This Tuesday was Fat Tuesday which wasn’t really a big deal because I basically celebrate it every day. But the day after that was Ash Wednesday, which was actually kind of a big thing for me. First, because I really religious, second because this is the first year that I actually think I’ll stick to my plan to give something up. For the next 40 days I’m planning on giving up pop. In the past, I have eaten meat on Fridays but I don’t think I will this time, I’m going to try and stay away from it on the other days of the week too. In the morning, I went to church with my dad and then went to school late. I came in in this class actually, 4th hour. I went to a church and got the ashes on my forehead and came into school. Unfortunately I gave in and partially wiped them off cause I was getting weird looks. I don’t blame people either, because if I saw someone walking around with black on the forehead and I didn’t know what the heck it was for, I’d give them weird looks too.
When I was at the church, St. Jenaveve, I was sitting in the pews; in the row next to me was the cutest little girl I think I’ve ever seen. When we stood up, she’d look all around and smile at everyone whose eyes’ she met. Me being one of them, I smiled back and she giggled. She couldn’t have been over 5 years old. I also talked to a lady that was sitting in front of me. I had asked my dad why no one was shaking hands when they gave each other peace. She turned around and explained that it was because of the swine flu. I found that funny for some reason. I remembered at my own church once, I went to shake this old woman’s hand and I got shut down. She told me she didn’t shake hands and gave me a look of rejection. I found both of these situations funny, but I don’t know why. Probably because people are making such a big deal about the swine flu, when the regular flu has killed more people than the swine flu has. But anyways, after church my dad and I went to get something to eat. He brought me back to school afterwards and then I went throughout the rest of the day with a gray forehead.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Big Fish Story
When I was around the age of six, I became ill with an extremely rare sickness. It was so rare that only 4 people had ever gotten it before me. Not knowing that I had this rare sickness, I went to school like any other kid did on a sunny Thursday morning. I had gotten to school and thought that day was going to be a great day. It was not that much later that I found out how terribly wrong I was…
As I walked into school, I felt pain in my feet. They had been sore the whole time I had walking but I had just ignored it. I looked down, to find my feet two times the size they had been. Being only six years old, I didn’t think much of it, other than the fact that it seemed a little strange. I went and sat down, but not without noticing the strange looks I was getting from my classmates. I heard gasps and groans as I walked to my seat. But again, I didn’t think anything of it. The teacher walked in and began to take attendance. As she called each name, she would look up and see that the child was there. When she called me name, I said, “Here!” She looked up and made a tiny little noise that sounded like a puppy yelping. By now, I was worried. She walked swiftly over to me and asked me how I was feeling. I told her that my feet hurt a little and she laughed. She made a quick call and then walked me out of the room and down to the office. Now I thought I was in trouble! When we got down there, several of the school workers had a look at me and they all didn’t know what to say. I asked what was wrong with me and they quickly handed me a mirror. When I saw my reflection, I noticed that my face was not as it had been at all this morning. It was 3 times smaller and green! By now, I was flipping out. I looked down and my body had started to grow and grow. At first I was just taller than the teachers. But then I grew more and more, now I was bursting through the ceiling and I kept growing up towards the sky. The school nurse quickly got on the phone with my parents.
My mother and father showed up at the school 5 minutes later. They took one look at me and both fainted at the sight of me (apparently they hadn’t seen my 50 foot tall body growing up into the sky on their way there). The teachers called 911 and soon there was an ambulance and a specialist for this particular disease. He told my now awakening parents that I had a sickness called Omicron. I felt a little prick in my heel and looked down. I saw a tiny figure giving me a shot of a dark purple liquid that was labeled "Grape Kool-aid". I began to shrink back to Earth. I passed through the broken ceiling and was back to my normal 6 year old size. That purple liquid had cured the case of Omicron that I had and I went back to class to learn the alphabet with my classmates.
