This summer I have so many fun and exciting trips planed. I plan on going to Indonesia, Thailand, and Cambodia. My first flight leaves on May 30 at 9:00 PM so the last day of school. As soon as I come home from school I plan to immediately take a shower and get all of my bags downstairs. I plan on bringing a carry on luggage, a check in luggage, and a backpack. I think that we will leave the house at around 5:00 and then we will arrive to LAX at around 6:00. Although we are not taking our own car as we can’t fit up to 10 bags in it, so we will be calling one of those big uber vans. From LAX we will have a connecting flight from Vancouver, Canada to Taipei, Taiwan. Although I am quite worried as there are currently conflicts between Taiwan and China so we may have to rebook some of our flights. From Taipei we will fly to Bali, Indonesia where we will stay five days. I think that we are going to stay in Bali for around three days and then we are going to take a flight to a island in Indonesia that I have forgotten the name of. On that island my parents have informed me that they have rented a small yacht for my siblings and I for our birthdays. From the island we will take a flight to Bangkok, Thailand where we will stay seven days. In Thailand we plan on visiting water markets and their malls as they are quite popular for them. I also plan to buy lots of clothes as it is cheaper over their. Im also worried about Thailand because their was recently a 7.7 earthquake their. From Bangkok we are going to Phnom Penh, Cambodia for two weeks. In cambodia we plan on visiting lots of family all over the country in city’s such as Battambang, Siem Reap, Kampot, and Phnom Penh. We also plan on visiting our new house in Cambodia as my parents had purchased it last year and it has just been completed. From Phnom Penh we will fly back to America and go back to living our normal lives.
Rad Reading-March
This month I read a book called A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket. This book is about survival, wits, resilience, and the importance of family. As the story begins, we learn about three siblings– Violet the eldest, Klaus the middle child, and Sunny the youngest–all being recently orphaned by a house fire. With nowhere to go, their distant relative Count Olaf reaches out to take them in. As they arrive to their new home, they realize that it is not an the ideal place to house children in. Count Olaf immediately sends them off to do chores and tasks for him, such as cooking for him and cleaning almost every crevice of his large home. The siblings soon realize that the only reason they were taken in is because he wanted their inheritance, passed down from their now deceased parents, all to himself. Despite the challenges they are facing, the three try to outsmart Count Olaf to escape his nefarious clutches.
I liked this book because it was captivating for its dark humor, intriguing mysteries, and memorable characters. If your are fan of mellow story’s that are not very happy then this book is the perfect fit for you. I enjoyed how unique the humor was in the sense that was subtle with deep meaning.
My favorite character from the book is Violet. I like Violet because of her resilience, protectiveness, and resourceful. For example on page 64 Volet says “But he struck my brother! Look at his face”! This quote shows how much Violet cares for her siblings, and that she is willing to stand up to Count Olaf even with knowing that he is very scary and might harms her. I also admire how willing she is to defend people close to her and I think that it is very admirable.
My favorite quote from the book is “I’m not your countess” (Snicket 128). This quote is meaningful to me because it shows Violet’s defiance to Count Olaf and her independence. This quote also inspires me to stand up to anyone who tries to oppress me. While exactly the same situation, I find that my two older sisters often boss me around and make me do things that they are suppose to do., so seeing Violet stand up to her oppressor gives me hope that i can stand up to mine.
Who’s coming to my dinner?
Their are many people I would want to invite to dinner, but these are my top three my grandma on my mums side, my grandpa on my mums side, and my mum. I would invite my grandpa because I have never met him before and I think that it would be really nice to say hi and get to know him. My mum has told me that he is really nice and that he spoils all of his grandkids which I would assume is including me. I would ask him silly question like how my mum and uncles acted when they were younger and if any of them were troublemakers. The reason that I would invite my mum is so that she can get to see her dad my grandpa. She hasn’t seen him in over 20 years since he passed and I think she would really like to connect with him again. I would also invite her because she just radiates joy wherever she goes. She was also unable to be with him when he past and was unable to go to his funeral so I think seeing him again would add some long lost clarity. I would invite my grandma also because she can reconnect with her husband and with me and my mum. We only get to see her once every few years so I think that it would be really neat for us to see her again and she is getting quite old to. Although whenever I am with her she makes this delicious soup and noodle dish so I would ask her to make me that after the dinner is over.
