Journals--Day 4 Boys

Saturday, June 24--On the Road Trip Day 4

We got up about 8am and have to get ready for the trip to Portland to see Chinese Gardens and Saturday market today! Today would be more relaxing because we don’t have to research that much.

I was first to shower and dress then helped out with Richie to cook mediocre pancakes. It tasted not totally awful because Richie wasn’t used to cook the pancakes on the griddle. After breakfast, we were ready to go!!

When we were in parking lot in Portland, we felt like we were in Lewis and Clark’s shoes. Our teachers let us to figure out where we had to go by using the guide map. We were struggle a bit little to know where streets are. We wanted to go to Chinese Gardens first and we walked and went in many wrong directions because we didn’t look on the map! We are DUH heads! There were a lot of clues that we should use our common sense but we just walking around as “foolish people”! Also we saw many homeless people which made me feel uneasy to me and a little scared.

Finally, we arrived to Chinese Gardens by using the map itself is confusing!! We just took the noon photos and it was fine. We were really interested in the gardens and felt very relaxed! The Chinese’s symbols are very important to them and they used everything to make up the symbols. The bat is symbol of good luck and banana tree is symbol of courage. It was very fascinating to me and it was very different than I thought because the gorgeous gardens are filling with fragrances and very relaxing!! I was really feeling very content! After that, we took the pictures by say, “Day Four” from our teachers.

After that, we went to the market to see what they showed and activities. Jon and I bought not bad Chinese foods because of a lot of teriyaki sauce covered on fried rice!! I felt like I was cheated, but it was important that I filled up my stomach so it keeps my stomach more busy! Then we saw many interesting characters of people, dressed in very different clothes and styles. I gave my $20 dollars to one poor woman who just sat down on wheelchair with the sign, “Donation Please” so I was just feeling bad for her and that is why I gave her $20 dollars!

We drove back to WSD and we had a very tranquil time!! Later, Nancy suggested for us to look around the campus of WSD. It was different than ASD because WSD seems have fewer vocational technology stuff than ASD. We are lucky to have more services and some stuff that helped the deaf people throughout their careers!

Then, we had to finish typing the journals and we have to stay up a little late! We had a discussion with parents who want to communicate with their 15 month old deaf son and they were really interested in our experience as grown-up to be deaf! I was really tired by that time and I tried to stay awake. Then, we have to finish all of our journals and investigations report and go to bed or we will wake up almost late!

I hope that Anne could finish all of the work very soon!! Have a great time to read our journals!!!

Saturday, June 24, 2006: Day 4

We all slept longer this morning and it was refreshing to have that extra hour of sleep. Since that we had a short plan for today, we decided to sleep more. Most of us all got up at eight and I cooked pancakes for most of us. The pancakes were not that bad but the next time I would do much better. We all had a short day today because all of our trips are only less than a half hour away from here in Vancouver. We all went to Portland after breakfast.

When we arrived at some parking lot in Portland, the teachers assigned us with maps and name of the two sites where we were about to visit. The boys were responsible for finding the Chinese Garden and the girls, Portland Market. I figured out where to go and told everybody the directions. We started to walk toward our destination until one of the teachers stopped up and told us that we were going the wrong place. I was really confused because some of the kids told me to go to the Japanese Garden and the others to Chinese Garden. Finally, we all straightened it up and went on to find the Chinese Garden. Guess what? We started to realize that we were lost as the names of streets started to disappear out of the map that we were supposed to follow. It was very frustrating for some of us because we all had to walk around to find Chinatown. The Chinatown in Portland isn’t enormous as you all would except in New York or San Francisco. We’re lucky because we were able to find our way to the Chinese Garden.

As we came closer to the Chinese Garden, most of us were in awe as we all saw the garden’s entry plaza. We were very impressed with the style of Chinese architecture in the entrance. It felt like Portland has brought China to me because everything looks exactly same as what it does in China. It got even better as we entered the garden. I cannot believe how beautiful and colorful it was inside. The tranquility and smell of flowers has made me very calm and refreshing. Everything was cool and calm. The smell of flowers and plants made my mind dance because the sweetness of the flowers has simulated my brain to automatically slow down and relax and let the flower spiritually overcome me.

This garden was very big, everywhere were plants and flowers. On the trails were paved rocks and bridges erected over ponds full of fish and flower lilies. The sharpness of the building’s roof has brought more life to the garden because the roof is laid out like a phoenix’s wings which are one of the symbols for the Chinese customs. The fish, other Chinese symbol, from the pond is well known for their representation of wealth and prosperity. In additional to symbols, the Ya and Ying also play an important role in this garden because you can balance your positives and negatives and don’t let everything overwhelms you. Overalls, this garden was just magnificent because it is one of the perfect places that everybody can come to relax, read, and study. Being in this garden takes everything from your mind and leaves you with the flowers and plants all around to overcome your mind and let you relax as you desperate.

I was really disappointed that we all left the Chinese Garden because I was just starting to relax and falling asleep. This tourist attraction is a must on your list if you ever come here around Portland. We all left the garden and walked three streets down to wrap our day by visiting the Portland Market. As we came closer to the market, the more we can smell the delicious food. Once I started to smell the food, my mouth was already watering. I just simply knew that it was my job to pack as much food into my stomach. Technically, I ate my way around the Market. The market is a beautiful place, very similar to what we usually have festivals in the east but this market opens every weekends from March to Christmas Eve. The whiteness of the tents all around must had hurt my eyes because it was about ninety degrees outside. We came to the market at the right time because it was just beautiful and sunny outside.

I’m not a much of a shopper myself but everything that I spend my money on was on food. Actually, I forget what I ate but I believe that I ate a gyro, elephant ear, probably couple of buffalo wings, and drank a lots of lemonade because it is the right time of the year to drink lemonade on a hot day. I know that you didn’t finish reading the last sentence because I said I ate an elephant ear, it’s not actually an elephant’s ear but just another name for fried dough that everybody in the Northwest uses.

At the Portland market, there were hundreds of people around here of different races, mostly Asians. The west is more known for Asians than the east because in the past when the U.S. built a railroad, they needed someone to work for them so many Chinese people came through the Angel Island (West’s version of Ellis Island) to work for the railroad company. Without Asians, the transcontinental railroad wouldn’t be connected. Most of these people at the market were locals. Portland Market is part of everybody’s life because it is just like with us and malls in east.

As the day got hotter, and all of us got more tired, we decided it was time to go back to WSD. We all got to WSD and started to rest or throw some baseball. We finally got our first tour of WSD’s campus and we all got taste of what WSD was like. We had a lot to compare and contrast WSD from ASD. WSD’s cottages are more luxurious and comforting than ASD’s dorms but we have two more gyms than they do. It was very interesting to see around the campus because you can feel like you’re home right at school. I better stop tying for now because finally, I’m really tired and I need some time to put my brain to rest. Good bye to y’all.