6 ripe plum tomatoes, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1-teaspoon balsamic vinegar

5 fresh basil leaves, chopped.

½ teaspoon of Thyme

½ teaspoon of Oregano

Dash of ground black pepper

Bruschetta Toast

Loaf of Italian bread

¼ cup of extra virgin olive oil

½ teaspoon of garlic, minced

-Slice the loaf of bread into thin slices, put olive oil and garlic on top of each slice, place the bread on a baking sheet and put them into the oven. Let the slices get crispy. (Toast low about 200 degrees and slowly.)

-Chop the tomatoes, mince the garlic and add the basil, place in bowl

-Add the olive oil, mix

-Add the balsamic vinegar, mix

-Add the Thyme, oregano, black pepper.

This dish is more of a side dish for bigger meals. Tomatoes are about 26 calories per tomato, so there are about 156 calories from the tomatoes. There are about 4 calories per glove, so there are about 8 calories from the garlic. There are about 7 calories from the basil, thyme and oregano. About 120 calories for the 1 Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil in this recipe. The tomatoes were grown in the USA, I bought them from AMCE and they are probably from Florida. The olive oil and balsamic vinegar are products from Italy. The basil was grown in my backyard in the summer; the other spices were from the company Classic Spices and were made in China. The spices, olive oil and balsamic vinegar came form other countries they most likely get shipped to the United States. The boats have can have a bad environmental effects, because of the fuel the ships use. The Italian bread was baked fresh at P&S, but the ingredients that make up the bread may be form different places. The spice company Classic Spices, and the olive oil and balsamic vinegar company is called Monari Federzoni. It cost about 2 dollars for the bread, 3 dollars for the tomatoes, I had all the spices and other ingredients at my house. This is a side dish but it is not made with a bunch of processed foods and is not terrible for you, there is a good combination of vitamins you get out of this. Such as vitamin A and C from tomatoes, basil has vitamin E, C, K and has fiber; olive oil has vitamin E and K. So tomatoes are grown and picked when green then a chemical is used to turn the tomatoes red. The tomatoes are massed produced and use many workers that are not paid and treated well. The basil went from a seed that was planted in my backyard to my kitchen. :)

The biggest problem with our food system I believe is that it has become a process of producing a huge amount of food in a short period of time and in the cheapest way. Our food system has evolved into something that does not care about the quality of the food. Our food has become less food and more processed "stuff" because that is what is cheap. The major problem is that the things we consider food do not consist of what we think. We think Chicken is chicken but there are a lot of other ingredients added that we do not know about and the food distributors don't want us to know about. There is a huge disconnect between us and our food suppliers, and the suppliers like it that way. If the package says that these chicken nuggets are made with real chicken, why would anyone believe otherwise? Then you look at the ingredients on the back and see all these different names of things you can’t pronounce and the question what is all this, is raised and most of the time that question only gets a few seconds of thought because people need food. 

I contribute to this larger food system, I buy foods from the market and fast food places. I am I guess guilty of supporting the way our food is made by eating it and buying these products. Some changes could be eating food from farmers markets and eating foods that are locally grown. Eating less fast food and more home cooked meals. Watching the movie Food Inc, put in perspective how big the food industry has become and I feel that there is nothing I can do solo that will make a huge impact besides in my own life.

September 11, 2001 the Twin Towers were attacked and many lives were lost. Innocent people's lives were taken by an act of terrorism. The government wanted to assure Americans that they are safe; the government responded with the USA Patriot Act. This Act should remain a law because terrorism did not go away, it is present just as it was 11 years ago. Some Americans may see the Act as an invasion of privacy but when innocent lives are at stake then some sacrifices may have to be made. No one should have their  personal life invaded but no one should lose their life in a terroristic attack. This Act is for the safety of our country and to help the government try as hard as it can to make sure nothing like 9/11 happens again. This act helps bring justice to people/groups who are plotting to harm Americans before the attacks happen. This may give the government a little more access into your life but to protect yourself, family and friend it is worth it. 

I'm not saying this Act is perfectly fine the way it is but the basic principles of it should remain a law. Some things need to be looked over and changed but just kicking this bill aside won't help. The government should never enable a person/group of people to be investigated without strong evidence showing they are terrorist or planning a terroristic attack. This Act should have strict regulations that won't bend for any official. There is a strong possibility that these "weapons" who are suppose to protect us fall into the wrong hands. This government should never allow such power to fall to misuse. This Act being a law has helped save lives and make America more safe. This Act needs to remain a law as long as America is a target for terrorism. Your home and life are a target for attacks and no one should have to live in fear. This act should be looked over, updated and changed in some ways but we still need protection from terrorism.

The government is portrayed as a bunch of corrupt guy who can kill/do what they want and get away with it. The government is portrayed as superior to the other people who live in Americans. When they are chasing the photographer they were using government equipment for basically person use of covering something up.

When the scene when they find out the  nature photographer has the video and without any paperwork or other authorization they launched and "investigating" on this guy to find him and the tape. They put a phone tap on his phone, they are already have the ability to "spy" on Americans without even the bill being past. I feel someone's privacy is not respected, and they have the power of exactly how much privacy we really do have. Basically shows they can and will do what ever they want. During the whole movie they were accessing different cameras from the hotels and streets, they can stalk you and know your every move, that is not okay.

I understand that they need to have the ability to do that incase an attack but there should never be a time when they use it for things like this. There should really strict regulations on who and when they can use these things. I don't really know what exactly they consider terroristic acts such as when you said in class would an ex-military guy who goes to a base and shoots it up. Would that be a terroristic act or a guy being angry against his country men. The definition of a terrorist attack would have to be very specific. I think if they think someone is plotting an attack they would have to decide whether it is a terroristic attack or just an attack. I think if it is a life or death situation you can read my texts but this should never be able to fall into the wrongs hands to be abused!