My dream job!
If I could have any job in the entire world, it would be an attorney. One reason that I would like to be an attorney is to help defend the innocent. If someone were to be wrongfully accused of something it would be horrible for them to get in trouble for that thing that they had no part in. As an attorney I would be in a special position where I could help them prove their innocence in a legal and safe way. Another reason I want to be an attorney is to make money. Although this may sound a bit greedy people need to realize that our world revolves around money and without it you hold no place or position in our world. With the fine amount of money I would be earning I would be able to afford a modest car and home. I would also be able to afford all of the yummy food I desire. The last reason why I would like to become an attorney is to have my own freedom. What I mean by this is that I would like to open my own law firm. With this I would be able to choose my clients and the lawyers and attorneys who work for me. I would have the freedom to do whatever I think is right without getting in trouble for my actions. The type of lawyer that I would like to be is a corporate lawyer. Corporate lawyers defend corporation and companies, they are also the highest payed lawyers in America.
What would I do if I were invisible for 24 hours????
I am invisible! It was a cold and rainy night when BAM! I was stuck by lightning cause I’m one in a million. I had passed put for who knows how long, but when I woke up I felt a cramp in my hand. I raised my hand up to look at it then suddenly I realized that it was not there along with the rest of my body. Although I am not that surprised as if were to happen to anyone then it would obviously happen to me. I soon realize all the opportunities that have now opened up for me now in my new life. Me someone who always craves food thinks of an idea. Im going to Cheesecake Factory! I arrive at the Cheesecake Factory and decide what food I’m going to get from the kitchen cause no one will notice me taking food. A sudden idea arose to me. I don’t just have to pick one meal I can get and eat as many as I want! I go stand next to the hot bar area where they put all of the food that needs to be delivered to customers. Each time a food item gets placed down I take a bite. After around twenty dishes later I get full and decide what is next on my agenda. I finalize my ideas for the day and decide on two more activities annoying people I don’t like and yanking my enemies hair. I would go to people I don’t like and push them and trip them. I wouldn’t feel bad because they have obviously done things to deserve it. The last objective on my List is yanking peoples hair. If anyone had recently made me mad I would find them and yank their hair. Even if the person didn’t make me mad I would still yank their hair because I bet they have done something to deserve it. All of these things of course would not affect the people closest to me including my teachers. As I would walk home I start to realize that that I am appearing back to my normal form. Oh well thats my day as an invisible person.
Rad Reading-Febuary
This month I read a book called The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. I have not finished reading this book yet; I am currently on page 232. The Song of Achilles is about love, devotion, and the inevitability of death. Patroclus, an exiled prince, meets Achilles, a shining demigod blessed with divine skill and talent. As their friendship grows, Patroclus soon realizes his love for Achilles transcends a casual friendship. Achilles’ mother, Thetis, not wanting Achilles to be with a mortal, sends him off to train in the mountains with a master by the name of Chiron. Patroclus follows after hearing rumors of Achilles’ sendoff. The pair spend two years in the mountains learning skills such as hunting, cooking, and fighting. After the two years, Achilles receives sudden news that Helen, the greek princess, had been kidnaped by the Trojans. Achilles and Patroclus leave the mountains to go back to Achilles’ home kingdom of Phthia. Achilles’ mother, the sea nymph Thetis, thinking her son was too young to go to war kidnaps him in the middle of the night and takes him to the island of Skyros. On this island Achilles hides as one of the dancers of the island’s imperial court. Patroclus begs Peleus to tell him where Achilles went and eventually Peleus gives in. Patroclus meets Achilles on the island and they reunite. Although, the messenger, Odysseus, finds out where Achilles had been hiding and tells him of a prophecy that if Achilles does not go to the war then his divine powers would be taken away. Achilles, not wanting to lose his powers, gives in and goes to war with the Trojans. Patroclus, devoted to him, goes as well despite him hating the thought of blood and death. This is all I’ve read so far.
