p. 120 - Hometown Essay.

          The Dominican Republic is part of the Hispaniola island of the Greater Antilles in the Caribbean, in size, it is the second biggest, preceded by Cuba, and followed by Haiti. The Dominican Republic is where I was born, I grew up in Santo Domingo its capital city. The country has many historical and cultural places to visit, as well as touristic ones. There's a bit of everything available, we have dunes, beaches, cathedrals, the highest peak in the Caribbean and sometimes, we even get some snow too.

          The Sand Dunes of Baní, in the province of Peravia, is one of the natural resources of the Dominican Republic. The place looks just like an African desert and could be even prettier, as the fine sand merges with desert trees and flowers. Photographers have chosen this place countless time, because of its exotic beauty. In the horizon, you can see the waves of the Caribbean Sea caressing the shore softly, the sandy dunes are full of endemic species of the Dominican Republic, amongst them are found birds, reptiles and plants. It's quite a sight, almost hypnotizing seeing such a wonder in the Caribbean.

          Another Caribbean wonder located in the Dominican Republic is Constanza, a town in La Vega province. Constanza is known for its low, chilly temperature, as it's located on high ground, at 4,000 feet. Average temperatures during the year range between 41 °F (5 °C) and 68 °F (20 °C), something that's unusual in the Caribbean. The lowest temperature ever on this place, was –1 °C, recorded on February 6, 1958. Years ago, it was common to see snow falling on winter, but due to temperature increasing, it's rarely seen but the temperature varies between 21 to 24 °C at day, and 8 to 12 °C at night. Fog is quite common too.

          Valle Nuevo has freezing temperatures almost every season. Sometimes the ground freezes and the grass creates beautiful sculptures as it freezes. Constanza is known for cultivating berries, peaches, apples and garlic, as well as flowers, being known for its beautiful roses.

          These two contrasting places, hot and cold, are two of the Dominican wonders. There's also Isla Saona (Saona Island), here you can visit several caves formerly used as refuges by the native inhabitants. The Island offers us kilometers of solitary beaches , with thousand of coconuts trees, white sand and crystal waters.  It is the perfect place to go and rest, its sunsets are impressive and its landscapes are worthy of a picture.

           In Saona Island, the “Natural Swimming Pool” that has this name due to its depth is not more than one meter height, we can find marine species such as starfish, coral reeves and many kind of fishes.

           These are just three places to visit in the Dominican Republic, there are even more beautiful places to visit such as Samaná, where we get to see the Hunchback Whales courting each other gracefully; we also have the Botanical Garden in Santo Domingo, where we can feel in touch with nature, personally, my favorite area of the Botanical Garden, is the 'Jardín Japonés' or Japanese Garden. Shades of pink cover the whole area while cherry blossom trees greet you. It's quite a sight that's located in the city, so if you want to enjoy something different without going far, that's one of the options. The Dominican Republic has many beautiful, almost indescribable places, so if you want to see for yourself, don't forget to bring your camera! Words won't be enough!

p. 71 - Final Writing Assignment: Creature

        


           The Kirin. A mythical creature of Asia, known mostly in China, where it originated, Korea and Japan. The Kirin has a different appearance in these countries, as it is adapted to their own legends. The Kirin is said to be a wise creature that brings peace and serenity, and though fearsome, it only punishes the people who do wrong. In the Japanese culture, this creature has the shape of a horse, it is tall a majestic but, instead of having soft skin, it has scales, like a dragon. This weird's creatures body is completely multicolored, the scales shine, reflecting hints of blinding greens and blues. From its forehead appears to grow a long horn that curves to the back of the head and its eyes are red like rubies. The Kirin has a long tail but like an ox: it doesn't have a mane, like a horse's tail. This ancient creature is cultural in Japan, China and Korea, and along  its strange looks, come strange stories too.

p. 110 - Exercise no. 6

1. Thesis Statement: The city is the place for me to live.
   Topic Sentence:
   c. Transportation to other places is easier.
   
2. Thesis Statement: Jogging isn't the only way to improve your circulation.
   Question: What are ways to improve circulation, besides jogging?
   Topic Sentence:
   c. Cardio exercises in sets also help.
   
3. Thesis Statement: Having an afterschool job helps teenagers important life skills.
   Question: Why does having an afterschool job teaches important life skills?
   Topic Sentence
   c. It encourages teenagers to feel independent.
   
4. Thesis Statement: A foreign student enrolled at an American university often encounters dificulties.
   Question: What kind of difficulties does a foreign student encounters when he's enrolled at an American university?
   b. He/she could face problems with the learning system.
   c. Getting used to the American routine could be difficult.
   
