The Myth Behind La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre :: Cuban Culture

The Myth Behind La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre To many Cuban-Americans living in Miami, La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, is one of the only ties remaining that unifies them with their homeland. The Virgin is a renowned and integral part of Cuban culture and plays an important role in the Catholic heritage of Cubans exiled inside and outside of North America. The church, La Ermita de la Caridad del Cobre, is a memorial that was constructed in honor of her and is a monument to the religious and political history of the island. Since there are many different versions circulating about the sighting of the Virgin, one must discuss the most popular and the most commonly accepted. The myth behind the La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre, originated in 1606. The Virgin appeared one day in the Bay of Nipe near Santiago to two brothers, Rodrigo and Juan de Hoyos, and to Juan Moreno,a black boy roughly ten years of age. They were out on a fishing trip in the Bay. While struggling in their storm tossed boat, they heard a voice declare, "I am the Virgin of Charity." In one hand, the Virgin carried a mulatto baby Jesus; in the other, she held a cross. She also appeared to be holding a tablet which contained the inscription, "I am the Virgin of Charity." A replica of the same tablet is now framed and displayed on the first floor of La Ermita in Santiago de Cuba. In Cuba, there is also a statue of the Virgin, approximately one meter tall, located in a small chapel on the second floor. The statue is of a pretty mulatta who wears dangling earrings and a golden robe. La Virgen's racial attributes is a mixture of black, white and Indian; essentially, it covers the entire racial makeup of Cuba. She has dark hair and carries the baby Jesus in one hand and a cross in the other. People flock to her memorial to pray to her and give her thanks. They often leave small tokens of their appreciation and gratitude. To the exile community, she represents a Catholic Cuba untouched by the religious beliefs of the communist regime of he last four decades.

Ancient Roman Government Notes Essay

The â€Å"common-people† assembly which helped give the citizens more political power Empire- A dominating nation with extensive territories and a powerful ruler Laws of the 12 Tables- Guidelines for citizen’s behavior; a list of Roman customs about property and punishment Mercenary- A soldier who is hired for service in a foreign country Patrician- Member of Rome’s richest and most important families who served on the Senate for life Plebeian- The common person or lower-class citizen Roman Senate- One of the two houses of the early Roman republic Republic- A country run by the elected representatives of its people Tribune- A leader within the Concillum Plebus In 500 B. C the Roman government was forming into a republic; in which the people have the freedom to vote for their leaders. There were two parts, or two houses, to the Roman Republic: the Citizen Assembly and the Senate. The elected officials headed the two councils and they served one-year terms. The republic was established in 509B.C and lasted 500 years. Differences between the Greek and Roman governments: In Greece all men were allowed to vote In Rome only men with money/property could vote The Senate was the most powerful part of the government; all senators were patricians. To obtain political rights, the common people (Plebeians) formed their own assembly, the Concillum Plebus and named their leaders tribunes. Establishing peace and order gave Rome stability: Rome’s first code of law was esta blished in 450B. C. On ten tablets, ten legal experts wrote down a list of Roman customs about property and punishment. However, due to plebeian pressure, two more tablets were added to satisfy them. The final code was called the Laws of the Twelve Tables. By the end of the third century Roman law covered issues dealing with foreigners and eventually covered magisterial law to strengthen and correct existing law. The Roman Empire took its first steps of dominance in 27B. C when the law’s development was taken over by the emperors, who added and revised freely. As the law got more complex, the government had to literally train jurists who could understand and interpret the laws. The stability of the law, the military, and financial standing of Rom kept it powerful. Rome successfully battled the Carthaginians, the Celtics(British), the Etruscans, and the Samnites. The Roman Empire was established around 27B. C. The empire spanned three continents. The empire was divided into states that were ruled by governors who collected taxes and sent money back to Rome.