Also when they said they wired tap phones and if certain words came up such as Allah they would be analyzed. I strongly believe there should never be a time where because of your religion be pinned for being in affiliation with terrorist. The just gets me angry!

"I blew up the building" "Why?" "You made a phone call!!"(Fav part)

The government is portrayed as a bunch of corrupt guy who can kill/do what they want and get away with it. The government is portrayed as superior to the other people who live in Americans. When they are chasing the photographer they were using government equipment for basically person use of covering something up.

When the scene when they find out the  nature photographer has the video and without any paperwork or other authorization they launched and "investigating" on this guy to find him and the tape. They put a phone tap on his phone, they are already have the ability to "spy" on Americans without even the bill being past. I feel someone's privacy is not respected, and they have the power of exactly how much privacy we really do have. Basically shows they can and will do what ever they want. During the whole movie they were accessing different cameras from the hotels and streets, they can stalk you and know your every move, that is not okay.

I understand that they need to have the ability to do that incase an attack but there should never be a time when they use it for things like this. There should really strict regulations on who and when they can use these things. I don't really know what exactly they consider terroristic acts such as when you said in class would an ex-military guy who goes to a base and shoots it up. Would that be a terroristic act or a guy being angry against his country men. The definition of a terrorist attack would have to be very specific. I think if they think someone is plotting an attack they would have to decide whether it is a terroristic attack or just an attack. I think if it is a life or death situation you can read my texts but this should never be able to fall into the wrongs hands to be abused!

Also when they said they wired tap phones and if certain words came up such as Allah they would be analyzed. I strongly believe there should never be a time where because of your religion be pinned for being in affiliation with terrorist. The just gets me angry!

"I blew up the building" "Why?" "You made a phone call!!"(Fav part)

Point of Divergence

Before President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated his body guard went to get a drink. He left Lincoln unguarded and during his absents John Wilkes Booth shot and killed President Lincoln. If Lincoln's body guard did not go to get a drink and guarded the president like he was suppose to President Lincoln would not have been killed. I chose to change his body guard leaving his guard and President Lincoln dying. 

If President Abraham Lincoln was not assassinated and lived to complete his presidential term he may have been elected to serve another term. Either if he served one or two presidential terms the world would extremely different. resident Lincoln pushed for the abolishment of slavery with the Emancipation Proclamation, although if was far from being over then. Only days after the North won the Civil War Lincoln wanted to give certain slaves (adult males) the right to vote. He wanted rights for slaves and if he did not die the government may have a stronger stand on equal rights. Thus there would not have been Separate but Equal and such legislation that states all humans were equal but not treated equally. Slaves would have been given equal rights sooner and the would lead to equal rights for women and gays sooner. 

The most challenging thing about this project was thinking about changing history. It is something that can not be done and it is a very interesting process to go through. No one knows what would happen if something was changed in history and how the events would change 2012. That is also the thing I liked most about this project. It is so interesting to wrap your mind around key points in history happening a different. The events of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln changed America drastically.

Who did I speak with and why did I choose that person?

I spoke with a guy named Sergio he lived in Barcelona.

What did you learn about them? What did you learn from them?

I learned that he was from Barcelona, He likes rap, rock, reggae. I asked him what artist  and bands he liked he said most of them where not well known. He did not know the bands I liked. 

How did this interaction help you move towards achieving your personal goal?

I wanted to know what music they liked and I know now. He was really cool and our conversation went well.

What specifically did you do well according to your goals/expectations?'

I think I did well having a conversation about music and different artist.

What specifically do you need to improve on? (Quote specific things you said or did and what you would have done or said if you could do it again)

• Who did I speak with and why did I choose that person?
• I spoke to two women around my age! It was a little awkward talking to a guy but I also spoke to a guy, he was rally nice, he was my age and just wanted to talk which was cool!
• What did you learn about them? What did you learn from them?
• I learned that both were not from a spanish speaking country but studied and spoke spanish for  long time! We talk about how they learned spanish! The guy I spoke to was from costa rica! My previous conversations were a little too straight forward it was like I was asking questions and they were responding so I wanted to make my goal to have a normal conversation where both of us were asking each other questions.
• How did this interaction help you move towards achieving your personal goal?
• I felt more confident than I did previously so I wasn't too worried about messing up or have errors.
• What specifically did you do well according to your goals/expectations?'
• The conversation went really well the two girls were super nice and cool, we just talked like friends trying to get to know each other and that is what I wanted.
• What specifically do you need to improve on? (Quote specific things you said or did and what you would have done or said if you could do it again)
• I feel like I stick to same line of questioning even i class I want to add some new vocabulary I learned and some new questions I learned to make it more interesting.

Questions:

¿Donde vives?

¿Que es el clima en _________?

¿Que te gusta el verano, otoño, invierno o primavera? ¿Por que?

¿Llueve mucho en ______?

¿Te gusta el llueve?

• Who did I speak with and why did I choose that person?
• I spoke to three different people that I found on ShareLink that were willing to speak with me.
• What did you learn about them? What did you learn from them?
• I learned new vocabulary, I learned about the weather en different parts of the world. 
• How did this interaction help you move towards achieving your personal goal?
• I felt really awkward but speaking to someone in spanish really helped me find out how much of the language I know. It was cool being able to answer them without a dictionary, I only needed a dictionary looking up a few words.
• What specifically did you do well according to your goals/expectations?'
• I found out really good information about weather in other places as well as new vocabulary. I also just feel like I improve on relying on myself and what I know to have a conversation en spanish.
• What specifically do you need to improve on? (Quote specific things you said or did and what you would have done or said if you could do it again)rce
• I felt I was just asking questions at some points so I tried to make small talk conversations. I tired to talk about Philadelphia and me as well as asking questions.

