Field Trip #4 – Los Angeles & Chosun Galbee Korean BBQ

Field Trip #4 – Los Angeles

Sunday, 2/16/2014

            It’s three day long weekend – President’s Day, for my daughter and son-in-law, Hans, who was out in Portland, Oregon for his ill mother.  My daughter invited me to a luncheon arranged by her MIT classmate & roommate, Louisa, who flew in from Dallas, Texas, with her family of two kids, 3 and 2 and husband David, along with her sister-in-law, Jennifer ’s family, with Mom and Dad and two kids, 4 & 5 month-old.  There was another couple, Hans and Jennifer, expecting twins, were Louisa’s medical internship friends a few years ago from ‘City of Hope’ – a world-renowned biomedical research, treatment and educational institution in Duarte, CA. Hans, the jovial and strapping young physician-to-be, bears the same name as my son-in-law – Hans.  He asked my daughter about her husband if he is a German or not, which is a common German given name of Johannes (John.)    

            I have never met anyone before except Louisa, who has been very close with my daughter since college days.   Wow, it’s more like a ”Parenthood Social Forum for College Reunion” than a luncheon.    I was a tagalong, but had fun.

            The icebreaker evolved gradually from the coincidence of same names - two Hans and two Jennifer - to serious parenthood issues.  Three high-energy and active toddler boys were under the watchful eyes of two Nanny Grandmas, one grandpa and new, but experienced mothers and father.  All behaved and disciplined with certain degree of restaurant manners.  There were no disaster or any drama for the whole afternoon.

Pacific Highway 1 to Los Angeles

            My daughter decided to take the scenery Pacific Highway 1, running along the pacific coastline, instead of Highway 101 where I normally took - running my weekend errands and grocery shopping; an inland route cutting through the Ventura valleys with year-round production of leafy greens.

            I do not have enough geological knowledge about Southern California, except the earthquakes are common occurrences since the state is located on the San Andreas Fault.  The complex and interesting landscapes, the physical history of the earth, the rocks of which it is composed and government in city planning and technology involved in building sustainable cities in California, such as Malibu, Los Angeles where I am passing through today, only amaze me more how Mother Nature can create such beautiful scenery around me.   I wonder how people although aware of the threat living in such a place might bring.  It’s probably the natural feeling of attaching to their areas and focusing the beauty and good things about where they live and not the negative aspects that many or may not occur.

            We were traveling south with baby Forest napping in the car seat with me.  It’s around 9:00 a.m.

            Wow, the view was nearly taking my breath away.  The sweeping vista with the craggy mountain ranges on my left and sunray reflecting Pacific Ocean on my right.  Mountain ranges, I do not know the names, except Topanga and Santa Monica Mountains – arid, dry, baron and lifeless.  The Ocean I know the name – Pacific - vast, serene, turquoise-blue and majestic. The road is two lane, one each direction.  I did not take a lot pictures, because the baby needs my attention while my daughter was on the steering wheel.

Malibu

            We were winding our way from Ventura, passing the coastal city – Malibu, heading toward Los Angeles.  Each mile is more beautiful than the one before it.   Malibu is an affluent coastal city just north of Los Angeles.  Some of the houses perched precariously on the hilltops and mountains overlooking the ocean.  It’s a picture-perfect postcard beauty, but aren’t the residents feeling frightened or just thrilled?  I was awe-struck to see the hilltop houses, high-rise buildings or even the highway overpass built on the thin layer of limestone and sandstones.  How the blend between natural beauty and big cities can be this marvelous.

Pepperdine University

            The views changed to the gorgeous and open green lawn before me.  That’s the Pepperdine University with the Cross monument.  I had visited the university in the summer of 2007 with my family, taking my daughter from UC Berkley to Amgen for her internship.  This private co-ed university sprawls across on the most expensive and exclusive place in the U.S.   It’s one of the priciest and elite schools affiliated with the churches of Christ.  The 50+K tuition annually probably pays the watering of the green lawn.  Southern California is experiencing the worst drought in history.  The school became famous when Kenneth Starr was named as the dean of Law School in 2004.  Kenneth Starr shouldn’t be a stranger to all of us.  As the independent prosecutor, his Independent Report led to the impeachment of President Bill Clinton on Monica Lewinsky scandals in 1998.  However controversial or truthful it was; all the names – Paula Jones, Linda Tripp e.g. were in history.  What is interesting is that in spite of all of it, everyone was able to emerge from it and become quite successful afterwards.  The ugly politics is what it is.  It makes me think about the life sentence of ex-president in Taiwan, Chen Shui-Bian’s corruption case.  Will he ever come out politically successful as Bill Clinton?  It’s everyone’s guess.

