although I got up pretty late, they made sure to save some for me. I'm glad they did because the noodles were delicious.
We visited Jill again at her condo in the afternoon. Mom was trying to figure out how to use the shower when the spigot broke loose and caused the bathroom to flood. This created a dangerous situation because an electrical outlet was just next to the shower. To make matters worse, Jill had left to teach a class. Imagine our relief when we finally reached her on her cell phone and got her to send someone over.
Our party checked into Caesar Park Hotel before going on a boat cruise. The vessel had windows that allowed people to see underwater. That was a cool experience. I should mention that our hotel was really nice. This was actually the only time we stayed at a hotel during the trip.
Day 6
Grandpa took us to Kenting National Park as it's very popular. The views here were incredible. The park is also home to the famous Eluanbi Lighthouse. I had heard the panorama from the top was even better, but the lighthouse was closed for repairs. This was a major disappointment even though the staff were kind enough to let us take pictures at the entrance. I certainly hope to come back in the future.
One thing I really enjoyed on our last visit was lighting fireworks with my grandfather. That was so much fun that we decided to do it again. The recent presidential election was the perfect excuse to buy fireworks. They were expensive but worth the price. There's nothing more thrilling than blowing shit up!
I must confess that we accidentally started a fire with fireworks on our last trip. Story time: my grandfather found a nice spot along a river and suggested going there. I decided to shoot the fireworks from the bridge as it would be hard to set the river on fire. Yet we didn't notice the vegetation near the water. As luck would have it — and thanks to Murphy's law — a bottle rocket landed on some dry grass and caused it to ignite. Oh dear!
The good news is that my father and uncle managed to put out the fire before it could spread. That was a close call as we could have gotten in huge trouble. Dad and I played it safe this time and used an empty lot located conveniently close to Bien-Chuan's house. I'm glad we didn't get any complaints from neighbors.
Day 7
Time was tight as we had to leave for Taipei soon. However, the fireworks were so much fun that Dad took me back to the store to buy more. I got some firecrackers as it would be silly to light anything else in the daytime. They were noisy despite lasting only a few seconds.
Grandpa took us back to Taipei after lunch. I got to see my aunts Wei-Jen and Wei-Fang while my cousin Hui-Lin showed me his game collection. Wei-Fang also invited us to stay the night at her place. The bedroom was small but fairly comfortable.
Day 8
Dad dropped us off at the airport as he has to remain in Taiwan for a few more days. Mom and I checked in before boarding the flight back to San Francisco. This one was slightly shorter because the plane was going against the Earth's rotation. It was nice to get some rest after a long trip.
Conclusions
I had a great time even though the main purpose of our trip was to visit relatives. The best part was definitely the fireworks. This is a rare opportunity as consumer fireworks are illegal in Los Altos. The night markets were also exciting — I wish we had those in the Bay Area.
One thing to mention is that there are many stray dogs in Taiwan. They're not a common sight in the U.S. because we routinely euthanize feral animals. However, the dogs in Taiwan were generally docile and never bothered us.
The jet lag has kicked in now that the trip is over. Considering that school starts tomorrow for me, I better go get some rest so that I don't fall asleep in class. Peace.
Currently watching: End of Days
Monday, April 3, 2000
student of the day
We have a tradition at Egan where a student is chosen to be featured during the morning announcements. Only 8th graders are eligible. I wanted to share that I was today's "8th grader of the day." Imagine my surprise when they called my name!
It's nothing really special — all you get is a voucher for a free item from the student store. However, several people came up to congratulate me. So yeah... that's my 15 minutes of fame.
Currently playing: Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders
It's nothing really special — all you get is a voucher for a free item from the student store. However, several people came up to congratulate me. So yeah... that's my 15 minutes of fame.
Currently playing: Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders
Monday, March 6, 2000
return of swing dancing
We just started a dance unit in PE class. You may recall we did the same last year. I've always been shy around girls, but that didn't make it any less memorable.
After going over the basics, the teachers put on music and paired us up. I was partnered up with Stephanie for the first dance. We had to put our arms around each other for this specific style. As you could imagine, this was awkward even though we've known each other since 6th grade. Go figure.
Each unit typically lasts three weeks. I suck at dancing but still find it enjoyable. It helps that the girls are pretty cute. Heehee.
After going over the basics, the teachers put on music and paired us up. I was partnered up with Stephanie for the first dance. We had to put our arms around each other for this specific style. As you could imagine, this was awkward even though we've known each other since 6th grade. Go figure.
Each unit typically lasts three weeks. I suck at dancing but still find it enjoyable. It helps that the girls are pretty cute. Heehee.
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