2014-09-01

【Aiden in English】

        Having a friend over is awesome. You can relax, chat, and have fun. Today， having a friend over is even better since it is Labor Day.

        That means tomorrow is the first day of school in the fall. So my friend, Robbie and I had a good long talk about school. After getting that over with, we went straight to video games of Minecraft, Pokémon, and Street Fighter IV. Ahhh... there's nothing better than having a

2014-08-31

【Aiden in English】

        Bowling is a fun game. It shows your skills in muscles and accuracy. But something unexpected happened today when Dad and I went to Facenda Whitaker Bowling Lanes, PA for Labor Day Weekend holiday joy.

        It turned out that there was a glitch in the sensors because the last pin on the bowler's left had a few problems. For one, if it's still standing, the computer read it as if the pin was knocked over. Tha

2014-08-30

【Aiden in English】

        Parties are the best way to meet friends, have fun, and show off your skills. So today, when Dad took me to a holiday party at his friend's house, I brought my Chinese Yo-Yo from GHCS Summer Camp and a book of Classics for the Developing Pianist.

        Everyone was fascinated by my Chinese Yo-Yo skills. I did tricks and even taught some adults the secret of the Yo-Yo (there isn't one). After about 5 seconds o

2014-08-29

【Aiden in English】

        At last, the tragic day arrives! Just as I began to get used to the vacation and no responsibility whatsoever, it winds down from my 9-week-long summer camps. Now, the school awaits in four short days. So at that very moment, the GHCS Summer Camp went out with a bang. Since today is Friday (Woohoo!) before Labor Day weekend, there would be a tournament a whole day long.

        The tournament was basically two team

2014-08-28

【Aiden in English】

        Spoons are a sort of fun card game that kids can enjoy. Although it may get a little rough, it's a game I love. Except at GHCS Summer Camp, we tweaked it up a little bit.

        Around 1 this afternoon, just after lunch, my friends Kevin, Michelle, and I were playing Spoons when suddenly someone turned on the fan. The fan blew the cards everywhere. Kevin shouted: "Which Nincompoop turned on the fan?!

2014-08-27

【Aiden in English】

        Today, I just acquired a broad new hobby. It's not like I haven't done it before, but just that today is the day I truly look into it. And so my new hobby is ...... Origami.

        It all started with an Origami class at GHCS Summer Camp, where I was taught how to make an inflatable paper ball. Not that I already knew how to. But then, I saw my friend Kevin make paper dice without glue or tape. So I copied him.

2014-08-26

【Aiden in English】

        Today, I discovered a whole new level of Chinese Yo-Yo at the Guanghua Chinese School (GHCS) Summer Camp. Previously, I was focused on spinning it only. But now, I am able to toss and catch it. As much as you learn how to manage to lift and drop motion with two sticks, you'll make great progress and enjoy playing it over and over again. Some kids didn't even know how to spin Yo-Yo this morning. Next thing you know, they're spi

2014-08-25

【Aiden in English】

        Today begins with my last week of a 9-week long summer camp. There was a huge change for me. No more games, no more sports, just learning and that kind of ... junk. I know! There is learning in the summer. No way. But that's what we're pretty much doing at Guanghua Chinese School (GHCS) Summer Camp.

        As much as it sounds bad, it's ... worse. From today on, the Montgomery County Community College

2014-08-24

【Aiden in English】

        Ten years ago, at my first-ever birthday party in my house, Auntie Hongli and Uncle Henry came over to see me along with their two little daughters, Lynna, 7, and Jennifer, 4. A decade has passed, and now, we can finally have a reunion back in NJ from PA. This is more about Mom than me. Can you remember anything at the age of 12 months? Heck, I don't even recall most of my kindergarten friends.

2014-08-22

【Aiden in English】

        Sadly, today is my final day at the YMCA for summer camp. Time goes by and hardly lasts long. And as much as today is a sad day, it probably becomes the best day ever of my whole summer (excluding my vacation in the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor)!

        We watched a fantastic movie called Big Fat Liar. It was jam-packed with humor, little curse words, and non-violent. I'm not gonna tell you about it because it

2014-08-21

【Aiden in English】

        Dodgeball has many cool versions. For one, there's Everyman. This version is the craziest game of all. The name should explain a lot about the game. It's every man/woman for himself/herself. If you're hit, you sit down. When you're sitting down, you may not move. To reenter the game, you must hit someone who's standing up. The last one standing wins. And FYI, if you're standing up with a ball, you may not move.

