Stealing Gina's Dinner!

Thinking about this assignment, I was actually pretty stumped. As a kid, and now as well, I wasn't a very picky eater. Sure there were some foods (like brussel sprouts...yuck) that I didn't like, but for the most part I ate whatever my mom made for dinner. Really, I was a great child :) However, I do remember one thing that as a kid I would never under any circumstances eat. Lasagna. To be more specific, the ricotta cheese inside the lasagna. I just couldn't stand it for some reason. Now, you may be asking yourself, what's the big deal? It's only really one kind of cheese I don't like. Well, it was a big deal. You see, my family is very Italian, and with this Italian-ness comes lots of ricotta cheese! My grandma uses it in lasagna, baked mostocholi, stuffed shells, all kinds of pasta, and the ever so famous canoli dessert. So, as odd as it may sound, as a kid I did kind of feel left out. My whole family would endulge in these wonderful dishes, and I would eat plain pasta. I felt like an outsider of my own heritage! My aunt would even ask me, "how can you be Italian and not like ricotta cheese?!" And I had no idea! So, I just avoided it for the majority of my childhood. Eventually, as I got older, I would slowly begin to taste some of these foods. And slowly, I grew to like them. So I think it was a big step for me to try these things that I had remainded distant from for so long! And now, I just love to eat them at family parties with everyone else!

Thanksgiving!

Well, I just got back from my wonderful Thanksgiving break last night and I have to say it is a bittersweet feeling. I'm very excited to be back and see all of my friends again (even though its only been five days!). However, I am not really excited to take the upcoming final exams. I know that I have a ton a studying and hard work ahead of me for the next three weeks. But that is enough talk about finals, I will be doing enough worrying about them very soon. My Thanksgiving break was absolutely awesome! I was so excited to see all of my friends from home again. A lot of them I haven't seen since I left for school in August, so we all had a blast catching up and telling our crazy college stories. They really made home feel like home. I also had a great time with my family. Not only my immediate family, but my extended family. It was great to see my grandparents and my uncle and some family friends. I love the feeling of Thanksgiving. So with that said, I think the real meaning of Thanksgiving is to obviously give thanks! So, here is a list of just a few of the things I am grateful for!...
- my family
- my friends
- being a Boiler!
- my home
- my health
- having a mind of my own :)
- my sorority sisters

and a lot lot more! To sum up, I am grateful for my life and all the people and things in it! I do, however, think that I need to take the time to reflect on these things more often, not just Thanksgiving!

My BiRtHdAy!

This past Wednesday, November 14th, was my nineteenth birthday! And let me tell you, I had just a wonderful day :) I received so many birthday wishes from everyone here and everyone back at home, and I'm very grateful. At midnight my roommate and some of the other girls on my floor came in my room at midnight and bought me a box of birthday cookies! (they were greaaat) My best friends from home called me at midnight, also. It was so nice to hear from those from home who I don't get to talk to as much as I would like! I appreciate everyone making my day so great! It was nice knowing I have people who really care about me! I heard from not only friends, but my whole family too! My parents, grandparents, and aunts and uncles. And now I'm just ten times more excited to see them when I get home for Thanksgiving. That night my sister took me out to dinner with some of our sorority sisters too. It was a ton of fun. We all went to Scotty's and got dinner and then they brought out ice cream and cookies with candles and sang Happy Birthday! I just loved every minute of it. It was especially nice to have my sister here for my birthday. So thanks everyone for the well wishes and making my day awesome!

"Born Into Brothels"

The documentary "Born into Brothels" was a huge eye-opener, at least for me. Obviously, I was aware that there is poverty in the world. And, I was also aware that poverty is worse in some areas than in others. However, to be shown basically first hand what people living in the red light district go through on a daily basis was like a smack in the face. Especially, because this film focuses on the lives of the children. Yes, these children's lives were basically put on display; but I do think that this was appropriate. It is hard to imagine how they live their lives without being shown. And what goes on, for some, is unimaginable. So for the purpose of the documentary, I think it was very necessary. However, while I believe if these children's lives weren't shown the way that they were, the film wouldn't have been as effective, I also don't think children of that age are really able to give adequite consent. For the most part, they were aware of what was happening, but I don't think they realized to what extent. This documentary was put out for the whole world to see, and that is a bigger deal than most can fathom.

With that said, I do believe that the film was very successful. Those who are fortunate enough to not have to live like that were given an in depth look at what life is like for those less fortunate. The film brought awareness and with that, hopefully people can help slowly start to put an end to this lifestyle. It was also successful in that it gave those living in the red light an outside look at how they were living. While it must be hard, maybe they can realize their children do need to be allowed to go to school.

Changing my Ways?

For the past few weeks, our class has been learning a ton about genetically modified foods, the difference between organic and inorganic foods, corporate farming, and much much more on the subject. Have I learned a lot? Absolutely. I was completely unaware that it is near impossible to find food these days that hasn't been influenced in some way by genetic modification. In other words, you have to search hard for true organic food. I used to think that any fruit, vegetable, or meat had to be "all natural". How could it not be? Well, now I know better.

