I will be posting writing terms every other week from the book "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Creative Writing" (2nd edition) by Laurie E. Rozakis.
1. realistic fiction- contains imaginary situations and characters that are very similar to people in real life.
2. refrain- a line or a group of lines that are repeated at the end of a poem or song. Refrains serve to reinforce the main point and create musical effects.
3. repetition- using the same sound, word, phrase, line, or grammatical structure over and over for emphasis.
4. resolution- the resolution of a plot occurs near the end of a story, when all the remaining strands of the story are woven together.
5. rhyme- the repeated use of identical or nearly identical sounds. Poets use rhyme to create a musical sound, meaning, and structure.
- end rhyme occurs when words at the ends of lines of poetry have the same sound. Lines that end with the words bat, cat, sat, or rat would have end thyme.
-internal rhyme occurs when words within a sentence share the same sound. For example: "Each narrow cell in which we dwell." Cell and dwell have internal rhyme because they share the same sound and one of the words is set in the middle of the line.
6. rhyme scheme- a regular pattern of words in a poem that end with the same sound.
7. rhythm- the pattern of stressed and unstressed words that create a beat, as in music.
8. rituals- little habits that provide structure to writers.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Youths, Leaders of the Future
My college entrance essay I wrote back as a senior in high school minus some personal info. (university name and teacher names). Thought this might be interesting and even helpful for those wanting to know why I want to be a teacher and get an idea of what I wrote to get accepted to my university of choice. Reading it now, there are some changes I would make if I had to re-write this, but I'll leave as much of the original as necessary.
"Teach the children so that it will not be necessary to teach the adults," said Abraham Lincoln. This is absolutely true! I realize the importance of having an appropriate education from a young age. If children are taught beneficial knowledge properly, then life for them as well as the people they interact with will be much better. For example, if they are taught from a young age the terrible affects of drug usage, gang and pre-marital relationship involvement, etc. then a lot of trouble and suffering could be avoided. What will become of humankind in the future with ignorance spreading rapidly?
On the positive side, being in a position to teach allows the teacher to present the correct understanding of life, proper manners and behavior, self-development, etc. There is so much to teach the future generations! Not only can teachers educate as best as they can, but they can also be role models. Memories from my own school years, including teachers who have taught me so much, such as my fourth grade teachers, remind me of the "good old days" but most importantly, of the troubles my generation faces. With these thoughts in mind, as well as the love of children and teaching them to value their education, I feel led me to consider a career in education.
A teaching career appealed to me since I was in fourth grade. I read stories to my younger brother and played school with him. I have also tutored second graders in English when I was in seventh grade. In addition, I assisted teachers at a private school in Prospect Park over my winter and spring break. Through this I was able to interact with children from different grades, ages, and backgrounds which I enjoyed!
"Teach the children so that it will not be necessary to teach the adults," said Abraham Lincoln. This is absolutely true! I realize the importance of having an appropriate education from a young age. If children are taught beneficial knowledge properly, then life for them as well as the people they interact with will be much better. For example, if they are taught from a young age the terrible affects of drug usage, gang and pre-marital relationship involvement, etc. then a lot of trouble and suffering could be avoided. What will become of humankind in the future with ignorance spreading rapidly?
On the positive side, being in a position to teach allows the teacher to present the correct understanding of life, proper manners and behavior, self-development, etc. There is so much to teach the future generations! Not only can teachers educate as best as they can, but they can also be role models. Memories from my own school years, including teachers who have taught me so much, such as my fourth grade teachers, remind me of the "good old days" but most importantly, of the troubles my generation faces. With these thoughts in mind, as well as the love of children and teaching them to value their education, I feel led me to consider a career in education.
A teaching career appealed to me since I was in fourth grade. I read stories to my younger brother and played school with him. I have also tutored second graders in English when I was in seventh grade. In addition, I assisted teachers at a private school in Prospect Park over my winter and spring break. Through this I was able to interact with children from different grades, ages, and backgrounds which I enjoyed!
Sunday, August 26, 2012
O and P Words
I will be posting writing terms every other week from the book "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Creative Writing" (2nd edition) by Laurie E. Rozakis.
1. onomatopoeia- the use of words that imitate the sounds they describe- for ex., words like "snap" and "crackle."
2. passive voice- in passive voice, the subject receives the action.
3. personification- giving human traits to nonhuman things. For ex: "The book begged to be read."