My groups research went very well, we were able to find out some great information about this natural disaster as well as others. The information was good enough to then turn into infographics. I think our information was accurate we check more than one site and used many news articles to confirm information. It was a little difficult to find exactly what part of the disaster we wanted to portray in our infographic, once we decided on what we wanted to portray it was smooth sailing. 

I feel the design is catchy, there is not an overload of words or images it was a nice balance. I also liked that our design had good comparisons. We compared it to other natural disasters and to things that are easy for people to visualize. The infographic is to the point their is not unnecessary things on the infographic. We also did not just focus on one specific part of the disaster we had a few focus points so someone could get more information out of this infographic. 

Next time I think it would be cool to make the infographic and three-mile island easier to connect just by looking at it. 

Why I Write By: Bernicia Guercio

I write because writing is easier than speaking

I write because the words flow better

I write because I am not afraid to write anything 

I am afraid to speak the words that are so easily written

I write the words that my mouth stumbles upon 

Writing is a motion of the heart speaking is a monition of the lips

You can pour your heart out on paper

But when speaking we are silent to some matters. 

Paper does not judge, I write 

Spoken words are judged 

I am from the love, desire of two others

From something that once was

I am from the Brady bunch

From three brothers and two sisters that drive me insane

I am from polish wood stocks and barrels

From the bullets that drop to the ground

From the trees that tell stories

I am from the blue

From the blue trucks, blue cabin, blue container

I am from the names

From Gersh Berry, Tony, Tonia, Ant, 

And the miss pronunciation of my name

I am from the family that made enough food to feed an army

For our army of eight

I am from the cuts and bruises that didn’t hurt

From the toughing up, don’t be a baby, wimp

I am from the scratches on the hard wood floors that tell history

From the mocha colored walls that argued

And the refrigerator that died like seven times

I am from the laughter of my Bebop

From the joy that one look brought

I am from time

From the time we all laughed

The time we all crying

The time I fell and they helped me up, the time they didn’t

The oh yeah times to the oh damn ones

I am from the loving every moment

I am from hating every moment

I am from the time that passes

One day everything I have will be gone.

We learned factual topics but some were on more of a personal level. In English class we were challenged with writing many different types of poems. We learned how to write the different types of poems and read examples written by a variety of authors. The poems in the Poetry Portfolio had very few guidelines and I found myself writing about personal things. Its not easy writing about personal things and publicizing the for many people to read. “When I found out no one would hear the words I spoke. The day I was silenced. The day you didn't want to hear me” (Poetry Portfolio). I am more of a shy person but for some reason I have grown out of that and I am not so shy on personal topics. I think as this year went on I learned more about the people around making me more comfortable.

For an odd project for both English and History, we were a part of the Art in the Open festival on the Schuylkill River. We got to work with professionals to create our own site specific performance, which is a performance, which relates directly to the place you are performing it in. My group called out The Movement That Never Stops, I thought that I wouldn’t be able to do it well and create a good piece but when you work hard at something it will turn out great. We worked through hot and long day up until our performances and all of them turned out great. The Leah Stein Dance Company helped us tremendously and showed us that we could create pieces from scratch that are of high quality.

A key component in factual topics is research; we were presented with a project about a larger issue of the world. I did much research on the topic I chose which was education crisis in Afghanistan. The research leads to another project, Monologue Project. This project used the facts we learned about our larger issue to create monologue from different viewpoints of people that might have been affected by the issue. This is where I learned many different useful sites to use for general researching and I learn that there is never a thing as too much research. This is where I my stamina while doing projects, meaning I learned that I would do a large amount of work to make something good. “I felt like he took me with him, that the outside of the gate didn’t mean freedom but controlled”(Monologue Project).

Another factual project was the Religion Project that dealt with a lot of research. All of my classmates chose different religions to research and do the project on. But religion is a touchy topic for many people, and when you go to a very diverse school, you have to learn to be respectful. I had to learn to not get offended by what people say about my religion. I think this year and project helped me to not be so closed to what people say and not to take offense to things people say. It’s a part of growing up, everyone has their own opinion and I learned to respect them even if I don’t like them. I learned that I could respect something but not agree with it. 

I can say that I learn so much this year in these two classes. There was a lot of work and effort that I had to put into the work but in the end it was complete and I am happy that I survived sophomore year.

Cast of characters

Amina- Daughter of Hidi, that is 9 years old

Cathy- Reporter at the scene of an attack on a school.

Taliban man- A man that is with the Taliban he attacked a school.

Hidi- Mother of Amina, she doesn’t want Amina going to school

Aaseya- A girl that died in the attack, the Taliban man killed her

School girl- A girl was at school, when the Taliban man attacked her school

Act 1 Scene 1

AMINA

I Am a Girl and I Will

(A young girl is holding a pencil, sitting talking to a women.)

I get to sit home with my mom and help around the house. I wash clothes, help cook and clean, just like girls are suppose to do. All people say girls shouldn’t go to school and do house work like my mom. I like these things but I like school, the place many boys go to and only few girls do. They carry books and use sticks they call pencils, I found one and hide it so no one would take it away. I only know a few girls that go to school, but my parents say the ‘big’ people will get mad if I go so I don’t.

(She looks down because she is sad, she has her hands in her lap, holding something.)

