Vietnam Country and Culture

Vietnam Country and Culture Vietnam Essay Vietnam has a huge population and it measures to be around 95,414,640. That is way more than californias population only being 37,253,956 as of now. The capital of vietnam is called Hanoi, Hanoi is known for its architecture and a rich culture with Southeast Asian, Chinese and French impact. Vietnams four largest cities are Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, and Haiphong. If the population of these cities were to merge, the population would be 6,253,789. Also the money/currency that they use is called Vietnamese dong. One u.s dollar is equivalent to 22642.50 Vietnamese Dong. Some good attractions in Vietnam are Hoan Kiem Lake, Thien Mu Pagoda and Halong Bay. Hoan Kiem Lake is located in Hanoi which is the capital of vietnam. Thien Mu Pagoda is located in Hue and it is a city in central Vietnam.Then, Halong Bay is in northeast Vietnam and it is known for its emerald waters and thousands of limestone islands topped by rainforests. The top accommodation in Vietnam is called Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi by popularity. Vietnam has reached great results in literacy reaching to be 90% in just primary education. For adults and youth together, they would make the percentage go up to be 94%. For languages in vietnam, the percentage of people who speak vietnamese is 90 to 85% and the remaining 10% to 15% come from other backgrounds. Children must at least complete their secondary education to move farther. Students are not free to choose what they study. They have to complete all their courses that need to be completed. Agricultural products accounted to be around 30% of exports in vietnam.The agricultural products vary to be rice, cotton, peanuts, rubber, sugarcane and tea. Gross national product in vietnam increased to 3977610.00 VND billion. The per capita income in vietnam is 5,070 PPP dollars. In cambodia the per capita is only 2,890 PPP dollars. Vietnams per capita income is way more than cambodias income. Vietnam people in the urban areas, live like any other country, except only about 30% of the population of vietnam lives in urban area, they usually live in cramped apartments, some cities such as Ho Chi Minh, or Hanoi is mainly a urban area. People lives in villages in rural area, which is about 70% of the vietnamese populations, 60% of Vietnamese Workforce is farmers, where they grows food for their families, and hoping to make some money by moving to the cities and selling them at farmers markets. Vietnams customs follow Buddhism, and Confucianism, focuses on five different subjects, such as Ruler and Subject, Husband and Wife, Parents and Children, Brothers and Sisters, Friend and Friend, it stress duty, loyalty, honor, respect for age and seniority. Buddhism believe in a spiritual path, led by Buddha Shakyamuni in ancient India, as purified the mind, into a peaceful state of mind, removing any negative affects. You can have face, or lose faces in vietnam, you have to compliment people, or business, to receive faces. Some of vietnam most populars dish, is Pho, which people usually eat with bo, which is beef, and I see it like the equivalent of ramen or italian pasta. Other foods such as Banh Cuon, or Rolled Rice Pancake, which is a soft like roll that contained diced up meats, veggies, and includes condiments such as hot nuoc mam (fish sauce), vegetable side condiment plate where it has several vietnamese vegetables such as mints. We have a vietnam war memorial, located in Hanoi which is our capital. Vietnam is one of the least religious country, however some still have beliefs, and some of the major religion is Buddhism, Caodaism and Confucianism. Many of these religions respect, and have standards for family, which is why etiquette is so valuable. Vietnam believe in Confucianism, and Buddhism, which Buddhism is created by Shakyamuni Buddha, who was a monk that came to vietnam in early time, he believed in meditations, and a spiritual path, which many vietnamese monks started meditating and practicing his teachings. Confucianism doesnt always have to be perceived as a religion, they could be a ideology or a philosophy, who he wanted to understand everything, using old teachings back then, to understand the roots of cultural ceremonies. Both religion dont usually believe it ultimate goal, the ultimate entity is god, even though they worship creators of that religions, both religion main purpose is to achieve a more positive, or ethical way of life. Forms of Vietnamese music include hat cheo (traditional folk opera), hat tuong (classical drama), hat cai luong (modern theater), quan ho (folk songs, with dialogues sung between women and women), and more variations of regional folks songs. The first Vietnamese Television was aired around 1966, when the American setup a American channel and a Vietnamese Channel to send out announcements. VTV is the main channels for vietnamese television, and contains many version of popular Vietnamese-versions of US shows  shows, such as, Vietnam Idol, Vietnams Got Talent, or The Voice of Vietnam. Nobody had really known the origin of Vietnam, however in mythology, Huong Vuong was rumored to be the first ruler of Vietnam, during 111 B.C. and China ruled 111 B.C. until the 15th century, which was 1000 years of control of Vietnam, during the age of exploration, independent kingdoms unified which begins the start the independence of Vietnam. The Size and area of Vietnam is 128,455mi2. The continent that Vietnam is located in is Asia. The climate of Vietnam has a temperate region meaning it lies between the polar and tropic regions of the Earth. The changes between winter and summer are moderate. It has a high rate of rainfall, high humidity, and a considerable amount of sun.These are the political features of the country Vietnam. The population of people in Vietnam is 89.71 million and the capital of Vietnam is Hanoi. Hanoi is known for their old architecture that are centuries old in Vietnam. Some large cities in Vietnam are Ho Chi Minh city, Hanoi, Da Nang, and Haiphong. The unit of money currency in Vietnam that is used in daily life is Dong, these are the political features of Vietnam. The President or the head of the state in Vietnam is Tran Dai Quang. Some army forces is the ministry of Vietnam, the peoples army of Vietnam, and the Vietnam border defence force. The crime rate of corruption and bribery in Vietnam is high and the crime rate of property crimes such as vandalism and theft is moderate. The safety issues is pick pocketing, guns are illegal so they are thieves are usually unarmed except for a knife and such, trafficking illegal drugs come with a severe punishment if caught. Some courts of Vietnam are the Judicial system, supreme court, and the Justice system. The current type of government in Vietnam is led by a one party system which is also led by the communist party of Vietnam.

