Wedding In Malaysia

Wedding tourism in our country has becoming popular as more foreigners and local tourist are taking interest and start to recognize this tourism field. Nowadays, lots of visitors start to take interest in the grand wedding functions which held in attractive and tourism place as well as at Historical Places and magnificent place of our country.It’s a well-known fact that our country are based from numerous type of races with its colorful culture and traditions. These tradition and rituals of Malaysian reflect the rich cultural heritage of our nation.Ones of the tradition that can generate high income and have a bright chance to be develops in the future is Wedding Tourism which is gaining popularity due to the distinctive celebrations and religious ceremonies that are held in the course of a wedding.Though there are grand and magnificent weddings conducted in tourism and magnificent places in our country includes at the beaches of Malaysia. All kind of Malaysian various races w edding have recently become a hit among tourist around the world.Wedding tourism in our country offers lot more than just the wedding rituals which according to its own culture and religions. Along with the wedding ceremonies, tourist and visitors can enjoy and get a firsthand experience of the wedding preparations that are done by both parties. Besides, wedding tourism in Malaysia also helps tourist in this country to explore the hidden facts of Malaysian wedding and enjoy the warmth and hospitality of our peoples that are well known for their warmness and smile.Realizing this potential in wedding tourism towards the future, our government also take a step ahead in promoting and encourage this industry to enhance its wider around the world. Thus, lots of accommodations such as excellent facilities in hotels, better transportation, mouthwatering cuisine and many more are integrated part of the packages for wedding. The special wedding tour package also helps to get insight into the life style of our peoples and offers an enjoyable moments that can stand to be memories for a  lifetimes. Wedding in Malaysia Wedding tourism in our country has becoming popular as more foreigners and local tourist are taking interest and start to recognize this tourism field. Nowadays, lots of visitors start to take interest in the grand wedding functions which held in attractive and tourism place as well as at Historical Places and magnificent place of our country.It’s a well-known fact that our country are based from numerous type of races with its colorful culture and traditions. These tradition and rituals of Malaysian reflect the rich cultural heritage of our nation.Ones of the tradition that can generate high income and have a bright chance to be develops in the future is Wedding Tourism which is gaining popularity due to the distinctive celebrations and religious ceremonies that are held in the course of a wedding.Though there are grand and magnificent weddings conducted in tourism and magnificent places in our country includes at the beaches of Malaysia. All kind of Malaysian various races w edding have recently become a hit among tourist around the world.Wedding tourism in our country offers lot more than just the wedding rituals which according to its own culture and religions. Along with the wedding ceremonies, tourist and visitors can enjoy and get a firsthand experience of the wedding preparations that are done by both parties. Besides, wedding tourism in Malaysia also helps tourist in this country to explore the hidden facts of Malaysian wedding and enjoy the warmth and hospitality of our peoples that are well known for their warmness and smile.Realizing this potential in wedding tourism towards the future, our government also take a step ahead in promoting and encourage this industry to enhance its wider around the world. Thus, lots of accommodations such as excellent facilities in hotels, better transportation, mouthwatering cuisine and many more are integrated part of the packages for wedding. The special wedding tour package also helps to get insight into the life style of our peoples and offers an enjoyable moments that can stand to be memories for a  lifetimes.