History of St. Valentines Day - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 7 Words: 2151 Downloads: 2 Date added: 2017/09/18 Category History Essay Type Narrative essay Tags: Celebration Essay Did you like this example? History of St. Valentines Day Introduction: †¢ Saint Valentines Day  (commonly shortened to  Valentines Day)  is an annual commemoration (celebration) held on February 14 celebrating  love  and  affection between  intimate companions. †¢ The day is named after one or more early Christian  martyrs(s somebody who suffers death for the people)  named  Valentine. †¢ It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by  presenting flowers, offering  confectionery (CANDY) (is the set of food items that are rich in sugar), and sending  greeting cards (known as valentines). Modern Valentines Day symbols include the  heart-shaped  outline, doves, and the figure of the winged  Cupid (winged boy). Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have largely given way to mass-produced  greeting cards and the oldest known Valentine card is on display at the British Museum. †¢ By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of ones feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentines Day greetings. †¢ According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentines Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year (An estimated 2. 6 billion cards are sent for Christmas. ). †¢ Approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women. In addition to the United States, Valentines Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia. The first commercial Valentines Day greeting cards produced in the U. S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colourful pictures known as scrap. Who was valentine? The Saint Valentine that appears in various  martyrologies  in connection with February 14 is described either as: ? A  priest  in  Rome, ? A bishop, or A martyr in the Roman province of  Africa. History: (And coming to St . valentine day was supposedly started in the time of the Roman Empire. In Ancient Rome, the date of February 14 was a holiday to honour the Queen of Roman Goddesses and Gods, Juno. Juno was known as the Goddess of women and marriage. The next day February 15 was the first day of the Festival known as the Feast of Lupercia. ) ? On February 14 is was said that the young boys and girls of the villages would write down the names of every girl and place these names in a jar of which each young man would have to draw a name of a girl and this particular maiden would be their partner for the duration of the festival. Sometimes these parings would last a year and end up in marriage. These rituals u nder the laws of Claudius were banned as the Emperor believed that the reasons why men would now go to war were because they did not want to leave their lovers or families. ?   As a result all marriages and engagements were cancelled as a result Saint Valentine a Roman priest was said to have married these couples in secret and for this he was executed on the 14th day of February. ? While St Valentine was in jail it is said that he fell in love with the jailers’ daughter. By a miracle or some say by the prayers of Valentine she gained her sight and as a last farewell in a note he was to From Your Valentine. Another story as to the origins of Valentines Day was that he was a priest who was also a physician and would cure the sick. ? He was also said to have tried to cure the jailers blind daughter, but, was arrested and on the day of his execution he wrote a note as a final farewell saying From your Valentine which some say is what caused her to gain her sight. ? It is also said while he was in jail awaiting execution that he was sent little notes and flowers from the children whom he had helped when they were sick. This also may have been one of the reasons why he sent a farewell note to the jailers’ daughter and why we send valentines. St Valentines Day is celebrated on February 14 of each year; the reason why it is celebrated on this day is because this was the day that the Patron Saint of Lovers St Valentine was supposedly executed on. On this day lovers all around the world mark this occasion as a day for sending poems, cards, flowers or candy, etc. They might also be a social gathering or ball to mark the occasion. Valentine Traditions ? Hundreds of years ago in England, many children dressed up as adults on Valentines Day. They went singing from home to home. One verse they sang was: ? Good morning to you, valentine; Curl your locks as I do mine Two before and three behind. Good morning to you, valentine. ? In Wales wooden love spoons were carved and given as gifts on February 14th. Hearts, keys and keyholes were favourite decorations on the spoons. The decoration meant, You unlock my heart! ? In the Middle Ages, young men and women drew names from a bowl to see