Category: Personal Experience

My life is ineffable. Sometimes I wonder if my life can be counted as an oxymoron. So sour, yet so sweet. An organized madness. Sane insanity? When one thing happens, another follows; being contradictory to the first. Or maybe an anaphora? Always starting the same tedious way, but always ending differently. Perhaps my life is an idiom. Not many understand how my life goes through its day-to-day basis — possibly being no one except me. How arduous life seems to my eyes, however, it appears to be the simplest and “effortless”, implying that I do not have to work to achieve or receive something from others. Despite the fact that they have never lived a day I have, they still decide to give me a non-asked-for opinion about my life.

Every chilly morning (I live in Canada), I attempt to predict what will be the enlightenment of my day, what will be benightedness, what knowledge I will acquire today, or what will make today different from yesterday. After all, life gives us a second chance in the form of “tomorrow”. Of course, my predictions are not always correct. Nevertheless, even if they do not come true that same very day, they will, another day — and have on every occasion.

The air was ripe with the pleasant petrichor of the post-rain afternoon. Walking back from school, I reflected on my day. Did my predictions come true? Yes. What made my day differ from the previous? A new student joined our class today — Natasha. She was the cynosure in our school today, which made her feel uncomfortable. I, in my opinion, was quite friendly and nice to her. I will say, I could discern she had something keeping her mind busy and she appeared to be a little discombobulated throughout the day: maybe she misses her old school, maybe her old friends? That is the issue about it; you never know what is going through one’s mind yet occasionally you might be able to tell whether or not it is a nice or a bad thought by one’s minutiae facial expressions.

Before tomorrow felt absurd for once: signifying that my life can no longer be counted as an anaphora. Why was it absurd? It just was. I am incapable of explaining it, for the reason that it is impossible. It is something one does not talk about to another; everyone just has the knowledge about it and has had a day that felt absurd or out of place at least once in their life; this is an example of an idiom. Notwithstanding how the day felt, my predictions came true.

While contemplating the effervescence in the puddles as the rain kissed the top of my head, I realized that even the simplest everyday things are bijou, whether it is a pearl or a drop of rain. After the rain ended, it left behind only the petrichor-smelling zephyr, which just calms any situation. The one that makes everyone’s day slow down, just so they can enjoy the pleasant momentum. However, the delightful momentum got interrupted by the realization that homework still has its existence.

Thus, I skipped dinner and sprinted to my room to finish my homework. Regrettably, I spent most of my time fantasizing about that momentum. Fantasizing about that alluring moment; how many people encounter that after-rain momentum every day? Every minute? Maybe every second? No doubt those questions will be leaving my mind soon. Well, I suppose, as lost as Alice and as mad as the Hatter, no?

Today’s night seemed a little eerie as well. Habitually, if the day felt different, then the night would feel normal; or the other way around. Whereas today, both day and night felt … mismatched: suggesting that my life can no longer be counted as an oxymoron. I suppose this elimination of “what can my life be?” will lead me to the answer to my question: what is my life?

Awaiting for life itself to reveal the answer, I enjoyed my Sunday morning coffee on the porch. I was struck by a moment of sonder as I gazed around my front yard and at all the people passing by. My mind was engulfed in deep thought. The thought somewhat just eliminated “idiom” as the answer to my life. How? Well… does not every person have secrets that only the closest family members and friends know about; things, inside jokes, anything actually, that only they and/or their family/friends understand? Can someone’s life be as preposterous and confusing as mine? Now, the more I think about it… the more the chances there seem to be.

Becoming more aware of how ephemeral each day, a week, a month, a year, and even life is. In addition, I eventually figured out what my life is: it is not an oxymoron, not an anaphora, nor an idiom, and neither simple — it is balance.

Personal Narrative: The Weekend Campout

One weekend during the summer a couple of years back I had decided to host a campout and have a few people over to stay the night in tents in my woods and my backyard (which consists of a 5-acre open field with a big fire pit for parties). There is also a fire pit down by the tents but we decided to keep it in the field instead.

