記得小女兒讀國小7年級時(2006/10)，參加了小學樂隊的長笛(Flute) 部分，只因自認吹過普通笛子，因此要求買了一支全新的長笛加一本教學小書共$423.42(約台幣$1萬2千7百)，父母告誡她要求買如此貴的樂器，就要持之以恆到中學畢業，所以中學一年級開始她繼續加入樂團，儘管幾次要求退出(因為練習很頻繁)，也因為她曾經承諾我們，所以半年熬過來後，她習慣了，也表演的可圈可點，第一次參加她面對家長的處女秀，感覺她似乎又長大一些了。>>>>>
留個長髮，在指揮老師右邊第二位者，就是我可愛的女兒>>>>>
中學樂隊分初級(Junior)屬8/9(穿白色上衣)10(穿黑色上衣)年級學生與高級(Senior)屬11/12年級學生>>>>>
一位New Westminster地產經紀人，在每一季的自己廣告季刊內(共4頁)，都會刊載有利居民的一些資訊，如上兩次的剷雪注意事項與聖誕節長假出外，住家應注意的事項。這時想讓我丟棄其廣告紙也難，所以把資訊保存下來供大家分享>>>>
Composing turns kitchen and yard waste into dark, nutrient-rich soil conditioner-frequently called "gardener's gold".(將廚房果皮蔬葉與庭院的草渣堆肥成黑色、肥沃的營養物，通常被稱為園丁的黃金)
Compost acts as a catalyst(催化劑), allowing plants to absorb(吸收) the nutrients in the soil and hold more moisture. If you have a garden, a lawn, trees, shrubs or indoor plants, you can use this conditioner to improve your soil and the plants growing in it. It's nature's way of making a greener garden and it helps protect the enviornment by reducing the amount of waste going to 30% of household waste. Collecting kitchen waste can be as simple as placing a plastic garbage can, or bucket, under your sink or just outside your kitchen door.
WHAT TO COMPOST>>>>>
Nitrogen(氮)-rich GREEN materials * Wood ash from fireplace/wood stove * plant trimmings and remains * fruit & vegetable scraps(剩餘物) * tea bags & coffee grounds * egg and nut shells * grass clippings(剪下的草)
Carbon(碳)-rich BROWN materials * dry leaves * straw * woodchips
DO NOT COMPOST * pet wastes(寵物排泄物) * charcoal or coal ashes(木炭或煤灰燼) * meats, bone, fats * dairy products *oil or greasy foods(廚房廚餘) * diseased or insect-infected plants (受病蟲害的植物) * diapers and sanitary products(嬰兒尿布或衛生類用品) * crab grass(大麻植物)
HOW TO COMPOST >>>>>>
1. Place your container on level ground where there is good drainage. A sunny spot will speed the process, but is not essential.
2. Add both 'green' and 'brown' materials. When adding kitchen scraps or grass, also add some dry leaves. When you rake leaves in the fall, save several bags to add gradually to your pile during the rest of the year. Chopping or shredding materials will speed up the composting process.
3. Keep the compost moist but not wet. Use a cover to keep it from becoming too wet from rainfall. If it gets too wet, turn and loosen it or add more dry materials such as leaves. If it gets too dry, water it.
4. Provide air to the pile every two or three weeks by turning it with a pitchfork(乾草叉子), shovel(鐵鍬) or an aerating(助通風的) tool.
YUCKY WORMS(令人討厭的蚯蚓，其實是庭院中的花圃與菜圃的益蟲)
Worm can be the compost pile's best friend. Worms eat decaying(腐蝕) organic matter and then transform it into castings(重要角色) that are an incredibly rich addition to your compost mix.(蚯蚓可是堆肥中最好的朋友，蚯蚓吃腐蝕的有機菜葉草渣物，然後轉換成肥沃物中極重要的堆肥角色)
今年(2010)春天又從好友Helen那裏學到另類快速的肥沃庭院的貧瘠土法>>>>>>割完的草渣直接留在草坪上(散開)，可以讓草坪保濕，也是另一種草肥，或直接將割下來的草渣埋在菜圃土壤內，如此可肥沃土攘。
****************載自Burnaby環保局的小冊子 ******************
Compost to reduce your yard waste>>>>>Yard and garden trimmings, along with fruit and vegetable peelings, can be composted in your own backyard, resulting in(將產生) a rich soil amendment(改善) for your garden. Composters are available from the Burnaby Yard Waste Depot for $30 each. See the map on the back of this page for the location of the depot. For information on City composters, call 604-294-7972. For information on composting, call the Hotline 604-736-2250.
