The last Post

When I came to this class, I never thought that it would include writing a blog. I had to pass this class, so I have no option. Honestly, I did like to post some blogs because in some, you express your opinions and in others it makes you think what to write about. I enjoy reading most of the student’s blogs because some of them were very interesting and fun. there are excellent blog post. With the blogs, you come to know the students and their opinions. Writing a blog was not my thing, but it did help me to improve my English writing. I do not think, I will keep writing blogs, maybe on my in other social medias.

Thanks to all my classmates who visit and comment my blog. I wish you the best for everyone and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

My sister's party

Last year, I had one of the most memorable days. It was the birthday of my youngest sister. She has Down syndrome. She turned 8.The whole party was a secret for her and even for us. It organized by her God parents. They invited all ours relatives from Santa Maria and Los Angeles. It was the first time I saw most of my uncles and aunts. They reunited in this special event for my sister.
   It was on August 18, in a hot Sunday. The party was celebrated in a big park near our home. I use to take my little sister for a walk to the park on weekends. In this time, we went to the park ignoring what was about to happen. It was amazing to see how my little sister's face turned in to a big smile and exited. She always loves the parties but she never expected one like this. There was a big cake and also pinatas. They also rented a big jelly jumper for the kids. They even brought a clown to entertain the kids and play games. I saw my sister how she was having fun. Every one brought many gift for her. Most of them were clothes. Every one was taking her pictures. I always remember this event because it was a really great party for my sister. This event was really special for me, because I enjoy seeing my sister happy. She is more than just my sister and I want her be happy. I have a great time with my whole family but mostly with my sister.

"The People I Admire"

            One of the most important people in my life is my mom. She means every thing to me. She taught me to respect others. She always tells us that she was so poor when she was a kid. She went to school without using shoes. She had a hard life. She gave my sibling and me a better life than what she had. She taught me to appreciate everything I have. She always has been working in the field since she was 13 years old. She is not a short but with a strong character. I always look up to her. She always gives me advices on what to do when I have problems.

            Another person I look up to is my father. He is 50 years old. He made many mistakes but I learn that I should not judge him. It took me sometime to know him but it was worth. He listens to every people’s problem. He is honest with everyone but he says that he might not the right person to give an advice. Now he looks tired but not old. He is not the type of person who likes to argue. He says that a person always should talk with respect without insulting someone. He is not the perfect person but I love to be his son.

            My older sister is one of the people I admire. She took care of me when I was kid. She was more than just my sister. I did not saw her for almost six years because she moved to US.  She is like my mom with the same strong character but also she is a funny person. When I was in high school, she always encouraged me to keep in school and also helped me get my home in Mexico. She always gives me advices on what I can do. I consider her my second mom and the best sister.

The Review of The Message

When I was in sophomore year, I had the assignment to read a book. I found the book The Message in the Bottle. I thought this book was about some kind of fiction book just by what I saw on the cover. This book is a romance storyteller. It is from Nicolas Sparks, the author of the book A Walk to Remember. It is not a big book but it is really enjoyable if you get into it. I think this book should be read by those who likes book about romance, who believes in the true love, and the destiny. It is about two people taking a second chance.

          The book stars by telling the life of a divorce and a newspaper journalist woman in Boston. Her name is Theresa Osborne. She found a bottle with a message inside at the beach. She got really interest after she found more letters. She wanted to know who wrote these letters. The person who wrote these letters was a man who lost his wife in the sea and he throws the letters to the sea in a way of leaving behind what he felt for his wife. Theresa went to a beach town to find this person. She did not expect to fall in love for this strange person. She saw on him the person she was looking for. She wanted to be loved the way he loved his wife. On the other hand, they both were afraid to fall in love again. At the end, they could not stop their feeling but it did not turn the way everyone expects.

          I think in this book you find out how two different people come together and fall in love. Not many people can say they found their real love. This book shows that there is always a second chance to be with the right person. The relationships have ups and downs but at the end you know he or she is the perfect person.

