Mi nombre es Padre McEnroe y vivo en Chile pero soy de los Estados Unidos. Fue el sacerdote y el director del Colegio Saint George en Santiago, la capital de Chile desde 1969-1973. El Colegio Saint George sólo sirvió para los niños de la clase alta durante la mayor parte de historia. Así lo veo, todos niños tiene el derecho a educación porque este es un derecho humano básico. Creo que todos los humanos son iguales, no importa si son ricos o pobres. Como un hombre de Dios estos son mis creencias y valores. Apoyé el gobierno comunista de Salvador Allende, especialmente sus políticas para integrar las escuelas por combinando los niños ricos y pobres. En El Colegio Saint George los niños de diferentes clases de sociedad aprendieron juntos, fue maravilloso. No hay más remedio. Una realidad significativa de esta época es que hay mucha tensión entre la clase obrera y la clase alta. La guerra fría también es responsable de mucha división y inestabilidad política en el mundo. Desde mi punto de vista, los Estados Unidos y la Federación Rusa deberían mantenerse fuera de los asuntos de países.

“Un Sueño de una Tarde Dominical en el Parque Alameda” por Diego Rivera es mi obra de arte favorita porque representa la pieza de historia que es muy similar a Chile. La obra de arte tiene muchos colores diversos y esto es espectacular. El verde de los árboles en el fondo es particularmente interesante. A mano derecha del mural, hay las banderas de México para simbolizar la patria. Todo en el mural es las figuras importantes de la historia de México, especialmente la revolución como Porfirio Díaz, Carmen Díaz, La Caterina, Hernán Cortés, Zapata y Joaquín de la Cantolla. A mano izquierda superior del mural, hay un hombre con una espalda sangrienta que parece fue golpeado. La obra tiene muchos tonos porque es tan detallado. La primera parte del mural que muestra la conquista de los aztecas y colonialismo que tiene un tono muy sombrío y triste. La segunda parte del mural representa la época de Porfirio Díaz y tiene un tono feliz porque la clase alta tiene poder total. El final parte tiene un tono triste porque muestra la vida mal de los campesinos, la causa de la revolución mexicana.

En el 11 de septiembre de 1973, General Pinochet, con la ayuda de los Estados Unidos, derrumbó el gobierno democrático del Presidente Salvador Allende en un golpe de estado. Allende estuvo aliado con la Federación Rusa y los Estados Unidos quería impedir la extensión de comunismo. La CIA proveyó Pinochet con dinero y las armas para derrocar Allende. Esto era un día malo porque las acciones de Pinochet eran ilegales desde Allende fue un presidente democrático. Mis memorias del 11 de septiembre de 1973 son muy negativos. Allende estaba en el palacio presidencial porque no se rendiría al poder. En mi televisión, vi que los soldados y los tanques rodearon el palacio presidencial. Después, se dijeron que se suicidó. Dos días después del golpe de estado, los militares tomaron el control de la escuela y me envió a prisión desde me opuse el gobierno militar. Este obra de arte muestra que La Revolución de México y el golpe de estado en 1973 aunque tomar lugar en diferentes lugares. “Un Sueño de una Tarde Dominical en el Parque Alameda” muestra la división de la clase alta y la clase obrera en Chile. En la obra de arte, los ricos llevan ropa cara mientras los pobres llevan ropa vieja porque están de pocos recursos. A mano izquierda abajo hay un chico que está robando un hombre rico. En Chile, me di cuenta de que los pobres necesitan robar para sobrevivir porque este país no es igualitario. En el Colegio Saint George, un niño rico como Gonzalo llevó una chaqueta cara y buenos zapatos mientras Pedro, un niño pobre, llevó ropa sucia y vieja. A mano derecho extremo de la pintura, Diego Rivera pintó los campesinos trabajando y vendiendo comida. Esto recuerda a los mercados en el centro de Santiago cuando fui de compras durante los fines de semanas. Para mi, siempre era inspirado por el trabajo útil que el pobre tiene que hacer en sociedad. Sería mejor si los ricos hicieron lo mismo.

General Pinochet es una amenaza al total de Chile porque queremos un presidente elegido. Además, el gobierno con un puño de hierro desde hay miles de personas de la oposición en prisión, incluso mí. Otras personas han desaparecidas y se llaman “los desaparecidos.” Pinochet está aliado con los momios mientras los pobres están sufriendo. Lo más importante es que tenemos vida y tiempo para derrumbar este dictador. “Un Sueño de una Tarde Dominical en el Parque Alameda” llamó mi atención porque tiene un mensaje y un propósito a la gente de Chile. Esta obra de arte muestra los acontecimientos de La Revolución Mexicana que inspiraron algunos de los mismos problemas que tenemos en Chile. Elegí esta obra porque representa las divisiones y problemas entre la clase obrera y la clase alta en Chile. Estoy de acuerdo con Diego Rivera que los ricos y los pobres tienen el derecho a una vida buena y próspera.

Antes de la unidad, creo que Hugo Chávez era un hombre mal y un dictador. Cuando escucho “Hugo Chávez,” pienso de revolución y no derechos de la gente de Venezuela. Chávez es de la clase baja y fue un solado en a militaría. Fue presidente por catorce años. Por un lado, Chávez es un presidente bien porque ayuda la gente pobre con la programas sociales. Además, ayuda las personas durante los desastres naturales y también las personas en EEUU con petroleo barato. Por otro lado, Chávez es un presidente mal porque es contra la oposición y limita su poder. También, Chávez ilegalmente arresta las personas que no lo apoyan. Soy un Chavista porque él no es un dictador y votaría por él si fueras Venezolano. Hay los elecciones derechos en Venezuela y la gente elegío él. ¡Chávez no se va!

