Moderator: Ever since we invented internet based social media, humans have pondered over one question: “Is it better to have a ‘negative digital footprint’ or no digital footprint?” To attempt to answer this question, we now have a debate between Mr. Smith and Ms. Jones.

Moderator: Before we can begin to argue this topic, we should better understand what a digital footprint actually is. The common definition of a digital footprint is: publicly viewable actions of a person on a computer/the internet. A negative digital footprint might be an unkind post on any social media, like Facebook, which illuminates someone or something else in a negative light.

Moderator: So, Ms. Smith, do you believe that it is better to have a negative digital footprint, or no digital footprint at all?

Ms. Smith: I believe that it is better to have a negative digital footprint than to have no digital footprint.

Moderator: What about you, Mr Jones?

Mr. Jones: I think that it is better to have no digital footprint, instead of a negative one.

Moderator: Why do you think this, Mr. Jones?

Mr. Jones: One reason that I believe that it is better to have no digital footprint than a negative one is that a digital footprint is not the only way to be remembered. One can be remembered by teir non-digital achievements, without having to be recognized for negative things that show up on their digital footprint.

Moderator: Ms. Smith, can you argue otherwise? You have one minute.

Ms. Smith: Though one can be remembered for their non-digital achievements, digital society is an important part of our culture today. A digital footprint is essential because it allows one to share one’s opinions and work, and to connect with other people in a way that is otherwise very difficult to achieve. Other than this, what is the purpose of the internet?

Moderator: Ms. Smith, can you argue further why it is better to have a negative digital footprint than to have no digital footprint at all?

Ms. Smith: A person can be remembered by a digital footprint. I believe that it is better to be remembered as a person with flaws, than not be remembered at all.

Moderator: Can you reply, Mr. Jones? Remember, you only have a minute.

Mr. Jones: A digital footprint is only one way that a person can be remembered and recognized. Sometimes, it can be better to be less widely recognized, but be recognized for your positive contributions to society.

Moderator: Mr. Jones, do you have anything else that you want to say?

Mr. Jones: It is very difficult to modify or change one’s digital footprint. If one makes a mistake, it is permanent, and there is nothing that one can do about it.

Moderator: Ms. Smith, can you reply?

Ms. Smith: Though it is true that it can be very difficult to alter a digital footprint, mistakes can’t be altered in the real world either. The only difference is that negative components in one’s digital footprint can be more widely recognized in the real world. I believe that this is normal and acceptable, and that one should be recognized for who they are.

Moderator: Ms. Smith…

Mr. Jones: One should be able to choose how one is recognized. Otherwise, it would be a violation of their privacy.

Moderator: Ms. Smith, do you have anything else to say?

Ms. Smith: Sharing on the internet, and therefore leaving a digital footprint, can be better for the environment, because when one does so, one does not consume resources such as paper and ink/lead.

Moderator: Will you reply, Mr. Jones?

Mr. Jones: Ms. Smith’s statement is false. Sharing digitally, and making a digital footprint, does use electricity. Electricity requires other resources to be produced, and also negatively impacts the environment.

Moderator: Mr. Jones, do you have anything else to add?

Mr. Jones: A negative digital footprint has negative effects on others, as well as the person who created the footprint. Having no footprint has no effect, which is preferable to a negative effect.

Moderator: Ms. Smith, will you reply? This is the final statement.

Ms. Smith: Having a partly negative digital footprint does not mean that a negative digital footprint cannot have positive aspects.

Moderator: That concludes our debate tonight. We hope that you enjoyed learning about the pros and cons of digital footprints. Remember, you have all of the information. Now it’s time for you to present your opinion. Thank you.

Global Read Aloud – Nachman

January 8, 2014 nachman20 0 - Global Read Aloud -, 6th Grade Writers GRA, Out Of My Mind, Reading

At Poughkeepsie Day School, the entire middle school has been participating in the Global Read Aloud. We have been reading Out of My Mind, by Sharon Draper. Out of My Mind is about a girl named Melody. Melody is very intelligent, but has mental disabilities, so that she cannot completely control her body, walk, or talk. Melody cannot communicate, even though she has so much to say.

