Rubén Darío es el poeta más importante para la cultura Nicaragüense. Él es considerado el "Príncipe de las Letras Castellanas" y fue el fundador del modernismo. Por estas razones y muchísimas más se celebra en nuestro colegio la Jornada Dariana. La Jornada Dariana en nuestro colegio son unas semanas en las cuales recordamos al gran Rubén Darío con decoraciones en las clases, un acto cívico en su nombre, la elección de la Musa Dariana, concursos de Poesía y estudiamos sobre él en clases. Este año tuvimos el privilegio de recibir a un profesional especialista en Rubén Darío. Además de aprender sobre sus obras aprendimos mucho sobre el: cuando nació, donde se crio, los distintos países donde trabajo, sus diferentes oficios, sus grandes inspiraciones etc. También, en la Jornada Dariana de este año estamos aprendiendo sobre distintos poetas Nicaragüenses, como es el grande Azarías H. Pallais. Desde que recuerdo, siempre hemos realizado la Jordana Dariana. Me parece muy importante recordar a Rubén Darío como el orgullo Nicaragüense que es y a otros grandes poetas Nicaragüenses. Con todas estas actividades he aprendido mucho sobre el de una manera muy divertida.
McDonald's is part of cultural imperialism because it adds to "the procceses by which a society is brought to modern world system". McDonald's is in every part of the world and is the most consumed fast food. It has become a part of some countries' culture like for example the US. When you go to the US what you mostly eat is fast food; burgers, hot dogs, ect. constitute to their typical food and now Mc.Donald's is part of it. Many traditions in a countries' culture, like their way of eating, are changing due to fast food restaurants such as Mc. Donalds. When I go to a foreign country, not necessarily the US, I ALWAYS eat Mc.Donald's. Mc. Donald's gainings are rising up each day; they are aerning about $1.24 billion quartely per year. Although Mc. Donald's food is not healthy at ll people still eat it; it is part of their diet. They are convinced by Mc. Donald's campaigns of real meats, fat free, etc. The modern world system was directly influenced by Mc Donald's; everybody eats it! Parents start giving children Mc. Donald's when they can start to eat solid stuff. I swear my little cousin eats Mc. Donald's at leat three time a week; she is 4 years old.
Sudan is most likely to separate into two independent states. China wants Sudan to keep stability because of the China National Petroleum Company (CNPC) that is stablished in Sudan. China will put in practice a policy of "wait and see" and if violence is developed between north and south Sudan, the traditional foreign policy of "non-interference" with other states internal conflicts will be under further strain. This policy is important for the five principles of peaceful coexistance according to Zhou Enlai and it was made to show solidarity with "newly independent post-colonial states and to indicate respect for territorial sovereignty". This policy is sometimes hard to follow for China because it has lots of contact with many nations worldwide in which they have stablished important sources of the Chinese economy. This gives China a sense of responsability over some countries. A war in a country in wich China has stablished companies, can cause a political and economic instability due to the non-interference policy.I think that this policy should be more flexible and able to be violated depending on the situation.I also think that China should be more responsable for Sudan and help them:)
So imperialism, although most of the time done by force,doesn't have to bring negative effects. Tibet has been controlled by China since 1959 when the Dalai Lama's troops were defeated by the Chinese Peoples’ Liberation Army and he went into exile in India;then, in 1965 it was declared an autonomous region of China. Many positive things happened: they conserved a Dalia Lama as head along with a regional government, serfs were allowed to vote, they abolished slavery, many of the taxes were eliminated, and serfs where given jobs. Nowadays in Tibet, they have religious freedom and religion is no longer used as an instrument of repression. Education has been expanded and over 85% of children attend school, medicine has grown and not to mention economy and techonoly, which have grown as well. I think that Tibet wouldn't have the same growth if it was never taken by imperialist China, and that everything was an advantage that brough many positive things to the country and its people although today they are having problems because of the Dalai Lama. The Chinese are waiting for him to die so that they can have more control over Tibetans, and the Tibetans will bring revolts and would not know what are the right desicions without this leader; this eventually will lead to political inestability and more problems with the Chinese.
The US has directly and indirectly intervened military in the nation of Somalia since 1992 through 1994, and from 2006 until present day. The US also forced Ethiopia to intervene in Somalia, causing millions of deaths. Besides having imperialism ideas to govern Somalia, there can also be seen imperialism from the US in Ethiopia because the US respalds its government and they force them to do things. The Ethiopian's army's goal in Somalia was to stop the ICU (Islamic Courts Union) from getting into power. The ICU is an independent alliance of commmunity organizations whose goal was to reconstruct Somalia based on people's interests intead of imperialist forces. This movement brought to Somalia a sense of social stability although it hasn't been internationally recognized since 1991. The US wanted to stop this movement so that they can get under control of Somalia. The US is being really selfish by not wanting Somalia to be stable and happy. These was revealed by wikileaks, but the US denies it.