Me llamo Shamarlon Yates y vivo en El Oeste de Filadelfia en la calle de Walnut con mi mamá y hermana. Yo he estado viviendo con mi familia en El Oeste de Filadelfia por cuatro años. Este comunidad estamos nuestra casa desde nos mudamos de Jamaica en 2008. Además, muchas personas del Caribe, especialmente Jamaica, viven en El Oeste de Filadelfia ahora. Es por eso que quisimos vivir en esta comunidad entonces estaríamos cercas de personas que comparten las historias y las culturas similares. El Oeste de Filadelfia tiene una historia larga y era una zona residencial de las afueras rica para la gente blanca durante el siglo veinte. Sin embargo, la mayoría de la gente blanca se mudó a diferentes zonas de la ciudad durante El Movimiento de Derechos Civiles. Hoy, afroamericanos constituyen 76.2% de la población de mi barrio. No obstante, mi barrio es muy diversa porque hay americanos nativos (1.9%), asiáticos (1.5%), hispanos (2.0%) y caucásicos (17.1%). Para la mayor parte, mi comunidad es muy tranquila y pacífica. Al contrario, a veces hay muchos delitos como asesinatos y robos como en cualquier otra parte de Filadelfia. Mi mural está ubicado en la pared de una tienda en las calles de 60th y Ludlow. Este es un gran lugar para mi mural porque está muy cerca de la estación de tren y hay mucha gente que caminando por todos los días. Es importante porque necesito un montón de gente para ver mi mural y su importancia a la comunidad.

¿Qué es el arte? Este es una pregunta muy controvertida porque toda persona tiene un significado diferente del arte. Para mi, todo es arte porque hay un mensaje en toda cosa en el mundo y esto significa que solamente dos tipos del arte; el arte bueno y el arte malo. Entiendo que no cada obra del arte tiene una misma calidad. Podría preguntar, “¿Qué es la diferencia sobre el arte bueno y arte malo.” Desde mi punto de vista, la apariencia de una obra de arte no afecta si es el arte bueno o malo. Una obra de arte puede ser fea pero puede tener un gran mensaje y un propósito a una persona o comunidad. Por un lado, “Un Sueño de una Tarde Dominical en el Parque Alameda” por Diego Rivera es un ejemplo de un tipo de arte bueno. Este mural es único, llamativo, original y imaginativo. Como lo veo, arte bueno necesita tener un mensaje, un propósito y un papel para la comunidad. Por lo tanto arte no tiene que ser un dibujo o una pintura, pero también puede ser formas de escrituras (las poemas), bailes o cantos. “Un Sueño de una Tarde Dominical en el Parque Alameda” cuenta la historia de La Revolución Mexicana y explora los temas, las personas,  y los lugares involucrados. Por otro lado, un ejemplo de arte malo es el grafiti cuando alguien simplemente firma su nombre. Esto todavía es arte porque es una forma de expresión y tiene significado para el artisto pero no sirve un propósito para la comunidad. También, dependiendo de la situación, este también es el vandalismo. Así lo veo, el grafiti, un mural, el vandalismo pueden ser y no pueden ser arte dependiendo de si tienen un significado, un mensaje, un propósito y un papel en la comunidad. Mi mural es el arte porque tiene un propósito y un mensaje para mi comunidad. Representa personas importantes de El Oeste de Filadelfia, las problemas, un lugar importante y las cosas que quiero ver cambiando. Lo más importante es, mi mural, sin duda, tiene todos los requisitos del arte bueno. Al igual que las carreteras, los supermercados y la policía tienen un propósito en una comunidad, también hace el arte público. El arte público puede documentar los valores, las problemas de la sociedad, los mensajes, las figuras significativas, los eventos históricos, las necesidades y los elementos culturales de un barrio o un país. Un gran ejemplo de este fue El Movimiento Muralista después de La Revolución Mexicana con los grandes muralistas como Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco y David Siqueiros. El propósito de los murales después de la Revolución era mostrar respeto hacia los campesinos, darles acceso a los inalfabetos a la información, recontruir la historia de México, honrar los revolucionarios, servir como espejo de identidad, y mostrar la vida cotidiana. Estos son algunos de los papeles arte público puede jugar en cualquier país, ciudad o comunidad.

