Off Day

Today's date is Monday, January 21, 2013. I waked up earlier this morning than every day because I am taking spring board diving class on Mondays, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. When I entered the kitchen to prepare breakfast, I came across my house mate. I told him I had a class today that's why I waked up earlier. He told me today is his off day because of  Martin Luther King, Jr Day. He also told me probably today is also off day for me. Then I checked my schedule on the internet and he was true.

Actually, I had known January 21 is MLK day but I couldn't think today can be off day. I wasn't pleased because I really wanted to go to diving class.

Anyway, today is Holiday in USA because MLK was born January 15. Most holidays were observed on Monday in the USA, therefore people can extend weekend holiday. For this reason, MLK day was observed on Monday, January 21 instead of January 15.

Since usually holidays are observed on Monday, it means that Monday classes are cancelled in every holiday. But this problem was solved. In a semester, when first holiday is observed on Monday, just this Monday classes will be cancelled. When second holiday is observed on Monday, Monday classes will taken on Tuesday and therefore Tuesday classes will be cancelled. If it is experienced one more Monday holiday, this time Wednesday classes will be cancelled.

Parking Regulations

You can see parking signs almost on every street, avenue and so on. Before I purchased car, I didn't pay attention these signs. When I bought my car, I had to spend time to learn what these signs tell. According to street's largeness, neighborhood's population, how far is the neighborhood from downtown or so forth, parking regulations change. So parking rules are very strict and if you violate them, your car will towed by a tow truck. As far as I am concerned tow companies are working on behalf of municipalities. So they are ready to tow your car to make money. Attention please!

Different street has different parking regulations. Sometimes you will just get ticket if you park disallowed spots. Last week a friend of mine who lives in Cambridge visited me. Next morning we noticed that my friend's car got a ticket ($40) because the car had no Allston Brighton parking permit. As many other street or avenue, Long Ave (I live on the Ave.) requires "resident parking permit". So if you are not resident in a neighborhood, probably you can not park there. Or you will pay parking meter to park. Some streets are free for everyone and you don't need to be a resident to park. The other option, if you have visitor has a car, you can park his car your house's drive way.

But Cambridge city gives its residents visitor parking permit, so when you visit your friend you will not meet any parking problem there. Boston City has no any practice like that.

Parking is free on Sundays in Boston. So I went the Mugar with my car this Sunday because of free parking. Otherwise I would have gone with train. By the way, in Miami, you should pay even Sunday.  And moreover parking charge is very high. 

Voluntariness (Volunteering)

Volunteer is everywhere... I met them at public libraries first. They are volunteers to teach English for ESL students. Young, old, teacher, lawyer, employee or retired person. Everybody can be volunteer here.

By the way, to keep in mind the word "volunteer" was not easy for me. I used to forget it, I don't know why. Then I found a solution not to forget it which I call to mind the word "volume" first, then remember "volunteer". This was a very private information about me, but I released it, I'm so sorry.

Anyway, you aren't supposed to be native to be volunteer here. Some ESL students or any other foreigners can work as volunteer and therefore they can improve English skill and communication skill.

Nowadays I want to try as a volunteer. I can work in an organization and hopefully I can meet new people and increase my English level as well. Recently, I share my this desire with a friend and she sent me a link "idealist.org". I'll try it. And also I can get some information about volunteering from public libraries.

On the other hand, Spring 2013 semester started last week. I don't know whether I can spend enough time for my classes if I begin to work.