Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Saturday, December 2, 2017
Self Evaluation
Word Count: 758
This semester I do not know if I would say I have necessarily learned a lot. I learned about podcasts and how to make one, but I can say however I was able to build on the skills I already know. I really enjoyed being able to take my previous knowledge, for example within videos and photography, and use it and expand on it. I was able to use my pictures from Greece and turn it into a final project rather than them being constrained to a photo album. I also enjoyed being able to use my passion for basketball and turn it into a fictional story. As I write this post however, I realize that I did learn a lot within this class this semester. I learned a lot about myself. I learned that everything is not black and white but can be expanded on or interpreted differently. I have learned that I enjoy reading and listening to narration when it is not solely related to school but has fictional aspects to it. I also learned that the things I have experienced can relate to other aspects of my life, and can be described through fiction rather than only focusing on its reality.
I really enjoyed having a class where I could free write, I could think about myself and focus on my thought processes rather than memorization I enjoyed the opportunity to be creative, to look at poems, stories, images, and videos and interpret them and analyze them how I wanted to rather than to the expectations of a teacher. I really appreciate that chance because I know when I get out of college I may chose to read for fun or expand my photography skills because I know I enjoy them, just when they're not related to school. Even though creative writing is a class, it never felt like work. I almost used blog posts and listening to podcasts as my "break" from school work because the task was enjoyable, I was doing work without realizing it.
One of my favorite moments from the class was listening to the podcast Homecoming. Sometimes when I watch TV shows or movies I fail to pay attention, I get distracted by work or my cell phone. While I listened to the podcast however I was intrigued every second of it. If I got distracted I would pause it or rewind until I found the last place I remember. It was also very new to me because I never listened to a podcast before, I could never concept how people could be so interested in them until I listened to Homecoming. I also enjoyed making the podcast because it was something new to me. I liked working with Jeff because we had similar interests. I think the story we came up with was very successful for the period of time we had to fit it within, I wish however we had more access to free sound effects because that could have really added to the final product. It could have been really amazing to go to a basketball game and record the sounds. I also am unfamiliar with downloading music so it made it challenging for me to get these things without paying for them.
One thing I wish I did differently included the movie made from the piece of fiction we read. I wish we had more time because there could have been a few very interesting things done with the video I made based off of the story line. The story had so much involved within it that I think something very successful could have come out of it with more time. I understand why we did not have a lot of time to do it however because we needed to focus on the final project as a whole.
Overall I enjoyed the class. I think out of my basic understanding of technology my projects came out well. I was always amazed by the things other students did and it has inspired me to be a little more creative. I wish I had more time in general because my projects may have came out much differently. I also wish maybe some of the blog posts I was able to be more creative. I look forward to pursuing my photography and now I know I can take more videos because I know how to put them together. I learned a little about technology, but I really learned a lot about myself and my own abilities.
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Remembering My Trip
Word Count: 1185
During high school both of my parents became ill and I was responsible for taking care of them. I missed out on many opportunities because of their illnesses. Once they passed away, and I came to college, I had very little purpose at school. I did not know what I wanted to do, I knew I wanted to go into education, however I just went with the flow. My first few months I went to class, went to work, and did school work, I never did anything fun. One day however I learned about a study abroad trip in Greece, I always wanted to go to Greece and this opportunity filled me with so much purpose. I won scholarships to cover the cost of my trip, and in May 2017 I got over the fear of leaving my other family behind, I got on a plane for the first time since I was a child, and I left for Greece.
I flew into Athens and met other students on the same trip as me. We were on the “Lifestyles of the Mediterranean” program held by the Kinesiology and Health Department. During my trip we stayed in Athens, Glyfada, Peloponnese, and Nafplio. We visited islands such as Spetses, saw the Acropolis and the Parthenon, I shopped in the Plaka, swam in the ocean, and went to the site of the first olympic games.
Out of all of these experiences, three things stand out to me more than anything else. The first thing includes volunteering at Organization Earth. Currently, there are thousands of refugees flocking to Greece everyday. These individuals stay in locations such as the old stadiums from the 2004 olympic games. These refugees are coming from Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, and more. Organization Earth was a farm that grew their own vegetables, focused on sustainability, had olive trees, had animals, and gave individuals like myself the opportunity to make a difference for these refugees. As a class we cooked a meal that was given out to over 60 refugees. This meal included Kalofagas which is a soup made of chickpeas and vegetables, we also made a rice dish. These meals were both simple but allowed an individual to not go hungry that day. I will never forget this opportunity because I learned to cook and I also got volunteer experience. I think this opportunity stands out to me because my mom always encouraged me to volunteer. We would always volunteer through girl scouts, my elementary school, or by doing things such as organizing food drives. If it was not for my mom encouraging me to do these activities, I most likely would not have the goals I have to teach and have the same passion I have to help others.
The second thing I remember the most was all of the physical activity we participated in. During the trip we took dance lessons and learned about all of the traditional dances. Different cities and islands within Greece have different dances, and in most of the cultures the men were the ones dancing. One of my favorite adventures included a hike to the top of Palamidi Castle. This hike was over 1000 steps to the top, once you got to the top you saw all of Nafplio, and there was an old prison where they would keep war criminals. Another hike we took ended at a beach where we all swam after. The water was cold because in May the temperature is the same there as it is in America. It was actually warmer in America at this time then it was in Greece. The water was crystal clear however, you could see your feet while you swam and the bottom of the ocean. One of the most amazing things about the beach was it was made entirely of rocks. Beaches were not sandy and you did not bring chairs with you to lay on the beach. All of the beaches had beach beds for you to lay on, of course they cost money,but you had no choice or you were sitting on rocks. My one friend fell asleep on them and said it was comfortable but it was not worth me trying. The entire trip was very active and we were constantly learning about the importance of physical activity. My mom was a very active person, always bringing me on hikes, swimming for hours in the ocean, or doing simple things like playing basketball outside. She loved to hike and we would go as often as we can, even if it was a quick 30 minute walk in the woods. The hikes and adventures I went on in Greece were ones she would have loved to experience. I wish she could have been with me, but on one of my trips I wore a shirt that had her picture on it so I knew she was able to experience it with me.