4. persuasion- a type of writing that tries to move an audience to thought or action.
5. plot- the arrangement of events in a work of literature. Plots have a beginning, middle and end. The writer arranges the events of the plot to keep the reader's interest and convey the theme. In many stories and novels, the events of the plot can be divided as follows:
- exposition: introduces the characters, setting, and conflict
- rising action: builds the conflict and develops the characters
- climax: shows the highest point of action
- resolution: resolves the story and ties up all the loose ends
6. poetry- a type of literature in which words are selected for their beauty, sound, and power to express feelings. Traditionally, poems had a specific rhythm and rhyme, but such modern poetry as free verse does not have regular beat, rhyme, or line length. Most poems are written in lines, which are arranged together in groups called stanzas.
7. point of view- the position from which the story is told. The three different points of view writers use most often:
- first-person point of view: the narrator is one of the characters in the story. The narrator explains the events through his/her own eyes, using the pronouns I and me.
- third-person omniscient point of view: the narrator is not a character in the story. Instead, the narrator looks through the eyes of all the characters. As a result, the narrator is "all-knowing" (omniscient). The narrator uses the pronouns he, she, and they.
- third-person limited point of view: the narrator tells the story through the eyes of only one character, using the pronouns he, she, and they.
8. prose- all written work that is not poetry, drama, or song. Examples of prose includes articles, autobiographies, novels, essays, and editorials.
9. protagonist- the most important character in a work of literature. The protagonist is at the center of the conflict and the focus of our attention.
1. onomatopoeia- the use of words that imitate the sounds they describe- for ex., words like "snap" and "crackle."
2. passive voice- in passive voice, the subject receives the action.
3. personification- giving human traits to nonhuman things. For ex: "The book begged to be read."
4. persuasion- a type of writing that tries to move an audience to thought or action.
5. plot- the arrangement of events in a work of literature. Plots have a beginning, middle and end. The writer arranges the events of the plot to keep the reader's interest and convey the theme. In many stories and novels, the events of the plot can be divided as follows:
- exposition: introduces the characters, setting, and conflict
- rising action: builds the conflict and develops the characters
- climax: shows the highest point of action
- resolution: resolves the story and ties up all the loose ends
6. poetry- a type of literature in which words are selected for their beauty, sound, and power to express feelings. Traditionally, poems had a specific rhythm and rhyme, but such modern poetry as free verse does not have regular beat, rhyme, or line length. Most poems are written in lines, which are arranged together in groups called stanzas.
7. point of view- the position from which the story is told. The three different points of view writers use most often:
- first-person point of view: the narrator is one of the characters in the story. The narrator explains the events through his/her own eyes, using the pronouns I and me.
- third-person omniscient point of view: the narrator is not a character in the story. Instead, the narrator looks through the eyes of all the characters. As a result, the narrator is "all-knowing" (omniscient). The narrator uses the pronouns he, she, and they.
- third-person limited point of view: the narrator tells the story through the eyes of only one character, using the pronouns he, she, and they.
8. prose- all written work that is not poetry, drama, or song. Examples of prose includes articles, autobiographies, novels, essays, and editorials.
9. protagonist- the most important character in a work of literature. The protagonist is at the center of the conflict and the focus of our attention.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Eid, Muslim Days of Celebration!
Just in time for Eid today, below is an article I wrote for my high school newspaper last year. Happy Eid to all the Muslims :)
Have you heard any of your classmates say they were fasting? Most likely they are Muslim, a follower of the religion Islam. Did you have any questions in mind, like what is the importance of fasting in a Muslim’s life, who is required to fast, or what is Eid?
For starters, Ramadan is the 9th month of the lunar calendar, beginning with the sighting of the new moon. During this month, Muslims all over the world, no matter what nationality they are, where they live, their gender, etc. stay away from food, drink, and for married couples, any sexual relations, from sunrise to sunset for about 29-30 days, depending on the sighting of the next moon. (Before sunrise and after sunset each day, Muslims can go back to these). After the declaration of faith (Shahadah) and performing the five daily prayers on time (Salaat), fasting is the third of five pillars of Islam. The last two pillars are paying Zakat and going for Hajj. These five specific rites are the foundations of a Muslim’s life.