After an unsuccessful appointment with a doctor, Melody’s mother decides to send Melody to school, in a Special Needs classroom (Room H5). In H5, Melody is bored, because she is only taught kindergarten level subjects, until one day, inclusion classes begin. In inclusion classes, the children from room H5 take classes with the “normal” children, with help from aids. In the inclusion music class, Melody makes two new friends: her aid, Catherine, and a student, Rose. Unfortunately, Melody meets two other people in music class as well: Molly and Claire. Molly and Claire make fun of Melody, and make her feel out of place in class. Then, one day, Melody gets a Meditalker which says whatever Melody types into it. Then after that, in history class,there is a mock tryout for the quiz team. Melody takes the test, and gets a perfect score, winning the prize (a candy bar). However, the teacher, Mr Dimming, announces that for the real tryout, he will make the questions harder. “If Melody Brooks can get it,” he announces, “then the questions must not be hard enough.” After this, Melody is heartbroken. She wants to try-out for the quiz team, but after the teacher so clearly puts her down, she doesn’t have the heart to try. After school, Melody goes to Ms. Valencia’s house (who usually takes care of her after school, and has been doing so for many years.) Melody tells Ms. V about what happened in school, and after a little discussion, Ms. V decides to prepare Melody for the quiz. Every day, she works with Melody, giving her tons of information, until the day of the quiz.

We have only read up to when Melody takes the quiz, and do not know what happens next. I really hope that Melody makes the team. I’m also nervous for Melody because the stakes are so high and if she doesn’t do well, everyone will make fun of her and she will feel even worse. If I were in Melody’s situation, I don’t know how I would bear the tension, hostility of others, and my inability to communicate. It’s one thing to be unaware and not be able to communicate, but for a person with Melody’s smarts, it must feel unbearable. I felt wonderful when I heard the part when Melody got her Meditalker, and I wonder why nobody thought of getting her one before.

One thing that we’ve done to talk about Out of My Mind is have a twitter chat about it. We reached classes all around the U.S., and answered questions and replied to other peoples’ posts. I found this experience fun, exhilarating, and interesting. – fun because I can speculate about the book with other people; exhilarating because I can connect with kids around the country instantly, and interesting because I get to hear so many different peoples’ opinions. I never thought that I would get to chat with so many different classes at once.

Overall, I think that the Global Read Aloud is a great idea. It lets us read great books, and then converse about them with our class, and even with other classes. In this, many minds come together to think about one thing, and to learn. The Global Read Aloud is a great experience.

Dreaming of the Roof of the World – Nachman

December 9, 2013 nachman20 0 - Blogging Challenge, 6th Grade Writers china, lhasa, overseas, tibet, travel, Visit

Edublogs Challenge #9

By Nachman Kaul-Seidman

Though I do reside in America, I have been overseas several times. I was actually born in England, and stayed there for the first year of my life. My family then moved to America. My maternal grandparents live in New Delhi, India, and I visit them at least once a year. So in the ten years of my life, I have been to India over 10 times. When I was younger, there were no direct flights from the New York area to India, and the one we usually took was via England, so I revisited England many times (until I was about 5).

By Lisa Kaul

However, now I usually just take the direct flight – though I have visited a few countries –

England, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and most recently Japan, on my way to India.

by Lisa Kaul

I always enjoy visiting a new country. I like the chance to experience the different culture, from the architecture and food, to the way people behave. (I really like to try the new foods.) I actually got a passport when I was a couple of months old, to go from England to America. That must have have made something click inside my head, because after that, I have always been ready to board a jet, and fly around the world (which I did this year).

There are too many countries that I want to visit. I’d love to revisit France, and see the Eiffel tower, and eat a snail; visit Greenland, and see the northern lights; journey to the pyramids in Egypt, and take a Safari in Africa. Even other than these countries, there are so many more that I would like to go to. But one place that I would really like to visit is Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, in China.

When I read Tintin in Tibet, I became interested in Tibet, even though I was pretty sure that I wouldn’t find a Yeti, the way Tintin did. I also read Daughter of the Mountains, which takes place in Tibet. Both of these stories made me feel that exciting and amazing things happen in Tibet. I too, wanted to experience traveling through the snow-capped mountains, visit the cities carved into them and enjoy the colorful and unique culture and food. Then my mother told me about Lhasa.

From wikipedia and Created Commons licensed

Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world. (Tibet is on one of the highest plateaus in the world.) I would love to feel the thrill of breathing in the cool, sharp, rare air on the roof of the world. There is an abundance of temples and monasteries in Lhasa. Next to the bustling streets, full of color and life, a wanderer can come upon small wonders of life – a beautiful and intricately carved temple, or a colorful and bright monastery. In and around the great monasteries, nuns chant and pray with a single beautiful voice, and monks argue over life, religion, and the universe. As mesmerising chants fill the air, peace fills in one’s heart.