Lucy Honeychurch: Motifs, Themes, Biography, Plot

â€Å"A Room with a View†, by Edward Morgan Forster, presents the story of Lucy Honeychurch, a young woman belonging to English high society. Forster places this young maiden in a state of conflict between the snobbery of her class: the â€Å"suitable and traditional† views and advice offered by various family members and friends, and her true heart’s desire. This conflict â€Å"forces† Lucy Honeychurch to choose between convention and passion and throws her into a state of internal struggle, as she must sift through the elements of her social conditioning and discern them from her true emotions and desires [Ford]. Forster develops and utilizes Lucy’s internal struggle as a means of transforming her from a pretty young woman, to a subtle heroine. Lucy Honeychurch is introduced to the reader as a somewhat pretty young woman, obviously ignorant to the ways of the world, who is being chaperoned by her cousin, Charlotte Bartlett, while vacationing in Italy. Numerous conversations over matters of dress, the acceptability of various pieces of furniture, and other vacations, suggest the snobbish nature of both Lucy and Charlotte. Relevant materials: Maru Themes In fact, matters of convention encompass Lucy’s life until George Emerson’s â€Å"caddish,’ yet passionate, display of affection takes over. Lucy and Charlotte are both very alike because they hold true the values of upper class English society. Lucy constantly struggles with how she is supposed to act, think, or even associate herself with: most conflictingly George Emerson, a railroad worker of the lower class (Ford). Their union is forbidden by Miss Bartlett by telling Lucy that he is a socialist, that she shouldn’t associate herself with him and just overall patronizing George excessively. Charlotte and Lucy also share the same renouncement of words when they are talking to people to seem more polite. At the beginning of the novel, Lucy is feebly trying to fit in with the members of the upper class by living by certain class values and rules of propriety but they all don’t form her with any opinion or route of action. By the end of the novel, she has formed her own thoughts, opinions, and actions and takes full control of her fate and breaks it off with Cecil to marry George, her true love. Lucy also encounters muddles, as pointed out by Mr. Emerson, which she realizes and fixes by the end of the novel. She wasn’t following her own heart and thoughts, but making decisions based on the wants of her social class, not her own. Lucy Honeychurch makes a dramatic transformation throughout the novel form a sweet, naive heroine to a strong, independent woman (Schwarz). In the novel the best representation of class snobbery is Miss Charlotte Bartlett, Lucy’s chaperon in her travels to Italy and Greece. Not only is Miss Bartlett unimaginative and patronizing to the Emerson’s but she is the hindrance to Lucy’s true happiness; being with George Emerson. Lucy is at first naive and dependent on others views for her own at the beginning of the novel. In the opening scene, Lucy and Miss Bartlett meet the Emerson’s who offer them a room with a view. In the text; Forster gives us insight into Miss Bartlett: â€Å"Miss Bartlett, though skilled in the delicacies of conversation, was powerless in the presence of brutality. It was impossible to snub any one so gross. Her face reddened with displeasure. She looked around as not to say, â€Å"Are you all like this? â€Å"(Forster 11). And two little old ladies, who were sitting further up the table, with shawls hanging over the backs of the chairs, looked back, clearly indicating â€Å"We are not; we are genteel†(11). â€Å"Eat your dinner, dear, she said to Lucy, and began to† toy again with the meat that she had once censured. †(6). Lucy replies in this manner to the apparent indifference between Miss Charlotte and the Emersons: â€Å"Lucy mumbled that those seemed very odd people opposite† (6). Furthermore, during the dinner conversation at the pension Miss Bartlett Commands Lucy To: â€Å"Lucy, dearest, let Mr. Beebe eats his dinner. â€Å"(7). This is the first instance of Miss Bartlett’s overbearing dominance of Lucy’s actions, Thoughts, and decisions. Finally, Mrs. Bartlett realizes her obtrusive manner toward Lucy at the end of their trip to Italy and confesses to Lucy, â€Å"I shall never forgive myself. †(89). Lucy then starts to truly find herself when Miss Bartlett starts letting Lucy become independent and pursue her own interests; letting her do what she wants; and think what she wants to think. But class snobbery is apparent all the way throughout the novel particularly by the provincial patronizing of the lower class repeatedly in a multitude of situations. Forster was born into an Anglo-Irish and Welsh middle-class family at 6 Melcombe Place, Dorset Square, London NW1, in a building that no longer exists. He was the only child of Edward Morgan Llewellyn Forster and Alice Clara â€Å"Lily†. His father, an architect, died of tuberculosis on 30 October, 1880. Among Forster's ancestors were members of the Clapham Sect. He inherited a lot of money from his paternal great-aunt Marianne Thornton (daughter of the abolitionist Henry Thornton), who died on 5 November, 1887†(Mcdowell). The money was enough to live on and enabled him to become a writer. Young Edward was raised by his mother, aunts, and governesses. He started writing stories at the young age of six at the Turnbridge high school in Kent County. Then later he started to study philosophy, and literature at Kings College in Cambridge. Then he joined a group called the Cambridge Apostles, devoted to protecting homosexuality and theology of the age. Forster began to become enthralled by the surrounding WWI and the beautiful, aspiring landscape of Europe (McDowell). He drew inspiration for his novel A Room with a View. When he traveled to Italy, Greece, And Rome. Forester would develop a deep love of Mediterranean culture he would grow to love and write about. Forster then traveled to Alexandria, Egypt where he met his first true love, Mohammed el Adia. He became well acquainted with the conflict between the British Taj and the Indian Independence Movement; from which stemmed an award winning book, A Passage to India (Britannica). The author’s tone throughout the novel, A Room with a View is: satirical, humanistic, and very particular in the conflict between the upper class and the lower class. Forster based his book around the passion of Lucy Honeychurch, the main character, and the internal conflict between Lucy and her decisions; in relation to the morals and values of her social class. It reflects snobbish British upper class during this time period and their effrontery to delegate mainstream tourists and Italians below themselves. Forester’s satirical views is portrayed in the title of his chapters where 16-19 are entitled â€Å"Lucy Lies† to† blank† and his chapter titles actually tell the big events of each chapter, in sharp contrast to novels of other eras which used titles to just foreshadow the possible. The title, A Room with a View is portrayed throughout the novel by the relationship between Cecil and Lucy Honeychurch. Lucy views Cecil as a room with no view and in retrospect; Cecil views Lucy as a view without a room (Mcdowell). Devote Love and compassion along with the belief of Georges belief in fate is what drives the plot of the story. Lucy can’t help feel compassion in love with George who sweeps her off her feet time and time again. While, George believes strongly in fate proving arduously stubborn throughout the whole novel, ultimately uniting Lucy and George in the end. An example of both the two main Components of the novel, A Room With A View: class snobbery and the independent transformation of Lucy Honeychurch is when Lucy experiences thinking for her own self and keeping her own secrets making her feel lonely (Literature Notebook). â€Å"After Mr. Eager leaves, Lucy expresses exasperation at the thought of the drive. They discuss the problems of the drive; for one, Miss Lavish has been invited by Mr. Beebe, and Mr. Eager does not like Miss Lavish. So Charlotte resolves that the two men will go with Lucy in the first carriage while Miss Lavish and Charlotte follow in the second carriage (Forster 120). They pick up their mail at the bureau; Lucy has letters from home. Mrs. Vyse, a friend of the family, is in Rome with her son. Lucy suggests going to Rome the next day, but Charlotte reminds Lucy of the country drive, and the two women laugh at Lucy's suggestions. At this point in the novel is the apex where Lucy thus changed by the secret of the murder of the Italian man, feels a new perspective on life, that of her own opinions and thoughts. The concealment of the murder thus