Well Friday night rolls around and I have a few people over, 3 besides myself to be exact. We set up our tents in the field where they were linked together by a tarp draped over a swing set frame. We gathered some firewood that would be enough to last us for the night and we sat around and started to talk. We all were sitting there just puffing away at cigars of every brand and flavor imaginable. My friend named Brian was able to get a garbage bag full of all different kinds of cigars. Some I have seen and others I have no clue what to expect. But anyways back to the story, we were all sitting around the fire and just all of a sudden Brian fell sideways in his chair. Partially because he was leaning and partially because he was on an incline towards the creek. Whatever the cause of the fall it was so hilarious that we just could not sit in our chairs anymore so we decided to go puff on our cigars elsewhere. We took a walk up the road when Joseph suddenly came to a halt and whispered under his breath, “You guys what is that”, as he pointed up the road 50 yards. For all, we could see it was a large figure that was really hard to make out because of the light insufficiency. The other three hadn’t decided whether or not to approach the figure and see if it was real or whether to observe it from a distance.

Whatever it be I wasn’t going to sit back and wait around for them to decide. I started walking towards it and I heard a clanging together of something that sounded hard and then I heard a big thump. I stopped and gazed forward to where the figure stood once before and it was not there anymore. Was this really a creature that was standing there or was it a figure of my imagination? Still to this day, I haven’t figured it out, but one of my friends swears up and down that the sound was just a hedge apple tree nearby and one had fallen from the top, smacked a few branches, and hit the ground with a boom. It’s a fairly believable theory but is it really what happened? I shall never know because yet to this day I haven’t seen anything like it or even resemble that mystical figure that I saw late that one summer’s night. Have you?

While it’s true that our upbringing, environment, and opportunities can play a role in shaping our path, it’s important to recognize that success is not solely determined by these factors. Your background may influence your starting point, but it’s your determination, choices, and hard work that truly determine your success.

Defying the Odds

Countless stories of individuals rising above challenging backgrounds to achieve remarkable success serve as a testament to the human spirit’s resilience. People from disadvantaged backgrounds have gone on to become influential leaders, successful entrepreneurs, and respected professionals. These stories underscore the idea that while background may shape the circumstances we face, it doesn’t have to dictate our outcomes.

The Power of Choice

One of the most powerful aspects of being human is the ability to make choices. Regardless of your background, the choices you make can lead you toward success or hinder your progress. By making conscious decisions to set goals, work hard, and seek opportunities, you’re taking control of your own narrative. These choices have the potential to override the limitations that your background might impose.

Resourcefulness and Adaptability

Growing up in a challenging environment often instills resourcefulness and adaptability. These qualities, when cultivated and applied, can become invaluable assets on your journey to success. Navigating obstacles with creativity and determination can lead to innovative solutions and unexpected breakthroughs that propel you forward.

The Role of Hard Work

Success is rarely handed on a silver platter. It’s the result of consistent, dedicated hard work. Your background may influence your starting point, but it’s the effort you put into your pursuits that determines your progress. Hard work knows no boundaries and can bridge the gap between different backgrounds.

Challenging Stereotypes

Believing that background solely determines success perpetuates harmful stereotypes and undermines the efforts of those who have overcome adversity. It disregards the resilience and achievements of individuals who have defied expectations and worked diligently to reach their goals. Acknowledging the potential for success regardless of background helps break down these stereotypes and fosters a more inclusive and equitable society.

Education as an Equalizer

Education is often seen as an equalizer, providing opportunities for personal growth and professional advancement. While some may argue that access to quality education can be influenced by one’s background, the determination to pursue education and seek out opportunities for learning can bridge this gap. Education empowers individuals to overcome obstacles and chart their own course toward success.

Changing the Narrative

The belief that background solely dictates success perpetuates a fixed mindset that can limit individual potential. On the other hand, recognizing that success is attainable through effort, determination, and resilience encourages a growth mindset. By changing the narrative from “background determines success” to “effort shapes success,” we empower individuals to take control of their destinies and actively work toward achieving their goals.

