27/8~31/8

27/8
Went to Getty Centre with Helen and…well, couldn’t remember her friend’s name. We had fun. There’re many places offered for children in Getty. We visited the garden. All flowers are in full bloom. We played in “Families Room”. Helen drew a mask and said it’s for Stanley. It probably was their very first time to see those famous artworks. I’m sure that they won’t forget the feeling of standing in front of a masterpiece.

They don’t really have good manner, but I don’t want to stop them…they were so excited.

Two things I shouldn’t forget.

1) Helen’s friend seems to has a strong feeling that she’s not “supposed” to stay in Getty. Probably because she realized that all people around dress nice. Also, their English is very different from other people in Getty. Their accents, the way they talk, the vocabularies they use…all of these expose their parentage. Language is hierarchical, regional…how cruel. Think more about building up their confidence.

2) I couldn’t find a car for the kids, so Helen’s father drove them to Getty and I rode with Jerome. Getty is far away from ARTScorpsLA, and for them gas is so expensive now. It’s US$ 3/L. Apart from gas, there’s $7 for parking. Right after we arrived, Helen kept saying that she wanted food. But food in Getty is not cheap. I know that Helen’s family is leading a tough life. I paid the parking fee for them but I don’t know whether I should buy Helen food…I don’t want to hurt her father’s feeling. Maybe I should prepare some food for them next time.


28/8
Papi ran out from the door this morning when I was talking Astro for a walk. Papi wanted to play with me, I know. Linda said that if you pay no attention to him, he’ll be back. But I was so worry, so I hided behind the cars and followed him. This smart little doggie, however, knew that I was right behind and kept running. Anyway, he’s back.

Went to a nice Chinese Baptist Church. I just joined the worship instead of Sunday school. Today message: For We Walk by Faith, not by Sight.

Take a quick look of “Sunset Junction”, which is a chief event held every year on Sunset Blvd. Linda told me the history of “Sunset Junction”. It originally aims at bringing different groups of people such as homosexual, Latino etc. together. When I look at the faces on Sunset, I was so confused…we enjoy freedom and we are suffering for freedom…


29/8

I keep thinking about Language today. It seems nice if everyone speak in the same Language. Yet, Language limits our mind. What happen if all of us have a similar mind?


31/8
I’m now waiting for the bus to go back home. Exhausted…For this week, only Missy, another artist and I work on the mural coz’ the summer internship programme has finished and many volunteers left. Most of them are student of art school/ art major in college. They are all special and funny. I start to miss them. I want to see everybody around.

We usually stay in the school from 12~5 pm. Things are getting harder and harder as we are going into all the details now. The mural is almost done. It looks good. I’ll take a picture for it.

I haven’t talked to the kids for 3 days. But I met their teacher this afternoon. She said that their academic performance is far behind the standard. I’m pretty sad. Not because of their performance…I’m always helping out with their homework, I know they even can’t do multiply…I’m sad because of the attitude of the teacher. She seems to despise the children as well as their parent…I mean she’s well-educated. We talked a lot about Painting, Religious and Philosophy…I don’t know…maybe she’s so frustrated?

The bus just passed Echo Park. I need to walk up hill after get off the bus. It takes me around 25 mins. Hiking in California is pretty enjoyable (compare with hiking in Hong Kong…) The weather here is very nice, plus, it’s DRY. You won’t sweat a lot.

I am going to talk the dogs out for a walk. I should tell you all more about Papi, Astro and Sophie next time. I love them a lot. Need to get off the bus now. Talk to you later.