ENG3U1

Honestly I was dreading English class because last year I did not do very well so I thought that I would never improve at all. As well as I disliked everything that English entailed which is writing essays, reading Shakespeare and using MLA format.  I usually just like to write poetry or write creatively because I want to not because I have to. But although I was dreading the class, it was a complete shock to me that I would actually enjoy coming to English class every day. I really learned a lot this year in English class and this year I have really gained a lot of confidence in myself. I have improved my mark tremendously from last year which also improved my confidence. I thoroughly enjoyed blogging and I loved our class discussions such as culture is not a costume. I thank this year to Mrs. Le because she truly is a tremendous teacher! I loved how we had to write all our essays on Ugcloud because I loved to see all the comments on the side. The comments that Mrs. Le would post on the side really helped me to improve my writing for the next essay or analytical paragraph.  I loved the way that Mrs. Le helped our class at all times and tried to make everything feel more comfortable such as to present to only half of the class. To present to half the class made me feel more comfortable and more confident to present my ISU novel to the class. I am going to truly miss this class and I have truly loved this year in English class.

Kiss of The Fur Queen

For my ISU novel I read the Kiss of the Fur Queen. The novel was about two Cree brothers Jeremiah and Gabriel who share their life before, during and after going to a residential school. The novel expressed how the brothers used music to get through all their hardships. By reading this novel I got to not just learn the history of what a residential school is but I actually got to read about the children’s stories which I found to be way better than articles about residential schools. By reading Gabriel and Jeremiah’s story of going to a residential school I learned how not only the residential schools affected them in a negative way while they were attending the school but it also affected their life after. I believe that residential schools are cruelty to children! Not only do children get sexually abused and torched but they also were ripped away their own culture. The Cree brothers were forced to not speak Cree and language is a key factor in people’s culture. Children were ripped away their culture, their faith and to be themselves. They were forced to be someone who they aren’t. I personally believe that residential schools are truly horrendous and a sense of cruelty. I think that it is morally wrong and that children should never have went through this. What do you guys know about residential schools and what is your opinion about them?

Thoughts on The Kite Runner

1. I believe that The Kite Runner was  an amazing book. I really enjoyed reading it. In the book I felt bad for Amir because when Hassan was getting raped I know that he really wanted to help but he just could not. Its like when you play tennis and you know that you have to move to get the ball but your feet just cannot move. As well as I feel bad for him because he never had a real relationship with his dad. Since Amir could not be the real man that his dad expected created a distant and unhealthy relationship between him and his dad. I also feel bad for Hassan who knows that his best friend did not stick up for him for the one time he was in need. As well as he hoped that Amir would always come back for him but he never did. There were many surprises in the book such as when Hassan gets rapes, finding out that Baba is also Hassan's father, that Baba dies of cancer, that Hassan's son is still alive and that Assef is the one that Amir has to face to get Hassan's son and that Sohrab tries to kill himself. I am grateful that Amir got a second chance to redeem himself because I really believe that Amir means well and that he needed a second chance to redeem himself and he also needed a second chance to relieve him of his guilt that he carried around ever since his childhood. I am grateful that he opened up to his wife about his childhood and that Amir was able to relieve his guilt. I also really enjoyed the end of the book when Amir says he will run the kite for Sohrab. Although I wish that Amir and Sohrab could have gotten to the place before Sohrab tried to kill himself. I wish that they talked to each other again. What are your opinions of the book?

Macbeth

                I think that Macbeth is a very nice guy and I believe that he would be able to do the right thing if his wife wasn't pushing him to do the evil such as when Macbeth had second thoughts of killing Duncan. Macbeth came to a realization that he wasn't going to kill Duncan until his wife came in and started demeaning him by calling him a coward, insulting his manliness and saying that she would have murdered her child rather than break such a promise. Therefore I believe that Macbeth wouldn't have killed Duncan if his wife did not persuade him to do so. I also believe that Macbeth is very ambitious but not as ambitious as his wife. For example Macbeth had an ambition to become king, to become king he would kill Duncan just to achieve his ambition of being king. I believe that he is ambitious but needs a little help to achieve his ambitions such as his wife needing to persuade him to kill Duncan (needed help so that he could follow through with his ambitions). I think that Macbeth has a sense of knowing what is right from wrong such as when it finally kicked in Macbeth's conscience that it was morally wrong to kill Duncan therefore he stopped his plans so we knew that he knows right from wrong. When the plan of killing Duncan came about and when he actually murdered Duncan you had a sense that Macbeth wasn't mentally there that he went in and out of reality such as seeing a sword in front of him when it actually wasn't there. It also showed us that Macbeth had evil within himself by having thoughts that were morally wrong(evil). By Macbeth going in and out of evil thoughts you would think that he had some type of illness, by not knowing that his plan was morally wrong and by his thoughts coming back to him when he tried to get rid of them. After Macbeth killed Duncan he went psycho by giving in to his evil ambitions and by killing two innocent men to make sure that no one would find out that he killed Duncan, he pretty much went on a killing rampage.Ultimately, I think that Macbeth is a nice guy deep down, I believe he is partly evil, that he has ambitions and wants to achieve them and that in the end he pretty much went psycho. What do you think of Macbeth?