Conclusion

While background can influence circumstances, it should not be viewed as the sole determinant of success. Your choices, hard work, determination, and willingness to overcome obstacles play a pivotal role in shaping your trajectory. Instead of allowing your background to define you, seize the opportunity to define your own success story. By recognizing your power to transcend limitations and chart your own path, you embrace the potential to achieve greatness, irrespective of where you started. Success is not a predetermined destination; it’s a journey that you can shape through your unwavering commitment and perseverance.

I woke up on a hard cold wooden floor, body stiffened, however, it was as comfortable as I’ll be until the movers arrive with my bed. What felt like a nightmare is suddenly coming true. I hear nothing but birds chirping and cicadas, dancing around in the trees, which gave me an unfamiliar feeling. I incessantly begged my parents to stay, but we moved nevertheless. I always preferred the familiarity of an environment, and I wasn’t ready to leave my hometown. This was where I learned how to ride a bike, to skate, and to dance. People here were like my family. The Dominican ladies that did my hair since I was little, the Chinese restaurant and Little Caesars across the street where I always ate, and even the Latin lady who sold ice cream on the street. For twelve years I had one home that resided in West Harlem, New York. I had gone to three different schools for three different reasons. But this time is different because I have to pack up my life in NYC and leave behind everything and everyone I knew. I did not want to have to change my routine. Living conditions were not the best, but I learned to be grateful and caring and to still give. Thoughts of uneasiness flooded my mind. Little did I know, my new town would change me in a way I would have never anticipated. As we drove into the town of Wappingers Falls, all that was in sight was vast lands, barely any sidewalk, businesses that looked more like houses, and more green land than ever.

The day that I dreaded came quicker than I thought. I got up later than I have for school since I did not have to deal with the metro system. Only this time I got on a school bus as the new girl, two months into the seventh grade. I stole a quick glance at my younger brother, briefly grateful that I didn’t have to face this completely alone being that my sister was in high school. On the first day of school, I got judged on my appearance before anyone took the chance to know me. Being silent was my way of saying I wanted my old life back. I was always filled with gloom, having no say in my life. Running away was always on my mind, but I could never do such a thing. I started to just feel like I did not belong at all. Being from the city actually made me unique. It was a place everyone up here was fascinated by. I slowly stepped out of my shell and made friends with people I consider family to this day. I learned to adapt to uncomfortable situations and accept change. Over time, I gained the freedom to go over to friends’ houses and go places with other people, which was something I never did in the city. I joined extracurricular activities and became involved with the community, making new friends.

Moving to a completely different environment gave me a new perspective on life. Though I often thought negatively about new situations, I have been optimistic about trying new things. It certainly made me a better person. I saw the world differently and understand why moving was for the best. I instead turned an unfamiliar situation into an opportunity to make myself stronger. Regardless of where I go, I’ll embrace my new surroundings with an open mind and make the best of what life has to offer.

Recovery Meeting Paper

This weekend did not go as planned, to say the least. All along, I had prepared myself to attend an Adult Children of Alcoholics meeting. I felt as if I could relate the most to this type of meeting, considering I have a close family member that suffers from alcoholism. Little did I know that these meetings were harder to come by than other recovery meetings. Needless to say, I missed the one and only ACA meeting that was going on this weekend.

Description of the Group

As I searched online for an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting instead, I came across one near my house. It read, “Saturday at 1 pm Open Discussion Meeting at How Hall in Huntington Beach.” It was much easier said than done. As I drove to the location, I felt myself growing more and more nervous. Why was I so nervous? Why did I suddenly want to turn around and drive back home? It was a strange feeling since I had never attended any recovery meetings before. These feelings became more profound and elevated as I got out of the car. I had all these emotions come up so unexpectedly; I was apprehensive, uneasy, hesitant, and filled with anxiety.