The real question is, after learning all I have learned, have I changed the way that I choose the food I eat? Honestly, no :( sorry! Being away at school, it is very hard to be picky about what you eat. I can't really go into a dining hall and ask if the chicken they are serving has been genetically modified, or how the chicken itself lived its life. Trying to feed thousands of students, you can bet they don't use the art of "slow cooking". Also, it seems more difficult to find foods that aren't genetically modified than it is to find foods that aren't. I think I need to sleep on this one a little longer. Maybe when I'm home for a longer period of time I'll pay more attention to this. Who knows, maybe the turkey I eat for Thanksgiving will even be organic!

iTaLiAn

I was out with my grandparents this weekend and of course, we went to an Italian restaurant. This made me think of being Italian! My family is very Italian and very close. I just love spending time with them all. My dad's parents are both 100% Italian (my grandma's parents were born in Venice, Italy) and my mom's parents are 50% Italian...therefore, I am 75%! It is a big part of who I am. My family is loud and hilarious. I especially love when my grandma walks around the house mumbling things in Italian to herself :) It cracks me up. She speaks it fluently. She also has the funniest family stories and has a passion for cooking. Our family get togethers consist of a LOT of talking and a LOT of food. It shouldn't come as a surprise that with being Italian comes a love of food! Every family dinner (even Thanksgiving) consists of some type of pasta. I have never been to Italy, but I would love to go. Not only because my family is from there, but because it just seems plain awesome. My grandparents have been there and always say how much they love it. They also always tell the crazy stories they have about my family there. I could sit there for hours just listening to her talk about them. I'm so excited for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Home for the weekend :)

This weekend was an absolutely great one! My birthday is this Wednesday (November 14th!) so I decided to go home to celebrate with my family. And, it was great to just get home for a little. My dad picked me up around noon on Friday thanks to Jamie for giving us the day off! So I was very grateful to be able to get a few extra hours in with the family. I don't think I was at my house for more than fifteen minutes before my dad and I headed to Woodfiled Mall for some birthday shopping! My mom met up with us after work and we had a great time...well, mostly I had a great time :) When we got home I baked some gingerbread cookies for all of us. That night we had dinner and watched some tivo'ed shows I just didn't have time to watch at school. And of course, I got to open my presents! My parents were just great to me. Then on Saturday I pretty much just layed around the house, which is awesome every once in a while. And, I listened to my dad yell from the family room as he watched Purdue lose to Michigan State...devestating really. That night I went out to a birthday dinner with my mom, dad, and grandparents. It was great! I love being able to spend time with my grandparents especially because I really don't get to see them that often. They are hilarious! We had cake after and I just hung around the house for the rest of the night! All in all I had an awesome weekend and I'm excited to get to see my family so soon again for Thanksgiving!

Adbusters

The Adbusters website was a great one to visit. For my blog, I chose to write on the first topic, picking an ad about food. I chose the first one. This ad is a picture of a screen in a hospital operating room that monitors patients heart rates. You know, like the ones you see in TV shows that have a squiggly line going across it that beeps every time your heart beats. In the middle of the line is the famous McDonald's M (aka: the golden arches). On the bottom of the screen it reads: Big Mac Attack! And in the background of the picture is someone on an operating table with three surgeons hovering over.

I thought that this ad was extremely clever. It is referencing fast food and how it has a lot to do with the health problems of people today, specifically, heart problems. Everybody knows what McDonald's is, therefore the M in the middle of the monitor was pretty self explanitory.

I think this ad is without a doubt effective. It works because most people know where the scence is taking place and what the M stands for. However, I sometimes wonder why McDonald's is always being pin pointed for all of these health problems? Yes, it is fast food, and yes it is bad for you, but there are plenty of other foods out there that are just as bad and contribute just as much. While McDonald's is probably the most well-known fast food restaurant, I also strongly believe that it shouldn't be blamed for the problems with obesity and other health related issues. Nobody forces anyone to eat it, people make that choice when they drive through. But all in all, this ad was simple, clear to understand, and did a good job of getting the point across!

Chicago Cubs :)

As you probably know, considering I have written about it a lot, I am proudly from Chicago! This makes me, of course, a Cubs fan :) I'm not sure what made me think of it (perhaps the world series being ummm around this time) but I wanted to share with you what many believe to be the "curse of the billy goat". Basically, it possibly explains why the Cubs haven't made it to the World Series since 1945, no matter how close we may seem to be getting! So, the story says that way back in 1945 a man named Billy Sianis had tickets for the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers game. This wasn't just any game, though. It was game four of the world series! For whatever reason, Billy decided to bring his goat with him. Being friendly, Wrigley Field let them in. However, he and the goat went onto the field and began to walk around. Ummm...this is not really allowed. So, he and his goat were ejected from the field and had to leave! Upon leaving, he put a curse on the Cubs saying they would never make it to another world series because they kicked them out! (p.s. they ended up losing that game) Year after year, loyal fans go to the games, sit in front of their TV's sporting red, white, and blue just hoping that this might be the year. The year that the curse is broken! So far, no dice. But hey, I still love 'em!