El tema de mi mural es centrada alrededor la necesita del amor, la paz y la unidad para una comunidad buena. En el centro de mi mural es el signo de la paz, un corazón rojo que representa el amor y las manos unidas que simbolizan unidad. Cuando tenemos estas tres cualidades, tendremos una comunidad contenta. En mi mural, la comunidad contenta está representado por la gente alentando y saltando. En la esquina en la parte superior izquierda hay un fotografía de Will Smith y Paul Robeson, dos personas importantes y conocidas de mi barrio. Will Smith es muy famoso por el programa de televisión durante los 1990s que se llama “Príncipe Fresco de Aire Bel.”  Creo que Will smith es una importante parte de mi mural porque representa a alguien que se levantó de la pobreza y hizo el mejor de sus situaciones para ser un hombre de éxito. Él sirve como un motivación y inspiración para las personas jóvenes en El Oeste de Filadelfia. Paul Robeson pasó los últimos diez años de su vida viviendo en El Oeste de Filadelfia con su hermana de 1966 - 1976. Aunque El Oeste de Filadelfia no fue su casa permanente para la mayoría de su vida, todavía pasó mucho tiempo en mi barrio. Era importante de celebrar la vida de Paul Robeson porque es una persona importante en la comunidad de Afroamericanos. El Señor Robeson era un hombre de renacimiento porque fue un actor, un atleta, un cantante, un autor, un activista político, un académico de cultural y él habló quince idiomas. Paul Robeson luchó para los derechos y la libertad no sólo para Afroamericanos, pero para personas todo en el mundo. Mi mural honra su legado y recuerda a la gente sobre sus contribuciones a nuestra comunidad, ciudad y el mundo. En el centro superior de mi mural es una imagen de un parque que representa El Parque de Cobbs Creek. Este parque es importante porque es donde tenemos las barbacoas y los eventos en la comunidad. El Parque de Cobbs Creek es un lugar donde la gente de mi barrio puede divertirse y relajarse, especialmente durante el verano. El zapato de correr muestra que muchas personas corremos en la parque. Los figuras de palitos que sosteniendo las manos representan la unidad y la diversidad porque son todos diferentes colores. A la derecha de esta imagen es una otra imagen de las banderas de los países en el Caribe para demostrar que mucha gente del Caribe vive en mi barrio. En la parte inferior izquierda de mi mural están dos imágenes que representan dos valores muy importantes a las personas en mi comunidad; esto de trabajador y la importancia de la familia. Un gran problema en mi barrio es la basura desde las calles están siempre llenan con basura. Es por eso que tengo una imagen de basura en mi mural para representar este problema. Además, tengo un signo de “NO TIRAR BASURA” para recordar a los miembros de la comunidad para mantener un barrio limpio. El último problema representado en mi mural es el desempleo. El hombre en el parte inferior derecha del mural con el equis rojo representa el desempleo. La tasa de desempleo en El Oeste de Filadelfia es 10.5% y el promedio nacional es de 8.6%. ¡Necesitamos más trabajos en nuestro barrio! Finalmente, mi código postal es 19139 y mi titulo es “PARA UNA COMUNIDAD MEJOR” porque si los miembros de mi comunidad viven por los mensajes de mi mural, tendríamos una comunidad mejor.        

3 cosas que este mural revela sobre la comunidad

• Esta comunidad tiene una herencia hispana y puertorriqueña fuerte.
• La gente de esta comunidad extrañan Puerto Rico.
• La gente de esta comunidad como las playas y las puestas del sol de Puerto Rico.
  
  

2 objectos, imagenes, frases o palabras encontrados en el mural 

• La bandera de Puerto Rico. 
• Una playa en Puerto Rico. 
  
  

1 razón que es significativo para esta comunidad

• Este mural es significativo porque recuerdan puertorriqueños que viven en los estados unidos sobre su herencia y su país de origen. 

Cook Time: Approximately 45 minutes

Servings: 4

• 4 cups of rice
• ¾ cup of water
• 4 tbsp of vegetable oil
• ¼ stick of butter
• ½ of whole chicken
• 2 tbsp of curry powder
• ¼ tbsp of black pepper
• 1 small onion
• 2 stalks of scallion
• 3-4 pieces of thyme
• 3 pieces of garlic
• 1 tsp of chicken seasoning
• ½ tbsp of pimento seeds
• 2 Irish potatoes
• Salt for taste

Instructions for RICE:

1. Wash rice twice to remove starch.

2. Put rice into pot and add just enough water to cover the rice.

3. Add a pinch of salt, butter and stir.

4. Place stove on medium heat until water boils.

5. After water boils, turn the stove on low heat.

RECIPE ANALYSIS

Surprisingly, I estimate that approximately 80% of my meal was processed. The processed ingredients included the rice, chicken, curry powder, black pepper, and butter. On the other hand, the whole foods included the onions, thyme, garlic, potatoes and scallion since my mom buys most of our fruit and vegetable at the farmer’s market at Reading Terminal. However, if this meal was prepared in Jamaica, over 95% would be whole foods. This is because the chicken would have been raised on a farm, the curry seasoning would have been homemade and all the vegetables would have been from a garden.

After completing some calculations, I estimate that each full serving of curry chicken and rice has approximately 640 calories (48% fat) and 18 g of protein. As you can see this meal is high in fat and also in protein. If this nothing but this meal is eaten everyday, obesity, diabetes and possibly high blood pressure could occur. However, if eaten in moderation, this meal can provide you with healthy benefits since it is also low in cholesterol and high in protein.

The ingredients for this meal originated in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Texas, Wisconsin, New York and Florida. The food that raveled the farthest was the curry powder that was manufactured in Doral, Florida, 1,297 miles away. The potatoes traveled all the way from Rosholt, Wisconsin, 1070 miles away. The potatoes were organically grown with a limited amount of pesticides. As stated previously, the vegetables (onions, scallion, garlic, thyme) were local produce that was bought at a farmer’s market. I estimated that my meal traveled more than 7,000 miles, which is bad for the environment because of all the pollution.

The cost of this meal was approximately $15. The most expensive ingredient of the meal was the chicken at $5. The corporations that made money of this meal were the Wakefield Food Group and Purdue. In addition, local farmers made money off this meal. Cooking this meal at home is more cost friendly and healthier because a full fast food meal for four people would cost more than $15 and would be unhealthier.

I am used to getting a home cooked meal everyday and I do not eat fast food that often. I believe this enables me to make healthy food choices, even though most food items nowadays are unhealthy in some way. The cost of this meal would have been reduced to about $7 since everything would be grown at home.

SELF-REFLECTION

This unit has further informed me of the flaws in our food system and the factors that contribute to it. I also learned of the prevalence of obesity and heart disease in America society. It is interesting to see the connection between the way Americans eat and the diseases are now affecting a large part of the population. The most interesting thing I learned about was food deserts and how popular they are in America. Food deserts help to contribute to high levels of obesity in low-income areas where residents do not have access to healthy foods. Based on the research we did in class about food deserts in our own communities, I found out that I actually live in a food desert. I also understand this because people in my community usually shop at corner stores and Chinese stores. This is why people of a lower socioeconomic status have higher rates of obesity.