I see the boys going and laughing as they go to school but I have to stay home. My mom always says school is for boys and not for girls, if girls go you can get hurt by the ‘big’ people. So I think how lucky I am because the ‘big’ people don’t hurt me. But I like what they do with pencils they make things in the books they carry. Those things could also make me happy.

The ‘big’ people are the ones with the big guns and big things that move really fast. The ‘big’ people visit our little village, they look at the school like they usually do. Every time they come I hear the same loud noises that make my ears hurt. I hear people scream and I don’t know why but every time I ask my mom what it was, my mom said “Amina honey, school is for boys not for girls.” but some girls hold pencils and i do too but I don’t really know how.

I am scared of them people, they tell me what to do but I like school, I have never been there but it seems fun. I like to cook but it gets boring. I can go to school because I can do what boys do.

(She smiles as if she is proud, she looks out her door)

I am 10 years old just like some of the boys are. I play ball with them, I make food and they can’t, they can’t wash their own clothes but I do and I can hold a pencil if I learned how to use it I could be just as good as a boy. I didn’t make me a girl, so why am I being punished, few girls can go to school and I can be one of them girls.

(She is stilling holding something in her lap)

I can do it, I will some day go to school with all the boys and learn how to use a pencil right. One day I will go to school like some other girls do. And I can’t wait, can’t wait to hold my own books and my pencil. The ‘big’ people will want me to go to school because they will see that I can do what a boy does. I will hold this pencil right and use it.

Act 1 Scene 2

HIDI

Mother’s Nightmare

You and your American ways, you people that come around here with money and supplies to help build us education.

(Pointing at the women)

This is education right here. Here home. My daughter Amina doesn’t need to go somewhere else. Everything she needs in life is here, with me. Nobody can teach her what I can teach her. Only me, her mother.

(Pointing at herself, tapping her chest many times with per pointer finger.)

It is my job to teach her, no one else. I teach her how to cook, clean, everything she needs to know about living a life here. That’s what she needs to know.

(She starts to stick her hands in a pot of onions, mixing it. She shakes her head.)

No, no, no this is education our way. You have your way and we have our way. You can’t pollute our culture. This is the way we live and this is how our children will live. The man gets the money, if he has to work selling clothing or a banker, and the women makes the home, to raise their children. And it is the women’s job to teach the children the same.

You and your books don’t need to distract my daughter from her work. She is only ten years old, she doesn’t understand that these are the things she will need. She will one day, but school won’t get in the way of her learning her culture.

(Worried, looking at the door she stops mixing the onions. Wiping her hands off she stands and shoos Amina into a far away corner.)

See this is what happens when education comes to us. Amina come inside now. Sit over there stay away from the entry way. Inside now. Hurry. You don’t see, I won’t risk her getting hurt because someone says education is the better way. This is the better way, this is how we live our lives, and just leave it at that.

(She looks at Amina and stares seriously into her eyes.)

Amina this is better, just always know that. Okay? Always.

 Act 1 Scene 3

TALIBAN MAN

Taliban Man Help Cry

(A Taliban soldier is attacking a school and is really against it.)

         Tires come to a screeching jolt and I jump out of the back of the truck fast. I hold a gun that will hurt people, young people, kids, girls. We move toward to entrance of the school. Girls. That is our target, we have been hearing news that girls have been attending this school and the numbers have increased since we were here last. This is good news for the foreigners that come here with their education but for my leader not good. For me this is not good.

         We run through the gate on the right side a group of kids both boys and girls sit on the ground and the male teacher is the first to see us and scream. That was fatal to my ear, it rung like a bell. The kids jump up and started to run in every which way. Gunshots go off, a familiar noise. Men shouting, my men or the men that I am. I kill on command, I shoot, grab hurt, on command. The command of one man. We a large group of guys take orders from one man.

I grab a white dressed girl that’s scared. I take one look and look away, she’s so young, what if this happened to my sister, I would kill, them. She is so young why hurt them? I don’t know but I have to do it or I die. Me or her? Me and her? Me. It’s not selfish of me but I’m not foolish, I can’t stop them. Everyone fears them, even me. I fear me and the people I work with. Or identify with. My job is to take orders and do them so the commander benefits and other people get hurt. That's how it has always been, other people are nothing but rocks in the road that slow you down. These rocks are girls, something my commander wants out of school, because they don’t need education. They don’t deserve it he always says, they cook they are not smart enough to learn.

She is kicking and punching my knees, stomach, and what ever is within her reach. Her punches and kicks don’t hurt, I can take this for a very long time but I must not loose focus. I have a job, “Take her now.” another guy shouts dragging a female teacher. We only take them in front of the schools gate to show everyone. We show them some dead girls and some alive ones. We show them we mean business but I mean my life, I won’t risk it. If I don’t do this I get killed. Once you are one of these people the only way out is death. You have to be a fool to think that is the better choice, I have seen death, brutal death that lasted days. That won’t happen to me or my family. This is who I am but someone please try to stop us. Stop the death, stop the children crying, and the girls from dying. Save them. Cause I can’t. Fatal screams ring by ears and when the screams stop the ring does not. Help, do what I can’t and never will do.

 Act 1 Scene 4

SCHOOL GIRL

Have a Mind No Less Than His

(A girl named was at a school when it was being attacked, she is telling a police officer her story.)

(She points abruptly at the entrance gate.)

Run run run. My teacher screamed at us as I heard gunshots go off. I charged to the nearest exit. Looking at that exit and nothing else. The other side of the gate was safe, was not terrorised. I see dust clouds getting kicked up by people running as well. I couldn’t make out faces just blurs, blurs of white and black. Everything was flashing by my eyes I could only see the gate. I needed to get there and fast, so I ran dodging other screaming girls and boys and those men. The gate, I can get there, I made it this far. I tried to avoid everything in my way but only from the front. I didn’t watch my back.