From wikipedia

Yak’s meat, and other products of the yak, are the specialty in Lhasa. I have eaten fried frog in Poughkeepsie, water buffalo in India, carpaccio (raw seasoned steak), and wild boar in Italy, and yaki-tori in Japan, but I have never had yak, or salted tea made with yak butter. The cuisine, besides the colorful palaces and the chanting monks, is just another piece of culture that increases the ‘mass’ of Lhasa, pulling me further toward it.

I am also intrigued by the political situation in Lhasa. In Tibet, the people are led by both a political, and a spiritual leader, called the Dalai Lama. When the Chinese invaded Lhasa – the capital of Tibet – in 1950, the Dalai Lama was forced to flee to India. Ever since, the Chinese government has been present in Lhasa. Now, the Chinese government has raised several important Lamas – who are chosen as infants – with beliefs that fit in with those of the Chinese government. Very few foreigners are allowed in Lhasa under Chinese rule, and those from outside Lhasa who are given permission to enter still are not allowed to interact with locals very much. Religion and life in Lhasa is very suppressed. To protest against this, in a final desperate step, many monks have committed self immolation (have burned themselves).

After all that I have heard and learned of Tibet, I still have the desire to go there. Though I have heard of the chants of monks, and of the temples and cities and palaces, I still am yet to truly experience them, to rediscover them in Lhasa, Tibet.

From wikipedia

Street Children in New Delhi, India – Nachman

November 8, 2013 nachman20 0 - Blogging Challenge, 6th Grade Writers abuse, child labor, Delhi, Human Rights, India, poverty, Street children

LOST CHILDHOOD

I sit back in my seat, enjoying the refreshing air conditioning as the car crawls through the bustling traffic of New Delhi. I roll down the window and gaze out at the landscape moving by as the wind ruffles my hair, before I roll it back up again. As the red light looms up ahead, the car slows to a stop, settling down amidst the other honking vehicles, all maneuvering for a more advanced spot in the frenzy. I start to tell my grandmother about my art with technology class in school when I hear a slow, hopeful knock. I turn, and see a thin, young face with hopeful eyes, pressed against the window. He cups his hand and holds them out, then moves it towards his mouth to ask for something to eat. On the side of the road, I can see another young man lounging, watching greedily, anticipation in his eyes. I need to give the boy something, but what? “We can’t give him money,” my grandmother tells me, “because that man will snatch it from him.” I rummage through my mother’s purse and finally lay eyes on a Kit -Kat. I roll down the window, and place the candy in the boy’s cupped hands. As the car pulls away, I look back, and see the boy jogging to the side of the road. He furtively glances over to see whether the man is watching, and when he is sure that he is not, he splits the wrapper, and bites into the candy. At the next stop light, a girl knocks on the window, ‘le, lo, le, lo … me khana khaoengee’ she chants. My mother tells me that this means, “take it, take it, I’ll eat some food.” She looks as if she should be going to 3rd grade, and her face is grimy, her hair matted. She too has the spark of hope in her eyes. I try to look down, and think about other things, for I have nothing to give her. That night, even though my stomach is full, and my body tired, I can’t quite sleep.

This picture is from Lost Childhood

As I lay awake in bed I wonder: who are these children, why are they on the streets, breathing in the fumes, and risking their lives among the cars, and why should somebody forceably take things from them? These, my mother tells me are, the street children.

UNICEF says that street children is a term for boys and girls under the age of eighteen for whom the streets are both their home, and the place where they earn money to live. They live either on their own, or with some adults, and are not protected or supervised by adults.

According to “Surviving the Streets,’ a report by the Institute for Human Development and Save the Children, there were 50,923 street children below 18 in Delhi in 2010. That’s almost .4 % of the total population, and nearly 1 % of children below 18 in Delhi. 36.6 % of the street children are part of street families, while 29.05 of the children work on the the streets. About 2 out of three street children are 7-14 years old, while 23 % are 15-18 years old. Out of all of the street children 50.5 % are illiterate, 23 have a non-formal education, and 23 % have a formal education (13 % up to only pre primary, 4 % to primary, and only 2.4 % up to middle school).

