Fun times

Yesterday, in chemistry each student started to arm wrestle just for the heck of it. We were all finished with our classwork and homework and began to goof around. First, I think, I started to arm wrestle with Rachel. Anh, Dalvinder, Isaac, Kim, and Kamri were pretty much involved in the whole thing. Matthew began to arm wrestle with Danielle and everybody began to cheer on. Each student started to join in the excitement and challenge their strength with that of their opponent. Even the teacher began to cheer us on and maintain a fair game. Of course, there was a point in the game were it was "too loud" but then again we decreased our volume and began to experience the pain that comes from arm wrestling. I don't know about anybody else but my hand hurts so woefully. I guess that's what you get for being too aggressive. However, watching the students there I felt so blessed to be part of this exciting time. It was so hilarious and one time during the joyous occasion, we almost hurt ourselves. Sibling rivalry is exciting but gets a bit too competitive. However, Matthew and Danielle were fair and tried their hardest. I still think that your are an amazing opponent Danielle.

It's a little too late

I know, I know, it's a little too late to be staying up especially on a school night but I have my reason. First of all, I couldn't go to soccer practice today because my mom made an appointment at the DMV, social security, and a bunch of other stuff. My mom picked me up really early from school (3:00 is really really really early for me because I usually leave school at around 5:00 or 5:30 at the latest). Next, we drove all the way to Santa Teresa, no freeways, and waited in line for half an hour. I think that the DMV should hire more employees because there were just so many customers waiting in line and I thought that it would be impossible to see the clerk today. So, we got our number and sat down in the chairs. Next thing I know, it's 4:30 and I was still waiting. 4:45 waiting. 5:05 waiting. 5:15 "Now serving number G-140." At around 5:30, my mother went to Social Security and got her questions answered rather quickly. Our last stop took the longest and by the time I got home, it was 9:00 and I had to catch up on some homework. So, now it is 11:12 and I am done with all my homework and decided to tell you about my unfortunate weekend. Saturday was hectic and Tuesday was even worse. I wonder why I am having such a horrible week. I just hope that it ends on a positive note. It's really frustrating trying to boost up your energy when all else fails around you. 

It's too painful

Walk, walk, walk, in the city of San Francisco. A beautiful cloudy day with people singing and dancing on the street. Yelling on top of their lungs or standing in a corner watching the tourists pass by with nothing but hope in their eyes. Saturday at San Francisco was too painful. I had to attend a meeting with my aunt and we decided to use the Caltrain to get to our destination. She hates driving in a car because "[I] miss out on everything; the scenery and everything." So, we sat in the train for an hour watching each city pass by like a bird soaring through the sky. Each second was 24 hours and each stop was as long as light years. I couldn't breathe and felt trapped in the train watching children squirm in their seats and yell, "are we there yet?" Finally after what seemed like eternity, we arrived at San Francisco. Unaware of the time, I realized that we would be 15 minutes late to the meeting. So, we caught the first bus and waited till the bus driver announced, "Market Street, next stop." Every stop between here and Market Street, people floundered inside the tiny little bus like ants in an ant hole. It took us at least a minute or through to pass by the passengers and get out of the bus. Once off the bus, we had to breathe quickly so all the clean air could satisfy our lungs. Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock. We ran to the meeting and asked the concierge where in the building it took place. I don't know whether it was out of spite or taciturn, he told us that it was on the sixth floor, room 662. We ran to the elevator and ran around the building trying to find the meeting. "I am sorry but it's on the first floor," the lady said. So, we ran to the elevator just in time to find it "broken". We climbed down the stair from the sixth floor all the way to the first floor! By the time we got to the meeting, it was long gone finished. Run, run, run, run, run, was all we did in the beautiful city of San Francisco. I am so pooped. That's a good word to use!

Diversity

Diversity is a very important characteristic in our lives. I enjoy listening to people's conversations regarding their cultures and traditions. There are so many interesting aspects to a culture and their amazing population. I come from a very diverse family and I can relate to my fellow classmates who have so many different yet captivating customs in their life. My great grandmother from my mother's side had 5 husbands and each husband shared a different tradition and custom:

1st husband: Assyrian/Armenian

2nd husband: Armenian

3rd husband: Turkish

4th husband: Syrian

5th husband: Lebanese/Armenian/Greek? 

(it was an arranged marriage so she didn't really know his ethnicity because he died too soon)

My grandmother grew up in a village in Iran where everybody spoke different languages and nobody cared for reading or writing. They worked all day long and spend the rest of their night visiting each others houses and sleeping. She shares with me so many different stories and histories that I never even thought about. I enjoy listening to these stories and sometimes spend the time holding onto her voice and time traveling through the past. There are so many cultures throughout this world and one of the reasons why I love Gunderson High School is because of their diversity. I enjoy listening to each students' lives and stories and where their family comes from. In fact, just a couple months ago, I learned that somebody I know has a root in their family tree that might be Assyrian. A family tree is amazing and who knows, maybe your great great great great.... grandparents were a famous king, queen, dictator, or etc. Wow, the amazing stories waiting to be told. 

