Author: Camila

Personal Response To Brave New World

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is not like other books or stories. It shows us the history and the prediction of the future that is controlled by new technology and by the government. This book taught me so many things, made me ask myself new questions, and made me doubt if a dystopia as shown in the book would be the perfect place to live or the worst idea ever. It made me feel sometimes shocked about all the things that were happening, as well as intrigued, and at the same time also confused, most of the time I got confused but then I tried to understand I get it, as well sometimes it was easy to imagine the things and the event that were happening in my head.

I know that maybe for some people this society or world would be a great idea and would love to live in a place like this, but for me, it’s not the best idea. First of all, I don’t like the idea of the government controlling us, and telling us what to do, what emotions we can feel, how to act, everything. I’m like in between liking or not liking the idea of not having to worry about getting a job or food, literally you are just worried about being happy and taking soma. I did like all the points and important things the story tells, also how Huxley tells the story, in a way that everything is understood and well explained. The story leaves us with many things to think about, like if technology is good for society and to what point we as humans can go. In the end, we realized that this society is not so different from how we live today. Brave New World talks about some problems and these same problems we can see them in our modern society as well, such as the use of medicine and drugs, woman and gender equality, and the bigger problem in the book which is traditional marriage.

I didn’t think that the book would end that way, I thought about many ways but not this one. John felt that he has betrayed everything that he believes, all the good things that he thought were right are now wrong, he feels disgusted for acting as he acted, forgetting about his personal beliefs, taking soma, participating in bad activities, etc… he even got to the point of feeling disgusted for himself and maybe this is the reason he suicide, this is sad because this also happens in the real world, people end up with their lives for many reasons and some of there reason may include the same as John’s. As the book kept going we didn’t really see sad or depressing emotions, until the end of John’s situation, we could finally see all the emotions that the society had classified as human fragilities.

 

Personal Writing #6

I love to watch movies and series. I love going to the cinema, I get very excited. my favorite movie of all time is Titanic, it may be basic but I love it. I have watched it many times and I never get bored. Most of the movies I see are on Netflix same as the series.

The first time I watch Titanic I was like 8 years old, and I remember I get traumatized because of the last scene when all the people are dying in the water. But then I saw it again and I loved the whole story, the characters, everything. I have seen it easily like 10 times and each time I see it I get excited as if I am watching it for the first time. Also, every time I watch the last scene I cry, all the time and I can’t stop crying. I love watching Disney movies, is like my comfort zone, especially the princess movies. I also love the movie called The Book of Life but I always see it in Spanish because of the songs and the voices, I think they are better in Spanish like the phrases they use and everything. On Netflix I love watching reality shows, I love drama and they are really entertaining at the same time funny.

IRJE #6

The book Im reading is called The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger. This book is about a boy named Holden, he tells his story and adventures he had before christmas. Holden has been through many things. He suffers from post traumatic stress disorder. He doesn’t like talking so much about his personal life, he just talks about his school life and how he always ends up failing in school. He writes about his life in a rest home but he doesn’t give that much detail.

“Life is a game, boy. Life is a game that one plays according to the rules.” (Page 8. Chapter 2).

Mr. Spencer said this to Holden, he is Holdens history teacher at Pencey, the boarding school holden goes to. Holden went to visit him to say goodbye. Mr. Spencer said this to Holden so that he can understand that in life there are morals that we humans need to follow in order to succeed and have a good life, just like in a game, he is just giving a advice to holden. The problem is that Holden doesn’t believe that life is a game, he doesn’t accept the rules in life. With this Mr. Spencer hopes that Holden can change his mindset and change for good and make good choices.

 

Personal Writing #5

I love going to Disney World. I think is one of the best places in the entire world. Is full of fun, happiness, excitement, new things, etc… I go with my family and every time we go we have more fun than before. Since we get to the airport we feel the excitement and emotion like when we were little and like it is our first time going. Everything feels like if it was new. I just have been to the Disney World of Orlando but I can’t wait to go to the one that is in Los Angeles. I love going to all the parks but my favorite would be for ever Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom for ever. My favorite part if going to the roller coasters, especially the Terror of Tower. The first time I got on I was like 6 years old and it was traumatizing but anyway it was the best feeling of the entire world. The park that I least like is Epcot, I think if more if you want to walk and see thing not so much of getting into games and that stuff. Also Animal Kingdom is very good because of the Avatar games. My favorite is called Avatar Flight of Passage, it literally feels like if you were in the movie and a avatar, it’s an incredible sensation.

Brave New World- IRJE

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is a book about a utopia. It talks about how technology is being use in children and new living beings. They are being created to follow rules, to work, also their emotions are being set up since the beginning. This is made to increase the population. There is a system in which this society works, in classes, highest to lowest. Everything in this society is manipulated by the government, absolutely everything.

