October 23rd: I Try To Catch Up

Prepare yourselves, friends, I've got a fair bit of updating to do. Buckle your seatbelts, mind the gap and watch the rudder because HERE WE GO.

For starters, my Appalachian Trail adventure. My parents and I went to this town called Charlottesville, which is in southwestern VA. Home of the University of Virginia and a dang good bagel shop. Very historic and cute. The
'rents and I stayed in a pretty nice hotel called the Boar's Head Inn. Before we even got to the hotel, however, we stopped at Montpelier, the home of James Madison. It was only opened about five years ago and is newly restored-- highly recommended to any tourists of the VA area. That was Saturday afternoon.
On Sunday we got up in the grey, misty 50 degree morning (also I had forgotten to pack jeans because SOMEONE forgot to check the weather, [Dad, this is aimed at you] so all I had was a pair of track shorts. Not exactly ideal cold weather wear) and traveled to Shenandoah National Park.

For anyone who didn't know me as a freshman, two of my best friends and I sang the American classic, 'O Shenandoah' in three part harmony for a solo/ensemble competition and we won a 'Superior' rating. Not that we're arrogant about it or anything...? Anyway, that song has a special place in my heart, so going to the national park was amazing. The colours of the trees were JUST starting to change, and it was even cooler because of how misty and blue the mountains were.

After taking the driving skyline tour and looking at the mountains and trees and such, we decided to hike part of the Appalachian Trail! Which was SO COOL!

Gettin fancy with some black and white

Part of the Appalachian Trail

Anyway. More later.

Cheers,

Soph

October 8th: First World Problems Read By Third World Kids

Bonjou my friends. I'll post another time about what I did this past weekend (it was pretty dang cool) but for now, I just wanted to spread the word about this video (link is below).

"First world problems" is a phrase typically used on facebook or Twitter to complain about something trivial. Unfortunately I have used the phrase once myself, but after seeing this video, I will never do so again. Young adults should watch this and consider the meaning behind this phrase before using it.

Some use it as a joke, others use it seriously. Either way, the phrase isn't one that should be encouraged. Living in a first world country, we take numerous things for granted-- clean drinking water, central heating, food, clothing, a roof over our head. Complaining about the little things that go wrong in our near-perfect world isn't the best way to demonstrate compassion or an understanding of just how much we have.

Please watch the video and share it.

Cheers

http://www.buzzfeed.com/copyranter/first-world-problems-read-by-third-world-kids

October 2nd: I Lose My Writing Notebook or How The World Slowly Started To End

Yes, it is true. I have lost my writing notebook. As a writer, this is like losing my right hand. Why my right hand? Because that is the hand I write (right) with. Do you see what I did there? Do you?

Today started off on the wrong foot, literally. I got out of bed and took a step only to realize that my foot was asleep and for some reason my body took this as a reason to hang out with gravity because there I was on the floor. Pins and needles, guys. Pins. And. Needles.

Then after I was reasonably awake at 6:30 in the morning (I say "awake" in ironic tones because no one is awake at that time), I did my usual stuff to get ready to go to my FIRST EVER CLASS at the Foreign Service Institute.

Once I was ready I started to look for my writing notebook because, hello, I'm a writer. I take that dang thing EVERYWHERE. Seriously. But it was nowhere to be found and so my life is over. I may be being a wee bit dramatic but that thing is v. important. So you understand my distress.

On the bright side, I know am slightly more knowledgeable in the history of Haiti. And some more of the language. I will impress you with my knowledge READYSETGO

Did you know that:

-During the American Revolutionary War, the French (who came to help us out) brought along a bunch of Haitian troops. And a short time later, we waved bye-bye to the dang redcoats. So basically Haiti is responsible for our freedom (an exaggeration but still on the path of truth, just go with it)

-Haitian currency is called the gourd because after Haiti won its independence, they had no form of currency. What did they use? Gourds.

-The food prices in Haiti were recently raised 10%, so lots of people have been eating "mud cookies," which are 'cookies' made of clay with a bit of flour mixed in.

-More than 112,000 people are authorized to immigrate to the US but are being forced to wait.

Here are some more phrases and words that are useful.

Kouman ou ye? = How are you?
Mwen tre byen = I'm doing very well
E ou menm? = and you?
M la = I'm okay
M pa pi mal = I'm not too bad
M okipe anpil = I'm very busy
N a we pita = see you later
N a we demen = see you tomorrow
M pa byen ditou = I'm not feeling well.
M bouke = I'm tired.

Ki bo ou ap travay? = Where do you work?
(pronounce Kee bo ahp travai?)
Moun ki peyi ou ye? = What country are you from?
(pronounce Moon kee pehee oo yay)
Mwen se moun Etazini = I'm from the United States
(pronounce Mwen say moon eTAZini)
Ki kote ou rete? = Where do you live?
(pronounce kee kohtay oo rehtay)
M rete ______ = I live in ____

Sinema = cimema
Lopital = hospital
Lapos = post office
Lekol = school

That's all for now! More lessons laytah.

 N a we pita. Babay. :)