One fifth of the street children pick rags for a living, while 15.8 % are involved in street vending. Close behind, 15 % beg, 12.9 % work in roadside stalls, and 6.24 % work for hotels. A few street children (1.22 %) work in factories. Street children work for many reasons – mainly in order to survive. 1/3 of the street children (34 %) are on the street due to poverty and hunger. Another 30 % are on the street in hope of finding a job. 17.7 % have come by themselves, while 12.6 % are sent by their parents. 9 % run away from home, either to escape from abuse, or because they have been kidnapped, or orphaned.

Living conditions for street children are very poor. 39 % sleep in slums, while 46 % sleep in open and/or public places. Only 4 % of street children sleep in shelters provided by the government, non-government organizations, or individuals. The majority of the street children (63 %), stay with family, while something like 14 % stay with friends. 4 % stay with people who employ them, and another 11 % sleep alone. Almost 92% know about their families and where they come from. About 70% have families in Delhi that they know about. Just 30% of the children say that their families are outside of Delhi. 88.5% of the children who leave home actually still keep in touch with their family, while 10% have no contact at all.

87% of street children are involved in some kind of work to earn money. The average work hours of street children are 6.6 hours a day, 6 days a week. The average monthly earnings of a street child is Rs. 2240. That’s just $36 (US) dollars a month. Out of this, 45.1% of street children give 49% of their earnings to parents. 3.5% of street children gave that money to supervisors, who are similar to gang leaders, while 0.4% of children give 49% of their earnings to police. Street children usually spend 37.4% of their earnings on food. Also, almost 22% of street children use drugs, mostly tobacco and pan masala (helps to suppress hunger.) 50% of street children are daily consumers, and many more use it weekly and monthly.

Save the Children

The list of human rights violations of these children is far too numerous to to list. If one followed The Universal Declaration of Human Rights then it is clear that these children:

1. Do not have the right to life, liberty, and security of person (Article 3)

2. Are forced to give many of their earnings to ‘supervisors’ who give them nothing in return. This violates their right to be free of slavery or servitude. (Article 4)

3. Are often abused and mutilated by supervisors so that they appear more pitiful, when they are sent out to beg. This supposedly helps the children earn more money, which all goes to the supervisor. This violates their right not to be subject to torture, or ‘inhuman or cruel punishment’. (Article 5)

4. Have no homes, wear ripped, torn and filthy clothes, have little to eat, and are often sick. This violates the children’s right to food, clothing, housing, medical care, and social services (Article 25)

5. Have not received a proper education. 50.5% of street children are illiterate. This violates the children’s right to a free education. (Article 26)

Who’s to blame for this travesty, these lost childhoods, and what can we do to help the street children? Although there are many government and non-government organizations devoted to helping these children, I feel that that this system still has much room for improvement. Very few of the children actually receive help from these organizations. I believe that we need to take more action to help these children, to give them food, shelter, medicine, and educations. These children, who are the next generation of Delhi, live on the streets, and it is their right to live well, and to inherit a city where their children will not have to live on the streets. I believe that we must protect these children from abuse, and that any and all abuse should be punished. Hopefully, if the government upholds the rights of these children, and the people of Delhi are willing to help this cause, and protect these children, then these children might be able to have and enjoy a childhood.

NOTE: I have deliberately chosen not to include a photograph in this post because I feel that doing so would invade the privacy of the children in the picture. However, I do include a link to several pictures.

#BAD13

#13stubc

Government shutdown – Nachman

October 11, 2013 nachman20 0 - Blogging Challenge, 6th Grade Writers debt ceiling, government shutdown, Obama, Obamacare

Edublogs Challenge Number 4, Activity #2

My friend’s mother, a National Park Service officer, has not gone to work since October 1st, because she has been forced to go on “furlough” without pay. She will not be able to go to work again until the Congress passes a spending bill (a “Continuing Resolution”) to fund the government, and re-open all of its offices that have been forced to close. The U.S. government is now shutdown, and only offices deemed ‘essential’ such as active military and air traffic control continue to work. The President and Congress continue to work, and unlike many other government employees, including my friend’s mother, also continue to receive their paychecks.

It’s bad enough that the government is shut down, but even worse is the possibility that Congress won’t raise the debt ceiling. The debt ceiling is the government’s borrowing limit ($16.699 trillion). In order to raise the limit, the President must ask the Congress to vote to raise the debt ceiling, therefore allowing the government to borrow more money. If the debt ceiling is not raised, the government will have to stop paying its bills. If the government were to fail to raise the debt ceiling, economists predict an economic catastrophe.