(She swings her arms up, down, side to side, Making it dramatic.)

A strong tug, a man’s tug pulled me back but I was still running. I screamed for the first time this whole time. I just wanted to run but now I was stopped I must do something. Try to break free I told myself, the gate was freedom. You will get there. I lost my sense of direction while the man drug me. I kicked and punched him hoping I was strong enough but I wasn’t. He lead me to freedom. He drug me outside the gate. I had a ringing in my hear and couldn’t understand what they were saying but they weren’t happy. But in the end I was free. He dropped my body on the floor and I was free from him.

(She points her finger and waves it fast.)

I felt like he took me with him, that the outside of the gate didn’t mean freedom but controlled. I was trained to do as he wished. I go to school against his wishes because they are mine. I wanted to be outside the school ground gate but when he took he I want to stay. I am no animal, you can’t push me to the side when I get on a road you don’t want me to go down. I have a mind no less than his. A mind that is going down this road to this school and that person won’t stop me, they might detour me but never stop me. School is my wish.

Act 1 Scene 5

CATHY

Report

(A reporter is at the scene of the attack a few hours after it happened.)

(Holding a microphone up looking in the camera)

I’m here today at this horrifying scene of a hate crime against girls. Here at a local school in Mahmud Raqi village, the capital of Kapisa Province in Afghanistan this horrendous crime was committed. Witnesses say about 20 men bombarded the school with assault rifles, after jumping off pick up trucks.  Afghan police officials say that the Taliban are responsible and reject any claims stating the police are incorporated with the Taliban.

(Taking a break near the news van, she stands fixing her outfit and applying extra make-up.)

These dame people are animals. Why am I in this war zone, I could get hurt. Are they crazy making me come here just for the news. I don’t care that this is my job, I care about my life. And I won’t loose my life because of these animals don’t want girls to learn. I gotta get out of here. I have to get this look off my face, I can’t look scared I don’t

need anyone asking questions.

(Walking back over to the camera.)

Reporter face on, compose yourself Cathy.

(Back on camera talking.)        

No official number about how many dead but police some are dead and many more were injured during this attack. This is devastating for people who live in this area and puts more fear then they already have. If you would like to contribute to improving girl’s education in Afghanistan you can contact one of the many organizations that are posted on our website, to donate money. So we ask you please help these poor children.

(Walking over to the side walk of people with a translator following behind her.)

My producer wants me to interview some of the families or friends of the children hurt. Shocked but I can get out of this easy. I can’t communicate with them, I smile on the inside. Translator. Oh them people have to be ever so ready to talk. So I walk up to a random lady, the translator follows like we are playing follow the leader.

I walk up to a near by women on a side walk outside the police barricades. Hello, I’m Cathy. The translator translated it to the women and translates back. She says her name is Hidi. Can you speak about these tragedies? Translator does his job as do I.

Yes, a shocking yes, how can you talk about it if it happened right there almost in front of you.

How has this effected you? She looks me straight in the eye and says something. The translator said that she said her niece was killed. My mouth drops because she said it with such a straight face like she accepted, no emotion. I hear cries from all directions but I see only her face, stern. She is like a rock, staring at me with a hard gaze.

I’m sorry this happened no one deserves this. Still stern, so stern, no feelings almost. She looks at me, the translator translates. She rejects me, my sympathy. The world went in a whirl and I don’t understand. Confused that she would say they should have known.

They are only children, is she crazy. I have to look away and I see a little girl crying. The tears run down her face as she holds what seems to be a pencil in her hand. Her face flushed red but a silent cry. I sit on the ground next to her and hug her. The pencil lightly scraps me on the arm as she hugs back but I don’t care. I can’t help it to tear up.

Act 1 Scene 6

AMINA

Something so beautiful ruined.

But? Is school bad, it seems great. The kids I know love school, so why do people hurt them. My mom always said that this would happen but never thought, people would get hurt. I though she was lying. 

(She is looking around at the gate, the white glowing women hugging her and bodies that are not moving.)

School is bad, people are gone my mom says, gone. I will never see them again. My mom says its because of school, but school is so great. It’s perfect but I won’t see my cousin again, mom says she is in a new place.

(She shakes her head in disbelief)

They know stuff my mom and other adults don’t know, why is that bad. Someone came and told my mom something today, and her face turned scary, not mad but scary. She told to hurry and come with her, and we are here. Here where I see people still. The loud noises I hear do hurt people. And this is because of school. School has to be bad or people wouldn’t get hurt like this.

I wouldn’t have lost my best cousin, its because of school. Something that seemed so great and something I wanted to go to, took my cousin. She is gone, because of education, I thought it was great. I was wrong, great things don’t hurt people. Go away school. This pencil as hurt people. I wanted to use this like my cousin Aaseya but she is still. I don’t want to be still, I want to move.

(She throws the pencil angrily to the side)

Act 1 Scene 7

AASEYA

The Battle Lost and War We Will Win

(This girl seems to be pale and is in a white dress. She is speaking softly and with no emotion. She stands in the center of the stage with a replay of the attack behind her.)

Today, at school I died. Writing in my book with my pencil, sitting next to my best friend. I was  a school girl but now I am a dead girl, only fifteen. I won’t get to go to school anymore or play with my friends. I won’t get to be a grown-up or have a husband and a family of my own. 

(Gun shots go off.)

