Adapting the life in the American Society/Carlos Pueblo

Adapting the life in the American Society/Carlos Pueblo

The life is changing dramatically during and after the pandemic of the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus. Of course, the drastic change of life started when I came to this great country as a graduate student intended to stay permanently. I must learn and adapt to live in the new society which is not always seen in the Hollywood movies. The American society is very much more reasonable and the individual life is well protected. These are some of my understanding and conclusion to adapt my new life in the U.S.

Choose the program which please you to watch, to read, and to listen. It is the better way to avoid the stress, i.e. I pay no attention to popular sports and would rather to engage in my personal tennis games which is easy to be reached. I carefully select my news reading from some of the Yahoo News release. I only read the subject which pleases me. I admire the beauty on the cruise ship than the fashion model or movie star in the public domain.

I always believe the frugal habit brought up with me from my old country Taiwan. I always save before spend my earned income. I believe to preserve the capital in which is the current major saving and income of my senior life. I also pass it on to my family members no matter if it is to the high income member, or low income members, or no income member. We all are financial independent, free of money issue. Houston is a good example of the U.S. large and full of job opportunity for hard workers.

Houston is also very nice for Asian to live, hot and humid. The pandemic has changed my old traveling habit, yet I find my new life occupied with some basic of activities such as gardening, leisure walking and cooking, watching movies, listening piano music, and writing, etc. The life is getting more interesting and meaningful day by day. I run into many happy people every morning while walking. It is getting easier and easier as I have adapted the life in the American Society.

適應美國生活/莊峻華

適應美國生活/莊峻華

最近之中國武漢冠狀病毒肺炎肆虐，美國生活臨時有許多變化，例如戴口罩，保持距離，和在家隔離等行政命令，我們都一一遵守，就是聽話，避免感染疾病，就是有健康保險，有錢等，也無法保證個人身體健康，一切都需以健康為重要。愛美每日都觀看，紐約擴墨州長之分析疫情，和他之對策，然後與我討論，我因早年就認識其父之演講才氣，也認識其弟電視節目，因此相信其能力不俗，但實際上，我是注意到台灣一位台大內科李教授之名嘴分析，這一病毒之內容，我是讀過生物化學，深知其中奧妙，而且也同意他的診斷，疫苗和解藥，都將迅速上市，然後危機將行解除。

美國有人示威抗議，自行隔離命令，認為是侵犯人權，我在想這種隔離，並非禁足，像我們家元兒，仍舊在超市上班，愛美每週仍舊上超市購物，想上班者，先要問，有無班可上？多數人同議隔離政策，只有川普和大部份共和黨州長，主張迅速恢復上班，示威者與兩千七百萬失業者，無班可上者，不成比例，如何讓這些失業者，有班可上，才是總統州長等人，需要頭疼之處。美國有失業補助金，也有一千二病毒救濟金，全世界五大經濟大國都發該救濟金，惟獨第二大經濟國，中國，獨缺，台灣好像也沒有發救濟金，台灣防疫好，但經濟也重挫。

講到救濟金一千二，元兒常問我，收到他支票沒？我們三人都可以領到，但不是早批領到者，它是按照有無銀行記錄在國稅局，年收入之多寡為順序，現在已經發到八千八百二十萬人，每週還是繼蓄發放。美國政府，也救濟受重挫之大小企業，一共三點七兆美金，現在美國國債，逼近五兆美金，專家保守派，已經開始煩惱，是誰將擔起稅收重任？

這些都不是我需要煩惱之問題，我的問題是，如何適應這如此多端變化之生活，我已經安排好我之信用卡債務，我因為貸款給琳兒購買投資房屋，向兩信用卡周轉三萬六，一年內還清，然後就享受一些利息收入五年，我沒有家政燃眉之急，這是我早已適應美國之生活，而且能面對多變之社會。

The quarantine life at home/Carlos Pueblo

The quarantine life at home/Carlos Pueblo

Due to the out break of the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus, we are ordered to stay home to practice the quarantine life. For me, it is like to enjoy and understand the feeling of the life in the paradise. We have attempted to avoid to be infected by the disease in every way and move on. Amy still goes on to supermarkets, Arthur is working at his job in a super market, Michelle in Austin just finish her four months leave at work and returns to work at home, and I enlarge my daily routine of my self exile life.

First, I expand my morning walk to every street in the subdivision, a total of eleven back and forth for about three hours. It is not only a physical test of my heart every morning but also a way to enjoy the nice environment of the neighborhood, the landscape, spring flowers, pet dogs, fellow morning walkers, and some babies on strollers, etc. I ask the permission to walk along with a beloved dog for a while and remember to make up the lost streets of my count.

In addition to my Sunday's beef stew noodle cooking for Arthur, I come to help Amy to do the pasta, the steam bun, the onion bread and the dumpling on Saturday. I also learn it on the You Tube programs. It is very interesting to make those foods from the flour.

I have a new gardening project to repair a damage lawn on the back yard, to grow some vegetable and melons, and the amaryllis from seeds. I hope that I can see their blooming in six years and also to see those babies going to the elementary school.

We have not received the stimulus checks from the IRS yet; however, the stock market is up a little bit. It is not safe and convenient to resume my cruise trip; therefore, I save some money. I have a lab top computer set up down stair on my old office desk and ready to utilize those old office furniture. I can have a break to walk out of the back door to enjoy the growing of many plants on the yard.

隔離生活/莊峻華

隔離生活/莊峻華

因為中國武漢肺炎肆虐，我們進行隔離生活，已經一個半月，說是隔離，真是過甚其詞，愛美仍舊帶口罩買菜去，元兒仍舊上班，琳兒在奧斯汀，也結束半年休假，恢復暫時居家上班，我增加清晨散步路程，增加一日烹調麵食，增加園藝工作，一週過一週，時間飛馳。

隔離生活，有助於防範感染，我早晨散步，走遍小村里十一條街，遇見一些舊識，還有溜狗之鄰居，有熟識者，就讓我陪愛犬散步，多麼清鬆愉快，然後我再補上遺漏之街道，還有遇見三位嬰孩，隨母親們散步，年輕母親們，都勤快將遮亭打開，容我稱讚，我期待能看到他們上小學，就是六年之後，我仍能健行。

我正撥種喇叭花，小傑克母親，聞我提及，回家查看後院喇叭花，不見有種子，再查谷歌，發現需費六年，始得成長開花，我也希望這有朝一日之到來。我種之哈蜜瓜和香瓜，都開始開花，尚未結果，長豆和絲瓜，都已結藤直上。我敲落枯黃小檸檬，今年將歉收矣。庭院聖奧古斯丁草，成長極優，碧綠葉叢，引來蝗蟲，卻也無妨，飛鳥在上巡迴，連蚯蚓都難露土飲晨露。

因為想練習西班牙語，想每日造一句，當場講給鄰居薩爾瓦多夫人聽，於是勤翻西文文法書，始體會前一墨西哥先生，提到之一本好教科書，不僅幫助我的西語，也幫助我的英文，這些語言運用，都有拉丁文之文法，和動詞變化使用，也是我投降日文之原因，日文也來歐洲語言之動詞變化，我只能盡力以赴，能學多少算多少。

Home made mask/Carlos Pueblo

Home made mask/Carlos Pueblo

Amy gave me a cloth mask to try to see if it was fit. She made several masks to meet the mayor's order to wear mask to go out. Wearing mask and washing hands with soap prove to be effective to avoid being infected by the famous Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus out break pandemic. I am a good citizen and I shall obey the order to wear mask while I am out to walk in the morning even though few walker or driver show up on the street. I have excused myself to touch pet dogs because that I consider they are my niece and nephew in the family.

The home made mask is sewed by her hands even though the mail in order of needles are in to replace the broken one on the sewing machine. She made a design like the folded skirt with the extended belt attached. It is much better that the one in my memory. When I was in the elementary school, I was struggling to meet the requirement of wearing a mask to brush the dirt ground. Recently, I learn the reasons of my resistance of dust or dirty air due is due to my body's immune system. Some people doesn't really have such luck. Yet, I still remember the need of mask when I clean the toilet during my army service in the frontier at Kamoi Island.

The home made mask is not as efficient as the surgical type of N-95, yet at least will block some of the un-wanted intruder or sprad out of something from our own mouths. It can be washed. Arthur ordered some basic function masks when we were out in the Southeast Asia trip. He gave me some and I returned them to him because that he needed for his daily work. He is concerned our safety. He even order three 3M gas masks, those Hong Kong youngsters to wear against the violent police's tear gas. He told me some of senior customers came to the store wearing such masks. I think that is very interesting.

I am very glad that I can maintain myself in a very simple self exile type of life. I don't have to go out to meet people. I don't feel that is boring and hope very soon we can all go through this safely.

