Letter to Next Semester's Class

Letter To Next Semester’s Class

In A Blog of One’s Own we spent a maximum of forty minutes on each blog assignment. The main focus of the assignments is the reading aspects. You need to do them or else you won’t comprehend the in-class discussions as well as gaining a better understanding of the topics. It is crucial that you do the reading because you can then help answer questions in class as well as be able to continue on with the assignments. Often times, you might feel stressed because of the workload. For example, the number of books you have to read at once. This becomes difficult when trying to manage your time, and make sure that you complete the homework as well as worrying about homework for your other classes.
The instructor expected a lot from the class. We would start class right on time and we were never let out early. This was so that she could give us all the needed material as well as making sure we went over the reading. Her expectations were high but reasonable. This is a writing class. There is going to be a lot of reading and writing. However, she would go over each reading assignment, and answer any questions you might have. This is why participating in class was very important to her. She would often encourage the class to get involved and would praise group discussions. This class was very affective and useful. It teaches you a lot about your self worth and about pushing yourself to the limit.

HW 42: Third and Final Podcast!!!

The Delta pod is having some problems posting their podcast online. The members of the Delta Pod will bring their laptops to class and present it then. Thanks

HW 40: Second Podcast on Baghdad Burning

The Delta pod is having some problems posting their podcast online. The members of the Delta Pod will bring their laptops to class and present it then. Thanks

HW:36: My First Podcast

The Delta pod is having some problems posting their podcast online. The members of the Delta Pod will bring their laptops to class and present it then. Thanks

HW 35: Letter to my blog readers: almost over

I can't believe that this is almost one of my last blog posts. This class has been an eye-opening experience for me. I never realized that blogging was such an important part of people's daily lives. It amazes me that I wasn't aware of the blogging community and all that it offers. Maintaing my blog over the past thirteen weeks of class has been somewhat difficult but it's also good because it has allowed me to stay focused and write my posts on a daily basis. Either now or in the future, I hope that someone who reads my blog posts will be able to learn a little bit about me and what i'm all about. I believe that blogging is important in that sense, it connects people, and is a record of how you feel at a certain time or place. It's almost comforting to know that what you read will be kept safe, and able to look back on. I'm very proud of my blog and feel that people who read it will understand how important it really is to me. I am most proud of opening up my soul and being able to talk about things that I normally wouldn't be able to. I am somewhat of a shy person so I usually am not willing to state my mind or opinions. However, with blogging, I have found that my personality has changed. I stand up for what I believe in and how I feel because what I say and what I believe is what really matters most. I am hoping that I will maintain my blog and begin to ask my own questions and post my own blogs without the assitstance of others. I wasn't able to really get a lot of comments so i'm not sure if people have viewed my blog, but I hope to continue it. I don't want to delete it because I am very proud of what I have written about. I wish to tell my readers that I hope that they have learned a lot through reading my blogs and have found them to be very informational and interesting to read. I have really put myself out there and I hope that it shows in my posts.

HW 34: Importance of Evening Tea

In the evening, most Iraqi families gather together for evening tea. "It's hardly as formal as it sounds... No matter how busy the day, everyone sits around in the living room, waiting for tea" (Riverbend 108) Riverbend goes on to explain the importance of tea in her culture. She states, that, "Iraqi tea isn't a simple matter of teacups and teabags. " (Riverbend 108) She says that it is an insult to serve "teabag tea" as she refers to it, because it speaks of a complete lack of appreciation for the valuable beverage. Having tea in her culture is a chance for everyone to slow down their day, and take time to talk and hangout with their families. It defines them and is what brings them together each and every day. It is part of their tradition and routines. In her post, Riverbend in a lot of detail, explains the process of making tea. What is very important is that this process is different for each family. Every family has their own, personal, way of making it.

"First a kettle of water is put on the burner to boil. Next, the boiling water and a certain amount of tealeaves are combined in a separate teapot and put on a low burner just until the tealeaves rise to the top and threaten to "boil over." Finally, the teapot is set on top of the tea kettle on a low burner and allowed to "hihder" or settle" (Riverbend 109)

One of the things they sell the most in their culture is tea. They sell it at the market and Riverbend recalls buying the tea. Then, with her family, she comes back and starts the process of making it. From there, they make the coffee before they start formal conversations. For her and her family, the tea is an event which brings her family together and is something they can look forward to each and every day. Also, every time they do sit down for tea, their is a different topic discussion so you look forward to it.

HW 33: Respond to a Podcast, Challenges at a Girl's School in Bahdad

I am responding to Challenges at a Girls School in Baghdad. The series title is "Alive in Baghdad. The link is Challenges at a Girl's School in Baghdad. The main focus of this podcast is about getting a decent education. In this series they interview a few girls who are in the eighth grade as well as their teachers. The questions are pretty basic and pretty normal such as how far their school is from their home and if there are any type of explosions that occur near their home as well as around their school. This podcast really made me think because one of the girls explains how her school is extremely far from her school and her parents even try to discourage her from going because it is difficult to get there each day for school. The walls of the girls school are very plain and this podcast is most likely filmed in the girl's school as well as in the streets of Baghdad. In America, I know that I especially take my education for granted. Most days I wake up and I don't even want to go to school, let alone get a good education. It seems that my education is something that was given to me and by no means has a significant affect on me. However, going to school and getting a good education is crucial to getting a job when you're older. I can't imagine what these boys and girls have to go through. It really makes me appreciate my education and the life I am living so much more. It is gratifying to know that I am so blessed.