As I pulled up, I remember the website saying that Suite G was behind Honey Baked Ham. I arrived at 12:55 pm and had no idea as to where it was. I then saw a small group of people congregated in front of a building so I hoped that was it. I walked towards the group, and read the writing on the outside of the building that said, “How Hall”. I walked into a room that had several chairs facing the front and a little table off in the corner with coffee and snacks. Before walking into the meeting, for some reason, I had pictured the room to be filled with disheveled middle-aged men. That, however, was not the case. I’m not sure why, but I had a preconceived look for the members of AA in my mind before walking in. I casually and subtly looked around the room and saw people of all ages, sexes, and races. I sat near a young blonde girl that appeared to be nineteen or twenty and a long dark-haired woman appearing to be in her late thirties. I saw people from all walks of life in this room—older white-collar men, a young boy, a couple, a biker, and an elderly woman. This is not at all what I had expected when I walked into the room. The atmosphere was pleasant in the room; it was almost like a family. It felt nice, but also uncomfortable at the same time because I felt like such an outsider. Everyone seemed to know each other so well and acted like a little family.

Personal Reactions

Attending a recovery meeting for the first time certainly made me feel a whirlwind of emotions that I never thought I’d have to experience. I felt a rollercoaster of emotions throughout the one-hour meeting. I felt my anxiety go through the roof, especially at the beginning of the meeting. I noticed that I may have looked like I was closed off to the meeting; I sat in the very back with my arms and legs crossed, looking down a lot of the time. I slowly felt my body become more relaxed as the meeting went on though. I also felt rude. I felt as if I was watching or observing everyone throughout the entirety of the meeting like a study; I most definitely didn’t feel as if I belonged. I also felt happiness and sadness for the people there. I was happy to see how a group of strangers could open up to one another to offer so much love and support. It was nice to see how attentive everyone was when an individual was sharing their story. I also felt sadness when listening to some of their stories. There was a young twenty-two-year-old man that had come to California from Minnesota to escape the drugs and alcohol that had consumed his hometown. There was a mother in her twenties that was fighting to stay sober to regain custody of her four children. There was a man that worked in the meat department of a grocery store that was struggling to stop drinking and doing meth. Reading these things in Tweak, and then actually hearing these stories in person was mind-blowing. I couldn’t help but feel sadness and anguish for them.

My overall impression of the meeting was positive. There was a family-like aspect of the group that I thoroughly enjoyed watching. Everyone thanked one another for sharing such difficult stories and clapped each time. I felt welcomed and not all at the same time, by no fault of their own. Several people said, “Welcome to our newcomers” or “Thank you to the visitors that came out today”. I personally just felt odd because everyone seemed to know each other so well, making me feel a little left out. I learned that I shouldn’t come into a situation with preconceived judgments of others. I found myself judging the members of AA before even attending the meeting. I had pictured and judged them all in my head before arriving, but not so much when I actually sat through the meeting. They were all people, like you and me just with different struggles. The stereotypes I had for AA members were unquestionably broken, due to the fact that everyone was so dissimilar from one another. If I were a person seeking recovery, I would undoubtedly return to AA. The family-styled environment was enough to make me return if I needed to. If I had a friend or family member that was looking to recover, I would highly recommend an AA meeting for them, and go with them if they desired.

Implications for Your Professional Practice

My thoughts and opinions about recovery meetings drastically changed after attending one. I had a preconceived notion that it was going to be a very cult-like setting. I had pictured a room full of people that clearly looked like addicts. I pictured people looking unkempt and disheveled. Upon entering the room, I realized that my mind had deceived me. I was just in a room full of people that just wanted to continue on the road of recovery. I loved every aspect of the meeting—the sharing, the clapping, the commending, and the chips people received for staying sober. Witnessing the positivity and support of an AA meeting is enough for me to recommend it to a client if he/she was ready to make a positive change to begin the road to recovery. I believe that anyone that is ready to recover from substance use would benefit from attending a 12-step meeting. There is no face or gender to this disease; just an open space for those willing to make the change.