Amelia Earhart

So, this is quite possibly one of the most random blogs ever, but I honestly think it is very interesting! I was sitting in Earhart dining court the other night with some friends, and we were all looking at the pictures that are on the walls. Obviously, we knew they were of Amelia Earhart, but to be honest, we weren't exactly positive who she was. I know, this is terrible! I knew that she was a piolet, and little things here and there, but I wasn't exactly sure, so I'm going to stop embarassing myself by telling what I think could be true, and tell you all what I actaully learned when I did a little research! Amelia Earhart was born in 1897 in Atchison, Kansas. She was always very adventerous and ws even considered to be somewhat of a "tomboy". But to get to the point, she became outstanding in the field of aviation. What was so special was that she was one of the first women to become so exceptional. Thus, paving the way for many other women to follow in her footsteps. She was even the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. However, what she is most known for is her attampt to fly around the world. She began planning right here at Purdue University! (great people are molded on this very campus!) So, she began her journey and after a few attempts, Amelia took off from Lae on July 2, 1937, sadly the last time she was seen. Amelia Earhart and her plane disappeared and to this day no one is really sure as to what happened. However, it is important to remember what a brilliant woman she was! And that her field of study continues to be world-renound right here at Purdue :)

What did I eat Today?

Breakfast: Special K Bar
Lunch: yogurt, a banana, baked lays
dinner: a salad with french dressing, turkey, and diet coke
snack: pretzels
(and some water in between)

Surprisingly, I don't think I ate that bad today! I also don't think that much, if any, of the food that I ate today was genetically modified. I did eat fruit and lettuce, which are both all natural! Chiquita (the brand of banana I ate) is based in Cincinatti, Ohio. Yes, this is far away, but not as far as it could have been. I didn't eat any fast food, but obvisously this doesn't mean I never have. I'm also pretty sure that I didn't eat any "slow food" either. None of the food I ate really had to be prepared for a while, if at all. This says a lot about the society we live in, especially as college students. People tend to constantly be looking for soemthing quick that doesn't need much preparation. When you have been at class all day, most students don't want to have to wait a long time to get something into their rumbling stomachs. Things are very fast paced and on the go. (which is where I got some of my food from today!) All in all, I don't think I did too bad today. Although, I'm sure the food I ate somehow contained corn! I'm also pretty sure that none of the food I ate today was genetically modified, but then again, who really knows?

Purdue Football!

I must admit that one of the best things about going to Purdue has to be the extreme amount of school spirit that comes with the football season! It is great going to a big ten school that has an awesome football team! I love waking up to the train and tailgating with all of my friends and family. You can't help but feel proud to walk into a wave a black and gold as you enter Ross-Ade Stadium. These games really bring everyone together. I also think it is just the coolest thing to see alumni coming back for the games. Whether they graduated 5, 10, or even 30 years ago...once a boiler, always a boiler! You can see the pride on their faces as they come back and see all of the new students decked out in Purdue gear to make it to the game. Some of them even bring their little kids to the games in tiny football jerseys! (cutest thing ever!) This past Saturday I actually stayed for the whole game (obviously they can be very long!) and got to see the end of the Boiler victory! And not to mention, how awesome was it that Neil Armstrong came? And that everyone who graduated and was involved at Purdue somehow came back to celebrate for homecoming. Our football team works so hard to represent our school the best they can and everyone loves it! Boiler Up!

Fall to Winter...

As many of you may have noticed, the weather is not quite what it used to be! The days are getting colder and it is beginning to get darker earlier! Now, with this change of seasons, I believe there comes pros and cons. Let's get my idea of some of the bad out of the way. First, I'm just not too fond of cold weather! Especially being on a campus where I walk everywhere I go, this colder weather makes me not want to walk as much. You also have to layer clothes which makes it take a lot longer to get ready. And, if you're cold inside there's not much you can do considering you can't go outside to warm up or anything! For me, when I'm cold, I just don't want to move because I seem frozen solid! Now for some of the pros! TO begin, this weather makes it look absolutely gorgeous outside :) The leaves or snow on the ground on campus are right out of a picture book. Also, scarves are one of my favorite accessories to wear! And sometimes it's just fun to bundle up! Now, while sometimes the snow can be really annoying and just a plain pain in the butt, sometimes it's great too! Looking outside and seeing a fresh blanket of white is so relaxing. And, let's be serious, it's a ton of fun to make snowmen and get in snowball fights! To wrap this all up, the change of the seasons is also home of my three favorite days of the year. My birthday (November 14!), Thanksgiving, and Christmas! The weather just kind of makes these days feel right :)

Ecological Footprint Quiz

CATEGORY ACRES
FOOD 5.4
MOBILITY 0.5
SHELTER 5.4
GOODS/SERVICES 5.4
TOTAL FOOTPRINT 17

IN COMPARISON, THE AVERAGE ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT IN YOUR COUNTRY IS 24 ACRES PER PERSON.

WORLDWIDE, THERE EXIST 4.5 BIOLOGICALLY PRODUCTIVE ACRES PER PERSON.

IF EVERYONE LIVED LIKE YOU, WE WOULD NEED 3.8 PLANETS.


Well, after viewing my results, I have to say that I am both shocked and honestly, not. I am shcoked that I myself lead a very demanding lifestyle, and that if everyone lived like I do, we would need 3.8 planets! However, this was a little expected. Not to say that I am high maintenence or anything (because I don't think that I am), but because the world leads very different lifestyles than what it used to. For example, nowadays virtually everyone drives. Nobody seems to live close enough to their jobs to where they could walk. On the other hand, this most likely could be avoided if more people would settle for public transportation. The exhaust from our cars, busses, trucks, and other modes of transportation are slowly but surely destroying the ozone layer. Hence, global warming. Not only this, but the amount of garbage that Americans produce is growing and slowly becoming unstoppable. Once landfills reach their capacity, there is nothing to do but start another one. This could be prevented by recycling. But many either claim or they don't have the time or are simply too lazy. Now, is this fair? In all honesty, no, it isn't. If America and other "well-developed" countries insist on consuming more than their share of resources, than we must also give back. For example, recycle, don't drive as much, or use public transportation more often. I don't think by any means this would call for a complete lifestyle change. It is the little changes that count. In other words, yes, we all need to become a bit more responsible and "clean up our messes."