“Roses and electric shocks, the khaki fo deltas and whiff of asafoetida- wedded indissolubly before the child can speak. but wordless conditioning is crude and wholesale; cannot bring home the finer distinctions, cannot inculcate the more complex courses of behaviour. For that there must be words, but words without reason. In brief, hypnopaedia.” (Page 23. Chapter2).

This quote shows how children are being manipulated in their sleep, they repeated orders. They use hypnopaedia, this method works by repeating phrases over and over again while the person sleeps. One of the phrases they use is ”Ending is better than mending. The more stitches, the less riches,” teach citizens not to repair old things, but to replace them with new and better things.

 

Outsmart Your Brain…

What I learned in Outsmart Your Brain by Daniel Willingham’s, chapter 5, is that they are many ways for us individuals to read a book the right way. It was a very interesting book to read, as well as extremely useful. It made me aware of my usual mistakes when it comes to reading comprehension and note taking.

Normally, I surprise myself being easily distracted when studying, but this book showed me other ways to ‘avoid’ this, and to be more focused while studying, surprisingly without it sounding tedious or boring. I like the strategies shown because it erases the habit of just reading, and it actually makes your brain pay attention to what it’s been said to keep going with it, in order to learn more. One of the tips that I already knew about is Tip 28: Take Notes as you Read. Usually when I read I forget all the information the next day. But since I stared applying this tip now I remember what I read and its more easy for me and I understand better the text.

PW #4 Seeing my Family

Seeing my family after 4 months was awesome, I felt so many new emotions. I didn’t thought that leaving my family would be an impact for me and something that big. I remember I arrive at the airport at night and I was really tired, I walk to the exit after graving my bags, the exit doors open and I first saw my dad. I remember I run to him, I gave him a hug and I started crying. Then I saw my sister and little brothers and run to them, hug them all and started crying again. At last I saw my mom and gave her a huge hug. It felt really nice seeing them all again, as if all my problems and thoughts just disappear. I tried to spend all the time I could with my family, we went to eat, to the movies, we chill all together at the house, and many thing. I think this second time coming back to Canada was harder and more depressing after seeing my family, I think I could have done more things with them and I wish for more time. I’m happy because Im going to see them again in March. Meanwhile I’m having a great time here with my friends.

IRJE #5: “A Good Girls Guide To Murder”

The book im reading is called “A Good Girls Guide To Murder” by Holly Jackson. This book is about the study of Pip in the disappearance of a girl in school called Andrea also known as “Andie”, in their town of Fairview, Connecticut.

“It was particular cruelty that their house was so close to fairview high school, where both Andie Bell and Sal Singh have gone, where Pip would return for her senior year in a few weeks when the late-summer sun dipped into September.”

Pip starts thinking about the case and bringing up theories about how the girl disappeared and who can be involved, such as members of Andie’s  family or people who were very close to her. Salil “Sal” was Andie’s  boyfriend, he has alleged guilt. Pip went investigating to Sals house, she knocks on his door and Sals brother, Ravi, was there, he looked nervous. Pip introduced herself, Ravi asked her why she was investigation about this case when it happened five years ago, Pip told him that it was because she believes that Sal is innocent and she wants to prove it.

I just started reading this book and so far it has been very interesting and intriguing.

Utopia

Utopia is an imaginary place where everything is perfect. It is ideal perfection in many themes such as laws, government, wealth, power and social conditions. Nothing bad happens, there is no sadness, depression, everything is just perfect, everyone lives in perfect conditions.

Achieving a utopian society is impossible, for this to happen we humans have to be perfect, so how can we create a perfect society with imperfect citizens. Utopia is describe as a “paradise”, where everything works and everyone is happy. For me to have a perfect society it has to have ups and downs, it can’t be just that easy to have everything you want. Everything that happens is for a reason, every action has a reaction, and from this you decided if you learn something from it or just let it pass. For a person to be happy has to go through many things that have change them and made them into who they are now, happy and perfect or sad and miserable. What makes utopia an ideal society is because the citizens have no fear of the outside world. Also religion, utopians are free of believing what they want, there is no official state religion, but this brings many sects. Some Utopians believe that “The soul is immortal and that there exists an afterlife in which the deeds of life are rewarded or punished.”

IRJE: “All This Time”

 

The book I’m reading is called “All This Time” by  Mikki Daughtry and Rachael Lippincott. Kyle is improving each time more with his feelings, he is realizing more and more the situation. Sam, Kyles best friend, is still looking for Kyle and wants to keep their friendship together but Kyle has been having problems with Sam and doesn’t know if he wants to keep being his friend. They are getting into fights because of Kimberly although Kyle was already over it.

