What I've Learned

Over this whole semester I've learned tons more than I thought I would have. A lot of people told me that Global Ed. was just a fun class that you could join if you didn't want to do book work and go on a big trip to another country. As I've participated in it, I know it's so much more than that.

On the first day of school we were already writing--what does that tell you? Blow off? I think not. I really had to think about how I wanted my story to flow and really, how I felt about the first day of school. At the time it was all pretty hazy. I began writing out my whole day and basically turned it in as a rough draft. It was something like: "I went to Spanish and realized that it was a lot harder than last year. Then I went to Biology..." Obviously, I had to re-write it. I was told to 'zoom in'. Which is something I now know to do and can do. The revision was a lot better, in my opinion. Instead of writing out my whole day, I wrote about the morning.
"As I walked up to the big, yellow abyss of unhappiness, I realized that I had nothing to be afraid of.." Later in it, I wrote, "I stepped up to the front entrance. I felt like a four-hundred pound man trying to run the mile--can you imagine? I took a deep breath. "I think I can, I think I can." I said to myself as I chugged my little engine through the front doors."
Nobody likes hearing a step by step story. They might as well be looking at directions or reading out of an English book. Boring. When you zoom into the biggest, greatest, most emotional part of the day (or the story) it's more interesting and fun to read.

The listening activities that we heard were quite eye openers. Particularly "The Man in the Well". I had to think so hard about what the coughing and the line, "Is it going to rain?" meant that it made my head hurt. No joke. It was bothering me because I really wanted to know. Surprisingly, what I came up with was somewhat close to what Mr. Fielder said the story meant. That life's not a game. I had to dig deeper into the possibilities instead of just looking at the words and coming up with the obvious. Pushing yourself and coming up with something that's better than "the normal answer" or something plain will get you far. The story itself wasn't just a challenge for me, it was seriously a lesson learned. Life isn't a game. And nobody should take it for granted. I grew up a little more that day.

The short stories were a lot of fun. I liked listening to "Dirk The Protector". The discussion as we went was interesting. We had to, once again, zoom in and look at something more than just the words and what they meant. We dug deeper and found the meaning and the point. Most people don't just write to write; they usually have a purpose or a lesson to teach. Whether it's subtle or obvious, we looked at it in a deeper point of view and I took more from that story than I would have if I had just read it without thinking it all through. I've realized a lot of stories and writings are like that. Even when they seem lame, or like something I really don't want to read, when you look into it all for the meaning, you can learn a lot from something that could only be a paragraph or so long.

Learning about the Rwandan Genocide was very.. Shocking. It made me realize how much I truly don't know about the world. It's like, where I am is what I care about. If it's not in the U.S. or affecting the U.S. I don't put much thought into it. It was different, learning about all of the countries and people who were involved in it; and how it actually happened. It was hard knowing that nobody did a thing to stop it. France, I believe, was a big part of the genocide. Rwandans claim that French soldiers were helping the Hutu's slaughter the Tootsies. They have eye witnesses that say they saw French troops killing along with the rebels. Of course, the French are saying they had nothing to do with the mass killing, but who wouldn't say that to cover themselves? Nobody would want to be pinned down for something like that. Now Rwanda is barely visited by anyone. Tourism went down the drain. It was frustrating to hear the American lady on the radio say that a genocidal act has happened, but it doesn't make it a genocide. The people were right when they thought, how many genocidal acts need to happen for it to be a genocide? I think that over time we've come to realize that hatred will only lead to worse things. It was refreshing to learn about something I'd never even heard about. And to get involved and in touch with the other countries of the world.

Oh, Q.C.V.I'S. How can you not love them? All kidding aside, I did improve my reading and writing skills by making Q.C.V.I'S. We had to look at the story or what we were reading at the time, and make questions that weren't answered. That everyone as a class had to answer. It's a challenge that we could actually handle. We had to look at things from several different perspectives and challenge things that we thought could be more clarified. I thought it was kind of cool being able to critic the writing myself. Making comments and asking the questions.. It was fun compared to having to write a four page essay and struggling. I also have learned plenty of odd, old, and pretty much forgotten words that not many people know the meaning of anymore. It was like going back in time, a little. I wish we could have read Shakespeare. Now that would have been interesting.

This semester has challenged me. But I say it was worth it, because I've learned a lot... And a lot more than I think I would have learned in a regular English class. I'll even say it was kind of fun. A little bit. :)

Christmas is Coming!

Christmas Christmas has always been my favorite holiday.The atmosphere is always so happy and bright around Christmas time. Winter is the best season, to me, because most of it is full of celebration and fun. It's also the few months that we have barely any school. Winter break and then finals; how can't you love it?

The holiday season always seems to bring everyone together and make the air feel raw with excitement. I'm counting down the days til the twenty-fifth! It's always the time I take to relax and relieve myself from the stress I gain at school. You get to go shopping, decorate the tree, make-and eat-tons of cookies... Getting gifts is always nice, too. I get to go see Santa this weekend. :) It's when I feel the happiest and brightest. Everything seems homey around Christmas time. Lights are up and boots are being worn. I love the colors and the snow. I don't mind the cold if it means we'll have a white Christmas. Snow just makes the whole experience better.

My family and I are always brought closer through out this season. We laugh more, and we spend a lot of time together. It has been a hard time for my family so far this year, so I'm hoping we will be able to put the depressing things happening aside and enjoy the new year. My dad deserves the best holiday.

http://www.history.com/content/christmas

The Big Discussion

When I walked in the room there was a certain excitment in the air. Honestly, I wasn't pumped for it at all, considering I'm quiet in class, but I tried my best to focus on making opinions. I didn't get a chance to participate with my group, due to me missing the class the day before, so I was somewhat of a "bystander" and it was refreshing to hear everyone's opinons and knowledge compared to having to commit and stick with one side.