Next week at a glance...

After a particularly stressful week, I am looking forward to one that hopefully won't be so bad! This week I had two exams on Monday and a ton of homework in between. To top it all off, I've been sick the whole time (I swear all of Purdue has this "bug") and all I want to do is sleep, sleep, sleep. So, I'm excited for the upcoming week! My whole pledge class is moving into our sorority house for a week! Yes, a whole week. They are not telling us what exactly we are doing but I know they are going to have activities and functions planned for us. I think this is a really good idea because we are all going to be living in the house together next year and this kind of gives us an idea of what next year will be like. I also think this is going to be a good experience because we will get to know each other a little bit better and we will get to bond not only as a pladge class, but as a house. I think it will also be fun to live with my sister! She's a senior in the house. Granted, I do live with her at home, I think this will be very different but in a good way! So all in all, I think (at least I hope) next week will go a lot better than this one!

"Something Borrowed"

I recently finished reading an awesome book, so I figured, what a perfect place to write about it! The book is called "Something Borrowed" by Emily Giffin. Let me first say that I power read it in about a week flat because I couldn't put it down! Now, let me also say that I know this book is a very girly book and really has no intellectual meaning behind it, but hey, it's still reading. So, it's about these two best friends (Darcy and Rachel) and the story is told from Rachel's perspective. They have been best friends since forever and are actually very different from each other. Darcy was the popular one in high school with all the boys after her, and Rachel was the average looking one with the brains and determination. Rachel is turning thirty and has yet to meet the man of her dreams even though her childhood plans told her she should be married with children already. Darcy on the other hand, is engaged to an all around great guy, Dex. To make a long story short, Dex and Rachel begin seeing each other and start to fal in love! Obviously, this is a problem because Darcy is her best friend! Now, I won't give away the ending because I know you are all just dying to go out and get the book. But I will say that the ending is very unexpected and twisted, so I highly recommend this fantastic read! (especially the girls :)

Cape May!

Since this week we have been on the subjects of "vacations" or "breaks", I decided to write about one of my favorite vacations. I've talked about New York and how I love the fast-paced city. However,right next to New York is New Jersey and I love this spot also. Specifically a little town called Cape May. Twice my family has gone to New York and then driven to New Jersey. Once during the summer and once during the winter. Cape May is the cutest little town right on the ocean and it is quite possibly one of the most relaxing places I have ever been. Yes, I'm sure a lot of people retire there, but still! Even being young, it is nice to go to a quiet and relaxing spot. My family and I even went there for Christmas once. All of the little shops are decorated in the spirit of the holiday and there are lights everywhere. Even though it's cold, it was fun to walk on the beach and just spend time with my family. My aunt, uncle, and grandparents have all gone too. We would play games and all just hang out. During the summer, it's great to lay out at the beach and go into the ocean. While there, my sister and I would spend the entire day at the beach! I think everybody needs to get away from the stresses of everyday life sometimes.

Halloween

Halloween is just around the corner and today I realized that I have yet to get a costume! So I decided to go shopping with a friend down the hall. This got me thinking. I know that Halloween is a day to dress up, go to theme parties, and give candy to the little trick-or-treaters, but in all honestly I have no idea what Halloween really is. I celebrate it every year and don't know why! (I hope I wan't alone in this) Sad? I know. So I decided to use a wonderful resource, my computer dictionary, and find out for myself! As many of you already know, Halloween is celebrated on October 31st. This is the evening before All Saints' Day, and is therefore also referred to as All Hollows Eve. Originally, it was called Samhain, one of the eight pagan sabbots, and it marks the third and final harvest of the year. It is also a night to remember the dead and some even think that on this night the spirit world and the normal world become one. Well, some of this sounds a little creepy to me, which I guess is why Halloween is known as a scary holiday! And trust me, I am a big wimp. I love getting dressed up and eating lots of candy and seeing the cute little kids run around in their costumes! I love decorating my house (and yes, my roommate and I do have Halloween decorations is our room!) and just getting in the mood for fall. I like to think of this as fun, not scary! Last year I went to my first haunted house and believe me, I will never go to one again! So I will just stick to the candy and cute costumes :)

Fall Break

This past weekend was absolutely great! As you all know, it was fall break, and it was also the first time I've been home since I got here. Let me tell you, it felt so good to be home! I didn't realize until I got home how much I missed it. I loved being able to see my family and my friends. And to be honest, I think they liked being able to see me too! My dad picked me up on Friday afternoon and I came back Tuesday night. On Friday, after being with my parents for a little and eating an awesome dinner (it's nice to get away from the dining halls!), I met up with some of my friends who were also home for the weekend. I missed them sooo much! It was great to be able to actually sit down with them and hang out again rather than just talking on the phone. While I was home, my mom and I also went shopping. I have to say, it's hard living five minutes from Woodfield, and then coming here where the closest mall is Tippecanoe and about an eighth the size of what I'm used to. What can I say, I'm a girl :) I also went back to the salon I work at to visit and get my hair done. It was really good to see everyone! I hung out there for a while and then got lunch (sushi!) with friends. All in all I have to say it was a very relaxing weekend, which I think is what I really needed. I got to just lay around at home a lot, be with friends and family, watch TV, and read. I loved it! But, I am glad to be back! (minus all the work I have to come back to)