On the way Home – Mugu Rock

            We took the same route Pacific Highway 1 home around 2:00 p.m., as it turned out to be a bad decision.  Sunday afternoon, the balmy weather in Southern California and famous Malibu beaches have the attraction from people everywhere!  The traffic was jammed, the beach goers, surf riders, hikers, tourists and gawkers made the driving in snail’s pace.  And baby Forest cried hysterically with Mom’s stop-and-go motion.  We were debating at one point to pull over at the roadside, but instead we moved along with grandma’s ten thousand tricks to calm him down.  After Malibu, all was smooth and quiet.  Forget about taking the pictures, my sightseeing spirit gone out of the windows.  I could somehow snatch the picture of the famous Mugu Rock, 20 miles before Celeste’s office in Thousand Oaks.  She told me, “This distinctive rock was the western end of Santa Monica Mountain ranges.  It was formed when a path for the Pacific Coast Highway cut through the mountain.  There were a few haunted stories related to this rock.  But what makes it famous is many car commercials and film/TV shoots around this region.”  Now, no wonder it looks so familiar on TV.      

   

            There is something interesting about this group.  I would like to blog on various topics.

Melting Pot USA

             The population of the United States is made up of immigrants from many different countries.  It’s one of the most diverse, if not the most diverse country in the world.  This group is the example.  All the young couples were born in USA, but with parents, immigrants, from different countries, either in 1970s or before. 1. Both Louisa and Celeste have parents from Taiwan in early 1970s. 2. Jennifer and her Mom, Taiwanese, and Dad, Korean, who are also 1970s immigrants from Dallas, Texas.  They settled in LA three years ago to be the caretakers of daughter’s newborn boy, their grandson.  Jennifer’s husband, who is David’s brother was not with them at the luncheon, due to emergency room weekend shift, is a mixture of Korean Dad and Vietnamese Mom.  3. Hans is the offspring of early European immigrants in 1940s and Jennifer whose parents are Koreans immigrants also in early 1970s.  Traditionally, assimilation has been such a powerful theme in U.S.  So, although we are all from many different backgrounds, everyone lives a largely “American” style of life.  However, the heritage remains deeply connected.

      

Friendship

            Amazingly, both Celeste and Louisa have remained close touch in different stages of their lives since the dormitory days - graduation, graduate schools, dating experiences, career choices, weddings, and now new parenthood.  They made a regular practice getting together when either one of them was in town in private or business trip – to eat dinner, catch up or get a message.  I still remember, 10 collegiate Ice Hockey best friends sleeping in my basement in Maryland, during spring break, and Louisa was one of them – They all played the non-competitive intramural sport challenging players from different dorms to relief the notorious MIT stress problems.  Ben and I were introduced to her parents from Dallas during their graduation in June 2000.  They are nice folks and very down-to-earth.  As a matter of fact, the graduation dinner was her parents’ treat for three families, 15 of them, of Celeste’s best dorm friends and classmates – all are from Chemical Engineering Department.  They still shared the stories of their 4 years memories in the dorm – McCormick Hall.  Louisa said, “we stuck together long, amidst our differences in life styles, personalities and social IQs, per se.  One thing struck out was we both responded ‘yes’ on one of MIT’s housing application questionnaire for roommates matching program.   And it was quite a unique question besides the personal data, and all compatibility quizzes.”  She continued, “and that’s ‘Did your parents provide or force you extra homework during your elementary and junior high schools because the regular school homework assignment was too light?’”   We all got a kick out of the story.  What was the most notable about the whole afternoon was that, they, from the old college chum to the new parents, and the families – mesh so seamlessly.   The scenes of holding children from each other’s family, feeding, cuddling and tending the restless toddlers crawling under the dinner table playing their own toys, hissing softly to the fidgety child not their own and walking around the restaurant to divert the little one’s attention grabbing, speak bundle about how they are able to embrace each other’s differences and accept about who they are through the years of understanding.   

