Final Blog

I learned so many great things being a part of this program. One thing I learned was being able to actually study because everytime I would try it, I would never remember what I just went over. Now, I've learned different techniques to help me remember the material. Also, learning how to relieve my stress helped both my mom and myself as well since I told her the different ways. The one thing that didn't work was having such a close deadline for finishing the different projects/presentations. They were fun, but I don't do such a great job when I'm under such great pressure. I would like to tell the world that eventhough your reading skills are greatly to part, it's still good to be a part of it!

North Korea vs. South Korea

This presentation really impacted me the most because I didn't know anything about the differences of the two places, but now knowing it really makes me aware that the south is better than the north. I didn't know that the leader of North Korea was so cruel and even was know as being worse than Hitler! Also, you can barely leave the country without getting stopped and killed. On another note, what made me really emotional was seeing the pictures of all the starving kids. It really makes me want to do something so bad and it angered me even more when Woo-Jae told us that many people don't really pay attention to them because they're always there. It seems to me that they think it's ok, but it's not ok and it never will be. Knowing all of this makes me want world peace more than anything. What good is there if we kill people just because they don't agree with what you're doing or just killing people in general? Something needs to be done, but I'm not sure on who exactly can do it.

Adoption

I really feel that everyone should adopt except for the psychopaths, murders, sexual molestors, etc. Those children out there really need a home, not just some building where no older figure is there to comfort them and really get to know them on a personal basis and just be someone who they could look up to and feel protected by. I have a friend who was adopted and has the semi-adoption type. She's met both her parents who had seperated a while back. I've actually seen a picture of her biological mother and has actually met her biological father. She looks nothing like her biological mother, but short just like her, and has about the same complexion as her biological father. She always wanted to meet them and finally got to. She was a little put down on when she got to meet her mom because her mother has an alcohol problem, which she found out runs in the family. I can't tell you how she felt about her father because I don't even quite remember and he was really shy when I met him at her birthday party(It was a very emotional day). She found out she has a sister and a couple more siblings than she thought she would. In my overall opinion, I believe if she got a chance to change the fact that she met her parents she wouldn't because, in a way, a part of her would be lost.

Global Warming

I knew that Global Warming had done somethings to the world, but I didn't know it was that severe. Something else I didn't know was that it didn't just increase temperatures, but as well as changed climates. Knowing more about Global Warming has made me want to watch the movie more than ever and looking through the An Inconvenient Truth book was quite interesting. The presentation was very informative and really made you think about what we've all done to the world. The part that seemed really good to me was at the end, when Jeff explained the different ways you could help save the earth. I will now contribute more than what I've done in the past.

Geneva Convention

I believe that the Geneva Convention is somewhat good because they shouldn't be entitled to a lot of stuff they are given. Like being able to eat as much as they do and being able to express their religion whenever they wanted to as well. But while watching the Frontline video, a great deal of the soldiers who were supposed to treat the prisoners with what was assigned by the Geneva Convention, didn't do so. They instead treated them like they were animals. That way wouldn't give you much information because they just got closer to their religion. That is the main reason why they started the attacks anyways. So if you limited or completely took away their right to express their religion, I think you will get a better amount of information. With that said, I believe that the people involved with the treatments of the prisoners went way too far to get what they wanted. All they needed was to make minor adjustments to the Geneva Convention.

Another open write

Well I got a new book to read called The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King. It wasn't the first book I wanted, but I hear Stephen King is a pretty good author so I'll give it a try. Right now I'm trying to setup everything for my new laptop and it's so difficult right now trying to install the internet. I'm so glad I got a new laptop because the one I had before, the top of it was halfway off. Now I got the new hp one where you put your fingerprint in to log on. I always wanted that one and finally I was able to get it. But now, after getting it, I heard a lot of the people who have it as well don't like it because of the Windows Vista or something. Well, I hope it just works out for me anyways.

My Thought of Kite Runner

I thought the book was excellent in the way that it grabbed you as soon as you read the first page and the many twists and turns the plot line included. The novel made me happy and sad and sometimes at the same time. I can't even remember how close I came to a book filled with so much passion and meaning, even though it's been a very LONG time since I actually read one. I have to admit that when I first saw the book, I believed it was going to be one of those books that I would have to struggle to get myself to read it, but in fact I found myself reading ahead of the chapters that were assigned. I highly recommend everyone to read this book because it will touch your heart as much as it touched mine.

The Turning Point

My turning point in life would have to be the day of graduation. For this reason, I realized that from now on, I was considered a true and independent adult. I was a little nervous, but excited because now I would be on a journey figuring out who I truly am and what am I going to offer in this world. When I think about Kite Runner, I believe that Amir has had more than one turning point in his life. From Hassan's rape all the way to Baba's death. I believe now that he's on a good path because he's trying to find Hassan's child probably in a way to ask for Hassan's forgiveness even though Hassan has passed. Overall, I think Amir's a good person, it's just that he needed some help (turning points) to set him in the right direction.