Epigraph

One is astonished in the study of history at the recurrence of the idea that evil must be forgotten, distorted, skimmed over. We must not remember that Daniel Webster got drunk but only remember that he was a splendid constitutional lawyer. We must forget that George Washington was a slave owner...and simply remember the things we regard as creditable and inspiring. The difficulty, of course, with this philosophy is that history loses its value as an incentive and example; it paints perfect men and noble nations, but it does not tell the truth.
--W.E.B. DuBois

This statement is very powerful, and I can't help but agree with it. The same still seems to be true today. However, like many, I didn't know of the other side of the story until I read Loewen's first chapter, "Handicapped by History: The Process of Hero-making". People who are viewed as "heroic" seem to be perfect and flawless. No one seems to want to see the bad in some or accept the fact that they aren't perfect. History tends to tell the life of a person and only focus on what they are famous for. It may leave out many facts or instances for fear of changing someone's views on the person. The truth is, no one is perfect and people make mistakes. In a way, this may give some false hope. Many look up to them and don't know the whole truth. So, as W.E.B. DuBois stated, giving all of the facts may make history lose its value. It is possible that knowing everything may make history "unglamorous" to some. For example, Loewen tells of Woodrow Wilson. The large majority of the United States knows Wilson for leading our country into World War I and establishing the League of Nations. These things are very true, and while he still deserves credit, many don't know the other side of him. He was actually an extreme racist and wanted the continuation of segregation.

Live, Laugh, and Love :)

I thought it would be a really good idea to pick a quote I like and write about it and what it means to me. Instead, I stumble upon three words that pretty much sum up a lot. Live, laugh, and love. I know that everybody has heard these words before, so I decided to give my opinions about what they really mean. To begin, live. I think this means to live life to it's fullest. You are given one life, so take advantage of it! If you have things you want in your life, go for them. Have fun and "enjoy the ride". It is easy to let life fly by us. Live everyday. Next is laugh. In my opinion, this is so important! Laughter is one of the best medicines. Laughter involves smiling, and it takes more muscles to frown than it does to smile :) Laughing makes you feel happy and relieves stress. Sometimes, you just can't take life too seriously. You will enjoy it more the more you laugh. And sometimes, it's good to laugh at yourself. One of my favorite things to do is laugh until my stomach hurts. Finally, is love. I've heard, "A life without love is no life at all." Yes, this means loving your boyfriend/girlfriend or husband/wife. However, I thinks this means a lot more. I think it means to also love your family, your friends, the people and the things aroung you. Hopefully, everyone can love what they do. Love the little things around you. Most importantly, just love life.

My Favorites

This week I'm very unsure about what to write about. So, I've decided to write about some of my favorite things! These are things, or people, that make me happy and really make me enjoy life. I think it's important to sometimes reflect on your favorite things, or what you are grateful for because it makes you appreciate them that much more. It is very easy to take things for granted. So here are some of my favorites...
-my family
-my friends
-summer
-softball
-good conversation
-my job
-my school...go purdue!
-rainy days when I'm inside in comfy clothes :)
-driving aimlessly
-reading
-pictures
-talking...loud :)
-making new friends
-movies
-sleeping late
-the CuBs
-the Bears
-Chicago in general!
-pizza
-chocolate chip cookies
-any kind of music
-facebook
-taking naps
-Diet Coke from the fountain
-laughing
-smiling
-Christmas season
-my birthday!
-the color yellow
-learning new things and actually understanding them
-"Friends" "Grey's Anatomy" "I Love Lucy" "Boy Meets World" "One Tree Hill"
-shopping...especially for shoes!
-Woodfield


These are just to name a few! I'm still not sure why I chose this subject but I think it gives a very good idea of who I am. These things, people, and places make me love life :)

SUMMER!

I've been sitting here for what seems like forever trying to figure out what to blog about and my mind started drifting to the good times of summer! And I thought...what a perfect subject :) Summer is by far my favorite season. (Now I said season because my favorite time of the year would have to be Christmas...and by birthdy of course) Basically, I mark my life by summers. To begin, there is no school! While I love learning, summer to me is all about relaxing, being with friends and family, laughing, and having a good time. No worrying about homework or upcoming exams. Just having a good time. Not a day goes by during the summer when I don't see my friends and spend a countless amount of time laughing or just being silly. I love to lay out and be by the pool, shop, barbeque, go for long walks, iced coffe runs, and go out any day of the week! One of my favorite things to do over the summer, as stupid as it sounds, is to drive around at night with the windows down just listening to music with my friends. Every once in a while we make a trip to the city and go to the beach, grab some lunch, and just walk around. I also love that summer = softball season! One of my favorite things to do. I love the care free attitude and feeling summer brings. The first thing that comes to mind when I think of summer is laughter! While I am grateful for every other season, summer is always in the back of my mind!