China has always been a huge leading country and is now-a-days a major power among developed countries in the world. As you may know, there has been tensions between China and Taiwan since Taiwan was once part of China but was granted independence in the 1949 Chinese Revolution. There is a huge example of imperialism between these two countries because although Taiwan was granted independence, Beijing still considers it part of its territory and it's China's major interest. The PRC (People's Republic of China) uses Taiwan's economic and military power to prevent the United Nations from recognizing Taiwan as an independent nation. China is also threating the US, and it even stopped giving money to the pentagon, because the US is selling too much weapons to Taiwan. The US is only following the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, which says that the US will defend Taiwan under any kind of military attack from China. The United States is in agreement to a peaceful unification of China and Taiwan, but China fears that Taiwan will prefer to stay sovereign. China wants to forcebly annex Taiwan. I think China should stop bothering Taiwan and just let them stay autonomous and happy:)
Since the first day we started technology class I have been thinking what I will put on this blog. I have thought for a whole week what is a meaningful gift I have received and I came up with NOTHING...Things like earrings, rings, cellphones, computers, etc have passed through my mind. I only think of materialistic things that my parents have given me, but why don't I think about all the amazing things God has given me? Although I appreciate and thank a lot all that my parents have blessed me with, the best gift that I have received is life. A great gift from God that we all humans should appreciate. Without this incredible life that God has given me I wouldn`t have been able to receive all of the other gifts that are my family, my house, love, friends, etc. I have experienced such amazing things in life for which I am always thankful:)
Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it. Mother Teresa
Our school, LIA, has always been compared to other schools such as ANS and St. Augustine and well, we all know ANS is known as the best between these three schools. That is because LIA is missing so many things. First in its building; we don't have a pool, which I consider necessary because swimming classes are really important and it's something basic that every human being has to learn. Also the library is too small and does not catch the interest from students. The cafeteria is really bad too. Also they just started this "go green" campaign in which they turn off all the air conditioners that are accessible to students, but let the one in Mr. Roberts’s office run all day long.
Second, this school is lacking organization. The class periods are always mixed up, there are not enough electives, and some classes are simply ridiculous. For example P.E class has a length of 45:00 minutes, which I consider it’s too little time for us to change, have P.E, and then change again. The class ends being about just 20 minutes, and nobody wants to get all sweaty just for 20 minutes of exercise, besides there's not enough time to clean up when changing. Dance is also ridiculous, and the Christmas and mother's day shows are really bad. They also have problems with honors and regular class. These classes are extremes. Honors wasn't well though about when it was made, all the classes are clearly disorganized and teachers have wrong concepts with what honor is and just give us a bunch of work load. They also mix up the classes we are to take each year. For example the science classes were all changed from physics to chemistry to biology, etc.
I think a major problem in LIA is the teachers. I think some of them don't have the capacity to teach here and are lacking of knowledge for their classes. Parents are always coming to school to complain with teachers. They are rookies when teaching. Not all of them, but most. Also there are some with no ethic that have student preferences and do unfair things. Some do not know how to grade, and there are some that take grading to the extreme. There is no balance; or they are great teachers or they are really bad, always taking things to extremes. Also, when it comes to AP and honor classes there are some teachers that should not be giving those classes! I think that for a teacher to be giving honors or AP, he or she has to be really experienced and really know about their subject, but they do not. Some regular teachers are much better than the AP ones. Again, this is lack of organization from the school.
Ok,so first of all I don't think a nationality will determine what someone does well or not, I think everyone is capable of doing whatever they want if they really go for it. But, Nicaraguans do have some specialities when doing some things. For example, cooking. Most women in Nicaragua are housewives that dedicate their lives to cooking for their family and cleaning the house, and also many women that work are domestic maids that also cook. Nicaragua has many typical food, which are the ones that most Nicaraguans cook; we don't get out of our costumes and traditions; our culture is seen in every single thing we do.Some of this typical food that we Nicaraguans love are: gallopinto, fritanga, vigoron, baho, etc.
Another thing in which Nicaraguans specialize is in arts and crafts. Nicaragua has many "pueblos" in which the main job is doing hand crafts such as souveniers, pots, bowls, and many house ornaments. They do very pretty things with ceramic and clay which then are sold to many tourists. Nicaragua has many artists too, such as Jose Alejandro Vargas, that have many famous paintings.
Besides cooking really good and doing beautiful hand crafts and paintings, Nicaraguans can also sing and dance very nice. We are very cultural and have many typical dances such as Folklore and Palo de Mayo. There are also many famous singers such as the Mejia-Godoy family, Otto de la Rocha, Hernaldo Zuniga etc.