5. Thesis Statement: Taking a foreign language should be required in high school.
   Question: Why should it be required to take a foreign language in high school?
   a. It encourages the student to learn about the language's origin/country.
   b. The student may take interest in learning more languages as well.
   c. A student that graduates knowing more than one language may have better employment opportunities and may get job offers in other countries.

p.63 --website

If anyone ever asked me which website is my favorite, I’d probably answer YouTube. Also known as the ‘Cat Video’ site, YouTube is much more than just watching videos, at least to me. I've been an avid YouTube user since 2008 when I made my first account to upload my videos, back then, YouTube had a different user interface. I remember it used to be completely white, with only accents of sky blue in the tabs and the links used to be royal blue, its design was simple and user friendly. I cannot recall completely the site’s design, but I do remember that when everything was ‘rearranged’ I was lost, and even searched Google many times for instructions on things I used to easily do before.

Now, YouTube has a sleek, almost ‘elegant’ user interface, compared to how it used to look before. When you get used to it, it can be even easier to manage than the past version. Everything is ordered so that it can be found easily, but after using the same simple, outdated site for four years, sometimes it looks ‘harder’ than it is.

I enjoy using YouTube daily; the site to me has literally everything and anything you can search for using the internet. From music videos –which tend to be the most popular- to documentaries, then back to entertainment with comedy, drama shows, musicals, just everything that is available to watch or listen to. YouTube started an online, global revolution with ‘Vlogs’, which are basically a ‘journal’ or a ‘blog’ with a twist, this being that the ‘blog’ is actually a recording of your daily life, or just something you wish to show. Vlogging has become viral, many people upload video reviews like Ray William Johnson’s ‘=3’, tutorials on make-up and fashion like Michelle Phang, others upload pranks, experiments, musical covers, etc, with frequency, and earn the love of hundreds, thousands and perhaps millions of subscribers.

Something special about YouTube is that it can become addictive, but to me, it’s usually in a good way. Personally, I've searched for music videos that lead me to inspirational videos, which lead me to other videos that always touch me, in a way or another. Other times I just click on a news video and end up watching news that make me cry and others that make me think, sometimes ones that make me be grateful.

YouTube is more than entertainment; you can grab your phone, your tablet or your computer, open it and watch a video, anywhere, anytime. YouTube is a community, where millions of people unite to share their experiences, their regrets, and their special moments. Just look at how far a YouTube video can go: did you know Justin Bieber used to be a YouTube singer? YouTube has power, YouTube could go even further. I’m completely sure that through YouTube someone has probably found something important to them.

Narrative Paragraph

               I may not be perfect person, the perfect mother, wife or daughter, but still I just am. I try every day to gain and earn Your love; I try every day to become that being You trust. But now and then I ask myself: why isn’t there a manual? Why aren’t there any instructions to properly show you how much I care for you? I sit every day waiting for an answer, but there’s none. I wait for a signal, something telling me ‘you’re doing okay, you’re doing fine’. Nothing happens, until I see You, Your eyes and Your smile, until I hear your laughter. Whenever I look at You I realize, that maybe, just maybe everything’s fine. Can I do better? Yes, I know I can, but I know You’ll help me along the way.

            Sometimes I feel like taking a break, to stop for five minutes and look at us without being interrupted by anyone, by anything. I wish I could analyze you, analyze me, just see through us. Sometimes, Life seems to want to give us a lesson, it wishes for us to look around ourselves, and make a statement. How much can it take to stand up from the crowd and do something you'll be remembered for? How much can it take to give a hug? To save a life just by giving a smile, by telling everyone "Yes, you can, it's alright". Yet, even though it's easy to say it, it's not so easy to accomplish it, that's why I need You, and I always will. I want You to tell me, "it is possible", I want you to just ask me "...what if today was your last day?" 

             I know that You're there for me, and you should know, I'll always be there for You too. I know, that sometimes I think these words are not enough, that I'll always have to show you what I feel but words do matter, they have power over almost everything we do, over how people feel about us, and they are there before our actions. 

               Finally, I'd like you to know that I'm here. We are here for each other. And when we have to leave, when we have to say goodbye to each other, I'd like for Us to reminisce everything we did, everything we shared, and think of how we'll be remembered as. Ì know we'll be able to enjoy these moments, these little miracles life gives us, just by looking into each others eyes. But for now, I can only look at you once again and realize, we're doing okay.

A Rose For Miss Emily

A Rose For Emily
by William Faulkner

1. Personal Opinion
   At the beginning of the story, I thought it would be one along a more historical line, but of course, it was just part of the setting. I enjoyed the story, but at a certain point it turned predictable. The story is told "backwards" a technique that is used in the modern day too, where the ending is actually the beginning. In my opinion the story was interesting mostly when everything starts unveiling itself. The only disappointing thing in this story was how predictable it turned out to be. If the author would've added some more elements maybe I could have been surprised. Still, I enjoyed it.
   
   
2. Character Relation: Miss Emily Grierson

I believe that Miss Emily, who is the main character of the story, portrays the emotion/feeling of anger. As we discussed in class, anger can be shown through many ways, and one of them is the suppression of the feeling itself. In the story, Emily was a lonesome woman, stubborn and almost rude. But I think she was this way, because of the life she had to live. She grew up alone with her father, in a town full of gossip. Emily never got married, never had any children. And she suppressed it, all of it. Finally, when she found someone who she thought would love her, she just liberated the anger, and out of insecurity and fear, murdered him.