They took me, the men but they never will stop me. They made me leave not only school but my mom, dad, friends, my whole family. They wanted me to leave, I died for their satisfaction, I died like many others in this battle. This battle has ended, but the war has not. The men have won many battles but we, the school will win. I will win. I have died in this battle, but many survived. Many girls will move on to learn and go experience the journey I never will finish. Education will go further than a man with a gun because education is smarter.

Act 1 Scene 8

HIDI

Death in the Past

(She stares at a women, and  another guy her ethnicity as they ask questions she answers) Hidi, is my name.

My niece died.

No your not sorry.

(She stares at the women then she stares at the scene, people crying, bodies being taken away, police standing and talking. She thinks.)

Aaseya was her name. This is what happened to her, this. We have death because of this. Education, school, it is that great, no it’s not. Death is not great, school has caused this. People feel bad because we have no education but they don’t know. They are safe over there, they don’t see this, maybe on the news but no they don’t see this. What education has done, it has made our situation worse. They don’t know how it feels to loose someone, a young girl to this, to school. 

I survived with no education not school and I am fine. I have a family and a husband without education. I have a house and food on the table with no education. I don’t need it neither did my niece or my daughter. But, education was the way, the way that lead to a horrible ending.

(Her daughter is being comforted by the reporter she shoos her away, by waving her hands and speaking loudly, even though the lady doesn’t understand her. She holds her daughter (Amina) tight.)

Aaseya wanted to learn and her mother, my sister let her, she let her die. She should have known, I told them, but no I was the one living in the past, this is what is new they told me this was change. No we didn’t need this, this is whats the past now. It’s done and it can’t be taken back. Done. The past, hopefully we can leave education in the past. But no there are always more people who want education, always. These people from America and other places was us to have education as if they were doing us a favor, but they are hurting us. More and more each day they supply us with this mess. 

Why can’t they see that this is tragic and will happen again it always has. The people at the school will wait a little while but then bam girls are back in school happy, until they get hurt. It’s too much of a risk, but the people are wiling to take that risk. I’m not.

Act 1 Scene 9

Guilty Conscious 

(A Taliban man sits on an old chair as some other of his co-workers sit and watch as well. He thinks in his head something like an alibi as if he needs one)

TALIBAN MAN

         Breaking news, there on the small fuzzy T.V. this is what we aimed for. We scared them, the scene on the T.V. in the background of the white women, people crying and raising their hands up to god as if he would help and police baffled. Girl’s dead, and families in fear, more fear then they already had. If they thought that they would get away with putting more girls in school, they’re stupid.

(His face neutral, not giving away any emotion.)

(A ghost girl appears in the room)

AASEYA

That is what you wanted, you and your friends. You wanted me dead. You did it. It is because you’re a coward. You can’t risk your life, so you put mine’s to silence. You helped you did. You killed.

(Spot light back on the Taliban man)

TALIBAN MAN

There is what we wanted. I did that, no matter if I wanted to or not. I did it. I can’t think about the people dead the death I caused. There dead, because of me. But everyone knows you don’t get what you want. You don’t do what you want. I didn’t want to hurt or stop anybody from doing anything harmless. I had to. I would be dead if not, I can’t die. Not that my life is worth more than a child’s but I have a family. I didn’t want this, but … I can’t risk my life.

(His breathing rate increases.)

 AASEYA

(Spot light on the ghost.)

You don’t care, you never did. You are not innocent; you didn’t have to do this. You didn’t have to kill, but you did. You are guilty.

TALIBAN MAN

(Spot light back on the Taliban man)

I have to take care of my family I have responsibilities. I don’t want to hurt them but I am forced, sorry but I didn’t mean to do any of this. It was my boss the guy that tells me what to do. If I would step out of line and say no I will not do this or tell the police where our club is located, I would be dead, leaving my family behind, endangered. I won’t do that to them because I was forced into something.

(He starts to fidget around with his body, shifting sides, folding and unfolding his arms.)

AASEYA

(Spot light back on the ghost.)

 You are apart of this war; you are in it just like everyone else. You live here just like I did once. Anyone that has a relation to this country is apart of this war. You just became more at fault when you held a gun and knowing you would kill.

TALIBAN MAN

(Spot light back on the Taliban man)

This is not my fault, not mine I didn’t start this war against education, and I was forced to fight in it.  Forced, not willing, I am not the one to blame.

(He’s tried to keep his face neutral but he feels guilty, he starts to shake his leg up and down.)

AASEYA

(Spot light on ghost again)

Blame yourself, you killed, you murdered you are at fault. You did it. You. You like many others. You are evil, you and your men.

TALIBAN MAN

(Spot light back on the Taliban man)

The bodies, some might be my fault but all of them are from my boss, my commander. He is at fault, not me. I will never dare say this out loud but I say this in secret. I can’t stop them, I never will. I have responsibilities, my family, I can never leave them, I only do this so I can provide for them. I have to hurt some to please others. I don’t mean this but I have to do this. My commander wants this he forced this on me, he, the devil himself.

(he gets up and walks toward a door.)

AASEYA

(Spot light back on ghost)

You are a bad man. A coward man, you did this. Admit it. But no you’ll think about it and them blame someone else, and them go do it again.

TALIBAN MAN

(Spot light back on the Taliban man)

Bathroom. I must come back; I am not a hero, or a devil. I am a man who did some bad things and some good. There is good and bad in everyone, but my bad were forced upon me.

(He looks back at the small T.V. Then turns his head quickly and walks out.)

I will return

AASEYA

(Spot light back on the ghost)

You are not a man at all.

“The district includes parts of Central Philadelphia, North Philadelphia and South Philadelphia, the City of Chester and a small section of Delaware County…The report indicates over 31 percent of households in the district don't have enough money to buy the food needed to feed their families in 2010.” (NBCs Philadelphia Tops Hunger List) People treat hunger as a foreign term as if it was not here or present. Right here in Philadelphia. This could be affecting your family, your friends, your co-workers, and your city. Your, as in you being relating to it. As you need to do something about it.