Neidich and Curtis

While both of these artists produced staged photographs of Native Americans, they are very different. Neidich's pictures seemed very still. They were simple and plain and seemed to portray the stereotypical Native American. His actors were dressed in historical costumes and through this he tried to explain a part of history. Curtis wanted to document Native American traditional life through photos before that way of life disappeared. He took pictures of over 80 tribes, and tried to incorporate action. He pictures came out violent, and portrayed almost a corrupt lifestyle. I don't think either were very accurate, but they do look like many of the other pictures I've seen. (ex. headdresses, feathers, spears)

Neidich seemed to be the one in it for media attention. He said he was awe-struck by the media encampment, and soon after photographed the controversial OJ Simpson trial. He also picked many other controversial things to photograph besides Native Americans like color communities and Japanese-American relocation camps. On the other hand, though Curtis wanted to capture traditional life, he seemed to picture the negative. He was very busy working with J.P. Morgan, who originally asked him to begin this project, and moving around the country with his family. There was much controversy about rights to his project, and he was criticized by many ethnologists for his work.

The artist I prefer would have to be Curtis. While many disagree, I think he did try to make his work accurate. They are far more interesting to look at, and the photographs have many different scenes. It seemed to me as if Neidich was in it more for the media attention than for the actual project.

If I could visit...

Many times I have been asked the question, "If you could visit one place in the world, where would it be?" I have no idea why I thought of this now, but I definitely have a place in mind. If I could go anywhere, I would go to Italy! Why Italy? Well, there are a number of reasons. For one thing, my family is very Italian. I am 75% to be exact! I think it would be awesome to go back to where your ancestors are from and see what life is like. Not that it would be the same as when my ancestors were there, but it would still give a better idea than what I know never having been there. My great-grandparents were born there (Venice to be exact) and my grandparents have visited and talk about it all the time. It's funny to see my grandma walk around the house mumbling phrases in Italian when she gets mad! Or even when she laughs! I would love to be able to share in that experience. Also, from what I've seen and heard, life in Italy is very different than life here. The streets of Venice are still under water! They use gondolas to get around. (For those of you who don't know, gondolas are long almost row boats. You've probably seen them in romantic movies where a man in a striped shirt paddles them around and serenades! haha) I think that type of environment would be very peaceful and almost be able to take you back to a different time in history. I also think that the Italian language is awesome. I obviously don't speak it, but exposing myself to a different type of culture and language would be a great experience. Just listening to how they communicate, even though I couldn't understand, would be great in itself.

New York

I was looking through pictures from my summer recently, and I came across a bunch from my vacation. So, I thought that it would be perfect to write about in a blog! This summer my sister and I went to New York. It was my graduation present from my aunt and uncle, who live there. They live in an apartment in Manhatten so it's right in the middle of the city. It wasn't the first time I've been there, but it's just as exciting every time! I was so anxious when the plane landed to get out and begin exploring. We arrived on a sunny Thursday afternoon and couldn't wait to start our extravaganzas! Being a girl, of course this meant shopping! Our first day we went only a few places, but the next day was an all day affair. We went all around the city including 5th avenue, broadway, Times Spuare, Soho, and Macy's. We had a blast. Then the next night we went to a musical. We went to see "Curtains" and it was so much fun. I love musicals so this was right up my alley. The city, in general, is just great and I love it! There's always people around and always something going on. It's so exciting to keep busy the whole time. We only stayed until Sunday, but loved every second of it. Although I have to admit, by the end of our fast pace time in the city, I was ready to go back to the suburbs!

Fog of War (#3)

A lesson that struck me as very interesting was lesson #9: in order to do good, you may have to engage in evil. I think that in other words, this means to get to your final goal, it may take a few detours along the way. The evidence presented throughout the documentary is very supportive of this lesson. The US army proceeded to burn 67 cities with fire bombs before we dropped the nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Also, when our troops went over to find the nuclear weapons, they were prepared to fight and use them if they were attacked. Fortunately, they got them out without war beginning. While they went in with the mindset that it could potentially become evil, the outcome was very positive. In my opinion, war is no good. Therefore I think the continuous fighting that was done throughout the whole war was an evil that had to be overcome before the final goal of winning.

However, even with the evidence, I am not at all persuaded that this lesson is just. First off, the documentary clearly stated that it was believed that America could have achieved the same goal without so many lives being lost. McNamara even says himself, "How much evil do we have to do before we see good?" Was the fire bombing necessary before destroying it all over again with the nuclear bombs? Was it necessary to drop one nuclear bomb, and then drop another three days later? These are questions I wish would have been answered during the documentary. I also think that this sort of contradicts lesson #5: proportionality should be a guideline in war. They didn't seem to follow this at all, which resulted in too much evil before we were able to see the good.

