The End is Just Another Beginning

As 2010 comes to an end, I can say that it was a great year. I got my license and a car- the ticket to independence, and a job that I love. For many, myself included, this was a year for growing up; taking on new responsibilities, planning for college, and managing schoolwork and spare time. A year is only 365 days, not really THAT much time, but think of all that has changed in your life since this time last year. Probably a lot. We have gained new friends, had different experiences, maybe learned a few life lessons. Now think about this time next year: anxiety of college applications, many people already have received their acceptance letter, Mo Pro, as well as many other pressures. We have 365 chances to have a good day in a year; make the most of it. So here's to 2011: let's make it a fun and successful year!


Happy New Year everyone!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I love winter break- any sort of break, for that matter. We get 11 days off to do whatever it is our hearts desire. So far, my time has been great! To kick off the beginning of break, my friend hosted a Christmas party where we exchanged white elephant gifts. I ended up with a scuba diver toy and a stuffed llama made out of real llama fur. His name is Kevin. On Thursday, I finally saw the first part of Harry Potter 7 and Inception; both were awesome. Friday and Saturday were spent with my family, celebrating Christmas. I love the holiday season, but I think my cat might enjoy it more- he spent the whole day entertaining himself with his new toys (skunk and squirrel kitty toys and a laser pen). I reignited my old hobby addiction of Xbox and dabbled with some FIFA '06. I kick it old school with the original game system and the first of the Halo series. So no, I do not play Live. At this point, winter break has been enjoyable. I hope everyone else's has been, as well! I'm off to update my passport now.

Rings

C.S. Lewis' speech basically defined high school cliques. Here, they are omnipresent; you can't deny that. It is clear when walking through the halls of WHS- the lockerbanks are packed with students and their tight-knit groups chattering away in C wing between classes. If you were to walk up to a random person at school, it would be a rare occasion to not find that they were part of a clique. I mean, this IS high school. Teenagers do form close groups with "rings"as C.S. Lewis calls it. To get to the innermost ring, you have to warm up to the people who have already achieved that- just make them like you. Once you've been "accepted", you're in. Face it, we've all done it a little bit. We do it because we know what it feels like to be on the inside and the outside- and the inside is typically preferred.

JK Rowling Speech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkREt4ZB-ck&feature=related

JK Rowling rocks! I like how she included humor in her speech to connect with the audience, as well as get her message across clearly.

Delicious

Delicious: pleasing, especially to the taste.
Adjective- This chicken curry tastes delicious.
Origin: 1250–1300; ME < OF < LL dēliciōsus,  equiv. to L dēliciae  delight + -ōsus -ous

Tasty: good-tasting.
Adjective- I think chocolate is tasty.
Origin: 1610–20; taste + -y¹
Toothsome: pleasing, desirable, attractive
Adjective- Did you see the toothsome shoes on that lady?
Origin: 1545–55; tooth + -some¹

Flavorful: full of flavor, tasty
Adjective- The shrimp is not very flavorful.
Origin: 1925–30; flavor + -ful

Scrumptious: pleasing to senses, splendid
Adjective- He makes the most scrumptious cookies on Earth.
Origin: 1820–30; perhaps an alternative of sumptuous

Delectable: delightful, highly pleasing, enjoyable, delicious, an appealing item of food
Adjective- My mom's lasagna is quite delectable.
Noun- The table was covered in delectables.
Origin: 1350–1400; ME < L dēlectābilis  delightful, equiv. to dēlectā ( re ) to delight (freq. of dēlicere  to entice) + -bilis -ble

Appetizing: appealing, tempting, savory
Adjective- The school's mystery meat did not look very appetizing.
Origin: 1645–55; appet(ite) + -ize + -ing² , as trans. of F appétissant

Savory: agreeable in taste or smell, a British appetizer or dessert
Adjective- Sweet and savory chicken is my favorite
Noun- Zac made a great savory to bring to the picnic.
Origin: 1175–1225; ME savori  ( see savor, -y¹ ); r. ME savure  < OF savoure,  ptp. of savourer  to savor
Palatable: acceptable taste, agreeable to the mind or feelings
Adjective- We can all agree that the roast duck yesterday evening was palatable.
Origin: 1660–70; palate + -able

Mouthwatering: very appetizing in appearance, aroma, flavor
Adjective- The smell of my pierogi is mouthwatering!
Origin: 1815–25

Tasteful: displaying good taste in style or food
Adjective- The room was decorated tastefully.
Origin: 1605–15; taste + -ful

And the Countdown Begins...