Change of Mind: Fast Food

            The fist time I saw this book, I though it was going to be a boring book talking about McDonalds. At the beginning, it was not that interesting but as I started to read more chapters, it caught my attention. It started to change my perception towards junk food. I started to notice how the fast food industry is changing our society. All the marketing they did to get the people buying their food. How they looked for strategies to gain their costumers. Also how they got the teenager and the middle class people as their work forced and the children as their best consumers. On the other hand, there were the most important chapters of the book that change my minds towards fast food. These chapters describe how the beef are pressed. Reading what the cattle eat and also in what conditions they are killed. How many bacteria, the beef can bring is making me think twice before eating food at any fast food restaurant. Many diseases can be caused by eating all this unhealthy food. Personally, I would never eat fast food without thinking what I have read in this book. I do not want to put my health on risk by eating all this food. 

This Semester

In my last blog, I put just one truth and it is that I play baseball. It is one of the few things I use to do on my free time; however, I do not watch baseball games.

This Semester

            This semester has been fine so far. At first, I thought this semester was going to be like last semester but it had been harder than what I expected. I came back after dropping from college last semester. I had to get use to doing homework and reading. My daily routine involved going from home to work. Now I do not have enough time to do many things. I barely have time to study. In this semester, I am taking two classes. They are good classes but it was hard at the beginning, because I lost the routine of studying. This semester is different because now I am taking only evening classes. Honestly it took me more time to get use to my evening classes. I had the bad habit of doing homework at the last minute. I also putted more effort of getting the same grades I got my last semesters. In the campus, I saw many good changes for example the library. It looks really great but most importantly all the services and tools they offer. It is a big place with lots of more computers than the old one. I have being there two times and I think it is a really good place for studying. Also I notice that they put more lights in the parking area. One thing, I did not like this semester is the recent increase on classes’ fees. Overall Oxnard College has most of the classes I need for my major. In recent days, I have started to look for information with the counselors about the courses I have to take next semester. It is hard for me to work and then come to college but it is the only way to succeed. I want to have a better future for my family and for me. I always try to take advantage of the spare time to study. When doing my homework I take my time to complete in order for it to be perfect.

just one truth

1. I have a  two year old daughter
2. I do not know how to drive
3. I like cats
4. I like to play baseball
5. I went to Europe

funny video

this week i just put did video i Hope you enjoy it

judge People

    When I was in High School, I would tend to judge people for their aspects. It is something that people do most of the time when their young and even as adults. It was a bad habit that I had when I was a teenager. I used to over analyzed people. If I did not like that person, I would ignore them completely like if they did not exist. I do not remember where I got this bad tendency of overlooking people or if it came up naturally. It was an issue that was affecting the people around me.
    For example when I met my brother’s friend in high school. Since I saw him, I rejected him by the way he looked. I always oversaw him when I talked to him. There were times that I pretended to be listening when he was talking. At lunch I tried to avoid the places where my brother and he would hang out at. I would excuse myself every time my brother invited me to a place where I knew his friend would be at too. His attitude was the main reason why I could not stand being around him. My brother noticed my attitude towards him as a result he got mad and stopped inviting me to the places just because of the way I was treating his friend. One day, he said to me that it was incorrect to judge people for the way they looked or dressed.
       Now that I am in college, I try not to overlook people. As I grow up, I used to judge people for how they looked, talk, and even walk. Now I have learned that I should not criticize people and accept them no matter how they look. If I give myself a chance to know them, I might avoid having problems with them.

My Family

My Family

            My family is like the typical Latin families who always live together in a home. The kids leave home when they become adults or even until they get marry. They are an essential part of my life. I am thankful to them because of them I exist. I consider them more than just people related to me. We always have people that support us on what we go through but it is not like theirs. They have taught me what respect and love are.

            One day, my mom told me that I might have many friends in life but just only one family. Friends come and go but my family will always be there for me in good and bad times. My parents are always supporting me on what we do, and they give me advices on what I am doing wrong or right. Sometimes, I felt that they get too much into my things, but at the end, I just realized that they do it because they care about me.

            My mom is the most important person in my family. I saw how much she cares for us. She raised my brothers and me just by herself. I remember she told us that what ever problem or differences should not drive us apart because we were brothers. She always wants to have our family together. She taught me to share my things with my brothers as they did with me.