An Undisputed Social Issue in The Philippines Essay

Poverty is a state of being poor, indigence, lack of material things and finances. Poverty puts people into the lowest level in a society. Poor people, most of the time, are neglected by the government, shunned by the society and not given enough opportunities to prosper. They live in a filthy environment, living among a community of criminals. We can enumerate countless of unpleasant words to define the effect of poverty, and there are countless of reasons and causes for these. Poverty remains the central development issue in the Philippines and, despite the ambitious development goals laid out by the government, the country has not been able to sustain the economic growth required to reduce poverty to acceptable levels. Why Poverty Remains a Social Issue in the Philippines First, there is a fundamental disconnect between Filipino elites and the poor. The political leadership in the Philippines has always been drawn from those elites, and those politicians have traditionally played the role of patrons and benefactors, relying on the pork barrel and personal/family funds (often acquired through corruption) to essentially buy votes. â€Å"The core principle of democracy – that representatives should be drawn from those they represent and advocate for the true interests of their constituents – has not been operative† (Abueva, 1964). Philippine Presidents in particular have been drawn from the ranks of the wealthy and privileged. How can they relate to what it means to be poor or hungry? Even if their heart’s in the right place (which is not all that common), well-photographed visits to squatter settlements are not the answer. Second, the Philippines system is exceedingly politicized. President Arroyo herself is already focused on the 2004 presidential elections. In a sense, you can’t blame GMA. Her predecessor, Erap, had a built-in constituency among the masa. But President Arroyo must create such a base, given that she is the daughter of a previous President and has virtually nothing in common with the poor people of her country. Look more:  problems of scarcity essay She has worked hard to develop support among the common folk, dressed in jeans with regularity, and sung on stage with popular recording artists. She has also latched onto fighting poverty as a key policy emphasis. In her State-of-the-Nation (SONA) address on July 22nd, she emphasized the so-called â€Å"rolling stores† – trucks loaded with subsidized rice, rice, sugar, and canned meat that ply the streets of Manila – as a sterling example of her administration’s anti-poverty programs. The only problem was that her remarks had knowledgeable economists practically rolling in the aisles, given that few poor people ever get access to the trucks and only 5% of the nation’s poor live in Metro Manila. But real poverty alleviation programs where they are most needed – say in rural Mindanao – would lack the publicity opportunities of the rolling stores on Manila streets. Additionally, several other studies list down the primary causes of poverty in the Philippines in terms of economic state: 1. The basic economic problem in the Philippines is inefficient and very low incomes. 2. The finances of the Government had become steadily worse and were not critical, The Treasury had a large and mounting deficit with taxes covering little more than 60% of the expenditures. 3. The country had an excessive volume of imports. In the meantime, the volume of exports was less than before the war an d could be expected to grow only gradually. 4. There had been inequalities in the level of income of people. While the standard of living of a great segment of the population remained below that of the pre-war level, the profits of businessmen and large landowners had risen considerably. Under the circumstances, the continued rise in the prices of commodities tended to transfer real income from the poor to the wealthy and; 5. The inefficiency and corruption in the government led the people to lose their faith and confidence in the ability of the government â€Å"to protect the interest of all the people. † The result was demoralization of the people. According to history, â€Å"the destruction of the national economy as a result of the war posed serious problems of subsistence and of peace and order† (Agoncillo, 1990). In such circumstances the leaders if the nation could only rely on the United States for financial and other material aid. The hundreds of millions of dollars given t the Philippines by the United States in the form of cash and surplus properties were used to rehabilitate agriculture, commerce, trade and industry. Some of it, however, went to the pockets of dishonest officials. There were marked increases in the gross national output and income, but the cost of living, as a whole, continues to soar or, at least, to remain static on the basis of the immediate post-liberation years. At the same time, labor grew and continues to grow, demanding increases in wages and better living conditions. The total picture of the national economy has improved, but the improvements are not sufficient to bring down cost of living, which has remained one of the highest in the world. Agricultural production – The destruction caused by the last war told heavily on the productive capacity of the people and their standard of living (Agoncillo, 1990). With financial help from the United States, however, the government, in the first ten years of the Republic, had succeeded in at least partially solving the minor economic problems. Thus, for instance, crop production from 1946 and 1956 increased from 3, 507, 200 metric tons to almost double the amount of 6, 274, 900 metric tons. This increased production was the upshot of the expanded area planted to food crops and the application of improved means of increasing the yield per hectare, such as the use of fertilizer, irrigation, the use of better seeds, and the effective use of chemicals against plant pests and diseases. Production of export crops also increased tremendously from 315, 000 metric tons in 1956, with copra and sugar leading all export crops. Other exports like abaca, tobacco and their by-products have not so far completely recovered from the effects of the last war (Martin, 1999). However, some are blamed upon the things done by irresponsible individuals from high to low profile individuals such as population growth – some Filipinos believe that it is natural for every married woman to bear a child in their wombs because they are with their husbands (Friedman et al. , 1977). And this are very wrong beliefs since if you will be reasonable enough, you will realize that having a child is always together with great responsibility that has no end. And that you will realize that having more and more children will cause great scarcity in your family such as you would not be able to send your children to school and you would not be able to provide enough foods so that you children will be healthy and do good in school. Population growth is also the reason for a number of malnourish children in the Philippines. Unemployment is also a very common cause of poverty in the Philippines since there are several Filipinos