I got my first bamboo bank back in Singapore during Vesak Day, which I return to Tzu Chi Singapore before I flew over to Boston. I dont know how much money was there, but my dad did told me that Tzu Chi Singapore called to pass him the receipt.
我的第一个竹筒，是在新加坡卫塞节时认养的，并在来波士顿前，还给慈济。竹筒里有多少福田我不清楚，但我爸后来对我说，慈济新加坡分会有致电，并把收据交了给他。
Now in Boston, Tzu Chi is having a similar activity. But this time, we are consolidating all the bamboo banks that were given out, an activity known as "bamboo bank returning home". Tzu Ching was asked to help out in this major event. Our main involvement was to produce a skit to emphasis the importance and significant of the bamboo bank in the development of Tzu Chi over the past 42 years.
在波士顿慈济联络处，我们也有竹筒认养。不过，这一次，是募回发出的竹筒，取曰“竹筒回娘家”。慈青们一起共享盛举，准备表演一出短剧，体现慈济四十二年来，竹筒不可取代的重要性与启发性。
This activity and skit was scheduled on 11 Nov. We decided to act out a previous skit that was performed during last year Tzu Chi Lunar New Year celebration. We shorten it due to time constraints. Half of the cast were new Tzu Ching since some of the old cast was unavailable on that day. I was there the first time we rehearse at Mei Yi SG place. It was so funny that most of us were laughing rather than acting or watching.
竹筒回娘家以及短剧定于十一月十一日。大伙决定用去年慈济新春祈福活动中，慈青表演的剧本。因时间紧凑，剧本稍微缩短；因观众群不同，从台语（福建话）改为国语（普通话）；因老将当天没空，演员一大半起用新人。第一次彩排在美宜师姑家，演员们的搞笑功力十足（剧目因该是庄严正经的），把在场的其他慈青与师姑们，乐得爆笑如雷。
我的第一个竹筒，是在新加坡卫塞节时认养的，并在来波士顿前，还给慈济。竹筒里有多少福田我不清楚，但我爸后来对我说，慈济新加坡分会有致电，并把收据交了给他。
Now in Boston, Tzu Chi is having a similar activity. But this time, we are consolidating all the bamboo banks that were given out, an activity known as "bamboo bank returning home". Tzu Ching was asked to help out in this major event. Our main involvement was to produce a skit to emphasis the importance and significant of the bamboo bank in the development of Tzu Chi over the past 42 years.
在波士顿慈济联络处，我们也有竹筒认养。不过，这一次，是募回发出的竹筒，取曰“竹筒回娘家”。慈青们一起共享盛举，准备表演一出短剧，体现慈济四十二年来，竹筒不可取代的重要性与启发性。
This activity and skit was scheduled on 11 Nov. We decided to act out a previous skit that was performed during last year Tzu Chi Lunar New Year celebration. We shorten it due to time constraints. Half of the cast were new Tzu Ching since some of the old cast was unavailable on that day. I was there the first time we rehearse at Mei Yi SG place. It was so funny that most of us were laughing rather than acting or watching.
竹筒回娘家以及短剧定于十一月十一日。大伙决定用去年慈济新春祈福活动中，慈青表演的剧本。因时间紧凑，剧本稍微缩短；因观众群不同，从台语（福建话）改为国语（普通话）；因老将当天没空，演员一大半起用新人。第一次彩排在美宜师姑家，演员们的搞笑功力十足（剧目因该是庄严正经的），把在场的其他慈青与师姑们，乐得爆笑如雷。
I was highly recommended by several SG, especially as we need a guy to act as a middle-aged lady (auntie in Singapore usage). I declined because I am not free that day as well: the MIT Singapore Students' Society (SSS) has our annual Singapore food fest on that same day. I missed their Fall semester bbq because of Tzu Chi Boston Cultural Night; it is only right that I helped out at SSS this time. Eventually, this food fest was postponed due to the lack of venue. But I still did not attend this Tzu Chi "bamboo bank returning home" activity as I was really tied down with work and mid-terms quizzes.
几位师姑强力推荐我在剧中反串一位中年妇女。不过，我以当天无法到中文学校为由，加以推辞：同一天，麻省理工新加坡学生学会有一年一度的新加坡美食节。九月间，因慈济大爱之夜，我没到学会的夏季烤肉会帮忙；学会年度最重要的活动，我再没理由缺席。但是，天有不测之风云，美食节因租不到场地，往后挪了一个礼拜。虽然如此，我还是因课业繁重，抽不出时间，与竹筒回娘家失之交臂。
Hence, what actually happen during 11 Nov, I have no clue. I do know that involved Tzu Ching had several more rehearsal before the actual day. I also gathered from Jian Fa SX and Judy SJ later that the feedback from the children and their parents are very positive.