As I walked into school, I felt pain in my feet. They had been sore the whole time I had walking but I had just ignored it. I looked down, to find my feet two times the size they had been. Being only six years old, I didn’t think much of it, other than the fact that it seemed a little strange. I went and sat down, but not without noticing the strange looks I was getting from my classmates. I heard gasps and groans as I walked to my seat. But again, I didn’t think anything of it. The teacher walked in and began to take attendance. As she called each name, she would look up and see that the child was there. When she called me name, I said, “Here!” She looked up and made a tiny little noise that sounded like a puppy yelping. By now, I was worried. She walked swiftly over to me and asked me how I was feeling. I told her that my feet hurt a little and she laughed. She made a quick call and then walked me out of the room and down to the office. Now I thought I was in trouble! When we got down there, several of the school workers had a look at me and they all didn’t know what to say. I asked what was wrong with me and they quickly handed me a mirror. When I saw my reflection, I noticed that my face was not as it had been at all this morning. It was 3 times smaller and green! By now, I was flipping out. I looked down and my body had started to grow and grow. At first I was just taller than the teachers. But then I grew more and more, now I was bursting through the ceiling and I kept growing up towards the sky. The school nurse quickly got on the phone with my parents.
My mother and father showed up at the school 5 minutes later. They took one look at me and both fainted at the sight of me (apparently they hadn’t seen my 50 foot tall body growing up into the sky on their way there). The teachers called 911 and soon there was an ambulance and a specialist for this particular disease. He told my now awakening parents that I had a sickness called Omicron. I felt a little prick in my heel and looked down. I saw a tiny figure giving me a shot of a dark purple liquid that was labeled "Grape Kool-aid". I began to shrink back to Earth. I passed through the broken ceiling and was back to my normal 6 year old size. That purple liquid had cured the case of Omicron that I had and I went back to class to learn the alphabet with my classmates.
Friday, January 22, 2010
First Semester Reflection
This first semester I have learned so much. I believe that I have learned new skills and have also gotten better at skills I already had. All of the things we’ve done this year have played a part in my over all learning this semester and I really think that my classmates and I will learn even more in the second semester.
Writing is something I’ve always had a problem with. I would either procrastinate or I would just write a really bad paper. This year, I’ve already been able to get better at writing. I think that I truly have gotten better at essays, blogs, etc. I’ve learned about the format of papers and I’ve learned how to take a position when I’m writing. I’ve learned how an article may be confusing and that people may only be able to see the tip of the iceberg. They might not be able to understand what is truly being said. I had that problem at the beginning of the year, but now I am learning how to make sense of things and to make sense of how to write my own papers.
I also think that all the reading we’ve done has helped me learn a lot too. I am probably the slowest reader on the face of the earth, but I can tell them I’m, getting better at making sense of things and being able to read a paper and understand what’s going on. Whether it’s a whole book, a short story, or an article from the news, I’m learning to be able to get through a piece of reading and not fall asleep or just give up and not even work towards understanding the meaning. Before this first semester, I had no idea what it meant to understand a piece of reading. That sounds like it doesn’t make sense but I would just read through things and wouldn’t even think about whether I understood the meaning or not. This first semester I’ve learned a lot about regular language arts class subjects like reading and writing, but I’ve also learned a lot about history.
So far, history and culture have played a huge part in my learning this year. I’ve known about diversity and the problems that other places have gone through but I was not aware of what other countries like Australia, South Africa, or Rwanda has gone through. I’ve learned about what hard times they’ve gone through and what has happened to their cultures over time. Learning about these kinds of things really helps me to understand the world around me more. The thing that has helped me most this year has probably been a mixture of writing and learning about history and cultures. When I’m asked to write about the Rwandan Genocide or Aborogines of Australia, it usually is hard at the beginning but I’ve really learned how to put two and two together. Writing about these kinds of things really helps me gain skill in writing and helps me understand the world more.
Learning about grammar, usage, and mechanics was really helpful. I had obviously already known where to put periods and question marks, but it really helped my writing especially to know more about grammar and punctuation. I can easily tell which letters need to be capitalized and where apostrophes need to be. I can write and use grammar appropriately more easily now than I could before this first semester.
Listening to stories also was a good thing to learn about this year. When we listened to “Man in the Well” I think I developed more skill in being able to listen to a story and being able to imagine what’s going on and how to understand it when I’m not reading it or writing it. It helped enable me to hear a description of something and be able to see it in my head.
Watching videos like Rabbit Proof Fence and The Power of One helped me understand more about colonization and the troubles of other countries. Although I didn’t see most of The Power of One, I did see a few important parts and it showed me the struggles that the native people went through. Watching Rabbit Proof Fence showed me how bad some people had it and it helped me learn and understand things like that and how truly awful they are.
This first semester, I’ve learned so much. Not just these things, but all of the others things too, have really helped me this year. So far, I think the class and I have been learning really good techniques and we’ve got a pretty good perspective about different topics now. I’m really happy with what we’ve learned and I hope that the second semester is just as good.
