Reflection on the Project

   In the end, this blog project was pretty fun but not something I would choose to do again. I liked how we were allowed to think of our own topic and not have a topic that we might not like assigned to us. I also think that I learned a lot about incorporating current events and interviews into my entries. This project definitely made me less of a procrastinator. It was helpful but at the same time annoying that we had to post every day. It made me more willing to work ahead and not wait until the last minute to write.

  At first when we got this project assignment I was excited. I thought it would be fun to write about something I wanted to write about! My feelings definitely changed when I had to think of a topic. That was the part of the project that I struggled most with. I felt that after I started the project more ideas for blogs came to me. My topic was relatively easy to think of subtopics, but it sometimes was hard for me. I found it hard to make my topic interesting for other people. If I thought my topic was interesting, I would ask a friend and they would say it was boring. I think I also had a hard time because I’m the kind of person tends to rely on their friends for opinions and ideas. After a while I stopped asking and I learned that if I liked it, it was good enough. 

Influential People #13

   When I was a kid growing up my mom gave me all sorts of advice. Today I can still hear her saying, “Eesha choose your friends carefully. They are the ones who will be there for you when you need them.” My friends at Newtown Friends have influenced my life in more ways then I can ever imagine. Without them I wouldn’t be the person I am today. All twenty-nine of my classmates in someway have impacted my time at Newtown Friends in big and small ways. If I tried to write all the ways my friends have influenced me, it would be a long list.

   Alessandra is one of my newest friends this year. Through the course of this year we have grown a lot closer! One of the characteristics I love most about Alessandra is her willingness to help her friends no matter what. She is somebody you can always count on to have your back. We always find ways to make each other laugh, even when the joke isn’t even that funny. Whenever I’m with her I find myself always laughing. She has a very artistic personality and is insanely creative. She’s inspired me to express myself further than I have, and I will always be thankful for that.

   Another one of my new friends is Jessie. She is one of the funniest people I have ever met. We have so many jokes about donuts and other meaningless things. I can talk to her and always find myself smiling no matter how bad of a mood I am in. 

   Emma has been my best friend since 6^th grade. We have been through a lot together. We have had so many fun experiences at camp and school. She has introduced me to Urban Outfitters and rainbow sprinkle pancakes. Without her making me feel fat everyday by eating healthier than everyone else in the class I never would have started eating healthier. Emma has taught me that it is okay to be different and you don’t need to be perfect all the time.

   YeonJae is one of the nicest people I have ever met in my life. In the three years I have gone to school with her she has never said a mean thing about anybody. She shares her Korean chocolate crackers with me everyday without getting irritated like most people would.

   Ben is one of the people in my life that makes me laugh every day. He is one of the people who can cheer you up anytime. If I can use one word to describe Ben it would be supermegafoxyawesomehot (Ben told me to write this.) 

   Sam is one of the best friends anyone could have. He would stick up for you and wouldn’t ever judge you. He is always there for you when you need him and is really funny. He is insanely funny and always makes you laugh when you are around him. Sam has an unique personality, and is never afraid to be different. 

  

  

Influential Event #12

NFS and our sister school in Costa Rica

  Costa Rica was something I had been looking forward to since 6^th grade and one of the reasons I chose Spanish. The trip to Costa Rica provided me with an unparalleled personal insight into the people and their culture. I learned, on the Costa Rica trip, that sometimes you have to let go of  your customary ways and enjoy the feeling of trying or doing something new.

   I loved traveling to Costa Rica because it forced me challenge my norms and step out of my comfort zone. Before going on the ziplines, looking down from heights would make my heart beat a little faster. Knowing how breathtaking the view and experience would be, and how much I would regret not going, compelled me to join the rest of our group on the zip lines. I ended up having the time of my life, seeing the beauty of the rainforest from above.
  As with my zipline experience, staying with my homestay family was nerve-wracking for me. I was scared to death of staying for three nights at a stranger’s house. My fears were only more pronounced when I noticed the gun hanging on the wall. My fears were uncalled for. My homestay parents welcomed me into their home without hesitation, cooked vegetarian food for me, and talked with me about my day and about my life in the US.

   I wouldn’t change a thing about my trip to Costa Rica, and I hope that the memories and lessons I learned will stay with me throughout my life.

Influential Event #11

Dr. Halima Bashir

   Darfur is located in the western region of Sudan, Africa. The conflict began in February 2003 when the Sudan Liberation Army and Justice and Equality Movement accused the Sudanese government of oppressing non-Arab Sudanese in favor of Sudanese Arabs. The other side of the conflict was composed mainly of the official Sudanese military and police, and the Janjaweed. Through a system of torture, rape and murder, the Janjaweed, has succeeded in killing almost one half million black tribal Africans since February of 2003 and the number continues to climb daily. Over 3 million people have been displaced and 4 million are reported to be starving. An estimated 500 people a day die in the region. Disease takes its toll on a great number of people in the refugee camps, as there are inadequate medical supplies, shelter, food, as well as poor sanitation for the excessive number of people who need it.

   There are many unacknowledged heroes in Darfur who everyday make a difference. One such individual is Dr. Halima Bashir, a young Darfur woman whom the Sudanese authorities have tried to silence by beatings and gang rape. All for saying a few misplaced comments about the Sudanese government. Halima witnessed unimaginable atrocities in Darfur. She treated forty little girls who were raped by the Janjaweed. Soon afterward, two United Nations officials showed up at the clinic for information about the attack. The Janjaweed tortured Halima just for telling the UN officials the truth about the rape.