who their valentines would be. They would wear these names on their sleeves for one week. To wear your heart on your sleeve now means that it is easy for other people to know how you are feeling. In some countries, a young woman may receive a gift of clothing from a young man. If she keeps the gift, it means she will marry him. ? Some people used to believe that if a woman saw a robin flying overhead on Valentines Day, it meant she would marry a sailor. If she saw a sparrow, she would marry a poor man and be very happy. If she saw a goldfinch, she would marry a millionaire. ? A love seat is a wide chair. It was first made to seat one woman and her wide dress. Later, the love seat or courting seat had two sections, often in an S-shape. In this way, a cou ple could sit together but not too closely! Think of five or six names of boys or girls you might marry, As you twist the stem of an apple, recite the names until the stem comes off. You will marry the person whose name you were saying when the stem fell off. ? Pick a dandelion that has gone to seed. Take a deep breath and blow the seeds into the wind. Count the seeds that remain on the stem. That is the number of children you will have. ? If you cut an apple in half and count how many seeds are inside, you will also know how many children you will have. How did flowers and lace join Valentines Day? Most of the items linked to Valentines Day came from old-fashioned customs that used lace handkerchiefs and floral bouquets to pass on non-verbal messages. ? When the custom went out of style for everyday use, the original meaning was lost and eventually they became part of the Valentines Day tradition. ? Giving flowers dates back to the 1700s when Charles II of Sweden introduced the Pe rsian custom of the language of flowers to Europe. Books about the meanings of particular flowers were published, and entire conversations could be carried out using only a bouquet of flowers. The rose has become the traditional Valentines Day flower. As it has always been a popular flower, the meaning of the red rose is still well known as the flower of passion and love. The red rose is also the favourite flower of Venus, the goddess of love, which helped give the rose its symbolic meaning. ? Lace Centuries ago, a woman would drop her handkerchief in front of the man she liked. This was a form of encouragement to him, and if he picked it up for her an introduction could be made. Lace has always been part of womens handkerchiefs, and it has since been linked to romance. Cupid He is the winged child whose arrows are shot into the hearts of potential lovers. His victims are supposed to fall deeply in love with someone. In both Greek and Roman mythology Cupid is the son of the goddess of love and is always part of celebration of love and lovers. ? The heart The heart is linked to Valentines Day because it was once considered the source of all human emotions. The custom of drawing a heart shape is believed to come from early attempts to draw an organ no one had ever seen. The symbol progressed to become known as a sign of love. Its for the birds: Lovebirds are often part of Valentines Day. Found in Africa, these brightly coloured birds sit very close together with their mates, earning them their name. ? Doves are also part of the tradition. They are symbols of love and loyalty because they mate for life. A pair of doves will also share the care of all their babies. ? Love knots A love knot is a symbol of everlasting love, because its winding loops have no beginnings or ends. In times past, they were made of ribbon or drawn on paper to prove ones undying love. Celebrations: In  India, in the past Valentines Day has been explicitly discouraged by activists. Sin ce 2001 there has been protests opposing it as cultural pollution from the West. Those who violate this are dealt with harshly, chasing young people holding hands and others suspected to be lovers. ? Despite complaints from religious groups that it is an affront to Indian tradition and culture, and further westernizing the Indian populous, Valentines Day has now become a widely recognized and celebrated day with Indian people. ? Traditionally, the choice of whom a young girl marries, was usually made by her parents. Now though, many educated and professional women in India are following their own hearts, and the young men have also discovered that Valentines Day offers an opportunity to lure the young women their way. ? The Indian Post Office is also cashing in. It has launched a set of floral-scented stamps for Valentines Day and hopes this will encourage people to send letters and cards to each other, rather than relying on emails and text messages to express their love. ? Trad itional Indian society does not approve of public displays of affection between men and women, including hand-holding and kissing. Another Hindu organization, the Shiv Sena, has said it will take pictures of couples caught expressing their love in cinemas, cafes, and shopping malls and give the pictures to their parents. ? Valentines Day is a relatively new concept in India but it has grown in significance in the past five years. Valentine Day Facts ? Teachers receive the most Valentines Day cards, followed by children, mothers, wives, and then, sweethearts. Children between ages 6 to 10 exchange more than 650 million Valentines cards with teachers, classmates, and family members. 