Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga

     Lately we have been reading a book entitled Nervous Conditions.  The book was written by the author whose name is Tsitsi Dangarembga. The book is based on the life of a girl named Tambu and her family.  In the 1940's, which is around the time period that Dangerembga placed Tambu, their was much inequality between men and women.  Tambu lived in Rhodesia or modern day Zimbabwe.  She lived with her mother and her father and her many siblings who all helped on around the house, in the fields, or helped cook dinner.
     In the chapters that we read for homework Nyasha's disrespectful actions leads her to be physically and emotionally, and possibly mentally damaged from the harm her father inflicted on her.  I couldn't believe Nyasha had the audacity to strike her father in his face.  That was very surprising, but what I couldn't understand is the way that the father dealt with the situation by taking his daughters head and bashing against the floor. I understand that his daughter disrespected him and I understand that she needed to be disciplined, but that form of discipline was just cruel and scary.

OwnagePranks

 Yesterday my friend Charlotte told me that I should go on YouTube and watch a video named "Chinese Take Out Prank".  I told her that I would take at look at the video.  I typed the phrase into YouTube and hoped for the best.  I didn't know what to expect so I clicked on the most appropriate video and what I listened to was by far the funniest thing I've ever heard.  In the video, someone prank calls random Asian oriented fast food restaurants using a fake Vietnamese accent.  It is simply hilarious to me.

     After watching that video I went on the maker of OwnagePranks official YouTube page and watched more of his videos.  I learned that he is not limited to the Vietnamese accent he can also impersonate a black man, a country bumpkin, an Indian man, a British man, and much more! My favorite video by OwnagePranks by far is "Chinese Take Out Prank".  I loved how persistent the guy was on making sure the prank was funny.  The only thing I wish to happen is for the maker to lengthen the videos a little more.

Burned by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

     Last week I read two books in one week.  I am proud of myself because I have almost finished the House of Night series.  I am currently reading the book entitled Burned which is by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast.  In this book Zoey's spirit is shattered because of Heath's death by the hands of Kalona.  As Zoey struggles to keep herself together in the Otherworld Stark, her love interest, is on his way to help saver her.
     This book is filled with more emotion than the other books.  I believe the characters show their vulnerable sides in Burned especially when they do not know what to do in tough situations. Since the main character is in a coma like state some of the lesser main characters step and introduce their struggles to the story.  I really like how the Cast duo transitions from one character's point of view to the other.


Reading Log:

Saturday: 100 mins Burned by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
Sunday: 50 mins Burned by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Research Paper

     On Tuesday February 14th, 2012 at 11:59 PM all of Dr. deGravelles classes will be finished with writing their very own unique research paper!  I'm so excited to be done with this research paper.  We've done a lot over these past four or five weeks.  We have created note cards for noodletools, we created a research question, we created a thesis statement, an outline, and many other necessary components to creating a very well written research paper.  It has been a tiresome and very tedious process.  I am glad that it is almost over with. 

     However, I am also worried about what grade I shall earn.  I am concerned because as you have already have learned from a recent post, I have been becoming a bit more lazy like I did last semester.  So on some parts of my research paper things aren't as great and I need to revise some of those areas.  That's what I have been doing this weekend and hopefully it pays off.

Freshman Year

     My freshman year is steadily coming to a close.  I sense that the end of the year coming and it is coming very close.  It seems like only days ago I was writing my first Profile Assignment  in the class of Dr. deGravelle's class.  I've had some great experiences and I have had some experiences that nearly crushed me.  I wouldn't have gotten through those experiences without using the advice and help from my friends, teachers (especially Dr. d), my parents, and God.  I remember coming into high school wanting someone to hold my hand.  I scared out of mind, but as I eased into high school I began to become more and more independent.  I began to take the initiative to do my work by myself without someone telling me to do it.  Though I may have gotten my work done I won't say that I didn't procrastinate at times.  I mean everyone procrastinates.

     At the beginning of the third quarter I did very well by turning all of my homework.  However, I have been regressing back to my lazy ways by not completing my work.  That all changed today when I got almost all my homework finished.  When I am done posting this final blog post I will finish my note cards and head out to go to sleep.  I can't wait to share my thoughts next time!

Hunted by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

     I continue to read the House of Night books for one hundred and fifty minutes each week.  I am reading each   book swiftly because they're so good!  By now you should know that I am reading the books in the order that they were published.  As of now, I have finished reading the fifth book in the series, Hunted.  This book was very intense and at the end it had a very chilling conclusion.  Neferet has fully turned to the dark side, sorry for the Star Wars pun, and has fully embraced Kalona, a fallen angel, as her king.  Zoey and others hide from them throughout most of the book until Zoey has a near death experience causing Zoey and her friends to return to the House of Night where Neferet and Kalona await their return.  To make a long story short Zoey and her friends return and then flee again.  Once they flee the second time Neferet and Kalona follow them.  Zoey, her Grandma, Sister Angela, Aphrodite, and Stevie Rae banish Neferet and Kalona using the power of love. 

     This book was very good in my opinion.  Kristin and P.C. really know how to transition from part of the story to another.  I love how that almost every main character has a side story that is told.  I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series, Tempted.