Getting to Meet New Cultures!

On June 18, my family and I were in our way to Barranquilla. This time, it wasn’t to shop, or to go to the zoo; it was for something much more interesting. That day, we were going to a Batmitzbah. It was going to take place in the Barranquilla Synagogue. I was very excited, because I had never been to one Batmitzvah until that day. I was also excited, because I will be staying at the Dan Carton hotel with many of my friends. When I arrived to the hotel, I checked in, and like n hour later I went with my family to Buena Vista mall, which was in front of the hotel. There, we look at stores, but didn’t shop. Finally, we went back to the hotel and started getting ready for the ceremony.

When we were all ready, we arrived to the synagogue. There, I encountered with lots of my friends, it was really fun. The synagogue is very similar to a Christian church, but it had its differences. Finally, the ceremony began. There were 7 girls making their Batmitzvah, one of them was Yona Schuster, which was the one who invited me. The ceremony wasn’t so long; there was a rabbi which is like the “sacerdote” in the Christian church. Each of the 7 girls, made a speech in which they thank god, and also thank their parents, sibling, friends, and extended families for all the help they had received from them. At the end, everyone congratulated the girls, but this wasn’t over, now there was a party.

We arrived to the Jews’ club which was just beside the synagogue. There, a gigantic party was taking place. There was lots of tables and music. They served bankets of food; I was very impressed of seeing so much food! There were 2 buffets. At first, there was one which included the “entradas”. Then, they served the real food and the desserts. There were all kinds of desserts; chocolates, cakes, cookies etc. That part was very fun, we danced, played, and obviously ate. At the end, I was very tired, and as soon as I arrived to the hotel, I fall a sleep.

The next day, we went down to eat breakfast, but unfortunately, all the food was over because we woke up very late. Then, we decided to get into the pool, Yona would be getting with us too, but there was one problem, my cousin didn’t have bathing suit. We solved the problem immediately; we went to the Buena Vista and bought her one. Then, we went into the pool and had an awesome time. After so much exercise, we were hungry. We decided to take a bath, and then we went to the Buena Vista and ate lunch. In those 2 days, I had an awesome time!

It was very interesting getting to know new cultures; this was an experience I will never forget!

Monsters are Due on Maple Street!

"They pick the most dangerous enemy thet can find...and it's themselves." What dose this mean to you? For me, it has one clear message. I think that the aliens are trying to say that what people do to leave problems and to get out of them quickly is blame others. This is clear because at the end of Act one, everyone blamed Goodman, and in reality they didn't know if he had really the fault, they were only making that to get out of the problem real quick. Once they find a scapegoat they blame him or her the more they can, but really, inside they know that he or she isn't guilty, he or she didn't do anything in at all. Although they know this, they still keep blaming the person until everyone is sure that the guilty is the person everyone is blaming. Once this happens, they get satisfied and have once more, completed their goal. The real monsters, are really themselves, they are the ones who are causing danger in the world by hurting other people's feelings and lifes. This is something in life that needs to change, and that's what the author of this story trying to do, he is trying to make others realize what people do in life, and that this, should definetely change.

I agree with this message. I can assure this to you, because I have had problems which get solved by this ways. Once, something got stoled in my class, and everyone blamed one of my classmates only because they had the feeling that this person was the guilty one, they didn't have any evidence. You can try, and try to stop people from blaming you, but you can't do a thing. Although early, or late problems get solved the way it really needs to be, people get really hurted when they start blaming them for things that really didn't happen. If this story is updated it should be much better, but this still happens in life, and it has been happening from long ago. Although I was not there, in 1960 to tell if this problem happened in that time, this story is an evidence that in that time, that problem really happened.

Still, this play needs to be updated so it can be more revelant. For example, when Tommy says that aliens may be the ones who are causing the danger, the residents reacted in a crazy way. They inmediately discarted this option. If they update this story, I would include that the residents may think that the aliens may have been involved in the problem, this is so, because right know, we have evidence that there may be life in outer space. In the updated story, Tommy got his alien ideas from T.V programs, not only books. Also, I would include a part in which at first, the cellphones and labtops will work, but then the power of this instruments failed again. This is so, because I would like to show the technology that the world has in daily life. The location of the story would be a big city. The around land would be filled with buildings, houses markets etc., not only trees and natural things. Finally, include a part were people try to use an electric plant, but the can't. All this things may sound as little details, but it may help a lot to make the story modern and better.

