Christmas!

There is eight days left till Christmas. It's a big holiday in my family. On the first weekend in December we put up decorations inside and outside our house. My mom doesn't like having a real Christmas tree because the pine needles need to be vacuumed off the ground everyday and she hates having to water it while getting stabbed by pine needles. So we have a fake tree. It's about eight feet tall and every ornament has to be put on a certain part of the tree. Outside we have icicle lights hanging from the roof. Our big pine tree in the front yard is usually covered in colorful lights and we have a Rudolph that is helping Santa out of a chimney.

This week is when my mom and I start baking Christmas cookies! Every year we bake the same cookies and we try a new recipe. We make biscotti, sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, cinnamon cookies, peppermint twists, peanut butter cookies and gingerbread men. The weekend before Christmas my cousins and aunts come over and we decorate gingerbread men and ginger bread houses. The houses usually don't last even till Christmas Eve. By then most of the candy has been picked off, eaten and half the roof has been bitten off.

We had a HUGE Christmas party at the Italian American Banquet Hall with all of my aunts, uncles, cousins, parent’s cousins, grandparents, great- grandparents and great aunts and uncles. My cousins and I had to set up a nativity scene and I was the narrator. As everyone got in his or her costume we realized we didn't have anything to wrap my cousin Seth in, who was playing as baby Jesus. After brainstorming, we decided we would take a pillowcase my cousin had in her car still from a sleepover the night before and wrap him in it. Of course the play was a disaster. The baby started screaming after almost being dropped by my little sister and the angels were running in circles until they got sick and fell over.

I'm really excited for tomorrow! It's our last day of school until Winter Break! This day every year is traditionally a blow off day, no matter how old you are or what grade you're in. Teachers either make us watch an "educational" movie, like Elf or do an "educational" snowflake project. Third hour is what I'm really looking forward to though. My homeroom won the can drive for the freshmen class so we get a pizza party!

Christmas is almost here and I can't wait!

Rwandan Genocide Debate

It was different stepping outside of character and looking at the Rwanda genocide is a different countries point of view. The debate was crazy! A lot of countries were pointing fingers and blaming other countries for their own mistakes. France, the MNRD, and the U.N. and U.S. were blamed several times. Danny, Matt and I as Belgium believed that France was promoting violence by “training” the Hutus to fight. The debate on the topic was that France believed they were helping the Hutus defend themselves. The MNRD was blamed the most. Almost all the other groups, especially the RPF believed that they were brainwashing the Hutus, telling them that they must kill the Hutus. We ended the debate with talking about how the U.N. and the U.S. didn’t do anything to help the Rwandans in the genocide. The U.S. said that they were scared to get involved with the genocide because they were still frightened with the way it turned out when they helped Somalia in their genocide. The U.N. said that they didn’t have the support or supplies. When they went to the U.S. for help, they refused to help. The U.N. also said they did not have enough facts to consider it genocide.

The debate from my point of you was actually really fun. I learned a lot the effort it takes for countries and groups to get along, agree and communicate about tragedies. Even though I didn’t agree with the way Belgium handled things in the genocide. I still had to try to convince the other groups that Belgium was innocent. I didn’t think the debate would have been as chaotic as it was. As myself then as Belgium I believe that Belgium actually had a lot to do with the genocide being so violent. They owned Rwanda and when the genocide began they simply sat back and hardly did anything. I still believe that France was guilty as well. France said that they were helping the Hutus defend themselves. They trained the Hutus to fight and are responsible for the Tutsi lives lost in the Rwandan genocide. I also thought that the MNRD was being blamed for a lot more than actually did. A radio station can’t possibly make a group of people turn on another group in their country without other causes. The debate helped me realize what SIMUN will be like and how much preparation and hard work it will take.

