What is your approach to life? Reveal your life philosophy.

Life is a roller coaster ride. At first the ride doesn't seem interesting. Its slow and monotonous. Slowly the speed increases and you are in the middle of it all. You get excited, you scream, and shout. At the same time you are nervous, and you have butterflies flying in your stomach. Soon the ride gets over. Its all calm around you and you relax. Life is similar. You are born with nothing to do then cry. Soon you grow up dealing with all the teenage drama, then college, and soon an adult. But it all calms down when you are old. You sit back and turn the pages of your life. You see how you went through it all. You may have a lot of troubles in life, but think of it this way. If life wasn't interesting, if it didn't have all the bumps along the way, then it won't have been interesting. If you always get your way, and you always get what you want; then how is your life going to give you challenges and hardships to deal with? How are you going to grow as a person if it wasn't for all the bumps that came along in your life? Life maybe really hard at times, but we need to understand how to make the best of the situation. We need the excitement in our lives. Whenever we face hardships we should remember that there are others that face worse situations. Suppose you failed you math test, and trust me that happens a lot to me. Think of the people who are out there wanting know and learn a little more, but they cannot afford to. When you fight with your friend, or your boy friend, and you think its the end of the world. Think of those that have no one left to love them or to care for them, or have no one to fight with. Life may not always be what you want it to be. So if you want a brighter life, you should take life as it comes and make the best of it, knowing that it goes on.

Title: Nestle 'to act over child labour in cocoa industry

By: BBC

Published: November 28, 2011 Accessed: November 28 2011

One of the largest firms for producing chocolate is Nestle. Nestle wants to stop child labor from taking place in cocoa farms. Nestle wants to work with Fair Labor Association in order to get rid of this problem. The FLA is going to send a team of examiners to see where most of Nestle's cocoa comes from and where it goes. Nestle says that they cannot get rid of the problem just by themselves, they need help. A recent study by the University of Tulane said that more than 1.8 million children are involved in the growing of cocoa in West Africa. Some of the children are sent by their own parents. Some have not seen their family for three or more years. In order to get rid of child labor, schools, hospitals and anything that will help the progress will be built.

Children all over the world are forced to work, when instead they should be studying. I think that Nestle though a little too late, are still trying to make an effort at stopping child labor, which is fantastic. Children should not be made to do work, but instead be able to play around and enjoy the childhood they deserve. They should be going to school and learning, instead of having a work hours. Around the Ivory Coast where these children are made to work, schools should be built. This way the children can get educated and have a better future. Families should not force their children to work, because no matter what the children need to know what childhood can be like. If the families are having financial problem then maybe Nestle can give jobs to the parents, and raise salaries of the parents. This way the parents can afford to send their kids to school, and still be able to live a comfortable life.

Vocab

Machetes

found children using machetes to hack open cocoa pods to extract the beans.

a large heavy knife use to cut sugar cane or as a weapon first used 1575

The young girl was holding a machete, it looked as though she was about to kill someone.

Obligation

moral obligation" on chocolate companies to help rebuild the country ravaged by years of civil war.

a debt of gratitude, something one is bound to do . First used 14 century

She had the moral obligation to hand in her homework on time.

Commissioned

a report commissioned by the Us government found that the chocolate industry's funding since 2001 had "not been sufficient" and it needed to do more.

To appoint or assign to a task . Circa 1661

The head of school was commissioned to punish the students that were caught cheating in an exam.

Select any issue that is of importance to you and discuss your views. (New College of University of South Florida)

The rights of women, is an issue which people may think is getting solved, but the truth is that in many places women still don't have many basic rights. I do understand that human rights in general has come a long way, but for many women living near us who don't have the basic right, should get the rights they deserve. Some women are beaten up by their husbands, verbally abused or neglected by society because they are considered inferior. However, for any human to become the same level as the rest, the person must get the opportunity to prove themselves. Lets say that this one girl named Anastasia is a hard working girl, and loves to learn. However, her parents are not willing to let her go to school. Now other kids around her neighborhood all go to school. Because of her parents Anastasia is not able to go to school, therefore she is looked down by many of the neighborhood kids. How is this doing any justice to the girl? If she is not given the opportunity to learn, grow and find some talent, where later she can succeed, how is she going to do well. Some women aren't given the opportunity to prove themselves, and therefore are forever stuck in the same place. They are not encouraged to explore or learn about new ideas that surround them. If people don't understand what a person may be going through, then they shouldn't comment or judge. Many women face similar situation by society members, and they cannot defend themselves because no one is ready to listen. Society is only bothering to listen to one side of the argument and not the other. After making the conclusion about the girl being useless, the name sticks and other people too start calling her that name. This is subjecting women all around the world. If they don't have the right to defend themselves, how can they ever justify what they did and why they did it. So before jumping to conclusions people should consider all sides of the story and be open minded.

