Sunday, May 10, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
*SpRiNg BrEaK*
I had the most amazing spring break this year I think I will ever have! When I learned that we would be writing this blog on reflections on spring break, I was so excited because I knew that I would be able to write and write and write about it and never run out of interesting things to tell.
First, I am going to tell you were I went and why. Then, I am going to expand on that and tell all the fun and interesting detail that went on during my stay.
My family and I decided that this would be as good a year as any to go to Singapore. Why? My cousin, whose name is Lance, lives there and works at a Singaporian school as an elementary teacher. So, we were going to visit him. He had always wanted us to come see him in Singapore, but as you can guess, that is a very long and expensive trip that cannot be planned on a whim. However, this year, after much saving and planning, we were able to go to the far away country of Asia!
Our treck started in the Memphis airport at around 6:00 am. We flew from Memphis to Minapolis, which took only two hours. Then from Minapolis to Tokyo...this trip took all in all, 12 hours. Ughhhh! It was horrible! Next, we flew from Tokyo to Singapore, this last flight took 7 hours.
After all those hours of travel on an airplane, we were a mess. My cousin picked us up at the Singapore airport around 2 a.m, their time. We then went back to his apartment, where we would be staying for the following week.
The next day, we went and did many thing that were much different than here in the U.S. We went to the market and bought fresh fruit, we went to the HUGE Singapore zoo, we walked everywhere, and we also went to the movies. The movies was my favorite activity because it was the nicest movie theatre i have EVER been to! All the seats were recliners and in between every seat was a small table. On this table the was a button the call your waiter...yes, we all had our own waiters. Neat huh? They served us our meals and deserts and drinks and candy. It was fun.
After spending a few days in Singapore and meeting Lance's native friends, we took yet another plane trip (this one only an hour) to Phuket (Poo-ket), Thialand. I have to say that Thialand was my favorite place that we went the entire trip. We stayed at a hotel right off the town square, just a five minute walk from the beach. Phuket is far different than the industrialized city of Singapore. It has only small shops in the square as appose to Singapore's Prada and Gucci stores. Much to my liking, we spent most of our time there at the beach, drinking yummy tropical drinks.
A more exciting thing we did while we were in Thialand, was go scuba diving. My dad, my brother, and I are the only certified one of the family so naturally we were the only ones to go. It was amazing! I saw annimonies, and tons of fish! I even saw a Sea Urchin! Well, to be more specific, I actually saw about five hundred sea urchins.
After we were finished scuba diving, I went and got a henna tatoo right on the beach while my mom got a thia massage on the sand. We stayed there on the island we scuba dived off of, almost all day.
After three days in Thialand we returned to Singapore. That next day my mother and I went to a local taylor and had me measured for a custom designed prom dress. In two days it was finished! It fits me perfect and I love it.
The very next day we were back on our way home to Batesvegas! We took the same torturous plane ride home.
Now I can officially say, Asia is great, but im glad to be home.
First, I am going to tell you were I went and why. Then, I am going to expand on that and tell all the fun and interesting detail that went on during my stay.
My family and I decided that this would be as good a year as any to go to Singapore. Why? My cousin, whose name is Lance, lives there and works at a Singaporian school as an elementary teacher. So, we were going to visit him. He had always wanted us to come see him in Singapore, but as you can guess, that is a very long and expensive trip that cannot be planned on a whim. However, this year, after much saving and planning, we were able to go to the far away country of Asia!
Our treck started in the Memphis airport at around 6:00 am. We flew from Memphis to Minapolis, which took only two hours. Then from Minapolis to Tokyo...this trip took all in all, 12 hours. Ughhhh! It was horrible! Next, we flew from Tokyo to Singapore, this last flight took 7 hours.
After all those hours of travel on an airplane, we were a mess. My cousin picked us up at the Singapore airport around 2 a.m, their time. We then went back to his apartment, where we would be staying for the following week.
The next day, we went and did many thing that were much different than here in the U.S. We went to the market and bought fresh fruit, we went to the HUGE Singapore zoo, we walked everywhere, and we also went to the movies. The movies was my favorite activity because it was the nicest movie theatre i have EVER been to! All the seats were recliners and in between every seat was a small table. On this table the was a button the call your waiter...yes, we all had our own waiters. Neat huh? They served us our meals and deserts and drinks and candy. It was fun.
After spending a few days in Singapore and meeting Lance's native friends, we took yet another plane trip (this one only an hour) to Phuket (Poo-ket), Thialand. I have to say that Thialand was my favorite place that we went the entire trip. We stayed at a hotel right off the town square, just a five minute walk from the beach. Phuket is far different than the industrialized city of Singapore. It has only small shops in the square as appose to Singapore's Prada and Gucci stores. Much to my liking, we spent most of our time there at the beach, drinking yummy tropical drinks.