drives Lucy toward the transformation of a more independent character. When Mr. Eager rolls onto more class anxiety or class snobbery of passing a rumor about Mr. Emerson murdering his wife, then Lucy takes a stand and defends the Emersons saying that they are nice people who would never do anything of that sort. This is a monumental change in the novel of Lucy forming her own opinions and developing into a strong woman. Forester outlines and enhances the concussive idea of fate, and the background elements that enhance the drama. Before the carriage ride it’s sunny and hot outside; but after when the story reaches the pinnacle and Lucy begins to display her independence and becomes stronger as the thunder storm develops. Forester is using the mood and background of the book to perpetuate the transformation of Lucy Honeychurch. The main characters transformation form delightful to strong and bold matches the presentiment of the mood while riding toward Windy Corner. George Emerson strikes up an argument with Mr. Beebe about what life is based on: fate or coincidence? George takes a standpoint that fate is the controlling influence in life which is portrayed by Forester in the way that George and Lucy seem to magically run into each other after Lucy is told by Miss Bartlett to not associate with the Emerson’s because they are â€Å"Evil. † This first instance is when Lucy comes across two Italians fighting when she is returning from touring the gift shops and is horrified to see an Italian man stabbed in the back over a debt of five schillings (Literature Notebook). She faints and when she wakes up she sees George who caught her when she fainted. Lucy immediately is startled at George being so close to her and makes a frantic escape for home. The second instance of fate bringing Lucy and George together is when Lucy encounters the Emerson’s at the Church. The Emerson’s give Lucy a nice lesson on medieval art and give her some interesting views on life to think about. â€Å"The thing about the universe is that it doesn’t fit,† remarks George which portrays his deep thought, sensitivity, and intelligence (Forster 25). A third instance is when the Italian clergyman leads Lucy to George when they are on the carriage ride to see the beautiful homes and landscape of the countryside. Instead of leading Lucy to Miss Bartlett, like she requested in Italian, He leads her to George Emerson in the field of violet terraces. George turns and sees her and immediately kisses her, caught up in the beauty of the moment. The final instance is when Cecil, Lucy’s supposed suitor, invites the Emerson’s over to the garden party to absolve Lucy’s snobbishness by introducing perspectives of the lower class. Really, Cecil ends up ruining his own planned marriage with Lucy and foils his own happiness (Schwartz). What Forster wants to portray in this novel, is the personalities and opinions of his characters and how your social background can both influence you positively and negatively. He incorporates so many different elements and personas into the story that it leaves the reader to be saturated the feelings and emotions of the characters very strongly. You get a strong feeling of the class snobbery, transformation of Lucy Honeychurch, influence of fate, and a real insight into the opinions of Lucy Honeychurch. Forester brings all of these elements and ties it together with the ongoing transformation of Lucy Honey church form a weak, naive woman to a sophisticated, strong woman. The intense influence of Miss Bartlett finally is broken when Lucy begins to go and explore Italy for herself and starts to have her own thoughts and secrets. Lucy Honeychurch, at first, finds herself constrained by the claustrophic influence of her Guardians, especially Miss Bartlett. However, Lucy takes control of her own fate and finds love with George Emerson, who views her as a â€Å"Room with A View. In Contrast, Cecil views Lucy as a View without a room, or just something to have and look at; like a piece of art (Ford). He tried to manipulate herself and work into a masterpiece, trying to contort her imperfections while George respected her thoughts and opinions and loved her for who she was. Not to mention Cecil’s struggle with any intimacy whatsoever toward Lucy, even a kiss. So, in conclusion Forster incorporates the oblivion of class control over Lucy Honeychurch and the prevalence of Lucy transforming into an independent woman to control her own fate and end up with George Emerson, despite her class opinion of him.

How does Shakespeare adapt the holinshed chronicles to create an entertaining piece of theatre? Essay

The Holinshed Chronicles, first published in 1577, contained factual accounts of the reign of Macbeth, and was used as the source material for Shakespeare’s play ‘Macbeth’. During this essay, how Shakespeare used, edited and manipulated this information will be analysed. There are several reasons why Macbeth was a good choice for Shakespeare to base a play on. Firstly, Banquo, a character in ‘Macbeth’, was related to the current King of England and Scotland, James I, so if Shakespeare portrayed Banquo as a good person, his play would gain instant popularity with the royal family. Another reason Shakespeare was drawn to Macbeth was because the factual story of Macbeth included the predictions of three strange women, or witches, and as people in the early 17th century took witchcraft very seriously, it added extra tension for the audience, and once again suited the interests of James I, who had a well known interest in witchcraft. It was typical for Shakespeare’s plays to derive from other people’s work, for example, ‘Macbeth’ was taken from the Holinshed Chronicles. Another example of this is the play ‘Romeo and Juliet’, which was taken from an Italian poem, and turned into a play by Shakespeare. When creating ‘Macbeth’, Shakespeare’s main aims were for his play to be popular with the Royal Family, and therefore popular with the general public, which meant that he would make a lot of money from the production. It was also important that the play wasn’t too long, and was easy to perform on stage. Shakespeare included three witches from the beginning of ‘Macbeth’ to incorporate Macbeth into the central role of the play straight away. According to Holinshed, there were not only witches, but also â€Å"certeine wizzards† who prophesied about Macbeth. Rather than include too many ‘supernatural’ characters and complicate the performances on stage, Shakespeare created Hecate, a very powerful witch to make up for lack of witches and wizards from the Holinshed Chronicles. From their first appearance, the witches are in full control of what happens around them, â€Å"When shall we three meet again?† And where and how they appear. This is crucial to the play, as it gets the interest of the audience from the very first scene, because at the time when the play was first produced, there was a very strong belief about witches and the supernatural. Shakespeare is very creative with the way he uses the witches to incorporate the audience into the play. The witches often equivocate when talking to Macbeth, misleading and confusing him, â€Å"The power of man, for none of woman born shall harm Macbeth.† This technique is also effective when used to create dramatic irony, for example when it is used at the beginning of the play, â€Å"All hail Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter.† Shakespeare clearly highlighted the witches power throughout the play by using the various aforementioned techniques throughout the play. The witches language also helped for them to be taken seriously by the Shakespearean crowd, because they talked in iambic pentameter, and the people watching the play most probably wouldn’t speak like that, so it helped to give the witches an extra ‘edge’ in the performance. The inclusion of the witches in the play was of up most importance, and was most probably a factor in Shakespeare’s decision to use the story of Macbeth for his play. It must also be taken into account that the play wasn’t being performed with any effects, just a stage, so it was crucial that Shakespeare made the scenes possible to perform, (Shakespeare’s plays were never meant to be read) whilst still using some form of stagecraft. A good example of this is from the â€Å"witches dance† scene. This would have looked good on stage, but it was equally simple to perform, with no additional effects required. In ‘Macbeth’, Shakespeare portrays Duncan as a good ruler, who is well respected and liked. This conflicts with the Holinshed Chronicles, which suggest that Duncan was a terrible leader with little support or respect. Even though Shakespeare uses the Chronicles as the main source for his play, he mixes factual information with fiction, to make the play more appealing and exciting. Duncan first appears in the play in battle, and seems like a commanding character in control of his actions, but is later revealed to make errors in judgement, â€Å"He [the traitor] was a gentleman on whom I built an absolute trust.