Something nice

Have you ever walked in a room and been greeted with a scent so magnificent? Well, I have these kinds of feelings every day when I walk into my room. I bought these scented candles that smell like lilac spring and their absolutely breathtaking. It's one of the reasons why I don't want to leave my room because it smell so great. Actually, I am freak when it comes to certain smells like lavender or lilac springs. Lying down on my bed and closing my eyes, I feel like the clouds are lifting me in the air and I am floating to heaven. I actually feel like my spirit is being carried to another dimension of the world not scrutable to my subconscious mind. There's this part of me that wants to lay on the bed and be treated like a princess all day along. Every time I open my eyes, I am forced to stare at the pile of towers I call my homework. Sometimes this pile seems to lose weight while other times when the time is running like the wind, it stuffs its face like a little kid in a candy store. There are times when I just want to stay in my room all day long and not wake up in the morning by the blaring sound of my alarm clock in my ear. I just want to spend the day smelling the roses and running in the meadow. Also, there is a part of me that yearns to be a child again. The days were life was worry-free and the work did not require much thought. Those were the days were you begged the clock to run so you can be old. Now that the clock is actually speeding like a track star, you just beg for it to stop for a second so you won't grow so old. My aunt always says, "don't wish to be older because this is going to be your fate one day; 'I don't want to be old.'" 

Something nice, something sweet, is what I call a sweetie treat. That rhymes!?!?!?

Too much masks in a day.

It's amazing how some people can do so much in a matter of hours or minutes. The Masquerade Ball on Saturday was a true work of art. It was an amazing set up and I was in awe when I first walked in the gym. There was no hint of smelly old socks but the essence of students having fun with friends. So many stars and masks and a heavenly color of blue was plastered all over the gym. At first, I thought that I was in a completely different environment and this wasn't the school I attended. It was different but in a miraculous way and I enjoyed the christmas lights lain on the floor. There were candles in the middle of every table and masks all over the room. The music was amazing, the lights were incredible, and people seemed to be enjoying themselves dancing and taking a break from school. I hate going to a party or dance with my purse and coat with me during the whole party, having to worry about misplacing it or forgetting to pick it up. However, the parents were kind enough to take your belongings and store it in a safe place until the end of the dance. I enjoyed the dance very much and I just want to thank everybody who was involved in setting up the dance and cleaning it up at the end including me. ; ) Just kidding.

Can you handle it?

I realize that it is too much to ask,

too much to reconcile,

too much burden,

too much depression,

but I need to ask.

A whisper on my lips

A secret waiting to flip

But can you handle it.

Close your eyes and hold on to my voice

I have too much to ask of 

I can hear the thump of my heart

The rings in my ear

And the voices in my head

Thump, Thump, Thump

I will ask you again

But can you handle it.

Once more, I ask

It's too late

too late to talk

too late to listen

So I will ask you again

"Will you love me forever?"

Too late to decide now...

"I felt a Funeral In My Brain"

I felt a funeral in my brain,

And mourners, to and fro,

Kept treading, treading, till it seemed

That sense was breaking through.

And when they all were seated,

A service like a drum

Kept beating, beating, till I thought

My mind was going numb.

And then I heard them lift a box,

And creak across my soul

With those same boots of lead, again.

Then space began to toll

As all the heavens were a bell,

And Being but an ear,

And I and silence some strange race,

Wrecked, solitary, here.

Emily Dickinson

* I turned on my computer hoping to write a blog when all of a sudden I remembered to check my messages. There, in one of my messages from my mother, I found a poem that seemed to match the conversation we discussed in English class today. Death. Death is a strong word that is feared by many forgotten by those who are young. This poem by Emily Dickinson describes Emily portraying a funeral in her head. She is imagining the ceremony and feels the "creak" of the box and the bells in the distance. She knows that the end is approaching and she is not afraid to discuss the consequences. 

Every time my grandmother finds about a death that has taken place in the lives of her friends or family members, she just bows her head and says a little prayer. It's this whisper in her voice that fills tears in your eyes and a bullet right through the heart. She simply says, God Bless his/ her soul but these words mimic death no matter where you hear them. Death is a very complicated situation because you never know when it will strike and take away the one thing you love. 

*First Love?!?

Being new to a foreign country was difficult and not to mention extremely uncomfortable. I didn't know directions nor addresses and the weather had an exotic feel to it. The first day of school was one I could never forget. Walking through the halls, I felt the walls threatening me and suffocating me until all my blood was rushing to my head. Before I knew it, my lungs had a mind of their own and my tears flowing down the bumpy streams I called my face. My legs were two sticks following the wind as I trembled and begged my mother to stay. I was in the fourth grade in the United States, and needed a hand to guide me through a path. Lost in my thoughts, I felt a hand pull me up the stairs to my class. Twitching I dragged my feet to the front of the class and stood near the teachers' desk. I managed to read the name but it did not sound familiar. She introduced me to the class and every eye was a like fire burning my skin and I was forced to look away. My face turned the color of my shirt and snickers blasted through the classroom. She pointed to an empty seat near a short, blonde, and petulant boy whose name read "Abraham" on the name tag. His skin was pale and his hands were a golden-brown. His hair was slicked back on his head like pure gold in a waterfall flowing down majestically. I had never seen such beautiful eyes before; the color of the sea couldn't have been more heavenly and I stared hypnotized. He had a soft, rosy cheek with dimples that made ones heart melt and disguised his obstreperous manners. I remember smiling but my face kneaded into an alarming expression.

