Monday, April 19, 2010

Diane's class Level 4:




Dear teacher and Friends,

I will never forget the moments that we shared together:)This was the greatest experience that I have never had lived. Being with students from different countries is something very nice~~ I have learned more about each one's culture and mentality!
Unfortunately, this semester is ending soon:( Therefore, I hope all best for you and have great luck in your lives^^and See you~
I wanna thank Diane for her efforts, her understanding to each one of us, her hard work and her good behavior with us!
I love you all~~~
أحبكم جميعا~~~
Seni seviyorum bütün~~~
Unë dua që ju të gjithë~~~
我爱你~~~
Je t'aime tous~~~
Is tú mo ghrá go léir~~~
私はあなたを愛するすべての~~~
당신을 사랑합니다 모두~~~
Eu amo todos vocês~~~
Te quiero a todos~~~
FARAH (*_*)
~~فرح

Grammar:


USING CONTEXT CLUES:
1).Legumes: Legume refers to the fruit or seed of plants of the legume family as peas or beans used for food.
2).Reticent: The room was very crowded and all people talked, which is why she was been reticent.
3).Advocated: She advocates premarital cohabitation but her boyfriend is totally against it.
4).Affluent: Even though he is affluent, he is never satisfied, and he tries always to make more money and possessions.
5).Peasant: (a member of European class of persons tilling the soil as small landowners or as laborers), were treated in very humiliating way by the landowners.
6).Bewildered: Before coming to the USA, I was so bewildered; I couldn't take my decision if I should stay in my home country or come here.
7).Pessimism: I was pessimistic about my financial situation, but he was certain that it will be solved.
8).Deprecated: She praised her daughter's new style, while he father deprecated it.
9).Assimilated: I assimilated why he was rude with his girlfriend; he found her cheating him.
10).Dubious: I am certain that he is with her, but if you doubt it you can go to her house now and you will discover.
USING SOME CONNOTATIVE IN A SMALL STORY:
John and Arturo were invited to a social. They were happy about that, but they had a problem:"We will go to the party without any ladies!!" John demanded. "Let's trudge, maybe we will find a date on the road,"responded Arturo.
When the were walking, they saw a very beautiful woman. Arturo stared at John, and John stared at Arturo.Her face was shining in the dark of the night; she was dressed a Lavender dress and she was looking at them with sneer."Let's introduce ourselves to her!" Arturo said,"maybe she will be our date for the party,"he continued.
After a while, a huge car stopped beside the girl. The guys were shocked because the boy kissed the girl and took her into his automobile. Therefore, they returned home disappointed...

Tuesday, April 13, 2010


It was nice weather, a sunny day;she was happy and excited. She had to go to her work, but she preferred to go by walking through the park.
She wore a nice skirt and top, she seemed prettier than usual. Her smile, her sight, her way of walking. She was bright as the sun; she looked very optimistic. It was her first day at work; she could help her mother now. Life became more fair for her she would work and make money to help her blind mom. Her family was poor; they didn't have enough money. When she was child her father obliged her mother to work at anything to gave him money; if she didn't he hit her and her daughter. Because of her father's violence her mom got diabetes and she lost her sight.
This girl hated her father, she would never forget what he did. He left them and he went with another woman. Therefore when she found this work she was elated and she thought that life opened its lucky doors to her.
On her way to work a stranger riding in a black car smiled at her, followed her and then grabbed her from behind; he got her in the car with strong force. She had a shock, her body trembled...He took her to a dark and empty area and he raped her, then he escaped.....:(

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

My opinion about slavery and racism:


I have never known why some white people hate the black people, why they treat them by an humiliated way? We are all human and there is no difference between a black and white. We are all brothers and sisters. Slavery for me is something very rude. When we came to this earth we came with our freedom. However, in the past many people bought and sold black people, they manipulated their liberty to serve their own interests; things which are unfair.
In the story that we read today in Diane’s class, we can see that Mattew Henson was a skillful man. He had always the dream to live adventures, but because he was black, he had fewer opportunities to achieve his goal and his dream. The society in which he lived considered that this class of people was born just for working hard and for suffering; they hadn’t the right to dream they were just for serving white people. However, Henson managed to do well and he reached the North Pole….

Matthew Henson:


Matthew Henson's mother died when he was very young. After she died, his father moved his family to Washington D.C. Then his father died when Matthew was only eleven years old. The uncle with whom he lived was so mean to him that Matthew ran away from home. He was only thirteen years old.

He had no place to go, so he found a job at a small restaurant, and the owner took pity on him and let him sleep on the floor of the restaurant at night.

Next a sea captain hired him to work on his ship. During the next few years he sailed around the world, learned to read, and learned about ships and navigation.

At one point when he was between voyages, he worked for a man who owned a store which sold supplies to men embarking * on expeditions. This is where he met Robert Peary.

Peary was so impressed with Henson's credentials * he made him his assistant and right-hand-man on his expeditions.

The first trip they made together was to Nicaragua * to chart the jungle there. He spent twenty years of his life traveling and exploring with Robert Peary.