Education

            It is very true that all these immigrant Asian American parents do not believe the tales of homework-burdened American students, as it was constantly debated among schools and parents.   They viewed the paramount importance of ‘hard work, extra practice makes perfect’ doctrine.  The children were loaded with different after school activities while their Non-Asian peers were often free from learning and education after the final ring of the school bell.  The United States had thrown wide these immigrant parents’ horizons – education, profession and opportunity.  The high expectations for their children were clear.  The questions:  Would these young adults – high achievers ever appreciate the Chinese/Korean schools, piano/violin lessons, and special-designed math homework then?  Will they again induce and compel their own children to adopt the way they were inculcated without any choices?  Will these young physicians push their own kids towards lucrative, high status professionals like their own parents? Or will they emerge on the other side to totally destroy the values passed on to them from their parents?  I do not know the answers yet.  Because I would be long gone before I am able to see the fruition of their efforts.  But, I know for certain, that the secret lies in the parenting.

Parenting issues

            They discussed the parenting tips and support from families, grandparents and hired Nannies.  There were various topics geared towards their current needs and future planning, such as day care providers, hired Nannies, and grandparents, toilet training, breastfeeding, bottle feeding, cows milk, soy milk, solid food introduction, organic or non-organic food, and bed time routines, just to name a few.  During the conversion, we laughed out loud among ourselves, especially, all three grandparents, about the indignity of being brushed off with ‘the old wives’ tales’ on certain issues.  Louisa, the pediatric surgeon turned general surgeon after her own childbirth, shared with us the fact & myth behind the tales.  In retrospect, I do not believe we applied anything drastically different from the parenting books they go by now.  We, three grandparents teased them that they were doing their ‘Step-by-Step, Child Caring Science Homework Project.”    They all face the demanding and challenging tasks as they assume dual roles of parents and professionals.  We did that too, just with different degrees in priorities.   Case is closed.    

Chosun Galbee Korean Barbecue

            We arrived at 3330 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles – a quaint Korean Town- around 11:00 am.  The mandatory valet parking service offered by the restaurant gave me the impression of Koreans’ sharp business acumen.  We were comfortably welcomed, especially with the baby in the car seat.  The fountain pool with colorful carps attracted the customers - old and young.  The courtyard garden with the cascade waterfalls, a sculpture of the stone water buffalo and a young lad with the straw conical hat riding on it bore the traces of idyllic Korean countryside.  It’s very peaceful and tranquil.  I had nostalgic moments; even baby Forest was entranced with the continuous spilling of the fall.  It had that soothing and calming effect for babies.  The restaurant service women on traditional Korean costumes with modern cut greeted us warmly.  The décor of the dinning room is very inviting and the service was friendly.  Of course, Louisa and David reserved in advance and they paid the frequent visits when they are in town for family reunion.  This place offers the best Korean BBQ cuisine, ranked 4 stars according to David, the general surgeon, who introduced us many side dishes – vegetable, fish cake, seaweeds, sesame Tofu and spicy Kim Chi. All served in a tasty sauce to make them more palatable.  While we were savoring the delicious food, rotating the duties of tending the toddlers and 2 babies and discussing the intellectual and cultural issues, I noticed the generation gap narrowed or even disappeared. 

            The proverb “It takes the village to raise a child” becomes more sense to me and I treasure the moment of mingling with this young generation.   

Field Trip #3 - Santa Barbra

Sunday, 2/9/2014 – Field Trip #3 - Santa Barbara

ChangCole’s Zips Dry Cleaners

            Another beautiful warm sunny day for me to explore, while folks in east coast are expecting the approaching deadly winter storm.  I am really spoiled by the unseasonably balmy weather in southern California every day.  You have seen the diapers and clothes I hang on the clothesline for my grandson.  Now, It’s ChangCole’s Zips Dry Cleaners – out by 9 in by 4 – sweet and crisp, ready to go.

Winter storm from Maryland - February 13, 2014

VISTA Coastal Express – Santa Barbara

            I decided to check it out this famous “The American Rivera” – coastal city north of Ventura, 32 miles away via VISTA Coastal Express – fare $1.50 for Medicare card holder.  On my way to the bus transfer center – the wacky looking sculpture place, I did not see those two homeless men I ran into from previous trips.  But, at the corner of Target and Sears, a friendly lady, middle aged, with two cute gray and white terriers in the open kennel, greeted me with a smile.  The corrugated cardboard plaque she was holding – “The Animal Advocacy Alliance – Adopt Me!” makes me think she is probably not a homeless, like the one I still remembered as ‘The Rich Wandering Wanda” in Rockville outside of County Library.  She is more like an active animal rights activist like Jane Goodall - the Chimpanzee Woman.

