Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Friday, February 21, 2014
The Bond Between Father and Son
Alan Paton includes many themes throughout his novel Cry, The Beloved Country. To me, his most prominent theme in the book would have to be the conflict between father and son. Stephen Kumalo begins his journey in search of his son. For quite some time, he has not heard from or spoken to his son after he moved away from the tribe. The father and son have transformed from a strong bond to a pair of strangers in the matter of months. This has become a large contributor to the breakdown of the family. Conversely, James Jarvis begins the story knowing where his son is, but he will not be able to talk to him anytime soon. These two relationships are what drives the story forward.
The first example that displays the conflict between father and son is with Stephen and Absalom Kumalo. The search for Absalom reveals many astonishing things to Stephen Kumalo. Coming from a strong religious background, stealing and murder are the last things Stephen Kumalo was expecting to find out about his son. Absalom has steered away from the ways in which he was raised, which has caused a deep disappointment in his father. "...and was again moved to tears, this time by the dejection of his son..." (pg. 153). This quote proves that his father truly cares for his son, but he cannot help but feel disappointed as a result of his son's actions. I think that this conflict shows that even the strongest of bonds can break apart without communication between each other.
Another example of this theme would be the conflict between Arthur and James Jarvis, two other characters in the novel. This conflict is not so much related to disappointment between father and son, but the diminishing bond between the two. The quote, "But I wish now that I knew more of him", shows that the lack of communication between Arthur and James Jarvis deeply affects the bond between them. Without communication, there is no way of bringing the two closer together. You can tell that James Jarvis regrets not keeping in touch with his son. I believe that a strong bond is very important for a family. It is best to keep a strong bond with family, there is always the chance that they will never be seen again.
The conflict between father and son is one of the biggest themes in this book. The reader sees a constant battle within each family. Whether it be disappointment, a lack of communication, or a diminishing bond between father and son. This conflict is what drives the book forward. It keeps the anticipation running through the readers' minds.
The first example that displays the conflict between father and son is with Stephen and Absalom Kumalo. The search for Absalom reveals many astonishing things to Stephen Kumalo. Coming from a strong religious background, stealing and murder are the last things Stephen Kumalo was expecting to find out about his son. Absalom has steered away from the ways in which he was raised, which has caused a deep disappointment in his father. "...and was again moved to tears, this time by the dejection of his son..." (pg. 153). This quote proves that his father truly cares for his son, but he cannot help but feel disappointed as a result of his son's actions. I think that this conflict shows that even the strongest of bonds can break apart without communication between each other.
Another example of this theme would be the conflict between Arthur and James Jarvis, two other characters in the novel. This conflict is not so much related to disappointment between father and son, but the diminishing bond between the two. The quote, "But I wish now that I knew more of him", shows that the lack of communication between Arthur and James Jarvis deeply affects the bond between them. Without communication, there is no way of bringing the two closer together. You can tell that James Jarvis regrets not keeping in touch with his son. I believe that a strong bond is very important for a family. It is best to keep a strong bond with family, there is always the chance that they will never be seen again.
The conflict between father and son is one of the biggest themes in this book. The reader sees a constant battle within each family. Whether it be disappointment, a lack of communication, or a diminishing bond between father and son. This conflict is what drives the book forward. It keeps the anticipation running through the readers' minds.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Working Hard
I believe that hard work is a major key to being successful in life. To me, nothing will get done if you do not work hard. Working hard can not just come to you though, to work hard you have to have a good work ethic. When all else fails in life, the best thing you can do is simply work hard. I believe that working hard will make our society much better.
People that work hard are much more likely to be successful than those who do not. To be successful, you have to have a good work ethic. A good work ethic keeps me positive and wanting to do better. When I work hard, I get a great sense of pride in myself. I feel much better when I can tell myself that I succeeded. I try to not slack as much as I can because I know that I will get nothing done.