March 30th, why can't you arrive already?

My excitment began last spring when my sister decided to attend Rangsit University in Pathum Thani, Thailand for 6 months while studying abroad. She couldn't have chosen a better time to go, since my spring break also falls on one of her breaks. This gave us the perfect excuse to come visit her at Rangsit as well as travel to Southeast Asia, where I have never been before. Our plans have been finalized for months, so now I just have to painfully wait in excitment for Term 3 to end. The countdown began last spring at 342 days.

When March 30th finally arrives, my mom and I will hop on a plane to Detroit (which seems counterintutive since we should be going west, not east) then take the long 13-hour flight to Japan. During the 16-hour layover in Tokyo Narita International Airport, I am hoping to be able to wander about Tokyo for a bit if I haven't already passed out from fatigue, and possibly indulge in some authentic sushi! Once we finally arrive in Bangkok, Thailand, we won't stay long, because we board yet another plane south to Koh Samui (located near the Gulf of Thailand) and take a ferry to the island of Koh Phangan. When not in our hut (yes, they actually call it a hut instead of a hotel room) we will be relaxing in a tropical paradise, taking in the warm Thai sun and wading in the crystal-clear water of the Gulf. After four days of recooperating from the long flight and time change, we will be spending the weekend in mountainous Chang Mai, hiking, visiting temples, and crusing along the river. During our stay, we are taking an elephant excursion which consists of riding your elephant through the jungle with a tour group and splashing around with it in a river. Hopefully I will not have to clean up after the elephant; I don't think I own a shovel big enough! I am hoping to learn a little bit of the Thai language while I am there. The last few days of our stay will be in Thailand's capital city, Bangkok. From the things I have heard, this city is similar to New York, x3. I am excited to try all the exotic food here, because they are known for having some wacky cuisine. The push-carts on Khao San Road apparently have the best Thai delicacies in the country including bamboo worms, friend insects on a stick, and fried elephant trunk. I am known for trying all exotic ethnic food that I come across, so these are definitely top of my list. The shopping is supposed to be fantastic in Bangkok, which is a plus, but that is not the reason I am going.

There are a few things I am not looking forward to on my trip:
- Having to make up term 3 finals and missing the first two days of term 4
- 13 hour time difference
- Humid, 90+ degree weather
- Malaria!


Countdown update: 115 days

Apparently We're Slackers

Yes, the video 2 Million Minutes was biased; I agree with that. It made Americans look like all we do is focus on social lives and fun, which is not completely true. Maybe we don't sacrifice all of our time to school and studying, but so what? We have opportunities that other kids are not fortunate enough to have. I distribute my time between school, an average amount of homework, working 15 hours a week, dance practice for another 15 hours, spanish club, student council, and a social life. No I don't have a 4.0 GPA, and that's all right with me. Instead of working myself to the bone spending endless nights awake doing schoolwork, I, as well as most of my peers, have many other activities we are involved in. Maybe the U.S. doesn't score the highest in math or science, but I believe that this will create well-rounded people with a range of skills and capabilities.

    I noticed that I rarely saw the Chinese students crack a smile, yet the Americans seemed more upbeat during their interviews. This could be because the US scored highest in "self-confidence", but still, when you stretch yourself so thin, how could you be truly happy with life?

   I felt like though the movie was biased, it spoke some truth. Only 40% of American students are taking science courses more advanced that general biology- this is concerning. We don't need to completely copy the curriculum of India or China, but it might be a good idea to re-vamp our own in order to make it more challenging and efficient.

Friendship!

(Description)   It was an unusually warm summer day, with the sun shining bright and not a breeze in the humid air. Herds of people occupied the small water fountain hoping to catch a break from the sun's beaming rays, but two little girls sitting under an oak tree were playing quietly alone. One of the girls had brought a small satchel filled with snacks, the other came empty-handed. The one with the pack opened it up, revealing a single chilled juice box and fresh cookie. Retrieving it from its bag, the girl gazed at it with a puzzled expression. One cookie and two girls; she was in quite the predicament. With a heavy sigh, she handed the delicious cookie over to her friend who jumped up with enthusiasm at the sight of it. She was a little disappointed that she couldn't eat the cookie herself, but knew that her friend would be delighted for the gift. After their brief snack, the girls skipped off into the depths of the jungle gym.