VISTA Charter Bus - 12:01 pm schedule

            The nice Charter bus did have more riders this time when I boarded on 12.01 pm – 20 passengers with the appearance of different racial and ethnic groups.  The bus driver is a charming White/Latino mixture loudly greeting everyone, while penciling the passenger tally on his document paper.  “Northbound – Santa Barbara.”   That’s a welcoming scene.  I like it!

Scenes - on the way to Santa Barbara

WiFi Notice on the bus – ‘Please let the driver know if the WiFi is not working, they will try and reset the connection at the next regular bus stop’ – English and Spanish version.  – Enjoy one of many perks offered by California Tax payers.

            I was sitting behind the driver going north on Highway 101, Breath-taking view of Pacific Ocean on my left, bright sunlight at high noon with the cars zooming by on the opposite Highway 101.  The tall, thin palm trees dotted along the coastline was just as beautiful as postcard pictures.   I was so relaxed and felt like floating through the swirly blue sky and fluffy white clouds of feathers.  Suddenly, my waking dream was cut short with the sweeping views of straight-rowed, green plants covered with commercial scale of white plastics.  I do not know what fruits or vegetables were on the fields.  To visit this large scale of plantation in southern California is registered as one of my CA exploration projects one day.  I am not surprised that your fresh fruits and vegetables purchased from either Whole Food or COSTCO are from here, because California grows about 80% of all above and nuts in the US. 

Santa Barbara – The playground for the rich and famous according to the locals, and the transients like my daughter’s family. 

The Fleet of Cyclists

            The fleet of bicyclists passing by along the beach, I thought about my son, Eric might be one of them.  I am homesick now about his snowboarding accident with his co-workers over the weekend at Whitetail. - The operation on his right forearm with four screws.  I almost booked the ticket home, but I didn’t.  Ben, my husband was with him.  Eric – you’ve got to learn something!

The International Film Festival

            29^th The International Film Festival at Santa Barbara was wrapping up this week.  I was glad I missed all the crowds from all over the world.  The world-known directors actors, actresses, screenwriters and all significant artists were all in town for this event.  The lady, at the Festival information booth still out there, gave me the program brochure listed all the special events, panels, seminars, and features.  I am sure it’s quite educational from the standpoint of film studies and cinematic arts.  I skimmed quickly and recognized a few familiar faces – Robert Redford, Cate Blanchett, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Oprah Winfrey…etc.  I ‘m so outdated in movies. 

Street Scenes at Santa Barbara

            The street is a beautiful park-like setting, line-up with different trees, eucalyptus, and sycamore and of course, palms trees – the symbol of California.  The native plants, shrubs, flowers and grasses are creatively used to landscape the street gardens everywhere.  Watch the ‘Bird of Paradise’ in the picture.  Doesn’t the flower on top of the stalk resemble a bird ready to fly?

            There’s an energy-packed group of youth topless on the street you have to look closely.

            All the buildings and houses are the typical Mediterranean architectural style of Spanish red roof tiles, stucco walls, arches and enclosed outdoor spaces with the courtyard of some sorts.  It’s a concrete evidence of Spanish settlement in California around 18^th century.  I have seen the “ Mission” a lot in California, and it’s not too detailed in history.  Hans, my son-in-law explains to me, ‘There are 21 missions set up near Highway 101, dating back to 1769 when the Spanish monarchy and Catholic Church missions began a campaign for the conquest of California.  The Spanish monarchy financed the expeditions into California in the quest for a strong empire.  So, I was confused sometimes in pronunciations, such as El Camino Real (The Royal Road), and Santa (Saint – Holy person in the Christian church) for cities, roads and various buildings.  Now, I know it.  We all learn everyday. There is a Chinese proverb said, "Traveling thousands of miles is better than reading thousands of books."  All the California history will be my grandson’s school subject to learn one day.   

Replica of Hollywood

            You can still see the old 1960s old classic cars on the street.  It’s quite colorful!

            Stan – I need you to tell me the model for this red-creamy colored antique.

Note - The picture triggered the dispute between my co-workers, Stan and Dennis after I posted the blog.  It was proved that the model was 1956 Chevy Normad Station Wagon, instead of 1955, due to the difference in trims.  - This antique classic is priced 100K now - Immaculate!