口罩/莊峻華

口罩/莊峻華

休市將有新規定，下週一外出，需要掛口罩，以防流行中之中國武漢冠狀病毒肺炎，休市因感染而死亡之人數，有一數目，引起市長憂慮，愛美早已手縫幾只布口罩，讓我使用，我也聽聞，散步只需保持距離，遇愛犬心情欠佳，打招呼後離去，我們互謔它們遵守市長規定，保持距離。

我看台灣政論節目，有台大醫生博學，分析病情，和戴口罩洗手之重要，終於讓我了解一生之疑惑，我甚少戴口罩，小學開始，打掃灰塵飄揚，需要戴口罩，但沒有口罩，一直到當兵掃廁所，臭氣薰天，應有口罩，但也憾無口罩，最近旅行東南亞，人人到處戴口罩，知道厲害，但在香港，卻買不到口罩，只買到一黑人牙膏，因我全新牙膏，為曼谷機場安全沒收。

我檢查一下，愛美版手縫口罩，她將白布三折，像女孩折群款式，細針縫上四周，加上一對鬆緊帶，可以水洗，按李教授曰，如此口罩，了勝於無，可以防止口液外洩，也可以稍擋箸外來噴液，絕對不要揉鼻摸眼，勤洗雙手。元兒因超市工作，自購50只一般口罩，單薄如紙，是五十美元一包，他再加上一塑膠套在外，而且也購上三只，簡單防毒面具，就是香港居民，對抗香港暴警摧淚彈之面罩，他說來店裏購物之小心老者，作此防範，但店裏尚不允許員工使用。

我實在不願談這些壓抑問題，但是我們正處於一非常狀況，我抱怨愛美購買進口麵粉，她要我自己帶口罩，或防毒面具到大賣場握罵買，價格一半，重量兩倍，還好麵粉乾燥處理，不像雞蛋牛奶洋蔥等，容意敗壞，需要廢棄，物棄於地也，瘟疫肆虐，食物賣不出去，只好拋棄。

Year 1989/Carlos Pueblo

Year 1989/Carlos Pueblo

During the on going Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus out break of 2020, reminds me the Year of 1989 when the collapse of the Soviet Union and the unification of Germany. I believe that a new China will be born and the world life will be changed forever. I was much younger at that time and  experiencing something unusual in my life. I was experiencing insomnia at that time and had had a strong homesick to return to my home town in Taiwan and my visa application was rejected by the Nationalist Chinese regime due to my political thought of Taiwan Independent from China. Finally, after two months struggle I did receive a visa to enter the Island, my birth place and made a visit of a week. I felt safer of my life due to the death of the last ruler of Chiang's Dynasty from China in Taiwan. A native Taiwanese president succeeded Chiang II, and Taiwan gradually sailed away from the authoritarian rule.

At the same time, there was something occurred in China as well; however, there was a massacre at Tien An Man in Beijing to oppress the out cry for democracy from the Chinese youth. The Chinese Communist has been firmly controlled in China till today. I watch the news program in the internet every day and I am wondering how the Chinese will get out of this mess. I sincerely hope that the change will be as smoothly as in the year of 1989. Let the Chinese public take over the government to form a new government and get along with the rest of the world and especially with Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet, and East Turkistan of Hsin Chiang, etc.

The biological war against the whole world has begun already. I believe that Xi of China and Trump of the U.S. will be gone very soon. People in China and voters in the U.S. will not forgive their mismanagement of the biological warfare which has created so much casualty in the whole world. Only at this moment, we understand how poor we are prepared for the natural or man made disease. We are naked.

1989/莊峻華

1989/莊峻華

最近之中國武漢冠狀病毒肺炎肆虐，感染死亡，全球慘重，是一場非典型之生物戰爭，我觀看歷史甚久，殷鑑不遠，在夏後之世，就是1989年，全世界和台灣，都有極端之政局變化，影響至巨，2020年，規模更甚，預估結局，稍作心理準備。

1989年冬殘，我莫名其妙之當選，休市台灣人公共事務會分會長，參加華府之年會，當時台灣政情已有變化，中國蔣家二世經國薨，政權暫由台籍副總統，李登輝接任，美國異義台籍人士，結集華府一小汽車旅舍，一些聞名但非台獨聯盟者，均開始露面，連台獨聯盟主席，和許信良等，都到會場，這一年後，與會者幾位，都在後來李登輝執政內閤出現，像田弘茂等人，陳唐山，蔡同榮，張富美等人，則在繼任總統陳水扁任內，參與執政，和走向台灣民主法治之不歸路，我說的是普世價值之不歸路。

剛好遇上世界冷戰之結束，蘇聯瓦解，導火線是蘇聯經濟崩潰，蘇聯和東歐均垮，由東德開始，當然波蘭之反抗再先，東德青年搭火車，輾轉逃入西德，幾週內，東德瓦解，西德統一德國，不費一兵一卒，蘇聯也一樣，葛柏契夫，親自將萬惡之共產帝國解散。

這一年，中國也有一機會，脫離中共統治，這一年春天，我好不容易，哭哭啼啼，寫悔過書，拿到返台簽證，回台北市，拜望在東吳教書之恩師，恩師請我午茶，經過北市街頭，青年支持北京天安門事件，中國青年是想改變，但中國人不比德國人，鄧小平不是葛柏契夫，中國共黨政權，逃過一關，香港和整個中國，卻無法逃過2020年，更大之浩劫。

武漢肺炎，並非世界末日，我剛好已是年邁，也不眷戀生死，我的生活，也可以適應隔離生活，重要者為如何保護自己，保護家人活下去，觀看習進平等倒台，和川普倒台，這些人在位，有機會造福人類，卻逼使人類走上困境。

Growing the Amaryllis/Carlos Pueblo

Growing the Amaryllis/Carlos Pueblo

Amaryllis blooming is coming to an end, pollinated flowers become seeds matured inside a small ball shape fruit. The ball shape fruit eventually would be popped and flake type of seeds will be fallen down to the ground or else where. Another way of the amaryllis reproduction is the bulb propagation in late autumn. I have chosen the later method for most of my amaryllis transplants. I feel that the growing from seeds may be a way for me to try from two front gardens of neighbors.

Each time when I dig into the ground to get the bulbs to be transfer plants, I always find some smal size bulb and suspect that is from the fallen seed. The seed is nurtured with water and sun shine becomes the sprout and a small bulb with a root and leaf ready to expand. That is what I hope it will work for me even though both lady owners promise to give me bulbs in the fall. Their amaryllis flowers are in jumbo sizes and adorable.

I had had my first amaryllis bulbs box almost 30 years ago from my neighbor. She taught me when to transplant. She used to have a very nice garden with these orange color flowers. I like flowers and have made some trans plants to two of my rental houses, Michelle's house in Austin, and moved to the Del Monte house about 7 and half years ago. Amaryllis is very easy to grow and can enjoy only about a week of blooming time, fortunately, they may come out continuously in the spring. Now, I have spread many seeds on the surface of available space in yard or neighbor's garden and expect every day for their arrival. Sometimes I feel that I ought to have an acre lot without tree to grow flowers yet I may not like it due to the intensive care of the gardening.

試培植喇叭花/莊峻華

試培植喇叭花/莊峻華

種植喇叭花，是我多年之園藝嗜好，約是三十餘年前，在茶花女街舊居，鄰居贈與許多喇叭花球莖，我沿屋簷下，和庭院空隙栽種，結果很好，整理出租屋，我就移植一些到兩屋前院，都看到花開，而且也移植到琳兒奧斯汀住屋前後院，美化環境，約是八年前，移居西鄕社區，也帶來舊居庭院，所有喇叭花，去年繁植甚多，我再挖掘花種，分植於前後院，不使擁擠一處，今年花開剛謝，十分滿意。

愛犬函瑞克主人家庭院，有兩塊喇叭花區，種的是各色大號喇叭花，非常美麗，我早想請主人分我一株，最近始與主人訂好摘取花實，女主人更答應贈給球莖，我想先試花子，再來球莖，花子是受精之花果，是一小片黑色薄片，中有花子，花果成熟裂開後，隨風脫落，所以老株旁，可繁植甚多小株，當然也有可能，從地下球莖分裂繁植，一般看來，需要耗時若干年，開花前，花株冒出長莖，含花苞然後怒放，花期約是一週，然後就是花實。

鄰居薩爾瓦多夫人，也是位家庭園藝者，也是我的西語先生，她清晨散步，經過寒舍，注意到我新移植之喇叭花，告訴我她家前院，也有更大更美麗之喇叭花，我早注意到，而且表示愛慕之意，就是索取種子，和晚秋之球莖，我已經兩次撒花子在庭院空隙上。

過去我曾拜訪過客戶，發現喇叭花可以密集一處，而且也不需特別照顧，有陽光當然更佳，但也可過關，我們家庭院，一直都有巨樹，遮蔽陽光，好不容易砍掉一棵老朽樹，移植來之石榴終於開花結果，我希望撒下之花子，也能像瓜果一般，萌芽成長，我可以佈滿前後院，可以贈與鄰居有趣者，所等待者，為春天花開之到來。

It's not too late to mend the gate/Carlos Pueblo

It's not too late to mend the gate/Carlos Pueblo

There is a saying in Chinese classic, It's not to late to mend the gate when you loss a goat. That means at the time of the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus out break, the tremendous loss of everything, from the human life and  the financial difficulty, etc. I'll let the able politician to figure it out how to mend the gate to avoid further loss of goats. I am thinking more of myself as an individual to be survived  in this turmoil time.

I regret very much that I don't reserve more cash at hand to feel more comfortable. This is because my calculation doesn't foresee the biological warfare of this kind. I wish I could hold some  20% cash away from all stocks growth funds in my pension portfolio. I am alright yet feel sorry for myself.

We, all of us in the family, are concerned with the exposure of Amy's grocery shopping and Arthur's working at a super market daily. They are worry of my touching pet dogs on the neighborhood. He purchases masks, gloves, and even gas mask, etc. for his work, of course, required the permission from company to wear the gas mask, the one that Hong Kong youths wear to protect themselves against the police brutality of the tear gas. She says that she is alright to go in and out quickly with the mask and the glove to protect herself and the others. I am fine with my self-exile life and enough funds to meet my obligation.