† His judgemental errors show again when he admires Macbeth’s castle, â€Å"This castle hath a pleasant seat† which will ultimately be the place of his murder. Despite this, Shakespeare again portrays him as a good king, as this is the main reason that Macbeth has doubts over his murder. One of the main reasons Shakespeare wanted to portray Duncan as a good king was to make the murder of him more dramatic. If he had portrayed Duncan as a bad monarch whom people disliked, his murder wouldn’t have been such a terrible act, and Macbeth would have faced little consequences. Instead, we are given an opportunity to see Macbeth rise to his zenith and quickly fall to his nadir shortly after in the play. Another reason for the murder of a ‘good’ Duncan was to grab the attention of an audience that were watching the play at a time when there was a great belief in the Divine Right of Kings. It is widely believed that Shakespeare changed Duncan’s character in a similar way to the other characters he portrayed differently than Holinshed – to cater to James I, the current King of England and Scotland. Throughout ‘Macbeth’, Banquo is seen as the opposite of Macbeth, where as in the Holinshed Chronicles, it’s written that Banquo was as eager as Macbeth, and willing to support him throughout his plots and kingship. We first see Banquo at the beginning of the play, with Macbeth when they meet the witches, who tell the prophecies about Macbeth. Whilst Macbeth is thinking about the prophecies and plotting his next move, Banquo shows doubts, â€Å"Are ye fantastical, or that indeed which outwardly ye show?† This highlights the contrast between Macbeth and Banquo from the beginning of the play. As the play advances, we see the relationship between the two put under great strain, as Banquo is the only person who knows about Macbeth’s plots and murder of the king, â€Å"I fear thou played’st most foully for’t.† Despite this, Banquo still pledges his loyalty to the new king, but is however murdered anyway due to the paranoia of Macbeth, and the seriousness in which Macbeth takes the witches predictions of Banquo’s children becoming king. There were several reasons why Shakespeare would have wanted to do this to Banquo’s character in ‘Macbeth’. Firstly, it highlighted the contrast between Macbeth, and his once close friend. It also highlighted Macbeth’s paranoia over the predictions of the witches, so much so that he was driven to murder his close friend to keep his throne. It is also another adaptation of Shakespeare’s that emphasises how he tried to adapt the play to suit the current king of England and Scotland, James I. At the time of writing it was believed that the king was a descendent of Banquo, so Shakespeare would have wanted to portray him as a good character, therefore gaining the approval of the Royal Family and making the play instantly popular. Macduff, a crucial character in the plot of ‘Macbeth’, is only first seen in the middle of Act 2, and plays a rather scarce role in the play. However, this does not reduce the significance that he has on the plot of the play. Macduff is suspicious of Macbeth as soon as he takes the throne, and suspects that he killed Duncan. Macduff’s suspicions of Macbeth are key to the plot, as it is he who flees to England to build an army capable of challenging Macbeth when he hears that his family have been murdered by Macbeth, â€Å"Within my sword’s length set him. If he scape, heaven forgive him too.† This is another example of a character being the friend of Macbeth at the start of the play, and turning against him as the play progresses. â€Å"Bring thou this fiend of Scotland and myself†. In productions of ‘Macbeth’, Macduff’s main scene’s, such as his campaign in England and final battle with Macbeth, are hard to produce on stage. This has resulted in many productions cutting his scene in England, and Shakespeare changing the location of Macbeth’s final battle. According to Holinshed, when Macbeth finds out about Macduff being born by Caesarean section, â€Å"Macduff was from his mother’s womb untimely ripped.† he flees, and is pursued by Macduff. However, in the play, Macbeth and Macduff fight at Dunsinane and Macbeth is ultimately slain. This is an example of how stagecraft was a major hurdle in Shakespeare’s productions, and how they were written. Shakespeare based Lady Macbeth on a person from Holinshed, Queen Gruoch of Scotland, however, he strongly exaggerates and changes the character to suit her role in the play. Lady Macbeth plays a key role in the plot of the play from the first time we see her, at the end of Act 1. Without Lady Macbeth, it is very probable that the play’s plot wouldn’t be able to exist, as it is Lady Macbeth who fuels Macbeth’s ambitions throughout the play. She is constantly twisting the thoughts of Macbeth and propelling him to do the awful things that he does throughout. In Lady Macbeth’s first appearance, when she hears of the witches predictions she calls on evil spirits to assist her in her plans for Duncan’s murder, â€Å"Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here and fill me from the crown to the toe topfull of direst cruelty.† As the play progresses, we see Lady Macbeth overpower the will and thoughts of Macbeth, for example, when she proposes the murder of Duncan, Macbeth goes back on his word, saying that he wants nothing to do with the murder. At the end of that same scene, however, Lady Macbeth has managed to manipulate his thoughts, and get him to go through with the murder, â€Å"I have given suck and know how tender ’tis to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums and dashed the brains out, had I so sworn as you have done to this.† Even though it’s Lady Macbeth who is in control of events in the play, she too suffers great anxiety after all the terrible things she does. By the end of Act 3, there are signs of her conscious taking over her, with her taking no part in the murder of Macduff’s family, a major plot in Act 4, an act in which she doesn’t feature at all. By the beginning of Act 5, Lady Macbeth starts to sleepwalk, and give away everything that her and Macbeth have plotted and done, â€Å"The Thane of Fife had a wife. Where is she now? What, will these hands ne’er be clean?† This adds dramatic effect to the end of a scene to keep the audience interested in the play, and offers a different perspective on a strong looking character. Macbeth is the main character of the play, and is probably the most interesting character to analyse. We first see Macbeth in the first half of Act 1, where he is a military hero, with no real ambition but to do the best he can for his country. Throughout ‘Macbeth’, we see him manipulated by his wife and murder his way to kingship, sometimes against his will, but other times, such as when Macduff’s family are murdered, there is no mention of outside influence. Although it seems like it is Lady Macbeth who is in command of what happens to potential threats and Macbeth, she never actually commits any of the murders herself. This could suggest that she knew what consequences could come from the beginning, and wanted it to be on Macbeth’s shoulders, not hers, however, she also suffers from mental illness due to the murders later on in the play. During his transition from hero to hated villain, we see how much Macbeth is plagued by his conscience and the knowledge that what he is doing is wrong, â€Å"We will proceed no further in this business, he hath honoured me of late.