I liked this book because it shows two young adults overcoming challenges that one may never experience. In this book we get to see a beautiful depiction of love and loss. This story is so dynamic with adventure, fighting, mystery, and so many more fascinating concepts. If you are a fan of all of the things that I have listed above then I think this book is a perfect fit for you.
My favorite character from the story is Patroclus. I like Patroclus because of his compassion and capacity for love even at his own personal cost. For example, on page 134 Patroclus says “I could recognize him by touch alone, by smell; I would know him blind, by the way his breaths came and his feet struck the earth. I would know him in death, at the end of the world.” This quote shows Patroclus’ unwavering and profound love for Achilles. Even in the most extreme circumstances, Patroclus could recognize Achilles without even looking at him, showing the depth of their connection and relationship.
My favorite quote from the story is “He is a weapon, a killer. Do not forget it. You can use a spear as a walking stick, but that will not change its nature” (Miller. 181). This quote is meaningful to me because I deeply resonate with the message that, despite attempts to mask or hide someone’s violent nature, their true self will always show and be there no matter what. I think it’s interesting to see that ultimately a person’s true identity can never be hidden, and eventually their true authentic self will always shine through the barrier they have built in and around them.
WHERE AM I?
Imagine being stuck on an abandoned island. That is my life! It was about two years ago when I drifted ashore this small tropical island. From what I remember I was on a cruise ship in Hawaii. It was the dead of night when I was looking out from my room’s balcony when. . .I felt someone push me! From all the darkness I could not make out the face of the pusher but what I could feel was my body hitting the cold and salty ocean water. From there I woke up parched and sandy with a cut on my back. From what I could tell I was in the middle of know where! I soon realized my situation and accepted the truth. No one was going to find me. With the realization of the situation I got a stick and placed it down on the sand near the shore and started walking around the island. From what I could tell I had almost looped around the island and sunset was approaching. I saw my stick but it was almost completely submerged in the sea water. With my amazing senses I soon realize that the high tide was coming in. I start trailing to what I could tell was the center of the island surrounded by trees and vegetation. I start to gather sticks to build a hut when suddenly I sensed something watching me. I looked around and I saw a pair of bright yellow eyes staring at me. I screeched when the beast jumped out towards me and I shielded my head with my arms. Surprisingly nothing happened when I took my arms down I just saw a white fluffy bunny staring at me with confusion. I realize that it would be no threat and I continued constructing my hut in the center of the island which I now call my home. As I continue to get more comfortable with my life I start making a routine and I follow it step by step everyday. It starts with me waking up at the crack of dawn and falling back asleep because I realize that its my life now and I make the rules. I sleep in for a few more hours and wake up when the bunny I found on the first day starts jumping on my stomach. Now that I have woken up I need to start my day. Im in the shade so it is not to hot it is around 80 degrees Fahrenheit but when I enter the sun it is hot and humid and from what I can tell it is over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. I grab my makeshift bucket that I had make out of tree bark and I go down the sparkling ocean to collect water in my bucket. Once I collect my water I will go back to my hut where I will make a fire from my natural skills. I will boil the water until it does not taste salty. From their I will do things such as gathering food scouting the island and crying. The reason why I am crying is because I hate not being near people and I can get homesick even staying at my cousins home for a few hours. I will take a midday nap to make the days go by faster. I am going to wake up by the rumbling from my stomach, although their would be no food to eat because during my gathering I got bored and just sat down in the water. I would start crying again because i’m hungry and walk out into the the setting sun. From my island their is a beautiful scarlet sunset. I would soon fall asleep on the sand waiting for my days to repeat and repeat and repeat and REPEAT!