I increase my morning walk distance from 11 streets to 16 streets to meet the exercises volume after skipping two tennis meets a week due to the lock down. I gather amaryllis seeds from two neighbors' garden to prepare plants for the future. My melons are blooming and the sod repair is working. I am forced to stay home away from the cruise trip and save money. I am going to do some studying in Spanish and Japanese. I am making steam bun and dumpling on Saturday.

亡羊補牢猶未為晚/莊峻華

亡羊補牢猶未為晚/莊峻華

這次之中國武漢肺炎，為害至巨，死傷人數，遍佈全球，而且以美國為甚，我稍了解美國困境，也相信美國習得經驗，將來之領導人物，和其團隊，勢必有亡羊補牢之措施，就像當年911劫機撞大樓一般，改變登機規則，從此世界再難有劫事件，我的亡羊補牢，是講我個人，就是在此動盪期間，我應如何應變，如何防犯，如何亡羊補牢。

最大之變化，是退休金縮水，我的儲蓄投資，全部在股票，這次重挫，雖然不至於危害到樸實之生活，但也十分心疼，明年初，馬上領出年度必領最少退休金額，當作災難準備金，而且需考慮領出一些羅斯計劃，來支付意外。

增強每日生活，保持身心愉快，認真過每日有意義之生活，維護健康之身體，開卷有益，而且勤顧庭院花草，維持與社區朋友親切關係，保持距離，以策安全，待一切安全後，再恢復國外旅行。

Desks/Carlos Pueblo

Desks/Carlos Pueblo

The desk top computer which I regular use daily was interrupted by unknown reasons with no internet connection sign. I suspect that is due to the Window system which is on the computer is too old or the hard disk is. I have a station room which I call it a library up stair that I spent most of my time day and night. There are a small lab top and notebook which I have taken with me when I have had foreign travel. They are on top of a credenza in the living room down stair and I like to re-use the set with the lab top computer which is an old one yet still newer than the desk top up stair.

Recently, I am concerned with my old office furniture which I have brought home after I close my insurance agency. I wonder if I can pass them to my children like most of American parents or grand parents because they are so heavy. Arthur has a teak desk in his bed room to station some of his computers and a desk top down stair in Amy's library on a built in desk. Amy has a rosewood veneer set in her library. I place another set in the living room facing the back yard as a decoration and seldom use it. I also have an adjustable desk for drawing purpose inside the garage set for Kanji calligraphic brushes and stone ink stand, etc. I also keep two wood statues of Buddha on that desk. I thought that I could refresh my old Chinese calligraphy skill learned from my elementary school era.

Buying desks is my habit from childhood yet I have not fully utilized the use of desks. I can sit and watch internet and You Tube all day and all night yet it is very difficult for me to read books in front of a desk. This is why I am never be a good scholar. I can write my blog and post it on my blog site every day on a built in small built in desk up stair. From now on, I shall build my habit to sit down stair in the living room to read foreign language text books, watch the internet and enjoy the back yard like occasionally step outside to get a fresh air from the garden.

書桌/莊峻華

書桌/莊峻華

昨夜，書房桌型電腦，網路失靈，我道是老式門窗軟體故，或是雅虎故障，於是決定重啟使用一膝上電腦，置放在樓下客廳書桌充電，我真希望在有限之年，好好使用此書桌，我不相信家人，將會使用此桌，而且也無他人可傳遞。

從小我就羨慕擁有書桌，我仍有記憶首次購買舊書桌，到正式租設辦公室，我就新購許多辦公室傢俱，書桌是大宗，退租辦公室後，又搬回茶花女街舊屋，又有一次重整旗鼓，再外出租辦公室，生意失敗後，又搬回家，剛好家中坪數夠大，直到想到子女均未婚，不可能傳給任何人，雖然我可以繼續看管，但終有一日需要告別一切。

我剛算一下，我有兩套玫瑰花木書桌，愛美書房一套，另一套置放於大廳，元兒有一張大柚木書桌，在他臥室，他置放幾具電腦，車庫有一琳兒淘汰之建築用書桌，可以調整高低，我留下置放古文房四寶，我旅行台北和奈良，買下毛筆硯台和墨，只是未用而已，桌面夠大，尚俸兩尊木雕佛像。

我寫作和看桌型電腦，是在樓上書房，書桌書櫃，是原建築設備，目前上下樓梯，尚無困難，不知何時我將開始感謝愛美，更屋時堅決要求，主臥室必需在樓下。若我能善用樓下書桌，也可以就近走出後院，觀賞我之園藝成果，還有窗前溫習有趣書本，也可就近電話，以免吵醒夜班工作之元兒。

Increase my morning walk distance/Carlos Pueblo

Increase my morning walk distance/Carlos Pueblo

After temporary suspending my weekly tennis due to the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus lock down, I manage to increase my morning walk distance in order to feel good on my make up of exercises quantity in a week. I add 3 more streets into my original 11 streets a morning. Of course, the leisure walk also includes to accompany one or two walk with neighbor's pet dogs on the way. I first purpose is to visit all my favorites who are waiting for my coming every morning and see some in-expected rest. Now, I have extra activity to accompany some to walk and chat with its owner. I may mess up my regular boring route yet I can always count the streets which I miss and make them up.

When I approach to a gate or door to greet my regular favorite sweet hearts, they always wait on the front lawn due to well training. Forest's owner owner sometimes gives me some treat for my walking companion. I don't see that kind of social during my life. During the pandemic, more neighbors are staying home and walking their dogs.

How do I become a dog whisperer? First, I used to have a dog for 16 1/2 years. I have built up a closed relationship with most of the dog. I would ask if the dog is friendly or shy. Most of the owner will let me know right away and offer that friendship. If some dogs barking behind the garage gate, I would approach and sweet talk to them every time. If I find the owner, I would ask them to introduce me and get their names. Since then, I would call them every time I pass by. I walk every morning as my habit. They, eventually we become good friends. It is amazing that some dogs behave introverted outside on the street than behind the gate.

This morning after I have had a walk with Edda and her owner, I went back to make up several streets on section one of the subdivision. I was on a new added street and over heard a loud burst of dog barking. There were two handsome dogs behind a gate and one with loud greeting. I approached and starting my sweet talking and an oriental lady owner told me their names, Summer and Winter two big dogs. I promised to come back every morning to visit them as always in my routine of morning walk.

增加清晨散步哩數/莊峻華

增加清晨散步哩數/莊峻華

因為中國武漢肺炎肆虐，休市封關，網球局中斷，每週運動量減少，於是增加清晨散步哩數，從原來約11條街，增加到14條街，也不清礎增加多少步程，但卻滿足一些遺憾，況且有較多位愛犬外出散步，我開始跟隨他們，十分有趣。

蜜卡是一體重之挪威數麋鹿犬，她主人是我之網球隊友，太太剛賦閒在家，我們開始在街道上相遇，蜜卡認得我，因為我常愛撫其首，甜言蜜語，我自動跟隨其隊伍，經過愛犬佛瑞斯特府，她就乖乖坐在其前院草皮，我們隔前門打招呼，佛瑞斯特主人，經常遞我幾粒食物餵食，因此他特別與我友善。

奧林匹亞街口，有兩隻愛犬，珊姆和蕾拉，如我運氣好，可以幫忙攜帶一隻，兩隻均甚年輕活潑，訓練有素，每過街頭，都有停聽看動作，遇我需趨前招呼他愛犬，也都能隨其主人，靜坐草皮等候，平常都是我送她們回家後，然後我再補足每日步程。

愛妲之主人，是加國移民，剛搬來社區就散步相識，愛妲已有十歲，黑毛轉灰白，像隻狼，但非常溫和，有主見，我們認識七年餘，她和另一愛犬亨瑞克，都極和善，是早期散步之好友。

另外一隻白色愛犬曰艾莉，其女主人小我一歲，仍在上班，因此需在週末，始可相遇，我們常走過街到鄰村，艾莉也是一美麗體重之愛犬，也很有意見。

我的清晨，似乎忙碌，卻甚規律，若出外旅行，遇見各地愛犬，真會想念家裏鄰居愛犬伙伴，有一年，我在捷克布拉格市逛街，有一隻愛犬，堅持在街口等我，於是我連忙飛奔相會，還有一次在日本金澤市旅店，下雨晚上地下室洗衣，門口也遇見一有緣愛犬，剛好女士主人，英語流利，終身難忘。

Taiwan is appeared to be a colony of ROC/Carlos Pueblo

Taiwan is appeared to be a colony of ROC/Carlos Pueblo

There has been debates of Taiwan's national status for years, since 1945 or 1949. I read most of the newspaper in the world with brief explanation of the situation that Taiwan is claimed by China yet is a democratic ruled nation. Inside Taiwan, there are debates in political arena everywhere to get the name straight, currently the consensus is that Taiwan is an independent country with the name of ROC, the Republic of China. I don't like it and I shall explain the reason. I have my conclusion that is much easier to explain, Taiwan is appeared to be a colony of the ROC and nothing to do with the current day China in Beijing.

When the War ended in 1945, Japan was defeated by he U.S. force in Asia and the U.S. government had her hands full of issues as the new world's leader. Truman gave an order to Chiang Kai-sek to take the custodian of Taiwan like many other colonies of the defeated Japan or Germany. Chiang's ROC was kicked out by the Communist's force leaded by Mao Tse-tung, current day PRC, the People's Republic of China in 1949. Chiang and his son had ruled Taiwan in the name of ROC until 1989. Taiwanese were allowed to elect their National President and a full congress in 1996 under a military threat from the PRC and fortunately, Clinton sent Carrier Independent through the Formosan Straight to solve the crisis. Since then, Taiwan has held several national elections and until 2016, a native political party has been fully in control of the nation called the ROC. Taiwanese are still not free to address themselves as Taiwan, nothing to do with that China. I don't believe Chinese respect Taiwanese national elections as a self-determination.