             How much entertainment do we need? Twenty-six dollars worth; thirty-five million dollars worth? That’s how much a baseball player got paid thirty five million dollars to play baseball on the New York Yankees for one season. It’s twenty-six dollars to buy a single hockey ticket and that for the seats way up high.

  How many hungry children do we need for us to finally realize there is a problem? Does twelve million seem large enough for you to understand this world is not all about you and not all fun and games? “Twelve million American children are at risk of going hungry.” (Source from Feed the Children) But you can’t wait to go see that hockey game. For a country that spends so much on entertainment, why cant some people feed their families? 

It is easy to ignore that ad on the side that says make a donation to feed a child when you are buying concert tickets. Fact is there are millions of children going hungry as you jump up and down at your favorite bands concert or scream at a baseball game. We get wrapped up in what’s fun and that we all have one life to live so live it up, but we get blinded and don’t see that a little help can go so far. But concerts are more fun right?

Do you think it’s not your responsibility because its not you? It is your responsibility, its all our responsibility; we all need to help or this world won’t work. And it’s barley working now. Every night Americans let children go to bed hungry.

Why is it that we can all turn our backs to people in need? It’s sick to think Americans have no problem spending money on concert tickets, ball games, and movie tickets but when it comes to help we are dead fish, flopping. Every man for himself clearly is not working because everyone needs help. 

Think about being the one needing help and asking for it. Put yourself in the position of a mother or father that can’t afford to feed their children that have to go to a local food bank. Be that person and then realize you have it easy.

People rather do something entertaining than help. Its great to know the people of your city actually care, some do but more should. A child, is hungry, you know you don’t like being hungry, than stop letting it happen other people and children. Do something. It is not hard to help, spend and hour volunteering at a food bank, or donate five bucks to organizations like Feed America.

Descriptive writing 

“Get out!” Lilly shouts as she points and waves her chunky, short fingers at Martin.

“Shut up, you little baby. You’re just trying to get me in trouble.” Martin yells back making the situation worse. He stands up as he says it making it known that he is mad.

“MOM! Tell him to leave me alone. He won’t stop changing the channel, I’m not watching stupid dumb football all day,” she yells in a whining tone with a sad puppy dogface on. It usually works too.

“Both of you be quiet or I’m calling your father.” Mom yells trying to wash dishes, splashing soapy water all over the floor. But it doesn’t help with that trick, it only worked when we were little kids, now we just don’t care about calling Daddy until the slip second it happens. They are really irking me because I’m trying to read and understand ‘Kindred’ for Mr. Kay’s English class with this mess going on. 

“Shut up, please!” I shout sitting at the far end of the couch.

“No, you shut up ugly fatty. Go eat another cheese steak!” Lilly shrieks in a cocky manner.

“I hate you! Now, shut up!” I yell back, annoyed to no end. Martin sits on the couch laughing at us like we are clowns.

Why do they have to act like that? How can they be so mean? I ask one thing and they can’t even do that. People call me fat all the time but when she says it, I feel like she believes it. The people that call me fat are the one that don’t know me but my family knows me my whole life, they know everything about me and I know everything about them. I thought she cared for my feeling more, cared that she would hurt me if she called me that. She knows what can hurt me and what cant and she uses it to her advantage and it hurts the most because she is suppose to help me not bring me down.

Ring, ring, and ring I hear from across the room my Dad’s deep voice answer. I can imagine the tension raise in his face turning it beat red as my mom explains what is going on. We sit still no more flicking channels or arguing. My Dad talks to all of us separately giving us all a talk and directions. We have to shut the T.V. off and go to our rooms. The worst thing is Lilly and I share the same room. 

“Hate you too!” She says as she stomps her way upstairs. Rolling my eyes, I follow then Martin. I can swear sometimes I hate them; they are so annoying and irking. They don’t shut up and they don’t stop they are mean for no reason. No need for anyone to call anyone any names, it hurts to know they don’t care and they just want the last say.

I am a part of this family that would laugh at you for writing poems or not being perfectly pretty. No I don’t have pretty eyes, nice hair nor am I skinny but does it have to be that bad. Why do they only look at my report card and say nerd, why don’t they look at me dressed up and say pretty? You can’t trade your family in but I sometimes wish I could. They can make you feel so worthless like you don’t matter or you are an ugly witch just by their jokes and not the person I am.

Why can’t they just accept me, no sorry I’m a nerd who does her homework and studies most of the time, reads books for fun and not the girl who is first on all boys lists to ask out to prom. I’m not a crazy genius but a normal high school girl but no I should be Albert Einstein or a model. I’m neither of them but my family wishes I was and I wish I wasn’t apart of that sometimes. Wish I were someone else’s sister, daughter and grandchild, different family because all the anger they put in me. 

“Anthony, come here!” Me so happy, smile from cheek to cheek as I watch my nephew run around Barry playground down the street of my house. His smile is the best; he is so happy and pleased by the simplest things. 

“Bern-Bern push me on swing.” He says gleefully. Holding his hands up in the air as a signal to pick him up. When I pick him up he doesn’t stop laughing and clapping his hands. I put him in the squeaky swing and push as he giggles loudly and smiles. He blows me kisses when he comes to my face. I am acting like a little child in front of people but I didn’t care all I care about was Anthony. 

A young two year old little boy can accept me, so why can’t a grown adult? He is little and he doesn’t know much about what life is but he knows that I love him and knows I play with him so he must know me. I expect nothing beside a smile and dirty diaper from him but he gives me so much more. He makes me feel like I’m something, Bern-Bern to be exact.