To prepare a client for a group meeting, I would be honest and open about my own experience. I would answer any and all questions that he/she had bluntly. I would assure him/her that attending a meeting isn’t a sign of weakness, but a sign of power to overcome a problem. People that are not ready to fully commit to the program by staying or trying to stay sober wouldn’t do well in this program. If you haven’t yet recognized that you have a problem and are not willing to make the change yet, then participating in a group would prove to be a hard time. The main benefit of this 12-step approach is that everyone in the group has the goal of remaining on the same path of reconstructing their lifestyle and rehabilitating themselves. Changing a recovering person’s social circle is a huge benefit and contributor to remaining sober and motivated through the process. Having the ability to cope, socialize, and express themselves with alike people helps build their confidence in their ability to remain abstinent. A limitation of AA would be the religious aspect of it. I noticed a lot of talk about God, and even opening and closing the meeting with a prayer. Those who identify as agnostic, atheist, or even another religious affiliation may struggle to adapt to this atmosphere. My perception of the religious component was both positive and negative. I can appreciate the fact that religion may give some people a purpose to give life a better meaning, but I can also see why non-religious people would be turned off by that component of the meeting.

Integration of Class Readings

Chapter 12 of Capuzi and Stauffer’s Foundations of Addictions Counseling correlated well with today’s Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Upon walking into the meeting, I noticed two large posters of the twelve steps that I had already read about in the textbook. I was glad that I had taken a look at the textbook prior to attending the meeting; although I still felt nervous, it helped me understand AA a little more. The readings for this class helped me have a bit of insight as to what the group process would look like.

I learned about the Big Book, and how it has two parts to it. The first part is the “original manuscript’ which explains the 12-step program and how it can be used to overcome the effects of alcoholism. The second part is filled with stories written by some of the original members of AA; they relate their personal experiences with alcoholism and how they found a path to recovery. Learning about this prior to the meeting helped me better understand what this “Big Book” was that everyone kept referencing. The information from the textbook helped me tie in things that I learned from the meeting today, like the eight characteristics that contribute to a group’s success. I enjoyed educating myself about what works and what doesn’t. One of the eight characteristics that the textbook talks about is for the group to “place emphasis on accepting responsibility for one’s behavior.” I saw plenty of this today. I heard members continually say things like “I know I shouldn’t have done that” or “I blame myself”. It’s easy to not take responsibility for your actions and to simply blame others, so hearing people being fully accountable and not making excuses was very admirable. If given the opportunity again (for education purposes or in support of a friend/family), I would love to attend another recovery meeting. I learned quite a bit from my experience attending a 12-step meeting. I now have a better understanding of this highly effective modality and the utmost respect for these members that are just trying to provide emotional and practical support for one another.    

During my career, I have gained both practical work experience and further qualifications to improve my overall knowledge and experience to enable me to progress within the organization.

Leaving school I started a carpentry apprenticeship with a small business at a time when the economy was struggling, I gained my NVQ level 1 before placements became hard to come by which eventually lead to me leaving the course as gaining the evidence needed was not possible without a work placement. When I started for the NHS I worked in a kitchen as a porter and this is where I learned my passion for food and customer satisfaction. I quickly grew more interested in the food production side and started to shadow the cooks and food production assistants as well as continuing my role as a porter which was responsible for the hygiene and cleanliness of the kitchen which helped me appreciate the need to keep things safe, clean and tidy in my future role as a cook. I then used these skills to help myself gain a promotion to cook/housekeeping assistant in a small new Alzheimer’s center run and set up by the health board. During my time working there the satisfaction of helping people become a passion and this is where I gained my NVQ level 1 in cleaning, customer services, and hospitality. These qualifications helped to provide a high standard of service to the patients and relatives as well as give me personal job satisfaction and push me to start my educational journey. From there I started as a head cook in the Rookwood hospital which was for spinal and brain injuries. I gained a lot of experience in this role in the different physical and nutritional needs of patients as well as the dangers of allergies and contaminants. In this role I also realized that I was a good team leader and guided my team whilst keeping good working relationships, this was something that I previously did not believe I was capable of as I always had a lack of confidence when dealing with difficult situations. This is where I completed my level 2 food hygiene qualification as well as NVQ level 2 in cleaning and support services and hospitality. I then started as a supervisor in the U.H.L. site which was a large hospital that was in the process of an expansion of a whole new building dedicated to mental health patients. I lead the setting up of the catering and housekeeping services which gave me great experience in organization and leadership. This was a stressful time as there was a lot expected of me and looking back now, I should have asked for more help and assistance which would have gained better results as well as made it a more enjoyable experience for me. During my time at UHL, I gained further qualifications such as a food hygiene level 3 and NVQs in both facilities management and healthcare support services. these qualifications gave me the knowledge I needed to progress to the management role that I am currently in.

