Journal #20

One of the unacceptable things in my culture is to not eat someone's cooking. It is impolite to enter the door before older people and aslo women. So you should know that when you are going to enter somewhere first of all old women, second women, third old men, forth men and at last children should enter. Children never can say bad words in front of parents and old people. Also it's not common to talk about sex in front of people. Children usually talk about these things aside with their parents. When someone buy a new house, You should go, get a gift and visit him/her. In american culture, it's not acceptable to yell at someone or in public. I remember once we were having dinner and my cousin that was born in United States made fun of grandmother and I was shocked because it's against persian culture to insult or make fun of an elder person. Also always when you see an elder person, you should say hello to respect, but americans don't care much about these things.

Journal #19

My favorite activity in my leisure time is listening to music. In weekends I usually prefer to do something special and fun like going to beach or partying with my friends. Sometimes that I don't have anything to do I watch TV. I also love to talk with my friends; I had tons of friends in my country, so I can't be always on the phone with them because it's so expensive, and it causes that I use internet for chatting so much. These days I don't have enough time to do all of my homeworks and things I should, because exams are coming up, so I don't have time for having fun.

I read Eric's and Kelly's for homework.

Journal # 18

I really had fun all week long. I went to parties,beach,restaurants,etc. So I think I've done all the things i wanted. But I was so interested to go to Disney Land in Anaheim but I couldn't because I didn't have free time for it. And I'm so sad now that weekend is almost over and I have to go to school 5 days of this week! College and ALP along each other make me exhausted.

Journal #17 - EMO

This post was supposed to be about our recent Persian celebration on last sunday (13 beh dar),but my uncle hasn't sent the pictures for me yet!
so I want to write some sentences about Emo. Emo is an abbreviation of Emotional. Emo is something close to Punk and Goth. in Emo phylosophy pain is an attractive and lovely stuff. Emo is now one of the most popular controversial things for kids around the world. Emo is popular just because of its fashion style. in my country teenagers and teens attract to Emo because of its fashion not for its culture. in Emo culture happiness is a sin. Emo instruct kids to be sad and cut themselves and talk about suicide. Emo kids also read and write dark poems. they put their hair into their faces and draw strange things. they also use bloody pictures on their rooms. some websites say to emo kids to not be happy. here in United states where number two cause of death is suicide, I think parents should know abput these things and attend where their children are going. Anyway we shouldn't look at emo just as a fashion style, Emo is a path of life, a dark one...

Journal #16

I believe that my strategies could help me:



1.Thinking in English, I mean when you want to do something you say it for yourself. and for example I try when I want to drink a glass of water instead of saying "teshname, ye livaan aab mikhaam(Persian!)" say "I'm thirsty, I need a glass of water" ! It helps me to review my grammer and vocabulary.

2.Study!! during the spring break I have time for studying.I can study my vocabulary and grammer and don't waiste my time.

3.write journals, I think Mrs. Russel's strategy about writing is great.it helps me to don't forget english, besides it's not as bad as a homework!

4.Speaking in English, All of my family are living in Orange county, and I have cousins that they born in United States, so I can speak in english with them and their american friends and it can help me to improve my speaking skills and help me think in English.

Journal #15 - Plans of spring break

So next week is spring break,right?Noooo!cause I have 2 classes on monday and wednesday next week and a lot of homeworks to do.but let's see... We have a party this saturday and I may go to beach on sunday with my cousins. I prefer to go to Laguna since i think Newport is a little boring and is better for swimming not having fun.and next week I may go to Disneyland in Anaheim; my friends told me it's really interesting but the parking bill is expensive so I think I should find some people to join us for dividing the parking price.I'd like to drink but I heard that drinking for people who are under 21 is against the law in California but I usually drink in family parties or with my cousins.and I may study vocabulary during this week cause I think I need a stronger vocabulary for my classes.so I'm confused, I don't know how to make a plan that I could have study and fun along each other.maybe I'd better to write things on my calender and make final decisions.

Journal #14 - Cultural identity

I think ordinary people don't have much stuffs to show they are unique. but each human has some personal abilities or personalities. I think nationality or race don't make us unique. some people ar asian,some caucasian,some black and... so I don't care cause everyone is human. I think education is the most important thing that can make someone unique.and second thing is someone with high character. everyone want to be unique in the world, so they want to have some fame. some people sing,act,study and exercise to become a unique person, someone who when is walking in the street everyone show him/her and say hey that singer!hey that actress!

so I am an ordinary person for now and i'd like to become a unique person by education and wealth. besides i use my country's symbols,tradions and politiness to show my culture. for example in Iran children respect adults much. when an old person or a woman come to a room people who are smaller and men should stand up for showing respect to the woman or the old guy. or during a party when someone wants to leave have to say goodbye to everyone one and one! besides I tried to learn persian dances,music and all related things to my country.I think as a teen we can't have much stuffs to be unique in the society.