The biggest problem with our food stem is the lack of federal regulation. Food companies have essentially bought out the government and is often lobbying to get laws passed in their favor. This makes companies feel that they are all powerful, which leads them to abuse their workers and animals. I am willing to change the way I eat but I have to think about the budget of my family. Eating healthily means more money. I am going to stop eating at much fast food, especially at McDonalds. I believe that this is something that I can achieve by eating more often at home.

Yo correría afuera. Me sentiría muy mal para mi amigo Pedro porque es un buen novio.

¿Le dirías algo a su novia?

No diría nada a su novia porque sería muy extraño a este momento.

¿Qué le dirías a Pedro?

Yo diría pedro sobre la situación porque él es mi amigo. Sería honesto.

¿Tratarías de ayudar?

Trataría de ayudar ellos porque siempre hay una solución.

¿Qué le recomendarías a Pedro?

Yo en su lugar, daría ella un otra opputunidad pero no viviría con ella para un par de semanas.

Mi nombre es Shamarlon Yates y soy de Jamaica. Soy muy simpático y cariñoso así que ayudo a mi hermana con su tarea de la ciencia y inglés. Valgo mucho de mi madre porque es muy paciente, permisiva, y trabajadora. Somos uña y carne porque tenemos características similares. Tengo compromiso con mi educación. Además, trabajo muy duro en la escuela. En el futuro, quisiera ser doctor porque estoy muy interesado en la biología. Me molesta mucho cuando no tengo un paraguas cuando está lloviendo. No creo en romper con mi novia porque coquetea con mi mejor amigo. Sueño con vivir una vida tranquilla. Sin embargo, yo quiero pasarlo bien con mis amigos y mi familia. Tengo miedo de amor no correspondido. Esta situación es muy deprimente. Me siento tranquilo cuando estoy en mi cama en las noches frías.

Tengo ojos marrones y el pelo negro y corto. También, llevo mis gafas en la escuela y en mi casa. Por un lado, soy muy delgado así que no como mucha comida y corro en el parque cada el fin de semana. Por otro lado, mi doctor dice que necesito más peso porque soy muy alto. Una cosa interesante sobre mi apariencia física es una cicatriz en mi brazo derecho. Esta cicatriz es muy vieja y fea. Cuando estoy enojado o agobiado, siempre tengo una cara seria. Al contrario, siempre sonrío cuando estoy feliz. Además, tengo dientes blancos. No soy muscular porque no voy al gimnasio. Estoy muy saludable porque quiero vivir por mucho tiempo.

Los demás dicen que soy muy cariñoso y respetuoso. Es todo la verdad. Es por eso que tengo éxito en las relaciones académicas y amistades. Me caen bien mis profesores porque soy muy tranquilo en sus clases y respeto las reglas de las clases. También, respeto las opiniones de mis compañeros de clase.

Sin duda, soy realmente maduro, tradicional y sensible. Por lo tanto estoy buscando una chica que escucha muy bien y no es llamativa o narcisista. Para mi, chicas como estos no me entiendo porque nuestros personalidades no son similares. Tengo éxito con las chicas que son similares a mí. No soy inseguro o introvertido. Mi próxima novia necesita tener la confianza en ella misma porque una personalidad buena es la mayoría importante cosa en una relación.

Me cae bien Cyndi porque es mi mejor amiga. Cyndi es muy simpática, graciosa, y tiene una personalidad buena. Además, tenemos mucho en común. Nos gusta los animales y una persona que tiene la confianza en él mismo/ella misma. Cyndi es muy inteligente y cariñosa porque ella me ayuda con mi tarea de matemáticas. No obstante, tenemos mucha diferencias. Cyndi es tan tímida como un ratón y muy reservada en la escuela pero soy muy expresivo y sociable. La peor parte de nuestra amistad es cuando discutimos sobre cosas estúpidas.

Según dice soy persistente, trabajador y independiente. Es todo la verdad. Es por eso que soy tengo éxito académico. La educación es muy importante en mi vida y para mi familia desde que nadie en mi familia fue a la universidad. Voy a ser la primera persona en mi familia para ir a la universidad. Aprecio la oportunidad a estudiar en los Estados Unidos, estoy increíblemente contento. Recuerdo de vivir en la pobreza en Jamaica, no obstante, ahora tengo una vida mejor. Soy independiente y ambicioso porque en Jamaica, tuve que trabajar con mis abuelos en la granja para ganar dinero. Esta experiencia me enseñó la importancia del trabajo. Me mantengo en contacto con mi familia en Jamaica. Les dijo sobre de la escuela y la vida en América en general. Digo, “Abuela, estoy agobiado y ansioso por el proceso de la Universidad.” Preocupado por el coste de asistir a la universidad porque mi familia no es rica.

Mi religión es una parte muy importante de mi vida porque me enseña buenos valores. Es por eso que soy paciente, ordenado y diplomático. Fui a la iglesia cada domingo cuando viví en Jamaica, pero ahora, no voy a la iglesia frecuentemente. Para mi, mi religión me da esperanza y me ayuda en los situaciones malos. Guardo mis opiniones políticas privadas en todo lo posible. Valgo mucho de los políticos que tienen los ánimos buenos. Por lo general, nos preocupamos por la política en mi casa pero, sueño con votar en la próxima elección.

I will talk about how the financial crisis is affecting people in their everyday lives. We learned about "Huelga total en la enseñanza" in Spain but we still need to learn about this same situation in other countries.

•  What are 5 questions related to your conversation goal that you can think of ahead of time to ask your partner?

1. How has the global financial crisis affected you and your family?

2. Are there budget cuts in education?

3. How do you save money?

4. Are things like groceries and fuel more expensive?

5. Do you think life will improve soon?

•  What are you looking forward to about this conversation?