            Sometimes, I want to move out but I just felt that without them, a family, I am nothing. They are the reason the way I am. When I got into college, my parents always supported me continue my education. They always tell me how proud I make them. They are the persons that I look up to and also my motivation to keep pursuing my goal of a better life. In one way or other, they have showed me how much they care about me and what I do. I know that my relationship with each member of my family is different and sometime not good enough. But at the end they are the ones who will always be there supporting me on what I am up to. I consider my self lucky to have all my family together. I think that if I had the chance to choose a family, I would choose them again. My family is what makes me who I am today.

Class Interview

            Today, I met a college student. Her name is Marta Alicia Alatorre. She was born in Ventura California. She comes from a family of three brothers and two sisters. At the age of one, her mom moved to Mexico with her siblings. They lived there while her dad worked in California. Four years later, they decided to move back with her father. Since then, she has not gone back to Mexico.

            Now she is a happy mom who’s motivation is her five kids. They are the reason and motivation to be in college. She considers herself a role model for her children. One of persons, she always look up to is her sister, who has a college degree. Also she works as a medical office clerk at Clinicas Del Camino Real. Her day stars at 8 am to 5 pm from Monday to Saturday. The rest of her evenings, she spends with her kids helping them with their homework.
http://ruggerdelite.blogspot.com/

Essay #1

The Reunion with My Father

There have been many events in my life that have occurred but there is one that I went through that I believed that made who I am today. It was when I met up with my father after four years of not seeing him. Since he left, my life changed, I became a person less motivated, less responsible, and less studious on school. My life was going to be like many other kids who work at a young age to help their families.

            When I turned 15, my mom told me that I was going to move to USA. She said the reason why I was moving was to be with my father. This was something I did not expect. I felt my soul leaving my body, for leaving the place where I grew up in. My mom and two brothers were going to move in two months than after me.

            It was in a hot Saturday morning, when my uncle and I left my home. As I got in the car, I held myself of crying. Wishing my mom would say that I was not moving and to get back with them.  She just hugged me and said that it was the best for us and that we would all reunite in two months.  No matter what she told me. I could not change my mind that I was moving to see a person who I refused to talk to in the last four years.

As we got to the border, I saw the difference of this country from mine. There were two hours left to get to where my father lived.  There were houses everywhere and huge building reflecting the sun’s rays. I sense that there was not freedom like the place where I was coming from.  I froze at the sight of all the wonderful things on the way to father’s house, but there was no way to keep the thought out of my mind that I would see my father after all this time. 

What would I say to him? What would I do when I saw him? Those were the worries pounding in my head. All kinds of crazy things went through my mind. What if he is with someone else?  If he would not want to be with us.  What if he was not the person I expected and turned to be the worst coming.  All this negative thoughts where in my mind, because all the memories I had of him were not so positives.  I was not sure of forgiving him.

It was about 8:00 pm and it was getting dark and cold. My anxiety was growing. Suddenly we got off the freeway. At the moment, something told me that the moment had arrived. I asked my uncle, if we almost got there deducing what the answer was. He parked the car in front of apartment buildings. As I got off the car, I looked up to the sky taking a big breath for what was to come. Across the road, I saw a young lady in front of a big white apartment waiting for us to cross.  When I got closer to her, I recognized her. She was my older sister welcoming and giving me a brief hug. I was struck by how much she had changed, since the last time I saw her.  Then my uncle left saying that he had to drive two more hours to where he lived. She said to come in and went ahead. I walked slowly behind her looking around. The building was so quiet with the lights of each apartments’ door on. It was not what I thought it would be. A big beautiful house like what I saw on my way over here. She went upstairs heading to apartment number twelve.  There was a small object hanging on the brown door with a word saying “welcome” by that time I did not know what it meant.

As she opened the door, I noticed my other two older sisters. I was so timid, when they greeted me. There he was, coming out of one of the rooms. He had that look of tiredness, but he did not show any feeling of happiness. I knew he was like that there was no way he would have changed. I froze up not knowing what to do. My nervous and emotions could not leave my body. I just went to him and spread my arms to hug him with a blissful smile. Inside of me that was what I have been waiting for to hug him. He was thinner than the last time I saw him. He even used glasses what made him look stranger. Still in my mind was the thought of being in front of the person who I did not talk to for four years and who was my father. Then one of my sisters told us to sit down. There were three couches. Each of them were old and from different colors. The living room was too small. There was not enough room. I sat in the smaller couch right in front of the TV looking around. I barely spoke from the strange feeling in this place. They sat on the sofa that was beside of me. Suddenly all was quiet, but eventually they would start asking me questions. I guessed they were giving me time to assimilate all this. All my feelings of anger vanished at the moment. My mind got blocked up.