As you may know Mexico has been dealing with many drug trafication problems and with a "drug war" as well...here are the latest news and updates from this:)
According to CNN:
January 18, 2011
Mexico announces capture of one of the founders of Los Zetas
"Los Zetas" is a Mexican drug cartel and one of Mexico's major drug trafficking organizations. Last Monday in Oaxaza, Mexico, Flavio Mendez Santiago, "el amarillo", was captured. He is said to be one of the founders of the Zetas cartel. Mendez was once the bodyguard of a now imprisioned member of the "Gulf Cartel", from were the Zetas were created but then split. He was recruited in 1993 as the founder of "Los Zetas", and is believed to be in charge of controlling the flow of illegal immigrants from other parts of America. There is also an investigation taking place because of accuses he has for attempted murder, organized crime, and crimes against health. It's a relief that he was finally captured because this is a blow to the Zetas operations and because he was in the list of Mexico's 37 most wanted.
For original and complete article go to: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/01/18/mexico.violence/index.html?iref=allsearch
January 18, 2011
Book aims to 'make victims visible' in Mexico's drug war
This second article is about what writer Marcela Turati Munoz tells CNN en español.
Marcela is the author of a book in which many true stories from victims of the "drug war" in Mexico appear. She was able to get all this information through many interwiews around Mexico. In her book she encourages people to see how they are giving a voice to drug dealers instead of the victims, and to do something about this situation.
"I thought I was Superman,I loved doing it, killing that first person. Then they tried to take my gun, but it was like taking candy from a kid." Rosalio Reta, from Marcela Turati's book.
For original and complete article go to: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/americas/01/17/mexico.drug.war.victims/index.html?iref=allsearch
When they ask me what my favorite song is all I can think of is my all time favorite "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay. But if you ask me why I actually don't know, I just love it! The problem is, the lyrics in this song are not from a life experience or something similar, they are just something that the composers came up with and that are free to interpret by the listener. I think that's actually the thing I like about this song, it is not like all the other songs inspired in a love affair, breakup, etc. This song is like writing one about ponies and whatever comes to your mind, it's like and abstract painting waiting to be interpreted:)
So, here are the lyrics and I'm going to tell you what I think they mean, although I'm sure it has nothing to do with what the composer thought about when writing it.
I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sweep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own
I used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemy’s eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing:
“Now the old king is dead! Long live the king!”
One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can’t explain
Once you go there was never, never an honest word
That was when I ruled the world
It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in.
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn’t believe what I’d become
Revolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string
Oh who would ever want to be king?
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can’t explain
I know Saint Peter will call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Ohh ohh ohhh,Ohh ohh ohhh,
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Ohh ohh ohhh, Ohh ohh ohhh,
Be my mirror my sword and shield
Ohh ohh ohhh, Ohh ohh ohhh,
My missionaries in a foreign field
Ohh ohh ohhh, Ohh ohh ohhh,
For some reason I can’t explain
Ohh ohh ohhh,Ohh ohh ohhh,
I know Saint Peter will call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
Ok, so the first thing that comes into my mind when I read the lyrics is that it's something taking place long time ago maybe the end of the 1700's when the French Revolution took place and where kings and queens were the absolute rulers and everyone wanted to kill them:) I think of France too not just because of these lyrics but also because of the cover page of their album which also has the name of "Viva la Vida". The image that appears on the cover of the album also appears in my history book and it's something about the French Revolution. I also think of Christians and the religious wars taking place in those times.What a weird theme to write a song about ha? and weirder because we are in the 21st century...Well in conclusion I love this song just because it's DIFFERENT and I know the lyrics by memory; it's a song I never forget and listen to it once in a while although its really old. It has a really good rhythm too:)
My favorite movie at the moment is Charlie St.Cloud. This movie touched my heart ; I cried from the beginning until the end:( I never cry in movies but this one is just so realistic and intriguing. It's a combination of all genres; comedy, love, suspense..etc. Also, I love the actors that participate in this movie specially Zac Efron, although they all do an amazing job!
The cast of the movie includes:
*Zac Efron: Main character, Charlie St. Cloud
*Charlie Tahan: Charlie's Brother, Sam St. Cloud
*Amanda Crew: Charlie's love, Tess Carroll
It is about Charlie, a professional sailor, that has a scholarship to go into Stanford and a great future planned out until something really bad happens and ends with all his future.Charlie has a really good relationship with his little brother Sam whom he has a promise with to play baseball every evening when the cayons start firing. One night, while his mom is out working and Sam is asleep, he decides to go to a party. Sam wakes up and stops Charlie when he is about to start the car and tells him to take him to a friends house while he is out partying. On their way to Sam's friend they have a car accident from which Sam couldn't survive. Sam's death ends with Charlie's entire life because he is forced to move to the cementery to wants to keep the promise he made to his brother. Every evening he went into the woods and played baseball with Sam while he worked in the cementery the rest of the day. He was known as crazy in town for seen talking to himself ( actually talking to his dead brother whom he could see) and for wasting the amazing opportunity he had to go into stanford.
His daily routines are changed when he meets Tess in the cementery while she is visiting his father's tomb. They get involved in a romance that turns out to be not true because she is actually "almost dead" and thats why he could see her. When he discovers she is lost in the sea( she was a yachtswoman who went on a sail around the world) and almost dead, he is willing to do everything to save her, even if it involves breaking the promise with Sam.
