Our 44th president - Barack Obama

Barack Obama was finally sworn in as the 44th president of the United States on January 20th 2009. The inauguration was grand, and a beautiful sight. The emotions on peoples faces as they saw Barack Obama be sworn into office. People smiling with tears streaming down their face. (Including me). To finally see that the color of a person’s skin doesn’t matter, and that anyone can become anything they want to be. Obama gives me hope, and is my reminder that I can reach all my goals. I have a lot of faith in our new president, I hope him all the best!

Soccer

I had been thinking about joining soccer this year, but I decided to join next year instead. But then just last week my friend asked me if I wanted to join soccer. I thought it was to late, but she said that they were still letting people join, since they needed players. I thought about it, and then decided to join. In the beginning I was kinda scared, because it had been a couple of years since I played. Last Thursday I went to my first practice. It was quite fun, it reminded me of the past. Me and my best friend always played soccer, it was our favorite sport. And now I play with Lorita, also one of my best friends.

Belief in the supernatural

Throughout the world, many cultures have formed supernatural beliefs. My religion says that people should not believe those ideas, yet my parents continue to believe them. For example if a black cat crosses the path they think that they should turn around and go back. I wonder how these ideas formed, and how they lasted so long. I asked my parents this question. My dad said that back in time people used to question why something bad happened to them, or around them. For example if someone went out for an important meeting, and things didn’t work out, they would wonder why it didn’t. People would ask the person questions like who was the first person you met? Or what was the first problem you had? Or did anything cross your path? And if the person said that he/she met so and so they would consider that person bad luck. And if something crossed their path, that would become bad luck for them. For example the black cat crossing idea. Then if a couple more people said they were in similar situations where a black cat crossed their path, and something didn’t work out, people began to think that black cats crossing your path were unlucky, and if a black cat was to cross their path then whatever they were out to do would not work out. Then I asked my dad that these are just ideas that people think up, it’s not really true so why does he still believe it. He said it’s because that’s what he grew up hearing, and it’s hard not to believe them. He says some of them are true because they happened to him.

If you could ask god for one thing what would it be?

If you could ask god for one thing what would it be? Would you ask to go back in time and change an event? Or would you ask for something personal like a big house, or a lot of money? Or would you ask for something that could change the world, like restoring the earths natural resources, or world peace?
I began thinking about what I would I want just for myself. But all the things I wanted could be attained with money, like my dream home. So I wondered about a personal decision I would want to go back, and change, I couldn’t decide. It lead me to thinking about what event in history I would want to go back to change. I thought of all the bad things that have happened in history that I knew about. Again I was unable to decide on one event. It was impossible for me to think of just one thing I would ask from god.

Leonardo Da Vinci

On Sunday my sister, and I went to the Leonardo Da Vinci Exhibit in the Tech Museum. I had heard mixed reviews about it. Some people said it was good, others said it was good only good if you had prior knowledge about Da Vinci, and some people said it was very boring. I knew only a few facts about him, and his work.
In the beginning it was quite boring, since we didn’t have a tour guide, and I was getting tired of reading the side notes. I was so happy when my sister, and I ran into a tour group. It was better to listen to the tour guide since she told us interesting information about the artifacts there, and about Leonardo himself. I enjoyed many parts of the exhibit, but disliked some. I found his study of the human body, very fascinating. My favorite part were the paintings. I found “The Virgin and Child with St. Anne” (the painting below) very interesting since you couldn’t tell whose legs were whose. I was very disappointed to only see two paintings, I was hoping to see more. Overall I enjoyed most of the exhibit I found out a lot about Da Vinci, but I do think some parts were boring.

Dance Set-Up

On Saturday I went to school to set up for the Masquerade Ball. It started out kind of rough since people showed up late, and there was so much work to do. Once enough people showed up, we started setting up the stage for the DJ. When we were trying to bring the stage into the gym, my finger got stuck and I got a huge cut. The stage was decorated with blue and white silky cloth, it looked beautiful. Then we had a harder task, we had to put up tarp around the hallway in front of the gym. In the beginning it looked impossible, but it turned out looking all right. My favorite part was decorating the gym, and the hallway. We used stars, streamer, lights, masks, and other decorations. It was stressful from beginning to end, but we worked hard, and got everything done. I hope the dance was a success, and everyone had a good time.

* First Love *

The first time I saw him was on the first day of sixth grade. He came and sat in the seat right in front of mine. He turned around and said hi. I looked into his mischievous, sea blue eyes, and at his smile, a smile that could make anyone smile. I forgot that he was talking.
Remembering, I quickly said “Hey, I’m Dalvinder”. “I’m Daniel” he replied.
I saw his gaze move to the right of me, I looked up and saw my best friend Hannah. She sat down in the vacant seat next to me. “Hey” she said, “How was summer?” I saw Daniel’s lips move but didn’t hear a word. My eyes were now fixed on the back of his head. Hannah kept on talking about summer, but I could not stop thinking about the boy in front of me.