For obligatory fasts, a person must be a Muslim who has reached puberty, is of sane body and mind, and is not traveling. On the other hand, there are exceptions to people who do not have to fast in Ramadan, but have to makeup for missed fasts before the next Ramadan. Reasons where fasting is optional includes; if a person is traveling (who doesn’t have the intention to not fast), is sick (if harmful to their health), or women who are pregnant or nursing (if they or their child will be in danger).
Lessons to be learnt in Ramadan are numerous. One lesson is to become God (Allah) conscious, or being mindful that God is always aware of what we do. As Allah says in the holy book of Islam (Quran), "O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed upon those before you in order that you may attain God consciousness (taqwa)" (Quran, 2:183).
Another important lesson is learning self control and discipline. This is obvious if one is
abstaining from a natural human desire like eating. Ramadan is also a good time to give up bad
habits and replace them with good ones and implement good manners. An authentic narration of
Prophet Muhammad's (hadith) says, “Whoever does not give up telling lies (false statements) and acting on those lies, and any evil actions, Allah is not in need of him leaving his food and drink” (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting) (Sahih Bukhari).
Learning to become patient and charitable should also be goals to achieve in Ramadan and continue throughout the rest of the year. As humans, we should know to not take things for granted and be thankful to God for everything we have. Recognizing God’s blessings is something a Muslim realizes after a day of fasting! Getting the feeling of what the less fortunate have to go through without daily necessities such as food and drink is something we should all show appreciation for towards God, and what better way to show gratitude then obeying God in what he told us to do (such as fasting) and abstaining from what he has forbidden (such as associating partners with him).
The sighting of the new moon ends Ramadan. The next day known as Eid-ul-Fitr, or the festival of breaking fast, is a day when Muslims in the community come together at the masjid (Muslim house of worship) for prayers. Muslims wear new clothes, give each other gifts, and share meals with family, friends, and the needy. A compulsory charity (Zakat) from personal possessions such a gold or silver, money, livestock, agricultural produce, or business commodities must be given by Muslims prior to the end of Ramadan for the benefit of the less fortunate so they can also join in the Eid celebration.
When asked what she looks forward to on Eid, senior J.C replied, "the cultural food". Some other responses to what they look forward to included; dressing up, getting presents, family coming together, and going out with friends.
The second Muslim celebration, called Eid-ul-Adha (festival of sacrifice), ends the
pilgrimage to Makkah, Saudi Arabia (Hajj) that Muslims must make at least once in their lifetime if they are physically and financially able. During the trip, Muslims travel to many locations and perform certain rites, such as going around the Kabah and between two mountains as Hajar (Ibrahim’s wife) did during her search for water for her son Isma'il, among many other rites. The pilgrimage ends with Eid ul-Adha, which is celebrated with prayers, the sacrifice of an animal, and the exchange of greetings and gifts in Muslim communities everywhere.
New Jersey is home to about a half million Muslims, and 100 masjids, according to the Council on American Islamic Relations. Thus, New Jersey districts should accommodate for Muslim students having a day off for both Eids, just as Paterson, Atlantic City, Trenton, Piscataway, Prospect Park, and others have done.
Check out http://www.fastramadan.com/index.php, http://www.2eids.com/, and http://www.performhajj.com/ for information on Ramadan, Eid, and Hajj, and also my blog at http://learnislam2day.blogspot.com/ for information about Islam and Muslims.
Have you heard any of your classmates say they were fasting? Most likely they are Muslim, a follower of the religion Islam. Did you have any questions in mind, like what is the importance of fasting in a Muslim’s life, who is required to fast, or what is Eid?
For starters, Ramadan is the 9th month of the lunar calendar, beginning with the sighting of the new moon. During this month, Muslims all over the world, no matter what nationality they are, where they live, their gender, etc. stay away from food, drink, and for married couples, any sexual relations, from sunrise to sunset for about 29-30 days, depending on the sighting of the next moon. (Before sunrise and after sunset each day, Muslims can go back to these). After the declaration of faith (Shahadah) and performing the five daily prayers on time (Salaat), fasting is the third of five pillars of Islam. The last two pillars are paying Zakat and going for Hajj. These five specific rites are the foundations of a Muslim’s life.
For obligatory fasts, a person must be a Muslim who has reached puberty, is of sane body and mind, and is not traveling. On the other hand, there are exceptions to people who do not have to fast in Ramadan, but have to makeup for missed fasts before the next Ramadan. Reasons where fasting is optional includes; if a person is traveling (who doesn’t have the intention to not fast), is sick (if harmful to their health), or women who are pregnant or nursing (if they or their child will be in danger).