“I never knew love could feel like this. That it could get so deep inside me that I have two hearts beating in my chest…“ I pull her hand up to rest above my heart. “Yours and mine. As long as we love each other, Marley, this will last. Nothing is going to stop or change that. I will love you forever. I promise.“ page. 198

Kyle is still seeing Marley and they are trying to have a relationship even-though  their personal problems. This quote is important because it means that Kyle is accepting the love he has for Marley. All the emotions and feelings are finally showing and he is confessing to Marley. He is experimenting new emotions, feelings he had never felt and he is scared of it, he doesn’t want his heart to break again.

IRJE : “All This Time”

The book I’m reading is called “All This Time” by Mikki Daughtry and Rachael Lippincott.

“Her voice is barely more than a whisper as she finishes the story. “And she knew that she was loved.”

Our eyes lock, and I know this isn’t friendship. All my excuses fall away. I don’t think about if it’s wrong or right or anything. I love her. I love her like the man in the moon loved that girl.”

This quote is important in the story because Kyle is finally accepting his feeling for Marley and doesn’t want to hide them anymore. He wants to try how things work with Marley and wants to give his 100%. They both had been going out and everything feels right for a moment until Kyles mind plays with him and he starts thinking that this isn’t the right thing to do and that he belongs to Kimberly although she’s not there anymore. Kyle is realizing many things and emotions when he’s with Marley. Marley is also going through a loss and she also thinks it’s her fault, same as Kyle.  Kyle sees in Marley all the unspoken things he is feeling. As the story is going on, Kyle tries to open more by telling Marley how he feels, sometimes its hard but he tries his best, he makes this because Kimberly never expressed how she felt and Kyle didn’t like that so he doesn’t want this to happen in his relationship with Marley.

Christmas

Christmas is and will forever be my favorite holiday. I love Christmas , it brings me so much peace. I love all the things related to Christmas, the decorations, the music, the snow, colors, especially the food, the desserts, the games and the traditions, everything. Since I was little I have loved the tradition of waking up early and going to the Christmas tree to open Santas presents. As well the tradition of putting the letter on the Christmas tree with cookies and a cup of hot milk for Santa. I remember that I used to have an elf that supposedly Santa gave to me to take care of me and her job was to tell Santa if I misbehave. I used to take my elf everywhere with me, but it had to go back before the 25 so I leave my elf the night of the 24 by the Christmas tree and the next day she was gone but I had Santas presents. I still put my Santas letter by the tree because I have two little brothers so my family wants me to keep the Christmas spirit for them, and I have fun doing it because it reminds me of my childhood. Now my favorite moment is the family dinner, all my family meets in my house and we eat together and play games, also sometimes we make an exchange between us, thats really fun. I’m so excited for this years Christmas and I can’t wait to see my family.

IRJE “All This Time”

The book I’m reading is called “All This Time“, by Mikki Daughtry and Rachel Lippincott. The book is very interesting because is getting more and more intriguing each time. Kyle is still trying to go over his dead girlfriend Kimberly, and he is still getting flashbacks about her every time. He went to visit her to the cemetery, there he sees a girl, Marley. Everything happened so fast, they two started hanging out, they went to get lunch. One day Kyle decide to invite Marley to his house to have dinner with his mom. Kyles mom was intrigue in knowing Marley. Since Kyle has known Marley he has been more happy, he goes out more and doesn’t get that much flashbacks of Kimberly. Marley accept going to Kyles house. Kyle was so excited but at the same time he started to fill guilt about Kimberly. He didn’t let himself be happy again because of what had happen to Kimberly. He was still blaming himself for that. Marley arrived and everyone started panicking, she left and Kyle went behind her. He wanted to talk and short things out.

“The thing is… I do know exactly what she means by “us”.

We just get each other. And even though it feels like something I shouldn’t admit, I can’t help but be excited about our do-over.

Excited about us”.

I feel that this quote is really important for Kyle, it means that he is finally moving on with his life, although it’s sometimes hard but he is trying. He feels a strong connection with Marley since they both experienced the dead of someone close. Kyle is constantly thinking that everything happens for a reason and if he meet Marley its because something is going to happen, they both are going to help each other.

My future life

I have though of my future life many times, all that times I always end up changing something since Im a very indecisive person. I always wanted to have a family and a big house, I would like to have 2 kids. But before this I want to do many things. First of all I want to graduate from college and then start working. I still don’t know what Im going to study but I do know that I don’t want to go to university in Mexico, I prefer studying somewhere else like Spain, Canada, United States, etc. After university I want to start working, become independent and be my own source of money. My dream is to live in Italy or in New York, start working there, maybe open a business if possible and be happy while living my dream. Also I want to travel all around the world and get to know more cultures, food, and people. I’ll love to go to Japan and Singapore. I want to have an apartment and i would like to live there for a while. After I have achieve most of the things that I want, then I want to get married and have a big party with a beautiful dress, invite all my friends and family and just have a great time. Then babies can come and the big house but before this i want to have the time of my life, hangout with friends, go to parties, focus on my studies, everything that a teenager would do.