"Hi," the blonde child said.

"Uh, hi", she said.

"My name is Abraham. If you need any help, just let me know," he said.

As the months flew and the seasons began to change, I developed a close bond towards him. He was obnoxious and a teacher's worst nightmare but the words "I like you" were in my heart and I actually liked him. Every time he touched my hand, butterflies began to flutter their wings in my stomach and the hair on my hands began to rise and reach the stars. My family loved him and his family loved me. It was the perfect match and I thought it was too good to be true. I was the shy, trembling, and troubling little girl but he like me for me. He said he would marry me when we grew up and I held on to these words like a little child and her favorite toy. We were friends for 2 years but what happened next bruised me permanently. 

It was the sixth grade dance and it was the perfect excuse for girls to spread their rumors like bloodsuckers on ones skin. I stood away from their cruel words and began to daydream about my dance with him like Cinderella. The fairy godmother had the perfect dress for me and I had the glass slippers for the ball. Carefully and calmly, I took a deep breath and approached him. It was recess and the day was still young. 

"Hey, what's up??" he said.

"Um, would you, um, go to the dance with me? I mean I am going with friends and I am pretty sure you are too but maybe we will see each other there and dance. If you don't want to, I mean if y---" she said.

"You are asking me out? I am sorry but I don't date ugly, geeky nerds." he snickered.

I could not believe these words could be thorns piercing my heart. Tears flew down my face and I urged to control their anger. I could not be crying in front of him and showing my pain for he would  laugh on the inside and show pitiful sympathy. Of course, he begged for my forgiveness but I lied. I said I would forgive him eventually but his words were too cruel and I never wanted this to happen ever again.

I have said many times before that I did not have a first love because I couldn't imagine my first love being this cruel.  I never shared this story before but it was time to release the unnecessary anger I hold dear in my heart.

P.S. Mr. Thompson, I hope that you still trust me. I did not want to share this story but I guess there's nothing really to hide. 

2009 Golden Globe Awards

Every year the popcorn gets popped, family members jump on the coach and it's a great excuse to stuff your face. Yes, it's that time of the year again! The Golden Globe Awards. My family and I have never missed the Live Golden Globe Awards. It's a family tradition and we enjoy this premiere on E!. 

Laughter fills the room and screams of joy dance around. From the ooh's to the ahhh's and booooh's, we cuddle up in front of the television and just hang out together just for the heck of it. When my family and I lived in Los Angeles, we used to drive around Beverly Hills but it was always crowded so we were forced to drive around the block many times. So, frustrated, we used to retire to our house and gather around the television until our eyes turned that of a blossomed rose during spring. This year "the Golden Globe is rocking E!" as Ryan Seacrest puts it and I can't wait to see some of my favorite celebrities. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button seems to come up in every conversation and I think that it will win many awards soon.  

Leisure

Leisure is a man's best friend just like a dog or any other companion. Taking the time to relax and clear your mind after a busy week helps me (actually, now that I think about it, it helps EVERYBODY) let loose and be calm. This week was a bit stressful for me and my family because of some rumors taking place. In my culture, rumors are like a pies in one's face. They are so random and you cannot control the direction they travel. This time the pie landed directly in my family's face. I know whatever they said was not true and some people did not believe it but then again it was just plain rude. So anyways, this weekend we tried to be rebellious and didn't really go anybody's house. Usually our neighbors call us over on Saturday but today they knew how we were feeling and decided to leave us alone. I spent the day relaxing and catching up on some important paraphernalia and it was the best leisure time in a long time. I don't like doing nothing for my leisure time because I feel like I might be missing on some important duties. So, I spend the time making a schedule and following it step by step until the end. 

Well, I hope that everybody is having a good weekend....

It's time

Well, school's approaching us soon and there's just so much going on for second semester. I always hear from my teachers that second semester passes by so quickly but sometimes it feels like eternity. Of course, it's difficult to go back to school after a relaxing vacation but life is all about action. You can never relax and be lazy for so long because there is so much going on. Spending time with my family and hanging out with my loved ones seemed exciting and fun but I knew that it would end soon. I wish it wouldn't end but in this world, everything has an expiration date. However a few more days of relaxation wouldn't be that bad. For example, my cousin won't go back to school till January 15th. I wouldn't mind being in his position but summer for him starts July 2nd. So, it all works out in the end when you think about it!!!! Well, I am just going to enjoy the last few hours of freedom and get ready for school. Sundays are not really my "days" because there's just so much to think about. Every body will be groggy on Monday but as the days pass all will forget about their vacation and get used to waking up early.