An Ideal Marriage

            I think that an ideal marriage has to consist of two people who love each other and are able to spend the rest of their lives together. I think that the two people who get married need to have to be able to spend long periods of time together and are able to stick with each other even after the little arguments they have. They need to be able to communicate, solve problems and be happy together.

What is your opinion about your ideal marriage? 

        

            I believe in today's society that people take marriage for granted. I believe that in our society people are more accepting of divorce compared to previous years where people were scared to even say that they had divorced parents. I remember in Kindergarten when I was one of the only people who had divorced parents and now today I know many others, so I believe that divorce is growing and that people don't take divorce very seriously. I understand divorcing someone because they cheated or are abusive towards one another. I understand that some people divorce because they argue too much but the thing is why couldn't have they waited to get married in the first place. I take marriage very seriously and believe that if you marry someone you should be with that person forever and maybe to fully know if you are meant for someone is to be with them for years before marrying them. I also think that people shouldn't take divorce for granted. 

                

Bingo: a sense of hope

In the Rez Sisters Bingo symbolizes many different things. For the people on the reserve Bingo is a symbol of hope; hope that they will win the money as a source of income, hope that if they win the money they can help out the reserve, hope that if they win the money they can by what they want just like Veronique who wanted a new stove. Bingo is also a symbol of  escape to the people on the reserve to get away from their poor life on the reserve and try to earn a source of income and to even have fun for a few hours. If they go to a Bingo off the reserve then they can also experience new cities and have the experience to travel. For example the Sisters got to travel to Toronto to play the biggest Bingo in the world.

Life On The Reserve

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evw-jXLczlo
After watching this trailer of a documentary "Life on the Reserve", I felt very saddened of how First Nations live with broken small houses, no drinking water because the water that comes out of their tap is unsafe, a school that is built by having two portables sewn together with no gym and no job oppourtunities. I feel that we take things for granted even if it is just that we have drinking water that we can get out of our taps. It makes me appreciate and be thankful for what i have. This video makes me wonder what i can do as an individual to help. Maybe i could  take a trip up to this reserve and help fix up homes or give them books and essentials that they would appreciate. Maybe i could even get the school involved to help get the essential things for the First Nations people. Also this makes me want to go to the reserve just to listen to their stories of life on the reserve because i am very interested about the reserve and how they still manage to survive.  I also wonder if by having such a poor life if it impacts the First Nations happiness. I wonder if they even have a happy life or if they are unhappy and wish that they could do anything to get out of the reserve. In the video it also mentioned that the majority of the people on the reserve have alcohol and or drug abuse. I believe that they turn to alcohol or drugs because of the life they live, that they don't have a wonderful life and source of income so they turn to drugs or because they are unhappy that they turn to alcohol.  I also think that the government is doing a poor job by not giving them the essentials that they need to survive like schooling. Many First Nations don't finish school which is key to get a well paid job. I believe that the government should be storngly encouraging kids to stay in school so that they can have a chance to get a real paying job. I also wonder if the first nations people actually get the money that the government says that they are giving to them and i wonder if the money they say that is going to their education is or not. If it is not i feel that the government should keep their promises and give them the education they need and deserve. So to conclude i believe that life on the First Nnations reserve is rough and that many individuals such as myself could help out in this community and also that the government can help out in this situation as well. Also i feel that the Rez Sisters will help show me more about the life on the reserve and if they are happy or not with their living situation.
How do you guys think we could help?
What do you think about First Nations life on the reserve?
What do you think that the government should do to help?