(compare/contrast)   Deciphering between friend and enemy is simple. Though you may be neither, you can never be both. A friend is someone who you want to spend time with, go on vacation with, and share your secrets with. You find satisfaction in their victories as well as your own, and feel their pain along with them. On the other hand, an enemy is someone you can hardly be in the same room with without getting frustrated. Sometimes, even making pretend-friendly conversation can be a laborious task if talking to an enemy. An enemy is someone that you are forced to work and deal with, and a friend is someone who you can vent to about your enemies.

(process analysis)   Making friends is not an instantaneous action. It involves many steps, as well as time to blossom. First of all, you must meet this future friend of yours. After, you talk with them about things you have in common. This can help creat a sort of bond between the two. The next step is spending your free time with this person; maybe it is inviting them to a movie, or simply hanging out at home. After spending time with this person and getting to know them on a more personal level, some friendships may have the potential to go farther, whether it is moving on to best friends or something romantic, such as a boyfriend or girlfriend. Whatever the case may be, becoming friends takes time to grow and develop into something great.

(classification)   When most people think of friends, they think of going to the mall and shooting hoops together. It is much more than just this. Being friends with someone is a closeness that cannot be correctly described, only experienced. You want to shoot hoops and go to the mall with them, yes, but there are no awkward silences between you two. The conversation flows, never comes to a halt, and feels like you never run out of things to say to them. One cannot exactly describe or witness friendship, because it is best when felt.

(argument/persuasion)   This is extremely cliché, but take a moment to walk in someone else’s shoes. I know this is easier said than it is done, but it helps. This gives you the opportunity to view life through someone else’s eyes and see what they see, feel what they feel. It can make you aware of things going on around you that you had no idea about. Doing this helps you see the things your friend goes through, giving you the opportunity to empathize with them or help them if they need. Visualizing life through a different set of eyes (not literally) can widen your views to situations that had never crossed your mind before.


(definition)   According to TheFreeDictionary, a friend is: “a person whom someone knows, or an acquaintance.” In my opinion, this is an awful description. There are people that I know who I do not consider to be my friend, so I believe the first description is false. For the second one, I do not think an acquaintance is a friend. Yes, it is one of the beginning stages of friendship, but an acquaintance is someone who you would wave to if you saw them at the grocery store. A friend is more than that. They are the people who you wish to spend most of your free time with and share your secrets with, not just wave to at the store. There is no one correct description for a friend, but this online dictionary is certainly not even close.


(cause and effect)   Friendship is the body and mind connecting with another human. It is caused by a multitude of experiences and time spent together. You first meet someone, but don’t instantly know they will be your friend one day. After getting to know one another and finding joy in each other’s presence, only then you will realize that you have a new friend. It is the result of chemicals being released in the brain, subconsciously telling you that since you like this person, keep them around!

(narration)   I still remember the day I met my best friend. It all began six years ago at The Bookcase in Wayzata for a Harry Potter party. Yes, a Harry Potter party; complete with Hogwarts games and Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans. I remember seeing Sophie for the first time in the arts section, where we were making our own wands. Maybe it was the gold glittered wand she was crafting, or maybe it was her fiery red hair that stood out to me. Either way, we bonded over our love for Harry Potter and cats. Since we went to different elementary schools, our frienship only lasted throughout the night. However, on the first day of school a year later, I walked into my homeroom to see her smiling face once again. Thinking she had long since forgotten me, I did not approach her during class, but as luck would have it, we were paired together for an activity. It was inevitable; I could not get around this one, she I nonchalantly asked: "So... ever been to a Harry Potter party?" She replied: "Yeah, I have. And so have you." Sophie remembered me. Victory! Since that day, our friendship has grown and I always remember that you can find a friend anywhere, even in the most unexpected places; such as a party for book nerds like me.