&nbs

2014-08-20

【Aiden in English】

        I'm not the guy you pass to in soccer. Why? I have slow reflexes like dirt and I am not the strongest kicker. However, a miracle happened today.

        We were down by one in a scrimmage against another team. I was put up in midfield for three short minutes. Wow, you could say the shot was a fluke, or it's a bad goalie. But I think of it as a fair and square goal.

        So the goalie had th

2014-08-19

【Aiden in English】

        Dodgeball isn't just throwing balls around. No. There are many types of dodgeball. That's what I like about this game.

        So my favorite version of dodgeball would be a nightmare. This version is simple. Once you get out, the person who got you out must also get out for you to get back in. Sounds confusing? Let me put it this way. For you to come back in, the team must eliminate the one who you got out by.

2014-08-18

【Aiden in English】

        I love dodgeball. I know that I love a lot of sports. But in dodgeball, I'm actually useful. In football, I'm good, but not a one-shot wonder. Neither am I in basketball.

        Today in my dodgeball camp, whichever team I was on, 99% of the time won. Why? It was not because I was fast or pegged people in the face (partially) but for my skills in catching the ball. That's what made me my team's best. I

2014-08-16

【Aiden in English】

        Every August, the Saint Stan's Summer Festival is held at the Mater Dei Catholic High School in Lansdale, PA. It's not a huge carnival, but there's definitely a pretty darn good festivity.

        The games look great and the food tastes fabulous. However, I go on rides every year. When you think of a local festival, you don't think of spinning at 50 miles per hour. The tornado became my favorite. What

2014-08-15

【Aiden in English】

        My team for the 2014 Fall Rec. Soccer 5^th-6^th Grade Division sounds extremely weird in MUSC. First off, 75% of the team comes from my elementary school. Yes! 75% of my team's fellow members are derived from my elementary school. Is it crazy, huh? But not as crazy to hear that 75% of the team is from my team last year. Exactly! I know everyone except for three of 12 people, and I know all my team's strengths and weaknesses.

2014-08-14

【Aiden in English】

        Staying at home with no video games stinks. This time, it's not because of a fever. The camp was on a field trip to a lake that I wasn't excited about. What I feel like not going is a mistake now since I'm stacked with Chinese homework and the only companion I've got is my grandma who isn't exactly into conversations.

        "Hey Grandma, can I go outside?"

        &quo

2014-08-13

【Aiden in English】

        I'm not a team leader. No way in sports. So when I was appointed as the team captain of a flag football in my summer camp, I felt one of the other kids should have been chosen. For one, I'm not the fastest kid in the world. Two, the other three team captains seemed to be fast as lightning, not to mention the background knowledge about football. Three, an experienced player was sitting right next to me on my team. So now, after I&#

2014-08-12

【Aiden in English】

        Plague Inc. is the most addicting free game on the app store. The plot is simple. Kill everyone by viruses, bacteria, fungi, or contagious diseases on the earth. I know it sounds gross but totally awesome. You learn a ton about how outbreaks spread. The best part is fun to watch a virus take over the world. However, you don't just watch and wait. You mutate the virus and it gets much more powerful. Soon, the virus can travel through a

2014-08-11

【Aiden in English】

        Ever play the Bullet Game? Well, if you wonder what in the world I am talking about, the Bullet Game is when you line up, and whoever can catch the pass thrown by the QB can stay in. If you drop it, you have to say goodbye. Once you catch the ball, you step back in line at the end. The final person standing wins.

        We played the Bullet Game in our flag football camp for a while. And the QB, our counselor was

2014-08-10

【Aiden in English】

        I have never seen a true friend leave my life so far. Sure, classmates moved, and acquaintances left, but never friends. And today, a girl named Crystal said her goodbyes.

        Crystal and I became the best buds at the preschool in Bright Horizon Child Learning Center, PA shortly after she moved from CA and I was relocated from NJ. Day in and day out, we enjoyed playing together and had fun as time went by. When ent

2014-08-09

【Aiden in English】

        What better way is there to finish a summer trip to the Everglades NP of Florida? So when our bags got packed, we left our Glory Carnival to revisit some world-famous Everglade Alligators.

        Please keep in mind that alligators eat humans, but only for a reason.

                1. They're hungry. Very, very hungry.

2014-08-08

【Aiden in English】

        I love comedies. They're funny and entertaining, what's not to like about there? And what show is better than the famous Punchliner？ The show is a combination of the best entertainers across America. It was started by George Lopez, and he decided to work with Carnival Cruise Lines. Obviously, when I heard about the Punchliner Show on board, I bolted to the next performance.