who are unemployed plus the fact that there are many companies that are affected of the global economic crisis. And the least thing that you can do about unemployment is to find a best way on generating money like you can accept laundry services, plumbing services, or electrical repair services if you are skilled enough to do the job. Then, you could start a certain profitable business like food house or a small store that does not require you much capital so that you will not find it hard to save enough money from the services that you are offering. Governance concern is still deemed as one of the main reasons of poverty in the Philippines because of the activities of the corrupt government officials. They are using the money of the people to achieve the power and authority that they wanted to have and once they have it they will automatically take advantage of their power to the point that they will neglect the yoke of the people and set aside their promises when they are just campaigning and try to convince the people to vote for them. Agricultural problems also pose as the natural cause of the poverty in the Philippines because of the wrong activities of people. They ruin the treasure of the nature for their own sake without any idea that the nature they are destroying is the main source of almost all the products that exist in this world. Some of the examples of destroying the nature are the irresponsible disposal of wastes and trash, dynamite fishing, illegal logging and more. Another cause is said to be disability – this is also one of the possible causes of poverty in the Philippines since more and more people nowadays become disabled because of several illnesses and diseases that arise like AH1N1 virus, SARS, dengue, and more. Disability may be also caused by uncontrolled population growth, for instance, you have ten kids in the house, and can you imagine attending to their needs everyday? Well, definitely not so the tendency is that they are prone to accidents that will cause them to be disabled since they are at very young age that are typically playful. Starvation has also been one of the primary effects of poverty in the Philippines. Eating is necessary for us to survive. As humans we need to eat three times a day or more. Unfortunately, not all of us can afford this kind of living. Many people, children and families in this world, suffer from hunger due to lack of finances for their everyday needs. Based on the record of UNICEF, more than half of the children all over the world are malnourished. Most of them came from countries that are less abundant. Apparently, research shows that education has also been a problem in the Philippines. It is not prioritized by the government because only the privileged can have access to basic education in the sense that most of the children in the Philippines could not afford the needs of a student such as food, clothing, school materials and even fares used for transportation. There are also schools which offer free education like the government schools and private schools which accept scholarships, but still, lack in financial support is their main dilemma. These are just some of the reasons why most of the students from different levels take education for granted. Instead of going to school, they spent their time working in order to help their families make a living. The masses have multiplied extremely. Increase in opportunities for employment has not yet overcome the rapid increase in population, resulting in the multiplication of the number of jobless proletariat. When one considers that a large number of school children become â€Å"school orphans† that is, they leave school before or after finishing Grade IV, and that they eventually become peasants or laborers, one ceases to wonder why the base of the triangular structure of society has widened considerably. The strong contrast between the upper classes and the lower classes is that the former are earning more and more and the latter less and less. In other words, the distribution of wealth is one-sided as to make society top heavy. In the country’s present situation, the economy of the Philippines is struggling. The government has a huge debt from the World Bank and those money which the government borrowed where not used in projects which could alleviate poverty but were where lost to corruption. That’s why many Filipinos blame the government for the slow progression of our country. The Philippines was even given a tag as one of the most corrupt countries in Asia. Many people also blame the government because regardless of scarcity that all of us are experiencing, the government still manages to increase the prices of the merchandise in the markets. Conclusion True anti-poverty programs take a long time to bear fruit, and the politically-driven nature of Philippine government sector programs almost ensures that the emphasis will continue to be on quick fixes or interventions that provide high visibility and political payoffs (Warner & Harris). This is unfortunate given the seriousness of the situation and the implications for the country if concerted action is not taken. Poverty and malnutrition are already at alarming levels in this country, and the country’s too-rapid population growth is magnifying the strain on limited budgetary resources. The rapidly growing population is jeopardizing the quality of basic social services, contributing to the ongoing decline in quality of basic education, and limiting access to health care (especially primary health care, reproductive health/family planning, immunization, and feeding programs). Achieving any significant reduction in poverty will require rapid economic growth, growth of a magnitude not seen in recent years. Further, addressing issues of inequality will require significant investments in human capital, especially in improving the quantity and quality of primary education. The result of such unbalanced development of society is discontent and grave social problems such as poverty. The extreme poverty has given rise to starvation in some communities an to criminality, The unequal distribution of material possessions, in which the rich wlallow in wealth and the poor in filth is one of the reasons for the rise in criminality. Poverty has alos given rise to a new class known as squatters. References Abueva, J. V. Bridging the Gap Between the Elite and the People in the Philippines, Philippine Journal of Public Administration, October 1964, pp. 325-347; Agoncillo, T. V. (1990). History of the Filipino People Eighth Edition. (pp. 503-512. ) Quezon City: Garotech Publishing. Faith, R. (1996). Poverty, A History Of. Journal of Rural Studies, 12(2), 212-214. Friedmann, B. , Coy R. , & Wilson, L. (1977). Emergences: Gender struggles for livelihood in Latin America. Los Angeles: UCLA Latin American Center Publications, University of California. Martin, A. A. (1999) Philippine Land Reform: Perpetuating US Colonial Policy. Philippine Studies, Volume 47, Second Quarter 1999; Warner, J. , & Harris, R. (n. d. ). Problems with poverty in third world countries. In M. B. Duran (Ed. ), Poverty and identity: studies in self and culture (pp. 39-58). Amsterdam: Daryl Benjamins Publishing Company.