I am looking forward to learning more about how the economic crisis is affecting people across the globe. I am excited to learn about the outlook of the people and how they are coping. We have learned about the issues facing Spain and the cuts that were made to the education system but I want to expand this to other countries.

•  What are you nervous about?

I am a little nervous about this conversation because this is an advanced topic and I might not know all the vocabulary words that I will probably need. This is why did did now some prior work trying to get some of the essential vocabulary words that I will need for my conversation.

Post-Conversation:

Reflection:

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

I spoke with Hector Paisanocharca from Lima, Peru. I wanted to talk to Hector because he is 38 years old and he is likely to know more about the financial situation in his country.

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

Hector told me that the financial crisis did not affect Peru as much as it did other countries. However, Peru has seen a rise in the price of goods and services. Hector also said that the economy of Peru is seeing less growth. On the family level, he says that people have to spend more money for the same products than they did before. Hector says that he had to cut back on spending to save money. I also learned that sometimes the prices of gas and groceries sometimes double in Peru. Hector is very optimistic and thinks that life will get better soon. I also told Hector the life int he United States has gotten very hard for some people and prices are higher. People here in the US are also trying to save money by spending less.

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

I learned many new spanish vocab words from this interaction with Hector. I also got to learn about the financial struggles of people in Peru while at the same time sharing information about the economic impact here in the United States. Finally, I got to use my existing spanish language to form sentences and ask questions of Hector.

I will investigate about the politics and government of and the role it plays in people's lives.

•  What are 5 questions related to your conversation goal that you can think of ahead of time to ask your partner?

1. How many states/provinces are in Costa Rica?

2. What are the different political parties in your country?

3. How are the people represented?

4. How often are elections held?

5. How does the government help improve the lives of people?

•  What are you looking forward to about this conversation?

I am looking forward to learning about the role that the government plays in the lives of the people. This include how the government helps the poor and even student who want to go to university.

•  What are you nervous about?

I am not nervous about anything since this is my fourth blog post and I have had a lot of time to practice and improve my skills. I am prepared with all of my questions, so there is nothing to be nervous about.

Post-Conversation:

Reflection:

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

I spoke with Carlos Huertas and I chose him because he lives in Costa Rica. I also choose him because of his age. Carlos is 38 years old and this means that he might know more about the government and its polices that a younger person.

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

I learned that there are 7 provinces in Costa Rica and Carlos lives in San José, which is the name of the province and the capital city. The name of the other provinces are Alajuela, Heredia, Cartago, Guanacaste, Puntarenass and Limon. San José is located in the center of the country. There are many different political parties in Costa Rica. The main ones are the Liberacion Nacional, Partido Accion Ciudadana, Movimimento Libertario, PUS and the PASE. The political system is largely bipartisan and Congress is made up of multiple parties. Carlos also told me that election are help every 4 years in Costa Rica. The government has many programs to help its citizens like such as student loans to student so they can go to university and housing programs. There are also food stamps and employment programs run by the government. 

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

I was able to learn about a topic hat I was interested in while at the same time sharing information about the government of the United States. Carlos was also very enthusiastic about the conversation and this helped to drive the conversation even more. I learned a lot of new vocabulary and I got to use vocabulary that I never even knew I had. I also had to substitute words that I wanted to say with words that I actually knew how to say in spanish.

I will try to find out what a typical day in the life of a person living in Spain is like. I will inquire about what time people usually go to work, eat lunch and dinner. I also want to know what people do on their weekends. I have been hearing on the news lately that Spain is facing a huge economic crisis. I also want to find out about how this is affecting people in Spain.

•  What are 5 questions related to your conversation goal that you can think of ahead of time to ask your partner?

1. What time you wake up and you go to bed?

2. What time do you eat lunch?

3. When do you have work?

4. Do you go to church on Sundays?

5. What do you do for fun on the weekends?

6. How are the current economic problems affecting people you know?

•  What are you looking forward to about this conversation?

I am looking forward to having a long, sustained conversation because I have so many questions to get answered. I am also looking to share things about the United States, especially Philadelphia, with the person I talk to.

•  What are you nervous about?

I have gotten so used to sharedtalk that I am not nervous about anything. I am only feeling excited to get the conversation started because I have an interesting conversation question that I can't wait to get answered.

Post-Conversation:

Reflection:

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

I spoke to Luna Riverio and I chose her because she was the same age as me (17 years old). I wanted to get the views of a young, relatable person. Luna also lived in Madrid, which is a city similar in size to Philadelphia and I wanted compare my daily routine with her's.

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

I learned that Luna is a 17 year old living in Madrid. On the weekends, Luna likes to go to the movies or the theater, visit the park, sing and play the guitar. Sundays are spent with the family. Luna is a ballerina and she practices for 3 hours everyday after school. Luna said that her family does not have financial problems but life is bad for other people. Because of the poor economic situation people do not go on vacations, to the movies or go out to eat. I learned that people in Spain often go to work at 8 in the morning and eat lunch at 2 or 3 in the afternoon. One thing that I thought was interesting is that people in Spain typically eat dinner at 9-10 PM and a meal often consists of tapas. This is a huge contrast to the United States because most families usually eat dinner at 6-7 PM. The most common form of transit in Spain is the metro/subway.

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

My personal goal is to learn about the life, politics and culture of foreign countries while at the same time learning new Spanish vocabulary and using my current vocabulary to effectively communicate. I this conversation, I was able to fulfill all of the above goals since I learned a lot of new vocabulary words and I got to use my existing vocabulary to talk to Luna. I also got a glimpse into the daily life of people in Spain.

The  topic of conversation will be about the sports that are played in Argentina and how that relates to the culture of the country.