        The Punchliner became the bes

2014-08-07

【Aiden in English】

        At school, we were taught that stingrays were deadly killers of the sea, and had poisonous stingers that could instantly kill you. I disagree, especially after seeing the stingrays when Mom and I sailed Allura Catamaran to the Sandbar in Stingray City, Grand Cayman.

        First of all, stingray stingers are not poisonous. They have just there for protection from danger. To them, we aren't considered too much of a

2014-08-06

【Aiden in English】

        Dolphins are strong and intellectual animals. They act as the masters of the seas, and their ability to move in water so quickly and gracefully makes me intrigued by these smart beings.

        After saying all, today was the day that I could finally interact with dolphins up close at Anthony's Key Resort of Sandy Bay, Roátan. Not just swim, but snorkel.

        The experience was beyond amazing.

2014-08-05

【Aiden in English】

        Belize is probably one of the best places for snorkeling. The Barrier Reef is the 2^nd largest coral reef on earth, stretching to 186 miles in West Caribbean as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

        Today, after hearing all about the Barrier Reef of Water Caye to the east of Belize City, the old capital, Mom and I came to see offshore atolls, sand cays, coastal lagoons, estuaries, and mangrove forests for ourselves up c

2014-08-04

【Aiden in English】

        I have always loved snorkeling. You'll know that by now if you've read about my adventures in the Galapagos Islands. Yet today in Cozumel of Mexico, the snorkeling experience wasn't as fascinating as I was hoping for.

        We were unprepared. Mom had bought me a set of snorkeling back in the US. However, it was far too large. Water leaked through the plastic and into my eyes. My mouth had many cuts

2014-08-03

【Aiden in English】

        Ever try finding a needle in a haystack? Nobody is insane enough to actually do it. Ever try to find a group of specific cruise staff members in a sea of people for a scavenger hunt? Sure, they are wearing a bright color T-shirts. However, we're talking about a cruise ship the size of the Titanic (maybe) with 15 floors, hundreds of rooms, and over 4,000 people on board. That's just like finding a needle in a haystack. Oh, and no e

Chinese Valentine's Day，2014-08-02

【Aiden in English】

        The Mesoamerican Biological Corridor of UNESCO World Heritage Site is the place to be for the summer. There is nothing like a paradise for relaxing because of its beautiful barrier reefs, white beaches, open blue skies, and abundant marine creatures. So my family booked a flight from US Airways and packed our bags from Philadelphia, PA to Miami, FL where Carnival Glory waited to take us to the heavenly Western

2014-08-01

【Aiden in English】

        After being sick at home straight for two days, I was finally back in action, even though my fever wasn't entirely gone. With medication, there was no problem. But without those horrible pills, my temperature would spike. So, today I took a risk and after eating an Advil, pill, I left for LC.

        During B-Ball Camp, the class played a 90-min game. The score wasn't pretty. We, the guest team, got demolis

2014-07-31

【Aiden in English】

        The Renaissance Fair reflects the medieval cultures in Mount Hope, PA. Women wore dresses that trailed behind them, while men did flashy suits in about any color with cool, fluffy (stiff) collars as I expected. But I had no idea that there was a Mud Comedy Show. It was totally all about the gross and disgustingness of a mixture made up of two basic ingredients: soil and H₂O.

        It turned out that there was a lot mo

2014-07-30

【Aiden in English】

        If you are sick, you can get away with it or stay home from school. Being home during the mid-summer is the worst, especially when it turns to the 2^nd time after treatment. I have to go through an ordeal because of the same fever yesterday.

        The fever didn't sound too bad, however, just bad enough to make me not go to the summer camp. I really missed the sports at Lansdale Catholic High even though it's o

2014-07-29

【Aiden in English】

        Staying @ home during the mid-summer isn't a holiday retreat but basically the definition of boredom. No activities in the summer camp, no fun with friends, and limited time for video games. There was no companion, except for Grandma, so the house sounded very quiet. Not to mention that I had a fever.

        Everything seemed boring while you were suffering from a fever. There was nothing you could do but read a bo

2014-07-28

【Aiden in English】

        Basketball just might be my favorite sport. It's fairly simple and easy to catch on no matter how old you are. The only issue is that I'm not very offensive. You see, today, the best player in the Basketball Camp wasn't me, but a 3^rd grader who was two years younger than I. Why? Because he drove and blasted through the opponent's defense.