Writing is something I’ve always had a problem with. I would either procrastinate or I would just write a really bad paper. This year, I’ve already been able to get better at writing. I think that I truly have gotten better at essays, blogs, etc. I’ve learned about the format of papers and I’ve learned how to take a position when I’m writing. I’ve learned how an article may be confusing and that people may only be able to see the tip of the iceberg. They might not be able to understand what is truly being said. I had that problem at the beginning of the year, but now I am learning how to make sense of things and to make sense of how to write my own papers.
I also think that all the reading we’ve done has helped me learn a lot too. I am probably the slowest reader on the face of the earth, but I can tell them I’m, getting better at making sense of things and being able to read a paper and understand what’s going on. Whether it’s a whole book, a short story, or an article from the news, I’m learning to be able to get through a piece of reading and not fall asleep or just give up and not even work towards understanding the meaning. Before this first semester, I had no idea what it meant to understand a piece of reading. That sounds like it doesn’t make sense but I would just read through things and wouldn’t even think about whether I understood the meaning or not. This first semester I’ve learned a lot about regular language arts class subjects like reading and writing, but I’ve also learned a lot about history.
So far, history and culture have played a huge part in my learning this year. I’ve known about diversity and the problems that other places have gone through but I was not aware of what other countries like Australia, South Africa, or Rwanda has gone through. I’ve learned about what hard times they’ve gone through and what has happened to their cultures over time. Learning about these kinds of things really helps me to understand the world around me more. The thing that has helped me most this year has probably been a mixture of writing and learning about history and cultures. When I’m asked to write about the Rwandan Genocide or Aborogines of Australia, it usually is hard at the beginning but I’ve really learned how to put two and two together. Writing about these kinds of things really helps me gain skill in writing and helps me understand the world more.
Learning about grammar, usage, and mechanics was really helpful. I had obviously already known where to put periods and question marks, but it really helped my writing especially to know more about grammar and punctuation. I can easily tell which letters need to be capitalized and where apostrophes need to be. I can write and use grammar appropriately more easily now than I could before this first semester.
Listening to stories also was a good thing to learn about this year. When we listened to “Man in the Well” I think I developed more skill in being able to listen to a story and being able to imagine what’s going on and how to understand it when I’m not reading it or writing it. It helped enable me to hear a description of something and be able to see it in my head.
Watching videos like Rabbit Proof Fence and The Power of One helped me understand more about colonization and the troubles of other countries. Although I didn’t see most of The Power of One, I did see a few important parts and it showed me the struggles that the native people went through. Watching Rabbit Proof Fence showed me how bad some people had it and it helped me learn and understand things like that and how truly awful they are.
This first semester, I’ve learned so much. Not just these things, but all of the others things too, have really helped me this year. So far, I think the class and I have been learning really good techniques and we’ve got a pretty good perspective about different topics now. I’m really happy with what we’ve learned and I hope that the second semester is just as good.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Colonization
The best place to live during colonization would be South Africa.
The reason South Africa would be the best place to live because all of the other colonies had a big problem that occurred some time or another. For the American natives, it was moving west. For the Australians it was domestication of aborigine. And for Rwanda it was the genocide. South Africa did have it pretty rough, I’m not saying they didn’t, but I am saying that I think they had it the least bad out of the other colonies and native people. South Africa was the fairest colony in my opinion. They were free people that were pretty much allowed to keep their own culture and go on doing their own thing. There were a few wars between the two different cultures but South Africa had strong fighters which made them capable of keeping their land.
Another reason why South Africa would have been the best place to live in during these times was the fact that they did not have slaves. Other colonies had slaves or servants that were treated badly. South Africa’s people were not treated as well as they should have been treated, but they still were not enslaved. They were free people who worked for what they had. The other colonies would take people into slavery or take children and try to domesticate them and train them to serve white families. Colonies would take natives and try to Christianize and Americanize them. South Africa had it rough, but they didn’t have to go through these kinds of things. South Africa was the safest place to be a native because they were able to maintain freedom, they weren’t forced to change their religion or culture, and they were basically able to stay in their own land.
The reason South Africa would be the best place to live because all of the other colonies had a big problem that occurred some time or another. For the American natives, it was moving west. For the Australians it was domestication of aborigine. And for Rwanda it was the genocide. South Africa did have it pretty rough, I’m not saying they didn’t, but I am saying that I think they had it the least bad out of the other colonies and native people. South Africa was the fairest colony in my opinion. They were free people that were pretty much allowed to keep their own culture and go on doing their own thing. There were a few wars between the two different cultures but South Africa had strong fighters which made them capable of keeping their land.