My 11th Birthday Party!

My 11th Birthday Party is remembered by everyone because it was a party with lots of music and lights. It was in a big room, and it had Halloween deocrations; my birthday is almost the day of Halloween. In that ocasion, the goal for my party guests was to dance in the dance floor. I remeber that at first, anyone wanted to dance, but then, little by little, people began geting animated and started dancing.

The food for this ocasion, was the delicious pizza of Club Cartagena, and cake from Patricia Beron. Obviously, candies were also included in the Menu, not only because it was my Birthday, but also because it was Halloween. At the end of the party, there was many cake leftover, so I took it to my house to keep celebrating my Birthday. Everyone was satisfied with the Menu, even my little sister, who enjoys eating only certain food.

I had an awesome time at the party, we danced and singed a lot. But definetely, the best was opening the gifts at the end. I received lots of gifts! I could not complain, I had clothes, shoes, accesories, and more. I was very happy, and wished that the party wouldn't have finished.

This birthday was celebrated thanks to my parents, who gave it to me with all their effort. From the invitations to the celebration all was excellent. In addition, I had the support of my family to choose each detail that the party needed to look better. For example, the deocration of the party was excellent,it was all related to Halloween. It will never be enough the "thanks" to thank my parents for this awesome party. In addition, it will never erase form my memory.

♫♥First Draft!♥♫

I placed my view on the window at Caroline's room. I could see the murallas, and feel the hot sun in my face which entered from the big window. I placed my bag back at Caroline's pink bed. "Finally my mother decided to let me have a sleeppover," I said. My mother had never gave me permission to sleep at a friend's house. After long hours of making her realize why not, she finally gave me permission. My friends Marissa, Katherine, and Caroline were talking about fashion; their passion. I also loved fashion, but I had the opportunity to look by a window and see the centro of the beautiful city I lived in. We were the only ones at Caroline's house exept for her little brother, Mark, who was always playing jokes on people.

We were all having fun, it was all perfect until the thing that started the problem occured, Caroline said, "Hey girls, I am going to the bathroom, I'll be back in two minutes, do whatever you want to have fun." The worst of all was that the bathroom was outside the room.

When Caroline left, we were still having fun and getting fashion tips from Katherine, the most fashionable girl in the world! We opened Caroline's closet, and got out all her clothes. We put them on and made Katherine put make-up on us and made us some beautiful hair styles. Then, we started making a photoshoot by ourselves, all with the awesome camera Marissa had. I was wearing some pink clothes, which is my favorite color. Marissa, was wearing shorts and a black t-shirt. Finally, Katherine was wearing jeans and a white t-shirt with a wide belt. We all loved our clothes, especially Marissa who said: "Oh, Katherine, thank you so much, you are very fashionable, I wish I was like you." Our make up was really good, when Katherine grows up, she is going to be a cosmetologist, and a very good one. But for me, the best and pretiest of all, were the hair-styles, I am obsesed with the hair stuff, and each time I can do so, I go to the hair salon so they can make me the blower. We were having lots of fun until something stoped us.

The door of Caroline's room opened very slowly. We were very, very scared, I was the one who fealt more fear; I am the most fearful person in this whole world! "Katherine, I am very scared, I feel as if someone, a ghost or something was outside the room." I said. Katherine ignored me, and said I was telling stupid things. At first, we thought that it was just someone joking, so we continue hearing Katherine who said:

"The total-look is so out in fashion, but the shorts are so in!" Katherine wasn't scared at all, and she continued talking, and talking about fashion. Marissa, wasn't so scared, but she still felt some fear. We decided to ignore the opening door and continue talking about fashion.