Title: East Africa drought:Cholera outbreak in Kenya camp

By : BBC

Date published: November 15 2011, Date accessed: November 15 2011

In a refugee camp placed in Kenya, where people from Somali who are fleeing conflicts in their own country had found home, Cholera breaks out. It is believed that the new comers brought the disease in and now the disease is spreading. Near the camp, treatment centers are being put up to cure and treat cholera. Some of the refugees may have had unsafe water from the flooding that had taken place which caused the patients to worsen. The drought as it is being seen by many citizens is the worst case, in the last 60 years. The country affected most by the drought is Somalia. Many citizens are trying to escape, find shelter not just because of the drought but also because of an unstable government. While because of the cholera break out less people are showing up in Kenyan refugee camps citizens do not; some are finding a home in Ethiopia where more camps are being set up.

It is sad to see that people who do not have anywhere to stay are being hit by such diseases. Citizens of Somalia do not have a stable government at the moment, and having a drought in the country makes situations worse. A person can handle only so much. To be loaded with a hundred things to worry about such as finding food, shelter and not dying can cause chaos. This may affect a persons health as well as emotional well being. I can only imagine what the people in Somalia might be going through. If a person close to you gets sick, or has hard time dealing with some problems, it hurts you to see them go through such pain. You feel useless, you want to help them but you don' t know how. Living in another part of the world I am so self observed that. I feel like my life sucks. But little do I ever think about others in this world, and what they might be going through.

Vocab

Abduction

last month after the abduction of two aid workers.

Carrying someone away without their will

He abducted his mother away from the the murderer she thought she fell in love with.

Exacerbated

It says the situation has been exacerbated by the outbreak of the waterborne disease.

To make more violent. from latin exacerbatus harsh bitter

She quickly grew silence, once she heard the exacerbated sound of the horn.

Incursion

Kenya's incursion has contributed to a slowing in flow of Somalis to Dadaab,

A hostile entrance into a territory. from the latin word incursion

The humans incursion into the vampire territory outraged the blood sucking creatures.

You’ve just written a 300-page autobiography. Send us page 217. (University of Pennsylvania)

and just like that she died in front of my eyes.

If you were to write a book, on what theme or subject matter would it be based, and why? (Stanford/93)

If I were to write a book I would write about women's rights and how to this day some countries still think of women as being low and as a object. Living in India and having conservative grandparents who always told me women can do nothing, makes me want to prove them wrong. So if I get a chance to explain to the rest, why women are not week but instead as equal as any other man I would take that chance. Its not about women rights its about being human and giving a human what she deserves. In countries like India young girls are told to learn how to cook, clean and how to take care of a family. They do not get the opportunity to better themselves at something or even see the world beyond their village. However, boys get to go to school, play, get a ride on a bus and go see places. How is this doing any justice to the girls who are sitting at home all day? Does anyone bother to think that they too may want to have fun, after all they are young girls. Some women are forced to learn how to cook. My grandmother too forced me to learn how to cook, however, being the rebel that I am I refused. Not because I did not want to learn how to cook. But because in her eyes it was not teaching me an art but making me a better wife for the future. No way in hell was I going to learn how to cook just so I can please a man later on in life. Every girl should be given the freedom to make her own choices. If she wants to learn how to cook great, if she does not then no one should force her. These simple things like wanting to enjoy childhood by playing with your friends is the right of any girl or boy, and no one should take that away.

Title: Brisk business for China's female bodyguards by Martin Patience

Date published : 14 November 2011 Date accessed: 14 november 2011

In China some women are getting trained to be personal bodyguards. With China growing and the gap between rich and poor becoming bigger, Chinese women want to seek personal protection. They say they feel safer with a women and being their bodyguard than a man. This is because they attract less attention, and can be seen as just a friend rather than a bodyguard. Having a female bodyguard means the bodyguard does not have to stay outside the room guarding. They can be inside the room and make it more comfortable for the person being protected. Wen Cui who was mugged twice on business trip, opened a personal security business called Guodun. This is where the female bodyguards get trained for six months. They learn several different skills including Kung Fu and first aid. As the economy is building up and China is becoming more progressive some, anger is still growing as some are not a part of the celebration.