•  What are 5 questions related to your conversation goal that you can think of ahead of time to ask your partner?

1. What is the most popular sport in Argentina?

2. What kinds of sports do you play?

3. What is your favorite football team?

4. Do most children like playing sports in Argentina?

5. Who is your favorite soccer player?

•  What are you looking forward to about this conversation?

I am looking forward to learning about the sports of Argentina since I myself is a big sports fan who follows professional football and even play football on SLA's varsity football team.

•  What are you nervous about?

I am only a little nervous about having a full conversation without using a translator. However, I have learned how to deal with this from my work on my first goal.

Post-Conversation:

Reflection:

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

I spoke to Juan Vela and I spoke to this person because I wanted to know about sports in Argentina and he is a native of Argentina.

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

I learned that Juan is a very passionate soccer fan. I learned that football is the most popular sport in Argentina but other popular sports include volleyball, tennis and basketball. I also found out that Juan plays football and tennis. His favorite football team in Argentina is Boca. Juan's favorite player is Carlos Tevez. Juan also learned that I also play football for my school and my favorite football team is Man City in the English Premier League.

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

I am very passionate about soccer and I wanted to learn about soccer in foreign countries and Argentina has one of the best national soccer teams. I have learned a lot of sports vocabulary while at the same time learning about something that I enjoy doing. I also liked that my conversation with Juan included different tenses.

The  topic of conversation will be about the history music of Spain and the role it plays in society.

•  What are 5 questions related to your conversation goal that you can think of ahead of time to ask your partner?

1. What are the different types of music in Spain?

2. What are some traditional Spanish musical instruments?

3. What are some of the more modern types of music in Spain?

4. What kind of music do you listen to?

5. How does music relate to dance in Spain?

•  What are you looking forward to about this conversation?

I am looking forward to learning from a native Spaniard about this topic. I am also looking forward to having a full conversation without interruption or a translator. 

•  What are you nervous about?

I am only nervous about keeping the conversation going and not pausing for too long thinking about what I want to say.

Post-Conversation:

Reflection:

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

I spoke to Peter Kurt and I chose this person because they were a native of Spain. This was the country is wanted to know about so this person was perfect.

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

I learned that some traditional Spanish musical instruments are the guitarra española, gaita, castañuelas, tarabilla, chicotén and sonajas. I know that the spanish guitar is a very popular instrument all over the world. I also learned that the music of Spain differs depending of the region. In Andalucía the Flamenco music is very popular while in Castilla, Aragón and Madrid Jota music is very popular. Guitar music is very common in Galicia, Cantabria and Asturias. Young people in Spain listen to music from all over the world, just like here in the United States. I learned that Peter's favorite type of music is rap and I also like rap music.

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

One of my personal goals is to learn Spanish while at the same time learn about the culture of Spanish speaking countries. This interaction has helped me move closer to achieving this goal because I learned many new vocabulary words and I also learned about the music of Spain. I wanted to have a conversation without using a dictionary and I was able to do this during this conversation.

• Mi grupo y yo hicimos un PSA sobre reciclaje en Filadelfia. Por crear el PSA, la cosa más importante que aprendí fue cómo trabajar con los miembros de mi grupo. Me gusta el PSA de mi group porque hay vídeos comicos y las fotos y música interesante. Si pudiera hacer el proyecto otra vez, yo cambiaría la duración del vídeo y agregar más información.

La Introducción:

• Hicimos un PSA sobre reciclaje en Filadelfia. Es un asusnto importante a nosotros porque el medio ambiente para la vida silvestre y la gente que vive en el medio ambiente. Es importante que el público de Filadelfia recicle los papeles. Yo espero que la gente de Filadelfia recicle las latas y las botellas plasticas.
  

“Behold, one of the Seven Wonders of the World!”

James whispered this simple, yet nostalgic thought to himself as he gazed at the towering Pyramids of Giza. The marvels of engineering glistened in the soothing sunlight that projected enormous shadows off in the distant desert. He was basking in excitement that could potentially rival that of a young teen at a Justin Bieber concert. Contrary to everyone around him, he lived an extremely dreary life as a second grade math teacher in the small town of Warrington, Kentucky. Faced with this stark reality, James decided to finally pursue his dream of visiting the Egyptian pyramids. From a very young age, he shared a distinct interest in ancient Egyptian mythology, culture and history after his mother began to read him stories about mummies. As he got older, he sought out more advanced information on the topic and soon fell in love with the engineering capabilities of the ancient Egyptians.

James always knew that he wanted to visit the place he pictured in his mind so many times. This drove him on a five year saving campaign to raise enough money to pay for his trip. This process was hampered when the State of Kentucky slashed his salary by 25% and he still had to take care for his mom. After each paycheck, James barely had enough money left over to pay for his trip. However, he made it work through sacrifice, dedication, and prayer.

As he walked up to the base of the Pyramid of Khufu, the largest of the three pyramids, he stated, “I am living my dream right here, right now. I am finally here at last!” As he made his way toward the pyramid to get a better look, the idea of climbing the largest pyramid popped into his head. There was an internal battle as he decided if he was going to make this idea come to fruition. Before he reached the security fence surrounding the pyramid, James had already made up his mind. “Yeah, I am going to do it. I have to make the most of this trip. I am coming back after dark.”

He came back after dark when all the security guards had left and hopped over the security fence under the watchful light of the full moon. As he neared the top of the pyramid, James saw a small golden eagle protruding from one of the stones. “What is this doing here?” he exclaimed, “I guess this is my lucky day.” He could not believe something this valuable was left lying around of this pyramid that is frequented by some many scientists and researchers. As James got closer to the eagle to pick it up, he soon realized that this was no ordinary piece of gold.