Then, we heard footsteps by the room, but it couldn't be anyone at the house, because Caroline was without shoes, and Caroline's parents were not at home (only Mark, who we believed he was sleeping). It was 11:00PM, and Caroline was still at the bathroom, we were very worried. We decided we were going to be valiant and go out of the room, especially, Marissa who said: "Hey girls, don't be chickens, I am very corious, lets go and get Caroline." I was thinking it, although I was very worried for Caroline, inside, I felt lots of fear and couldn't imagine all what could happen if we left the room. Finally, Marissa and Katherine convinced me, and started telling me all those reasons we should go out, starting by the one which was that Caroline was outside, and we didn't know anything about her. When we were all set to go, something horrible happened.

The lights when on and off really fast, and no one was turning them off! We were very scared, and this time, we weren't going out of the room for nothing in the world, especially me, who this time, didn't had to think it twice, I was definetely not leaving the room. By this time, nothing worst could happen, I felt so bad inside myself, I should've not left Caroline leave the room. But this part, the part I am going to tell you right now, was the scariest and most awful experience I had ever had in my whole life! Something with a white blanket on top, and a candle in it's hand entered the room making the scariest sounds I had ever heard. My friends and me, couldn't speak, we were in shock and couldn't say nothing about what was happening, we were all hugged and very scared at the floor!

The next thing that happened was that the thing, got off the blanket, and you will never believe it, it was Caroline! "Hey, don't get scared, it was all me!", Caroline said.

"Ok, ok I'll be sure that next time I don't scare you ok?"

She had been playing a joke on us, she is a very joker person. I felt a relief inside me and began thanking God in my mind it was Caroline and not anything else. Now, we were safe, and so was Caroline.

"But, how did you do all those scary things?", I asked.

"The door I pushed it with a ribbon so you couldn't see me, it was very hard, because you were always turning back to see if I would arrive any sooner. In the footsteps part, I put a tape recorder in which before, I had recorded the sound of footsteps, that was Mark's idea. Finally, the lights I controlled them from the fuse box of the house." We were all impressed on the imagination of that girl, although we were very scared, we congratulated her for having such an immagination. From that day and on, I have been having less afraid than I had always been.

Cheerleading!

Two years ago, my friends and I decided to continue the school's tradition; cheerleading. At first, we had no idea about it, but little by little we got the idea and start working on it. Our coach was Ms. Elsy, she was a very good coach, she was always making the best to teach us in a way we fathom it. The first classes, were the most horrible at all! They were hard and though, we had to work and listen a lot. Later, the classes became more fun, we danced, and made pyramids, I remembered Isabel and me were flyers. Everybody saw us more than the rest of the team, because we were raised by the other team members.

Our first competition was at a coliseum about 30 min from our school. Our presentation was fun and very hard worked. At first, we did letters with our bodies that spelled: COJOWA, the abbreviation of our school. Then, we did a cheer called "Fans get Ready". That cheer was a song Ms. Elsy made for us. After, we did a dance of a song called "Beso". It was very fun, and cool to dance. In that competition, we did not won 1st place, neither, second place, nor third place. Although we didn't won, we were statisfied with our hard work, and our presentation.

Another presentation we had was in a school in the Zona Norte. We were all prepared, but the day before, the cassette were the music was fell to the floor. We thought it was nothing, and waited until the next day. The next day when we were already out to present, the cassette didn't worked. We were very scared, and waited longer. Finally the cassette worked, but it still sounded a little bad. We did our presentation, but we were very uncomfortable. At the end, we returned to our school as if nothing had happened.

Cheerleading was my passion. While I made and worked on the presentations, I felt as if nothing in the world matter more than what I was dancing and cheering on. Many people teached us cheers that the school had before, and this made us even more better. Right now, I am not a cheerleader anymore. This is so, because Ms. Elsy no longer works in my school. I hope one day, another teacher as good coach as Ms. Elsy teach us even more things, so one day we can become great, and the best cheerleaders ever!

My Worst Holiday!