The last, most impactful, wonderful, life changing experience from my trip was being able to enjoy all of the Greek food. I ate feta cheese for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. I took cooking classes where I learned to make spanakopita. I tried foods I never had before like sardines, or foods I never heard of before. I learned about producing food and food sustainability. I was able to visit markets and buy from local farmers. I learned about the difference in food production from Greece compared to America. For example, feta cheese in Greece is made with sheep and goat milk, while in America it is made from cow's milk. The feta cheese in Greece was much more creamy and less salty. Another big difference from the two countries was the texture of the honey, which I am obsessed with their honey. They have a huge emphasis on the use of olive oil, nuts, and limit as many processed ingredients as possible. Food is a major aspect to their culture also because of social reasons. Dinner usually takes over 2 hours and this is when individuals have the opportunity to talk to each other rather than just eat. It was really nice to be able to appreciate food, but treat eating as an experience rather than a requirement. Eating my way through Greece was something I could also relate to my mom and the things she taught me. My mother was a fantastic cook, always encouraging me to try new things. We always would eat gyros together, but she was never afraid to try something new, or drive far for good food. Even though this is something so simple, it was important to her to make sure I embraced other cultures through their cuisine. My mom's desire to adventure and explore all aspects of life truly have shaped the individual I am today. Without her desire to learn more, I never would have taken the opportunity to travel. I am so grateful to have her passion instilled within me and I cannot wait to see what other journeys I go on in which I can relate things back to her.
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
Saturday, November 4, 2017
Monday, October 30, 2017
Multimedia Final
Word Count: 790
For my final project I intend on using the images and experiences from my Study Abroad trip. Over the summer I went to Greece for two weeks and learned about the lifestyles of the Mediterranean. We learned about the importance of healthy eating, physical activity, the history of Greece, and agriculture. My trip was two weeks long but it was the greatest experience I have ever had. I wish it was longer but I look forward to going back. During my trip we stayed in a city called Glyfada which is located in Athens for one week. During the second week we stayed in Nafplio which is located in Peloponnese which is a peninsula. I cannot wait to go back but look forward to going to other areas of Greece such as Santorini. During my trip I took photos and videos so I intend on using them for my project. I will also use words over pictures in order to help tell my story better and share my personal experiences with details you can not hear from the video clips. I am not good at using and editing video so I expect this to be a challenge for me but I am excited. Here is an example of three photos I may use, but have hundreds more.
This is an image from the Acropolis and Parthenon. What many people do not know is that there as an Acropolis and Parthenon within every city because Acropolis literally means "on top of". This is where the God, or ruler of the city, would live.
This is an image of me at a restaurant on a mountain in Athens, it was at the highest point in Athens. I wanted to go here because of inspiration from my High School Guidance counselor. Years ago she went to Greece and this was one of the places she went, so I knew I had to go as well so we could compare pictures.
Spanokopita is a food often eaten in Greece because of its food density. Being "food dense" means it has multiple nutrients and Spanokopita has carbs, vegetables, fat, and protein. I intend on using multiple food pictures because it was a very large, important part of my trip. We were always eating new things and learning about their health benefits. I learned about the benefits of wine, spices, fish, fruit, oils, and much more.
The story I want to tell incorporates what a typical day in Greece is life. I want to tell the story of what its like to be there, both the pros and cons. I want to talk about the culture and inform individuals on my experiences. I also want people to learn about why it is so important to study abroad and the benefits it has brought to my life.
During my trip I was most passionate about the element of a healthy diet. I will talk about this the most because everyday we ate, a lot, but also learned about the things we were eating. The spanokopita in the image above was actually made by the group in one of our cooking lessons. I am also going to talk about the benefits of other foods, such as breakfast and even the consumption of wine.
Luckily my inspiration for my non-fictional multimedia presentation have easy resources to draw back to. I have videos and voice recordings of my experiences, I wrote a journal during my trip, and have over 300 photos. I also may discuss my personal motivation for going on the trip and talk about how it has impacted my life after the fact. When I came to college I had no desire to study abroad, I did not think I could with my major. However, one day I randomly saw an advertisement for the trip on twitter. During my first few weeks of college I was in a bit of a funk, like many students are when adjusting to a new place. Once I saw this trip however I was filled with purpose and had a goal in mind. I ended up accomplishing this goal. I never would have wanted to learn about new cultures if it was not for my mom. She always encouraged me to try new things, and be fearless(even though the fearless thing does not always work out). I know she would be proud of me for taking advantage of this opportunity and going on the trip. My next goal is to do an alternative break and volunteer at a destination rather than receiving credit.