James suddenly lost total control of his body and stood motionless in the same spot on the pyramid for about two minutes. After this initial period of time, his body began to slowly jerk forward with his left arm outstretched, trying to grab the golden eagle. He tried to suppress these movements but his resistance was futile. When he finally grabbed hold of the golden eagle, he held it up in the air and turned his head towards the moon.

The next thing James remembered was waking up in a well-lit room surrounded by individuals peering down at his face. As he slowly opened his eyes, he realized that none of the faces were familiar and he sprang out of his bed, grabbed a small Swiss knife and threatened anyone who dared approach him. “Who the hell are you people? Where am I? What am I doing here? Is this even real?” James was so confused since it seems like it was only seconds ago that he was in Egypt with no control over his body while clenching a golden eagle. “How did I get here? Was it that eagle? Was it some kind of ancient magical instrument? ” James definitely suspected time travel and the golden eagle since he picked it up against his will and that was his last complete last memory. These series of thoughts were interrupted by a muscular, middle –aged man who stated, “Are you drunk or crazy or something. Please put the knife down.” James immediately complied because he was only making a fool of himself and he needed the help of these people to figure out what is going on.

“Excuse me, if you don’t mind me asking! Do you happen to know today’s date? ” asked James tentatively. The same man that urged him to put down the knife replied, “March 11, 3110.” This proved what James had thought all along since the date he visited the pyramid was July 1, 2010. He was a time traveler and the power of the golden eagle was the source of the power. “Where is my golden eagle? Please locate my golden eagle for me?” screamed James frantically. Without the eagle he could not go home to his original time period and if the eagles was not with him in the facility, it must be on the where he found it on the Pyramid of Khufu. James knew that if he was to return home, he will have to visit this pyramid again so that he could get access to the eagle one more time.

I soon realized that I was living in an underground military facility commanded by General Wallenberg of Fourth Stryker Battalion. In the year 3085, a type of humanoid species known as Ewigs invaded Earth with the hopes of establishing a new colony. Although the humans fought bravely, they were not match for the advanced weaponry and intellect of the Ewigs. This was a small band of soldiers that survived the initial war and now waged a guerilla war against the occupying aliens.

James explained to General Wallenberg that he wanted to journey to the Pyramids of Egypt but he did not tell him a specific reason. The general while scratching his beard replied.  “A dangerous trip like that is virtually impossible given the air dominance that the Ewigs possess. We would not make it ten blocks from this base before we would be shot down. I am sorry but I do no think that we have the necessary equipment or the resources to carry out such a mission.”

James’s heart quivered as he heard this news since he did not intend on living in this time period. His real life was back in his original time period. James knew that he had to keep his resolve strong and find a way to rectify the problem. After minutes of sobbing softly at the dinner table, James responded to the general’s comments stating, “Instead of trying to fly to Egypt in a human airplane, why don’t we just hack into the computer system of one of the enemy’s airplane and guide it to a safe location using remote control. This way, they won’t suspect one of their own jets.”

Over the course of the next six months, James along with other military scouts studied the flight paths of the jets. They recorded the acceleration, displacement and velocity of the particular jets that they could hack so that they would know exactly when to spring the trap. The main battle jet (MBJ) of the Ewig Airforce could accelerate from rest to a speed of 150 m/s in 5 seconds. James then found the acceleration of the jet, which was a whopping 30m/s/s and the distance the object traveled during this time is 375m. After the initial 375m of the jet’s flight path, the jet then slows down for 10 seconds and then moves at a constant velocity of 80m/s for the rest of the patrol. James knew that the perfect time to attack the jet was while it was moving at a constant velocity.

Armed with this key information, James and a team of two others soldiers settled into their positions in skyscrapers along the flight path of the jet. The jet approached right on schedule and was scanning the buildings and roadways for the signs of any humans. As the jet passed by James’s position, he shot the jet with a bullet that contained malware that bypassed the security firewall. He quickly gained control of the vehicle through remote control and guided it to a secure section of the city where the driver was taken prisoner and James was praised as a hero. James could now fly to Egypt in the captured vehicle without being fearful of being shot down.

The next day, James said his final goodbyes to the people who had cared for him and assisted him in achieving his goal. “I was a stranger to all of you but still treated me as one of your own. You treated me like a brother. I admire your undying loyalty and support for me in my quest to return how. I marvel at your values, brotherhood and intelligence. Again, I thank you all and I will never forget your kindness.” As James turned around to shake General Wallenberg’s hand, a tear glistened in his eyes. When he finally climbed into the cockpit of jet, he broke down crying because he knew that he would never see these people ever again.

As he flew towards Egypt, James knew that nothing was guaranteed. If the Golden Eagle was not on the pyramid, this means that he would be stuck in this world forever. Even if the eagle was there, there is no assurance that it takes him back home to his correct time period. However, James yearned for home, especially his elderly mother. He wanted to go back to his job in his small southern town. James realized that although his life can seem uninteresting to the outside world, he is happy with the decisions he made. During the ten-hour flight, James grew more sophisticated with a greater appreciation for life, the world and the role he plays in it.  As James landed in front of the pyramid of Khufu, the environment looked unchanged. He dashed out of the jet and ran towards the pyramid and began climbing up toward the spot where he first encountered the Golden Eagle. James constantly mumbled:

“Please be there, God please let it be there.”

