National Day

As you read Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, you must infer some parts of the novel as the narrator leaves out crucial information. Both the characters and the readers are withheld from, crucial information that greatly affects the events in the novel that shape who the characters are. The purpose for the author and the guardians to withhold information from the reader and the characters is to mask the true identities of the characters in the novel, to establish a sense of individuality within…

In the film Groundhog Day, Phil Connors, a pompous TV meteorologist, who amid a detested task of covering the yearly Groundhog Day cannot wait to return to Pittsburgh, yet trapped by a blizzard that he neglected to foresee, he and his crew must remain one more night in Punxsutawney. When he awakes the following morning, Phil discovers much to his dismay that it is February 2nd once more. Soon, he finds that regardless of what he does, each morning he wakes up at the same time, in the same bed of…

Dia de los Muertos The carnival Dia de los Muertos taking place in Mexico occurs on the first and second days of November. The two days are spent celebrating the lives of lost family members and friends, rather than mourning the death. This time is filled with calaveras (skulls), calacas (skeletons), colors as bright as the sun, and a happy remembrance of loved ones. The celebration of the Day of the Dead is distinctive in its history, countries, and customs. The Mexican carnival has unique…

Introduction Dorothy day was born on the 8th of November 1897 in New York City to her parent John and Grace Day. Throughout her life, starting at a young age, had to face a number of difficulties, these included: leaving her life in New York to move to Chicago, having to face a period of poverty after her family lost their home and their income to an earthquake, getting arrested and going on hunger strikes in a protest, and even having failed relationships and an abortion. During these hard…

I went to Precious Memories Child Care for my site visit. Precious Memories’ mission is to provide day care for children who have been rejected from other care facilities or schools for either financial or behavioral reasons. Most of the children at precious memories are from low-income households. This background predisposes these children to significant current and future health problems. In a 2000 study of low-income children who were being placed into foster care: 44% of children had an…

As the nation observes Memorial Day this weekend, we should take a few minutes to reflect on the great number of American military cemeteries that span the far reaches of the planet, where boundless ranks of white stones stand silently at attention with few visitors to ever pay their respects. There were never any veterans’ reunions for them – not one. Well, at least not on this side of eternity’s threadlike veil. In what seems like a blink of the eyes, it was last summer that I was…

painful or difficult. You can do it! On May 1, 2006, I had the best day since surgery in December 2005. The sun was out when I woke up. It was a beautiful day. If you have ever dealt with pain, then you understand the weather affects a body greatly. My neck was strong and my pain was minimal. I had direction in my heart and excitement about my future. It was a good day! A day I had longed for over sixteen months – a day when I began to think it would end and…

traditions my family celebrates, both major “American” and “Dominican” holiday and important events. For example with regards to American traditions we celebrate: New Years, Memorial Day, Christmas, Thanks Giving, Halloween and much more, and with regards to Dominican traditions we celebrate: Fathers day, Mothers day, Semana Santa (Holy week). I think because I celebrated both cultures almost evenly I think as a student I always felt connected to my peers and my teachers. I was always confident…

On September 7, 1885, the first nationwide observance of Labor Day occurred. Over the next four years, this holiday would be celebrated in over 400 cities. Oregon was the first state in the union to make Labor Day an official holiday, New York would follow later that same year. Furthermore, New York declared the first Monday in September as the official day to celebrate this holiday (Foner, 2005). By 1894, Labor Day became a federal holiday. How this holiday would look and take place was…

place a lot of emphasis on the formative time spent between a mother and a child, all of which would be lost due to a mother returning to work shortly after giving birth. According to a study done by Lukas, “only 6 percent of parents thought a quality day care center was optimal” (1 Lukas). Alongside this, due to the extremely high costs of child care, it is questionable whether or not the system is even viable. In Germany, the costs are subsidized, leaving the parents with only a fraction of…