For my final project I intend on using the images and experiences from my Study Abroad trip. Over the summer I went to Greece for two weeks and learned about the lifestyles of the Mediterranean. We learned about the importance of healthy eating, physical activity, the history of Greece, and agriculture. My trip was two weeks long but it was the greatest experience I have ever had. I wish it was longer but I look forward to going back. During my trip we stayed in a city called Glyfada which is located in Athens for one week. During the second week we stayed in Nafplio which is located in Peloponnese which is a peninsula. I cannot wait to go back but look forward to going to other areas of Greece such as Santorini. During my trip I took photos and videos so I intend on using them for my project. I will also use words over pictures in order to help tell my story better and share my personal experiences with details you can not hear from the video clips. I am not good at using and editing video so I expect this to be a challenge for me but I am excited. Here is an example of three photos I may use, but have hundreds more.
This is an image from the Acropolis and Parthenon. What many people do not know is that there as an Acropolis and Parthenon within every city because Acropolis literally means "on top of". This is where the God, or ruler of the city, would live.
This is an image of me at a restaurant on a mountain in Athens, it was at the highest point in Athens. I wanted to go here because of inspiration from my High School Guidance counselor. Years ago she went to Greece and this was one of the places she went, so I knew I had to go as well so we could compare pictures.
Spanokopita is a food often eaten in Greece because of its food density. Being "food dense" means it has multiple nutrients and Spanokopita has carbs, vegetables, fat, and protein. I intend on using multiple food pictures because it was a very large, important part of my trip. We were always eating new things and learning about their health benefits. I learned about the benefits of wine, spices, fish, fruit, oils, and much more.
The story I want to tell incorporates what a typical day in Greece is life. I want to tell the story of what its like to be there, both the pros and cons. I want to talk about the culture and inform individuals on my experiences. I also want people to learn about why it is so important to study abroad and the benefits it has brought to my life.
During my trip I was most passionate about the element of a healthy diet. I will talk about this the most because everyday we ate, a lot, but also learned about the things we were eating. The spanokopita in the image above was actually made by the group in one of our cooking lessons. I am also going to talk about the benefits of other foods, such as breakfast and even the consumption of wine.
Luckily my inspiration for my non-fictional multimedia presentation have easy resources to draw back to. I have videos and voice recordings of my experiences, I wrote a journal during my trip, and have over 300 photos. I also may discuss my personal motivation for going on the trip and talk about how it has impacted my life after the fact. When I came to college I had no desire to study abroad, I did not think I could with my major. However, one day I randomly saw an advertisement for the trip on twitter. During my first few weeks of college I was in a bit of a funk, like many students are when adjusting to a new place. Once I saw this trip however I was filled with purpose and had a goal in mind. I ended up accomplishing this goal. I never would have wanted to learn about new cultures if it was not for my mom. She always encouraged me to try new things, and be fearless(even though the fearless thing does not always work out). I know she would be proud of me for taking advantage of this opportunity and going on the trip. My next goal is to do an alternative break and volunteer at a destination rather than receiving credit.
Monday, October 23, 2017
Friday, October 20, 2017
Author Response
Word Count: 517
Both authors were very interesting. Personally I do not read in my spare time, and the last time I did I was reading books about romance or just "teen fiction". Listening, and reading, pieces by the authors introduced me to types of literature I was unfamiliar with. Daisy Johnson focused on horror and based her stories around where she grew up. When she read her work aloud to us, I really appreciated the way her words flowed. Yes, this should be true of all authors, but her words were mystical and added to the emphasis of the type of work she writes. Unfortunately I could not grasp her main scenes of horror from such a short reading, but I still appreciated the fact that she found interest in her surrounding areas and could turn that into a work of fiction. One aspect of the time with Daisy I really enjoyed was when she explained her writing technique. Daisy referenced another author, Stephen King, and said she followed similar exercises he does as well. She told us how King will write a character, and write what he wants to happen to a character first, before he comes up with a story line. Daisy also follows this pattern which allows her to know where her stories are going to end. Daisy also mentioned how she gets comments on her unique sentence structure, but said this is most likely because of her dyslexia. After talking with her, we spoke with Rebecca Schiff. I enjoyed this conversation much more than the one with Daisy because I was able to follow her work more easily and consistently. She was very authentic, and very rare, and I enjoyed that because it was different. She spoke about things most people are uncomfortable speaking about and turned it into fiction. She read us a short story about a woman who slept with multiple men, but never felt comfortable in her own body, and also never found "the one". This made me question the sexuality of the character because maybe she did not feel comfortable with men, but could have possibly felt more comfortable with women. I also found humor in her work and found myself laughing a few times during her reading. Reading her work directly from paper was harder for me to follow, I was able to follow it very easy when she was reading aloud. One thing Rebecca mentioned included that "things going wrong, when writing about sex, are good. Erectile dysfunction is good! Premature ejaculation is good!". Even though she was referring how to write good sex scenes, I feel like the idea of things going wrong being a good thing is valid for life in general. Whether you are a writer, a chef, or a student, mistakes are how we grow and learn. Writing about the awkward moments during sex draw in the reader's attention, also because it is relatable. Another fun aspect to Rebecca is she was down for anything, she even showed us her new apartment. I enjoyed hearing from both the writers but personally connected more with Rebecca.
This is how I pictured Rebecca's Story as she told it.
I never heard of the Fenlands before Daisy so I had no idea what to expect them to look like.
