New Orleans Chinese Language School

Meredith started attending weekend chinese school in New Orleans every Sunday afternoon. This school is staffed by volunteers from chinese community in New Orleans and has been around for 30 years. It is pretty well organized with students being group into different classes and age group. There are probably about a hundred students spread in different class.

So far, Meredith hated chinese school. She said it is very boring. She ranked it in the fourth place behind ballet class, swimming class and her regular pre-kindergarden class.

In the 4-6years old class, there are many parents who stayed with their kids during the class. A number of them are very opinionated, and makes a lot of suggestion on how to teach. I am impressed with the teacher for having the patience to handle the parents in addition to the normal teaching duties.

Surprising words from Isaac

I was using my laptop early this morning on the breakfast table when two years old Isaac approached me. Isaac just woke up and he was still rubbing his eyes. Suddenly, he said something that took me by surprise. Issac said,"can I use the laptop to check email?" in perfect sentence. He doesn't even know how to read and I don't think he knows what is email.

"Accident" principal

Meredith came home one day from her school and told Boon Hong that her school has an "accident" principal. Boon Hong was puzzled and asked her what does she meant by accident principal. Meredith said her school principal is Miss Blake but there is also an "accident" principal in addition to Miss Blake. We finally figured out she was referring to the assistant principal but she mispronounced it. The assistant principal will certainly not be happy to known as accident prone.

Meredith at her classmate's birthday party. Most of her classmates organized their birthday parties at "jumping castles" warehouse where kids bounced off gigantic inflatable slides.

Meredith at her classmate's birthday party. After attending a lot of kids birthday parties, I noticed there is not a lot of food for adults at typical american kids birthday party. I much preferred Asian style kids birthday party where parents get to eat a lot...

Boon Hong got very good at baking various chinese style pastry after living in New Orleans since there is no place to buy these from. She started making these pastry/pau with yam and red bean filling a year ago and eventually got really good at doing it.

Isaac's pant got wet after going to the swimming pool, so he had to wear Meredith's dress on the way back.

Meredith first week at school

Meredith has started the first step in the long road of formal school life. She finished her first week of pre-kindergarden last week. There are very few good public schools in New Orleans, a lot of people here chose to send their kids to private school and ended up spending thousand of dollars every year on school fee. We thought we had to go same route and send her to private school when we were looking around for school last year.

At the same time, we decided to let Meredith attempt to test into a public run advanced studies school. This school is a lot of cheaper than private school and has very good reputation. Students at this school are doing curriculum a year ahead of other school. For example, kindergarden kids here will learn materials typically covered in first grade/primary school year one. The enrollment at this school is very competitive and only about 40 students made it each year out of a few hundred applicants. Thankfully, Meredith accepted and we can save $$ from private school fees.

Meredith in her school uniform. Boon Hong spent a lot of time shopping for her uniform, shoes and school supply.

Isaac getting ready to send his big sister off to school.

Due to budget cut in the government funding, parents have to help support the school by supplying the crayon, paper towels, tissue paper, ziplock bag, glues, pencils and Lysol cleaning spray.

Meredith and her classmates playing at our house. These two classmates also attended the same playschool with Meredith last year, so they have some company together in the new school.

Exercise time

Isaac always carry his "schoolbag" whenever Boon Hong drives Meredith to school even though he doesn't go to school. He put a transformer toy, water bottle and also a toy gun in his school bag and he likes to pretend he is going to school.

Passing through BP Macondo oil spill site

Recently, I passed by BP oil spill site during an offshore trip. It is impressive to see the armada of different drill rigs and vessels congregating on this area. The rigs/vessels seen in this photo included Boa Deep, OI3, Skandi Neptune, DDII rig, Enterprise drill ship. The sight of these many highly capable vessels/rigs working together are unlikely to be seen again for a long long time.

Water park in New Orleans Audubon Zoo?

New Orleans Audubon Zoo is a great zoo with very natural settings and wide variety of exotic animals but it is not a water park, at least not till today...

This afternoon I took Meredith and Isaac to the zoo by myself while Boon Hong went shopping. The temperature was hovering near 100F and after looking at a few animals we gravitate towards the Monkey Hill area of the zoo. The Monkey Hill consists of a rope walk where kids can climb up and down like monkey/spider. There is also a small man-made water fall nearby. After climbing the Monkey Hill, Meredith and Isaac couldn't wait to dip their feet in the pool below the water fall. At first, they just wanted to "touch" the water. Then, they wanted to stand in the water. And then before you know, Meredith "fell" and started playing around in the water. After that, there was no going back. Isaac and Meredith were soon playing and swimming in the pool.
We had such a good time and stayed till the zoo closing time. When the security guard came by, we finally realized we are one of the last people to leave the zoo.