Last year, I had a terrible holiday. I went to Barranquilla, for a party my parents had. 1-Arriving to the hotel, we discovered the air conditioner wasn't working. The room was 2-hot, dark, and small. 3-Ow, It was horrible! 4-Under the bed, I found an enormous cockroach! 5-When we went down to the lobby, we went directly to the restaurant. The only thing I liked there were 6-french fries, meat, and coke. That wasn't healthy, and I imagined the food much better than it was. When my parents went to the wedding I had an awful time. 7-I watched a movie, I played a game, and I ate dinner. The movie I watched was the worst, it was scary and then in the night, I couldn't sleep. I lost the game, like always, I always loose in Monopoly. Last, the dinner was awful, the pizza was cold, ugly, and had to much cheese. Finally, I slept until the next day. (It was still hot)

When I woke up, I was sweating, and so was my family. We asked my parents to tell us about the wedding. My parents told us that the guests of the wedding arrived 8-by car, by taxi, and on bus. My parents went on foot, they arrove to the wedding very, very sweat, as they were in the moment they were telling us the story. They also told us that the food of the party made my mom feel bad. After this awful trip, we promised ourselves, we weren't returning to that hotel never ever!

1-Introductory Participial Phrases
2-Series of Modifiers
3-Interjections
4-Introductory Prepositional Phrases
5-Introductory Adverb Clause
6-Series of Objects
7-Series of Independent Clauses
8-Series of Phrases

Rosario Islands

The Rosario Islands are a place were you can go and relax yourself. The sound of the ocean makes you feel tranquillity; it is a very satisfying feeling. There, you can do many things, go scuba diving, go swimming, ride donut and many other things. I am going to tell you about an experience I once had.

Last Novembrinas, I went to Gabriela’s island. She is a good friend of mine, my parents and her parents are also very good friends. The first day we arrived at 2:00 P.M. As soon as we got there, we went into the ocean. It was delicious; it was cold and very clear. A few hours later, we rode kayak around the island to take a look how was it. About at 5:30 P.M we went to the Aquarium. There, we gave food to the dolphins and took a look at other animals. Once we got to the island, we took a bath and then eat dinner. After dinner, we played Monopoly and other game. Finally, we went to bed until the next day.

The following days were similar to this one, except that our parents decided to rent a donut. We passed almost all this days riding donut, scuba diving, and riding kayak, it was very fun! At lunch time we had, fish, which is delicious, or meat, chicken etc. The food part was very good, all food was delicious. At nights, we went to the top part of the island, there we took a look at the stars and watched for falling stars, it was very cool. After a whole week of being at the islands we returned home. I was very tired!

Solving Problems

In my life, I have several ways to solve problems. For example, I can talk with the person and ask her if he or she forgives me or if we can get to an agreement. If the conflict is more severe, we can ask for help from other people or authority. Sometimes, I get mad very fast, so I yell at the person instead of calmly try to talk with the person and get top an agreement. I consider this as a bad habbit. Obviously, if I am under pressure I use strategies that give more accurate solutions, I may go with the faster way, so the problem is solved faster, and I get out from the pressure. For example, if I know I am not going to get to an agreement with someone I may ask for help first, instead of talking with the person. If I ask for help to someone it would be my parents or a very special friend. This is so, because this are the people I trust most, and I know they are not going to say to anyone else without my permission.

I remembered a problem I had when I was in fourth grade, three years ago. Two more friends and me, told something to a friend she didn't like. We told her tattletale for saying something to the teacher we didn't want her to say. We told her that because were very angry that she told to the teacher we weren't paying attention in class, we were talking while the teacher was talking. After the mistake was made, we tried to get to an agreement, but she went to the principal and told her what had happened. The next day, we were send to the principal's office and had a talk. We were punished by the school, and by our parents. My parents were very mad at me, I talked with my mom and told her that the problem was minimum and that she was forming a pandemonium for something very, very small! My mom came to the school and talked with the principal, but the principal told her I had no excuse for telling that to the girl. I felt very bad, it was the first time I was sent to the office and I was scared they were going to punish me hard. At the end, they only gave a recess detention, but I was still very scared. After, we talked with the girl we had the problem with and everything was fixed.

Barranquilla Games!