Both authors were very interesting. Personally I do not read in my spare time, and the last time I did I was reading books about romance or just "teen fiction". Listening, and reading, pieces by the authors introduced me to types of literature I was unfamiliar with. Daisy Johnson focused on horror and based her stories around where she grew up. When she read her work aloud to us, I really appreciated the way her words flowed. Yes, this should be true of all authors, but her words were mystical and added to the emphasis of the type of work she writes. Unfortunately I could not grasp her main scenes of horror from such a short reading, but I still appreciated the fact that she found interest in her surrounding areas and could turn that into a work of fiction. One aspect of the time with Daisy I really enjoyed was when she explained her writing technique. Daisy referenced another author, Stephen King, and said she followed similar exercises he does as well. She told us how King will write a character, and write what he wants to happen to a character first, before he comes up with a story line. Daisy also follows this pattern which allows her to know where her stories are going to end. Daisy also mentioned how she gets comments on her unique sentence structure, but said this is most likely because of her dyslexia. After talking with her, we spoke with Rebecca Schiff. I enjoyed this conversation much more than the one with Daisy because I was able to follow her work more easily and consistently. She was very authentic, and very rare, and I enjoyed that because it was different. She spoke about things most people are uncomfortable speaking about and turned it into fiction. She read us a short story about a woman who slept with multiple men, but never felt comfortable in her own body, and also never found "the one". This made me question the sexuality of the character because maybe she did not feel comfortable with men, but could have possibly felt more comfortable with women. I also found humor in her work and found myself laughing a few times during her reading. Reading her work directly from paper was harder for me to follow, I was able to follow it very easy when she was reading aloud. One thing Rebecca mentioned included that "things going wrong, when writing about sex, are good. Erectile dysfunction is good! Premature ejaculation is good!". Even though she was referring how to write good sex scenes, I feel like the idea of things going wrong being a good thing is valid for life in general. Whether you are a writer, a chef, or a student, mistakes are how we grow and learn. Writing about the awkward moments during sex draw in the reader's attention, also because it is relatable. Another fun aspect to Rebecca is she was down for anything, she even showed us her new apartment. I enjoyed hearing from both the writers but personally connected more with Rebecca.
This is how I pictured Rebecca's Story as she told it.I never heard of the Fenlands before Daisy so I had no idea what to expect them to look like.Monday, October 9, 2017
Jeff and Brielle Podcast Script
*Whistles*
Coach: Alright guys bring it in! That was a good practice, reminder tomorrow be here at 5:30 to watch the JV game. Wear your team sweatshirts to school tomorrow. Tomorrows a big game, we all know that. Let's be ready. See you all tomorrow. Bring it in, EastSide on 3, 1,2,3 Eastside.
Random Players: Eastside!
Coach: Brittany!
Brittany: What?
Coach: Come here really quick
Brittany: Dad, I need to go home and do my homework.
Coach: I know, this will just take a minute.
Brittany: Why can't we talk at home instead?
Coach: Just come here!! Tomorrow is a big game for you, Rutgers is coming here to watch you, you know how bad you need this scholarship right?
Brittany; Yes dad, you always tell me if I don't get a scholarship I won't be able to go to college because we can't afford it.
Coach: So on my way home i'm going to stop by my friends house and pick you up something. It's going to help you for tomorrow to relax the nerves. Just make sure you take it before the game, and don't let anyone see you.
Brittany: But dad…
Coach: No BUTS! I am your father, you can trust me. I'll see you at home.
Brittany: (Walks into the locker room) (Locker closes in backround)
Miranda; What was that about?
Brittany: Oh nothing, he was just reminding me Rutgers is coming to watch me tomorrow.
Miranda: Oh aren't you lucky.
Brittany: I guess, I don't even think I want to play college basketball anymore. Oh well, I'll see you tomorrow.
Brittany: I guess, I don't even think I want to play college basketball anymore. Oh well, I'll see you tomorrow.
Miranda: Bye Britt. How could she say she doesn't want to play college anymore. I would do anything to play college basketball but I never got the chance. I never get scouted and recruited because it's always about Brittany. I can't stand this anymore.
Fast Forward to the end of the game
(Game Clock horn)
(Cheering)
Coach: Great win ladies! We executed the gameplan to the bone. I’m proud of each and everyone of you guys but, I have to give a special recognition to Brittany. Not only did she score 31 points but she reached her 1000th career point. Give it up everybody (team applause). Alright, make sure you guys eat and get some rest. See you all at practice tomorrow……
Hey Britt,*whispers* what did I say!? You have nothing to worry about, with your performance tonight, I guarantee that scholarship is yours.
Brittany: I guess you were right dad! I’m sorry I doubted you.
Coach: I told you, dad knows best. Hey, get dressed; the scouts outside waiting for you
Brittany: Ok
(Brittany hurries to get dresses) (Drops bottle pill bottle)
Miranda: Hey, you dropped ……..this (reads pill bottle)... Anabolic-Ster...
(*quickly snatches away)
Brittany: (Gasps) Thanks…
(Slams locker)
Outside locker room
Scout: Brittany Johnson correct?
Brittany: Yes
Scout: Hi, my name is _____ lead scout for the Rutgers women's basketball team. You’ve been on our radar for some time now and seeing you perform live was nothing short of spectacular. I really impressed at what I’ve seen today and I believe you have a real bright future on our basketball team.
Brittany: Thank you so much! You have no idea how much that means to me.
Scout: You’re welcome, here’s my card, we’ll be in touch; and congrats on your 1000th career point.
Brittany: Thank you so much, have a goodnight!
Scout: You too.
Coach: So, how did it go!?
Brittany: He said, he was really impressed with my performance tonight and I have a really bright future on their basketball team! Then he gave me his card to keep in touch.
Coach: That great news! I told you! All our hard work has paid off Britt! I know I’ve been hard on you but this is what I’ve envisioned for us!