Lessons to be learnt in Ramadan are numerous. One lesson is to become God (Allah) conscious, or being mindful that God is always aware of what we do. As Allah says in the holy book of Islam (Quran), "O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed upon those before you in order that you may attain God consciousness (taqwa)" (Quran, 2:183).
Another important lesson is learning self control and discipline. This is obvious if one is
abstaining from a natural human desire like eating. Ramadan is also a good time to give up bad
habits and replace them with good ones and implement good manners. An authentic narration of
Prophet Muhammad's (hadith) says, “Whoever does not give up telling lies (false statements) and acting on those lies, and any evil actions, Allah is not in need of him leaving his food and drink” (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting) (Sahih Bukhari).
Learning to become patient and charitable should also be goals to achieve in Ramadan and continue throughout the rest of the year. As humans, we should know to not take things for granted and be thankful to God for everything we have. Recognizing God’s blessings is something a Muslim realizes after a day of fasting! Getting the feeling of what the less fortunate have to go through without daily necessities such as food and drink is something we should all show appreciation for towards God, and what better way to show gratitude then obeying God in what he told us to do (such as fasting) and abstaining from what he has forbidden (such as associating partners with him).
The sighting of the new moon ends Ramadan. The next day known as Eid-ul-Fitr, or the festival of breaking fast, is a day when Muslims in the community come together at the masjid (Muslim house of worship) for prayers. Muslims wear new clothes, give each other gifts, and share meals with family, friends, and the needy. A compulsory charity (Zakat) from personal possessions such a gold or silver, money, livestock, agricultural produce, or business commodities must be given by Muslims prior to the end of Ramadan for the benefit of the less fortunate so they can also join in the Eid celebration.
When asked what she looks forward to on Eid, senior J.C replied, "the cultural food". Some other responses to what they look forward to included; dressing up, getting presents, family coming together, and going out with friends.
The second Muslim celebration, called Eid-ul-Adha (festival of sacrifice), ends the
pilgrimage to Makkah, Saudi Arabia (Hajj) that Muslims must make at least once in their lifetime if they are physically and financially able. During the trip, Muslims travel to many locations and perform certain rites, such as going around the Kabah and between two mountains as Hajar (Ibrahim’s wife) did during her search for water for her son Isma'il, among many other rites. The pilgrimage ends with Eid ul-Adha, which is celebrated with prayers, the sacrifice of an animal, and the exchange of greetings and gifts in Muslim communities everywhere.
New Jersey is home to about a half million Muslims, and 100 masjids, according to the Council on American Islamic Relations. Thus, New Jersey districts should accommodate for Muslim students having a day off for both Eids, just as Paterson, Atlantic City, Trenton, Piscataway, Prospect Park, and others have done.
Check out http://www.fastramadan.com/index.php, http://www.2eids.com/, and http://www.performhajj.com/ for information on Ramadan, Eid, and Hajj, and also my blog at http://learnislam2day.blogspot.com/ for information about Islam and Muslims.
Monday, August 13, 2012
M and N Words
I will be posting writing terms every other week from the book "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Creative Writing" (2nd edition) by Laurie E. Rozakis.
1. main character- the most important figure in a novel, short story, poem, or play.
2. memoir- a forts-person writing about an event.
3. metaphor- a figure of speech that compares 2 unlike things. The more familiar thing helps describe the less familiar one. Metaphors do not use the words "like" or "as" to make the comparison. "My heart is a singing bird" is a metaphor.
4. meter- a poem's rhythmical pattern, created by a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables. The most common meter in English poetry is called iambic pentameter. it is a pattern of 5 feet, each having 1 unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one.
5. minor character- a less important figure in a literary work, who serves as a contrast to the main character or to advance the plot.
6. mood- the strong feeling we get from a literary work. the mood (or atmosphere) is created by characterization, description, mages, and dialogue. Some possible moods include terror, horror, tension, calmness, and suspense.
7. myth- a story from ancient days that explains certain aspects of life and nature.
8. narration- writing that tells a story. narrations that tell about real events include biographies and autobiographies. Narrations that deal with fictional events include short stories, myths, narrative poems, and novels.
9. narrative poems- poems that tell a story, either through a narrative storyline told objectively or through a dramatized situation.