        I just don't have much driving ability, the ability t

2014-07-25

【Aiden in English】

        Ahh... there's nothing like a cool swim in the pool during an extremely hot day, is there? Let me tweak that sentence a bit. First off, today wasn't exactly extremely hot, and the pool was cooler than cool. Away cooler, you could say freezing, too. The instant I bit the water, it seemed as if I hit a brick wall. The feeling was that bad. After 10 seconds in the pool, my feet and hands were numb. Tiny needles seemed to jab into my

2014-07-24

【Aiden in English】

        You can't come to the Sports Summer Camp and don't want to play football. That's just how it is, no matter whether there is two-hand touch, flag, or tackle (hopefully not). Football is everywhere. So today, I played flag football for two hours straight.

        First of all, flag football is about pulling the belt off the person's waist. No injuries, except for pulled muscles and cramps, should happen, a

Great Heat，2014-07-23

【Aiden in English】

        Pokémon is so famous that every kid at the summer camp has been absorbed into the video game. They are intelligent animals that populate the world, and the player may catch one with a PokéBall. Once caught, it may be used to battle other Pokémon and trainers. Pokémon have levels, too. Each time a Pokémon defeats another one an XP (experience points) is given to the winner after collecting the required amount of XP to leve

2014-07-22

【Aiden in English】

        Nightmares come from the mind. Our imaginations create these horrifying scenes from the unknown. Ghosts are commonly in nightmares, due to their mystery and being used to scare. Darkness is also the main feature that makes a nightmare terrifying. If you have nightmares like this often as I do, the video game Eyes is probably not a good one for you.

        Like a nightmare, Eyes is a first-person perspective horror game

2014-07-21

【Aiden in English】

        Finally, I returned to the sports camp in LCHS. The learning, the singing, and the dancing are all left behind without hesitation. Now sports are on the menu, and I don't have time for those things the girls love the most.

        At the summer camp of the Chinese School, there was less variety of activities available to boys. Reading or learning was the number 1 and having fun always came second. In contrast, othe

2014-07-20

【Aiden in English】

        Summer pool parties are the best. The nice and cool water with the hot temperatures is accompanied by a BBQ of filet mignon, pork sirloin steak, cracker barrel chicken tenders/diced shrimps, grilled jumbo shrimps, marinated lamb chops, and home garden veggies. There were a lot more things to do than swimming, but relaxing in the water was exclusive.

        That is until I started to go on the diving boards. The diving

2014-07-18

【Aiden in English】

        Chess is very hard. It uses knowledge for battle strategies and predicts the opponent's moves. Chinese Chess needs exactly the same skills, just with a few different pieces. There is 1 general/marshal (king/queen), 2 advisors/guards, 2 horses (knights), 2 elephants/ministers (bishops), 2 chariots (rooks), 2 cannons, 5 pawns/soldiers (8 pawns) in black and red pieces of Chinese Chess over its counterpart. I didn'

2014-07-17

【Aiden in English】

        Shading is one of the most frustrating techniques of sketch drawing. It captures the light, so every stroke counts. The darkness of each line is crucial to illustrate your own idea. And if the shading is done correctly, the outcome will look spectacular.

        Today, I learned that shading isn't as frustrating as I expected @ the Summer Camp of Guanghua Chinese School. When shading large areas, I could just take a

2014-07-16

【Aiden in English】

        I used to think that Yo-Yo didn't need skills until today I learned them @ Guang Hua Chinese Summer Camp. Boy, it is so wrong. The Chinese Yo-Yo is probably even harder than any Yo-Yo you've ever experienced.

        First off, the Chinese Yo-Yo has two discs connected with a smooth thick bar in the center. The idea is to spin the Yo-Yo by pulling a rope hooked up with two sticks used for the handle. This comes

2014-07-15

【Aiden in English】

        The body parts of a boy are not the best topic during a conversation. That wasn't the case today.

        While the campers were peacefully drawing in the art session, I drew my name in a fancy version with a huge "D". When I finished my name, my friend walked over and said: "Wow, that's a big D." It caused a chain reaction throughout 4 to 5 kids. Naturally, if kids talk about a "D"

2014-07-14

【Aiden in English】

        My first impression when I arrived at the summer camp @ Guanghua Chinese School in PA: OH BOY! There were books and books and books. Last time I checked, the school will start in two months.

        As I sat down, a teacher handed me a book in Chinese to read. She said that I should read the first 4 chapters to catch up since I wasn't here for the first session. The chapters looked pretty long, and I wasn't exa

2014-07-13

【Aiden in English】

        The 2014 World Cup is coming to an end by having Argentina play against Germany. These two teams played in back-to-back World Cup Finals in 1986 and 1990. Both have won once against each other and today it looks like the tie-breaker for them.