Brittany: Yea, I get it dad. I’m glad I made you proud.
Coach: You’ve made me more than proud! Let’s go celebrate. Everything’s on me….*whispers* by the way did you take the pills out of your locker?
Brittany: (Checks pocket) Damn,hold on let me go and get them!
Coach: How can you be so reckless! Go get them and meet me in the car!
Brittany: Ok Ok!
(Brittany opens locker and takes bottle pills)
Miranda: What are those?
Brittany: Oh these, um… there tylenol pills… I usually get headaches after each game
Miranda: hmmm, Interesting
Brittany: Um, I gotta go… see you tomorrow at practice.
Miranda: (to self) I cant believe shes taking pills. No wonder why she's always so good, every athlete has even bad games but never Brittany. She's such a cheater. She doesn't deserve Rutgers, I do. I know what I have to do now.
Saturday, October 7, 2017
Homecoming 5/6
Word Count: 383
The secret I was waiting for was finally revealed. The plot leading up to 5 and 6 made it seem as if the cafeteria food was crucial to the story line. They made it seem extremely important by continuously emphasizing how crucial it was for Walter to eat there. When they verbally confirmed the food was medicated I was not surprised but it made the story more intriguing. I was nervous when Heidi went to the dining hall with Walter but this makes sense as to why Heidi forgot things such as why she moved back in with her mom, Collin, and her previous jobs. I am surprised she did this because it seemed as if, in episode 6, she did it on purpose. I feel this way because when Collin questioned her actions, she was never flustered at the idea that the food contained medication. She must have known this prior to eating or she would have reacted much differently than she did. I think the first season ended in a very good position for listeners to want to continue listening. It ended at a point of surprise that would draw the listeners in. I know that I may want to continue this series into part 2 because I want to know where the story goes, where is Walter, how did they "lose" Walter and not know his placement, how much of the food did Heidi eat to forget that much of her life, and is there more danger down the road for Heidi as she begins to remember things? I also am curious as to who the new woman voice is of the story line. I assume it is Collins boss by her tone and anger towards him, but what is her role in the rest of the story. She must hold an important place because of when she was introduced in the story . I also am curious as to how they do not know the location of Walter. I currently am aware that the original intentions were to re-deploy him, but I wonder why this changed after the incident within the cafeteria. I feel as if he would have just forgotten it anyway so there was no difference as to whether or not they still decided to deploy him again.
The secret I was waiting for was finally revealed. The plot leading up to 5 and 6 made it seem as if the cafeteria food was crucial to the story line. They made it seem extremely important by continuously emphasizing how crucial it was for Walter to eat there. When they verbally confirmed the food was medicated I was not surprised but it made the story more intriguing. I was nervous when Heidi went to the dining hall with Walter but this makes sense as to why Heidi forgot things such as why she moved back in with her mom, Collin, and her previous jobs. I am surprised she did this because it seemed as if, in episode 6, she did it on purpose. I feel this way because when Collin questioned her actions, she was never flustered at the idea that the food contained medication. She must have known this prior to eating or she would have reacted much differently than she did. I think the first season ended in a very good position for listeners to want to continue listening. It ended at a point of surprise that would draw the listeners in. I know that I may want to continue this series into part 2 because I want to know where the story goes, where is Walter, how did they "lose" Walter and not know his placement, how much of the food did Heidi eat to forget that much of her life, and is there more danger down the road for Heidi as she begins to remember things? I also am curious as to who the new woman voice is of the story line. I assume it is Collins boss by her tone and anger towards him, but what is her role in the rest of the story. She must hold an important place because of when she was introduced in the story . I also am curious as to how they do not know the location of Walter. I currently am aware that the original intentions were to re-deploy him, but I wonder why this changed after the incident within the cafeteria. I feel as if he would have just forgotten it anyway so there was no difference as to whether or not they still decided to deploy him again.
Sunday, October 1, 2017
Saturday, September 30, 2017
Homecoming
Word Count: 365
This was my first time ever listening to a podcast. After the first episode I was hooked. I ended up listening to three episodes back to back just because I was so intrigued. As I am writing this post however I am coming to realize that the plot is interesting, but that is not what makes it so fascinating and draws me in. As I listen, I am able to visualize where they are, what the rooms look like and the characters. I have the ability to still create a story from listening. This is so successful because of the communication between characters. They have interesting dialogue, but it's the way they say their words. In order to show discomfort they pause or use specific tones. For example, when Heidi reconnected with her boyfriend, you could feel how awkward it was because of their questioning tones, and they would often accidentally interrupt each other during their conversation. Another example of how powerful tones are included in the first podcast when Colin,Heidi's boss, is continuously attacking her abilities within her work position. Not only does he yell, but his choice of language is a representation of his over-controlling personality. The dialogue is extremely important, but the sound effects make the podcast seem extremely real. One interesting sound effect I found was in "Stop Helping", when Walter was discussing his experiences, the sound of water boiling in the background represented the heat and tension he felt as he explained his memories. He was angry and emotional and this sound was a perfect representation to his emotions. The small sounds such as the dinner bell ringing, the phone ringing, the background noise of the airport, all make the situation seem very realistic but also shows how important small details are within the script. As the podcast continues it leads me with multiple questions, the main question I have is to why Hedi does not remember anything. It makes it seem like her old job brainwashed her into forgetting all of the information she ever encountered while working. I am looking forward to seeing what this story develops into and the role that Walter plays in Heidi's life.