Another reason why South Africa would have been the best place to live in during these times was the fact that they did not have slaves. Other colonies had slaves or servants that were treated badly. South Africa’s people were not treated as well as they should have been treated, but they still were not enslaved. They were free people who worked for what they had. The other colonies would take people into slavery or take children and try to domesticate them and train them to serve white families. Colonies would take natives and try to Christianize and Americanize them. South Africa had it rough, but they didn’t have to go through these kinds of things. South Africa was the safest place to be a native because they were able to maintain freedom, they weren’t forced to change their religion or culture, and they were basically able to stay in their own land.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Winter Break
This break I didn’t really do anything special. Other than the fact that it was Christmas, it was pretty boring. What I liked best about this break is that I got to sleep in everyday except for Sundays. The only problem was that I got used to staying up rather late and it became a pattern that was hard to break once school started again. This always happens over summer vacation too. I get used to staying up really late. I start going to sleep at around 4 in the morning every night and waking up at 2 in the afternoon. But since summer vacations a lot longer, it’s even harder to get back in the swing of things.
Christmas was the most fun thing that happened over break. All my sisters and their husbands came over. They brought their kids and presents for my family. Usually we go to my dad’s sister’s house (which me and my sisters dread every year). They’re a little weird and they aren’t very friendly so we always try to tell my mom that one of has a stomach ache or that we have a head ache. She usually tries to give us some Advil she carries around with her after so our excuses don’t work. This year we decided to just have Christmas with my immediate family at our house. It was quite a nice change.
The most exciting thing that happened was that my sister, who is 9 months pregnant, thought she was having her baby on the last day of break. It was a false alarm and she still hasn’t had it, which isn’t surprising because her due date is exactly ten days away (she insists it’s going to be early). Someone must have told the baby how cold it is out here. The only thing I’m worried about is if the baby is born on my birthday. I don’t particularly want to share a birthday and I really don’t want people to forget about mine either. Other than that, my break was pretty mellow. All I did was hang out with my friend Bridget a lot. And even then, all we did was eat and play a Harry Potter video game. I’m a little disappointed breaks over, only because I have to wake up so early again now. But I’m still glad to be back at school so I have human contact with people other than Bridget.
Christmas was the most fun thing that happened over break. All my sisters and their husbands came over. They brought their kids and presents for my family. Usually we go to my dad’s sister’s house (which me and my sisters dread every year). They’re a little weird and they aren’t very friendly so we always try to tell my mom that one of has a stomach ache or that we have a head ache. She usually tries to give us some Advil she carries around with her after so our excuses don’t work. This year we decided to just have Christmas with my immediate family at our house. It was quite a nice change.
The most exciting thing that happened was that my sister, who is 9 months pregnant, thought she was having her baby on the last day of break. It was a false alarm and she still hasn’t had it, which isn’t surprising because her due date is exactly ten days away (she insists it’s going to be early). Someone must have told the baby how cold it is out here. The only thing I’m worried about is if the baby is born on my birthday. I don’t particularly want to share a birthday and I really don’t want people to forget about mine either. Other than that, my break was pretty mellow. All I did was hang out with my friend Bridget a lot. And even then, all we did was eat and play a Harry Potter video game. I’m a little disappointed breaks over, only because I have to wake up so early again now. But I’m still glad to be back at school so I have human contact with people other than Bridget.
Friday, December 11, 2009
Rwandan Genocide Debate
I had already had some opinions on what each group did during the genocide and I thought I knew what they were going to say. AS the debate went on I learned that I was wrong about knowing what they were going to say, and I also learned that I had made some pretty false accusations of who was to blame.
I thought that the Rwandan Armed Forces had been good the whole time, because they pretty much stayed out of it. At the beginning of all this, I thought that the Tutsies were the ones that rebelled and were killing everyone, but little did I know, it was the Hutus. The RPF and the Interhamwe were the real culprits. I learned some other things that changed my mind on groups. I thought the UN had no idea what so ever about what was going on. They obviously had some clue, and the just didn’t want another Somalia situation to happen again. Some of my opinions stayed the same though. Paul Kigame and the President that got shot down are examples of groups that I had a consistant opinion on.