My personal experiences with working hard have been tested many times. Before last year, I never really wanted to work hard for sports. My talents in sports never really came from how hard I worked. But last year, I finally started having competition against me. With my bad work habits, I had no chance of staying on the team. While we were running after practice one day, my coach pulled me to the side and told me about my work ethic. It really was in bad shape. Coach had begun to even consider me being kicked off the team. So I knew that there was only one thing to do, and that was to work harder than I ever have. After that talk, I began to be the best person I could in all areas of life. I strived to be the best athlete, student, person, or anything else I could think of.
If I would have stayed on the track I was on before, I would not be where I am today. Without working hard, I would not have near the good grades that I have in school. I definitely would not be the same athlete that I am, If I would have been one at all. I learned that working hard is one of the best things you can to in life. I strive to be the best person I could possibly be. These days, you really can not get much done without working hard. This economy has gotten much tougher. We all need to be able to earn our keep in this world. And working hard is the only way that this will get done. \
All in all, I believe that life may give you your ups and downs, but without working hard, you will not be able to make anything of those "ups". I believe that life is what you make of it, and being lazy will surely not make the best out of life. When I found the value of working hard, I vowed never to be lazy as long as I can help it. Each day is a new day for me. I get another chance to make my life better than the day before. And I will not be able to make my life better without working hard.
People that work hard are much more likely to be successful than those who do not. To be successful, you have to have a good work ethic. A good work ethic keeps me positive and wanting to do better. When I work hard, I get a great sense of pride in myself. I feel much better when I can tell myself that I succeeded. I try to not slack as much as I can because I know that I will get nothing done.
My personal experiences with working hard have been tested many times. Before last year, I never really wanted to work hard for sports. My talents in sports never really came from how hard I worked. But last year, I finally started having competition against me. With my bad work habits, I had no chance of staying on the team. While we were running after practice one day, my coach pulled me to the side and told me about my work ethic. It really was in bad shape. Coach had begun to even consider me being kicked off the team. So I knew that there was only one thing to do, and that was to work harder than I ever have. After that talk, I began to be the best person I could in all areas of life. I strived to be the best athlete, student, person, or anything else I could think of.
If I would have stayed on the track I was on before, I would not be where I am today. Without working hard, I would not have near the good grades that I have in school. I definitely would not be the same athlete that I am, If I would have been one at all. I learned that working hard is one of the best things you can to in life. I strive to be the best person I could possibly be. These days, you really can not get much done without working hard. This economy has gotten much tougher. We all need to be able to earn our keep in this world. And working hard is the only way that this will get done. \
All in all, I believe that life may give you your ups and downs, but without working hard, you will not be able to make anything of those "ups". I believe that life is what you make of it, and being lazy will surely not make the best out of life. When I found the value of working hard, I vowed never to be lazy as long as I can help it. Each day is a new day for me. I get another chance to make my life better than the day before. And I will not be able to make my life better without working hard.
Friday, October 18, 2013
Grandma's Fried Raviolis
Ingredients:
In a large bowl, mix the buttermilk, flour, and eggs with a mixer to create a soft and creamy dough for the noodles. Twist, churn, and squeeze the dough until it is firm and able to be cut into noodles. Then cut the noodles into squares to take on the ravioli shape. After the noodles are cut, wait for the noodles to dry so they will not break when cooking.
While we waited for the noodles to dry, the whole family would gather around and visit with each other. With the smell of fresh dough swarming around the kitchen, everyone would laugh and tell old childhood stories. I always loved these stories and laughed until I could not breathe. Some of the younger children would even go outside and play a quick game of football. There was never an unhappy feeling while making my grandmother's famous raviolis.
Once the noodles are ready, begin to fill the raviolis with shredded beef and chicken. Be careful not to put too much meat in the raviolis. If you put to much, the raviolis will break and will not be able to fry. Once the raviolis are securely pressed, heat up a frying pan and place the olive oil in the pan. Once the pan is ready for frying, place the raviolis into the pan. Fry until the raviolis are light brown. Place the raviolis on a large plate or cookie sheet for serving. While the pan is still hot, pour the marinara sauce into the pan. Just keep the sauce in the pan just until it gets warm. Then pour the marinara sauce into dipping bowls.