10. narrator- the person who tells a story. The narrator may also be a character in the work.
11. nonfiction- a type of writing that deals with real people and events. Essays, biographies, autobiographies, and articles are all examples of nonfiction.
12. novel- a long work of fiction. The elements of a novel- plot, characterization, setting, and theme- are developed in detail. Novels usually have one main plot and several less important subplots.
1. main character- the most important figure in a novel, short story, poem, or play.
2. memoir- a forts-person writing about an event.
3. metaphor- a figure of speech that compares 2 unlike things. The more familiar thing helps describe the less familiar one. Metaphors do not use the words "like" or "as" to make the comparison. "My heart is a singing bird" is a metaphor.
4. meter- a poem's rhythmical pattern, created by a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables. The most common meter in English poetry is called iambic pentameter. it is a pattern of 5 feet, each having 1 unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one.
5. minor character- a less important figure in a literary work, who serves as a contrast to the main character or to advance the plot.
6. mood- the strong feeling we get from a literary work. the mood (or atmosphere) is created by characterization, description, mages, and dialogue. Some possible moods include terror, horror, tension, calmness, and suspense.
7. myth- a story from ancient days that explains certain aspects of life and nature.
8. narration- writing that tells a story. narrations that tell about real events include biographies and autobiographies. Narrations that deal with fictional events include short stories, myths, narrative poems, and novels.
9. narrative poems- poems that tell a story, either through a narrative storyline told objectively or through a dramatized situation.
10. narrator- the person who tells a story. The narrator may also be a character in the work.
11. nonfiction- a type of writing that deals with real people and events. Essays, biographies, autobiographies, and articles are all examples of nonfiction.
12. novel- a long work of fiction. The elements of a novel- plot, characterization, setting, and theme- are developed in detail. Novels usually have one main plot and several less important subplots.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
*Surprise!* Please Don’t Pity Me
A poem I wrote just yesterday so I thought I would share it since its new ;)
I intended to write about those I pitied, but ended up writing for those who pity me. This is similar to my poem “Media’s Message of Islam,” but more personal. I notice people acting in ways that I took as pitying me, which I don’t want. I do have a say in how I choose to live my life and making my own decisions. This is for those individuals who make such assumptions of Muslims, particularly female Muslims, and Islam in general.
I know you pity me,
I can see it in your face,
The reason is clear to see,
What a disgrace!
You make judgments on how I live,
With your limited knowledge of me,
I am a proud female Muslim,
But most importantly, I am free. (1)
To your surprise, I know English, (I do understand your rude comments)
I was born and raised in this country too,
And just because I am a girl,
Doesn’t mean I can’t choose what I want to do.
I have goals like many others,
Things in life I want to achieve,
Get my degree, write, and teach,
Are just some on my list of “I Believe.” (2)
And for your information…
Being Muslim doesn’t mean I am Arab,
Islam isn’t strict like you think, (3)
Nor does it preach hate and violence,
Admit it, my life doesn’t actually stink!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) I am thankful for being a Muslim and being able to follow Islam freely. As a female Muslim, I am not oppressed nor do I feel inferior to anyone. Islam is not responsible for the people who claim to be followers, but don't practice Islam correctly and follow their desires, culture, traditions, etc. that actually go against Islam. Wearing a headscarf (hijab in Arabic) doesn't limit me from doing the things I want for an enjoyable life since I do have rights (and responsibilities) that Allah (God in Arabic) gave to female Muslims since the beginning of Islam. Because of wearing a headscarf, decent people also respect me for who I am and not what I look like, nor do I have to worry about getting unwanted attention.
(2) “I Believe I Can” or “My Top 10 List of Future Achievements” includes finishing college, working as a teacher, and traveling, amongst many other life goals. And yes, unlike what many may think and what some “Muslims” say and do, females can drive, get an education and go to college, and also work and finance their own money!
(3) Listen to “We are a Moderate Nation” by Kamal el Mekki.
I intended to write about those I pitied, but ended up writing for those who pity me. This is similar to my poem “Media’s Message of Islam,” but more personal. I notice people acting in ways that I took as pitying me, which I don’t want. I do have a say in how I choose to live my life and making my own decisions. This is for those individuals who make such assumptions of Muslims, particularly female Muslims, and Islam in general.
I know you pity me,
I can see it in your face,
The reason is clear to see,
What a disgrace!