Meredith summer swim class

Meredith has been taking swimming lessons all summer long. She goes to swim lessons twice a week. We started with the group lessons at the YMCA near our house and then switch her to a smaller class size a swim club nearby. After three months of swiming lessons, Meredith can swim now. Although she still lack confidence, she can swim over to me standing 15 feet away and lifting her head out of the water to breath several times.

Isaac has also been having a lot of pool time. Boon Hong brought him along and let him play in the pool while Meredith is having her swim lessons. Isaac still doesn't how to swim but he has learned a few tricks. He will duck under the water and pretend to be shark biting around wildly while I hold him.

Isaac watching a baseball game. New Orleans Zephyr is not a very good baseball team but it is a pretty good deal when the ticket price is only $1

Isaac waiting for his turn at the swimming pool

Dress like a Cow and eat for free day at Chick Fil A

The Chick Fil-A fast food store has been opened in New Orleans for almost half a year now. Their business is amazingly good since people here are really eager to try something new. The other major draw is the children playground in the Chick Fil-A, it seems like all the mom brought their kids there to kill time and use the indoor playground. Boon Hong also frequented Chick-Fil-A.

This time, Chick Fil A is coming up with "dress like a cow and eat free day". Boon hong made a cow costume for Isaac using a paper box. She also made a "cow t-shirt" for Meredith by pasting patches of black sponges to a white T-shirt. Isaac's costume is definitely a crowd pleaser, many people in Chick-Fil-A try to take photos of his costume. As a reward for their effort, the Chick-Fil-A guys gave them free breakfast meal and also several more coupons for redeeming free chicken sandwich in future.

Letter to Meredith

This is a letter that Boon Hong wrote to Meredith on her birthday, we thought we might post it here so one day Meredith can read about it when she grows up:

Dear Meredith,
Mummy think it will be very meaningful to write you a letter every year on your birthday , starting on your 4th birthday this year, and hope I will keep my words every year.

Meredith, you are my precious angel and I wish you have a happy and sweet birthday this year. You have grown to be a big girl now, and got very excited and can’t wait for this special day to come. You thought that being 4 years old is the coolest thing ever and it assembles your turning to be a big girl. You even want Mommy to bring a princess cake to school and hold a party for you. I can’t stop myself saying that to you that you will be my baby always no matter how old you are turning to.

I love you, honey. Mommy likes spending time with you each day even when you are being cranky each time when you wake up from your afternoon nap. Mommy finds many things that you said are simply cute. You always think in a logical manner. You once told Mommy that you want to raise four Baby Isaacs and live close to Mommy so that I can come over to help whenever you need a hand to hold the four Isaacs. You also came home from school one day and started asking me if you can have your own room since you are a big girl now. Now that I have prepare a bedroom for you, you also wanted me to move my clothing from the closet, so that you have a place for your toys and clothes. Although you are officially “out of mommy’s room”, you still wake up sleeping next to Mommy almost every morning.

Something that mommy wants to make sure you know for sure is that I love you very much. Mommy’s love is unconditional and willing to go an extra mile if I can make you happy. Mommy can’t imagine that we have been together for four years. You brought me tears and happiness during these years, and being able to watch you grow and be there for you is the greatest gift from God, even if you hates mommy for correcting your wrong behavior sometimes. Well, Mommy doesn't like seeing your hair being cut by your classmate at school, and I know it was partially your fault because you love playing silly games with your classmate. However, Mommy wants you to be able to stand up for yourself and not compromise to others. You need to learn when to say “no” to others and be assertive. However, Mommy was surprised with what you said when I drive you home from school (after that hair incident). You told me if your classmate claimed to be your best friend, she will not harm you because friends do not hurt each other. So, each year you will be a little wiser and smarter.

Pineapple Tart

One of the thing we missed most from Malaysia is pineapple tart. I can still remember vividly the ubiquitous pineapple tart that are present at almost every house during chinese new year visiting.

This year Boon Hong finally tried making pineapple tart based on the recipe she found online.

Small group CNY dinner

We celebrated chinese new year this year with our church small group by having "hot pot" dinner gathering. We also took the chance to celebrate Meredith and Isaac birthday.