This was my first time ever listening to a podcast. After the first episode I was hooked. I ended up listening to three episodes back to back just because I was so intrigued. As I am writing this post however I am coming to realize that the plot is interesting, but that is not what makes it so fascinating and draws me in. As I listen, I am able to visualize where they are, what the rooms look like and the characters. I have the ability to still create a story from listening. This is so successful because of the communication between characters. They have interesting dialogue, but it's the way they say their words. In order to show discomfort they pause or use specific tones. For example, when Heidi reconnected with her boyfriend, you could feel how awkward it was because of their questioning tones, and they would often accidentally interrupt each other during their conversation. Another example of how powerful tones are included in the first podcast when Colin,Heidi's boss, is continuously attacking her abilities within her work position. Not only does he yell, but his choice of language is a representation of his over-controlling personality. The dialogue is extremely important, but the sound effects make the podcast seem extremely real. One interesting sound effect I found was in "Stop Helping", when Walter was discussing his experiences, the sound of water boiling in the background represented the heat and tension he felt as he explained his memories. He was angry and emotional and this sound was a perfect representation to his emotions. The small sounds such as the dinner bell ringing, the phone ringing, the background noise of the airport, all make the situation seem very realistic but also shows how important small details are within the script. As the podcast continues it leads me with multiple questions, the main question I have is to why Hedi does not remember anything. It makes it seem like her old job brainwashed her into forgetting all of the information she ever encountered while working. I am looking forward to seeing what this story develops into and the role that Walter plays in Heidi's life.
Sunday, September 24, 2017
Painting London Underground
Word Count: 466
Halloween is an exciting time of the year for children, but is also a lively time for college students. This is the best time of the year to go out to parties, but also be able to dress up and reminisce on the similar parts to Halloween that were celebrated as a child. The costumes may reveal less skin, but the intent is still the same, to pretend you are someone that you are not. Amelia, Jennifer, Mackenzie, and Elizabeth were roommates living in an apartment. They all were excited about Halloween, except for Elizabeth who would not be at school because of a family responsibility, she was jealous that the other three girls were able to celebrate without her. Days before the holiday, they planned all of their costumes. Together, they decided to go as three witches, each having something different about their outfit. Amelia decided to wear her favorite boots and her witch had a rebellious side to her so she also added a leather jacket to the costume. Jennifer's favorite color was green so her green skirt brought out the color of her eyes the entire night. Mackenzie had a beautiful long body, she decided to wear an off the shoulder top in order to expose her shoulders and neckline. Halloween was on a Sunday this year, being on a school night however did not stop the girls from wanting to party .They all got dressed and left their room at around 10:30 PM. Quickly they jumped on the first bus to College Avenue they saw and once it was there stop they hopped off and proceeded toward the party. They walked for about 5 minutes until they located the frat house, they walked inside and their night of joy began. They drank together, took pictures, and danced the night away. At around 12:00 AM Amelia realized that their excitement to party overtook their thought process and realized they had a group assignment due at 10:20 AM the following morning. Amelia announced this to Mackenzie and Jennifer and encouraged them to leave. All three of the girls ran out of the frat house basement, charged towards a bus, and made their way back towards their apartment. Once they got back to their apartment they made coffee and began cramming for the next morning. They stayed up all night in order to get their project done. They were so angry with themselves for missing Halloween, but were thankful to Amelia for reminding them. They remained awake all night, using caffeine and Halloween candy as their source of energy, and finished the project with enough time to shower and head to class. "There is always next year" they told themselves as they exhaustively headed back towards College Avenue on a morning bus.
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Thursday, September 14, 2017
My first Lost
Word Count: 647
January of my freshman year, my mother was in consistent pain. One day I had an early dismissal because of a storm coming in. That was the day where she could not take it anymore, I forced her to go to the Emergency Room at Chilton Memorial Hospital. That day concluded with a mass being found in her intestines. A week later she had surgery and the mass they found lead her to be diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma ovarian cancer. Her journey of fighting cancer began with her first chemo treatment in April of 2012. The next year was a rocky journey filled with chemo treatments, radiation treatments, and thousands of dollars worth of pain medications. She spent more time over night in the hospital than she did at home. I would spend countless nights laying on the couch next to her hospital bed. Together we would watch Modern Family, order pizza (because she hated the hospital food), or shop online. She missed out on so much by being in the hospital She missed Thanksgiving and we shopped online for Black Friday, she missed my first prom, and she missed my 16th birthday so we brought a cake to the hospital and sang there. A month after my birthday her health completely deteriorated, she was at her lowest point. I remember her coming home on a Wednesday in May telling me she was going to finally get better and she was going into the hospital to get put on the proper pain medication. Unfortunately the original intent was not followed through and she was placed into Hospice Care. Hospice is where individuals with a life expectancy 6 months or less go in order to pass away as comfortable as possible. I was unaware of this until she was in for over a week when my father told me she only had a few more days to live. Those last few days consisted of me missing school for over a week. I was by her side every second of the day and was afraid to go and even eat in case I missed something. I will never forget her screaming from the amount of pain she was in, I will never forget the smell, and I will never forget holding her at 5:00 AM on Friday May 9, 2013 until her last few breaths. That following Monday, May 12, 2013, was the last time I ever saw her. She was laying in a casket holding a letter I wrote her in between her hands. The funeral home put make up on her in order to brighten up her skin tone. They put neon pink lipstick on her and all I could think was "she would be so mad at me for allowing this" because I knew she would have killed me for it, she was not a hot pink lipstick kind of lady. The wake went on and I got multiple compliments on being so strong and was told I held myself together very well. I gave a speech. I of course cried during the speech but weirdly throughout the wake I rarely cried. I was constantly receiving attention so it was almost a period of happiness. I enjoyed having people tell me stories about her and how amazing of a person she was, which of course I knew, but it was nice to hear it from others. That was the last night I ever saw my mother, she was gone mentally before that day, but that was the last day I experienced her physical presence. I missed her then, especially her not being healthy, but I have missed her more every day since. I now have a tattoo for her. On my rib cage I have a purple iris because we would go to the iris gardens every year and purple was her favorite color.