A more exciting thing we did while we were in Thialand, was go scuba diving. My dad, my brother, and I are the only certified one of the family so naturally we were the only ones to go. It was amazing! I saw annimonies, and tons of fish! I even saw a Sea Urchin! Well, to be more specific, I actually saw about five hundred sea urchins.
After we were finished scuba diving, I went and got a henna tatoo right on the beach while my mom got a thia massage on the sand. We stayed there on the island we scuba dived off of, almost all day.
After three days in Thialand we returned to Singapore. That next day my mother and I went to a local taylor and had me measured for a custom designed prom dress. In two days it was finished! It fits me perfect and I love it.
The very next day we were back on our way home to Batesvegas! We took the same torturous plane ride home.
Now I can officially say, Asia is great, but im glad to be home.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
"The Great Gatsby" by Scott Fitzgerald
Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby, is a classic novel that has been read, taught, and spoken about for years. This is the novel my English 11 teacher, Mrs. Gillmore, had chosen for us to read this past nine weeks.
This book was not so much my type, but being a classic, a did not despise it. It seemed alot like a sop opera to me. With the married couple who is falling apart, the cheating husband, the day dreaming wife, the stalking neighbor, the secret, forbidden love. Its all a bit much if you ask me.
The last few chapters of the book however had me gawking. I was shocked at the accurence of such things as what happened to Mertle and Gatsby himself. It was all so unfair!
I suppose i would recomend this book to anyone that enjoys classics and/or sop opera-ish writing styles.
This book was not so much my type, but being a classic, a did not despise it. It seemed alot like a sop opera to me. With the married couple who is falling apart, the cheating husband, the day dreaming wife, the stalking neighbor, the secret, forbidden love. Its all a bit much if you ask me.
The last few chapters of the book however had me gawking. I was shocked at the accurence of such things as what happened to Mertle and Gatsby himself. It was all so unfair!
I suppose i would recomend this book to anyone that enjoys classics and/or sop opera-ish writing styles.
"13 Reasons Why" by Jay Asher
Jay Asher's novel, Thirteen Reasons Why, is an real eye opener. It really brought me to realization as to how careful we should be even during our daily lives. Anything said or done on a passing could hurt someone far more than ever anticipated.
This novel describes one girls struggle with the hardships and trials of teen years. Her only problem, things keep adding up and she decides she cant take it anymore. Before committing suicide, she creates tape recordings of herself telling the 13 reasons why she is dead. These tapes are sent to specifically chosen people who will now and forever know what their actions have caused.
This is a heavy read. Its sad and it definitely tugs on those heart strings, but it is still completely worth your time. Read this novel and open your eyes to what is really going on around you. You'd be surprised at the signs you see.
This novel describes one girls struggle with the hardships and trials of teen years. Her only problem, things keep adding up and she decides she cant take it anymore. Before committing suicide, she creates tape recordings of herself telling the 13 reasons why she is dead. These tapes are sent to specifically chosen people who will now and forever know what their actions have caused.
This is a heavy read. Its sad and it definitely tugs on those heart strings, but it is still completely worth your time. Read this novel and open your eyes to what is really going on around you. You'd be surprised at the signs you see.
"The Oath" by Frank Peretti
Frank Peretti's novel, The Oath, surprised me with its intense ability to draw the reader into the story. I literally could not put this book down! It had me hooked from the very beginning.
"She ran, tree limbs and brambles scratching, grabbing, tripping, and slapping her as if they were bony hands reaching for her out of the darkeness". This is the very first sentence of the book. Intriguing? Most definitely!! It only gets better with every paragraph.
This novel is simply chalk full of twists, turns, and unexpected triangles. There is absolutely no predicting the end and that end is certainly no dissapoinment.
This novel depicts the stuggles of a man dealing with himself in the midst of great trials. When he finally comes to realizations as to what he is dealing with,
"She ran, tree limbs and brambles scratching, grabbing, tripping, and slapping her as if they were bony hands reaching for her out of the darkeness". This is the very first sentence of the book. Intriguing? Most definitely!! It only gets better with every paragraph.
This novel is simply chalk full of twists, turns, and unexpected triangles. There is absolutely no predicting the end and that end is certainly no dissapoinment.
This novel depicts the stuggles of a man dealing with himself in the midst of great trials. When he finally comes to realizations as to what he is dealing with,
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The Kite Runner: Bullying
In the novel "The Kite Runner" Amir is the ultimate bully to a young boy named Hassan, who just happens to be his best friend. It is completely evident that Amir and Hassan were made for each other. Amir has a superiority complex that he takes out on his friend because he cannot take it out on anyone else. Hassan has a submission problem so he just lets Amir do and say what ever he wants and treat him how ever he wants without complaint. Amir i think bullies because his dad is big and tough and expects Amir to follow in his footsteps.
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