My JoB

As odd as this may sound to some, one thing I actually miss from home is my job! You may be thinking, who would ever miss working? But I really do! I work at a salon and spa and I love it. I would describe my job as being a receptionist. I check clients in and out, help them if they have questions, and answer phones. (and I must say, I get very nice discounts!) Honestly, I probably couldn't actually do hair myself, but I can tell you all about it! And answer questions about any Aveda products! haha Being there doesn't feel like work to me. Really, it's fun! Mainly because I love the people I work with, and there is always something going on to keep me busy. In my opinion, a salon is a very creative atmosphere, and the people that work there with me always have interesting things going on. They genuinely care about the people they work for and the people they work with. My managers are great and many of them act like my family! The girls (and boy!) that I work with in our part of the salon have become really close. As weird as it sounds, if I'm having a bad day, going to work sometimes makes it better! I always have someone to talk to about anything. Obviously, I am not working now because I'm two and a half hours away from home, but I'll be back for Christmas Break! (I hope I remember everything!) I'm also really excited because over fall break I desperately need to get my hair done so it will be good to see everyone and catch up! It is a big salon and so many people work there, but they are great and I know they support me as I go through college!

Sorority Life!

In one of my blogs, I had written about how I was going through rush and I was excited to find out which house I was going to be in. Well, rush ended about two weeks ago and I am happy to say that I am pledging Alpha Phi! So far I've been having a great time! We had bid night, where all of the new pledges went to the house and slept over with the older girls. It was great being able to meet so many new people. (My pledge class is 40 girls!)The house is gorgeous! We also had our first pledge meeting where we heard all of the new rules and learned new things about the house. I've been hanging out with my new pledge sisters and I love it! Don't get me wrong, I definitely don't know all 40 yet, but so far it's been going great! It's awesome to know that we are all there because we all want to be there. My older sister is in the house already, so it's good to have her there too! If I like it as much as she does, I have a great four years ahead of me! The older girls keep saying how they love their time in the house and the friendships and bonds they have made are things they will never forget. I'm excited for my journey to begin and I can't wait for the good times ahead!

SoFtBaLL

This weekend, obviously, there was a football game! This got me thinking not about football, but about sports in general. Which, of course, made me think of softball! Without a doubt, softball is my favorite sport. I've been playing since I was in first grade and I love every minute of it. While it's a good sport to watch, I almost don't like to because I'd much rather be playing! I played in high school, and while I love the competitivness, I love playing just for fun even more. By the way, I play first base and left field! Every summer a bunch of my friends and I get together and play in a summer league. And let me say, it is the time of my life! Sure, we definitely get into it, but not a game goes by when we are not laughing hysterically. Whether I hit a homerun or go down swinging, they are always there! This group of girls is like my summer family. Not only do we all love the sport, but we really are all friends. And if I do say so myself, we're pretty good at the game :) Summer is for sure my favorite season thanks in large part to softball!

Ishmael 's Speech

Many times in an english class, you are assigned a book to read and you only read it because you have to. I can honestly say that this is one of the few books assigned to me that I actually wanted to read. Not only because it was interesting, but because it was truly influencial. Reading "A Long Way Gone", watching "Blood Diamond", and listening to Beah speak have really impacted the way in which I think about a lot. First off, it has made me very grateful for what I have. I am lucky to live in a place where, for the most part, I can do what I want to do and it's ok! Now, I am by no means perfect, and there will be times I'm sure when I take things for granted, but I hope that when this happens I will be able to take a step back and realize that I am living a great life. Seeing the life that Ishmael was forced to live makes my problems seem not so bad. The topic of education seemed to have been brought up a few times during his speech. While many may think this is irrelevant to the problem at hand, it really got me thinking. There are pobably so many people around the world who want to go to college and further their education, but just aren't given the opportunity. I, on the other hand, have had the chance to go to a great school (Purdue!) and follow my dreams. So, I want to try my best to take full advantage of it! There are times, I know, when it is going to be hard and I might want to give up, but, like Ishmael, I can get through it.

Not only have these sources influenced me, but they have definitely made me aware of some very controversial issues. For one, child soldiers. How can we finally put this terrible happening to an end? Also, blood diamonds. Is there a was to really know if the diamond you are purchasing costed a child his or her life? All in all, reading this book, listening to Ishmael speak, and watching this movie have really gotten me thinking!

Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend?

Diamonds really are everywhere. Whether it is in a song, a book, a commercial, or a magazine, they are constantly being advertised or talked about. They are shown as being glamorous, expensive, and obviously good-looking. Growing up, I felt that way about them because it was all I ever heard. When I thought of diamonds, I thought of how nice they must be and how special it must be to recieve them. I also thought that giving one was a very big deal, and to be honest I still do. Typically, diamonds are given to someone you love, and not for just any reason. It's usually for a special occasion or reason. As your typical girl, I've always thought about getting that special ring from that special someone.

I honestly never knew how people really got diamonds or what some of the truth behind them is. After reading articles and watching the movie "Blood Diamond" I do have to say that seeing them makes me think a little differently. Conflict diamonds are the diamonds being bought from Africa that are essentially funding the wars. To make it simple, people are dying trying to get diamonds. No one is saying that everyone should stop buying them, but it is very important that the public knows what is happening. They also need to be aware that there are ways to buy diamonds that haven't been "blood diamonds". While shopping you can ask for a voucher that says the jewelry wasn't made at the cost of someone's life. If everyone knew about this, and responded to it, it is very likely that this horrible business would end.

A big part of this is letting the public know. Many people don't know what is happening, and I don't think anyone wants to look at their ring or their necklace knowing someone's life could have been taken for it. Movies like "Blood Diamond" and songs like Kanye West's I think are very effective in showing what is happening. So many people listen to music or go to see movies and that many more people are now aware of the problem. The thing is, we need to begin acting on it. If we do, this can finally come to an end.