I made my own opinons, and decisions. The debate was extremely heated; fire starting from each side of the room. The back to back arguments had me on the edge of my seat and my mind was racing. It was also somewhat intimidating; and I didn't even have to state an opinon aloud. When all of our desks were in a big circle, you were deprived of freedom from the glares of angry and opinated roleplayers. I was happy to be a listener and watch the fun.

My opinion on the Rwandan Genocide is very mixed. I can't really decide "who to blame" par se, but I do have a good idea of who had the most to do with it. Belgium came to dictate the country, yet claim to know nothing about Rwanda or the people who live there. What I don't understand about that is how you could come to a completely different place with intentions of ownership in some way, and not have any knowledge of what was happening there. It's impossible to say that any place is perfect. Everywhere and everyone has their differences and opposing groups. The Hutus and Tootsies hated eachother, yet Belgium did nothing to stop them or prevent them from violence and look at the consequence.

I also put a great deal of blame on Juvenal Habyarimana, who was the cause of several other groups to kill and take part in this horrible tradgedy. For example, the Interhamwe was under control of them and they did a great deal of wrongs. Juvenal was also in charge of the MRND, which included Hutu extremists that killed no matter what. The former president is most of the blame for the brutal genocide.

It seems that the division was simply between the terms, wealthy and poor. When other countries and agencies got involved to "keep and bring peace" it, in most cases, only made matters worse or didn't affect it at all. Either way, it wasn't beneficial. France is being accused in participating in the brutal killings which, of course, they're denying--who wouldn't? The U.S. didn't even consider it a genocide at all, and half of the places involved, who may or may not have helped, are being suspected to have done things they haven't.

Over all the genocide shouldn't of happened. But it did. And it WAS a genocide. I suppose what's in the past is in the past, but it shouldn't ever been in the future again.

Halloween

One of the most unlucky things that always seems to happen to my friends and me on Halloween night is getting pranked. One year my friend's house was T.P-ed and another time we were chased down the street by some crazy nut in a Michael Myers costume with a fake knife. How mean can you be?

We went trick-or-treating with caution, always expecting the worst, but oddly nothing happened. And that fact terrified us even more. I spent the whole night on edge, scared of the dummies in the ground that really weren't gonna move and jumping at little things like smoke machines and fake screaming. My friends thought I was hysterical. Just as I was about to tell them all that it's Halloween.. you're supposed to suspect the worst, a big Jason was standing behind Mira. I studdered and ran away, my friends laughing at me as I did. Till they turned around... :)

Being Hungry In Class

I never have a chance to eat breakfast before school-what with my psycho bus driver showing up ten minutes early from what's considered showing up early-so I always know I'll be hungry during the day. First hour I'm usually fine, my stomach's usually numb and tired from when I wake up. But once second hour hits, my tum immediately starts rumbling. And of course it's not a little gurgle, it's a huge grrrrrawrrroar, and everyone around me stops writing and stares. I always try covering my traitor stomach with my arms, but it doesn't ever help. As if it would... And, as if by dumb luck, the growl ends up being a minute long. Perfect.

I just sit there, rolling my eyes until it decides to shut up, partially embarrassed. But what's the point? It happens to everyone from time to time. Just like someone letting out a fart or burp in the middle of a completely quiet hour of testing. Our bodies betray us at the worst times, don't they?

In Ten Years

Within the next ten years I hope to be the best I can be. I hope to have gone to college-preferably Ohio State, gotten good grades, and made my life the way I've always dreampt of it. I'm betting to have moved out of my parents' house long before ten years, and I will have a house or apartment of my own. I'm praying this economy will be better and I'll be able to have a job that pays decent. I'm not so sure if I'll have children yet, considering i'll only be twenty-four. But hopefully kids are in my plans someday. I would like to have traveled a lot; to have gone to other countries would be fabulous. I want my life to be lived up to the fullest and greatest. I hope in ten years I can have memories that will last me the rest of my life.

Hackers Are a Major World Problem.

Hacking; a term people don't like to hear or be involved with. Hackers can not only damage important things that belong to other people, but they can take advantage of others without them even knowing it. You could go online to buy something, put your credit card number in-as asked, and then a week later get letters and phonecalls from your bank telling you tons and tons of money has been spent and you'd have no clue what was going on. This is terrible and certainly not helping the money issues going on in the world.

Hackers are extremely smart and trained people. They know exactly what they're doing, and they try their ultimate best to hide themselves and not get caught. Sadly, they usually get away with it. The police are trying their hardest to stop hackers from taking people's things and warning them that they will be in trouble if they're caught. But then they know: Don't get caught. They do everything in their power to cover up their tracks and leave no "fingerprints" that can link them to being found.

Computers are one of the main places this problem occurs. Buying and taking part in things online puts a lot of your information in the syber world for many, many people to see and discover. When they find all they can out about you, or how they can get a hold of money or an important file (whatever they're after) they basically go into your personal computer and take out what they want. This may sound minor compared to the many other issues going on in the world, and maybe it is. But I think that something should be done to stop these people other than a law saying, "If you're caught, you'll be procecuted." The authorities should do more and as much as they possibly can to help these people.

My friend's mom used her credit card number online for something, and a few weeks later she found out that tons of her money was spent and gone; but she didn't spend any of it. The bank tried tracing the buyer back, but of course the hacker found a way to hide it. The police did nothing, and the guy who took their money is still out there. All they found out was he was from Britain and he was untouchable. People like this need to be stopped. My friend's mom was given her money back by the state, but the person who took all of it is walking around with everything he bought and all of the cash he took.

It's a shame things like this happen every day. Something should be done.