† There are two factors that prevent his conscience from taking command however, the witches and Lady Macbeth, both of whom he can’t ignore. As the play progresses, Macbeth struggles to trust anyone, even his wife, who he earlier said was his â€Å"dearest partner of greatness†. This leads to the murder of a lot of people that Macbeth doesn’t trust, including Banquo, who was his good friend, and ally for a short period of time. Although he is easily manipulated, he can also manipulate other people, depending on who he’s around, for example, when talking to royalty, or important people, Macbeth could talk in verse, or iambic pentameter. He also had the ability to talk well to â€Å"low-status characters†, such as the Porter or the Murderers, speaking in prose. We also see a different side to Macbeth during his soliloquies, as we see what he is thinking at crucial parts of the play. For example, in Act 5, Scene 5, when he performs his famous â€Å"Tomorrow† soliloquy, we see an insight into his emotions and feelings about how he feels he has lost his friends and family. Shakespeare’s use of the soliloquies of Macbeth throughout the play creates a unique opportunity for the audience to see a glimpse of what Macbeth is thinking and feeling, creating a better audience response throughout, and maybe giving the audience a chance to feel sorry for Macbeth, before he dies honourably in battle. There are many different techniques that are used throughout the play, and a lot of language in different styles and formats. It is crucial to remember that Shakespeare’s plays were written in the 16th Century for the 16th Century, not for us to read in a book 400 years later. Shakespeare uses lots of imagery in his plays, which was crucial for an audience of that time, as the play was only performed on stage with no special effects, (apart from the occasional trap door†¦) so the use of imagery in the play allowed the audience to get a better picture on what was happening in the play. Shakespeare’s ability to use both iambic pentameter and prose makes ‘Macbeth’ stand out, because you are given a chance to see the intelligence of characters such as Macbeth, who use both iambic pentameter, â€Å"To know my deed, ’twere best not know my self† and prose, â€Å"I did so, and went further, which is now the point of second meeting.† The language that Shakespeare chooses to use is also crucial to understanding the relationships between characters, such as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. In the early scenes, the two use iambic pentameter when talking to eachother, which shows a trust and understanding between them. However, in the later scenes, this trust is broken, and the language used in the scenes containing these characters reflects that as their consciences start to eat away at them, â€Å"Out, damned spot! Out, I say! One, two. Why then ’tis time to do’t?† Stagecraft was of up most importance when the play was performed in the 16th century (and now) as the play was never meant to be read, just performed. With limited equipment/effects, it was difficult to produce a play that was easy to perform on stage, however, Shakespeare wrote his plays in such a way that they grabbed the attention of the audience whilst being simple to perform at the same time. A particularly good example of stagecraft is the witches’ dance from the beginning of Act 4, â€Å"Double, double told and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.† This is particularly effective, as it can be performed easily on stage, but it also grabs the attention of the audience to keep them interested. Also, because it doesn’t require any spectacular effects, it could be performed fairly easily in 16th century Britain. Because the play is limited to a number of acts/scenes, it was necessary for Shakespeare to either miss out sections mentioned in Holinshed entirely or edit them to make them more performable. A good example of this is the final battle between Macbeth and Macduff. According to the Holinshed Chronicles, Macbeth tried to flee from his castle, but got caught by Macduff and killed. In ‘Macbeth’, the whole scene takes place at the castle. This allows the scene to be performed whole on stage, so there is no loss of tension between scenes, and it makes it easier and cheaper to perform, because less sets are required and it isn’t as broken up. In reality, Macbeth’s reign over Scotland lasted 17 years before he was killed, however, this would have been inappropriate for a play of this length, so Shakespeare had to narrow his reign down to only a few months. This helped the performance, because it made it much more dramatic, creating a better audience response. Settings of the play also had to be narrowed down, due to time, cost and convenience on stage. For example, in reality, there was lots more English involvement, and Shakespeare only covers a very small scene in England. This is because the play is explained well enough without the English scene, so it was un-necessary to add more scenes which weren’t needed. After having the chance to study the play from both the book and movie, it’s clearer what limitations Shakespeare had. For example, in a film, special effects can be added, and more scenes made available in the production. On stage however, there are more limitations, for example, when Birnam Wood ‘moves’ towards Dunsinane Castle, effects can be added in a film, but on stage you are limited to basic props and no additional technology. This changes how the audience interprets the story, because you get a better idea of how it was from a movie, with more advanced editing, compared to watching it how it was probably performed originally on stage, In conclusion, there are various ways in which the Holinshed Chronicles are adapted to make an entertaining piece of theatre, but in my opinion there are a few key points. Firstly, I think that ‘Macbeth’ has been so entertaining and successful, because there was already an interesting plot and opportunity to impress the current king. Secondly, Shakespeare’s use of iambic pentameter and prose makes the language of the play very interesting and it is clever how the information in Holinshed is twisted, manipulated and made more dramatic to create a very entertaining piece of theatre.

My Classroom Philosophy Teaching Children Behaviors That...

My classroom philosophy is to give children opportunities to use knowledge that is taught in learning activities. Teaching children behaviors that result in success that can be established and used throughout their lifetime. Being flexible but firm when implementing rules into a classroom is important to see what will work with students, and adjusting when necessary. Knowing each and every student personally so they feel safe and comfortable is important to my classroom management. Encouraging every student to do their best in a positive manner so that we gain trust in each other. Being a caring person, I can show the student sympathy, yet encourage them to do their best work in all that they do. Using engaging curriculum to help motivate†¦show more content†¦This can help students know better what is expected of them. Rewarding the entire class for a job well done at the end of a week helps build team camaraderie. Students could earn points or tally marks to earn extra free time at the end of the week. Troubled students could get help from those students who do good and they can learn from their peers. When interacting with a student it is important for the teacher to be positive, brief, and then leave to the next student, when observing the class work being done. Theorist Fred Jones states â€Å"discipline is not punishment, it is teaching students how to behave appropriately in different situations† (Bandura, Margolis, McCabe, 2006). Every child comes to school with different knowledge, upbringing, and experiences. Learning about the children in a classroom and their likes and dislikes can help a teacher engage the children to keep them focused on learning. I believe in the Jones positive discipline model which promotes improved teacher efficiency to avoid misbehavior in the classroom by highlighting student enthusiasm and positive rewards. B. Classroom Expectations and Rules Classroom rules could vary per grade, but for the most part in my classroom I would want children to†¦ Expectation 1. Believe in yourself 2. Try your best 3. Use your manners 4. Be respectful, responsible and safe 5. Be honest and helpful 6. Take turns 7.Show MoreRelatedReflection on my Education Philosophy1099 Words   |  4 Pages Since taking my first few educational courses in education, I have realized that my philosophy on education changes as I learning more about the profession I have entered. Every time I think I have come to a final belief statement, I learn something new about teaching and sometimes the things I learn causes me to alter my philosophy. Therefore, I will share with you what I believe about teaching and what I’ve learned at this point. As a future teacher in today’s society and generation, I believeRead More Teaching Philosophy Statement Essay1240 Words   |  5 Pages Teaching Philosophy Statement â€Å"Today’s children will be tomorrow’s leaders.† There is nothing more valuable to our society than its children – the lessons they learn will help shape them into the adults they will someday become. I want to be a teacher because I have a great passion for wanting to help children acquire the knowledge and skills they need, as well as the chance to explore their own interests and find their strengths. I believe my philosophy is an eclectic blend of essentialismRead MoreEssay on A View That Could Change the World1215 Words   |  5 Pagesideas to previous knowledge and past experiences. Another essential part of learning deals with the students’ social development. It is vital for students to learn how to interact with their peers and adults and also how to behave in a way that is acceptable and suiting to the â€Å"norm.