In order to better understand why this is happening, I applied for an interview with The President, and was lucky enough to be accepted. Below is a transcript of our conversation:

NKS: So, Mr. President, could you tell us why the government shut-down is really happening?

PO: The Government shutdown is happening because the Republicans in the House of Representatives refuse to pass a spending bill, called a continuing resolution, to end the Government shutdown.

NKS: Why do the Republicans refuse to fund the government, and end the shutdown?

PO: The Republicans are acting in their own interest, for their party, not their country. They are holding this nation hostage to stall the Affordable Care Act, supposedly for the ‘good of the American people’.

NKS: Mr. President, Speaker Boehner says that you are to blame, for you too refuse to compromise. Do you have any reply to this?

PO: I will not negotiate on Obamacare or anything else until a spending bill is passed. I believe that it is vital that this line is not crossed, for if it is, a minority would rule the government through blackmail. This I will not allow.

NKS: Thank you for your time, Mr. President. It was truly an honor to meet you.

References

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/09/us/politics/obama-calls-boehner-as-gop-meeting-yields-no-offers.html?hp&_r=0

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/30/politics/government-shutdown-up-to-speed/index.html

A Day in the Life – Nachman

October 6, 2013 nachman20 0 - All about us, 0 - Blogging Challenge A Day in the Life of Nachman, Day, life of, Nachman

Edublogs Challenge 3

I attend Poughkeepsie Day School. I’m lucky that I can wake up pretty late (7:30 a.m.) because my school is only about a mile away from my house, and starts at 8.15 a.m.. It’s a struggle for me to wake up in the morning because I find it hard to fall asleep at night. In fact , sometimes I feel like by the time I’m actually asleep it’s already morning. Have you ever felt like that? In a daze, I have breakfast from 7:45 to 8:00 A.M., and then leave for school, either by bike or bus. Usually my breakfast of either a pancake or eggs helps to wake me up a little. I really enjoy the fruit and tea (made in a tiny teapot that I found in an antique market in a temple complex in Kyoto this summer) as well.

Before I tell you about my school day, let me tell you little bit about PDS itself. PDS is a progressive school, meaning that understanding concepts and creativity is emphasized over rote work. We don’t have any tests or grades, but instead have a written report. In fact, we make a presentation to our parents on our progress every half year! PDS incorporates technology a lot: we all use laptops to write, research, and even practice math! We use Google docs, so that we can share what we are working on instantly and there is even an art with technology class! Do you use computers in school? Do you like using computers?

We don’t have uniforms (which means that I can dress up to the nines!) and our classroom spaces are very flexible. In the middle school, we have a large open space with tables, comfortable chairs, and a “donut” one can sit in and pick books to read from.

Off this large space, there are several smaller classrooms with tables, chairs, whiteboards, and projectors. We don’t really use textbooks and don’t have individual desks. Instead we store our stuff in our lockers.

School starts at 8:15 with advisory. In advisory, I meet up with all of the other 6th graders (there are only 17 of us). Attendance is taken, and sometimes announcements are made. The school day is broken into 8-9 periods, and sometimes we have double periods in some subjects. Today, I had math and science class, followed by a 30 minute break where we can usually do anything. However, today the people running for student council (an executive student body) had to give their campaign speeches. I am running for 6th grade representative, and also had to speak which was a little nerve wracking. After that I had humanities class (where we study many things including reading, writing, history, english, etc.), and then lunch and recess. Since it was a Friday, we had pizza for lunch. After that I had common time and arts. In common time we can either read or study unless there is a special event or a special class. Today I learned about John Burroughs for the first period of common time, and I read for the 2nd period. In arts I had a class called Fabrications Lab. I also have an outdoor drawing art class, and a “mini movies” art class where we use technology to create art. Today we connected circuits on arduinos (mini computers). Then we used a pre written program to see how much light a receptor got when we aimed a low power laser at it.

After school I ride the bus home. I have a quick snack, practice piano, and do my homework. Today, I had soccer practice from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Then I came home and relaxed – because it was the WEEKEND!

– Nachman

Nachman – All About Poughkeepsie

September 26, 2013October 1, 2013 nachman20 0 - Blogging Challenge, 6th Grade Writers art center, bardavon, Nachman, poughkeepsie, vassar, walkway

Edublogs challenge 2

I live in the town of Poughkeepsie, in the Hudson Valley. Poughkeepsie is located 83.2 miles away from New York city, and is on the Hudson River. I would like to share four of the main attractions with you.