Every political concerned people always guesses if Taiwanese change their nation's name to Taiwan instead of keeping the ROC. What will be the reaction from Chinese regime in Beijing? To invade Taiwan immediately? or keep the status quo, there is only one China and the other China in Taiwan is not a nation but Chinese Taipei, simply a name only. There are people in Taiwan have attempted to replace the ROC Constitution which has been the basic law to rule Taiwan in vain due to the military threat from China. Indeed, that Constitution was an old Chinese edition and still claimed as the legitimate ruler of China. Therefore, I don't want to confuse you further more. Taiwan is a nation and also appeared to be a colony of ROC. Without Taiwan, there is no ROC at all.

台灣表面上仍是中華民國之殖民地/莊峻華

台灣表面上仍是中華民國之殖民地/莊峻華

最近台灣重啟國家定位之辯論，台灣人想除去中華民國國名，但又忌於中國動武，所以委曲求全，擁有很多中國和中國的國名，我讀政治一生，始終不能了解中國統治者，甚至中國留美博士等之邏輯，還好現在是民進黨執政，否者真要一輩子吐血。

蔣介石受麥克阿瑟美國政府之令，來台接收日本統治，中國清朝永遠割讓之台灣，四年後蔣兵敗，為毛澤東為首之中國，驅逐到台灣，自號中華民國，所以北京有一中國，台灣有另外一個中國，這是兩個中國，北京堅持一個中國，打金門也打了幾次，對中華民國，表面上絕不同意，但無能力征服，也容忍國民黨混水摸魚許多年，中華民國，但台灣現在正吵獨立正熱，國民黨已為阿斗，正為台灣選民殲滅殆盡中，中國也將因為北京政權之倒行逆施，中國武漢冠狀病毒肆虐全球，引起全人類公憤，台灣人當然不願為中國人，我了解台灣居民之苦境，維持現狀，由民進黨長期執政，絕對比中國人之國民黨人餘孽有希望有前途。

華航之英文，中國，英文支那，可以小寫，台灣能幫忙之台灣可放大，台灣蕃薯可以當招牌，這是執政之優勢，否則中華民國憲法，和蔣介石中國人餘孽，都是令人吐血，中華文化之必也正名乎？都是腐朽之言，執政最重要，看看台北市政，看看台北市長，這才是台灣之前途。

台灣人一直被殖民，從未有當家做主之觀念，同樣，中國人一直是專制封建統治者所殖民，我不奢論中國，先看台灣，蔡英文之博士學位，真假我不計較，於我無涉，她當選毫無置疑，她的政府，比諸當年和近年，都合理而且努力，我也看台灣立法院之質詢，慶幸台灣輿論，漸漸轉移注意力，從台北到中央，就是台灣國之中央，那中華民國領土，到現在仍是未定界，台灣人先顧豬頭要緊，台灣政治前途，越來越好。

Practice Spanish during the pandemic lock down/Carlos Pueblo

Practice Spanish during the pandemic lock down/Carlos Pueblo

During the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona virus pandemic lock down, I must add some activities in order to avoid the boring daily life. Speaking Spanish can fill up that gap. What I can do in speaking Spanish is very limited, I can count the numbers, I can say the greeting without thinking, and I am in practice with weather, etc. I am also in my review of verbs conjugation. Well learned people call Spanish as local, local people and local language with a reason because the history of Texas. I like to learn different languages because that is my habit. I can speak my native tongue Taiwanese, Chinese Mandarin, and manage English and I also have an ambition to learn Japanese and Tagalog, the Filipino which my adopted daughters have taught me while at the ship.

I started my Spanish lessons when I was idle from my job some time ago yet the progress was limited. It is because that I have not work as hard as learning English and also due to aging that I am not as sharp as before. I would pop up daily greeting and answer their greeting politely and with difficulty to continue the conversation. Then it is up to me to offer some words to continue the conversation and I don't believe they have different thoughts but admiration that I dare to speak their language. It is very fun. One day, I was at Arthur's eye surgeon's office, a front desk nurse pop up an English/Chinese idiom, Long time no see that is meant it has been a long while since we have seen each other. I surprised her by offering her to say it in Spanish, Hace mucho tiempo que no nos vemos, which was a sentence my professora made it on the black board to answer my curiosity. The other morning, a group of landscape company of three came in to fill the mulch in the yard and was drizzle. I said it was raining in present participation sentence in Spanish to the owner and he was very surprised and reminded his co-workers what I could do in Spanish. Since then, I decide to work so more to improve my ability to that language.

It is also very fun when I make a trip to the Spanish speaking country, I can negotiate some with the vendor and also force some French speaker to take all what I have had in Spanish. I know that they can understand Spanish. French is another language that I love to get into it.

疫期填充每日生活/莊峻華

疫期填充每日生活/莊峻華

中國武漢肺炎疫期間，每日生活，稍有空檔無聊，需要不時填充節目，最近我已開始翻出西班牙語筆記，溫習去年最後一期基本課，然後再進行一本西語文法書，愛美若遇鄰居薩爾瓦多夫人，必考我能言幾句，非常考驗，我雖願學習，但效果不若年輕時，但也不氣餒，學習語言，本是一個人嗜好，像家父就能三種語言，我也有三語能力，另外三語，稍有基礎，可以隨時填充進修。

鄰居著人修葺一大片前院庭草，有犁地拖土再舖草皮，一位蒙面年輕人，工作兩日，我出外開信箱，順便上前觀看，叫上一句西語稱讚好，他說非常好，就是他所做之事，接近完工，我也在修葺草皮，我的方法，較為簡漏，不花成本，只投入時間和興趣。

西語許多動詞變化，學了十餘年，始感興趣，一日，也是薩爾瓦多園藝者，前來填沃土，剛好下毛毛雨，我一時興起，跟他說了一句現在下雨之進行式，這老板高興，重複該句給其他兩位同事，這兩位後來與我西語對話，我又開始後悔，年少不努力。

我在船上認收許多西語系愛女，其實我也認上一位西班牙姑娘愛女，她們均甚驚訝，我對西語之興趣，最後一次郵輪行，一位西語系愛女，聞我喜歡西語，告知一位船上中國姑娘同事，也甚喜西語，非常努力學習每一句，和我們當年開始學英文一般，一直到現在，我她教我如何尋找到這位好學姑娘，只是郵輪行期僅一週耳，僅能抱憾，這位好學中國姑娘，必將有成。

My love of pet dogs/Carlos Pueblo

My love of pet dogs/Carlos Pueblo

Pet dogs in the neighborhood are my love because they are so understanding, friendly, and loyal to our friendship.  They remember me as their friend and express it so vividly. I have no longer owning a dog after Charlie's departure. Now, I have had so many neighbors' pet dogs friends in the subdivision; therefore, visiting them in the morning is a major part of my life. During the lock down of the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus, I even develop a new routine to accompany one of them each morning to walk briefly and make up my miss distance on streets.

Amy is against me too closed to them because that she is afraid of them. First, she would ask Michelle from Austin to warn and prohibit my regular petting on them during the pandemic disease; however, it doesn't work. I am an old man and will not take order from my daughter.
Second, she would find fault with my bringing flea to our cat at home. I don't care that much, the cat is 19 years old and never been friendly to me and she can treat him and bomb the entire house with the insecticide.

Lovely dogs will bark at me inside the house or inside the gate when I pass by if I do not notice their existence, otherwise, they would wait patiently to my approaching to pet them. If they notice me in distance, they would insist waiting on my to greet me. These are reasons why I am so appreciated of their friendship. Their friendship is pure and simple better than most of the human being.

Usually, I shall meet 8-10 dogs in the morning. If I hear the barking and I know that I miss one of them, I must turn around. By the greeting of my beloved dogs , I also get to familiar with their owners. I don't feel lonely any more even if I have been in self exile for such a long time. This is better and easier than the hidden deep of a mountain.

愛犬2020/莊峻華

愛犬2020/莊峻華

清晨散步，係一日之最，每日約二哩許社區街道，可遇見許多愛犬知音，他們均在住宅或庭院内吠叫，提醒我注意，或是隨主人散步，遠處住足靜候，或拖主人前來，所期待者撫摸也，愛犬記得好友，非常有感情，尤其是年輕活潑時，及其老年，行動遲緩，但仍不放過松鼠，愛美喜歡跟隨散步，主要當然是為身體健康，也藉機認識社區内之愛犬和其主人，舒緩我離群索居之寂寞。

最近，我開始陪伴愛犬散步，就是跟隨愛犬和其主人，其實是愛犬之主張，走上一段，然後我再補上不足街段，路過鄰舍，一陣羨慕室內犬吠，有些愛犬路上相遇，反而羞怯，需要主人鼓勵，我已經習慣對愛犬，甜言蜜語，我已是愛犬知音，偶爾在網路新聞，看到愛犬相片和文章，必開啟閱讀，也漸漸習得愛犬種類，就是旅行國外，也是到處認識各地愛犬。

我要感謝子女，給我這一生之樂趣，有一年，他們慫恿愛美，領養一愛犬，取名佳禮，此犬與我們相聚十六年半，改變了我的人生，我變得更有耐心，更能享受我所僅有，更能體會愛犬對人類之重要，因為愛犬關係，我無需歸隱山林，每日清晨，總有期待，有路過愛犬吠叫，必放下一切觀望。

Making steam bun and dumpling/Carlos Pueblo

Making steam bun and dumpling/Carlos Pueblo

Two weeks ago, Amy bought a bag of flour and asked me to make bun and dumpling at home during the out break lock down of the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus. I know how to make those eating staff yet not as good as a popular Shantung Restaurant on the Chinatown. I was raised from a very humble family; therefore, I had learned some knowledge to do something. Usually, I make the beef noodle to fill up Arthur's Sunday dinner and Monday breakfast and now, we make his Saturday breakfast and Friday dinner with the  steam dumpling in lieu of the frozen Shantung product. I can have my breakfast with sweet bun to replace brown rice porridge.