† This combined with learning the material given creates a formula for success in today’s society. The reason education is so important is because education brings success in today’s society. The more educationRead MoreCurriculum Plan For Curriculum Planning1621 Words   |  7 Pagesplanning In my classroom, I plan to use The Creative Curriculum. This curriculum aligns with my personal philosophy and values as a teacher by providing a child centered, hands on environment. The Creative Curriculum includes developmentally appropriate goals and objectives for children within four main categories of interest: social/emotional, physical, cognitive and language (Marquette University, 2015). The curriculum focuses on the teacher’s role in the classroom as well as the classroom layout.Read More My Personal Philosophy of Education Essay1638 Words   |  7 Pages Philosophy of Education For me, the decision to become a teacher is more of a way of life than a career. I have always loved school, practicing at being school marm from a young age, and voraciously devouring every shred of education offered me in my career as a student. If it were possible, I would be a student for the rest of my life. And then I still would not have learned enough. As a teacher, I hope to instill this appetite for knowledge in secondary students. They are, afterRead MoreChristian Teachers Should Teach Based on Christian Principles and Beliefs1626 Words   |  7 Pagesbelieve that it is important for all teachers, but especially Christian teachers, to have and to operate within their personal educational philosophy. Knight (2006) states â€Å"Christian educators must come to see their educational systems as unified endeavors built upon a foundation of Christian philosophy† p. 164. Today, in most public schools, Christian principles are being left out, and it is imp ortant that we find ways to lead our students to truth. My personal philosophy is based upon MatthewRead MoreProgressivism And Social Reconstruction : Education Essay1539 Words   |  7 Pages Philosophy of Education Paper Throughout this class I have been presented with many controversial issues going on in the education system today. I have never truly thought about them in such a way that impacted my philosophy of Education. Whether it be the school reforms, the types of schools, laws passed, etc. I was able to evaluate the importance of education in a brighter light than ever before. My philosophy for education includes instruction for life skills, social behavior, and one’sRead MoreMy Pastime As A Child1375 Words   |  6 Pages Introduction My pastime as a child was daydreaming of the countless careers I could achieve. The imaginary future, I formulated for myself, included becoming an actress, lawyer, or a housewife with lots of children. I never became any of those things except for the part of motherhood, which is the greatest lifetime achievement of all. The profession I did choose was a modest one. I became a travel agent who for over twenty years assisted a countless number of people in making unforgettable memoriesRead MoreMy Personal Statement On Elementary Education1063 Words   |  5 Pages I was home on leave after serving 15 months in Iraq, spending time with my family and connecting with people I haven’t seen in a while. My mother arranged for me to speak to my brother’s 3rd-grade class since they had written letters to me while I was deployed. It was something I felt that I owed since the letters were cheerful and really helped when I was over there. I was a bit nervous because I have never done something like this before, public speaking was not a strong suit of mine. While visitingRead More Goals and Philosophy Essay1339 Words   |  6 PagesGoals and Philosophy A persons philosophy on education covers many different aspects. Such things that ones personal philosophy can contain are the purpose of education, methods one may use in education, and even the curriculum which may be taught. I feel that these three things are the most important for my personal philosophy and goals of education. The overall purpose of education is not only to teach students about the set curriculum, but also to teach them

The Legalization Of Gay Marriage - 1638 Words

The most important cultural development in America in the last twenty-five years has definitely been the legalization of gay marriage. Few other issues in public policy have resulted in such a dramatic shift in public opinion as the controversy same-sex marriage and the rights that come along with the institute of marriage. The decade of the seventies was the time when numerous state statutes materialized defining marriages to only be valid between and man and a woman. Later in the nineties and on into two-thousands waves of political blocks on freedom to marry were instituted. Many states in the country began to pass increasingly restrictive statutes which were believed to promote unequal treatment of legally married same-sex couples. These statutes deprived them of the same protections and responsibilities that traditional marriages were guaranteed. Fortunately the Supreme Court made a historic ruling on June 26, 2015, that grants same sex couples an equal right to marry nationwide and creates a philosophical swing in law and our public attitude. The ruling has already created the most important yet contentious new constitutional liberty in more than a generation. This decision will forever alters our nation’s history and will rework the way society defines the traditional family, which means a significant impact on our culture. The freedom to marry is the most important cultural development in American history today because marriage is a protected commitment to liberty,Show MoreRelatedLegalization Gay Marriage1099 Words   |  5 PagesLegalization of Gay Marriage What is the definition of marriage? The dictionary states it as being the legal union between a man and a woman as husband and wife. However, times are changing as the gay life style becomes more accepted by society it is time to allow all couples regardless of sex to enjoy equal protections, rights and benefits under the law. Perhaps, it makes the most sense to consider arguments against same sex marriage to realize why it should be legalized; these arguments touchRead MoreThe Legalization Of Gay Marriage1527 Words   |  7 PagesAnna Aiello Professor Jessica Lugo College Writing 1 25 September 2015 The Legalization of Gay Marriage A New York Times article honors that on June 26th, the United States declared same-sex marriage a right nationwide. â€Å"Love wins,† chanted the crowd outside the Supreme Court (Liptak). The Supporters of same-sex marriage celebrated the new feeling they received of love equality. For many years, homosexuals companions have been deprived from their right to become legally united. ThisRead MoreThe Legalization Of Gay Marriage1749 Words   |  7 PagesThe Legalization of Gay Marriage: A Step to Equality Imagine a world where heterosexuals are the minority. Straight people would be the ones fighting for the same rights as homosexuals. Same-sex marriages would be average and normal, while straight marriages would be frowned upon and considered unholy in the eyes of religion. Heterosexuals would be denied service at restaurants because of their sexuality, they would be called derogatory names while holding their partner’s hand and most importantlyRead MoreThe Legalization Of Gay Marriage1411 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract The legalization of gay marriages is one of the most controversial issues throughout particularly in modern life. This paper, based on secondary research, arguing for legalizing same-sex marriage through specific analysis of its positive influences. In particular, there are two main benefits regarding society as well as economy. The finds of the research indicate that gays or lesbians are completely an important part of society. Therefore, they must have the rights to live and marry legallyRead MoreThe Legalization Of Gay Marriage1269 Words   |  6 Pages It appears people are less frequently getting married to hide being gay than in the past. Now it has be-come more prominent socially. The legalization of gay marriage has led to more people feeling comfortable coming out. There are definitely still people that hide being gay due to family, friends, or religious lack of acceptance. This could af-fect treatment of patient if they do not fully tell the physician their full sexual h istory. In the video, one of the characters said, â€Å"everything in itsRead MoreLegalization of Gay Marriage1319 Words   |  6 