Hills Lost – Watch the tiny white houses on the hills in one of the pictures.

            Ben, I miss you now.  Have you ever had that conflicting feelings of intimacy and distance about the place where you and I used to belong – Taiwan?  The people, the school, the surrounding areas become so detached in our mind from years of away from home.  The room, which seemed so large, is shrunk, and the mountain has become a hill.  The clear creek where I squatted with your mother in Wai-Pu, Taichung, washing Chang family’s clothes are re-routed and become a concrete-covered ditch.  The houses on the hill, not the trees on the green mountain, indeed provoke me a particular kind of melancholy about not belonging – a sense of lost toward the past. 

John Steinbeck

            It also reminds me one of John Steinbeck’s ‘Travels with Charley – in Search of America’ I read in October on the airplane to Ventura before my retirement.  He, 60-year-old, then, talks about a lot of thing he comes across at the last stage of his life.  It’s not difficult to compare the state of mind during this phase of my life to his.  The written account of his remembered experience reflects the reminiscence of my youth.   He wrote:

“Sometimes in the summer evenings they walked up the hill to watch the afterglow clinging to the tops of the western mountains and to feel the breeze drawn into the valley by the rising day-heated air. Usually they stood silently for a while and breathed in peacefulness. Since both were shy they never talked about themselves. Neither knew about the other at all.”

            My mind is slowly drifting from Santa Barbara to Salina Valley, 250 miles north of Santa Barbara, where he was born, and some of the movies made from his books I have seen during my high school and college years.  To name a few; East of Eden, The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, Tortilla Flat….

            I wanted to come home before the sky turned dark, so, I decided to stroll to Karpeles Manuscript Library Museums, one block down from my bus stop.

Karpeles Manuscript Library Museums

            This is the world’s largest private holding of important original documents and manuscripts.

The karpeles Manuscript Library Museum

            I only took a few pictures of manuscripts from Charles Dickens’s a Tale of Two Cities, and Oliver Twist. Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto, Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, Handel ‘ Messiah, Brahms’ The Hungarian Dance, the busts of Wagner, Bach, Liszt and Tchaikovsky, and other ancient artifacts from Egypt.  

Charles Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities

Artifacts from Egypt-see me in the picture?

From R to L - Beethoven, Mozart, Handel & Brahms

From R to L - Bach,Wagner, Liszt & Tchaikovsky

Charles Dickens's Oliver Twist drawings 

            Dr. David Karpeles, born in Santa Barbara in 1936, a former math professor turned real estate investor, became interested in manuscripts in the 1970s.  The museums, 10 of them across the US – all free, are dedicated to the preservation of the original writings of the great Authors, Scientists, Philosophers, Statesmen, Composers, Sovereigns and leaders from periods of World history.

            His contribution to America humbles me how small role I play in this society.

Homebound sunset view

            The shimmering Pacific Ocean with the setting sun rays penetrating through the cloud.  It’s just stunning!

Sunset at Santa Barbara

Volunteer as a Tutor in California's Adult Literacy Program

Volunteer as a Tutor in California’s Adult Literacy Program

            Friday, 1/31/2014 – It’s my first of five  ‘Tutor Training” from VolunteerMatch Program.  It starts 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm.  It sounds so serious.  Yes, I was ready to putting myself out there and staying engaged with the community.  That’s one of my retirement resolutions.   I will never want to become a few of my co-workers who retired at 65 and played for about five years and they’re done!  In a way, America has given me so much opportunity for the past 40 years, which I am grateful forever.  I feel like I really owe it my own undivided loyalty for all these years. 

            But, I was very nervous! To tell you the truth, #1. I do not know the area enough. #2. It’s nighttime training.  I haven’t done any driving at night in California yet.  I just got here, Ventura CA, barely a month ago from Maryland of almost 35 years!   Well, this is how my volunteer journey begins:

            It all started here at Ventura in January, when I was surfing on-line for teaching English as a volunteer in California on the weekend basis.  The VolunteerMatch Program was popping all over on my Google search.  There was no contact numbers where I could talk to any human being at all, until all my credential and past experience were provided and screened, through on-line step-by-step, sometimes, cumbersome and endless pathway in a maze.  At least, that’s not so bad!  Then, the interactive e-mailing got rolling pretty quickly with the program manager of Ventura County Library, Carol Chapman and office manager, Paula Retrossi.  So eventually, the phone numbers embedded in the labyrinth of network agencies to contact.  What a good security software they must have installed to avoid the phone numbers revealed in this digital world!  They called me instead to welcome me for being accepted as a tutor in California’s Adult Literacy Program.  They told me to look out for the mailed program package.  Finally, four pages of document and brochure, that I need to fill out, came in the mail in time for me to start this once every 6 months training to be a tutor in California.   