(process of analysis)   Friendship can become complicated if you make it that way. It can be full of unnecessary drama or fights about irrelevant things. This usually only occurs when the two people are not prepared for the “journey of friendship”. It could be because one or the other is emotionally unstable or has difficulty opening up, therefore making it hard to share thoughts, feelings, and interests with someone. If one cannot trust another, how can one expect someone to trust them? On the other hand, friendship doesn’t always have to be difficult. In fact, many times it can be very simple. Person #1 meets person #2, they spend time together and enjoy each other’s presence, and they can trust and be open with one another. Don’t make it hard on yourself, friendship shouldn’t be difficult.

(example)   Friends are always there for you. They are there to be your shoulder to cry on after a breakup, or listen to you vent about a frustrating event, or congratulate you on a job well done after winning a game. They will never judge you when you do something completely ridiculous, and always hold you up when you are weak. "Friends are the most important ingredient in the recipe of life", and without them, who knows where we would be.

Rant Rant Rant

There are not many things in this world that really annoy me, but sometimes I am completely driven crazy by people or their choices.

1. What genius thought biking in the middle of the road was a brilliant idea? Cars are bigger than you, and if there was a match between a car and a bike, there is no doubt that you would lose- and die! Yes, I admire bikers for going out and getting exercise, but just because you're wearing too-tight shorts and riding a fancy bike doesn't mean you get special privileges to pedal on the road. Also, cities have put millions of dollars towards paving sidewalks for pedestrians and bikers. My message to you: please get off the road! (unless there's no sidewalk...then just stay as close to the curb as possible)

2. Besides unsafe bikers, the one thing that really frustrates me is when people aren't accountable for their actions. Messing up and making mistakes are normal parts of life; that's how we learn from our experiences! It's when a problem occurs and no one comes forward to take responsibility and accept the consequences- that is what seriously bugs me. I understand that nobody wants to fess up and get themselves in trouble, but it's okay, just make sure you figure out what you did wrong and learn from it!

oh NOam!

Noam Chomsky made a few valid points in this documentary, yet he tended to go overboard on several of his statements.

The professor from Massachusetts theorized that mass media was dictating the mindset of Americans. I agree with this statement to a a certain extent. Yes, I think that media companies have some influence over us because they control what we read in newspapers, therefore deciding what news we hear about. I do, however, think that people can think for themselves and are not completely influenced by what the media exposes us to. I believe Chomsky blew this out of proportion because many people choose not to believe everything the press publishes, which gives them less power over us than he believes to be true.

Chomsky also makes a statement about the media using certain articles, such as sports, in order to distract Americans from more important things that are going on. I disagree with this completely. People have the ability to think for themselves, and can take interest in sports and entertainment without being distracted from foreign events. We, as a country, have enjoyed sports for as long as I can remember. This is not something newly invented to change the way we think.

Another major point Chomsky made was about propaganda. He believes that American media is being filtered, therefore limiting the content in which citizens have knowledge of. Chomsky used two examples of foreign events to illustrate American media and its bias in favor of the status quo. The atrocity in Cambodia was given extensive attention, while the one in East Timor was almost completely ignored. The reason for this was because news of the Indonesian invasion would have had a negative effect on an American ally. This news about East Timor would not have been useful, so the media focused their most of their attention on Cambodia instead. After the information is put through many filters, only the most "newsworthy" is published, even if that means omitting crucial information about the event. I agree with Chomsky on this topic. The media is leaving out necessary information about foreign and local events. The effect of this is that Americans are oblivious to conflicts around the world, whether it involves our country or not. I do not think this is acceptable because citizens should have the right to know what is going on in other places.

This film was long and sometimes difficult to keep up with, but Chomsky did, in fact, make a few statements that I must agree with. He used historical events such as Cambodia and East Timor to exemplify his idea. There were times where he made a valid point, but as the video progressed, he got so wrapped up in his own thoughts that it went bit overboard. Overall, I think this video helped us understand a bit more about mass media and its influence over the United States.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vz1nIHv6P6Q

