Monday 29 October 2012

reading reflection #7


Book: The Book of Negroes
Author: Lawrence Hill
Pages read: 438-470

                Since our last Reading Reflection, I have managed to complete my book, The Book of Negroes. Before reading it, I had basically heard how amazing a story it is, from anyone who saw me with it. Now I too, can say the same. It’s one of those books, where if things don’t turn out in the end for the main character, it leaves you feeling a little sad. Aminata Diallo just becomes such an admirable character, as she tells us her life story.
                In the last few pages Aminata is reunited with her daughter, May, who has basically been kidnapped by someone she’d trusted, years ago. I was really surprised by that. I supposed that if I really thought it through, as a reader, I could’ve figured that out long before the fact. Only I did not at all predict that. I really thought she was long gone, and the two would never be reunited. It was a really nice surprise to read, in a way, knowing that even though she didn’t return to her village of Bayo, something has been rewarded after all she lived through. This made me think of karma. Surely, Aminata’s entire life had been devoted of her very own survival, which makes it almost hard to believe that good karma exists – until then.
                On another note, during a discussion about slavery with a white man, Aminata tells him they had an expression in her village, “beware the clever man who makes wrong look right.” When reading the expression, so many words come to mind: trust, dishonesty, cruelty, justice, disappointment. It would be nearly impossible to go your entire life without trusting a sole person. However, we never really know who is genuine in their means, and who is only in it for themselves. It can be dangerous putting your confidence in others, when there are so many ways to interpret situations, and when this are so easily twisted. I really like that expression. I find it to be a good caution to take, reminding us not to be too naive. 

round 2! (8)

Last spring, a friend and I took the initiative to coach my ten year old sister's basketball team. We played together a few years ago, and both kind of drifted away from the sport for the same reasons, only we thought it'd be another great way to keep our love for sport alive. Which it was. We had a ton of fun getting to know the girls, and teaching them what we know.
Now, there's an eight year old boys team that did not have a coach for this season. My mom received an email about it and asked if I was interested. I was actually surprised at how excited I got, having another opportunity. So Sabrina and I are going to coach another team together, staring Friday! I'm so excited. Plus it's little boys rather than girls, so that should be interesting!

Thursday 25 October 2012

newspaper blackout poetry!

An inconsistent world leading dreams on an uphill battle. Stay positive, be relaxed, hold on.
To dream is not to replace memories.

Hope demonstrates what we believe.


"It's not always rainbows and butterflies, it's compromise that moves us along." (7)

These lyrics (the title of my post) are from Maroon 5's song She Will Be Loved. As simple as the phrase is, it means to much to me.

Nothing in life is ever going to be perfect or good, all the time. There are ups in downs in everything we do and in everything we're a part of. No matter how much we may have in common with someone and no matter how similar we might be, we will always have differences and disagreements. What really shows a friendship or relationship's worth though, is how willing we are to work it out. Anything worth having is worth fighting for, or worth compromising about.

I feel that too many people give up too easily. Especially when it comes to other people. Rather than realizing the reality of it all. For awhile now, I've found these lyrics coming up in my head whenever I am having a disagreement with someone important to me, or being selfish rather than understanding.

writing reflection #5

Question #1:


                Lately, with all this talk about graduation and what comes after, I’m slowly realizinghow competitive the “real world” can be. A month ago, I had absolutely no ideawhere I might find myself once high school is over. I was stressed andoverwhelmed with all this sudden added pressure. Only it wasn't due to a lackof ambition. Or that I had no idea where I’d like to go, but simply because I found myselfhaving too many. Too many ideas, too many possible interests and a missingpassion to actually pursue any that I haven’t yet found. 
                Now that things aresetting in a little more, it’s all less overwhelming and I've began to find myway. What I’d really love to do – somewhere along the line – is work with anInternational Aid Organization. When I began thinking this was a possible careerchoice, it was surprising even to me. I have never been particularly interestedin history or social studies courses at school. Instead, I missed out onlearning World Issues, World Religions and other similar topics because ofcourse options I never even considered taking. Only, this is the first career path I’dreally honestly considered and looked into. 
                Since as long as I canremember, I’ve been wanting to participate on a Mission Trip to another countryin need. I’ve recently found that diversity of other cultures and religions interestme more each and every day. Plus, a career in that field would allow me travel(hopefully!). Mostly though, it would be fulfilling. I’m not sure if I couldspend every day going to work, then coming home without a sense of fulfillment. 
                So, with that said, I’d like to attend the University of Winnipeg’s GlobalCollege, to study Human Rights & Freedom. Whether or not I attain thesegoals, no one knows. But, at least I have goals set in place. We all need tostart somewhere, which is why I plan on doing more – more for the community;locally and globally, working towards the person I want to be and the change Iwant to see.


Question #2:

 Comment #1:
http://goo.gl/pqxJO
The first comment I posted was in Jacqueline's blog. I posted it because when I saw the picture of all the Disney characters and her writer's comment underneath, it got me thinking about my childhood and how it would have been so much different if all those movies and characters weren't a part of it! I've always loved Disney movies, still to this day. It's great to see that others do as well. Many children these days watch really different things, that definitely don't live up to the classics we grew up with!

 Comment #2:
 http://goo.gl/IyNmk
My second comment, I posted on Sam's blog. With all this talk about future plans and goals, seeing his post made me smile a little. It was hopeful, knowing that at least someone knows what they want to do, and the direction they want to go once we're done here. It's not always that simple figuring these things out - especially with so much pressure.