As always, Barranquilla Games is one of the Middle School tournaments. Some friends and I went to play in our school's basketball team, that was last year. We got to Barranquilla in a very cool bus. In the bus, we had much fun, se sanged, laugh, and ate. We arrived to Barranquilla one hour later. When we arrived, we went directly to the Parrish School, which was the place were the competition was going to take place. Every team played a game, after all the games were finished, the bus drove us to the hotel, Barranquilla Plaza. I remembered I stay in a room with Lichi and Margui. We settled up there and then we went to Buena Vista mall.

In the Buena Vista mall, we had lots of fun! First, we ate dinner at Crepes and Waffles, I remembered I ate a Bolognesa Crepe, it was delicious! Then, all my friends and I went to City Park. City Park is a game room were everyone goes. I got on the Pirate Boat, Chocking Cars and Ola Marina. I also played in some machines. At the end, we were tired of playing, so we decided to go and look at some stores. It was really fun, but there were many things we saw and couldn't buy. That day I had lots of fun!

The next day, we woke up early to go to the school again. We picked all our things because we weren't returning to the hotel. When we arrived to the Parrish School everyone played their last games. My team won every game it played. This made my team be in the first place. We were very glad of gaining that trophy. Cojowa also won the Sportmanship Trophy. This trophy was given to us because we played clearly and treated each other nicely. All of Cojowa was hapy after this announcement. Although all teams weren't in first place, that trophy meant al lot to me and the rest of the school.

Finally, having this trip was awesome. I had lots of fun, and best of all I was with my friends. It was my first time at Parrish School, so I got to know all the school and the students. It had a great time, and I hope this year I get to go again.

Blogging, Fun Way of Learning

While I was reflecting on my expectations on blogging, I realized how they are similar to what it really is. I knew blogging was going to be a great and very fun experience, I think it is very interesting that people around the world can see what you write and can make. Although it is very fun, sometimes it's hard to maintain it. You need to be always publishing comments and posts, and always updating it. Also, you need to be aware of always publishing things with appropiate language, and without spelling mistakes.

I feel very good about having a blog. I think it is very fun that I can say to a person to type my web direction and they can see all what I have posted. Also, it is more easier than going everywhere with a journal, and get tired of writing, while in the computer, you type and type and never get tired.

My feeling has only change a little since the begining. Although I always knew it was going to be fun and easier, sometimes it's harder than I imagined.This is so because you don't know what to write, and if you make a little mistake or so, everyone is going to see it. Or, if you want to say something but don't want others to see it, you can't post it.

The technical aspects, are something designed for kids. For example, inserting pictures, is something easy, and blogger makes it that way so that kids don't have problems in such things. Also, adding links to your blog is not as difficult as I thought it would be. It is something easy that leads you to something more specific.

Something surprising of blogging is that everyone can see what you post. As soon as you post something, all the world can see it and post you comments.

Posting comments is also another good thing. Little by little, I have been learning how to make better comments each time. It feels good that other people can give you advices by posting comments without even knowing you. Finally, making a blog was something I would always be proud of.

Maria Sharapova

This gorgeous young lady, is known as the third best tennis player in the world in the category of women. She was borned in April 19, 1987 in Russia.

It has been a rumor that Sharapova has been dating another tennis player called Andy Roddick, but he says they are just friends. They are often called "Rodapova" for their awesome power in the sport. Roddick is the image of Lacoste, while Sharapova wears Nike at the court.

Maria Sharapova just won the 2006 US Open. The final was against Justine Henine-Hardenne. This final was won 6-4, 6-4 by Sharapova. Sharapova weared a black Nike dress.It had a neckline of crystals at the front, and an ovaled whole at the back.

Trivia:

Residence: Bradenton, Florida
Place of Birth: Nyagan, Siberia, Russia
Height: 1.88m
Weight: 68kg

An Exaggerated Story!

I just read a story called Three Skeleton Key. Although it was a "scary story" it didn't scare me, but it was very interesting. It reminds me to an experience I had. One day I was at a friend's house, and out of the sudden a rat came. We were very scared and had to brought another person to kill the rat. The worst is that I was with my scariest friend, she scares herself with some stupid things. As I was reading the story, I realized how we formed a pandemonium because of a little rat, while other people don't say nothing about a big rat. This was very different from the story, because in the story there are hundreds of rats, while in my friend's house there was only one.

