Super-duper Chaeyoon\’s Blog

Web Address: www.hrw.org/campagins/crp/index.htm

Title of Article: Child Soldiers

Date Article was written: No date

Sammary of infor. in article: Many children join millitary force either by force or by themselves in over twenty countries around the world. Approxiamtely 200,000 to 300,000 children are working as soldiers for both rebel groups and governmnet forces in current armed conficts. Children in milltary groups typically maek obedient soldiers. Children who joined millitaries by force are mostly abducted or recruited by millitary force. Children who joined millitaries by their decisions perceive armed groups as their best chance for survival from poverty.

My thoughts on the infor. in article: I think it is very sad. Necessary thing that they need is not guns. They might need toys instead of guns. Many children join the armed group to survive from poverty or to get families that they stay with. I think we really need to help them.

There are schools that have uniforms or do not have uniforms, however, in my opinion, students SHOULD HAVE TO wear uniforms to school. Firstly, Sudents do not need to worry about what to wear to school. In my case, I used to wear a uniform in Korea. Every morning, I did not fight with my clothes, but I always worry about what to wear to my current school where I do not have uniform every morning. Students feel pressured to try to wear different clothes everyday. They spend a lot of money to buy their clothes. Instead of studying, many students find a job and work to make money for clothes. If one of the students wears the same cloth everyday, other students might think that he is poor or not nice. Another reason that students should have to wear uniforms to school is making all stduents feel equal. Today, many people judge other people by only their appearance and clothes. As mentioned before when a student wears the same cloth everyday, other students might think that he is poor or not nice, but they also care about the brand of clothes. There are many high-priced brand of clothes. Many people think that if a person wear expensive and nice clothes, he is a very good person, and people want to be his friend. In contrast, people might feel indigent and even dislikeable to be his friend about students who do not wear brand name clothes. When all students wear the same uniforms, however, they have the same appearance and clothes and they can feel equal. Some people say the cost of uniform is expensive. Many people believe that they have to buy new or all the uniforms are very costly, but actually there are several ways people can save their money. Often the school offers inexpensive or even free uniforms. It is way cheaper than buying lots of different and famous brand clothes. Many students who do not have enough money to buy clothes worry about thier school life as well as their appearnace just because they do not have nice clothes. It is time to think about insituting a uniform policy.

Have you ever visited Austria? In my opinon, the best place to live would be Vienna, Austria. Firstly, Austria has a great public transportation system that makes it easy to get to transportation. There are subways, trams, and autobuses. You can choose the transportation depending on the distance or where you go. As many poeple use these transportation and walk, you don’t need to worry about your car or heavy traffic. Another reason Austria is the best place to live is wide and beautiful forest you can enjoy your spare time. There is the Vienna woods, Wienerwald, in the city, Vienna Austria. In the Vienna woods, there are many restaurant and some houses of famous musicians like Mozart. In the city, you can feel the nature and relax. You can take pleasure in the forest such as hiking, taking a walk, or skiing. Additionally, life in Austria is cultured and artistic. Since Austria is the birthplace of many musicians such as Mozart, Schubert, and Johann Strauss, many music festivals are held in a year including operas and concerts. With beginning of New Year Music Concert on every January 1st, they have diverse music festivals every month. Finally, you can travel to many other countries easily. Austria is close to many other countries such as Germany, Switzerland, and Czech. Without having to spend money for airplane tickets, you can go other countries with trains or cars. If you visit Austria, you would be attracted by Vienna, Austria as plca to live and prepare for moving right away!

Name of Book : Ida B … And Her plans

Author : Katherine Hannigan

 Type of Book : Drama

Number of pages : 266

Setting (Time & Place) : modern time. Ida B’s house & apple orchard, school

Theme : Sometimes change can be better way.

Main Characters :

Ida B – She is 9 years old and she like to make plans. She doesn’t like school. After she attends the school, she makes trouble with her parent and anybody.  

Mom – Ida B’s mother. She gets sick so she can’t teach for Ida B’s home-schooling anymore.

Dad – Ida B’s father. He gets the problems with Ida B after he mad Ida B goes to school.

Mr. Washington – Ida B’s school teacher. She wants to make getting out Ida B from the problems.

Problem of the story : Ida B used to do home schooling, however as her mom gets sick, she starts to go to the school where she doesn’t like. After she goes to the school, she decides that she becames bad and has negative mind. She makes the trouble with her dad, she doesn’t make smile or being kind.

Explain what you liked most about this book : I like the part in the end. Ida be and her fatehr used feeling, not words to apology.

In you opinion, how could this book be better? In my opinion, this book could be better, if it describe more detail Ida B’s feeling that before in problem and after in problem, so we can compare.

Who would you recommend this book to? I would recommend this book to kids who younger than me and attend to elementary school. Because Ida B is elementary kids, the could feel Ida B’s friends.