You make judgments on how I live,
With your limited knowledge of me,
I am a proud female Muslim,
But most importantly, I am free. (1)
To your surprise, I know English, (I do understand your rude comments)
I was born and raised in this country too,
And just because I am a girl,
Doesn’t mean I can’t choose what I want to do.
I have goals like many others,
Things in life I want to achieve,
Get my degree, write, and teach,
Are just some on my list of “I Believe.” (2)
And for your information…
Being Muslim doesn’t mean I am Arab,
Islam isn’t strict like you think, (3)
Nor does it preach hate and violence,
Admit it, my life doesn’t actually stink!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) I am thankful for being a Muslim and being able to follow Islam freely. As a female Muslim, I am not oppressed nor do I feel inferior to anyone. Islam is not responsible for the people who claim to be followers, but don't practice Islam correctly and follow their desires, culture, traditions, etc. that actually go against Islam. Wearing a headscarf (hijab in Arabic) doesn't limit me from doing the things I want for an enjoyable life since I do have rights (and responsibilities) that Allah (God in Arabic) gave to female Muslims since the beginning of Islam. Because of wearing a headscarf, decent people also respect me for who I am and not what I look like, nor do I have to worry about getting unwanted attention.
(2) “I Believe I Can” or “My Top 10 List of Future Achievements” includes finishing college, working as a teacher, and traveling, amongst many other life goals. And yes, unlike what many may think and what some “Muslims” say and do, females can drive, get an education and go to college, and also work and finance their own money!
(3) Listen to “We are a Moderate Nation” by Kamal el Mekki.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
“Seeing England for the First Time”
England. Setting of the famous Harry Potter books. Known for the English language spoken and written differently from Americans, the rainy weather, the double deckers, the castles and ruins from ancient times, and so much more. For some people, England is just like another America, with all of its praises and problems, but for others it’s an exciting adventure. What a dream it is for some people to just step outside of one’s homeland, especially after being in one place for so long, but what if it could become a reality? What a trip that would be!
Upon hearing of my parent’s final decision to go to England along with Bangladesh, I was overjoyed! I would be spending my summer vacation in two countries, far away from America. Not having gone anywhere far since our last trip to Bangladesh many years ago, at an age too little to remember clearly, this was an exciting time for me. Our trip took place in the summer of 2007, the year of my 8th grade graduation (I guess you can say this was a graduation present from my parents and a vacation t o relax before high school!) I told some of my teachers and friends that I would not be attending the graduation ceremony because of a trip that would take place before the school year ended. My 4th grade teacher, who I visited while my peers rehearsed for their graduation ceremony, told me that her daughter had gone to London and really enjoyed it. She told me to have fun and stay safe. One of my “friends” told me that she had gone and did a pigeon feeding and for me to try it! Overall, I was eager for my first trip to England!
We arrived at my aunt and uncle’s house after over an hours drive from Heathrow airport
in London. I noticed the houses in the area were very similar to one another, just like on Privet
Drive in the Harry Potter movies. I felt like I was dreaming. Not only was I finally in England, but I saw my cousins after many, many years. I even had another cousin who I didn’t have when we last met. We had so much catching up to do with our lives! My mom was doing the same with my aunt, her older sister in the kitchen.
The first couple of days were for family time, recalling memories of when my cousins had come to America in 1997, the games we played when we were little, our trip to New York and two years later to Bangladesh, the good old days of the past! One night my cousins and I told ghost stories (it was a “tradition” my cousins did), and boy did they have stories to tell, with all the shows they watch on TV! I remember thinking of England to be full of haunted houses from the stories I would read when I was younger. The next day we showed them a scary picture of a girl with a disgusting face and another one where a guy screams suddenly! It might not sound scary, but when one of my cousins saw the skeleton, she screamed and covered her face. I thought she had a heart attack, but she was bent over laughing! My other cousin laughed and said that was cool (they are really into anything that is scary, shows, stories, you name it!) Some days later, my uncle, brother, sister, 3 cousins, and I went to Rochester Castle. We climbed to the top and could see the cathedral nearby. The days passed quickly but it was almost time to leave England. My dad met up with us from America a few days before we had to get ready to go to Bangladesh.
After spending over a month in Bangladesh, which I enjoyed most of the time, we got a chance to stop at London again because our flight was rescheduled for a few days later. One of those days, my uncle took me, my dad, brother, and 2 cousins sight seeing. At first I didn’t want to really go but I’m glad I changed my mind. I would have really regretted it! We took a trip to London, since my cousins live far away from there. We took a train for some parts of the trip. It was the first time I went in a train and it was fun.