El Otoño

There's something great about every season in Minnesota; hot summer days down by the lake, admiring the newly blossomed flowers of spring, sledding down a snow-covered hill in winter, and the pretty colors of fall. Personally, my favorite season would most likely be the latter, and yes, Autumn is a beautfiul time of year, but its more than just the red and yellow leaves. It's my favorite because there is so much to look forward to: friday night football games, bonfires, strolls in the woods, apple orchards, pumpkin carving, the festivities of Halloween and Thanksgiving, and of course, the start of a new school year. The weather of Fall can be fabulous or it can be disastrous. Recently, though, there's been hardly a cloud in the sky and only a slight breeze, allowing for the vibrant leaves to hang onto the trees for a few more precious days. This great weather can't last much longer. Soon, the trees will be bare and the wind will have a bit of an arctic chill to it. Seasons, like everything else in the world, will come and go, so I'm going to enjoy every minute of Fall while it lasts, because pretty soon Minnesota will feel like the Frozen Tundra.

Faraway Places

            At a young age, many people compose a list of all the places they would like to visit before they die. Whether they include countries, cities, or historical sites, this list can become quite lengthy. I created such a thing about five or so years ago, when I was eleven. After it was completed, I counted over fifty countries I would like to travel to. My list included places such as Thailand, Morocco, Malta, and Brazil. I have traveled around a significant amount in my short life, and each experience has been quite memorable. But by far, my trip to Europe four years ago has had the most impact on me. In a span of a few weeks, I went to two places that I will never forget. First, my family and I toured Anne Frank’s Secret Annex in Amsterdam. Though I have done multiple research projects, seen movies, and read books about Frank’s life, I learned more during the few hours I spent in that tiny attic than I believe I ever could have learned from a book. I found it interesting that an entire family lived stashed away in this cramped space for years, and the terror they felt must have been unbearable; especially for Anne, who was only a teenager at the time. About a week after this, I journeyed to Poland, the home of my ancestors, and toured Auschwitz-Burkina. The first thing I noticed when I arrived was, of course, the brick wall entrance and electric barbed-wire fencing around the perimeter. Upon entering, I could feel something in the air, but couldn’t exactly put my finger on what it was. Walking around, I saw hundreds of wooden barracks as well as massive burial sites of many prisoners who were forced to dig their own grave. The two worst things I witnessed at Auschwitz were definitely the gas chambers and crematoria. Just standing next to the place where millions of innocent men, women, and children were burned to ashes was insufferable; but the putrid smell of the gas chambers was the worst part for me.

Teenagers these days sometimes feel like they have rough lives whether it’s because of the stress from school, work, sports, or friends. But after seeing these awful things, I realized how lucky we Americans have it here in the United States; staying out late with friends, travel opportunities, and not having to hide your religion for fear of being killed. Since the time I saw the effects of this genocide, I began to appreciate the simple things we sometimes take for granted; such as a warm bed to sleep in, an education, and dinner every night. From my travel experiences, I’ve learned that not everyone in the world has it as nice as we do here, and that we should be thankful for the luxuries we receive as well as appreciate our family and friends more than we already do.

I Write Because...

When given this assignment, I thought "Psshh... this will be a piece of cake." But as I sat down to write it, I couldn't think of why I write. Other than writing for school-related purposes, I don't spend much of my spare time with a pencil in hand. But when I do force myself to sit down and start writing, it is mainly a random list or an occasional letter to a friend or relative. A few years ago I attempted to write a fiction novel, hoping to become the world's next great author. After a few pages into it, I gave up. This was what I would consider to be an "epic fail".

I think that I can relate mostly to George Orwell. I completely agree with his four motives for writing: sheer egoism, aesthetic enthusiasm, historical impulse, and political purpose. In his essay, Orwell said he knew he was to become a writer from a very young age. Although I don't want to be a writer when I grow up (orthodontics is in my future), I respect Orwell for acknowledging his true nature and sharing his thoughts and opinions with the world.

As I'm finishing up my post about why I write, there is still no crystal clear reason. Besides needing to in order to get a good grade in school, of course. I think that the reason most people write is because we all have something to say, and wish to share it with the world.

First post

Hello all!

For my first post, I thought I'd share a little bit about me. I'm 16, a junior, and I have one sister, Ashley, who is a sophomore at the University of Iowa. For activities, I'm in Spanish club, student council, and the dance team. I just recently started working at Pump It Up and I love it! Other than that, I like traveling, cooking, cats, and hanging out with friends. Well, this is me!


-Natalie :)