If all people in the world have a commonality to be able to represent themselves, it could be the music that has amazing and mighty power. The song that represent me is “I believe I can fly” by R.Kelly. R.Kelly’s music is classified as R&B or pop. This song, ”I believe I can fly” was written by R.Kelly  for the kid’s movie, ‘Space Jam’. “I believe I can fly” is one of the most favorite and influential songs for me. This music is not fast and harsh, but it has strong feeling. The introduction is peaceful like gentle waves of the sea, and the regular beating of the drum makes me getting into the rhythm. The electric piano makes a comfortable melody. R.Kelly’s voice is a free flying bird on the sky. His voice goes down at beginning and goes up gradually, untile the chorus and the ending climax. Actually, I love the lyrics of this song. The chorus is absolutly my favorite part. The chorus says: “I believe I can fly. I believe I can touch the sky. I think about every night and day spread my wings and fly away. I believe I can soar I see me running through that open door. I believe I can fly.” I think these lines give hope and possibility to many people as well as me. Another line says:”There are miracles in life I must achieve. But first I know it starts inside of me.” I think it makes people who want to give up realize their potential. Like this, this song gives us hope and encouragement to not give up. It is a big reason why I like this song. Whenever I hear this song, I feel comfortable and relaxed. When I came to the U.S.A at first, it was difficult to adjust in a new country, and sometimes I really wanted to give up my studying. At that time, this song gave me strength, hope, and encouragement. Of course, I still listen to this song whenever I need to believe in myself and get encouragemnet.

I feel free. It takes away all the worry and stress from my life. I become an artist. I can draw all my imaginary pictures in my mind. I can do all these things that I want to do when I am in the running car at night. First, I go to Starbucks to get some hot, mild, and creamy drinks. I buy sweet, gooey cookies with a caramel machiato, my favorite drink, that fill my mouth with sweet caramel as well as little bit bitter coffee. My car becomes a small cafe with warm, rich coffee smell. The coffee is a piece of peace and composure. It makes me smile like a child who has cotton candy. I sit on cuddly, tender seats and open the slippery, clear windows. Cool, fresh, and soft night air comes in my car and hugs me. Although it makes my body shiver a bit, it doesn’t make me feel bad. The night air whispers softly as if my friend is telling me a secret. It’s time to enjoy. I turn on my favorite music, Bad day and Pain White T’s’ songs. I turn up the volume, gradually and repeat that rock musics that make me joyful and to get into the rhythm of whole my body over and over again. The streets have lots of lights. The outside lights dance with the music and ti’s enough to forget that Las Vegas is a desert. It’s bright and colorful. They are red like beautiful rose, yellow like smiling sunflower, and blue like deep sea. Many houses turn off their lights and, that dark, dim square houses go to the bed. Still I am in the running car, and I look at the sky. The brillant moon and twinkling stars embroider the sky. The streetlights illuminate the roads. The roads are empty and lonely, but there are a few circular and square cars emitting musty exhaust gas. While drive the car at night, my car is a small cafe that brings me peace and freedon, and I enjoy thinking, watching, and just staying sill as if I am a baby who has no worries.

★★★

Name of Book : Chain Letter

Author: Christopher pike

Type of book : Hottor, mystery

Number of pages : 185

Setting(Time & Place): San Bernardino in CA

Theme : One day mistake could be big trouble

Main Characters (Write names and briefly describe each) :
*Alison- who likes Tony and wants to be an actress
*Brenda- Kipp’s girlfriend and wants to be an actress
*Fran- who likes Neil and run away to be scared of obedience.
*Kipp- Brenda’s boyfriend
*Tony- who is in track team
*Neil- who likes Alison and has cancer
*Joan-who is competitor of Alison but also a good friend

Problem of the Story:
Seven college students committed a car accident and killed a person because they drank a lot. But they didn’t tell that to police to other people. One day, a letter came to them and the letter gave them commands, and the letter said that if they ignore or do not obey the letter, they have an accident.

Explain what you liked most about this book :
I like most about last part of thins book. In the last part, Neil and friends understand and make peace.
Especially, the part that Neil said that Tony already dead, but Tony came in front of Neil was shocked to me.

In your opinion, how could this book be better?
In my opinion, this book could be better if it will describe abou Neil’s pain and thoughts more detail, so people could know Neil’s condition.

Who would you recommend this book to?
I would recommend this book to people who like to find offender and also people who like thriller.

A car that will be like in 50 years will be very different from present cars. Firstly, they will have various designs. They can be invisible and people can take then in a little bottle or pocket. So people will not use parking lots. And cars will change their shape, so if there is traffic they will change their shapes to be small or thin to fit in and go easily. It will prevent a lot of traffic problems. Secondly, they will use a lot of new technology. They will not use gasoline or other gases. Cars will be able to go with hydogen power, solar energy, and wind power. These cars will be better for the environment than any gasoline or other gases that make smoke. And they will have an automatic repair system. If they get in a car accident or have any problems, the car’s system will recognize that and repair it right away. And they will have automatic speech recognition, so people can talk with their own car. With this system, people can drive automatically and use all the equipment that is in the car easily. And if they are bored, they will be able to talk with their car. Thirdly, they will be free from some restrictions that are placed on corn cars. They will be able to go through water and the sky. And they will carry more people. They will make more seats if needed. A car in the future will be very different so much so that we cannot imagine it. 

In my opinion, a serious problem that teens face today is drinking alcohol. First of all, if they drink alcohol, they cannot control themselves well. They make mistakes, and they don’t realize what are they doing. They cannot walk, or they sometimes are violent. A second reason is that they get in accident easily when they are under the influence. In the book ‘Tears of a Tiger’, A group of teens got in a car accident and lost one of friends, because they drove the car after they drank. In the book ‘Chain Letter’, they also got in a car accident and killed someone, because they drove the car after they drank. Another issue is they influence other teens. After they drink, they recommend drinking alcohol to their friends. They encourage other teens and that teens are drawn in. So the problem spreads. Overall, there are many problems because of drinking alcohol, so we need to help teens say no to alcohol solutions to this problem.