(( 堆肥可減少庭院的浪費>>>>庭院/花園修剪的樹葉/花草與水果皮菜葉放在一起，可以堆肥在自家的後院，它將產生肥沃的泥土來改善自家花園。堆肥桶可以在本拿比城市的庭院回收單位購買一個加幣$30。其地址在 #4800 Still Creek Avenue, west of Douglas Open 7days a week, except holidays 8:00am to 3:45pm，其網址是 www.burnaby.ca/sanitationandrecycling。 如需要市政府的堆肥桶資料可以電 604-294-7972 ，如要堆肥資訊，可以電熱線 604-736-2250 ))
加拿大除了繳稅重、物價高與眼科/牙醫沒健保之外，其他可是人間樂土。高中以下教育全免，每位居民(不分老少)也可以到自己選擇的就業輔導機構(私人組織，但政府提供經費)去上就業的課程(學員不用付半分錢，還提供每天的交通車票)，但先決條件必須經過經理人(Case Manager)的轉介，才可以上3星期的職場課程。
但是此展能網路機構(BuiltNetWork，網站www.builtnetwork.ca ，電話604-517-5526，地址: 779 Carnarvon St. New Westminster, BC. V3M 1E6)，不用經理人的轉介，只要是加拿大居民或公民，沒領過失業救濟金者(如被裁員而申請失業補助者)，都可以直接報名參加為期8星期(星期 一到星期五，早上9點到下午3點)的職場技巧課程，學員務必上台演練介紹自己的假想產品與增進自信心，期間尚有二星期的電腦基本課程，對電腦幾乎是門外漢的中年以上居民，是一個很好的機會>>>
全加拿大此機構共有7個分機構，我很幸運，此卑詩省唯一的分機構就在我家附近搭車僅10分鐘車程外的New Westminster的市中心，雖然此分機構只有一位職員/一位主管與一位認真教學的老師(敎就業的老師叫facilitator而不叫 teacher)，但學員所得到的職場知識，不輸在學院或大學所學，可說麻雀雖小，但五臟俱全>>>>>>
一期8星期的課，最多只收10 個學員(participants)，因每一位學員擁有一台電腦供使用---第一星期上個人發展課程(Personal Development)、第二星期與第三星期上客戶服務與銷售技巧(Customer Service and Sales Skill)、第四星期上電腦的基本知識(Computer Fundamentals)、第五星期上微軟辦公室軟體課程(包括MS Word、MS Excel、MS Access、MS Outlook、MS Power Point)、第六星期上專業發展課程(Professional Development，包括履歷表、求職信、寫作技巧、職場面試、面試如何穿著與模擬面試)、第七星期協助學員搜尋工作機會、第八星期老師帶學員們參加外面的職場展示會>>>>
上台面對大眾說話，一直是我的弱點。第一星期上課就被老師安排與洋人阿媽ㄧ組，又是第一組上台演練客戶與服務員的銷售技巧(自認英 文說不好，又偏偏與洋人一組)，一把年紀了竟嚇的說不出半句話來(還嚇出眼淚來，很不好意思)。但一回生，二回熟，第二次、第三次就要求老師讓我第一個表演(與其在台下煎熬觀看別的學員表演，等著自己上台，倒不如第一炮，落得輕鬆，只是我最沒機會修正自己的表演內容)>>>>
有時邀請外面的學者來班上，傳授事業成功的秘訣。像下面站於後排正中間的印度裔移民類雜誌老闆，以他自己落腳加拿大近10年的經驗，只要做到以下的七個秘訣，每一位新移民未來都可以像他一樣，再此生根而且成功>>>>>
*****7 secrets to succeed for new immigrant in Canada(新移民在加拿大七個成功秘訣)>>>
*****2007/05/23 終於完成為期8星期的職場技巧電腦課程，最後一天，我們舉行了結業舞會，唱歌、跳舞、結業證書頒獎，還有豐盛的午餐。認真又盡責的老師(Facilitator)加送每一位學員(Participant)兩篇很有鼓勵作用的座右銘>>>>>
Thoughts on Change>>>>>>>
If you always think the way you have always thought, you will always feel the way you have always felt.
If you always feel the way you have always felt, you will always do what you have always done.
If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you have always got.
If there is no change - there is no change.
****************************************************************************************
You Can Go as Far as Your Dreams Can Take You>>>>>
If you can reach out, you can hold on.
If you can imagine, you can achieve.
If you just begin, you can continue.
Search within, and you'll find a reason to believe.
If you can get involved, you can make it happen.
If you can give, you will be rewarded with the taking
If you can climb, you can climb even higher.
Envision(想像) it, your success is in the making.
If you trust the winner within you, you will win.
If you can keep your courage, you will go so far.
If you follow your ambitions, your course will guide you
toword a ladder that you can climb to your stars.
If you don't put limits on yourself, you can always keep striving.
You might amaze yourself with what you discover you can do.
If you want to reach out for happiness, don't ever forget these words:
You can go as far as your dreams can take you. - Collin McCarty
***有關移民到加拿大應注意的相關網站---http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/index.asp (study in Canada)
***新移民想報名政府提供的免費ESL課程，第一步: 先親自到 Western ESL Services/#208-2525 Commercial Drive Vancouver, BC V5N 4C1/Tel: 604-876-5756 Fax: 604-876-0134 登記。 第二步: 等來函通知日期去原地方測試英文程度(如果等級超過5級的ESL，就不能上免費的ESL，但可以上免費的高中課程)。第三步: 1星期左右來函通知英文等級與再回原地登記，選何處上課(一般都選離自家近的學校上課)