73% of Valentine Day flowers are bought by men, whereas women buy only 23% of Valentine flowers. ? Amongst the earliest Valentines Day gifts were candies. The most common were chocolates in heart shaped boxes. ? Around 3% of pet owners prefer to give Valentine gifts to their pets, as they are more grateful than humans. Conclusion: And so here is a complete list of suggestions to give at Valentines. Hope you and *someone* live happy forever. I like chocolates and plushies and my favourite sidebar is the valentines one. Just in case you were wondering. Quotes Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love When love is not madness, it is not love. â€Å"Lifes greatest happiness is to be convinced we are loved. † â€Å"A life without love is like a year without summer. † There is no remedy for love but to love more. Some love lasts a lifetime. True love lasts forever. Love is the greatest refreshment in life. At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet. Love is a mutual self-giving which ends in self-recovery. Better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all. To love another person is to see the face of God. There is no remedy for love but to love more. Def: Valentines Day is a day to express your love, and to celebrate the spirit of lov e. On feb 14, we think about people we love. we also think abt frnds. we may send these special people messages called valentines. it is fun to make or choose these decorated greetings. it feels good to thm when some times give and get gifts. February 14 is valentines day. Every FEB 14, people around the world show their frndship love for those around them by celebrating valentines day. Valentines day has been around for hundred of years. The antient Romans celebrated a Lupercalia, a festival in honour of roman god faunas. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "History of St. Valentines Day" essay for you Create order

The Effect of Globalization on Japan - 630 Words

I will analyze the effects of globalization on Japan’s culture, worldview, population, environment, and environment. I will consider both the direct and indirect effects of globalization on Japan’s native and foreign inhabitants. My analysis will not be restricted to any specific geographic region of Japan; I will highlight issues that have widespread implications across Japan’s myriad prefectures. By merging two datasets from 2000, Cole, Elliot, and Shimamoto measured fourteen indicators of a company’s environmental management and investigated how companies’ characteristics along with external factors influenced the effectiveness of environmental management systems. Altogether, the indicators showed a positive correlation between Cole’s, Elliot’s, and Shimamoto’s measures of globalization and environmental management. Notably, firms that undertake foreign direct investment are more likely to have more stringent standards of environmental management. The effects of globalization on Japan are apparent to me from Japanese firms’ policies on environmental management; global pressures are forcing Japanese firms to become more environmentally conscious and responsible. Kubota and McKay investigated the role of English in Hasu, a small Japanese community with non-English-speaking immigrants from Brazil, China, Peru, Korea, Thailand, and other countries, by evaluating the results of a community survey on diversity and interviewing five Japanese individuals. TheyShow MoreRelatedJapan and Globalization963 Words   |  4 PagesJapan, home of some of the largest multinational technology corporations in the world, has been influenced in myriad ways through globalization. The effects of globalization on Japan provide valuable insights into the transformation of Japanese society. Global processes have increased wages and homelessness, strengthened environmental management programs, shifted governance towards regionalism, and threatened linguistic diversity in Japan. Numerous studies on Japan’s economy provide both the positiveRead MoreEssay on GLT task1887 Words   |  4 PagesWhat is globalization? Globalization, â€Å"refers to processes of international integration arising from the interchange of world views, products, ideas, and other aspects of culture† (Merriam-Webster, 2014). Since the 1980’s the impact of globalization has been on the rise. Western cultures are bringing about new ways of culture while indigenous people are modifying their traditional ways to western civilization. I will be discussing two non-western cultures and the effects of globalization. TheRead MoreEssay on Impact of the Cold War on the World Economies1727 Words   |  7 Pagesthe trading was done within a countries own group. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Keeping a nation’s economy going is a very difficult balancing act. Things the country itself does, like pass new laws, can effect a countries economy greatly. Situations were economies are hurt by new laws are completely in the hands of the countries government. In some situations it’s not in their control at all. This is like the situation with Scotland and its trade with RussiaRead MoreThe Effect of Globalization on Fashion with Special Reference to the Impact of Japanese Designs on the European Scene1527 Words   |  7 Pagesthe effect of ‘Globalization’ on fashion with special reference to the impact of Japanese designs on the European scene. The definition of globalisation is quite complex and extremely controversial. However globalization with reference to the fashion industry helps defines the development of what has been termed as „world fashion‟. Preferred garments of young people is quite often the same. A phenomenon made possible by the exploitative mechanisms of globalization. The globalization of clothingRead MoreThe Effect of Globalization on Fashion with Special Reference to the Impact of Japanese Designs on the European Scene1521 Words   |  7 PagesAnalyse the effect of ‘Globalization’ on fashion with special reference to the impact of Japanese designs on the European scene. The definition of globalisation is quite complex and extremely controversial. However globalization with reference to the fashion industry helps defines the development of what has been termed as „world fashion‟. Preferred garments of young people is quite often the same. A phenomenon made possible by the exploitative mechanisms of globalization. The globalization of clothingRead MoreThe Globalization of Culture: Cultural Homogenization1707 Words   |  7 Pagesor way-of-life. With the dawn of globalization, however, cultural variety and distinguishing characteristics are vanishing; giving rise to a monoculture common to all. While this may be a harbinger of unity and relatedness among all people of the world, it also damages the unique cultural identities they once took pride in. This paper discusses the effects of globalization on culture, along with its positive and negative effects. Since the effects of globalization on culture are non-exhaustive, itRead MoreJapan And Its Effects On Japan1252 Words   |  6 PagesJapan unlike many other countries has thrived on globalization. Japanese companies have investments all over the world, Japan exports modern technology such as new and innovative vehicles, and Japan’s people tourist in many iconic places outside of their country. But at the same time, globalization is hurtin g Japan. Globalization in Japan has led the country into issues with pollution. An overflow of waste incineration sites and construction, and also the butchery of Whales. These matters have steeredRead MoreSustainable Development and Globalization Are Two Popular Concept with Respect to Present Context. Is Globalization Is a Threat for Sustainable Development ?1031 Words   |  5 Pagesongoing process with no endpoint†. In my opinion, Globalization is a threat for Sustainable Development which is discussed below and relevant reasons found from the campaign of â€Å"Greenpeace international† Globalization   describes a process by which regional economies, societies, and cultures have become integrated through a globe-spanning network of communication and trade. The term is sometimes used to refer specifically to  economic globalization: the integration of national economies into theRead MoreWesternization Of The West And The Rest1295 Words   |  6 PagesEastern countries. Another concept that is discussed often is globalization, which is defined as â€Å"the process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale† (New Oxford American Dictionary). Globalization is continuously happening since many companies, specifically American ones, want to reach out to a new market. Thus, it seems that it is unavoidable for Japan to be somewhat influenced by American or European culture, butRead MoreEssay on Globalization1614 Words   |  6 Pagesand contested topic in today’s context. Globalization includes aspects like: economics, politics, ideas, knowledge, culture, society, environment, health, social etcetera. Though globalization can be traced back into tim e immemorial, but the extent and magnitude of present globalization is unprecedented. The integration and interdependence of globalization implies that today local event can have global impact and vice-versa. 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The Pro Life Community And Pro Choice Community - 992 Words