The Risky Us High School Behavior, Drug Abuse and Alcohol Impairment Essay

The Risky Us High School Behavior, Drug Abuse and Alcohol Impairment - Essay Example The researchers randomized the two groups of the participants; the students were selected from the high school and screened for the driving license allowing the independent, uncontrolled and unsupervised driving activity. It was distributed 30 days before the period of the study and a survey for 15-week of the research carried out on the vehicle that served instrumental in the period. The parent provided the consent and the privacy of the participants and data protected by the certificate of confidentiality.The collected data or the demographic factors were analyzed using the multivariate sequential logistic regression. The treatment group provided the immediate feedback information of the green lights without the effect of the gravitational force as well as flashing lights after an occurrence of an event. The treatment group – lights plus received the feedback from the light only and the feedback sent by the parents indicating the risks and the score for the week.The events w ere not significantly different between the two groups and showed that the calculated measure of central tendency and measures of variation were higher in light plus group in relative comparison to the first group throughout the period. Lights plus group involved themselves in the few events. Thirteen percent of the sampled students were reported to drive while impaired (DWI) in the period of study. Evaluation and recorded events showed that 74% of the lights only group made the sharp cornering while 10% applied the hard braking.

Saleh's english Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Saleh's english - Essay Example Phenomenon happened in the Millennium Bridge was rather serious. Norman Foster as the designer made the bridge strongly designed and estimated to be able to cope with degree of movements. As a matter of fact, serious trouble occurred on its deck when it swayed just like a drunken sailor. People who experienced that phenomenon told that it felt like a seasick. The worst thing was the elderly walkers clung on the side of the bridge. In a view, the phenomenon was like swaying bridge as a fairground ride. As it had been observed, the movements occurred on the Millennium Bridge were caused by Synchronous Lateral Excitation. In this case, small sideways oscillations happened because of natural sway motion of people walking; it was in turn to cause people who passed the bridge to sway in step, in which it made the amplitude of the bridge oscillations increased and reinforced the effect continuously. When it occurred, the worst movement was on the central span where the deck moved by up to 7 0mm. What a dramatic swaying that had made people who passed shocked. The solutions that had been done to analysed the phenomenon were mostly used tests. Crowd tests were implemented on the bridge deck. In July 2000, 100 people were used in the first test.

Recruitment and Staffing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Recruitment and Staffing - Essay Example One of the major ways of attracting potential employees is providing an integrated benefits scheme. Even though majority of the job applicants are keen on the amount of salaries paid, flexible benefits play a vital role of ensuring that qualified employees are attracted in an organisation. Such benefits include training, bonuses, promotion, insurance cover, holidays and inclusion of the employees in the decision making process. One of the major aspects that potential employees look for is the chance to develop (Wanous, 1992). It is worth to note that new graduates in the labor market do not only seek for employment opportunities that are in line with their skills but also they prefer companies that make them to develop. In this regard, companies should adopt part time training and postgraduate education as key ways of attracting potential employees. Another key way of attracting potential employees is through provision of adequate information that covers both the merits and demerits of the vacant jobs. This can be done through placing adverts in the newspapers and on the banners as well in the social sites. As the technology improves, companies have now embarked on creating websites where job applicants can look for vacant position and upload their resumes. In this way, a strong relationship between potential employees and employers is enhanced. Apart from undertaking a fair recruitment process, provision of rewards and other benefits are primary aspects that organisation should not overlook. In their job advertisements organisations should indicate the kind of benefits that potential employees will be exposed to. These include training, promotion, opportunities to develop, holidays, annual leave among other benefits. Additionally, companies should emulate internet as a major way of communicating with the potential employees based on the increased use of social sites especially by the young graduate seeking for employment