January of my freshman year, my mother was in consistent pain. One day I had an early dismissal because of a storm coming in. That was the day where she could not take it anymore, I forced her to go to the Emergency Room at Chilton Memorial Hospital. That day concluded with a mass being found in her intestines. A week later she had surgery and the mass they found lead her to be diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma ovarian cancer. Her journey of fighting cancer began with her first chemo treatment in April of 2012. The next year was a rocky journey filled with chemo treatments, radiation treatments, and thousands of dollars worth of pain medications. She spent more time over night in the hospital than she did at home. I would spend countless nights laying on the couch next to her hospital bed. Together we would watch Modern Family, order pizza (because she hated the hospital food), or shop online. She missed out on so much by being in the hospital She missed Thanksgiving and we shopped online for Black Friday, she missed my first prom, and she missed my 16th birthday so we brought a cake to the hospital and sang there. A month after my birthday her health completely deteriorated, she was at her lowest point. I remember her coming home on a Wednesday in May telling me she was going to finally get better and she was going into the hospital to get put on the proper pain medication. Unfortunately the original intent was not followed through and she was placed into Hospice Care. Hospice is where individuals with a life expectancy 6 months or less go in order to pass away as comfortable as possible. I was unaware of this until she was in for over a week when my father told me she only had a few more days to live. Those last few days consisted of me missing school for over a week. I was by her side every second of the day and was afraid to go and even eat in case I missed something. I will never forget her screaming from the amount of pain she was in, I will never forget the smell, and I will never forget holding her at 5:00 AM on Friday May 9, 2013 until her last few breaths. That following Monday, May 12, 2013, was the last time I ever saw her. She was laying in a casket holding a letter I wrote her in between her hands. The funeral home put make up on her in order to brighten up her skin tone. They put neon pink lipstick on her and all I could think was "she would be so mad at me for allowing this" because I knew she would have killed me for it, she was not a hot pink lipstick kind of lady. The wake went on and I got multiple compliments on being so strong and was told I held myself together very well. I gave a speech. I of course cried during the speech but weirdly throughout the wake I rarely cried. I was constantly receiving attention so it was almost a period of happiness. I enjoyed having people tell me stories about her and how amazing of a person she was, which of course I knew, but it was nice to hear it from others. That was the last night I ever saw my mother, she was gone mentally before that day, but that was the last day I experienced her physical presence. I missed her then, especially her not being healthy, but I have missed her more every day since. I now have a tattoo for her. On my rib cage I have a purple iris because we would go to the iris gardens every year and purple was her favorite color.
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
10,000 Steps Later
The title of my blog is "10,000 Steps Later". I chose to do this post last in order to explain the title but also explain my feelings on it. Every day I have a goal of taking 10,000 steps, it is a recommendation from the American Heart Association to take at least 10,000 steps every day. There is very few days, especially at Rutgers, where I do not reach this goal. This step count however is also a representation of how busy I really am. Sometimes, I do not realize all of the things I am putting myself through. I hate sitting still so if I am not doing school work, I am at actual work, or I wake up hours earlier than a normal student just to go to the gym. It is both a blessing and a curse to be active like this. Some days, I really need to relax and sit still but mentally I cannot always do that. At the same time, I never find myself procrastinating and putting off work because there is no other time I can do things. I set myself to a strict schedule which is helpful during the week, but not when I try to make plans with others or genuinely just go with the flow. I always think in advance because I want to be a "go-getter". Sometimes though, I wish I could just sit back and relax and let life take me on its own journey, rather than all the decisions being made by me.
Picture after Picture
Word Count: 127
This is a picture frame located on my desk in my room. The picture frame I colored myself, both in boredom and as a distresser. I love photographs and actually am a photographer myself. The picture in the frame is a picture of me and my boyfriend at my senior prom. His name is Michael, and he is my best friend. We have been together for over four years and within that time period we have accomplished a lot as individuals. I am very fortunate to have him, especially because he met my mom and dad when they were both still alive. They both really liked him too which is always a good thing. I will forever be appreciative of him for everything he does for me.
Finding a Home
This is my second year living on the Douglass campus. I did not want to live here my freshman year, but last minute I decided to join the Douglass Residential College. This ended up being one of the best decisions I have made at Rutgers. Being apart of DRC provides multiple resources and I have come into contact with amazing people. Some of my biggest support systems were women I met because of the program. Other than being apart of DRC, Douglass is just a beautiful location. At home, I am used to being in a "woodsy" area, surrounded by trees and mountains. Douglass is as close as I will get to what I grew up around. My favorite season is fall and I cannot wait for the trees here to start changing colors. Spring is also beautiful because there are flowers every where. I love it here, it is my home.