The status of abortion is one that will always be argued amongst the pro-life community and the pro-choice community. Abortion is the deliberate termination of a human pregnancy, most often performed during the first 28 weeks. (Dictionary) Jane and John are two accomplished individuals who put their careers ahead of having children. When Jane became pregnant they discovered that the baby had Down syndrome (Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that causes lifelong mental retardation, developmental delays and other problems. Down syndrome varies in severity, so developmental problems range from moderate to serious.) (Staff) They did not want have a disabled child, so they decide to abort. In this essay I will argue that it is morally wrong for Jane to have an abortion. Firstly I will present the â€Å"extreme† conservative argument to support my view, secondly I will consider one objection to my argument and finally I will provide a response to the objection. Thomson presents the conservative argument, which states the fetus is a person from the moment of conception, every person has a right to life, hence the fetus has a right to life, every person has the right to control his or her body, but the right to life always outweighs the right to control one’s body, therefore, abortion is always morally wrong. (Thomson ,1) Firstly, The big question is when is a fetus a person? Many will have different ideas and timeline of this event, but I believe that a fetus is a person from theShow MoreRelatedThe Legalization And Practice Of Abortion Essay1636 Words   |  7 Pagesabortion are considered part of the pro-choice category, while those who oppose the law and practice belong to the pro-life group. 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These extremists invade women’s privacies and undermined women’s freedoms on decisions making. The pro-life advocates are simply third parties who claims that they are trying to save lives; however, their earnest intentions cannot outweigh the consequences that sometimes comes with keeping the fetus. For example, a sixteen year old female became impregnated by her seventeenth year old boyfriend. Her family’sRead MoreShould Abortion Be Legalized ?1200 Words   |  5 Pagesfor this purpose. There are two sides to this abortion subject the PRO-LIFE which is those who are against abortion altogether and the PRO-CHOICE or those who believe it is the woman’s right to pick if she wants to have an abortion or don’t have to do it. Those two groups offer different answers to problem. The pro-life answer is to have the kid and essentially live with it. People believe that abortion is not an answer. Pro-choice solution is abortion because of reasons they feel are suitable. AlthoughRead MorePro Choice Vs. Abortion1426 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Pro-Choice is an opposing position against the pro-life that completely and clearly advocates that every women in the world has equal rights of having abortion and there will no legal or religious restriction against electing an abortion in routine life. Many of social religious, civil and national federations raised a slogan against abortion and in the support of this opposition all of these communities and people also run Pro-life movement, United States. This movement opposes Pro-choice andRead MoreThe Issue Of The Abortion1597 Words   |  7 Pagesphysician to procure a miscarriage and or for a woman to self induce an abortion. The penalty was life of imprisonment for the person. The law states that it would only be legal is if it was necessary to save the woman s life. 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Even with all we already know about the Native people and culture, it is a very interesting topic for us and we are very eager to learn something new about them. When we started the case study, we could understand

Vacant Chapter 2 Window Free Essays

I’m staring, which is something I don’t make a habit of. Eye contact typically invites people into conversations, and I’m not a fan of chit-chat. I stand in the doorway with an awkward pause, like I’m unfamiliar with waving as an appropriate means to say hello. We will write a custom essay sample on Vacant Chapter 2 Window or any similar topic only for you Order Now My pause before I answer her is a pace too long, and the situation is somewhat uncomfortable as I stand there waiting for her to offer up more information. More importantly, I want to know why she’s knocking on my door, and I hope it’s not so we can get to know each other. Since several more seconds pass without further exchange, I finally cave in and offer myself up. â€Å"Hey, I’m Ethan,† I say wanting to keep it simple. I don’t want to get sucked into a conversation with her, but I don’t want to be rude, either. She can tell I’m a little put out with her presence, so she gets right to the point. The last thing I need is an overly perky neighbor who thinks we’re â€Å"pals.