This was an all day thing for my family. We did nothing but make raviolis from dusk until dawn. The feast we had on holidays was always filled with the raviolis we made. The whole family would sit around a big and have raviolis until we would nearly pop! At the table everyone would laugh and joke with the rest of the family. Making the raviolis was always a favorite thing to do for the whole family.
The raviolis is one of the best things that brings my family together. It seems like the food we make bonds us together and makes our family stronger. When we make this dish everyone in my family is happy. We never fight or argue or anything. The famous fried raviolis will always stay in my heart as a memory of my family.
- Flour
- Eggs
- Buttermilk
- Smoked beef and chicken
- Olive oil
- Marinara sauce
In a large bowl, mix the buttermilk, flour, and eggs with a mixer to create a soft and creamy dough for the noodles. Twist, churn, and squeeze the dough until it is firm and able to be cut into noodles. Then cut the noodles into squares to take on the ravioli shape. After the noodles are cut, wait for the noodles to dry so they will not break when cooking.
While we waited for the noodles to dry, the whole family would gather around and visit with each other. With the smell of fresh dough swarming around the kitchen, everyone would laugh and tell old childhood stories. I always loved these stories and laughed until I could not breathe. Some of the younger children would even go outside and play a quick game of football. There was never an unhappy feeling while making my grandmother's famous raviolis.
Once the noodles are ready, begin to fill the raviolis with shredded beef and chicken. Be careful not to put too much meat in the raviolis. If you put to much, the raviolis will break and will not be able to fry. Once the raviolis are securely pressed, heat up a frying pan and place the olive oil in the pan. Once the pan is ready for frying, place the raviolis into the pan. Fry until the raviolis are light brown. Place the raviolis on a large plate or cookie sheet for serving. While the pan is still hot, pour the marinara sauce into the pan. Just keep the sauce in the pan just until it gets warm. Then pour the marinara sauce into dipping bowls.
This was an all day thing for my family. We did nothing but make raviolis from dusk until dawn. The feast we had on holidays was always filled with the raviolis we made. The whole family would sit around a big and have raviolis until we would nearly pop! At the table everyone would laugh and joke with the rest of the family. Making the raviolis was always a favorite thing to do for the whole family.
The raviolis is one of the best things that brings my family together. It seems like the food we make bonds us together and makes our family stronger. When we make this dish everyone in my family is happy. We never fight or argue or anything. The famous fried raviolis will always stay in my heart as a memory of my family.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Never Take Things For Granted
Many people do not realize what they have until it is gone. There are many things in this world that people take for granted. In the story, "A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings", Pelayo's family took their fallen angel for granted. The family's angel had helped them in many ways, but the family was always annoyed with the angel and treated him badly. Eventually, the angel left the family when he regained health and regrew his wings. I believe that the angel would have stayed and performed many more miracles for the family if they wouldn't have taken him for granted.
The angel in the story created many miracles for the family. The angel cured the family's little boy of his illness. The family did nothing to repay the angel, instead they kept him locked away in a chicken pen. The family did not show any gratitude toward the angel, which showed the angel that they only cared about themselves. The family earned a lot of money because of the angel. The angel's popularity gave the family money from the profits they charged other people for observing the angel. Again, the family did not show any gratitude and felt greatly annoyed by the angels presence. The actions of the family showed the audience that they were simply taking the angel for granted.
I believe, if the family would have showed the angel respect, they would not have forced him to go away so fast. In the story, the angel seemed to leave with no regrets. In my opinion, the angel would have stayed and could have made many more miracles happen if the family would have treated him honorably. Instead, they treated him terribly. The embarrassment the family brought to the angel was very uncalled for by making a spectacle of him.
This story teaches me that I do not need to take good things that happen to me for granted. Good things happen only once in a while; therefore, I need to always appreciate and cherish them. I will have a much more meaningful life. This story teaches a great life lesson that everyone should live by.