He was with Peary for seven years in the Arctic where they covered 9,000 miles on dogsleds. On the final trip in 1909 they finally reached the North Pole. Henson said he was the first man there because he was at the front of the sled and Peary was riding in the back of the sled.

Peary, of course, took credit for being first since it was his expedition. His attitude * toward his assistant changed, and Henson was pushed out of the limelight * . Peary wanted the attention to be focused only on him, and he did not want Henson to receive credit * for his hard work.

After the expedition, Henson could not get a very good job. Then four years later President Taft assigned to him the title of clerk in the New York Customs House. He held this post for 23 years. During those years Henson attended Harvard University and earned a master's degree.


Matthew Henson in later years
holding a picture of Robert Peary After many years he began to be recognized for his contribution to the polar exploration. In 1944 Matthew Henson received the Congressional Medal of Honor. In 1954 President Eisenhower presented him with an award. Another honor was bestowed on him when the Explorer's Club accepted him as a member. A ship was named after him; the U.S.N.S. Henson, schools were named after him, and other honors were given in his memory.



Matthew Henson was survived by an only son, Anauakaq, whose mother was an Inuit woman named Akatingwah. Anauakaq once visited his father's family and the site where Henson was buried.

In 1988 Henson's body was moved to Arlington National Cemetery where he was interred near the place where Robert Peary was buried. Those in attendance included his American family as well as his Inuit family.

At last, Matthew Henson was recognized for his contribution to the successful North Pole expedition

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Moroccan Kissing Customs:


When Moroccans see someone they know, it is impolite to just say "hi" and keep walking. At the very least they have stop in order to shake hands and ask "ki dayr? Ça va ?" ‘’How are you? Good?’’ Always with friends and sometimes with acquaintances (shopkeepers, etc.), Moroccans will phrase this question several different ways, and then ask about the other person's health, family, children, and perhaps weather too.
This exchange of pleasantries tends to be continuous and automatic). Sometimes, actually no real thought is put into the questions or answers and both parties are usually talking at the same time. The exchange can last up to 30 or 40 seconds.
Moroccans are very fond of shaking hands every time they see someone they know or meet someone new. When we go into work in the morning or when we leave workplace, we're expected to shake each of our colleagues' hands. Sometimes when you're supposed to attend a familial gathering, and you found the room crowded with more than 8 people you can only say Salam 3alaykom in a bit louder voice instead of shaking hands with everyone in the room!
Here are some costumes of greetings in Morocco:
• We often keep shaking hands until the end of the greeting process.
• Many Moroccans will look towards the ground when greeting ladies and elders.
• We often kiss elders' hands and their heads as well. You’ll always hear them saying Allah yerDi 3lik aweldi/abenti or Allah ye3tik rrDa, both expressions are prayers that God will bless you and be pleasant with you…Sort of.
• After shaking hands,
Touching the right hand to the heart is a sign of respect.
This is not limited to one's elders; it is common to see adults touching their hearts after shaking hands.
• A person at a distance will usually make eye contact, smile, and touch his hand to his heart.
• Affection for children is shown by patting gently on their shoulders or heads, but hugging or kissing cheeks is more common.
• Male/Female contact is often limited to hand-shaking but it really depends on people's social class and their own habits.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Julia Butterfly Hill:


For 738 days Julia Butterfly Hill lived in the canopy of an ancient redwood tree, called Luna, to help make the world aware of the plight of ancient forests. Julia, with the great help of steelworkers and environmentalists, successfully negotiated to permanently protect the 1,000 year-old tree and a nearly three-acre buffer zone. Her two-year vigil informed the public that only 3% of the ancient redwood forests remain and that the Headwaters Forest Agreement, brokered by state and federal agencies and Pacific Lumber/Maxxam Corporation, will not adequately protect forests and species.

On December 18, 1999 Julia Butterfly Hill, then 26, came down to a world that recognized her as a heroine and powerful voice for the environment. Her courage, commitment and profound clarity in articulating a message of hope, empowerment, and love and respect for all life has inspired millions of people worldwide. Julia reflects,

“By standing together in unity, solidarity and love we will heal the wounds in the earth and in each other. We can make a positive difference through our actions.”

Julia Hill chose the name Butterfly while in her childhood years and like her namesake she has undergone a great metamorphosis. She grew up in a deeply religious family as the daughter of a traveling, evangelical minister that later settled in Arkansas. In 1996 she suffered nearly fatal injuries in an auto accident. During close to a year of medical treatment and recovery, she had time to reassess her purpose in life. Two weeks after being released by her doctors, she headed west on a journey of self-discovery. She had no particular destination, but her first sight of the ancient redwoods overwhelmed her with awe. “When I entered the majestic cathedral of the redwood forest for the first time, my spirit knew it had found what it was searching for. I dropped to my knees and began to cry because I was so overwhelmed by the wisdom, energy and spirituality housed in this holiest of temples.”

Julia and other forest activists founded Circle of Life to inspire, support and network individuals, organizations, and communities so together we can create environmental and social solutions that are rooted deeply in love and respect for the interconnectedness of all life. We envision a sustainable culture that honors biological and cultural diversity. Through education and outreach, we promote efforts to protect and restore the Earth.