It is amazing to see women work up the social ladder. Though some may be scared to try different thing and go against there parents' wishes; they are going ahead and doing what they believe is right. We always associate men and women in different categories for different kinds of work. Such as cooking is usually associated with women, but what we don't realize is that there are a certain number of men who love to cook. We also fail to realize that some women hate to cook but are forced to. No human should be judged in what he or she like to do or not do, but should be given the opportunity to learn and grown. I always imagined bodyguards to be strong built men in black uniform. This article proves that what men can do women can do as well. If I had a male bodyguard, people would know that he is protecting me. Having a female bodyguard would make me feel more comfortable and people would not know that she is a bodyguard.

Vocab

Ramrod

Her ramrod posture and black earpiece suggested something was amiss.

in a fully upright position first used 1954

The ramrod posture of the students sitting for the math test made the teacher secretly smile.

Burgeoning

Among China's burgeoning wealthy elite,

To grow and expand rapidly from anglo french burjuner

The population of snakes near the hill side has burgeoned since the 1980's.

Sedate

She branched out from the more sedate world of running a chain of kindergartens.

keeping a quiet steady pace or attitude from Latin world sedare which means to calm.

To sedate the children after the earthquake was found to be chaotic by many mothers.

THINGS THAT OUTRAGE ME

There are many things that outrage me. Starting with people screaming in the morning, just because they are awake does not mean that the rest of the world is awake. People screaming into the microphone. The microphone is there for a reason, you do not scream into it, you talk normally, the volume button does exist you just need to turn it. I hate the fact that people think its okay to take someone else's things without asking them. If things do not belong to you, do not take them. You have a mouth and hopefully some manner, ask! When someone keeps poking me and wanting to irritate me, bugs the hell out of me. I understand that their hands need something to do but they need to control their desperation and keep their hands to themselves. When people are talking to you, and you are not really that interested but for some reason they just don't get it , and keep on going. I have better things to do than listen to crappy stories, so why don't you just save time and energy and be quiet. I can't stand the fact that when having water and toiletries people don't take a shower for weeks. We are not in a place where there is no water, so maybe not for yourself but for others, get in the shower and clean up. How people expect you to respect them when they don't respect you. You don't just get respect because your older or you think your better, you need to earn it, so stop being so demanding. When I am reading something and someone looks over my shoulder, why don't you find your own entertainment instead of spoiling someone else's. I can't stand when someone says I haven't studied when he or she has, you know its okay to be truthful once in a while. There is nothing embarrassing if you have studied, in fact its better, so just learn to tell the truth.

If you were to look back on your high school years, what advice would you give to someone beginning their high school career? (Simmons)

High school is a place where a lot of drama, gossip and excitement takes place. In order to get through these years one needs to choose their friends wisely. You need friends to share you best, scary and the crappiest moments of your life. Living in a boarding school, which is not big, you learn to love your friends and share you life with them. High school will not be easy, with all the homework from teachers, and you social life. You need to be able to balance both the worlds and in order to do so you need some help. Friends maybe distracting at times, but know that high school is not just about studying. Its about getting to know new people, new faces and learning and growing with the rest. The friends you choose in school will always be there no matter what. You need to choose friends that stick up for you and that want the best for you. Don't choose friends that stay with you because you have the latest designer clothes. Choose friends that are kind, considerate as well as the crazy ones, who make you have the time of your life. My two closets friends who I share a lot of my time with help me to grow as a person and see the different sides of life. One of my friend is the crazy, loud and fun who makes me laugh and entertains me all the time. We have a lot of classes together, while I sit there paying attention she sits with her laptop open and on facebook. I have to keep telling her to pay attention. She is the happy go lucky person. She is always laughing and enjoying her life, but at times life does not always go the way we want it. At these times she gets sad and I never know what to do, but sit there hoping she would talk to me and tell me whats wrong. I learn from her that sometimes you don't need to talk or make conversation, just be there for the person. Some people like to be alone at times and there is nothing wrong with it . My other friend who has a boyfriend and who is really smart, balances her life out. She spends equal time with her boyfriend and her friends. We play a card game called signal and cook every night. She is the hard working and intelligent one. She works hard for her grades, and at the same time learns to have fun with her friends. When she wants to talk about something she just comes and talks about it. From these two friends I learn to balance my life. We may not share all our secrets but whatever we tell each other is the truth. I can learn from both my friends to be hardworking, at the same time fun and adventurous. You should choose friends who you can tell something and they will be ready to listen, who have fun, and want you do to the best.