I wouldn’t have him if I weren’t a part of this family. I wouldn’t have his smile to love or his laugh to enjoy. There is always something in life you can’t turn your back on and that something is Anthony. This family can make you regret you are in it but sometimes it is just great.

Family is the one thing that is hard to walk away from. They are blood, apart of you and in some way, you. I would trade anything and everything to see my family happy and safe. I was raised to be thankful for what I have no matter how crazy. Believe me, they are crazy. I am apart of this family even if I didn’t choose to be. You don’t get to choose you family for a reason because you don’t know what family is when you are a baby; you learn what family is from your family. I am apart of the Guercios’ whether I like it or not, sometimes I don’t.

Language Autobiography: My Emotions My Language

There are different types of grammar usage, some of them are wrong by definition or rule but it is the way we use words. Words and the way they form sentences, phrases etc. are some aspects of everyone’s individual language. I use different words to express my emotions. You just like I own the language we speak.

I change, my wording, my emotions. I speak through something I call my own language; it belongs to me. The words that I speak and the lips I speak them from belong to me. I channel my energy whether it is bad or good into the way I speak. It speaks for me like it is suppose to. I speak how I feel by saying it.

Trends in my language are using slang words such as imma, gotta, aight, I also drop the g’s from ing endings. My language deals with the words in my vocabulary. The vocabulary and grammar I use reflects my emotions. When I am angry I rant and rave about something over and over and I use angry words. Me annoyed is me clam, just short with people, I use simple words to not complicate anything else. When I’m excited you can’t understand a word I say because I speak really fast and use words that are computer terms. That’s my language and it changes with me. My emotions play a key role in my language because in many cases that’s how they are expressed. You always don’t have to describe how you feel it automatically does that for you. 

Today is another day. Benchmark. Project. Crashing computer. Disaster.

“Hey, wats up?” I say.

“Uhm I got to talk to you about the project, It uhm...” She stumbles over her words like she was begging for her life.

“Yo, chill you aight?” I say trying to calm her down I feel so clueless.

“Yeah well the project uhm yeah the project, my computer crashed and I didn’t put it online.” She says white as a ghost with her mouth closed tightly like she old a secret, my mouth drops.

“The whole thing like everything?” Hoping not everything is gone but I know it’s everything.

“Yes, I will explain it to the teacher, please don’t be mad.”

“Dame, I…I …You. What the hell? Dude we work hard on that thing this sucks. But yeah we can try to do it over at lunch.” I grit my teeth aggravated. 

“Sorry, I really am, I was gonna upload it and send it to you but you weren’t online and then I was like I’ll just uploaded you saw it before this and so I tried and in the middle of uploading my computer shut off and wouldn’t turn back on and I checked moodle this mourning and it wasn’t uploaded.” She says fast.

“Dame! Lunch it is and yeah we are gonna explain it to the teacher. This should be fun.” I say smiling or trying to.

“I am sorry.”

“I know. Just chill and don’t take a heart attack please I still need you. Ha Ha Ha!” 

“K.k I almost died, I thought you were gonna kill me.”

“Thought about it can’t lie.” I say with a sigh.

I use words to express my emotions here by the way I speak. I use simple words but transfer them into my own language trends. With every word there is a spark of the way I speak in them. I use words to express how I feel, but I use them in my language, in the way I say things. Different people have different languages so they might have expressed their anger in a different way. 

Another student is upset about a project not being saved and only half of it being done. Her group member is desperate for her forgiveness but she is angry.

“You gotta be kiddin me wat are you a retard, like wat do you mean when you say ‘I didn’t save it.’ I mean who does that.” She is fuming, and her face is red. 

“Look I did the rest but it wasn’t there I the mourning. I thought I saved it but it’s not there.” He says scared.

“You dumb and finish it!” She walks away shaking her head. He just stands their stunned.

…After a little while she is talking to one of her friends.

“You okay?” her friend says.

“No ‘cause I’m like really pissed I got a stupid group member.” She says clenthing her teeth to the point that it looks pain full.

We speak our emotions through our language. She describes her angry emotions in a different way from me. We both have the same emotion, which is pissed off, but we use our own language to prevail it.

 In rap music rappers tend to use what is called black vernacular and rap music is commonly said to be anger, violent or wrong. But it is personal to them and so are the emotions they are feeling, speaking is a way to express that. And music is a type of speaking. But how can someone say someone’s feelings are wrong rappers use music as a way to get their voice their language out in the open and reveal how they feel. What is so wrong with that? What is wrong with the way I speak even though it is not proper? Nothing is wrong with it because I speak the way I speak and it is how I feel?

From a song sung by a rapper named Drake called Man of the year. “Damn! I done walked in here. Lookin' like the mothafuckin' man of the year. Think I had the mothafuckin' plan of the year.” In this song Drake is explaining that he feels great about himself that he is an awesome person. That is the way drake speaks, me personally would explain it differently. 

I got an award for the science fair project I did in ninth grade. I had my doubts in my project and didn’t expect it. I’m talking to my mom after school. 

“Sup! I gotta award!” I say jumping up and down

“For what?” My mom says with a smile.

“My awesome science fair project, I’m that cool yo.” 

“Yes that’s my girl.”

“You know it!” pointing at myself with a smile that reached from cheek to cheek.

We all have different languages but sometimes the same emotions. We use different words and how we say them to express our emotions toward a topic. Emotion and language are fussed together that individually speaks for us all.

• conjugate past tense verbs
• talk about his past summer
  
• distinguish irregular and regular verbs

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