PagesREGINA KHOR MAY LIN AA09179 Relationship Should we legalize same-sex marriage in our country? To persuade To persuade my audience that we should legalize same-sex marriage in our country. Same-sex marriage should be legalized since it is the natural form of the marriage evolution, part of human rights and able to prevent psychological stress from the LGB community. (LGB- lesbian, gays and bisexuals) Problem and solution I.INTRODUCTION Picture this... A man meets someoneRead MoreThe Legalization of Gay Marriage Essay2475 Words   |  10 PagesAmericans on several levels. Politically, gay marriage is one of the hot issues that public officials are asked to take a position on. Legally, matters of jurisdiction have caused uncertainty on whether a couple of the same sex will be recognized should they decide to move. Socially, America is still in turmoil due to how strongly both the opposition and advocacy feel for their cause. This has resulted hate crimes and protest, which brings gay marriage to a personal level as well. This issue causesRead MoreLegalization of Gay Marriage Essay1285 Words   |  6 PagesLegalization of gay marriage has been a major controversial topic for a long time. Although, many people do not know what it means to be homosexual, most people do not know the actual definition of homosexuality and they do not know how difficult it is to be gay in this society. There are many reasons why people are against gay marriage and homosexuals all together. Most of the reasons are based on religious bias another big reason is being afraid of the unknown. Some smaller reasons are that beingRead MoreEssay about Legalization of Gay Marriage1124 Words   |  5 PagesThe legalization of gay marriage in the U.S. bears the same stigma as have prior civil rights issues, and as such should be proposed as one of utmost importance, and careful consideration. If our government, as it claims, is secular in nature, then it would be wrong for it to base its treatment of individuals outside the boundaries of what is naturally understood as the right of every man, woman, and child, to pursue a lifestyle that is fulfilling. By the same token, white people, black peopleRead MoreAbortion, Gay Marriage, And The Legalization Of Marijuana2946 Words   |  12 Pagesgatherings, private debate, and especially political races. Whether you know it or not, if you assimilate into society in anyway, you probably have an opinion on some issues in today’s culture. Some major topics in today’s news are abortion, gay marriage, and t he legalization of marijuana. These issues have increasingly divided us as a society, and have also infiltrated into our political affiliation. The two major parties, Democrats and Republicans, have never been able to see eye to eye on theses issues

Acta- Cu5 - 4685 Words

RESOURCE 1 : ASSESMENT PLAN (AP) | ASSESSMENT PLAN FOR SATS – SINGAPORE AIRPORT TURNOVER SERVICES, SINGAPORE 1. Overview This document provides the Standard Assessment Plan (SAP) for conduct of assessment in the competency unit, â€Å"Maintain Professional Image† and one of the elements: * Maintain Professional Grooming This unit is within the competency category of Sales amp; Customer Services of the Retail industry. It is deemed as one of the necessary core module for attainment of –WSQ- Certificate In Retail Operations as well as WSQ – Certificate in Tourism Attractions Competency Unit Code | Competency Level | RE-SCS-101C-2 | Level 1 (Certificate) | Competency Unit Title | Maintain Professional Image | Competency†¦show more content†¦Mapping of Assessment Methods with Knowledge Requirements Underpinning Knowledge | Assessment Methods | Covered in | UK1 | What is Personal Grooming | Oral Questioning | OQ1 | UK2 | Importance of First Impressions and image | Oral Questioning | OQ2 | UK3 | How to project a professional image in line with organization’s objectives | Written Test | Written Test | UK4 | How to project a professional image with outfit, colors and hairstyle | Written Test | Written Test | UK5 | Personal image management, including application, harmonizing a nd choosing the right color for the desired look | Written Test | DOWritten Test | UK6 | Organizational Grooming standards | Direct Observation amp; Written Test | DOWritten Test | Assessment Specifications Written Test SPECIFICIATIONS | GUIDELINES |

History of Essay Example For Students

History of Essay I thought for this entry Id wax nostalgic with some of my most memorable drug experiences including first times, best times, and worst times. The interesting thing about weed is that the first time you smoke it, you dont get stoned. At least, thats the common impression. In reality, I think you just dont realize youre stoned the first time. My first time smoking pot, I smoked a little dirty looking bundle of dried leaves out of a pipe my friend fashioned from an aluminum soda can (crushed carefully to create a bowl area, then holes punched with a tack to create a sort of screen). My friend had smoked a couple times before, and he brought the stuff to my house after school. My mom wasnt going to be home for an hour or so, and we smoked in my back yard. I didnt feel anything, although my friend acted like an idiot. At the time, I was sure it wasnt really pot, and that my friend was playing a trick on me. My dad used to let me drink out of his beer, as far back as 10 years old. I nev er drank enough to feel it, and the first time I actually got drunk wasnt until I was 14. I was a Boy Scout (yes, really), and I was on a backpack trip with my scout troop. My buddy in the troop had brought some Vodka he stole out of his parents liquor cabinet, and that night in our tent we drank until we couldnt even see straight it was probably only about 3 shots each. One of the scout leaders caught us falling down drunk I was scared shitless. He gave us a choice between him telling our parents what happened or accepting his punishment. We chose not telling our parents, and in the middle of the night we had to hike up and down a hill next to camp until we were sober again. The next morning we were sick as dogs, and the leader that caught us gave us each large stones, practically boulders, to pack back out. They weighed over 5 pounds, which was a significant addition to the weight of our packs hiking home. One summer day in 1985 I was riding in my friends back seat, with at lea st 4 other people in the car, on our way to the beach. We were all stoned, and this girl had these little squares of paper she called Blaze. We all chewed and swallowed them, then I promptly forgot all about it. A half hour later, still riding in the car (I lived in the San Fernando Valley, at least an hour from the beach), I was feeling very funny. This girl that had handed out the blotter paper squares was running her finger across the roof of the car, as if she were finger painting. As I watched her hand moving in the air, I realized I could sort of see the trail her finger was leaving behind it on the roof she was spelling out L-S-D. LSD. I was stoned (and significantly more than stoned), and slow to catch on, so I asked her why she was writing LSD on the roof of the car. Because Im on it, Eloi. So are you. LSD. Acid. Blaze. I hadnt known thats what Blaze was, and at first I was kind of pissed off. It took at least 4 hours for it to wear off, and the whole time I was worried th at it never would wear off. That was a very interesting day at the beach I spent most of the time building sandcastles. Sand was absolutely fascinating. My senior year of high school was dedicated pretty much to Methamphetamine. When I could afford it, which to be honest wasnt very often, I would take speed all day and late into the night, then take qualudes or valium so I could sleep. How I kept a 3.5+ average I have no idea. Another high school favorite was whip-its. Buy a can of whipped cream at the grocery store, being careful not to shake it too much and hold it upright for a good long time before you use it. When youre ready, put your lips around the little white tube at the top and tilt it, releasing the compressed nitrous oxide used to froth the whipped cream into your lungs without the cream of course. A full can of whipped cream gives about two lungfulls, enough to leave you drooling and blue-lipped for about 5 minutes. I didnt try cocaine until I was 18 and away at c ollege. I knew a guy that could get the most awesome Humboldt County weed, and one day he said he had some coke and could sell me a gram for 70 dollars. So I tried it. I didnt like it at all, not that first time. A year later I was hanging out with my sister and some of her friends, and we were all smoking pot. One of her friends was a coke dealer. He poured what must have been half a gram of cocaine on top of our pipe bowl full of pot, and