Researching...

I'm not finding out too much about my topic. It's a little harder than I thought it would be, but my partner and I have opened up our topic a little bit more to discussing also some opinions of how the soldiers feel about the war. Furthermore, we have been researching those opinions from the very beginning of the war until present time to see how much of the opinions have changed over time. I'm pretty confident that we will give a good explanantion of what we have learned from our research, but I definitely want to show a clip from youtube if it is at all possible. We've looked at a few videos, but they all have seemed to just circle around the topic of our discussion. Hopefully tomorrow will be a more successful day.

Open write

Learning about the war with Afghanistan and the country in general has made me realize how many innocent lives were killed from their country. During the Fahrenheit 9/11 movie , it was completely devastating for me to see all of those innocent dead people on the ground, especially when a man showed us a child who was killed by one of the bombs. Also, when one Afghan started to smash the burnt and dead body of an American soldier. Even though it was violent and had some gore, I think we had to see it in order to truly understand what was going on over there. I still don't understand why we started war with Iraq and if it was for no good reason, I'm a little worried that Iraq my try and get huge revenge on what was done to their country. But whatever is meant to happen, will happen.

Fahrenheit 9/11

I really enjoyed watching Fahrenheit 9/11 because it was from a different viewpoint other than my own. He basically told us things that our own government didn't want us to know about. Before the movie, I didn't really know anything about because even though my dad was there that day, he didn't really want to talk much about what happened that day, so no one in my family really brought it up at all. Somethings that I didn't know before was the fact that basically none of the congressmens' own children were serving in the war. It was mainly people who were living in poor neighborhoods. Also, that Bush's family and Bin Laden's family knew each pretty well before 9/11 happened. But right after it happened, Bin Laden's family was able to leave the country when none of the other airplanes were able to depart. This movie really made me think about our country's safety. Furthermore, if we will ever have any safety ever again in this country.

A New Way to Live

It's just about the middle of summer vacation and everyday gets a little closer to me being completley on my own. I'm a little nervous, but exicted as well because I'm going to have create a new comfort zone since I'm going to be living on campus. I lot of my habits are going to have to disappear now because of this new step that I'm taking. For example, I won't be watching TV as much as I do as well as sleeping because all of the work I'm going to have to do. Also, I will have to stop waiting to the last minute to do big assignments because I'm pretty sure I'll fail the class if I keep doing that now. One of the things I'm interested in is going to the parties around campus or just hanging around NYC early in the morning. That last part might not happen because I start getting tired around 9pm, but it's nice to know that, that could be an option[ ;) ].

Kite Runner: What I think will happen

I believe later on in the novel that Amir will finally come to his senses and stand up for himself as well as Hassan. Also, he will stop trying to become someone he's not just for his dad and his dad will also have to deal with the fact that Amir will not grow up to be exactly like him. Going further into the direction of Baba, he will be able to deal with the fact that his wife isn't alive anymore because it seems right now that he still can't go past it. For this reason, Amir feels very strongly that Baba hates him for killing his own mother during his birth. In a different direction, Hassan will become more outspoken the older he gets. Adding on, we will get to figure out what Hassan's feelings are further into the novel because it isn't clear at all right now.

Afganistan

I know that Afghanistan was bombed by the United States after September 11th. Also, men are superior over the women. Adding on, the women are not allowed to get an education, they must do all the chores for the house, they are limited in speaking to anyone, and must never show their skin. Furthermore, Afganistan is located basically in the desert and the people there are very religious. What I would like to find out about Afganistan is what they do their to have entertainment and what they eat. I think it would be important to know how a woman and a man spend their time on a regular day. Also, where they stand politically.
After reading the information I found out many things. One, Afganistan has never really had a stable government due to it's past of being governed by almost every government system created such as monarchy, theocracy, communism, etc. Also, the persian language is spoken by 80% of the population. Furthermore, Afganistan has their own commercial airlines and have received better cars for dealerships like Toyota, Hundai, and BMW. Afganistan's 7,000 schools have been greatly damaged due to the past civil war but luckily different funds have helped to improve all the schools' conditions.

A little about me...

I was born and raised in New Jersey. I'm very easy to get along with and very laid-back. I enjoy watching scary movies and comedies. Some of my favorite movies are Office Space, Saw I & II, and Kill Bill. Another fact about me is that I haven't really read a book since 7th grade. My future goal is to graduate from college with a master's and to become a great role model to my younger cousins.