1. The Walkway over the Hudson is 1.28 miles long and 212 feet high, the largest pedestrian bridge in the world. It used to be a railroad bridge, but in 1974, there was a large fire. After the fire, the bridge was abandoned. Later on, a non-profit organization called “Walkway over the Hudson”, decided to turn this old railroad bridge into a pedestrian park. They fundraised for many years and were able to open the Walkway on October 3rd, 2009. I like to bike and I’ve gone over the Walkway several times. The bridge itself isn’t especially beautiful, but the vast size and the great veiw really do make the experience special. Now there is a Rail Trail (bike path), connecting the bridge to other trails in the area. I haven’t biked the route yet, but I’m looking forward to doing it. In 2012, someone organized what they hoped would be the longest hokey pokey on the walkway!

2. The Culinary Institute of America (CIA), is a college that teaches professional cooking. They also have several restaurants, serving different cuisines. The college was founded in 1946 by Frances Roth and Katharine Angell. It was called the New Haven restaurant institute and was located in New Haven, Connecticut. It was actually founded as a training school for World War 2 veterans on vacation. The name was changed to the Culinary Institute of America in 1951, and in 1972, the CIA was moved to Hyde Park, New York. I went to the CIA for my 10th birthday. I got to eat frog legs for an appetizer, duck for my main course, and cheesecake for dessert!

3. The Bardavon is the oldest theater that still operates in New York state. It was designed by an architect named J.A. Wood and built by James S. Post, who also designed Vassar College. At one time, it was bought by Paramount, and later on, a pipe organ was added. In 1975, The Bardavon Theatre was threatened with demolition because it was next to the sight for a proposed highway project. There were plans to demolish the building and replace it with a parking lot. Worried citizens rallied to save it. On August 20, 1977, The Bardavon was named to the National Register of Historic Places and was renamed the Bardavon 1869 Opera House. I got to miss school and go see the inaugural ceremony of President Obama there.

4. The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center is a teaching museum located on Vassar college’s campus. It was founded in 1864, and called the Vassar College Art Gallery. Vassar was actually the first college to have a museum as part of their campus. The Gallery was named for Frances Lehman Loeb, a donor, and an alumnus (a member of the class of 1928). The Gallery has 18,000 pieces of artwork from both Europe and America. I really like the gallery. I used to go there when I was a baby. There was one sculpture that I called the alligator.

These are some of my favorite notable places to visit in Poughkeepsie. Other than these four places, there are also other attractions such as The Presidential Library of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Locust Grove, Springside, and many others. In addition, Poughkeepsie has many nice restaurants, including Mole Mole (mexican), La Cabinita (mexican), El Azteca (Mexican) Billy Bob’s (barbecue), Lemongrass (thai), and Thai Spice (thai).

Come to Poughkeepsie sometime and I’ll show you around. It’s hot in the summer, snowy in the winter, colorful in the fall, and a fresh start in the spring.

-Nachman

Nachman all about me

September 26, 2013 nachman20 0 - All about us, 0 - Blogging Challenge, 6th Grade Writers all about me, blog post, journal, Nachman

Edublogs challenge 1

Hello. My name is Nachman. I’m in 6th grade at Poughkeepsie Day School. I live in the town of Poughkeepsie, in the state of New York. I like to travel, and every summer I go to visit my grandparents in India. I was actually born in England, but my family moved to America when I was one year old. When I go to India, we sometimes stop over in other countries along the way. So, this past summer I got to visit Japan because I was flying to India from the west coast of America, as I spent the first part of the summer in Tahoe, California. I loved it in Japan! I really enjoyed trying the new food and seeing and doing new things! I stayed up one night and went to a communal bath in Kyoto and was surprised to see how busy it was at 10 p.m.! At one point, I went into an electrified bath, and got the shock of my life! I also had fun exploring a bullet train, even as it sped along at 200 mph.

I also like to play soccer and squash. I play “travel” team soccer, for my town – which means that my team has to travel to other towns to play. In other words, I don’t get much of a break on Sundays because I have to go to my games. I also plan to play soccer for PDS. I don’t play squash seriously, although I enjoy playing with my friends.

In school, I enjoy arts classes. I have an outdoor drawing class, an Imovies class, and an art with technology class, all of which I look forward to. I really like to read. Some of my favorite series are: Artemis Fowl, The Hunger Games, and Alex Rider. Right now I’m thinking about reading a book called Gone, which a friend of mine showed me. I also play the piano.

Do you play any sports or instruments? What do you like to do in your free time?