所以，十一日那天的演出如何，我所知不多，只知需要演出的慈青们私自彩排了几次。不过，建发师兄与小芳师姐后来提起，学生和家长们给了十分正面的评语。
几位师姑强力推荐我在剧中反串一位中年妇女。不过，我以当天无法到中文学校为由，加以推辞：同一天，麻省理工新加坡学生学会有一年一度的新加坡美食节。九月间，因慈济大爱之夜，我没到学会的夏季烤肉会帮忙；学会年度最重要的活动，我再没理由缺席。但是，天有不测之风云，美食节因租不到场地，往后挪了一个礼拜。虽然如此，我还是因课业繁重，抽不出时间，与竹筒回娘家失之交臂。
Hence, what actually happen during 11 Nov, I have no clue. I do know that involved Tzu Ching had several more rehearsal before the actual day. I also gathered from Jian Fa SX and Judy SJ later that the feedback from the children and their parents are very positive.
所以，十一日那天的演出如何，我所知不多，只知需要演出的慈青们私自彩排了几次。不过，建发师兄与小芳师姐后来提起，学生和家长们给了十分正面的评语。
The reason why the event is named "bamboo bank returning home" is because we collect back all the bamboo banks that were given out to the public, especially the children. We open their bamboo banks on the spot and helped them to pour out the coins into a main urn. This signifies that their efforts, no matter how small, will all merged together, just like rivers flowing into the sea. Every single cent that they contribute will be used to help others that are less fortunate.
竹筒回娘家，顾名思义，就是把劝募出给会众的竹筒都收回来，特别是小菩萨们的竹筒。我们现场把小菩萨们的竹筒打开，并协助他们把铜板倒入瓷瓮中。就如上人常讲的“一滴水，流入大海，永不干枯”。一枚铜板，可能几毛钱都不到；但是，那是一份心，能帮助不幸的人，是一份功德、一份福田。
竹筒回娘家，顾名思义，就是把劝募出给会众的竹筒都收回来，特别是小菩萨们的竹筒。我们现场把小菩萨们的竹筒打开，并协助他们把铜板倒入瓷瓮中。就如上人常讲的“一滴水，流入大海，永不干枯”。一枚铜板，可能几毛钱都不到；但是，那是一份心，能帮助不幸的人，是一份功德、一份福田。
Since I was not free on that day, I volunteered to help in counting all the coins from the various bamboo banks. Jian Fa SX told us that the coins are very heavy and he cannot lift all of them at one go. I notice that the coins left an indention on his carpet as well. Charles SB bought a coin counting machine and donated it to Tzu Chi. I used my eye and hands to pick out different coin values. It was a time-consuming task. Furthermore, there is a special rule in USA regarding depositing coins in banks. Instead of just separating the coins into different values (pennies, nickel, dime and quarter), we have to roll them up into coin rolls. Judy SJ asked her co-workers to help in requesting empty coin rolls from the bank. In the end, 3 of them went to 2 different banks each. But we are still unable to finish wrapping all the pennies that were collected.
竹筒回娘家那天没空，我便帮忙清点竹筒里所有的硬币。建发师兄告诉我们，硬币是重到他一人也无法提起。的确，硬币都清点妥当后，我发现建发师兄的地毯上，原本摆放硬币处，留下了被重物压过的印记。查尔斯师伯捐了一台小型的硬币点算机，而我就用双眼双手作硬币分类。耗时耗力啊。更何况，美国的银行规定，硬币分类成一分、半毛、一毛和两毛半后，还必须卷成固定的数量（五十枚一分一卷、四十枚半毛一卷、五十枚一毛一卷和四十枚两毛半一卷），不然银行不收。小芳师姐请她同事到银行拿硬币卷纸：她们三人各自跑了两家银行。不过，慈济劝募的一分多不胜数，一分卷纸竟然不够用。
竹筒回娘家那天没空，我便帮忙清点竹筒里所有的硬币。建发师兄告诉我们，硬币是重到他一人也无法提起。的确，硬币都清点妥当后，我发现建发师兄的地毯上，原本摆放硬币处，留下了被重物压过的印记。查尔斯师伯捐了一台小型的硬币点算机，而我就用双眼双手作硬币分类。耗时耗力啊。更何况，美国的银行规定，硬币分类成一分、半毛、一毛和两毛半后，还必须卷成固定的数量（五十枚一分一卷、四十枚半毛一卷、五十枚一毛一卷和四十枚两毛半一卷），不然银行不收。小芳师姐请她同事到银行拿硬币卷纸：她们三人各自跑了两家银行。不过，慈济劝募的一分多不胜数，一分卷纸竟然不够用。
In the end, we have a whole bunch of coin rolls that look like artillery shells. We ended the 3 nights of coins-counting by taking picture with the greatest amount of coins that I ever seen in my entire life.
硬币点算妥当后,一卷卷的硬币，十足炮弹。大家纷纷拿出相机，与这难得一见的硬币堆合影。三个晚上的数硬币活动，在合影的欢笑中，画上了完美的句点。
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