During my development I have recognized that I am a practical learner and gain better experience by working with someone and physically performing the task to learn, these include working with a mentor to ensure the correct decisions are made with staff requests, issues, and complaints as well as customer expectations and complaints and the day to day running of our services. An example of this is when I was promoted to the U.H.W site as a team manager, part of my role was to manage and monitor the daily and weekly rotas for all staff and the supervisory team. I was paired up with another manager and observed them working on and amending the rotas. After some weeks I realized that by watching I was learning but thought I would pick it up a lot quicker if I completed them myself with my mentor present to evaluate and assist with any information I may need. I found by completing the rotas myself with someone there to guide and recognize mistakes helped me pick up the information I needed much faster and helped speed up my training in the role.

I have also found that when completing qualifications, I work and perform best by conversing and explaining my evidence rather than reading from an internet source or textbook and typing my answers down. In a previous qualification, I and my tutor recognized that I sometimes misunderstood a question or thought too much about a particular question and didn’t get all the information required when I provided my evidence In conversation, I could explain my clearly in detail my evidence. When completing qualifications written work is always required but where possible I have recorded conversations with my tutor to help gather evidence to help gain credits in my qualifications.

We can all agree that it’s nice to have a little break from our daily routines. I still remember the road trip my family and I took to Lake of the Ozarks and Rogers, Arkansas. It was a two-day vacation we took in 2017. Some days earlier, my dad got back from work with some exciting news! “Pack your bags for tomorrow. We’re going on a road trip”. I was thrilled, but I thought my dad was just joking around. My dad had his ‘serious face’, which is when I knew that he wasn’t joking. I immediately started to pack my bag. I think I was so excited that I couldn’t fall asleep the night before we left. The next day, we left at 6 am and arrived at our destination around 8:30 am.

The first thing my dad wanted to do once we arrived to Camdenton was to go to a popular tourist attraction called Bridal Caves. We took a one-hour tour. When I first entered, I was shocked to see what I saw; I’ve never seen anything like that in my life. It’s impressive to learn about how the onyx and stalactite forms inside the cavern. The walls inside the caves were very moist. We took family pictures in front of a wall of stalactites. The only thing I disliked about this trip was that it was raining. As a result, if it was raining outside, it felt like it was raining inside the caves, too. Before we left, we went inside the gift shop. My mom bought me two gold rocks and a necklace with a tiny magenta rock. I was delighted with my trip to Bridal Caves. After we left the caves, we were starving. We made a quick stop to McDonald’s.

Since it was raining, we couldn’t go to any outside tourist attractions that we wanted to go to. So, we had to change our plans. We decided it would be nice to head to Rogers, Arkansas. On our three-hour drive to Arkansas, we listened to music and did karaoke. We had great quality family time! When we arrived, we got a hotel. Some hours later, we went to a restaurant that sells fried chicken. The restaurant is called ‘Pollo Campero’. With the first bite, my mouth melted. It was savory, juicy and crispy. I also ate French fries and some butter biscuits. Then, we headed back to the hotel. My family and I decided that it was better if we relax the rest of the day because we were tired. At the hotel, we watch television, took a shower and went to sleep.

The next morning, we woke early because I wanted to go to an art museum. The museum is called Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. One of the things I liked the most in the museum was that one of the walls was painted green and orange with black and white shapes. I remember this specific detail because my sister and I took pictures in front of this wall. Another thing I liked was that there was an exhibit that had candy on the all over the floor that you could get. I remember that I grab a bunch of candy and put it in my purse. The candy had a sweet flavor. I think we spent about 3 hours at the museum. It was so much to see.