This debate helped me better understand the Rwandan Genocide, and I’m glad we had it, cause if we didn’t, I’d probably not understand a lot of things and still have false information in my mind.
I thought that the Rwandan Armed Forces had been good the whole time, because they pretty much stayed out of it. At the beginning of all this, I thought that the Tutsies were the ones that rebelled and were killing everyone, but little did I know, it was the Hutus. The RPF and the Interhamwe were the real culprits. I learned some other things that changed my mind on groups. I thought the UN had no idea what so ever about what was going on. They obviously had some clue, and the just didn’t want another Somalia situation to happen again. Some of my opinions stayed the same though. Paul Kigame and the President that got shot down are examples of groups that I had a consistant opinion on.
This debate helped me better understand the Rwandan Genocide, and I’m glad we had it, cause if we didn’t, I’d probably not understand a lot of things and still have false information in my mind.
Christmas
Okay, I lied. Now that its Christmas time, I’m realizing that this is actually my favorite time of year. Not autumn. Although I do love that season, the weather and the feeling, Christmas is my favorite time of year, and my favorite holiday. Next year around October I’ll probably feel like Halloween and autumn are the best, but for now I’m all Christmas.
Although I absolutely despise snow, I’m overjoyed to say that it’s almost Christmas. This is the first year I didn’t have a Christmas list that was at least a page long. First it’s because I got a lot pickier this year, and second it’s not as fun now that I know the truth about Santa. I sometimes wish that I had a little brother or sister that still believed in Santa Clause so I could go along with the whole idea. But don’t doubt that I still absolutely love Christmas, Santa or not.
What I truly love about this time of year is the atmosphere, the music, the story behind it, the presents (of course), and being with my family. I like coming home on the last day of school before break, drinking hot chocolate, waking up on Christmas morning, sleeping in, and eating as many candy canes as possible. Although I can’t stand walking through the cold snow and having it seep into my shoes and pants, it is good for at least one thing. Sledding. And I can’t lie, the snow is actually really pretty and it does add the Christmas feeling. Snow days are good too. I don’t like being cold very much either, but it’s the price you have to pay for such a good holiday season. Sitting by a fire, wrapped in a blanket, watching ABC Family’s Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas has to be the best thing I’ve ever experienced. Getting presents is good too, but what I really like is going out and getting presents for my family and friends. I think it’s fun to go and pick out a different ceramic cow for my sister (this year it was a wizard cow) and going to pick out incense for my friend Bridget.
It might come as a surprise but I don’t really like Christmas day. I think the anticipation for it all is more fun than getting it over with. I enjoy the day, don’t get me wrong, I just hate knowing that this is it. After that, Christmas is over. No more Christmas movies, no more candy canes, the Christmas tree is taken down, the ornaments and lights are put away and it’s over, but for now, I can’t wait.
Although I absolutely despise snow, I’m overjoyed to say that it’s almost Christmas. This is the first year I didn’t have a Christmas list that was at least a page long. First it’s because I got a lot pickier this year, and second it’s not as fun now that I know the truth about Santa. I sometimes wish that I had a little brother or sister that still believed in Santa Clause so I could go along with the whole idea. But don’t doubt that I still absolutely love Christmas, Santa or not.
What I truly love about this time of year is the atmosphere, the music, the story behind it, the presents (of course), and being with my family. I like coming home on the last day of school before break, drinking hot chocolate, waking up on Christmas morning, sleeping in, and eating as many candy canes as possible. Although I can’t stand walking through the cold snow and having it seep into my shoes and pants, it is good for at least one thing. Sledding. And I can’t lie, the snow is actually really pretty and it does add the Christmas feeling. Snow days are good too. I don’t like being cold very much either, but it’s the price you have to pay for such a good holiday season. Sitting by a fire, wrapped in a blanket, watching ABC Family’s Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas has to be the best thing I’ve ever experienced. Getting presents is good too, but what I really like is going out and getting presents for my family and friends. I think it’s fun to go and pick out a different ceramic cow for my sister (this year it was a wizard cow) and going to pick out incense for my friend Bridget.
It might come as a surprise but I don’t really like Christmas day. I think the anticipation for it all is more fun than getting it over with. I enjoy the day, don’t get me wrong, I just hate knowing that this is it. After that, Christmas is over. No more Christmas movies, no more candy canes, the Christmas tree is taken down, the ornaments and lights are put away and it’s over, but for now, I can’t wait.
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