Saturday, September 9, 2017
The 24 Hour Shift
On campus, other than working at the dining hall, I am a resident assistant on the Douglass Campus. I am within a first year dorm. I had my first official weekend shift this Friday night. During weekend shifts I am "on duty" for a 24 hour period, I stay inside the building for this duration of time. I am very lucky because I have a really awesome staff, featured in this picture is Johan. Also featured in this picture is a bag of Peruvian Inca corn and dark chocolate peanut butter cups. One of my staff members went to Trader Joe's and brought those back for me. One of the most important things we do as an RA is that we build a community, this is done through programming. It is not an easy job, but thankfully I have my staff supporting me.
Friday, September 8, 2017
My Hero
I found this picture of my mom. It amazes me when I see pictures from when she was my age because we look so much alike. My mom is my hero. She inspires me everyday because of her strength. She always encouraged me to adventure and my life defining moments were because of her extraordinary efforts as a mother. She encouraged me to never give up on my dreams, one of her dreams included me attending Rutgers. I am honored to be living her dream and I know that she is proud of me. My mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer my freshman year of high school. She battled very hard, she went through chemo and radiation, but the illness took her life during my sophomore year. Every day I feel her with me along my journey, I wouldn't be able to do it without my guardian angel.
Gainz
5 days a week I wake up and head straight to the gym. My favorite day is "leg day" and then I like to do shoulders, and then triceps. I love working out because I used to play basketball very consistently and when I came to college I had to give it up. Lifting weights gives me something to do, but it also gives me structure and sets me to a schedule. I have actually gained a lot of muscle from doing this and hope to gain more, people always used to judge me and tell me I was "too thin". Once I started doing this though, I have not received as many comments. When I miss a day at the gym, I feel more tired and do not feel like I accomplish as much throughout the day. It is my escape and I look forward to making more progress.
Peanut Butter Jelly Time
"Peanut Butter is the glue that holds this body together" is the quote that represents my life. I put peanut butter on everything, this morning was a banana and a piece of toast. I also like peanut butter for the nutritional benefits such as the protein so it keeps me going after the gym. I try all kinds of peanut butter, currently in my room I have cinnamon roll, pumpkin, brownie batter, organic, and oatmeal raisin. I never eat crunchy ever either, only creamy.
Tick Tock
My biggest pet peeve, for the day at least, is when people are not on time. A meeting that was supposed to start at 9:30 did not start until 10:20 which concluded in me not getting home until after 11:00 PM. I work at the Livingston Dining Hall on Campus and am a manager there.
About Me
Word Count: 409
Hi I am Brielle and welcome to my blog! I am a sophomore at Rutgers University studying math and then education. Purple and teal are my favorite colors aka why my blog is bursting in this color scheme. A fun fact about me includes I am a foodie at heart, my dream is to travel cross country going to all the places "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" has visited. While I love food, especially peanut butter, I also love physical activity. My blog is going to allow you to follow me during my day, which always ends with me taking over 10,000 steps a day. I try to walk every where, I go to the gym every day, and am always on the move. A lot of people call me a "go getter". I literally never stop talking about either food, the gym, my boyfriend, or my recent trip I took to Greece over the summer. I was fortunate enough to study abroad for two weeks with the Lifestyle of the Mediterranean program offered through the Kinesiology and Health Department. I spent two weeks in Greece going to places such as Athens, Nafplio, and islands such as Spetses. During my trip we focused on the importance of physical activity, stress manage, and a healthy diet. My days included eating, going to the beach, eating, hiking, learning about historical sites, embracing the culture, and more eating. My favorite thing we did there was going to dance lessons and learning traditional Greek dance. I was enjoyed learning about their diet, one thing I found really interesting was that feta cheese is different there than it is in America. This trip is something I talk about often because it is a major aspect in my life, it was the first time I went outside of the country, and I was alone until I got there and met other students. When I first came to Rutgers I told myself I would never study abroad, and that obviously changed. When I came here I had different mindsets, different goals, and different habits. This trip changed my life but I have Rutgers to thank for it. I look very forward to the next year to see whats to come, I have no idea where I will be a year from now, or even tomorrow. All I know is that I have to take it one day at a time, 10,000 steps at a time.
Hi I am Brielle and welcome to my blog! I am a sophomore at Rutgers University studying math and then education. Purple and teal are my favorite colors aka why my blog is bursting in this color scheme. A fun fact about me includes I am a foodie at heart, my dream is to travel cross country going to all the places "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" has visited. While I love food, especially peanut butter, I also love physical activity. My blog is going to allow you to follow me during my day, which always ends with me taking over 10,000 steps a day. I try to walk every where, I go to the gym every day, and am always on the move. A lot of people call me a "go getter". I literally never stop talking about either food, the gym, my boyfriend, or my recent trip I took to Greece over the summer. I was fortunate enough to study abroad for two weeks with the Lifestyle of the Mediterranean program offered through the Kinesiology and Health Department. I spent two weeks in Greece going to places such as Athens, Nafplio, and islands such as Spetses. During my trip we focused on the importance of physical activity, stress manage, and a healthy diet. My days included eating, going to the beach, eating, hiking, learning about historical sites, embracing the culture, and more eating. My favorite thing we did there was going to dance lessons and learning traditional Greek dance. I was enjoyed learning about their diet, one thing I found really interesting was that feta cheese is different there than it is in America. This trip is something I talk about often because it is a major aspect in my life, it was the first time I went outside of the country, and I was alone until I got there and met other students. When I first came to Rutgers I told myself I would never study abroad, and that obviously changed. When I came here I had different mindsets, different goals, and different habits. This trip changed my life but I have Rutgers to thank for it. I look very forward to the next year to see whats to come, I have no idea where I will be a year from now, or even tomorrow. All I know is that I have to take it one day at a time, 10,000 steps at a time.
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