Our first stop was to Buckingham Palace. The gardens and fountain were beautiful! After going around the garden and fountain, we went in front of the palace (we couldn’t go inside though…). It was huge! Tall gates separated the palace from tourists, but we did see soldiers guarding the palace grounds. We later headed to the Tower of London. I recalled doing a social studies project in the 7th grade on the Tower of London and it was great that I was actually able to see it in person! We crossed the Tower Bridge and later came to the Palace of Westminster where the legendary Big Ben stands. We also saw the London Eye, which I later discovered was a Ferris wheel and the Swiss Tower, a rocket shaped skyscraper. Night fell by the time we got back on the train, our car, and finally home. The day finally came for me and my family to head back to America. I will never forget my vacation to England and hopefully will be able to visit again sometime in the future!
Upon hearing of my parent’s final decision to go to England along with Bangladesh, I was overjoyed! I would be spending my summer vacation in two countries, far away from America. Not having gone anywhere far since our last trip to Bangladesh many years ago, at an age too little to remember clearly, this was an exciting time for me. Our trip took place in the summer of 2007, the year of my 8th grade graduation (I guess you can say this was a graduation present from my parents and a vacation t o relax before high school!) I told some of my teachers and friends that I would not be attending the graduation ceremony because of a trip that would take place before the school year ended. My 4th grade teacher, who I visited while my peers rehearsed for their graduation ceremony, told me that her daughter had gone to London and really enjoyed it. She told me to have fun and stay safe. One of my “friends” told me that she had gone and did a pigeon feeding and for me to try it! Overall, I was eager for my first trip to England!
We arrived at my aunt and uncle’s house after over an hours drive from Heathrow airport
in London. I noticed the houses in the area were very similar to one another, just like on Privet
Drive in the Harry Potter movies. I felt like I was dreaming. Not only was I finally in England, but I saw my cousins after many, many years. I even had another cousin who I didn’t have when we last met. We had so much catching up to do with our lives! My mom was doing the same with my aunt, her older sister in the kitchen.
The first couple of days were for family time, recalling memories of when my cousins had come to America in 1997, the games we played when we were little, our trip to New York and two years later to Bangladesh, the good old days of the past! One night my cousins and I told ghost stories (it was a “tradition” my cousins did), and boy did they have stories to tell, with all the shows they watch on TV! I remember thinking of England to be full of haunted houses from the stories I would read when I was younger. The next day we showed them a scary picture of a girl with a disgusting face and another one where a guy screams suddenly! It might not sound scary, but when one of my cousins saw the skeleton, she screamed and covered her face. I thought she had a heart attack, but she was bent over laughing! My other cousin laughed and said that was cool (they are really into anything that is scary, shows, stories, you name it!) Some days later, my uncle, brother, sister, 3 cousins, and I went to Rochester Castle. We climbed to the top and could see the cathedral nearby. The days passed quickly but it was almost time to leave England. My dad met up with us from America a few days before we had to get ready to go to Bangladesh.
After spending over a month in Bangladesh, which I enjoyed most of the time, we got a chance to stop at London again because our flight was rescheduled for a few days later. One of those days, my uncle took me, my dad, brother, and 2 cousins sight seeing. At first I didn’t want to really go but I’m glad I changed my mind. I would have really regretted it! We took a trip to London, since my cousins live far away from there. We took a train for some parts of the trip. It was the first time I went in a train and it was fun.
Our first stop was to Buckingham Palace. The gardens and fountain were beautiful! After going around the garden and fountain, we went in front of the palace (we couldn’t go inside though…). It was huge! Tall gates separated the palace from tourists, but we did see soldiers guarding the palace grounds. We later headed to the Tower of London. I recalled doing a social studies project in the 7th grade on the Tower of London and it was great that I was actually able to see it in person! We crossed the Tower Bridge and later came to the Palace of Westminster where the legendary Big Ben stands. We also saw the London Eye, which I later discovered was a Ferris wheel and the Swiss Tower, a rocket shaped skyscraper. Night fell by the time we got back on the train, our car, and finally home. The day finally came for me and my family to head back to America. I will never forget my vacation to England and hopefully will be able to visit again sometime in the future!
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