Rad Reading- January
This month I read a book called Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. This book is a sequel of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. Ari and Dante learn to navigate their love for one another along with their desires and dreams. Throughout their journey they go through hardship, loss, and vulnerability. As Ari and his father rebuilt their relationship his father Jamie has a sudden and unexpected heart attack. Unfortunately he dies in his son’s hands. Shortly after Dante and Ari make their decisions on where to go to college. Ari get accepted to the University of Texas in El Paso, but Dante gets accepted into a art university in Paris. Dante deciding whenever or not he should go or not Ari sees this as him trying to leave him and they part ways. At a moments whim Ari buys a plane ticket to Paris, and they reconcile inside the Louvre in front of Dante’s favorite painting The Raft of the Medusa by Théodore Géricault.
I like this book because it shows how dynamic one’s life can be. Throughout the story we get to see love, heartbreak, death, and strength. It also shows the growth of one’s self in becoming an adult. The book shows the reality of being a teenager with the struggles and fun. It shows that your life is for yourself and to live it how you want with the people you love.
My favorite character from the book is Ari because he values other people. Some evidence that shows this is “You matter more to the universe than you will ever know”(Sáenz, 2). This quote shows how much Ari care for Dante and how much he loves him. It also shows how important Dante is to Ari and how far his devotion runs.
My favorite quote from the books is “Sometimes you’ll feel the loneliness of exile. And sometimes you’ll feel the happiness of belonging”(Sáenz, 27). This quote shows that when you are around certain people you feel different emotions. For example when you are with people you don’t know or you don’t feel comfortable with you might feel like you don’t belong, but when you are around people you trust then you feel comfortable and as the quote says “you’ll feel the happiness of belonging”(Sáenz, 27).
My summer holiday
What am I doing this summer? This summer I have many exciting and captivating plans. Here are the steps of my holiday. I am possibly leaving a week before school ends so around the 25th of May. My mother and father plan on taking my siblings and I to Cambodia and Thailand. We plan on going to Cambodia to visit family and visit our new home that just been built around two months ago, and we plan on going to Thailand just for holiday and fun. We plan on leaving America from LAX and we are going to have a layover in Taipei Taiwan. From their we are going to fly to Bangkok Thailand. Our stay in Thailand will last one week visiting water markets, temples, castles, and animal sanctuaries. From Bangkok we will go to Phnom Penh which is the capital of Cambodia. From there my uncle will pick us up from the airport. Our first visit will most likely be my grandmas home In the heart of Phnom Penh. In America the drive to her home would be thirty minutes but in Cambodia with their horrific traffic it would take closer to two hours. My grandmas home has a noodle shop underneath it which she owns. Next to her shop my cousin owns a cafe. The noodle shop is outdoors though so I never hangout there, but the cafe has AC and is a perfect place to be in 100 degree heat with 90 percent humidity. From her home/shop I will visit my home, Angkor Wat (world largest temple), markets, and many more attractions. This is my summer.
Wise old man quotes
In Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling Dumbledore states “We must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy.” This quotes means that when we are given two options we need to choose what is better for us or what is better for others. What you choose represents the kind of person you are. For instance a selfish and greedy person would choose what is easier for them instead of trying a little harder and doing something good that affects everyone. A way that this quote relates to me is when I look around myself I see other people and I realize oh if we were doing something together they wouldn’t leave me alone to do it my self. If I see a friend that would rather leave to do something else that only benefit’s them instead of doing something that we both have been working on, then I know its time to distance myself from them. Another alternative to this is to help that friend realize what their priorities are, and to help them see that if you cant dedicate yourself into what where doing then i’m the wrong person to work with.