Like making a bread, I pull the flour into a glass bowl and mix with water for dumpling skin and with yeast water solution for the bun. Then it is a series of hard work to make a dough and follow by thinning a small dough ball to make the skin. We do have the rolling bar quite professionally not like a wood bar made from an stick. Amy will make the filling, ground pork for salty bun and dumpling while sweet red bean paste for my vegetable requirement. It takes about a whole afternoon to have the product ready.

Amy has learned and made several sweet rice and long grain rice flour products. She learned it from her mother while she stayed with us when the kids were young. Those are delicious Taiwanese dishes and are more sophisticated. You can only find those products in Los Angeles and New York City with large demand of Taiwanese immigrants or traveling back to Taiwan to satisfy yourselves on street stands eatery. I have no such desire any longer.

製作麵食/莊峻華

製作麵食/莊峻華

因為中國武漢冠狀病毒肆虐，休市限制不必要外出，愛美購買一包麵粉，要我在家製作麵食，我們家元兒，週六食水餃，我喜歡食紅豆餅等，於是材料俱全，披上圍巾，開始動工，約是二三十年前，我們常做麵食，後來山東麵館還是方便可口，所以中斷在家製作，想來中斷日久。

我能揉麵桿皮，因為吾少也賤，故多能鄙事，我小時看過人製作麵食，作饅頭，包子，和水餃，自己也作過，做好是另外一回事，做成比較重要，我想到美國物產豐富，麵粉和精肥豬牛肉都方便，想起韓國西點麵包店，一只紅豆麵包兩元美金，真有自製豆包動機，一罐日本小倉紅豆很貴，但可包上二十只，況且我到過小倉市，拜訪過小倉城，看過宮本武藏紀念碑，而且也在下關對岸，觀看跨海大橋，和甲午戰爭之春帆樓，製作麵食，居然想起多少美憶。

剛蒸熟之水餃，肉包，和紅豆包，均差強人意，大約是我的揉力不夠完全，麵粉發酵不夠好，因此翌日微波爐加熱後，失去剛蒸好之咬勁，但也迅速食盡，缺點有待下次改進，幸好元兒捧塲，食盡蒸水餃，還有一份放在凍箱，下週食用，現在我正準備其週日之清燉牛肉湯麵，我已經準備多年矣。

The cost of cloths in a family/Carlos Pueblo

The cost of cloths in a family/Carlos Pueblo

The cost of cloths in a family is minimum in compare with all other basic expenditure. I think that is due to the globalization and the improvement of the textile industry. I have a vivid memory of my childhood while younger sibling inherit used cloths from the elders. Only the well established pay pay attention to the expensive designer's cloths. I have never heard people get a loans for cloths; therefore, the cost of cloths is not an issue during the out break of the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus which means no threat to the payment of loans for cloths. I still like to describe how I manage my clothing during my life time.

I have not spent money in years and there is a reason. Amy would inform our daughter Michelle to buy some cloths for me to wear then she would donate the used to the charity. Once I told her the cloth donation was a business to move the donated cloths to sell in some other nations. She is used to quit response to such donation request and we have no longer received the calls. The textile have moved to the foreign nations to cut cost and new glue has been better than before which are reasons for the affordable cloths.

Recently I bring out my used suits to wear on the cruise travel. I still keep them after 20 some years. It is the only time when I can re-use the suits in a proper place. Wearing a pair of suits makes myself more respectable among people and myself and costs no additional money to buy them only a small amount to send them to a dry cleaner.

I always go to bargain sale for shoes. I don't believe the regular mark up price. I buy shoes for tennis. I shine my dress shoes often and it has been a good habit built in my childhood. Once the shoes were worn, I would down grade them to the yard work purpose till in-repairable, means the glue won't work. I don't like to pay; therefore I don't like to spend money. I agree that the rich spend no money do not know money and just like the poor sanctioned by the current Buddha that the rich are like the poor if you don't spend the money and the poor are happier than the rich if you are healthy and no stress. He didn't actually say that on the Diamond Sutra, it is my explanation based on his preaching logic.

家庭衣服費用/莊峻華

家庭衣服費用/莊峻華

美國人講求隨意穿著，家庭衣服費用，不算是問題，甚少聽聞購衣需貸款，因此不在最近中國武漢肺炎危機，失業無法購衣問題，畢竟失業仍可穿現有舊衣，只要保持乾淨即可，我倒是喜歡年幼時，養成之謙卑習慣，一直到現在。我在大學時，自力更生，養成喜愛穿著西裝習慣，我買的西裝，都是毛紡織品，從事保險業務，都是著西裝當制服，而且不願意丟掉舊西裝，最近開始攜帶一套西裝上船，拜會愛女們，她們都感謝我對郵輪旅行之尊重。

很多便服，多半是愛美看不慣太舊，提醒懂事琳兒購買贈我，有的汗衫波蘿衫，是她喜歡其德大母校所購買，鄰居有德大校友，常來相認。我有許多夾克，多半是她所購買贈與，我是有三件皮夾克，而且有專文描述。

我也喜歡穿皮些，而且也會擦皮鞋，皮鞋可以穿很久，只要避雨水浸濕，我現在已經甚少外出活動，現有庫存，已無需購買新鞋。倒是我打網球，因此球鞋是有折損，我還是設法淘汰為割草用鞋，新購球鞋，全是名牌大賣場，舊型未售出新鞋，價廉物美。

刻薄者曰，有錢人乞丐命，我是錢夠用，並不乞丐，居有屋，行有車，每日不愁食物，衣服有餘，天天都是無憂無慮，何乞丐之有？

The school education cost in a family/Carlos Pueblo

The school education cost in a family/Carlos Pueblo

The school education cost in a family is also an expenditure which we need to manage wisely. The goal of school education is to get a better pay job; therefore, such as the medical school is the first choice for most of the parents to prepare with a cost attached. Most of the advanced nations in the world recognized the important of school education and have made it mandatory for children to attend schools, i.e. 12 years plus for the United States. Some of the wealthy family selects to send their children to private schools and they don't encounter any difficulty to pay bills during the hardship of the outbreak of the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus; therefore, I don't need to worry about them and no need to talk about the budget.

Not every one can go to medical school as a first choice and there are some alternative also can have a good income. Schools are where we can get the knowledge and confidence to obtain such good paying job and only long time saving habit can keep that high pay income. Public schools are funded by governments; therefore, the cost of operating the school mostly is not from the tuition and fees. There is also a standard guideline to award the diploma and degree from the educational authority. The rest of work to gain such knowledge is relied on the hard working of the student. It doesn't matter for how much you have paid for tuition. It is not wise to get a heavy loaded college loan debt and can't pay it back unless you take advantage of a easy money to get through several years of your young life. I doubt it that politicians can successfully remove your college loan debt in the name of your attending college.

First, not to set to high of a goal and take a smart selection of your public schools before senior high school and work hard no foul around. I had been a senior high school chemistry teacher for two months and was forced out by a failure of the class management. It won't take too much time to find out the reasons. It is so huge of those reasons which we can't make a change. If we don't work hard in any level of the schools to be prepared for the next level of school learning, wen can't get into the high paying professions.

I was a product of public schools and so were my two children. We survive and doing alright most of the time. I like to share our experience to the rest of the world. It is still the first priority for us as parents to send our children to college wisely and not make them bear a burden of debt in their life. When I lost my major contract with a main insurance company in 2001, my daughter was ready to go to college and my son was next in two years, I sold two rental houses to get some cash at hand, borrowed money from credit cards 0% balance transfer to pay their 10 years total costs safely. After their graduation and also at certain ages, I transferred the Uniform Gift to Minor Act funds accounts to them to them as a capital to their savings.

