(The following photos were taken by my phone)

King Street Station. 100 years old.

Passing by the water. There were people on the beach waving to us. One of them held his kid (waving) high to us. I wonder why nobody waves to the passing train in China.

Under a bridge

The Coast Starlight train is double-decked. It has a formal dining cart, and a sunroof cart which Emma loved very much.

The end.

我们的大学教育，包括美国的，缺了很重要的一堂课--Personal Finance. 走出校园的毕业生们，意气风发的走上工作岗位，把工作做得出色，加班，climbing the laddar，yada yada. 银行的存款渐渐多起来，还有一个叫401K的东东也在日积月累。突然，2008年，一个叫金融危机的monster一口气吃掉了许多日子积累起来的财富。平时的节省--这个那个的coupon，开车老大远得来的deal--与这个monster相比之下是那么的渺小。其实，如果花一点点的功夫在Personal Finance上，这个效果—making money using money or protecting the nest eggs--很可能远远超出平时的节俭。

如果你能回答一下问题，you can be financially responsible for yourself.

• Do you contribute to your 401K accounts? Why? If you do, can you explain your contribution strategy?
• What’s ROTH IRA? Does it apply to you?
• How often do you check your 401K accounts? Do you believe in buy-and-hold? Why?
• What’s the difference between mutual funds and ETF?
• What kind of role do bonds play in your portfolio?
• What’s an index fund? What’s a value stock, and what’s a growth stock?
• What’s the impact of capital gain/loss on your tax?
• Should you consider buying a house? Why?
• What’s the impact of owning a house on your tax?
• How to deduct childcare expenses from your tax?
• How do you prepare for the college education of your kids?
• How much cash should you have in your bank accounts?
• Should you pay in cash when buying a car? Why?

以上问题对于不同家庭情况，不同目标，答案自然不同。关键是，你对这些问题是否有自己的答案。