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.