Later in the year, Daniel, and I became friends. I began to like him more, and more. During lunch one day Hannah asked “Do you like anyone at this school?” I smiled and said “You tell me first”. She replied, “Daniel’s really cute isn’t he?” In a weak measly voice I said “yeah”. I never thought that Hannah would ever like him. When we finished eating we decided to go play basketball since Daniel always played. I became shy around him, and tried to ignore him as much as possible, but Hannah dragged me toward him. Hannah decided to ask Daniel and his friends to play basketball with us. My heart beat so quickly, I whined, “Come on let’s go do something else, we can’t make a basket anyway” but she was determined to ask. Daniel tried to teach me and Hannah how to play, but I was to nervous, and Hannah could barely toss the ball. I saw that Hannah, and Daniel were having fun, so I decided that I wouldn’t hang out with them the next day. That night Hannah called and told me that Daniel said that he liked her, and she told him she liked him. My heart did a back flip, I was so surprised. I never thought things would proceed that quickly between them. I knew that I would never have had the guts to ask him out or anything but, I hated the idea of my friend going out with him.

Two months had gone by and Hannah, and Daniel were together, and everything was okay. I had come to means in my heart that Daniel would never like me. Everything went downhill during the third month. Each year my school had a big talent show, which my teacher that year gave extra-credit for attending. The day before the talent show, Daniel asked me if I wanted go see the show with him. I wondered why he wasn’t going with Hannah but, I said yes thinking that maybe she couldn’t go. The following day we went to the talent show, and had a lot of fun. Before going home he gave me a hug. I knew he hugged me because we were good friends, but that’s not what the kids at my school thought. The next day I tried to talk to Hannah but she ignored me. We were in the library when she told me why she was angry. She said that Daniel didn’t like her anymore, and was mad at me for going to the talent show with him. I told her we went as friends, but she believed more of what the people around her said more than her best friend. Tears trickled out of my eyes. I was furious at Hannah for thinking what she thought, and not trusting me. I was mad at Daniel for not telling me that he broke up with Hannah. However, I was mostly upset at myself for going with him. Our friendship was never the same after that. I tried to keep my contact with Daniel minimum. I decided I would never go out with Daniel, no matter how much I liked his deep sea blue eyes, or his smile, or the way he spoke, or the way he played basketball. I was disappointed in my stupid decision which cost me my friendship with Hannah, and Daniel.

Bride Wars

On Friday, I watched Bride Wars with a couple of my friends.
In the movie Emma, and Liv are childhood friends who are about to get married. The problem is that they both get there wedding dates booked on the same day at the same place. Since they’re each others maids of honor one of them has to change their weeding date, but both of them don’t want to. So they find different maids of honor. The movie revolves around them trying to destroy each others wedding. It was a good movie, with a nice story. All the characters were developed, and amusing, especially Daniel's. The only thing I felt that was lacking was a steady plot line and humor that had not been already used. I loved the ending, it was very sweet. When the movie finished I wondered if I’ll have a friendship like Emma, and Liv, that will last forever.

Ms. Karen

Someone else besides my parents that I look up to is, Ms. Karen, an old friend who helped me and my family get acquainted with the US. We met Ms. Karen in our apartment complex when we first arrived to the U.S. Whenever she passed our apartment she would wave, and say hi if me or my sister were outside. However, since we did not know English I would stare at her, and say nothing. Then one day she came to our apartment, and my parents told her that me, and my sister did not speak English. She was very nice, and offered to help us learn English. I remember walking to her apartment in the afternoon with my sister. She would take turns teaching us. She helped me get a better start in school by teaching me how to speak, and write in English. I appreciate all that she has done for me, and my family. She is the only person we are in contact with from our old apartment complex (where we lived ten years ago). We still visit her, and she visits us. She is always ready to help us whenever we need it. I hope when I grow up I will be like her, and help everyone I can.

Such a short break

This winter break I had so many plans. I hoped to read some novels. I only read a little bit of Twilight, and I'm liking it so far. I also hoped to organize myself better, but my room still seems like a mess. Over the break my family, and I went to a couple of relatives homes for dinner. I had a lot of fun with my little cousins. I also spent some time watching movies. I watched the Departed, and Blood Diamond, both which star Leonardo DiCaprio (one of the best actors). I also watched Wall-E, a movie I had been looking forward to for a long time, and the Incredible Hulk, which I thought would be a bad movie but was pretty good. We didn't do much on Christmas, but we did welcome the new year with some relatives. I guess even though it was a short break, it was a fun break.

My parents

My parents are nice, supportive, and always there for me. They listen to me whenever I need them. However sometimes when my parents hear bad news involving someone my age, they get cautious, and scared. For example if they hear about someone speeding, and getting hurt they begin to lecture me. I know that they are just looking out for me, but sometimes I feel they should know that I'm not the type person who would do something like that. And also I hate it when they compare me to other people my age. They sometimes compare me to my cousin. They discuss my grades, and other things I'm doing with my cousins parents. It's really annoying. I love my parents a lot, but sometimes I wish they would just understand how I feel. :)

Looking back at 2008

The year 2008 has come to an end, I welcome the new year with joy, and hope of change. 2008 brought much happiness, and grief. Like all previous years I have gathered many memories that I will never forget. The best memory is the historical election of Barack Obama into the presidential office.

I will remember some of the bad events

- the financial deficit in the US
- the constant changes in the oil prices

- the horrible attacks in Mumbai
- the Palestinian and Israeli conflict

And some of the good events

- the Beijing Olympics, and Michael Phelps eight gold medals.

- the production of so many great superhero movies (The Incredible Hulk, Hancock, The Dark Knight, Iron Man)

- the release of The Tales of Beedle the Bard on my birthday
- Hillary Clinton's run for the presidency
- my cousin's engagement/wedding
- great songs (Viva La Vida, Human, and many more!)

I hope everyone will have a spectacular, and fun-filled 2009!