Do as I say, not as I do.

When I first signed up for my classes I originally signed up for 5 classes. College Composition, Speech, Health, Women in Art, and Spanish. I was especially looking forward to my art class. However not even a week before classes started my art class got cancelled by the district. I am assuming not very many people signed up. I was kind of sad because I had the teacher before and I knew her teaching style. Plus it fit my schedule perfectly.

Now that we are just 2 months away from the end of the semester I am glad my art class got cancelled because I have had a heavy workload. It was heavier than I imagined it would be. Sometimes I feel like I am not smart enough to be in college but I get good grades every time. It does not come easy though. I really work my ass off and commit myself. I push myself to try my best and finish as much as I can.

                I also work full time which does not leave me much time for homework.  Sometimes that means staying up late or getting up early to finish my assignments. It is all worth it though when I get my grades back and I am looking at an A or B. I am happy even with C’s. To me D’s and F’s are not acceptable. I paid a lot of money to go to school here so I will not waste my time and I take my classes very seriously.

                My main motivation to go to college is my family. My parents never went to college and my sister and I are the first to get a higher education than our parents. My sister motivates me because of sibling rivalry mainly. I have to get an equal or better education otherwise I will look like a failure to the family. Another reason I go is to be a better example for my brother. I want to show him that he has to take his education seriously also. I do not want to be a hypocrite and tell him “Do as I say, not as I do.” I have noticed my influence on him and do not want to be a bad one.

tell me what you think

1. I've traveled to England
2. My pet dog's name is Lily.
3. I love to sing
4. I ski in the mountains
5. My favorite food is spaghetti
6. I work with children

"I heard a record and it opened my eyes"

Im going to post some music videos that I like and just songs I like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9LatjYp7_Q&feature=fvst

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRUtT1019Zk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdeSSZSVAxU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj2ntDiXJCk&feature=fvsr

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2wo73xIBFk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-3rUF2JpXA

I fly like people get high, like planes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dq_uy1qcO-k

So let’s talk about weed. There are many, many different types of weed. Just to name a few there are: White Widow, Northern Lights, Purple Haze, (my personal favorite) Train wreck, etc. When you first get a sack one of the things most noticeable is the smell. You just have to take a moment to smell the sack over and over before you pack your prize. I remember back in the earlier days before I ever experienced weed for myself I hated the smell. It smelled like a skunk. Now that I am a smoker I love the smell. There is something almost hypnotic and euphoric about it.   

You might think of the anti drugs commercials they play on TV. I admit there are a few moments in my life where I felt like I was living in those commercials. I am not saying I smoke regularly, I used to, but I have cut back. Weed has never interfered with my life to the point where it ruined it. There are good and bad things about it.

Some ways to smoke weed is to buy a piece and pack a bowl and smoke with your friends. It is a social drug, although some people do use it for medicinal purposes. Another way is to roll a blunt, like using a swisher. You could use different types of bongs. A vaporizer is great because it is an instant head rush without all the choking. Some can use a gas mask or bubblers. However you prefer to smoke it the effects are all the same.

When you are up there some common symptoms are feeling sleepy, happy and hungry. Your senses are heightened. This may make normal things such as listening to music, watching TV, or playing a videogame, more enjoyable. You might get “stuck” or being fixated on an object. Some people who smoke too much might have a bad trip such as having paranoia or feeling vertigo. Some might smoke too much; have a huge head change and throw up. I have seen it happen. Your body uses energy and after you may experience the “munchies” or being hungry. Food will taste ten times better than it normally does when you eat it. Afterward it is not uncommon to feel tired and want to sleep.

Some say weed is the gateway drug. I can understand why people would say that. Some people who smoke often end up gaining a tolerance for it. You are initially chasing the first high and have to smoke more to feel the same effect. However once you cut back or take a break it is the reverse and takes less to make you high. Some people get tired of weed and move on to harder drugs and experiment more. It is all about self control but that is my opinion.

