| As I was leaving for work Monday morning, I was saddened to find that our complex was vandalized by some graffiti artists. Some cars were damaged as well. This just reminds us how ghetto this neighborhood is. In recent years, scandals and lawsuits have drained our association's bank account. Association fees have jumped over 70% in 4 years. With the subprime mess, just two months ago, we had to say good-bye to a neighbor because the bank has reprocessed their home.
 Well, while I am being discontent and complaining about my neighborhood in Orange County (one of the most affluent town in the world), across the Pacific Ocean, a devastating earthquake hit Central China. Lately, I don't have the heart to read the news, especially after reading about a village official interviewed by CNN reporter John Vause. He said 3,000 were still missing in his village; 500 were dead, including his parents, his wife, and their two children. And then he had to run off to get back to his rescue work. It's especially hard to look at the graphic images -- maybe because I'm Chinese; all the more, I also have parents, a wife, and two children.
If you'd like to help out my countrymen, head to World Vision, whose people have been working hard in the front line.
前幾天我準備上班的時候，我發現我們的社區多了一些涂鴉藝術家的創作。一些汽車也遭到破壞。自己也發覺這個地方并非心目中的理想家園。近年來，醜聞和訴訟已經消耗我們的屋主協會的金錢。會費在四年間已上升百分之七十。 由於最近的次按危機，兩個月前，我們向一個鄰居說再見。皆因銀行已經回收了他們的家。
話說回來，自己生在福中不知福。當我抱怨我在橙縣(世界上的最富裕的城鎮之一)的家的時候，在太平洋的彼岸，一場毀滅性的地震重擊中國四川。 最近，我都不忍心看新聞，特別在看過CNN記者約翰偉斯采訪一名村書記之後。他說他的村仍有3000人失蹤； 500人死亡，包括他的父母，妻子和他們的兩個孩子。 然後他又跑開回到他的救援工作。或許因為自己我是中國人吧；其實我自己也有父母，妻子和兩個孩子，所以都不忍心看地震悲情的新聞。 如果你想幫助我的兄弟（四海皆兄弟）， 請前往宣明會的網站慷慨解囊。宣明會的同工一直在四川的最前線努力中。 |
.Huanga 