Halloween(:

To most people Halloween is just a day to run around TPing houses, ding dong ditching and running from house to house in your neighborhood getting candy. But for me it’s a bigger deal then just that. It is also my birthday! Tomorrow at 10:56 p.m. fourteen years ago is when I was born. Every year my birthday weekend is very busy. Tonight I am going to the first Play Off game at Stevenson then after I’m going to a Halloween costume party at my friend Paiges house. When the party is over a few of my friends are sleeping over and we’re going to stay up all night watching scary movies! Then Saturday is my birthday!!! Before I do anything that day my mom is forcing me go to gymnastics. I am a little disappointed I have to, but my best friends Heather and Kassidy are coming with me so it should be fun! They also sing the Happy Happy Birthday song when it’s someone’s birthday and throw them into the foam pit. When gymnastics is over I’m going to Heathers house to get ready for Jessies Halloween Party. Heather is going to be a cat, and I’m going to be a bumble bee. At some point Halloween night I want to go to a haunted driveway on Doris by Coolidge Elementary School. A person living on the street has a circle drive way and have scary mannequins. On Halloween night people in that neighborhood hide in the mannequins and as you walk up to the house to get candy they jump out and grab you! If you can make it all the way to the front door to say, “Trick or treat” without running down the street screaming for your life, you get a huge candy bar. I’ve never made it to the front door. Every year I go, and every year I run away screaming. Last year I was chased down the street by a man in a mummy costume hiding in a coffin that was underground. This weekend is going to be so much fun! It will be a hard day for my mom. She is over dramatic and will cry because, “Just yesterday she was taking me home from the hospital” and now I’m all grown up and have my own plans. Halloween is definitely my favorite holiday! It's a day were you can dress up, hang out with your friends, and just have fun!

Health Care in the U.S. vs. Other Countries

In the United States we have some of the best health care available in the world, if you can afford to pay for it. 68% of Republicans, 32% of Democrats and 40% of Independents believe that health care in the United States is the best. This excellent health care is extremely expensive and health insurance is becoming more and more difficult for most Americans to keep. 1 out of 3 Americans under the age of 60 will go without health insurance for a few months every two years. Of those Americans living temporarily without health insurance, 1/3 of them will be uninsured for at least nine months, according to www.sharedprosperity.org.
The cost of merely paying for your health care or insurance out of pocket is very high. Those who have little money or are poorer, but not eligible for our current system of government medical aid, Medicaid and Medicare, find it impossible to afford adequate insurance nor are they able to pay for medical care out of their own pockets. One major illness or injury could bankrupt a family or the patient would not receive this same excellent care since they can’t afford. Those who are fortunate to have insurance through an employer often find that the parts of medical care not covered by the insurance to be very expensive.
Many other countries use a government run health care system, including Canada and parts of Europe. People who are against a government run health care system will argue that the care received in those countries is inferior to care received in the United States. However citizens of countries with government health care seem to get broken bones taken care of and citizens of Canada do not seem to be unhealthy. Their choice may be limited, but they are able to receive affordable health care when they are ill.
Our country has excellent health care, but the question is how can some people afford it? Obama is trying to make our health care system run like Canada’s. But by the time the government gets a new health care system set up, we will probably have lost even more citizens in our country because they can’t afford the cost of medical treatment. Our country is one of the top advanced countries in the medical field. But Americans can’t take advantage of that, if they can’t afford it.

400 word free write

My Free Write is more like a journal entry because my mind is preoccupied with some sad personal events that have happened over the past several days. Poor choices can ruin not only opportunities but also friendships. A German foreign exchange student named Nele came in August to stay with my aunt and uncle. Two years ago, her brother stayed with my aunt and uncle and our family became very close with him, even after he left we kept in touch. He’s even been back to visit a couple of times. My family and I were so excited that we would have a chance to get to know his sister, Nele.
A few days ago, Nele was accused of stealing clothes from her friends’ room. She denied the allegations and was given the benefit of the doubt while they sorted out the whole thing. Eventually, it was proven she did steal the clothing. She went to great lengths to cover it up and even when confronted with the truth, she refused to take responsibility for her actions. The exchange program and her parents decided the punishment for her poor behavior would be not letting her finish the exchange program and sending her home to Germany immediately, I never even had a chance to say goodbye in person.