論家庭子女學校教育支出/莊峻華

論家庭子女學校教育支出/莊峻華

家庭子女學校教育支出，也是儲蓄之一系列，我的看法是，重視公立學校，因為公立學校，由政府財務支出，我們已經繳過稅，家長應把握此機會，而且鼓勵子女，就讀公立學校，經濟上有能力，送子女上私立學校者，在中國武漢肺炎期間，財務應無危機才是，公立學校和私立學校，學費上有巨大之差異，子女若不讀書，讀公私立學校，無甚差別。

政府對學校教育，有一規定準則，讀完多少課，可以畢業，公司也相信畢業生之程度，所以聘顧時，有書面考試，最後始有多種面試，這些都是擇才步驟，有無學識經驗之辨識，應與公私立學校出身無涉，但累年學校教育支出，則是一筆大數目，如上大學，貸款上私校，畢業後找不到工作，學貸就是終身債務，不可不慎，當然貸款讀大學，研究所等，目的動機有些不同，家長不應讓子女，歩上該困徑。

我一生中，所讀者均是公立學校，我之子女也是，都學會基本算術，加減乘除，不會算也會聽話，琳兒和元兒開始讀大學，我剛好失去一保險公私契約，於是我賣掉兩棟租屋，取得十萬現金在手上，支付兩位子女十年公立大學費用，因為中間有變錢動作，就是向多家信用卡貸款周轉，非常有趣，我到現在都不清楚，一共花多少錢？小孩畢業後，都有工作，而且工作自今，也開始儲蓄，開始投資。

選擇學校，是在於好壞，能否找到工作，我因老又頑固，不知琳兒輕重，鼓勵彼大學選醫科或工程專門，她說理科不好，因此選擇德大㑹計系五年學碩士科，第二年暑假都在公司上班，第五年就正式在公司服務，而且服務公司，當場聘任，後來在大公司當小主管，面識新聘職員，公私立出身者均有。元兒之大學教育，就很掙扎，和我的大學相似，所以我有經驗幫助他，鼓勵他再接再勵，拿到市場學學位，在超市找到店員工作，十一年儲蓄投資，累積一筆可觀數目，連自己都開始有自信。

我在子女出生時，就開始準備子女大學教育金，後來因未用到該款，他們成年後，就轉成他們之私款，一陣子琳兒準備法學院深造，向銀行貸款，把該款轉讓元兒，後來打消當律師主意，因工作順利，也從不計較討回該款，跟我一樣，非常大方，因為我甚能盤算，節省儲蓄投資，年老後就作文，推廣於全球讀者。

Family vehicles expenditure/Carlos Pueblo

Family vehicles expenditure/Carlos Pueblo

Family vehicles expenditure is one of the major costs. I am not sure that I have had a better way to deal with it; however, these are my ways. We drive all vehicles as long as possible which means the economic feasible or makes sense, we purchase reliable brand of cars, and finally, we designate four of our drivers to individual vehicle for their use. That means I pay all the costs to purchase vehicles except the newest one which Amy and Michelle contribute some.

I am driving a 23 years old Q45 now and the vehicle. It had been driven by Amy when the kids were young and turned to Arthur when he started to have problem with an old Acura. Finally, it was turned over to me to rebuild some parts of the engine. I am not working and I am fine with the old vehicle. Amy is driving a 2018 Camry and yield her 2013 Maxima to Michelle in Austin, in consequence, she gave her 2007 Camry to Arthur. His old 2002 Honda was flooded in total loss. I figure out that is the best arrangement for our family to save money for some other purpose such as individual reserve fund. Now, Michelle and Amy pay their own insurance. Of course, everyone pays their own gas.

It is not safe to drive a luxury vehicle to a danger parking place such as super markets or parking at the front door while working out of town and there is no need for me driving less than 400 miles a year. I drive the old vehicle to play tennis twice in a week and the no air conditioning vehicle doesn't bother me at all. It is very convenient to have individual vehicle when needed.

I tried to hedge the costs of operating vehicles; therefore, I invested to a car manufacturer and an oil company. Unfortunately, both are not doing well in the last 30 years. I do save money on managing family vehicles yet loose money on those two investment. I can't win all the times.

行有車支出/莊峻華

行有車支出/莊峻華

剛來美國一年，終於考上駕照，買上一輛七年舊車，利於行動，結婚時，愛美帶來一部六年舊車嫁妝，以後我們一共購買使用十二輛新車，費用堪比住屋昂貴，我不敢說如何節省，但越來越清楚，如何節省用車費用，而且絕對不構成債務危機，就是續開舊車，到最後一刻，買三牌日本車，和調整運用家庭車輛，我們家有四人開車。

我因失業二十年，因此不急用車，而且現在老年，也不喜歡開車，我開一輛二十三年舊車，過去愛美專用，買菜和帶小孩活動，然後給元兒開車上班，一直到需花幾筆錢整修，才交我使用，此車冷氣漏冷媒，我覺無修理之需要，因此車與我相安無事，已有兩年餘，每年九月，車檢廢氣都通過。元兒開第二輛舊車，因為他在三哩外工作，超市停車廣場，不宜新車，他是開一輛十四年豐田舊車，非常可靠，引擎發動時，仍無雜音，此車經由我開開半年後，因再失業，交琳兒使用，然後再調回家給元兒。

琳兒現在開一日產七年舊車，因為車輛需要輪替，三年前，元兒駕車，開始不可靠，於是我請愛美讓琳兒開其日產車，買一豐田新車讓她開，我們三人合資購買，不是三分之一，但也相安無事，因琳兒平日出差外地工作，駕車停在門口，很不放心故也。

汽車之保險費和維修費，是無甚可避免，所以可靠之車輛，感覺上省錢，而且舊車開越久，更無需購買新車，我們已經儲蓄到購車，無需貸款，車行也給一些優待，免得我漫天還價。

How to budget the food cost/Carlos Pueblo

How to budget the food cost/Carlos Pueblo

The food cost is another necessary item for a family to manage. The United States is a nation of abundance due to the large cultivated land and successful agricultural technique, i.e. I am a witness of a single farmer on a tractor to manage a couple hundreds acres of rice farm land in the state of Arkansas. I don't disagree to consume as much as I want; however, I like home made foods, to take lunch box  to work, and try to stay away from restaurants. It is another way of a frugal life to contribute to saving and accumulate the capital to invest.

I was brought up from a humble background; therefore, I hate to waste any food. We, Amy and I, eat left over and have no habit to through away foods. I have had diabetes due to eat too much and gain so much weight; therefore, I have been very concern of my intake of foods. This way I save money for many purposes that I think is good for me. Now I have develop a method to get back my desire to go to eat on restaurants by going to cruise in combine with several costs of leisure such as the the cost of transportation,  room and board, etc.The money which I have saved is for the uncertain future that I may encounter such as unemployment and the situation like today, the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus.

We always keep our son Arthur to stay at home even he has graduated from college and has a minimum wage job. This way he would save the costs of room and board and we see the amazing result. His investment dividend is very closed to his job income and very soon to super seed it. What my concern is how he would manage my old office furniture when I pass away. I'll leave enough fund for him to pay the local real estate tax for the house.

We always plan ahead not even a small and accumulated amount such as the food cost in our long life. A few drops of water can make a river and many rivers can help to built a sea and an ocean and so on.

論家庭食物費用/莊峻華

論家庭食物費用/莊峻華

美國物產豐富，食物價廉物美，低收入家庭，政府甚至有糧食補助金，過去僅限購買食物，如今糧票像信用卡，可以使用於一般食物超市，就是避免國人飢餓，家庭食物費用，是家政首要預算，和住有其屋同是安定家庭，重要因素，我們儲蓄之開始，就是將此食住問題穩定，然後一一解決其他問題，避免失業時之惶恐。

我們家之元兒，大學畢業前，就到超市工作，從二十小時一週，每小時七美元不到，工作到現在，已經十一年，年收入約兩萬美金，工作收入四分之三，均儲蓄投資，去年投資分紅，已逼近工作收入，而且不算退休計劃，這是我職業之專長，他又聽話，我們把他留在家，解決他食住之費用，而且他同意我的看法。他同事很多人，需要兩個工作，每週都要面對錢的問題。

我們家偶爾外出用餐，我晚年稍浪費，上郵輪旅行，但因糖尿病，不敢放肆暴飲暴食，我們家食物為愛美掌理，元兒僅購買牛奶，橙汁，速食麵等，他媽媽拒買食物，我們都打食物算盤，每個月都有儲蓄，中國武漢肺炎，重挫退休金，我的算法，有屋可居，如此食物不浪費，真可續行長遠。

我們都是在家吃飯，自己煮飯，食物購買，均到廉價物美之東方超市，德州非加工食物免稅，就是生肉生魚米麵水果蔬菜等，而且美國交通發達，貨物暢流，美國物價堪比台灣星加坡等國，當然比日本韓國和西歐便宜。

食物要有預算，加減乘除，心中要有數，吃飽飯不難，要量入為出難，要老年身體健康難。

Peep through a lock down Houston City street/Carlos Pueblo

Peep through a lock down Houston City street/Carlos Pueblo

We went out to run on an errand yesterday, a deposit of Arthur's annual IRA to a broker/dealer office, another deposit of his IRS refund check, pick up my medicine supply, and fill some air to my vehicle four tires; therefore, we had had an opportunity to peep through a lock down Houston City street due to the severe outbreak of the Chinese Wuhan Novel Corona Virus.

People are still doing some essential driving to mind their necessary routine yet the the traffic is much better than the usual normality. The broker/dealer office is closed with two posters to recommend to use the company's app to make deposit and not leave anything inside the door. We continued to march to a second bank drive in and sent the check through a deposit tube inside. The front door of the bank is closed with also two posters.

I was advised to park my car on one of the tree designated lots on the entrance of the parking garage and called the pharmacy. The clerk checked on my re-fill order and promised to bring out the medicine supply for me to move on. I put my small towel to cover my mouth and nose and let her know that I was doing it to protect her. We do have some limited supply of regular masks at home for Arthur to go to work. Then, he told me that he did have an regular account set up with the broker/dealer and I decided to visit our other bank to do some banking business to move the IRA contribution fund to his saving account and therefore, he could move the money to his IRA account as the company's so advice.

We could enter the bank and discussed the matter with a teller through the bullet proof window. Arthur gave her his Texas Driver's Licence in order to find his saving account and I marked down the broker/dealer's name from my check, put Arthur's full name instead with an initial, and she accepted. She is a pretty girl and very efficient.

The final stop was a air pressure filling station at the Costco. I did have no pressure to wait or to fill the pressure air in a hurry. As a matter of fact, I could properly operate the equipment and make sure all tires be made to 32 psi, pound per square inches. I just noticed that I had not filled the air properly due to the waiting line and no wonder my tires were always looked flat.