            Aside from my resume I already compiled hastily and accepted during the on-line application, the packet also asked for 3 referrals!  Surprised!  It looks like I am applying for my first job!  Luckily, my County supervisors and co-worker all happily responded to my request with the short notice.  I am honored to have such a quick turnaround from them.

            From the program package I received, I found out the program was actually endorsed by 1. Council for the Advancement of Adult Literacy 2. American Library Association 3. National Organization for the Promotion of Literacy 4. Verizon Literacy University.   This is a pre-requisite training program as a qualified California Tutor in Adult Literacy program.   I do not know they are this organized and serious-minded.

            The program is a state funded program, definitely well run all right.  Jerry Brown, the Governor, initiated the program, originally at Oakland Public Library, at the end of his second term as California’s Governor in 1983, and it was cut a few years ago due to budget crisis and economic downturn.  Now, he again not only restores, but also provides substantially more beginning in 2015-16, $500 million instead of $300 million in his original budget proposal for 2013-2014.  It’s a substantial amount, however controversial it is.  We, Marylanders, probably will have plenty of eye-rolling and head-shaking over his announcement.  How is that possible?

            Is the funding putting the money where the California’s needs are?  It is clear that he intends to boost the economic well being of Californians who voted for him not only once, but twice and three times. 

            Jerry Brown, the longest serving governor in California, first caught my eyes in 1975 when I was a graduate student, just beginning to watch Walter Cronkite’s CBS news on the grainy black-and-white TV, which Ben and I bought cheap from student’s yard sale at Blacksburg, Virginia.  I remembered him for empathizing and advocating farm workers, women and minorities.  Then, later something about him being a priest and a gray and bald third term governor.  Anyhow, being the politician for all his life, he knows that a well-educated workforce is key to state prosperity.  Investing in education is also good for state budgets in the long run, since workers with higher educations/incomes contribute more through taxes over the course of their lifetimes. 

            The truth is, as we all know, agriculture is the mainstay in California and this industry is so labor intensive.   All the farm workers are the key to California’s agricultural production, which are the supply chains for the US food system.  They may not need any education to pick the strawberries, cut the lettuce or crop the vegetables where I saw at Oxnard Valley on the VISTA trip.  They may not even have any legal status to work in US.  But, our population relies on their labor to put food on the table.  My notion is they have fed Americans for over a long period of time historically.  The hotly debated Immigrant Reform Bill should, one way or the other, grant the farm workers the legal status one day. – It’s my personal point of view with a little sentimental touch at this stage of my life.

            Let’s get back to the volunteering.  I made the ‘dry run’ around 6:15 pm when both my daughter and son-in-law came home early and settled down their son, Forest.  They are very supportive of my volunteering initiative.  Bless their hearts!  Otherwise, they would probably feel guilty for not being able to entertain me on the weekend basis. 

            Good, I made it, not only the 1^st class, but also, the 2^nd time training on Saturday 10:00 am with the bright sunny day.  Following my researched Google Map from the letter, I took I-126 E – S. Victoria St. and parked just in front of the building 801 S. Victoria St. which is about 2.3 miles away from my daughter’s place.  It seemed to be far.   The route actually was my 1^st VISTA bus ride to Fillmore.   I didn’t even realize it.  The challenge of night driving in an unfamiliar place is often unnerving.

            I met 15 people in the tutor-training program.  All reserved in advance.  The majority are experienced, seasoned retirees and one young graduate student. – Professor, librarian, teachers, and different career from their past.  I saw them as willing, passionate, fun, inspiring, and insightful with the rich background and knowledge through the introduction at orientation session.  The impression they gave me as relaxed, happy and worry-free folks like I am.