So is weed bad to the point where it should be illegal? It practically is legal. All cops do when you have it, is crush it and cite you for something else. You can even have a medical card and then it is legal. The laws are pretty lax enough. They do not want any drug traffickers selling pounds of it. Then all drugs should be legal. However, I do not believe it should have the bad reputation it does, because as I have found out, it’s really not that bad.  

Its ok, just tell your little brother you couldnt pick him up cuz u were getting high, he'll understand.

Without my family I would not be the person I am today. Despite the good times and the bad times they are always going to be my family. Sometimes I think of myself as fortunate, even though sometimes it was a struggle to grow up and be mature. Throughout all my experiences I have learned what it means to be a sister and a mentor.

My sister has always been my main rival. Even from the day she was born everybody tells me when my grandmother brought her home she was holding her in her arms and I thought she was a doll. I reached out to look at what my grandmother was holding and everyone was saying “It’s your sister.” According to the story I looked at her and pushed her away. That was the beginning of our rivalry. My earliest memories are being little and I was always extremely jealous of her. Every toy she had I wanted. It always bothered me too because my grandmother would dress us up to match each other, so everybody thought we were twins. Since we are close in age to this day we still are mistaken for twins sometimes. I always had to be different from her. She was always a straight A student, and my dad doted on her. I on the other hand was extremely temperamental and fought with my dad constantly. However we get along more now that we are older and more mature, and even though we still compete and fight we will still often tell each other I love you.

I have three younger half brothers. It is hard to explain but my mother got pregnant three more times after she divorced my dad with different men. She may have not always made the right choices in life, but I love my brothers. Since I am the oldest of all the children I am always the babysitter, the one in charge, and the example. This title is sometimes good and sometimes bad. If I make a mistake it is used as the example for everyone. Trust me; I have made a lot of mistakes. Sometimes I feel more like the role of mom and my mom is more the role of sister. She is 40 years old but she parties like she is 20 still. This is fun because I like having a mom who is like my sister. Sometimes it’s not fun when my brothers are calling me telling me “Mom left for a couple days and we are hungry can you bring us food?” Then I have to be the one in charge and take them to school or bring them food or help them with their homework. I try my best but I always feel guilty when I can not be there. Sometimes I have to be the one in charge, if they fight with each other I usually have to step in. If my mom is being too rough I usually have to comfort them after. However, through all the experiences I understand my role as sister because of all my siblings.

If my immediate family were not enough I also have a new title as step sister to a younger step sister and step brother. My dad recently remarried and it’s been a new adjustment in my life. My mom is extremely jealous of my dad’s new wife and I constantly have to tell her I know she is my real mom and I love her more just to reassure her that my new step mom hasn’t replaced her love. Once again I am the example for my younger step sister. I am five years older and I have talks with her and try and tell her about my experiences in case she ever needs help. My sister and my step sister do not get along so once again I am the mediator for all the fighting and the peace keeper. Though as confusing and hectic as it is with my family I am always the same role, which is older sister.  

Have you ever seen a llama?

The summer I graduated high school marked a significant event in my life. The summer of 2008 I traveled out of the country to Peru for ten days. I traveled with my aunt and my sister, Olivia. It was the first time in my life I went to South America. I experienced a new culture, gained a sense of spirituality, and received a new appreciation for my life.

            The first place we traveled to in Peru was the capital, Lima. I was very anxious on the plane, for it was the longest flight I had ever been on. It took us eight hours to reach our destination. We stayed at Lima for a day. It was not much unlike the city in LA. It had tall buildings with billboards and large outlet malls to go shopping. We ventured out and went to some of the stores and ate at a restaurant on the beach. In the restaurant I experienced a new drink. It was a lemongrass drink that is a common soda. It was not very tasty to me. In the restaurant our server spoke English. He gave us a tip since we were three female tourists, and told us to not take any cabs by ourselves. They had a problem with human trafficking over there. We completed our first day in Lima and went to our hotel at the end of the night.