I was so pleased that finally I got Arthur's attention to the saving procedure. He asked me some questions about the gain, loss, and yield, etc. I believe that he is going to manage his own investment from now on actively. The pandemic is stressful yet we do whatever in necessary to move on safely of our life.

窺視街面/莊峻華

窺視街面/莊峻華

武漢肺炎肆虐期間，休市居民，隔離在家，有急事可外出，我因過去幫元兒，存個人退休計劃金，都親自到證券行，今年約好今日一起交錢，我順便一趟安排，到他之一家銀行存一張退稅支票，到我的藥局領藥，再到大賣場灌風車輪，窺視街面。

我開錯方向，經十號公路，轉向八號，一路上車輛仍多，證巻行大門緊閉，有張貼佈告曰，莫塞支票在門縫，想辦法銀行轉帳，我想下次再來，或郵寄到公司，於是我們沿路到第一家銀行，支票經管筒，電道飛進辦公室，這是平常提供開車，又不願下車入內客戶使用。

然後就是藥局，前日藥局小姐交待，停車位置，然後電話通知，驗明正身後，就有一位小姐送來藥物，我連忙出示手巾護口鼻，表示保護她。於是準備灌風車輪。元兒曰，彼有一銀行帳戶，與證卷行相通，可以兩次電子轉帳後，入退休計劃帳戶，於是我想不如親自拜訪該銀行，也是順道灌風和回家。

這銀行開放室內，但僅有存領業務，有防彈玻璃窗，小姐聽明需要後，元兒駕照背面密碼，查出帳號，我將給證卷行支票給付名，改成元兒，小姐就放行，因為都是一家銀行。非常愉快，幾乎大事底定。

卡寺顆大賣場灌風站，無人排隊，於是我開始學習，如何灌風，上次我因不懂，前後面都排人，胡亂灌一下四輪，老車沉重，壓得車輪扁扁，像是風壓不足，差不多要爆胎，經查最後一次，約僅灌到一平方吋二十磅，當然看來扁扁無氣，而且老車又重，這灌風機自動灌風，三磅三磅來，一直到前人設定之三十二磅止，非常方便又免費。

回家後，元兒開始詢問股票購買程序，還有一些賺虧稅法，真是感謝主，鐵杵終將磨成銹花針，我鼓勵他努力儲蓄，開始存明年之存款，不要買不用之物。

Own a house to live/Carlos Pueblo

Own a house to live/Carlos Pueblo

When the outbreak of the Wuhan Novel Coronavirus, the stock market is crushed and people are out of work. A familiar sign is re-appeared, the worry of paying the rent or the mortgage payment. I believe for every adult that to own a house to live is the first goal of your life because we do need a house to live and own a house can reduce some of the issue such as the food to eat and the cloth to wear, etc.

I have had this in my mind since my childhood. I always adored people who own their houses to live. We lived in a small duplex compound owned by my father's employer, Taiwan Sugar Company free of rent and basic utilities, water and electricity. Our sibling of seven always have had our first to buy a house to own when we have had our first job, i.e. I bought a condominium and a single dwelling house simultaneously before I got married. I always pay off the mortgage as soon as I am able to as a saving because that is a really own of a house.

Once we have this to own our own houses, we can work on saving or balance our budget and it will get better on our balance sheet to face the uncertainty such as the stock market crushed. I don't believe that the money issue can be solved by the others for yourself., i.e. the government or the politician, etc.

To own a house to live and hard working to keep the income from our jobs to balance our budget and always find extra money to save, some suggestion is six months of our expenditure and I feel as much as we can. Doing the calculation of money is my favorite and I am good at the numbers, furthermore, I like to plan ahead.

To own something like a house or a security means that we really own something. To be a owner means very much of our life, a meaningful life of mankind. 

住有其屋/莊峻華

住有其屋/莊峻華

武漢肺炎流行其間，美國各地開始在家隔離命令，我們休市已經實行兩週以上，這兩週是因疾病兩週內，將會爆發故，英國首相在家隔離十日，就送入加護病房，我因每日觀看台灣政論節目，學習到很多此肺炎之知識，住有其屋，是有避難之意，房屋是隔離避難之所。我之離群索居日久，住屋是我之基地，過去我可以出外旅行，現在全球寸步難行，只能在家安排生活節目。

我們一直相信，住有其屋，小時候住糖廠宿舍，因家父工作之故，來美國後，先貸款買下住屋，然後始結婚生子，收入主力是償還屋債，當年美國算是平靜，無甚無常，美國政府鼓勵國民，住有其屋，屋主有些稅務節稅優惠，我們提前還清屋債，然後住屋出售，得到現款，再購買新居，不再貸款，就是買斷，費用只有地方房地產稅，比租屋便宜，住有其屋，是至少擁有棲身之地，當然這需要有堅決之意志，還有努力之工作。

我來美國，身上並無多少錢，自己之存款，只能買機票達到壇香山，其餘都是貸款，等到領取助教金，已經可以還債，當年善心債主，給予我很多時間，讀完書就工作，然後馬上購屋，就是自備款百分之五一類，約三十年後，琳兒購銀行沒收屋，我已經可以貸款給她買斷。元兒收入較低，我估計最好留在家，房屋一半產權，已經屬他，就是說，他早以住有其屋。

住有其屋後，儲蓄就是多方面，隨心所欲，我現在退休金，雖受肺炎影響，縮水一半，但是我仍可應付日常支出，因為住有其屋，我仍能管理這有限之資源，這是常識和學校教育，雖在美國，許多人仍舊忽略此基本常識。

Horticultural routine/Carlos Pueblo

Horticultural routine/Carlos Pueblo

Since last fall, I paid more attention to the front and back yards of the house. Amaryllis plants were transferred to some space available. I find out they are blooming this spring with orange flowers. A neighbor is noticed and promises to give me hers to plant in my yard. She is an excellent gardener. In addition to my regular lawn mowing every other week, I start to repair the old damage sod in the backyard by removing the Bermuda grass with San Augustine grass transferred from some insignificant spots of the backyard and expecting them to grow back.

Several seeds are coming out nicely on pots and I have found another space for them to grow, like the space next to the tangerine behind the garage. After we cut down the old deteriorated Sugar Gum tree, we should have some sun light for every plants and trees. This is the first year we see the red pomegranate flowers and expecting some fruits in the fall. What do we have on those pots? Luffa gourd, melons, bell pepper, long green bean, and a kind of unknown flower, etc. I water all of these plants and sod every day before the whole raining days to make my work successfully.

I also start to repair the edge of our lawn in the front yard. Previous lawn mowers edged the sides 5 inches deep into the pedestrian and are not god looking. I understand that may take years to grow back like some of our neighbors. I'll make easy pin from the paper clip to form an U-shape pin to move the new sprout inside. It is what I think that may work.

I am going back to trim some bushes all around like before. This new horticultural routine shall fill up some of my quarantine day life. I am helping Amy to do some of the yard work.

家庭園藝日課/莊峻華

家庭園藝日課/莊峻華

去年秋日，移植後院喇叭花四十株，今年果然奏效，鄰居路過提醒，她家更美麗大朵品種，今年可贈與若干，中間後院一巨樹，為風雨吹倒，請人鋸清移除，似乎取得一些陽光，加上春天草皮施肥，苦無梅雨，幾處枯黃，加上武漢肺炎肆虐，在家隔離，於是我決定增加家庭園藝，為我日課，移植另一草花，絲瓜，紅椒，哈蜜瓜，韓國黃香瓜等於前後院，我非期待有豐收，但至少可以觀賞植物生長，再加上四季之採果活動，一年飛馳而過。

先是移植一塊塊草皮，從後院中石板塊走道隙，茂密草皮，到七年前，施肥枯死草皮處，此塊草皮，已經長滿百慕達野草，和聖奧古斯丁碧綠草皮，格格不入，今年下定決心，整飭一翻，填平挖出石板間空隙沃土，草皮必長回原狀，清除百慕達草區，置上移植草，撒上存積沃土，勤澆洗菜用水，已經割草機，輾過一次。

去年，不時灑花粒果菜子，於室外花盆中，今年春天，種子發芽，蔚然一片，我先把草花數株，移植到前後院，這是一種草花，鄰居贈給花子，去年開花結子，我又撒上更多花盆中，和紅椒蜜瓜絲瓜子相混肴，春天一到，需覓庭院空隙處遍植，一週來，長豆已出細藤，準備爬上籬巴。

前院草皮，因大樹根和樹蔭關係，妨礙生長，過去園丁修葺走道邊，深入約五吋，很不美觀，我的鄰居草皮和水泥地間，切得像豆腐一般，乾淨俐落，我決定要修補，就是展開迴紋針，釘到新生草莖上，迫使草莖就位於五吋空隙內，這是用心良苦矣。

已經好幾年，不曾修剪樹欉，要開始恢復園藝美學，家裏是有一電池鋸，來自琳兒，現在也無需北上，助其整理庭院。砍樹園丁，帶人前來堆護根沃土稻草，八立方碼，教我一些園藝知識。

Pick loquat/Carlos Pueblo

Pick loquat/Carlos Pueblo

Last week in a morning, I accompanied with Edda, my pet dog favorite, and her two owners to walk down to the neighboring subdivision. I got a re-informed of loquat fruit from Kumquat when we passed by a loquat tree with lovely fruits on its branches. I have always loved loquat fruit ever since my childhood. We didn't have the knowledge to grow the tree on our small yard yet couldn't afford to purchase such fruits in the market. I was very surprised when I first came to the United States that there were so many loquat trees in the South. No body eats them. Gradually, I found out that there are a few trees do produce eatable fruits yet still not marketable due to plenty of other fruits available in the market. This one tree is one of them. I filled my pocket and ate them on my way to several streets on the subdivision. I thought of it when I came home and decided to go back to harvest the rest. First, I did get the permission to pick them from the owner of the tree.