Do you believe there's a generation gap? Describe the differences between your generation and others. (Denison University)

My grandparents think and view the world from a different perspective than I do. I view the world around me differently because education has taught me to see the world differently. Whereas, my grandparents focus on culture and tradition, viewing the world from the eyes of the past generation. To this day they think that boys are better than girls, girls need to learn house work and need to be married of at an early age, while boys should be educated, get a job and take care of a family. My views are certainly not the same. Studying in an international school, where education is at its finest, I learn things that they probably have never heard of. In their eyes I am growing up to be a feminist, a rebel and developing qualities that they do not always approve of. In my eyes I am just another teenager expressing my views. This generation gap has caused many arguments, fights and silence among my family than needed.

Title: Magazine Office Burns as Islam issue hits stands By CNN Wire Staff

Date published: November 2, 2011 Date accessed: November 2, 2011

In France, a newspaper office run by Charlie Hebdo, was burnt down because of the content a magazine was carrying. No one had seen the magazine as it had not come out, but the magazine had a cartoon of bearded, and a turbaned Prophet Mohammed. The building is said to be burnt down by Molotov cocktail, however, no one is sure as of right now. The French Interior Minister said in the article that he supports the magazine and that the people of France shave freedom of speech. The mayor of Paris is pretty upset with the act of violence, and has agreed to help Hebdo find a new place to continue working. In the recent year France has had a growing Muslim minority, which has created tensions among people and adjustments of laws. The magazine website has been hacked "for Islam," however, the hackers say they did not attack the office.

Response

With the struggle in their own country, Muslims are fleeing from home in order to find security. However, wanting to keep up their traditions and values, while the new home demands something different can be hard to adjust to. Is it really wrong for someone to be covering their face because they want to? On the other hand, is it wrong to talk about or publish a cartoon? The Interior Minister of France says that France and its citizens have freedom of speech. In this case Muslims, who are citizens of France, too have a freedom of speech; they too have the right to defend their religion and themselves. The magazine owner Habedo has the right to publish what he wants. The fact that the office was attacked using violence puts the story onto another level. Yes, both sides of the party have the right to say or do what they want. However, none of the two sides have the right to physically attack and possibly destroy someones life. Every other religion can be talked about or put down, but why is it that when talking about Islam there always seems to be a big chaos, violent acts and media involvement?

Vocab

Satirical

The offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo burned early Wednesday morning,

To ridicule or scorn

origin latin word Satura

Many enlightenment thinkers such as Voltaire wrote about the political satire during the 17 century.

Affiliate

-The executive, identified on CNN affiliate BFM-TV as "Charb," expressed outrage at the attack.

-To bring or receive into close connection as a member or branch

origin-Latin Affiliatus to adopt a son

-The girl with the long hair, and weird dressing sense does not affiliate herself with the rest of classmates.

Molotov cocktail

The magazine's publication director said the fire was caused by a Molotov cocktail.

-a crude bomb made of a bottle filled with a flammable liquid (as gasoline) and usually fitted with a wick (as a saturated rag) that is ignited just before the bottle is hurled

-When the school was sent a threatening letter by terrorist they said that they would take the school down by the use of Molotov cocktail.

What invention would the world be better off without, and why?

Nuclear weapons have caused nothing but hatred, war, envy amongst people and damaged our environment. We humans want to be better than the others around us. We like to compete, and in doing so we create things that may not benefit everyone around us. Wanting to be better than the rest we end up creating hatred amongst countries, war amongst the citizens and its rulers, and envy between the government officials.

I like many other want a peaceful world. One that does not destroy someones home just so one can win a war. People are attached to where they are born, and where they live; to destroy their home is like a child without her mother, lost and forlorn. The hatred for one turns into a cycle. The one being attacked want revenge, and the one attacking want to win. So where do we finally draw the line? Do we ever draw the line, and stop? While on the mission to win, we end up killing millions of innocent children, parents, leaving behind a frustrated population who want things to just end and be back to normal. But sadly things do not go back to normal, for there is the aftermath of the war, the trauma people have no choice but to live with.By using nuclear weapons a country maybe considered heroic, but is it really heroic? Killing a thousands at a time does it really make someone heroic?

Nuclear weapons not only destroy and create chaos amongst people, but they also damage the beautiful environment surrounding us. While we get to enjoy our surrounding areas, the generation after us gets barren land. We need to be considerate of the generation after us, and for our surroundings. We need to learn to care, and think of the affect our actions will have on other peoples lives. Nuclear weapons have created chaos in the past and to this day have brought us nothing that we all would benefit from.