            Besides all the teaching materials, supplies, and books provided free by the library’s ‘adult Literacy’ program, I found out that food is also one of many envy-worthy perks.  Since it’s dinner time 5:00 pm when class started.  I was surprised to see plenty of sandwiches, fresh California fruits – big strawberries, blueberries, bananas, toasted nuts and different snacks on the table with microwave, water cooler, kitchen sink, refrigerator and other amenities, even though I packed my own simple cheese crackers for dinner.  The place where we are for this mandatory ‘Tutor Training’ is the Community Center Conference room at the Union Bank, across from Ventura County Government – Nice Building.  What are all these pampered perks?  Just trying to get me to contribute as a volunteer in California’s Adult Literacy program?  I am being curious now. 

           

            The program manager for Ventura County Libraries, Carol Chapman, petite size, a librarian looking in her 50s, told us in the class that Jerry Brown will officially dedicate September as the ‘Month of Literacy’ in California this year at the program’s 30^th year anniversary.  As she said, ‘there will be a lot of promotional programs and fun activities involved with not only the tutors but also the learners.  There are plenty of powerful stories from the learners who would share their transformative journey in learning and in life with us.’   One of the books she shared with us – In a Fisherman’s Language by James Arruda Henry, a 98-year old lobster-boat captain from Mystic, Connecticut, who had a secret for nearly 90 years.  It’s so compelling that you would think a man has been incognito for most of his life is still able to overcome the odds and confront a life obstacle.  Finally, he can bravely tap his inner strength and find the resilience to conquer all the impossible.

            Wow, free, one-on-one tutoring for any California adult who needs help with reading and writing.  When I shared my first hand volunteer experience with my close high school classmate, who was the graduate of ’71 NCKU Accounting Department, Jenny of Freemont, California.  She plans to devour The Complete Works of William Shakespeare after she retires in one year or two.   I had the opportunity to ask Carol, the manager about Jenny’s Californian entitlement for this program.  Nope, she said,  “there is only one qualification: the learners, must be at least 18 years or older, with 8^th grade and lower based on the pre-tutor assessment test, and have to speak English well enough to communicate with a tutor.”  It’s really that so?  Sorry, Jenny, you have to prove yourself that you are really a functional illiterate or you can join the Shakespeare’s Book Club to reach your after retirement goal.  But, go for it, Jenny, it’s never too late to do anything you decide for your life.  Does Maryland offer this kind of service for our Marylanders?  It would be interesting to find out.  

            I think all these politicians; including President Obama have something in their minds for the proposed federal immigration reform plan.  According to Carol, “the increasing need for ESL, citizenship, GED and other career tech programs are all covered in this broad 'Adult literacy' mission.  The only thing interesting surfaced, as the program has run so far, you will find a lot of learning disabled, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia and other attention disorders that impaired their reading and writing process,” “You will be surprised, that there are endless group of adults hiding out there, and are able to get by everyday life fine, but who need help to achieve, at least, the self-esteem.”     No wonder, I am more than welcomed, immediately after my application. 

            As the trainings progress, she introduced us several of teaching materials.  Barton Reading and Spelling System will be used.  We were challenged to read and spell a word, bryxfrlds – a white fragrant state flower in Poland.  Boy, that was hard.  The point is to picture us as those adult-illiterates when faced with struggle the simple word, read.

            I must commit myself with 2 hours of teaching per week and at least minimum of 50 hours per year.  All lesson plans and learner’s short and long-term goals paper are prepared by the tutors weekly and the program site manager will review them twice a year in January and in June, when the learner is assigned to us.  Then, in turn, the learners evaluation documents should turn over to Government agency soliciting grant proposals and request more budget if there is a need.

            She indicated that some of the counties might have more tutors than learners, and vice versa in other counties.  The point is I can only limit my time for weekend and in Ventura area, due to my family obligation.  I need to have the balance of keeping my priority and knowing my purpose.  They, the program manager and site coordinators completely understand that.  So they will try to find some leaners in this area if they can, once all these 5 pre-requisite classes are done at the end of February.  It suits me well between my roles of weekday Nanny at home and weekend explorer on the bus.

            Just like she said, the program’s mission is to help the endless people out there, mothers, fathers, neighbors and workers who have difficulty writing a check or reading a newspaper medicine labels or a bus schedule.  One at a time, we will improve their reading and writing skills so they can perceive positive impact on their lives in such areas as self esteem, employment, family life and community involvement.

            Well, we will see how it goes from here.  They encouraged me that, ‘do not get discouraged, they will call you when there is one out there to suit your schedule and location.’

             I will be waiting out here in Ventura, California.

CA Adult Literacy Training Session-Ventura