My Family :)

At the very beginning of the semester we were asked to write about our values. And the number one on my list is my family! I decided to write about them in this blog because I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss seeing them every once in a while! My mom and dad are coming up in a week and I'm very excited! I know they are too! My family consists of my mom, my dad, and my older sister. She is twenty one and a senior here at Purdue. Honestly, I don't know what I would have done without her here. It's great to have that special piece of home here with me. She's always there for me and I know I can count on her. I think we are both very exited to see our parents next weekend. And speaking of the weekend, the football games are coming up! I am so pumped to support the Boilers! I'm sure it will be quite the experience being in the stands with so many people. I think it's a great way to bring everyone together and show our school spirit. It's great to be in the big ten! I know my parents are really excited to go also! They both went to a small college so we're kind of a big deal! Boiler Up :)

My Major!

Well, as I have said before, I am a biology major. This week I went to an alumni panel for one of my biology classes. I know that sometimes going to extra meetings for classes isn't exactly my idea of fun, however, I really found this hour and a half to be very beneficial for me! They had four panelists come in who each have a biology degree and talk about their careers. I was sitting there, and I will admit I began to become a little bored and restless. Then, the last speaker was a pre-med student at IU. Immediately my ears perked up a little and I really wanted to hear what she had to say! I myself want to go to medical school one day so I thought this would be very helpful. She began to talk about what the four years in med school are like. The first two are more classroom work only the days are a lot longer than you would expect. The next two years are all about working in the hospital and actually being "hands on". That is when I began to get excited! I know that going to classes and sitting in lectures is for sure necessary, but actually working with people and learning how to give an examination and diagnose a patient is what I'm here for. While I was very excited to begin my journey, I would be lying if I said I didn't begin to get a little (ok, more than a little) nervous! She went on to say how it is very possible to become a doctor, but it is going to take a lot of work. Balancing work and fun is the key! So, I'm preparing myself to have fun and make the best out of college, but I know it is going to take hard work!

20 Problems

1. Civil War
2. Murder
3. Child Soldiers
4. Rape
5. Psychological effects of war
6. poverty
7. Ignorance
8. Weapon Control
9. Starvation
10. Diamond Mining
11. Power Struggle
12. Torture
13. Lack of education
14. Drugs
15. Loss of childhood
16. Corrupt Political System
17. Loss of feeling safe
18. Loss of respect
19. Physical injuries
20. Loss of trust

All of these problems play huge roles in both the book and the movie. If I were to pick one to discuss possible solutions for, it would have to be the problem of using child soldiers. I think this also sort of ties in with the loss of childhood. I really think that everyone is entitled to be able to "just be a kid." If there were an easy way to put an end to this, it would have already been done. However, the issue of using children during time of war still sadly exists today. I think one way of stopping this is simply knowledge and awareness. People need to know in detail what is happening. The more people who know, the more likely something will get done about it. I also think it is very important that governments take action. It seems that the issue is simply being overlooked, and that is a problem in itself. Leaders need to keep a close eye on this and make sure that it is stopped. A huge part of their job is to LEAD! This means setting a good example for everyone to follow.

Quote

As we discussed memorable quotes and scenes in class, I feel like I finally started to understand what "reading in between the lines" meant. This technique is thrown around a lot, so I began to go back and skim the first few chapters again. I wanted to understand what Beah was going through as best as I could. Then I came across one line on page 23. I really feel like this one simple line had so much depth to it, and so much meaning behind it. "Each gunshot seemed to cling to the beat of my heart." Seems pretty plain, right? Wrong! In this one sentence, I think Beah got a point across. That moment is when he really understood that his life wasn't ever going to be the same. It was that quick. Your life can change in an instant, and I really think his did. Every time a gun was fired, things changed. It makes you realize how every time the rebels attacked, a part of him went. These gunshots became the center of his life and the driving force behind all he did. If he was running, hiding, or fighting, it was all because of the war. Everything he did had to do with it, and whatever he did his heart had to be behind it.

My weekend

This weekend was a great weekend for me! I have been extremely busy and decided to share what happened because there was so much. I'm almost done with rushing for sororities. It has been long and tiring but very worthwhile! It's interesting to see how you are able to tell what kind of houses do and don't fit you. In a way, you get a sense of who you really are. Through some of these girls I see myself! What I think is so great about recruitment is that you are opened up to a whole new part of college! Not only is it fun, but it's a great way to open new doors and explore new things especially since I am still new here! As lame as it may sound, I am most excited to see where I end up. The Greek system is great so far at Purdue because it is a way to form friendships. I've heard many say that it is a life changing experience and the people you meet are always there for you. They become like a family and I am ecstatic to begin to form these bonds and grow as a person.

Introduction

My name is Gina and I'm eighteen years old. I'm from Chicago, Illinois and I'm excited to be here! My major is biology and eventually I want to go to medical school to become a doctor, specifically a pediatrician. I love kids and I love to help people, so I think this profession would suit me very well. In my spare time I really like to play softball, shop, and be with my friends. I also like to spend time with my family. I have a mom, a dad, and an older sister. We are really close. They are always there for me! My most important values are my family, my friends, and my education. I don't know where I would be without any of them! I think I'm pretty outgoing and easy to get along with. I love to meet people and I'm really open to try new things.