† â€Å"Sorry, I was just having trouble getting a window open. It’s going to be a hot one, you know, and I don’t have the electricity turned on yet. They want some freaking deposit since I don’t have a credit history. It’s like, ‘Hello, I’m living in a crappy house, in a crappy neighborhood. If I had good credit, I wouldn’t be living here.’ Anyway, I want to get the window open to get air moving through, and I think it’s painted shut. I don’t want to be all ‘damsel in distress,’ but I can’t pry the darn thing open†¦Ã¢â‚¬  My thoughts trail off and I realize this is the most anyone has said to me in years. Perky girl is still talking, but I’m continuously distracted by her mere presence and the fact that her chest spills over the top of her tank. She’s pretty cute, but I try not to dwell on her appearance as lustful thoughts won’t lead anywhere good. â€Å"So you think you could come help me?† I know I missed some information in there, but I’m not going to ask for clarification or for her to repeat it. â€Å"Sure, no problem.† I follow behind her, but at a safe distance. I don’t want the offer of my help and me being polite to some girl mistaken for flirting. It sounds conceited, but it’s happened before. It’s better not to give them any sense of false hope. I mind my own business and live my life; today will be no exception. She shows me the window in question, and sure enough, it’s painted shut. I roll my eyes at the incredibly inept and lazy maintenance people for doing a half-assed paint job. â€Å"Um, I’ll be right back. I’ll have to get something to cut this open.† I turn to head out her front door, but she stops me. â€Å"Oh, wait. Like a box cutter? I have one of those. I think the maintenance people left it here by mistake.† She rummages in a kitchen drawer then presents me with a paint covered box knife. As I work the window, she asks me several questions related to the area. My answers are succinct since I’m not really receptive to the Getting-to-Know-You game. The â€Å"Twenty Questions† moderator doesn’t get the hint though, and keeps on with the game. â€Å"So, how long have you lived here?† â€Å"A few years.† â€Å"Do you know many of the neighbors?† â€Å"I don’t talk to the neighbors much, so I don’t know anything about them.† I’m hopeful my continued shortness helps her get the hint that I’m not interested in a conversation. â€Å"Wow, you’re pretty quiet, huh?† â€Å"Yeah.† â€Å"So, what do you do for fun?† I’m caught off guard by her question. I can’t recall when I’ve had fun, so I’m not sure how to respond. I stand up straight, rolling my shoulders back and craning my neck in a stretch, attempting to buy a little time for my answer. While I don’t particularly care what this girl thinks of me, I don’t want to come off like a total loser, either. â€Å"Look, I’m sorry,† she says. â€Å"I didn’t mean to pry. I’ve bothered you enough this morning. You’ve been so nice, helping me out and all. I’m gonna†¦Ã¢â‚¬  she trails off and I go back to working the window, popping it open a few seconds later. â€Å"I’ll see you around,† I tell her, raising the window to its fully open state. She quickly dismisses me with another small wave, and I leave to go back to my own little corner of the earth. Despite the fact that I’ve been in her unit for less than five minutes, it doesn’t escape my notice that there’s no furniture or a TV, just a mattress on the floor of her bedroom. Maybe the moving truck with her stuff hasn’t arrived yet, I think to myself. In the back of my mind, I know there isn’t more stuff coming. People like us don’t have stuff or the need for moving trucks. I’m lying in bed, thinking about the stupid question she asked me. â€Å"What do you do for fun?† How could such a simple question send me into a tailspin? That’s when I hear a whimper. It’s been a while since anyone’s lived next door, and the last guy who lived there was never home, so I’m used to quiet. The walls are thin in apartments like this, cheaply built and economically priced rental units. Much expense was spared in their construction. I’m certain we share no more than a few two-by-fours and two slabs of sheetrock as the wall. It doesn’t provide any more privacy than that found between bedrooms in the same home instead of two separate residences. I turn my head, thinking it will improve my ability to discern what I think I’m hearing. It doesn’t, but then I hear muted sobbing. That can only mean one thing – new neighbor girl is crying. I turn away, wanting the sound to stop; I don’t want to be involved. The next morning shows no signs of life from my neighbor, but that’s no surprise. The noise coming from her side of the duplex kept me up well into the night, so I’m sure she’s sleeping in. I, on the other hand, take part in my free exercise routine – running. I