After that we went to Lake Atalanta Park. This park had a huge lake, an enormous playground and a treehouse. We walked on the trail, got on the swings, and played with other kids at the park. My sisters and I took a lot of pictures and videos when we were up on the treehouse. It was the first time I saw a treehouse at a park. It was very amusing to go up all the stairs of the treehouse. Afterwards, we saw a little pond. My sister and I got in the pond and started to splash water on each other. When I look back at the memories, it brings a big smile on my face.

My road trip to Lake of the Ozark and Rogers, Arkansas, has been, by far, the best experience of my life. Even though this trip was two years ago, it’s still vivid in my memory and something I will never forget. The memories I made there, are something I truly treasure and always will. I learned that it was very important to spend all the time you can with the people you love. This is my unforgettable road trip.

My holiday trip to remember I ever had was 9 years ago, with my husband for our honeymoon. We went to a small island called Langkawi, off the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It was the furthest away I had ever travelled, and I remember feeling so excited to be going on an adventure for 14 days of pure paradise.

When we finally arrived in Langkawi, after 18 long hours of travelling, it blew me away by how incredible it was. The tropical heat blasted us, as we stepped off the plane. I felt like we had landed on the most gorgeous island in the world.

From the moment we arrived at our hotel, we were greeted by the wonderful staff who could not do enough for us, we felt like royalty for the whole duration of our stay.

The beaches were captivating, a glorious sweep of soft white sand, and the waters were crystal clear with mesmerizing waterfalls around the island. It was always quiet on the beaches with a never-ending flow of cocktails, fresh pineapple, and coconut water. There were also plenty of activities available such as snorkeling, scuba diving, and banana boating. We did try the banana boating but got very worried when we started to float a little too far out to sea. It was funny though, and we laughed about it for some time afterward.

One of the most memorable parts of the holiday was the vast amount of wildlife. The island is dense with tropical rainforest, and we had very close encounters with many different animals including flying squirrels, lizards, spiders, birds and stunning marine life, but the main highlight, were the monkeys of Langkawi. The most common types of monkeys that live on the island are the dusky leaf monkeys, which have a black and white face, and they are very shy. The other type are grey/brown macaque monkeys, who have learnt that tourist’s equal food. They are not fazed by humans at all and we were advised by the locals to hold on tight to our belongings as they are notorious for snatching valuables out of your hand.

The first day that we arrived in our hotel room, I was greeted by three macaque monkeys who had climbed into our room and raided the mini bar right in front of me. They also stole the fruit out of the fruit bowl and two bottles of water. My presence did not seem to bother them as I stood still in awe. It was almost like they gave me a cheeky smile and a wink as they headed back out of the window with the full contents of our minibar. It stunned me; I had never been that close to monkeys before and certainly did not expect to be greeted by them in our hotel room. However, it was all part of the unique experience, though we ensured we kept our windows shut for the rest of our holiday.

Another highlight of our holiday was our visit to the Langkawi Skybridge, and the ride on the cable car, known as the Langkawi Sky Cab. The Skybridge is the longest free span curved bridge in the world. It is a cable-stayed pedestrian footbridge hanging high up in the sky at an altitude of 700 meters above sea level and is supported by a single pylon. It moved as we walked across it, and there were glass floor sections which you could stand on if you were brave enough. I was extremely nervous about taking the cable car ride as it did not look very safe, but to get to the top of the mountain to the Skybridge we had to take the cable car. After the first few minutes, I started to relax and enjoy the breath-taking views of jungle below us, the mountains and the Andaman Sea. I did not know until afterward that the Sky Cab is, in fact, the steepest cable car ride in the world. The views from the Skybridge were spectacular; it was a complete hair-raising experience.

The food in Langkawi was always delicious and fresh, although some dishes were very unusual and only for the most daring of diners. The menus consisted mostly of seafood, although most of the restaurants we tried also had a great selection of western food available.

I will always remember Langkawi and all its beauty. It opened my eyes and I hope to return there one day with our two sons Max and Jack, so they too can experience such a magical part of the world.

For my third block English class, we voted to go to Portland Oregon merely a two-hour flight away. Arriving at the airport I knew this would be a trip I would remember for a good while and I was thrilled to be there.