 Comment #3:
http://goo.gl/2a5zu
The third comment I posted was on Jordan's blog, about one of her Six Word Memoirs. It said, "I'll grow old and be strong," which I found interesting, because I think that's what we all want. I know it's what I'd like to achieve anyway. It was another post that lifted my spirits a little, knowing how much some people appreciate their family, and look up to them. It got me thinking, about how we all need something we aspire to be.


Question #3:

After posting a few comments on other's blogs, it's not that I found the process to be difficult, I just didn't really know how to start a discussion. To me, a good comment shares your opinion of some form of insight on the topic of the post. Whether it's agreement or another view. A bad comment, in the other hand, would be one that is either all praise, or all negative. Neither of those will result in a discussion. I also once read, "too much agreement kills a conversation," which is so true. It doesn't leave much else to say. What I find cool about leaving comment on others' posts - and receiving comments - is the whole idea of seeing another person's view on the same topic. It could generate ideas, or get us thinking. It's also nice sometimes just knowing what others have to say, rather than being stuck on your own thoughts. Comments are great feedback.
 

Saturday 13 October 2012

reading reflection #5 / character iphone

This week, rather than writing another reading reflection, we took a break to change things up. Instead, we were asked to create an iPhone for the main character of a book we're reading. I thought it was a pretty neat idea.

I'm reading The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill, which takes place in the 1700's. Of course, there wasn't much technology around at that time. Which is why I found it a little tough, creating apps she would have. So I based it off of things I felt would be useful to her character during that time, in one way or another. I think that by my brief explanations of the apps, you'll get the just of things.

As for the back cover or case, it's mainly a sunset, representing what Aminata mentioned about not trusting great waters and pink skies. There's also a ship, since she spent a few months on a slave ship, crossing those waters. Then I also attempted to copy part of a prayer written in Arabic, because she is Muslim, and always finds herself turning towards Allahu Akbar.


Aminata Diallo's iPhone:

Monday 1 October 2012

writing reflection #4



                At first, I found Six Word Memoirs to be slightly challenging. I didn’t really know where to start, in order to tell a story in only six words. However, once I got going and had a few down on paper, everything just started to flow and it became so much easier.
I learned that for this microform of writing, you really need to be precise as a writer and choose your words clearly. Also the visual aspect though, has such a great impact on what message actually gets across to the audience. As I was looking through old photos trying to find one that fit a particular memoir, I came across one that I really wanted to use. It just didn’t fit that story too well, so I changed it a little.
Nothing really surprised me about the project. What I found to be my favourite part though, was combining the words with the visual. Finding the right visual to fit was pretty fun, because again, it’s just so important for them to match. I liked the idea of reading between the lines, having the audience fill in the blank and decide what your memoir is actually about. Although its relevance actually needs to be clear enough to understand at the same time.
Personally, I learned how much easier honestly can be through writing, compared to speech. Self reflection is so much easier. It almost surprised me what I could learn about myself through my own writing and thoughts, once they’re physically on paper.

do what you love, the rest will come (6)

Throughout our whole lives, it seems, people are constantly asking what you want to be when you grow up, or what you wan to do. I've always just though, oh I have time. Only it just keeps getting more and more real. That's the scary part.

I've already managed to stress myself out, so much. With everyone talking about the future, it's crazy to think that we're handed so many options, and expected to choose one single path. What if it's the wrong one? What if I'm not good at it? Ultimately, will it be worth it? It's all so overwhelming. I also managed to just take a step back though, focusing on other things.

Even within the past month, by not focusing on the future and by not pressuring myself to make decisions, I've learned so much more about myself. I'm realizing that maybe, the subjects I've always done well and always liked, don't have to be the ones that I pursue or make a career out of. 

What's really interested me lately isn't the typical math or english, but cultural diversity and different religions. I've always found those subjects to be interesting - Folkorama is probably my favorite thing that goes on in Winnipeg - only I've never thought much of it, until now. I think I've finally found a hopeful possibility. Or at least an area of study. 


reading reflection #4


Book: The Book of Negroes
Author: Lawrence Hill
Pages read: 44-68

Aminata Diallo, the main character, has been kidnapped along with so many others from villages around hers. They were then put onto boats and brought across a vast body of water. This reminded me of the advice Aminata gave in the first chapter, “do not trust large bodies of water, and do not pass them.” It’s not difficult to see what she was referring to. What I really found interesting though, is how Chekura (a boy she met along the way) had told her she’s lucky to be sold to the toubabu. Because the things that would happen to the one’s left behind, are far worse. It’s kind of like the lesser of two evils, you know?
                Later on, Aminata wonders why the toubabu would go through all this trouble to have them work on their land, “surely they could gather their own mangoes and pound their own millet.” After reading that, I couldn’t stop thinking about how true that really is. I will never, ever understand slavery in the slightest bit. No one should. It’s disgusting and cruel, and unnecessary. To me, it’s sickening to think about. I found that she had a good point, put so simply.
                The first time the word “toubab” is used, Aminata is asking about a man who joined their captors, “is he a man or an evil spirit?” Even though I was unsure what a toubab actually is, I imagined it’s something more on the negative side. By continuing to read, I learned that toubab is the name which the captors refer to the men they’re about to be sold to. Then, I looked it up, and a web definition I found was: “Toubab” is a Central and West African name for a person of European descent (“whites”).