do this early in the morning for two reasons: one, I avoid those who may feel the need to hassle me for money. They are not early risers, as hassling is a mid-morning and post-lunch activity. Two, it gets hot as fuck here in the summer, and running in 105 degree temperatures is just stupid. I crest the hill on my street, nearly completing my three miles, and see her setting out the trash. New girl is looking around nervously, probably in hopes of going undetected since she’s barely dressed in her tiny shorts and tank top. It’s not leaving a whole hell of a lot to the imagination, and my mind wanders as I catch a glimpse at her ass. I see her throw a couple of empty boxes to the curb then turn and rush inside. I’m close enough that I can see the blackened bottoms of her feet as she scurries inside, then wonder how often she goes without shoes. A few days pass before I see her again as I return from my run. This time she’s leaving a few plastic grocery sacks out for the trash. Once again, she’s dressed in the same tank and shorts she wore on Sunday. After my cool down stretch, I make my way inside and gather my things to shower. Only then does it occur to me that I haven’t heard the water turn on in neighbor girl’s unit at any point since she moved in, not even a toilet flush. The only sound I hear from her side of the wall is the crying each night. I recall her statement about not having electricity. I’m guessing she doesn’t have the water turned on yet, either. A knot forms in my stomach. Don’t get involved. Keep things simple. Take care of yourself! I can’t help it and walk out my door, knocking on hers seconds later. It takes a moment before I realize I’m only wearing my shorts, but it’s too late. She opens the door a crack and eyes me. â€Å"Ethan,† she greets, and then opens the door a little wider, looking around cautiously. â€Å"Emily, right?† â€Å"Yeah. What’s up?† She’s smiling again, just like when we met. â€Å"I noticed that you, um†¦don’t have electricity yet, and you don’t have water either, huh?† She bites the inside of her cheek nervously. â€Å"No.† Her reply is so small, just like she is, and I can tell she’s embarrassed. â€Å"Come on,† I say, motioning for her to follow me. â€Å"You can shower and wash your clothes at my place. I pay a flat fee for the water, so you using it won’t cost me any more money.† Don’t get involved. Keep things simple. Take care of yourself! It’s too late, though. I’m already involved. It’s no longer simple, and for the first time ever, I’m offering to care for someone other than myself. How to cite Vacant Chapter 2 Window, Essay examples

Oliver Twist Essay Summary Example For Students

Oliver Twist Essay Summary We then meet the character Fagin who introduced himself to Oliver. Fagin and his gang are thieves, but Oliver realizes this yet. Fagin and his friends started a game, Fagin hid things in his pocket and Oliver had to try and take them without Fagin noticing. I as the reader realized that Fagin and his friends where trying to teach Oliver how to pickpocket, but in the story Oliver himself believed it was just a game. Oliver only realized when he went off on the streets with Fagin and the dodger, he saw the dodger reach into a mans pocket and run off. Oliver was caught and accused of stealing. Young Oliver was being taken to court, I imagine he would have been afraid and worried of ending up in prison, he would have felt helpless. But thinking back at his terrible childhood, he may have thought that prison would have been better the going back to the workhouse. Either way, a child in that position would more then likely be afraid, I know I would be. I think Oliver is a very strong character because he has lived through a terrible childhood but still keeps fighting. After everything hes been through he still refuses to go back to the workhouse or the undertakers. I personally felt sympathy towards Oliver because I believe that no child should have gone through the kinds of things he did. I think that in the end Oliver got what he disserved, a nice family and home with parents who take good care of him. In conclusion, Olivers life had been completely turned around by the time we reached the end of the novel, he started off in a terrible home and even worse guardians. And in the end he found himself good parents and a nice home. I believe dickens wanted his readers to react with joy after reading the end, I as a reader felt happiness and relief for young Oliver. I think that reading Oliver Twist can be enjoyed as much if not more nowadays then many years ago. I also think that the novel influenced the readers and made them think about how the lifestyle was like many years ago compared to today, it certainly made me appreciate the fact that things arent the way they used to be. Nitesh Khetani 10T English Coursework Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our GCSE Oliver Twist section.