Critical overview of the enforcement of foreign arbitral award in Dissertation - 1

Critical overview of the enforcement of foreign arbitral award in Saudi Arabia - Dissertation Example This study investigated this law. Its adherence to the Shari'a law and its impact on commercial arbitration and foreign arbitration enforcement are also explored in depth. To this end, the research perused several conventions such as UNCITRAL’s Model Law, the New York Convention, the Washington Convention and the Riyadh Convention. This study concluded that the modern arbitration mechanism in Saudi Arabia typifies the classic hybrid theory of control and regulation. It has to loosen regulation, which is primarily driven by the restrictive Shari’a Law on one hand while on the other, it has to impose certain regulatory controls in order to protect public interest and reconcile international arbitration conventions with the Shari’a law. In addition, the legal framework for arbitration remains insufficient. The implications of this fact in the enforcement of foreign arbitral awards are significant. The absence of clear and specific laws on commercial arbitration and the enforcement of foreign arbitral awards create several challenges, particularly in terms of fair and credible examination of applications for awards enforcement and in providing a speedy arbitration resolution. Â   ACKNOWLEDGMENTS When I began this study, I did not know that I would be indebted to so many people. I found that I needed a lot of help because of the amount of work and information required. However, I would like to start with expressing my gratitude to Allah for blessing me with the strength and ability to see this research through. As always, I dedicate my work in his service and glory. I am also deeply grateful to Dr.Gbenga Odatun. He has been very patient with me as I struggled in each stage of this research. His insights and observations were absolutely helpful. Finally, I would like to say thank you so very much to my father and my mother. They have been unfailing in giving support, understanding and encouragement. Without them, I would have been a lesser indiv idual. Therefore, I also dedicate this work to them and my family. I hope that this testament to my effort somehow makes them recognize the extent of what I have accomplished in my studies. TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract 2 Acknowledgement 3 INTRODUCTION 7 Statement of the Problem and Scope of the Study 8 Limitations 9 I: INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION 10 1.1 Evolution of Modern International Arbitration 10 1.2 International Conventions 13 1.2.1 The New York Convention 13 1.2.2 ICSID 14 1.2.3 The Riyadh Convention 15 1.3 The Legal Nature of Arbitration 15 1.4 Arbitration and Formal Judiciary 16 1.5 The International Arbitration Process 18 II: ARBITRATION IN SAUDI ARABIA 20 2.1 History of Commercial Arbitration in Saudi Arabia 20 2.2 Present Arbitration Policy 23 2.3 Commercial Arbitration Procedure in Saudi 25 2.4 Other Pertinent Laws 27 III. LIMITATIONS, IMPEDIMENTS AND PROHIBITIONS 28 3.1 Insufficient Laws 28 3.2 Shari’a and Arbitration 29 3.3 Exemption of Government Entities 33 3.4 Concerning the Legal Environment 34 IV: THE ENFORCEMENT OF FOREIGN ARBITRAL AWARDS IN SAUDI ARABIA 35 4.1 Enforcement According to Shari’

Missions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Missions - Essay Example also prevail in the communities under focus.2 Examinations of the service topic signify an association of the aforementioned problems with several areas of human geography such as settlement, population, development, economics, health and culture. Place: Assessments into the severe problems posed by the inaccessibility of water in squatter settlements reveal that collection of water for primarily drinking and other household purposes is conducted via limited means.3 Slum resident have to gather water either through public standpipes or travel considerable distances by feet in search of water that is brought back to their homes in containers.4 These findings indicate that the major obstacles to enhancing water accessibility to slum occupants are; a shortage of direct water supply through pipelines and dispersed locations of water sources, if any are available. To address these issues, the development of local infrastructure such as dams and reservoirs must be undertaken on a small sca le. However, the success of these proposals is highly dependent upon the active involvement of the residents themselves throughout the commencement of the project till its implementation.5 Effects of Monsoon Climate: While, the availability of water in slum, dweller and squatter settlements of Mumbai is scarce it is important to note that the limited quantity of water that is eventually consumed by occupants is contaminated. High water contamination levels in poor communities across Mumbai city are a ramification of problems that are associated with restricted and in some cases inexistent sewer, drainage and sanitation facilities.6 Furthermore, disease outbreaks following heavy monsoon rainfall are caused by the mixing of animal urine with drinking water.7 Health Geography: The grave inequality in the provision of healthcare to poor communities of Mumbai city must be addressed on an immediate basis. The strategy for resolving this aspect of the problem must focus on prevention rathe r than cure.8 Initial procedures to tackle with health issues prevalent in slums must focus on the establishment of medical clinics and units per community that must eventually be increased in quantity. These medical clinics should not only be assigned the task of treating ill residents but should also provide basic healthcare knowledge, awareness and information to residents. Awareness campaigns must be designed with the view of highlighting the importance of personal hygiene and individual initiatives to combat diseases. Human Population Control: Furthermore, community healthcare services should initiate a family planning program9 owing to increasing birth rates in slum and squatter sett