            The next day of our trip we took another plane to Cusco. Cusco was a very beautiful city, and I saw many new places and a different way of life. There were children in the streets selling small hand woven puppets. They would run away and hide from the police, for it was illegal for children to be selling items to tourists. Students that were artists sold their paintings on the streets. In every restaurant they served “cuy de horno” translating to “roasted guinea pig.” It shocked me they ate guinea pigs as a specialty item. We experienced the history of the Incas. We rode horses through the woods that led to caves women and children hid in. We visited a couple museums and saw real mummies that were preserved. We saw street performers dancing in traditional Inca clothing. Every place we went to had something new and exciting to behold. My aunt then told my sister and me that the place we were going to next was the main reason for the trip. We would be leaving to see the wonder of the world, Machu Picchu.

            We stayed in Cusco for most of our trip, but then we left on a train to Aguascalientes. When we got off the train, we were informed there was only one way to reach Machu Picchu, and that was by bus. We took the bus and made it to the city. The scene I witnessed was the most stunning site I have ever seen. It was literally a city on the top of a mountain. Our tour guide led us through the mountain. Its foundation was made out of stone. There were wild llamas running around everywhere. On the end of the city was another mountain you could climb to see the view of Machu Picchu from above. We got in line, but to our dismay we found out only a certain number of people were allowed to go at a time. We waited for a while to see if we would make the cut. Fortunately for us, we made the cut and we climbed our way to the top. The view was worth the brutal hike to the top. We could see Machu Picchu’s shape which looked almost like a bird. The mountains around Machu Picchu were covered in fog. It cleared away to a remarkable view. It was a sight that not even a picture could capture. As beautiful as all the pictures we took, none could compare to actually seeing the whole sight.  

            When we were led through the city our tour guide pointed out the wild cocoa leaves that grew spontaneously. He told us the Incas used the leaves in a spiritual sense with prayer. He showed us how to pray with the leaves the way they did. It was a moment in my life where I really got in touch with my spiritual side. We went to a room with a small window where they prayed. One by one we held the leaves and he chanted the prayer. After that we held the leaves up to the window and blew them out. We left soon to the train to go back to Cusco. We returned back to the hotel we were staying in. Our trip was coming to an end.

            The plane home was a straight shot from Peru to the United States. We made one land in San Salvador. It took us twelve grueling hours to get home. The plane ride was not smooth or fun. We were flying in the middle of the storm. I remember looking over out the window and seeing nothing but black clouds. Lightning was visibly striking and I could only envision it hitting the plane. I looked over to my aunt on the verge of tears. She just told me we would be okay and not to worry. I had to sleep to keep myself from hyperventilating. She was right, for I did have nothing to worry about. We made it back home safely. Looking back on the trip I was able to reflect on what I experienced. It opened my eyes to the way other people live and celebrate their culture. It made me appreciate how I live my life and appreciate what I have accomplished.

            In conclusion, my trip to Peru was a significant moment in my life that I will never forget. I saw how the people in Peru lived their daily lives. I learned about their culture and their history. I saw the wonder of the world Machu Picchu and got in touch with my spiritual side. I reflected back on my experienced and gained a new sense of appreciation for my life as it is. Hopefully, one day I will be able to travel there again

the interview with my fellow classmate

I had to interview a classmate, and the classmate I talked to was Andrew Nelinger. He told me some interesting facts about himself. He told me he grew up in Moorpark. He did move to Thousand Oaks for a little while but eventually moved back to Moorpark. He told me his motivation to go to college was to get a better job and make more money. He prefers to go to Oxnard College because it is right next to the beach. He is studying to become a firefighter. I learned his dad is his inspiration. His dad started his own business at the age of 20 and has ran it ever since. He has a little brother who looks up to him and copies everything he does. Overall, I would describe Andrew as hard working, independent, and very respectful.