As a result of her bad decisions I have lost a friend who I truly looked up to and depended on, my aunt and uncle feel betrayed by someone they opened their home to and our whole family feels sad and disappointed because we all have come to love her. Her parents lost thousands of Euro because the exchange agency fees are non-refundable and her brother is probably embarrassed by his sisters’ behavior. Her friends from Farmington High also probably feel betrayed and are probably checking their closets to see if anything is missing. Nele has also lost a lot. She has lost the trust and respect of a lot of people. She has lost an opportunity not very many kids get. She had the chance to live in different country and experience a high school system that is different from her own. Even though she is 16, she was admitted to Farmington High as a senior so she could experience graduation, prom, the all night party and all the cool things that happen when you’re a senior. It is amazing how much one persons bad decision can affect so many people’s lives.

My First Day of High School

School has been really crazy so far! Teachers are stricter, and there are so many more people then there was at Holmes. One thing I like a lot about school so far is that we have about six minutes for passing time. So I have more time to socialize with friends. But being in such a big school also means it's harder to keep in touch with friends that you don't have classes with. On my first day I remember walking down A hall not knowing where I was going and I kept thinking to myself that people are probably thinking I'm a clueless freshmen that needs mental help.

Classes are different then they were in middle school. Teachers at Stevenson take our schoolwork and tests very seriously. They don’t take excuses like “I forgot my book at school” or “ I’m late because my locker was jammed.” Also I have some sophomores, juniors and even seniors in some of my classes. In past years at school I have only had people in my grade level in classes with me.

The hardest thing for me to get adjusted to is probably waking up so early. Last year I would have to wake up at six thirty. Now if I wake up at even five thirty I’ll have to rush or I’ll be late for school. The homework is also a challenge. I made plans with friends after school on the first day thinking I would have time because teachers never give homework on the first day. I ended up having to cancel my plans because I had homework in almost all my classes. And I had to write an essay about my first day. I miss middle school but I know that high school is probably going to be even better!

The Worst First Day

My first day of school is going great. I have awesome teachers, I’m getting to class on time, and I’m not having any problems with my locker. The fourth hour ending bell just rang and I just opened my folder and I see that I have Personal Fitness next hour. I have never been a fan of P.E. class, but I heard that it’s more enjoyable than most people think. So I stand up from my seat, walk out the door and begin making my way through the maze of hallways that is Stevenson High School.
I'm half way down B hall and there's a huge traffic jam. Tons of taller, older teenagers are pushing and shoving their way through the hall. I'm at C hall now and my schedule says Personal Fitness is in Gym 2. I'm standing here clueless because the school has three gyms. An upper gym, a field house gym and a competition gym, It’s making me go crazy! I found a teacher who looks like she's had about three hours of sleep and a Starbucks coffee was the only thing keeping her eyes open. I walked up to her and I ask, "Can you tell me where Gym 2 is?" She is looking down at me and says "Go down G hall and take a right to the Field House."
Now I'm running as fast as I possibly can. I walk into the field house gym and no one is here. The two-minute bell just rang and my heart is pounding. I keep thinking to myself "First impressions are very important and if I'm tardy, I can't imagine what this teacher will think of me." I turn around and now I'm starting to head back towards one of the other gyms and I'm about to break into tears.
Finally, I'm in the Competition Gym. I just step in the door as the final fifth hour bell rings. I'm so relieved to see a banner with Mrs. Hinderliters name hanging on the railing of the bleachers. It seems like an eternity walking across the squeaky, shiny gym floor. All of my classmates are starring at me because I barely made it on time and can hardly catch my breath. I'm trying to act like it doesn't bother me. I'm jogging up the steps and next thing I know, I'm on the floor and my books are all down the steps. I get up and look around. Everyone is laughing at me and the only thing that’s going through my mind is "How did my good day go bad in less than five minutes?”