One of my sisters begun to ask me how our home, my mom, and her friends were. My father was sitting there quiet like waiting for the right moment to ask me questions. This situation put me more nervous. Then he got up and came towards me. He sat downs beside of me and put his hand on my shoulder. He said to me, “I am glad you came, I really missed you.” But then, he came up with a question that I did not expect, “How are you doing in school?” I took a breath about saying the truth or not, but at the end, I knew there was no reason for me to lie or for him to judge me. I told him that I had dropped out of school a year ago. I looked at him waiting for his reaction, but he just gave that look of guiltiness. Then he said that he would help me get back to the school. I blinked in total disbelief of what he had just said. It was the first time in my life that my father supported me. Also he mentioned that I would not have the same life he had for not having an education. Somehow inexplicably all of my resentments towards him were gone. I was hardly holding myself of crying. After two hours of talking, my dad said that it was time to sleep. It was about 10:00 pm, when they went to their rooms. I lay down in one of the couches, thinking that, that night had been the start of a better relationship with my dad.

Since that night, my life turned up in a good way. He persuaded me to get back into school. I graduated from high school, and now I am a college student and all because of him. My relationship with him is not the one I would like to have, but it is the better than nothing. Now I know and understand the reasons why he left us. As an adult, I understand that I should not judge someone for what they did or do, because I do not know the reasons that led him to do it.

Texting

            In today’s society, there are a lot of new inventions that have made people’s life easier. They all bring benefits to us but there are some that also have brought negative benefits. Some of them are now big issues that even countries are making new laws to prevent use them illegally. A perfect example is texting. I think texting is used more as a distraction than as a tool.

            Texting has brought one of the best options to communicate with people who are far away but also have brought problems to them. One of the problems is texting while driving. I think it is something that everyone has done at some point. Texting behind wheels increases the chances of a car accident. I always try not to answer my cell phone because I know that I may have a car crash and put my life and of other’s on risk. Another thing, I have seen with texting is that is used by students as a way to cheat on tests. I have seen how some of my classmates use their cell phones to send the answers of exams through texting. I think text messages are an amazing tool for us but we are who decides how to use it.

Reality Shows: Mis Novelas

         My family and some other families in my hometown did not have a TV. I think by that time my family could not afford to buy a television or they just did not think it was important. One day, I heard my father say that we did not need a TV to live. When we moved to Ensenada Mexico, it was the time I first saw a reality show or a novela. In English, a novela is a serial drama. As an adult, I am not the type of person who watches TV all day. Now and then, I watch reality shows or novelas. My job and my classes take most of my time; therefore, I do not watch TV that often. In the evening, my family gathers up in the living room and that is when I see las novelas. Most of time, I watch football soccer. I would rather watch a movie with a good purpose than a reality show; however, I see them more than anything. Although I do not like to watch novelas, there are some that catch my eye. There are a few shows that are about humor. Novelas could be good for some people, but at the end, it would not give anything good to learn from.

            In first place, las novelas are only fictional stories but also based on real life. Every time I see a novela for the first time, I do not get the purpose of it. I see my sister and how they leave whatever they are doing, once las novelas begin. They sit in front of the TV for one to three hours daily watching novelas. That is what I dislike the most about them. People can do other activities instead of watching them. As an example, my sisters often do not complete their homework because they do not want to miss an episode of the reality show. A novela will not show you how to live your life.  

            Also it could have a big influence on the audience. There are some parents who admit their kids to watch novelas that are not appropriate for them. I think the kids are more vulnerable to be influence by the television. The children can not separate the reality from the fantasy. Las novelas show things that are not appropriate for kids at a young age. As an example they are shows where they show people half naked. The kids tend to do what they see on TV. They are not watching educational programs. Sometimes the children just assume that life is what they show in these reality shows.