I worried about the big ones on the tree higher than my reach; therefore, I thought it over overnight to bring a ladder stand and a small rake to help me. It was very satisfactory and safe and I had a reminder of my youth again. Loquat has the blossom at the end of a year and the orange color fruits are ready to be picked. Only a brief time or it will be dried and shrink and that is the reason why the small animals do not notice. I saw loquat boxes on fruits stands on the streets of Japan and many European nations. Their sizes are usually larger than those neighborhood trees in Houston area.

There is a skin or layer on the surface of the fruit can be easily peeled off. Put the juicy interior into the mouth and spit out seeds. Actually, it is not that much and I get the taste. Sometimes, the fruits are not ripe and would hurt my decay teeth. It was very popular in Taiwan when I was grown up.

In summary, I do have several pick fruits throughout a year, the loquat in early spring, followed by the fig in late June, the persimmon in the fall, citric fruits of our own in the late autumn and repeat them again in the new year. I also have some luffa to pick on our back yard in compete with squirrels.

採枇杷/莊峻華

採枇杷/莊峻華

週前一日，與鄰居和彼等愛犬，路過鄰里社區，見一枇杷樹，滿掛橙黃果實，甚是甜美，採食幾粒，念念不望，三日後遂尋屋主許可採食，我是帶著小梯架和小扒地勾幫忙，結果屋主也出來採取，許多家庭庭院，都種植枇杷，但甚少人採食，果實留著乾枯，至甚可惜，枇杷成熟日短，連鳥類松鼠都不清楚，稍縱即逝，因此保持全顆在株。

在台灣，枇杷算是昂貴，我印像中，甚少有機會購買，日本和歐洲市場有售，一盒盒包裝，我看價目，就想到休市鄰居枇杷樹，一般在年底冬日開花，花不顯目，一直到青實轉成黃色，掛在樹枝上一串串橙果，就像花朵，這時候已是春初。我把摘下之枇杷，放在餐桌上，剝皮品賞，也想起一生採食水果之經驗，而且是樂此不疲。

這時候，琳兒家之蜜桃，應該也是成熟時，今年我們無需北上奧斯汀，幫她打掃庭院，否則可以摘下一桶蜜桃，醃漬後取食，這是台灣家庭方法，就是洗淨後撒鹽，靜放一兩日。無花果株已是欉欉綠葉，不久藍紫色果實，邀人採食，美國人也不喜歡採食無花果，我有幾家鄰居，許可我採無花果，需要在國慶日前。

過去我有台灣朋友家，三株柿樹可採，現在吳家已搬離，僅存李家，李家則需出外旅行，需人採實，否則果落滿地，無人打掃麻煩，往年採柿期，常與我旅行衝突，所以引憾。過了柿期，就是檸檬和椪柑，這是我家後院自有，老茶花女街住屋後院，尚有一柳丁，採橘甚為興奮，過了年底，休息三個月，又遇採枇杷，今年春天開始，我在後院樹蔭下，闢植一些蜜瓜和甜椒等，就是旬常食物後留下品種，我不奢望豐收，但菜瓜算是成功，今晨尚贈三只菜瓜婆給薩爾瓦多園藝老板洗身用。

Going back to Houston, Texas from Bangkok, Thailand 2020/Carlos Pueblo

Going back to Houston, Texas from Bangkok, Thailand 2020/Carlos Pueblo

Finally, we finished this 19 day trip to the southeast Asia and going back to Houston, Texas from Bangkok, Thailand. It was a long haul flight from Bangkok to Singapore, switched to another aircraft to take more passengers to Manchester, England and passed the U.K. Custom. Boarding back to the same aircraft to across the Atlantic, got a day back to Houston. During this long period, I met two lovely young ladies, one became my adopted daughter and another one didn't have time to complete the procedure.

I dropped by an Amani-Emporio fashion shop inside a terminal of Bangkok Airport to compare the material of a leather jacket. I always want to compare a real one to a fake subconsciously. I explained the reason to a beautiful clerk at the store and she showed me the only male jacket in the shelf. Mine is better in looking than the only one in the store. She was very patient to listen to my story about my jackets which I bought on a street of Baywater, London by the Royal Kensington/Hyde Parks. I even tried to show her that torn paper bill. Also, I added on some details of my testing on cruises in Alaska as well as New England/Canadian Provinces, Macy's Houston and Hudson Yard stores., etc. I didn't exaggerate it yet it was all true description by me. Amy was smiling and listening. Mim, her name is very long in Roman spelling 18 characters, told me that was very interesting. I am going to send her my articles related to those two pieces and photos. She has a son of seven years old who would be my grandson. Again, she is very pretty and kind.

Another pretty lady is Cindy Ong of a stewardess on the leg of Manchester to Houston. She can speak Amoy, or we call Taiwanese in Taiwan. I have such closed kin relationship with people in Singapore who can speak the language to me. Her surname means Yellow in Kanji, a top popular surname in Chinese, Singaporean, and Taiwanese families. She said OK for me to adopt her yet she was very busy and could only say wait till next time.

Amy didn't answer the health questions decisively at the Manchester gate; therefore, she was confiscated as I explained it to the gate keepers when I was looking for her to re-board the aircraft. It was getting more seriously day by day in the world for the Wuhan Coronavirus. After we arrived home, It has been all about the disease.

自曼谷返回休市途中2020/莊峻華

自曼谷返回休市途中2020/莊峻華

旅行如宴席，終有結束之一日，我們如計劃，拖著行李，走向輕軌車站，輕鬆愉快，搭上輕軌車一站，就換車直達機場，車上年輕人，都能英語，非常方便。我們仍舊是盡早上機場，令時間有恃無恐。這航線是曼谷飛回星加坡轉機，再從星加坡飛英國曼徹斯特，過海關後，搭同架飛機直飛休士頓，我在途中，收了一位義女，差一點收了第二位。

我在機場等候，到處排徊，想省錢，吃了一碗麵，又看到一壽司打折，結過又吃一份，算起來，總價等於一正餐。吃飯前，我發現一皮衣店，是亞曼尼-尹波麗歐牌，我就進入參觀，我先表明不來購買，只查皮衣真偽，美麗之店員，好奇微笑，帶我去看店内唯一男皮夾克，我摸一下，表示家中那件，更加時髦，而且也稍肯定為真貨，於是我開始描述當年，我在旅行倫敦之巧遇購買兩件義大利尹波麗亞皮夾克一事，因為我說過好幾次，而且也寫在部落格上，講得流利自在，連愛美都在旁微笑，美麗姑娘耐心聽畢，包括我到處查證真偽一事，她覺有趣，於是答應為我義女，開始脫口罩拍照，發現她果真是泰國美女，小名為旻，我將寄相片給她，也表示感激她給予之友情。

另外一位美女，是位星航空姐，芯蒂黃姑娘，美麗大方又親切，能講夏門語，於是我表示要認她為義女，她說好，但她實在太忙，下機時，她和另外一位美女站在一起，這姑娘也姓黃，我若有機會相遇，必把握箸機會。

回家後，正值武漢病毒曼延中國東亞，家人憂慮，我剛放下行李，就面對世界之大變局。

Visiting Chulalongkorn University campus, Bangkok, Thailand 2020/Carlos Pueblo

Visiting Chulalongkorn University campus, Bangkok, Thailand 2020/Carlos Pueblo

Chulalongkorn University is located near by the Grand Hyatt hotel. We marched along the golf course to reach the medical school, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, and turned to the main campus. When I was in Taiwan in the early 70's, I learned the University's name due to a scholarship was offered to a Taiwanese engineering student for a graduate study at this institution famous for science and engineering. At least my brother and a closed high school classmate did think about it. I knew at that time that was in memory of a King. Chulalongkorn is the number five of the Rama Dynasty while the current King is the number ten.

We walked to a near by light rail station and across a covered bridge to the other side of a big and busy boulevard. We were a little bit concerned when we entered the medical center where everyone was masked. A small group of military nursing cadets were passing by to attend classes in a lovely uniform, white shirt, blue gray skirt, and a small naval cap. They are young, dynamic, and beautiful and remind me a formal Consort of the King. She was from such military nurse cadet.

Right after the front gate, we can see the typical and classical Royal Thai architecture, several lotus ponds with flowers sit quietly among main building, library, and colleges. We visited the King's personal museum where I noticed President Clinton was there on a picture. Another US President, Obama, did take off his shoes to visit Wat Pho, the Reclining Buddha Temple. I was glad that each engineering department shown its name in English along with the Thai language. We temporarily exit the boundary of the campus to a small market full of small stores, eateries, fruits stands, and even groceries, etc. We checked on prices of items in compare with what we knew in Houston, Texas. I believe that is a provider for the University and local people.

We walked back to the Campus toward the big field in front of the King's museum. There is a soccer field in it and surrounded by beautiful gardens to form a fence like division. We walked patiently around and reached to the University Museum. We entered for a toilet use. I thought that we passed by a cafeteria for students. The students are in uniform and may not be mandatory. The co-ed wear white shirt with a school pin in different from the other school in the city. We walked back in opposite direction of the medical center to our hotel.

I always love to visit college campus whenever I have a chance. I adore good universities and good students that their future achievement make so much contribution to their own society, nations, and the rest of the world. Most of the famous university campus are well landscaped.