   It takes a huge amount of courage to tell the truth knowing that the repercussions against you can be killer. It is also admirable that even after the torture and the psychological torture she will suffer her whole life she doesn’t regret telling the UN officials. Halima said, “What happened to me happened to so many other Darfur women. If I didn’t tell, all the other people don’t get the chance — and I have the chance. I am a well-educated woman, so I can speak up and send a message to the world.” It is incredibly selfless of her to give up her freedom and safety to stand up against the oppressive regime to save others. Standing up for ourselves against our friends is scary enough, but I cannot imagine facing the threat of torture. It is hard for us to challenge the social rules and stand up for our classmates. But this woman could face the threat of torture or death for individuals she doesn’t have any connection with. That is true courage. Halima’s bravery contrasts with the world’s fecklessness and failures on Darfur. 

Traveling #10

   Besides the obvious lessons I learned such as not answering a phone at security or not arriving at the airport 20 minutes before boarding time, traveling abroad has taught me a lot and influenced my life in many ways. I learned to appreciate what I have when I traveled to India and Costa Rica, their appreciation for what they have made me realize how much I value material goods. Travelling also helped me understand that a smile really is something everybody knows whether or not they speak your language.

   There are millions of people in this world who don't know where their next meal is coming from or where they will sleep at night or have any hope of a happy future. I realized that many of us rely on material goods to give us our happiness. It made me realize the value of simple gifts in my life. Going to India and watching men and children play cricket with wooden sticks and balls with genuine smiles on their faces made me think of the value of material goods in my life. Another eye-opening experience for me was visiting our sister school in Costa Rica and giving them school supplies. It made me understand that we take so many things for granted. If I lose a pencil, it doesn’t affect me. I know I can go and buy new ones. For the students in Costa Rica, it is not always that simple and they learn to appreciate what they have. Visiting the school, I learned to let go and stop harping about things like homework, long lines, and a lack of things I thought I needed to have in order to be happy. I now know that I should appreciate what I have and not rely on material goods to bring me happiness.

   I found that cultural divides are definitely not unyielding. I was proud to show that I could truly communicate through a smile or a kind gesture. It doesn’t matter what color your skin is, what language you speak. We all laugh, cry, hug, and smile over the same things. I found out in Denmark how influential a smile really can be in making new friends across the globe. I am clueless about soccer, and apparently I wasn’t the only one in Denmark. A smile and a few hesitantly spoken words on the side of the red carpet for the Portuguese soccer team helped me make a new friend. We bonded over our mutual confusion of soccer and her telling me about her life in Denmark. We never ended up seeing each other again but I always remember that a smile was what ended up saving me from two hours of boredom.

   Travel is something that I gained valuable life lessons and new outlooks on life from. I have learned to value simple gifts and the family I have. Travelling taught me to smile more at home and abroad. Smiles have helped me make new friends and occasionally make someone’s day a little brighter. All of my travel experiences have had a profound effect on my views of myself and the world in which I live. 

Photography #9

   A picture is worth a thousand words. Photography can influence the way people think and the way we perceive the events around the world. We have seen the influence of photography throughout history and still in our world today. A photograph can change the course of war in an instant. It makes an event taking place halfway around the world seem real and close to home. A photograph makes us feel like we are there and suffering or celebrating with the people in the photograph. Photography makes me look at the world in a different way. I notice minor details around me, like a butterfly on a flower, or the sun breaking through the clouds. When I’m looking through the lens of my camera, I’m able to see the world from a unique perspective. I love macro photography because the human eye can't focus as close as a macro lens. When I look through a macro lens, I am suddenly transported to a mystic and unknown tiny world.

   Anyone who knows me knows that I have thousands of pictures on my laptop. Photos from when I was a little girl up until today. I never want to forget any of the experiences I have had throughout my life. That’s the great thing about cameras, with one press of a button; they capture your most precious memories and let you treasure them forever. Photographs are visual souvenirs of your life. As graduation comes closer I worry about losing touch with my friends and forgetting the memories I had. Looking through pictures on my laptop, I realized that I will truly forget NFS because of the photographs chronicling my time here. Some are pictures with Photo Booth and others are of us laughing completely unaware of the camera’s presence. One day I will be able to look at those photographs and remember the jokes, laughs and smiles that I shared with my friends.  

Influential Event #8

    Free speech is a right we take for granted everyday. We don’t think about copyright infringement when we post videos or song lyrics on Facebook, YouTube, or Tumblr. We have never had to worry about it, until now. Now the government and millions of Americans are in a bitter debate about Internet piracy. The government has proposed two bills: The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA). The purpose of these bills is to make it harder for sites- especially those located outside the United States- to sell or distribute pirated copyrighted material such as movies and music. But these two acts will do just the opposite; they will stifle online innovation, violate the First Amendment, and virtually shut down sights like YouTube.

   The Internet is an influential tool in protesting monumental events around the globe. Social networks like Facebook and Twitter have been at the forefront of uprisings around the world, services that act as message boards for change. In the digital age we are able to reach more people with our message and make a larger impact. The Internet provides the means of catching the attention of the masses in a way none can ignore. Across the web, major sites are expressing their opposition in a way not before seen: directly and publicly, to the point of dismantling themselves entirely. Wikipedia went dark and a black banner covered up the Google logo. Their protests worked, Google moved 4.5 million to sign the petition against the two bills and 1% of all posts on Twitter were about Wikipedia’s blackout. The government should never have the power to control the flow of information. 

Pogue, David. "Copyrights and Internet Piracy (SOPA and PIPA Legislation)." The New York Times. The New York Times Company, 18 Jan. 2012. Web. 18 Jan. 2012. <http://  topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/c/copyrights/index.html?  scp=1-spot>.