            At the end, las novelas are TV shows that will never change or get removed. I think every one decides what they want to watch. Personally I do not think they are helping the society. Most of the time, they show to the audience things that are not appropriate. Big companies only want to entertain more audience than other companies. I believe parents should be more responsible for what they allow their children to watch. They are the ones are responsible of what their kids learn and watch.

Junk Food

            When I was a kid, fast food was not a big influence in my life. Where I am from there was not a lot of fast food places. As I grew up, fast food was becoming part of my life. By then, my family would go to eat in a fast food place, if it was only a special event or we were out of home. In my hometown, people used to eat more at home than go out. They will not spend their money on junk food, when they can eat healthy home. One thing my mom always says is that home cook is better than junk food. I think all that junk food got into my life when I started school. When I got into first grade, I only thought about lunch at school. I really liked chips and candies but what I loved was the chocolate bars.

            Then my whole family moved to USA. It was the city where I saw a lot of fast food places where I could go to eat all the food that I never had the chance to try before. My father took us to McDonald, Subway and Taco Bell. I was not use to eat burger or pizza before. I began to eat pizza most of the time in high school and sometimes I drank two or three sodas a day. On Fridays my family used to go to eat burritos. Then on Saturdays we ordered Domino’s pizza. Also on Sunday’s morning I drank one or two cups of coffee. As I started to work I have less time for eating healthy. On my way to work, I go to get a coffee and donas at Ihop. Sometimes I would just decide to drink energy drinks. When I got into College, I started to go to McDonald more often. I just did not have enough time to get lunch at home and then go to college.  I did not think that eating unhealthy would cause so much physic problems. A Big Mac extra value was my lunch.

            At the end eat this unhealthy habits can bring many physical problems. Last year, I went to see a doctor. because I did not feel so well. I could not even run a mile because I just really tired. Then I got the news that my mom was diagnosed with cholesterol. It was shocking to know what was the caused. Now she is taking a lot of medication pills. For myself, I started a diet in order to loose weight. Some of the food, I cut down are burritos, burgers, and soda. Now I tend eat healthier food. I feel more comfortable with my new eating habit. I can do things that I could not do because of my weight. It is hard to change my eating habit but it is not impossible. I think the fast food will not end because in today’s society, people tend to have less time to eat healthy food.

My Past, Present, and Future

            My past was not as excited as others but I liked how it turn out to be. I come from a small rural town from south Mexico called Tlaxiaco. It was a really good place to live but my family decided to move to Baja California, in north Mexico. By then, I was six years old. In Ensenada, I went to school from first to eight grade. My life was as normal as any kid. I have two brothers and six sisters, a big family. With each one of then I have a different relationship. With my parents, I have a better relationship with my mom than my father. My father was living in US and he only came to visit us two or three times a month. On other hand, my mom was always there, when I needed. At the age of thirteen, I started to work in the harvest of spices, tomatoes, and vegetables. It was a very hard job, but it was the only way I could buy things that my mom could not afford. My mom told us that it was time to see my father. It was the mean reason why we came to US. Although now I have a better relationship with him, it is not the way I would liked to have. After we arrived, I got into Pacifica High School. At the beginning, it was very difficult because of the language. I have to work harder than the regular student just to pass a class. I graduated from Pacifica High School in 2010.

            I am 20 years old and will turn 21 in three months. There are not a lot of things I like to do. On the Saturday my family use to go to eat burritos. Then on Sunday mornings I like to go run in the park and sometimes at the beach. My present is based on my education and job. I am working in a plant nursery. My job is to cut back and water the celery. Sometimes I deliver the plants to the fields. I am also attending to Oxnard College. My major is accounting, since math is the subject I liked. In this semester I am only taking two classes because I do not have enough time. The main reason why I am not taking more classes is because I am buying a home in Mexico.

            I do not know how my future will be. There are two things I want. They are to have my own home and to get my college degree. Both of them are important to me and I am sure I will achieve it. I want to get a bachelor degree on accounting. My goal is to transfer to Northridge. For myself, I do not think to get merry soon but who knows. If it happens, I want to have one or two kid. On the other hand, I want to get back to the place where I was born and see my grandparents who I have not seen in 14 years.