        As soon as the game began, Germany attacked Argentina aggressively. Argentina responded with decisive lightning strikes. Both teams had their momentums in the 1st half

2014-07-12

【Aiden in English】

        The beach becomes one of the best places to be during the summer. The cool water is perfect for a hot day. However, that was not the case when Dad and I went to the beach in Ocean City, NJ. The water was absolutely freezing! It seemed like swimming in the Arctic Ocean. I didn't stay very long since I was afraid to catch a cold, and today wasn't exactly hot enough to swim in the Atlantic Ocean.

        We went t

2014-07-11

【Aiden in English】

        The 4^th Street Pool in Lansdale is probably one of the best community pools ever. Last time, I couldn't go on the best slide there because no one would offer the qualified test. Today, a counselor gave me the test, and it was easier than easy. I swam around 50 yards/45.7 meters, then treading water for two minutes. As soon as I passed, I bolted for the blue slide.

        The blue slide drops a c

2014-07-10

【Aiden in English】

        Our world is populated with many bugs. These small creatures are everywhere. To them, the world is a gigantic place and they thrive in an extremely dangerous habitat with a lot of predators. How do bugs manage that? We learned it today when Jon the BUGMAN came to our Soccer Camp and taught us a valuable lesson about bugs.

        Bugs might be small, but they can also be quite harmful. They are poisonous, and usually, i

2014-07-09

【Aiden in English】

        The Netherlands has always played amazingly well. It is so good, but just not good enough. They have never won the title of the World Cup. However, would today be their chance to advance to the finals? Or will their opponent Argentina go on, and face the awaiting Germans? It all came down to this game.

        As soon as the game began, I knew there would be extra time. Both sides were pushing each other, but neither bu

2014-07-08

【Aiden in English】

        Brazil has never lost a game at home and always has beaten or tied every game since 1971. But that's all about to change. In this semifinal match against Germany, Brazil's pure confidence is turned into a dark defeat in the World Cup.

        The first 30 minutes became a nightmare for Brazil. Every few minutes, Germany pounded a ball into the goal. The Germans seemed to be running around the Brazilian defenders

Minor Heat，2014-07-07

【Aiden in English】

        The 2014 World Cup is entering the final stages and the world is on the edge of its seats. Back at Lansdale Catholic HS, another soccer showdown is beginning...

        Today was the first day of Soccer Camp. Surprisingly, I would have to say that I was probably the best player in the group in terms of accurate shots, speed, foot & eye coordination, precise passes, and strong foot. The only problem was,

2014-07-05

【Aiden in English】

        In the USA, the 4^th of July is probably the most celebrated holiday every year, whether it's going to the beach, staying at Grandma's house, or watching fireworks locally. Dad and I decided to celebrate the Day of Independence in the traditional way with a spectacular show of fireworks. Unfortunately, it was July 5^th, but at least Wissahickon High School in greater Philadelphia postponed the events to today.

      &n

Independence Day，2014-07-04

【Aiden in English】

        When people think of parties, they think of delicious food, awesome drinks, colorful Piñata, and outdoor games. Only the first few items on the list were applied at today's party. The adults were having a long conversation (boring) and drinking beers and wines (not cool), which forced the kids (Lynden, the hosts' son, me, and my little sis) downstairs and limited to the Wii in the basement.

    &nbs

2014-07-03

【Aiden in English】

        To me, Sports Summer Camp is supposed to be all about fun. No talent or skill, just fun. But not so much fun that kids get hurt if you ignore basic techniques. That's exactly what happened at today's 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th-grade soccer.

        No one cared about scoring except for the counselors. At one time, the 4^th-grade counselor came flying toward our goal. I stepped in th

2014-07-02

【Aiden in English】

        Today, we did what everyone at Basketball Camp was waiting for. We had a 90-minute 5-on-5 game with subs.

        And to put it simply, it was chaotic. Fouls were called every few minutes, mostly half-court violations since the younger kids were afraid to go to the basket. There were also a lot of offensive fouls that probably resulted from kids who didn't have enough skill to dribble around othe

2014-07-01

【Aiden in English】

        The USA soccer team has never made it to the World Cup in its history. And this year, a miracle happened in Brazil. The USA passed the qualification rounds and entered the Round of 16 unexpectedly.

        As lucky as the USA gets, their fortune couldn't last forever. This knockout game against Belgium proved that the USA wasn't able to compete at this level.

        The game started off