Comparing and Contrasting

“All Quiet On The Western Front”, “Soldier’s Home” and “They Shall Not Grow Old”, are different stories but at the end the three are talking about the same thing, war. Paul and Krebs share some similar emotions, they show how after going back home they don’t feel the same. While on “They Shall Not Grow Old” shows more how was living on the war like. What the soldiers did on their free time, what they learn, how they got prepared for combat, how they were feeling and how when they were on combat nothing matter but themselves. It shows all the good things that the soldiers went through as well as the bad things. The three stories expressed how the soldiers felt when they have to go to war and how difficult it was. All the soldiers didn’t know if they were going to be alive when in combat. They all showed a different perspective of the war and details about it. At the end the three stories told how just in a moment your whole life can change. Soldiers didn’t care if they lost the war, they just wanted it to end.

IRJE: “All This Time”

The book I’m reading is called “All This Time” by Mikki Daughtry and Rachael Lippincott. So far, the book is about a perfect couple Kyle and Kimberly. At least that’s what Kyle thought. They have been together since high school, they were planning on going to collage together but suddenly Kimberly drops a bomb about their relationship to Kyle and everything changed. They got into a fight. Kyle decided to leave and Kimberly went behind him. They get into the car and Kyle started accelerating, they had a terrible accident, Kimberly died. Kyle doesn’t know how to cope with this situation, he just feels bad and blames himself for what happened. He tries to move on but as much as he tries it’s impossible.
Kyle started imagining and seeing Kimberly’s presence. He sees her everywhere.

“You’re not here,” I whisper.
“I haven’t left,“ she says as she turns to look at me, the stadium lights illuminating the rest of her face. The entire right side of her head is cut up and bloody, her blond hair matted and red. She reaches out her hand to touch mine. And nothing stops her. I feel it. But no one else is reacting. (pg.52)

I like this quote because it shows that after how much he tries to move on he can’t. He always sees her and also the way he is seeing her is affecting him in a massive way. How he has been traumatized about the car accident. Although all the things that happened, the fight they had, all the things she said to him, the accident, he still loved her. Even though he blamed himself and tried to move on, she will always be in a special place in his heart and he will always blame himself.

Comparison of Soldier’s Home and All Quiet On The Western Front

Soldier’s Home and All Quiet on the Western Front have many similarities but as well differences. Both stories are very interesting although they both show a different perspective of the war. They both have shown many emotions from part of Paul and Krebs.

Krebs feels that without war he can’t live, his only purpose was fighting on the war. He wasn’t happy when he had to return home. He return back six months later after the war ended. Krebs wanted to tell everyone all the things that he made, he was proud of and made him feel good with himself but for some people they were horrible things. So he told lies about the war.

“All of the times that had been able to make him feel cool and clear inside himself when he thought of them; the times so long back when he had done the one thing, the only thing for a man to do, easily and naturally, when he might have done something else, now lost their cool, valuable quality and then were lost themselves.” (page. 1)

When Paul went back to visit his family and to his hometown, he didn’t find any sense anymore. Same as Krebs, he felt empty without the war cause it made him feel better, like he was achieving something in life, he enjoyed being a soldier, he was proud of it. Nothing felt the same after going back home for both characters, ”Nothing had changed in the town.” said Krebs. Although everything was the same, their emotions were the only thing different. Their stories of the war are different but their feelings are the same.

All Quiet On The Western Front

I found All Quiet On The Western Front a very interesting book. It shows us the other perspective of the war. All the suffering and obstacles that the soldiers had to go through and we didn’t know. Some people think that war is a good thing since people is defending their country but they don’t really know until they read about it. It’s very impressive to know all the horrible things the soldiers experience. All the traumas they went through, how they were feeling, the desperation they felt, how their lives changed drastically, it was something impacting to read.

I wasn’t expecting for me to like this book since it’s not what I would read. At the beginning I thought it was boring but then as I was reading I was more interested because of the way the author write the story. I think that the author develop very good the character of Paul. I enjoyed how well he expressed Pauls feelings and also for the rest of the characters. The end of the book was speechless. “Turning him over one saw that he could not have suffered long; his face has an expression of calm, as though almost glad the end had come”, (page. 296). This last sentence of the book left me thinking and processing a lot. How for this people dead was like a way out. I enjoy the book. Although it had a hard language it made me realize many things and feel many emotions.