Writing can be a very challenging subject for some people but for others, it is the easiest thing in the world. Writing for me has always come easy because always know what I am going to write before I even start. I think that these are one of the reasons why I am so attached to writing, since it comes easy to me. I also write because it is also a way for me to express my feelings and emotions. Writing is like an extension of myself because I can see myself in everything I write. It can make me feels better because the pen and the paper always listen to what you say. I also write because I can escape to a world where I can be whoever and whatever I want to be. I can write a poem about Jamaica and then I can picture myself there with my family and friends. This is one of the most important reasons why I write. When I first heard my sixth grade teacher tell me this, I did not believe her until I experienced it for myself. Every time I write a 2fer, I am happy because I get to write in a different way in the form of a more informational and unbiased way. I don’t get to state my opinions but instead, I used outside sources to prove a point. This is different from when I write about my own personal experiences. I write because it comes easy to me and it is just an added bonus when I get to sure my writing with my teachers and my fellow students.

Verso 1

De donde yo vengo

Hay mucho amor

Una gran familia

Todos mis amigos me conocen desde la infancia

No hay nunca un momento aburrido

Yo vengo de un lugar

Donde puedo ser libre

Deporte y fraternidad

Un pequeño país en el mapa

Pero este es un país donde la felicidad vidas.

Refrán

Vengo de donde hay las playas

Las granjas y el sol hermoso

gente amable y deliciosa comida.

Verso 2

Un lugar donde reina la libre

No Estados Unidos, sino que funciona de la misma

Mi casa para siempre

No es perfecto

El lugar para estar

Mi casa Jamaica.

Refrán

Vengo de donde hay las playas

Las granjas y el sol hermoso

gente amable y deliciosa comida.

Vengo de donde hay las playas

Las granjas y el sol hermoso

gente amable y deliciosa comida.

Mi Reflexión

Adjusting to a brand new environment is not always easy. A wide array of unfamiliar faces, languages and cultures can really have its toll on your self-expression and how you react to the new people around you. When I first moved to America and started the seventh grade at my new school, I did not talk to anybody. I could tell that I did not fit in, so I tried desperately to stay by myself. I was completely surprised when a kid walked up to me during lunch on my third day of school and began speaking to me in Jamaica Creole, but I was even more surprised when I responded in Creole too.

         “Kuyaman, awara Shamarlon?” said Stephen politely.

--Hey Shamarlon, what’s up?

         “Nutten nah gwaan, a nyam mi a nyam lunch.” I responded, looking up

           from my table.

         --Nothing is going on, I am just eating lunch.

“Suh, yuh gudehe? I hav bwein nuticing yuh ina klashe ahn yuh sheem suh kiete? Ah why yuh suh shiete and tensiete? ” replied Steven, in a fluent Creole accent. He stared into my eyes as if he was reading my mind.

--So, are you okay? I have been noticing you in class and you are so quiet! Why are you so shy and tense?

“Bway, ebethinete es jus nwew tuh mi bekahese mi jus movitete fah Jamaica. Mi jus nuh fit een!” I answered. I was gaining more confidence with each question I answered.

           --Well, everything is just new to me because I just moved from Jamaica. I  

              just don’t fit in!

“Haha…Bway mi diiete pheel de samiete way pheie mi de movitete fah Jamaica tuh wen mi dida jus six. Eniyone woulda pheel dat way ef dey lefiete deh jome dey phewn alla dey liphe. Jus khone dat yuh a mi fren.” he replied in a friendly voice as he turned and walked away.

--Haha…well, I felt the same way because I moved from Jamaica too when I was only six years old. Anyone would feel that way if they leave the place where they had grown up all their life. Just know that I am your friend!

 Over the course of the next few weeks, Steven and I developed an unbreakable and sacred friendship that was centered around our similar language. We did everything together, from sitting at the same table at lunch to going to the movies on Saturdays. Throughout the course of our friendship and by speaking to him in Creole, my personality had begun to change. I was not the same shy insecure boy who was afraid to talk to people and to be apart of the society that existed outside of my home. I was not the same boy who only left my house when I had to go to school and who didn’t socialize with anyone except for my family. I had always blamed my language for my complete withdrawal from society because English was the dominant language in this new country and I did not relate to it. I soon came to realize that Creole also liberated me from the same secluded pit that it had created. Creole was the reason why Steven and I developed such a wonderful friendship and through this friendship, I gained a better understanding of society and my language. From this experience, I developed the courage to speak Creole in public without looking over my shoulders to see if someone is ridiculing me. Fast-forward three years and now I am teaching my friends how to say different phrases in Creole. My friendship with Steven has changed my life by making me embrace my language and not being ashamed of it. Due to the fact that Steven also moved to America from Jamaica, and went through the same situation that I was in, he gained a lot of experience on how to not seclude himself from society because of his language.

In the words of James Baldwin, “…[Language] reveals the private identity and connects one, with or divorces one from, the larger, public or communal identity.” Language can either bring people together or set them apart from the larger identity that is widely accepted by the speakers of this language.  Language can also determine how you associate yourself with a person and also a larger group within society. Through this, it also helps you to understand your true identity and develop your own unique perception of your language. In my story, I had difficulty associating myself with other people at school, in my community and wherever I went. I only connected with people who spoke Creole, including my family and Steven. It came down to the point that my language controlled my life by alienating me from the rest of society, but at the same time, it connected me with a specific group of people. As time progressed and with the mentoring from Steven, I was able to develop a better understanding of my personal identity and Creole. I realized that my language made me unique and that I should embrace and not disgrace it. From understanding my personal identity, I was then able to connect with other larger groups in society, something that I had never done before. I began to socialize with my peers, teachers and anyone that who I came in contact with.

“Patios es apaat a yuh identity, yuh jus hafi akcep ite. Yuh language fi mek yuh hapi!” was an inspirational phrase that Stephen often told me to live by every day and that it will always bring guidance and support.

--Creole is apart of your identity and you just have to accept it. Your language should make you happy!

I often told Steven that he was Dr. Phil’s little prodigy because he is such a smart person who can solve anybody’s problem and make them happier. I am surely a testament to that.