The angel in the story created many miracles for the family. The angel cured the family's little boy of his illness. The family did nothing to repay the angel, instead they kept him locked away in a chicken pen. The family did not show any gratitude toward the angel, which showed the angel that they only cared about themselves. The family earned a lot of money because of the angel. The angel's popularity gave the family money from the profits they charged other people for observing the angel. Again, the family did not show any gratitude and felt greatly annoyed by the angels presence. The actions of the family showed the audience that they were simply taking the angel for granted.
I believe, if the family would have showed the angel respect, they would not have forced him to go away so fast. In the story, the angel seemed to leave with no regrets. In my opinion, the angel would have stayed and could have made many more miracles happen if the family would have treated him honorably. Instead, they treated him terribly. The embarrassment the family brought to the angel was very uncalled for by making a spectacle of him.
This story teaches me that I do not need to take good things that happen to me for granted. Good things happen only once in a while; therefore, I need to always appreciate and cherish them. I will have a much more meaningful life. This story teaches a great life lesson that everyone should live by.
Friday, July 19, 2013
The Importance of Working as a Teen
I recently read an article about teens and how they should earn money. (http://www.fool.com/teens/teens02.htm) How often do you see teens working and getting value out of life through a job? There are many teens out there that could really benefit from having a job. Maintaining a job is a very big task that many teens cannot seem to do; however, teens that can maintain a job will be more successful in life. Today, teens will greatly benefit from having a job by teaching responsibility and to be prepared for the future.
There are many teens out there that are not motivated to do anything. If teens were to get a job, they would learn a great deal of responsibility. From getting to work on time, to doing your best at the work you are told to do, all takes a great deal of responsibility. If a teen were to not show up on time or correctly do their job, they would get fired without a doubt. Teens would also have a better insight on their future if they were to get a job. Through working, a teen can save up plenty of money to make it through college and even after college. It takes much experience to be successful in the work force. Why not get experience in the work force early? The earlier a teen gets experience in something, the more successful that person will be in the future.
This article makes me believe that working as a teenager will benefit me in the future. I believe that if a teen is willing to find and maintain a job, they will be successful in life by having a good job and promising future. If a teenager stays responsible, they will achieve great goals in life through the work force. Responsibility is one key to greatness. Also, I believe that having a job as a teen will greatly affect the future of all teens. To me, more experience leads to a better future for all people. With many teens having good experience in the work force, this will lead to a big spike in job growth.
With the role of jobs in teens lives, I believe that our work force will be more stable and even have a spike in growth and efficiency. Many teens find themselves wondering why they do not have any money when all they have to do is fill out a simple job application. Having a job as a teen will not only keep them out of trouble, but teach a great deal of responsibility and will benefit them in their future.
There are many teens out there that are not motivated to do anything. If teens were to get a job, they would learn a great deal of responsibility. From getting to work on time, to doing your best at the work you are told to do, all takes a great deal of responsibility. If a teen were to not show up on time or correctly do their job, they would get fired without a doubt. Teens would also have a better insight on their future if they were to get a job. Through working, a teen can save up plenty of money to make it through college and even after college. It takes much experience to be successful in the work force. Why not get experience in the work force early? The earlier a teen gets experience in something, the more successful that person will be in the future.
This article makes me believe that working as a teenager will benefit me in the future. I believe that if a teen is willing to find and maintain a job, they will be successful in life by having a good job and promising future. If a teenager stays responsible, they will achieve great goals in life through the work force. Responsibility is one key to greatness. Also, I believe that having a job as a teen will greatly affect the future of all teens. To me, more experience leads to a better future for all people. With many teens having good experience in the work force, this will lead to a big spike in job growth.
With the role of jobs in teens lives, I believe that our work force will be more stable and even have a spike in growth and efficiency. Many teens find themselves wondering why they do not have any money when all they have to do is fill out a simple job application. Having a job as a teen will not only keep them out of trouble, but teach a great deal of responsibility and will benefit them in their future.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
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