I wonder why the author exaggerated to much. If I was the author I wouldn't exaggerate so much in the part where it says that there where so many rats they covered all of the light house, this makes it look more fiction, and for my opinion I like realistic stories better. The good thing about this story is that it intrigues you of what is going to happen next. While my teacher read the part that the ship was wandering around the key I was very intrigue of what was going to happen next. At the end I really like it, so I think I didn't waste my time reading it, so I really recommend you Three Skeleton Key, a good story I read in my English class.

My Trip To New York City!

In summer vacations of 2005 my mother had a wonderful surprise planned for me. Before, she had gone a couple of times to New York City, New York, and she knew I wanted to go. One day she told me I was going, I was so excited I didn’t even ask her who we were going with. Two days before the trip, I discovered that I was going with my mom, Sandra and Aileen (friends of my mom), their sons and Valentina, one of my best friends! We couldn’t wait to get there; we both knew this was going to be a wonderful experience!

When we arrived on July 11th to New York it was midnight. In our ride to the hotel we passed through Times Square, which is a street in New York City. This street is awesome! It is filled with lights of all the colours and big advertisements of the coolest stores. The next day, we went to World Trade Centre, where the Twin Towers used to be. When I saw that hole I almost fall to the floor! It is very, very big! That night we went to The Empire State. We saw the entire city illuminated, it was very cool. We also went to The Statue of Liberty. There we ate lunch and walk around the island, it was a great experience. Other places I went were: Mars 2112, which is a restaurant like the planet, Mars. The Science Museum, The Wax Museum, and The Metropolitan Museum were so interesting I could spend a lifetime visiting them! I had fun in all and every place I visited in that awesome city.

Visiting NYC, the capital of the world was an experience I will never forget. From the moment I jumped out of the airplane to the moment I came back to Cartagena were the best moments of my life. From the food to my shops, it was all great. Although I didn’t want to leave New York it was time to see my father, my brother, and my little sister again. It will never be enough to say thanks to my family, because this trip was the best trip I’ve ever made. I hope one day I will visit this awesome city again.

Rembering Steve Irwin

The crocodrile hunter Steve Irwin, dies as a Stingray attacked him. Dina El Nabli wrote a report on Irwin's life and death called "Remebering Steve Irwin". This article in Time for Kids News shows the biography of the man who spend his life facing danger.

Animal lovers around the world are paying tribute to a brave and beloved conservation hero today. Steve Irwin, also known as
the “crocodile hunter,” died after being attacked by a stingray at Australia’s
Great Barrier Reef. He was 44.

I think this man, called “passionate environmentalist” by Australians was a person who triumph in life. All his movies came to be loved by all the world. He helped the humanity discovered each time more about the environment. He was a brave man who faced danger as if it was an obligation. Irwin's death was big loss for the environment all around earth. I hope one day any other person around the world take care of animals as Irwin once did it.

Some of My Friend's Blogs

This is my friend Sara's blog, she likes to dance and laugh a lot. She is a very good friend and a very dedicated person.
http://sara112.blogspot.com/

Another interesting blog is Isabel's. She likes people to call her Isa and loves making people laugh. I will never forget all the funny words she makes up.

And last is Suad's Blog. She likes people to call her Suadi. She loves to laugh, play soccer and play basketball.

Technology Makes Work Easier

Technology affects my education in good and bad ways. For example, the computer helps me work easier, because it has certain programs to type, draw, find information easier etc... Other things can be photocopiers, who help you learn in an easier way and understand more. On the other hand, there are bad things to. For example, in the television, computer, etc... unexpected and inappropriate things can appear on your screen. These things can make your child or you learned things he or she shouldn't. Technology also makes students lazier each time,they think they can leave all for the last moment because they have a computer that can make them work easier and faster.

My expectations for making a blog are very high. I expect it to be fun and interesting. I like seeing other people's point of view and what they think about the world. I will also like others to see what I think and can do. Another things is that I think is great that people around the world can leave you comments and this makes you be better each time.