Although I did not go to these places myself a lot of my other classmates went to extravagant restaurants, coffee shops, sandwich shops, donut shops, and outside food carts despite the bitter cold. I had heard from Ms. Sieling that Natalie, Bella, and Hailey went ‘Voodoo Donuts’. Ms. Sieling also said that Cambree went to a miniature coffee shop called ‘Dutch Brothers’, I thought I had heard of them before so I looked them up and their story is quite interesting, it’s too bad that I can’t fit it into here. While I was taking a walk outside, I saw that Logan and Jason were eating at a food cart pod, it was cold out, despite that the cart was packed. Conclusion, the food must be great.

Since Portland is a notably big city it’s no wonder that artists come here on tour here quite often. Karissa and Rachel S. went to a Drake concert at the McMenamins venue, I don’t listen to Drake unless I have to but I know enough that he is quite well known and popular. Speaking of which Karissa and Rachel S. also went to a Queen concert earlier that day. Other than a few artists I don’t know a lot about new artists in general so it was great to hear about the concert from them. It just goes to show how prominent Portland is in the entertainment world.

Portland not only holds a lot of concerts and festivals but they also hold some of the most impressive art museums and gardens from what I’ve heard. Natalie, Bella, and Hailey went to the Japanese Garden which is actually the largest of its kind outside of Japan and more than holds its place in Portland. I heard from many that although it had rained it was still a sight to behold, all of the art, literature, and culture behind Japan is something unique and of its own. They also said that even with the autumn like cold the pond and falls had an appeal of their own with the hazy orange evening sky.

I have heard that Portland is a lovely place and a significant community in America, it was one thing to hear and another to behold. Overall, it was a transcendent school trip and I know others believe the same. Following the trip, I still reminisce about Portland and I may even go again another year.

Every year, my family takes a trip to Puerto Rico to visit family and friends. In 2017, Hurricane Maria came to the Island and devastated Puerto Rico, ‘La Isla del Encanto’. The next time we visited our home in Las Marias was in the summer of 2018. We were able to see our family and bring some things that were still needed. However, the highlight of the trip, that separated it from all the other times we have gone, was that it was my first time visiting the capital, San Juan. It was a three-hour long, cramped drive in a small car from Las Marias to San Juan because we brought our cousin with us as well. The scorching hot summer sun was also no help to our conditions, but it was all worth it in the end.

As soon as we got there, I could immediately see the differences between our hometown and San Juan. Las Marias is full of mountains and narrow, bumpy, and twisty roads. San Juan has lots of old, historic buildings, people, and a person can find more advanced technology. Our hotel was in the middle of the town, ‘Mi Viejo San Juan’, which translates to ‘Old San Juan’. There was no need for transportation because everything was simply a walking distance away. We visited many unique, historic places such as El Morro, El Fuerte San Cristóbal, La Fortaleza, and El Paseo de la Princesa.

For breakfast, we went to this small diner where savored delicious sweet bread made in Puerto Rico called ‘mazorca’, but nothing compares to the amazing food my grandma makes for me. First, we went to El Morro, where we saw many children flying colorful kites, people walking their dogs, and enjoying the breeze which comes from the Caribbean Sea. I certainly enjoyed this breeze and the ocean because we don’t get this in Las Marias where there is barely a community pool to swim in the hot summers. Then, in El Fuerte San Cristóbal, I heard the loud noise that a cannon makes when it fires. I learned that this fort was used by the Spaniards to defend themselves from pirate attacks. Later at La Fortaleza, I was able to walk inside the Governor’s mansion. During the tour we were taken to a small chapel inside the mansion where the sons and daughters of the important governmental officers are baptized. Finally, in El Paseo de la Princesa, we sat to watch people play and we could smell the salt coming from the ocean. And to finish off a wonderful day, we ate delicious ice cream made from fruits grown in the island called ‘paletas’.

I felt very happy to have visited this part of the island that I had never seen before. I learned so many new things about the history of Puerto Rico and enjoyed several new foods. But out of the whole trip, what made me most proud was how in the midst of a tragedy, Puerto Ricans stood united and strong.