3. Miss Emily's Stages

My first reaction when the aldermen went to Miss Emily's house and she kicked them out, was that she was just standing her ground since after all, General Sartoris had a deal with her father. Then as I kept reading I realized she was an ill mannered old lady. She had been this way since she was young, like when her father died and she denied it. Maybe she felt grief, but maybe she just did not want to accept the fact that she was probably going to be in ruins, for everyone knew without her father she would not prosper. Finally, I got convinced that Miss Emily felt much pain and anger. These emotions were proven when she killed the man she said she loved without feeling any remorse.

Inspirational Video

If Today Was Your Last Day by Nickelback

My best friend gave me the best advice

He said each day's a gift and not a given right

Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind

And try to take the path less traveled by

That first step you take is the longest stride

If today was your last day

And tomorrow was too late

Could you say goodbye to yesterday?

Would you live each moment like your last?

Leave old pictures in the past

Donate every dime you have?

If today was your last day

Against the grain should be a way of life

What's worth the prize is always worth the fight

Every second counts 'cause there's no second try

So live like you'll never live it twice

Don't take the free ride in your own life

If today was your last day

And tomorrow was too late

Could you say goodbye to yesterday?

Would you live each moment like your last?

Leave old pictures in the past

Donate every dime you have?

Would you call old friends you never see?

Reminisce old memories

Would you forgive your enemies?

Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?

Swear up and down to God above

That you finally fall in love

If today was your last day

If today was your last day

Would you make your mark by mending a broken heart?

You know it's never too late to shoot for the stars

Regardless of who you are

So do whatever it takes

'Cause you can't rewind a moment in this life

Let nothin' stand in your way

Cause the hands of time are never on your side

If today was your last day

And tomorrow was too late

Could you say goodbye to yesterday?

Would you live each moment like your last?

Leave old pictures in the past

Donate every dime you have?

Would you call old friends you never see?

Reminisce old memories

Would you forgive your enemies?

Would you find that one you're dreamin' of?

Swear up and down to God above

That you finally fall in love

If today was your last day

credits: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/nickelback/iftodaywasyourlastday.html

Assignment: Pages no. 50 & 309

Exercise no. 9 page 50

Editing sentence errors

1. Verb tense
2. Capitalization
3. Verb tense
4. Adverb clause
5. Punctuation
6. Punctuation
7. Adverb clause
8. Punctuation
9. Punctuation
10. Capitalization 

uMaine.edu Article: Choosing Survival

Choosing Survival

The Native Passamaquoddy tribe is located between the US state of Maine and the Canadian province of New Brunswick, they've been petitioning for the preservation of their lands for many years. I was asked to bring this article into the reality of the Puerto Rican culture today. I chose "Choosing Survival" because it reminded me of the 'struggle' many Puerto Rican people used to have in the times of colonization, and even today, when basically the North American culture is being implanted in the country.

The Passamaquoddy fight for their land, for the rights their ancestors had. I believe, the puertorican people still value their ancestors the same way and are trying to preserve their culture way one or another. To me, it doesn't mean that Puerto Rico has to be stuck in another century, but that its people need to protect what's left of a magnificent heritage. We've seen it at great events like "El Grito de Lares" where people opposed to change. I can't compare the Passamaquoddy tribe to the Puerto Rican people at great extents, since this native tribe still preserves everything their ancestors taught them. Puerto Rico has evolved as almost every other country in the world, so it wouldn't be fair to compare the lifestyles.

I really liked a passage on the article that stated the following:

"A lot of Micah's petition was not just about the land, but also about survival. The tribe wanted the bloodline to continue, their rights to always be there. It's not special rights, it's aboriginal rights that our ancestors always had"

I liked this passage a lot because I understand it can relate to the Puerto Rican culture, and how its heritage is being lost due to the many changes. There is not much left of agriculture anymore, which was one of Puerto Rico's greatest way of economy. Another example of the heritage loss, could be the children. Kids nowadays prefer a fastfood restaurant instead of a typical dish, as well as video games over traditional games.

It's clear that this changes have not only gotten to, or affected Puerto Rico individually, as this is today's way of living almost everywhere. This article could not only apply to this country but to many others as well.

Introduction

Hello, I'm Catherine Santana. I was born in the Dominican Republic, on February 13, 1993. I learned how to read and write at age 3 and was in first grade by the time I was 4. I quickly gained ground on all subjects, specially Spanish and English also Art.

I was 11 years old when I moved to Puerto Rico. Here, I studied at Antonio Sarriera School in San Juan. I won the school's Spelling Bee two years in a row, against students from the 8th to 12th grades.

I graduated from High School on June 2009. I took my College Board exam that same week, and got accepted into the University of Puerto Rico for the academic year of 2010.

I got enrolled as a new admission student in the Graphic Arts Bachelor's Degree in April 2011. Currently, I'm on my sophomore year and a member of the Consejo General de Estudiantes (Student Council)