I went ahead and smoked it. Half a gram of coke, and it was mostly gone after my hit that mixed with the pot was probably the best high I have every experienced. I tried it again after that day, but I was never willing to pour that much coke on at a time (half a gram costed about $50 at the time, a very expensive hit), so it was never as good. Just as well. I ended up snorting coke quite a lot for several months later, along with my sister. We even sold it to our friends a little. Then one day I just realized I was spending a lot of money on a d rug that in all honesty I didnt really like. I quit it, completely, after doing it almost every day for a couple months. My sister had a harder time of it, but she left it behind too. Ive never done coke again since that time. Shrooms (psilocybic mushrooms) and I have never quite connected right. I tried them several times, chewed or smoked, and never really seemed to feel very much. Apparently shrooms affect people inconsistently sometimes. I did have one experience with shrooms that I will always remember: My friends seemed to all love shrooms, and I was getting progressively more frustrated with my own unsatisfying experiences with the drug. I was convinced that the problem was I wasnt taking enough, but I didnt want to ask for a larger share because I wasnt the one that bought them. One day, when we were hanging out in the parking lot scene before a Grateful Dead concert, my friend bought some shrooms from a guy that was just riding around the lot on a bicycle. When I realized he got some, and made him point out the guy that sold it to him, I approached the bike riding shroom dealer and bought an eighth of an ounce of shrooms. I didnt share, I just kept them for a little personal expirement later. All alone, with a whole uninterrupted day before me, I chewed that entire baggie of dried disgusting mushrooms in my bedroom. Its like trying to eat balsa wood. At first it didnt seem to be working at all, and I thought I was just going to be disappointed again. But then as I lay on my bed, the house around me empty and quiet, I started to imagine music in my head. Not a little melody Id heard before, not some popular rock and roll song from the radio, but a unique and marvelous symphony with full orchestra. Not only could I hear it in my head, but I could control it. I was the conductor of my own imaginary orchestra, and as I concentrated on it I could hear every note, every nuance of the instruments that I imagined. It has to be one of the most amazing drug ex periences of my life, mostly because it was limited to the music I didnt feel any other effects from the shrooms at all. I never tried them again. Ive turned down Ecstasy (otherwise known as X or MDMA) a couple times, although I think I might try it next time I get the chance I hear having sex on X is beyond all human experience, or something like that. I turned down PCP (otherwise known as Angel Dust) once. Ive even been offered and turned down Heroin, one time in Mexico. I tried Crystal Meth once, and found it too much like Cocaine all you want to do when youre on it is more of it. One time I smoked pot with this girl named Sharon. After we had smoked a lot of really good Indica together she admitted that she had never smoked pot before. The first thing I said was, well if this is your first time youre not going to feel anything. She immediately agreed and said she didnt feel a thing. We were driving around the streets of Burbank, and she became mesmerized with the feel of th e cars motion. Staring out the front windshield, she said, I feel like Im flying. That was when I realized that you actually do get stoned the first time, but for some reason most people dont realize it. Just a few years ago I got my friend Adam stoned for the first time. There were a bunch of us smoking together, and we were all having fun with Adam because it was his first time. We smoked a bunch then ordered pizzas. A room full of stoners with the munchies can decimate a stack of pizzas faster than a wounded animal turns into a skeleton in a river full of piranha. All through the night Adam assured all of us that he didnt feel a thing, and then after all the pizzas were gone he absolutely cracked us up He pulled out his wallet and starting counting out the bills he had and he said, I want to order another pizza just for me, a small one, just for me, just a small pizza, I have 8 dollars, is that enough? Hes heard that one repeated back to him a few times, I can assure you. It w as probably 14 years ago that my friend Traci decided she wanted to try Acid for the first time. She was still living with her parents, but they were gone for the weekend so we had the house to ourselves. I brought the Acid, and Saturday night we chewed, swallowed, and then waited for the rabbit hole to open up. Waiting for Acid to kick in is a very interesting experience. There are a lot of different ways that LSD can affect you the hallucinations are mostly non-visual. It takes 15 minutes to half and hour for them to start, and during that whole time you sit there wondering how straight you are. Its actually a relief when it finally kicks in completely and youre at least confident that youre no longer straight. If you smoke a little weed it actually makes that wait time worse because youre not sure what drug to blame what experience on. If you bought the LSD from someone you dont trust completely, you may even sit there thinking youve been ripped off for awhile. And LSD is often cut with speed, so you get that tingly feeling in your hands and fingers first and you sit there thinking, is that it? Isnt there supposed to be more to this? Traci had gotten a whole bunch of snacks for the evening, and proceeded to show me while we waited for the drugs to kick in. I had to laugh, Sorry Traci, but when this stuff starts working theres a couple things you wont be able to do even if you want to: Eat and sleep. I told her if she wanted to eat anything to do it now before the Acid makes it impossible. Something about food and Acid its worse than coke. When youre on cocaine, you just arent hungry and food looks unappealing. When youre on Acid (blazing) the food isnt just unappealing its completely disgusting. Trying to eat potato chips is like trying to chew and swallow greasy cardboard. And sleeping is completely out of the question Acid will take anywhere from 3 to 8 hours to let go of you, and during that time you are completely unable to sleep even if you are ver y very tired. That night was one of my best experiences with Acid. I could see infinitesimal and intricate patterns on every surface, and together Traci and I wrote some of the most bizarre and remarkable poetry Ive ever written. Of course after we were straight again it was just garbage, but while we were blazing we were completely awed by our own talents. At one point in the middle of the night we walked around her block, experiencing the night breezes and the dark empty streets. I could see colors all over the place, like someone had those colored spotlights they use at concerts and was shining them down from a helicopter above us. I was completely entranced. In the end Traci didnt like it very much. The Acid I got was particularly good, and it lasted a long time. After 5 hours of it Traci was worn and wanted out. Eventually everyone that does Acid will get tired of blazing and want it to be over with. Theres really nothing you can do though youre at the drugs mercy. If it takes 6 or 8 hours, or even longer, it just takes that long and youre along for the ride. It tweaks the way your brain works, and you become very aware of that fact after the first couple hours. Its easy to get tired of it and want reality back, even for just a little while. People can get pretty worked up about just wanting reality back, and I suspect quite a few bad trips have happened that way. Traci didnt get bad, but she was exasperated with not being able to sleep or study or do anything productive. At one point she laid down and tried to sleep for a long time at least it seemed like a long time to me, it may have just been 15 minutes. I tried to humor her and lay down beside her quietly. When she gave up and got back out of bed she was angry, pissed at the drug for not letting her sleep, pissed at me for giving her the drug, pissed at herself for taking it. We were up until the sunrise, and she made her peace with the LSD before it was over. Even so, she doesnt want to do it agai n. Wells thats all the drugs I can remember taking. Theres probably more. Dont try this at home kids. Scratch that, try a few of them. Id suggest avoiding meth and coke, but I highly recommend LSD. You will learn more about your own brain taking LSD once than during an entire sober lifetime. Female Self Esteem Essay