Against stricter gun control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Against stricter gun control - Essay Example Antigun control activists assert that disarming the public is not the answer to removing the threat of civilian shootings, but arming those who are in those situations is the answer. For instance, teachers should be legalized to carry guns if it helps to improve their safety since they are often targets of attacks by rowdy students in different locations (Weissert, 2013). This should not only apply to teachers but to all the citizens alike if their lives are under threat from assailants who are bent on robbing them of their valuable possessions. In such a case, it can be seen that guns help to protect the safety of the citizens. In the United States, there are more incidents of armed civilians, guards, and off-duty police officers saving people through the use of guns than there are also incidents of armed civilians firing on innocent crowds. In such a scenario, it can be seen that guns are used to protect innocent civilians against violence by other unknown assailants hence stricter gun laws may threaten the safety of the citizens if they are implemented. The use of guns has to be regulated such that only those people with the legal right should use the guns to protect themselves and the members of the society rather than to commit crimes using the same guns. The other reason why I argue against stricter gun laws is that the state has the duty to regulate as well as to vet the people who are legible to get the guns. If the state makes it a law that guns should not be easily accessed by anyone especially young children, gun violence is likely to be maintained at a lower level. Gun violence can also be reduced if all guns are licensed such that the state can clearly control the activities of the people who are armed with guns. If efforts are put to eradicate all illegal fire arms being possessed by different people, it can be seen that the levels of gun violence

Research paper on William Hartnell and Tiburcio Vasquez

On William Hartnell and Tiburcio Vasquez - Research Paper Example As a student he was known for his fluency in English and Spanish. Life was good until he started seeking company stronger than himself. It is embedded in the psychology of a human mind to seek out friendships stronger than him. That’s when he found Anastacio Garcia, who happened to be the most notorious group of bandits known to California at the time. (Boessenecker, 68) Tiburcio Vasquez was an audience and sometimes the participant to various notable slayings. Whether he was involved or not is a moot topic for discussion. Some people believe that he chose exile over imprisonment and punishment while other are of the view that he did it for the best interest of his country. According to his supporters he took part in those violent actions against North Americans who threatened the safety of Mexican Americans. His partnership with Garcia ended after the bandit was killed in the person. That’s when he took to the road, kept moving from place to place but fate could be outrun only for so long. He ended up in the prison only to break out of it in a rogue manner that took the lives of many of his fellow prisoners. For some time he led the life of a normal innocent man but later his addiction to crime revealed itself in the most horrific manner there could be. He took recourse to theft, heinous murder, rape and many other crimes for which he soon smelled the prison air yet again. Wherever there were bodies with hands tied behind their backs and face down, was a site visited by Vasquez. Human beings are astonishing creatures some are mad optimists while others are suicidal pessimists. Some people mostly Mexican Americans emulated him. They thought he was a blessing in disguise that had the brevity to stand up against North American penetration. As a student he was brilliant and had inherited a fair share of property which meant there was no real need for theft and other crimes he was charged for. They also believe

Useful strategy for a college Essay Example for Free

Useful strategy for a college Essay The Summary/Response essay is a useful strategy for a college essay. Keep the following points in mind as you compose: $ The introduction will be a brief summary of one of the assigned essays or a chapter of the video and its main points. $ The introduction should end with your thesis statement indicating your reaction to the selection (agree/disagree) and the main point you will attempt to prove in your essay regarding this topic. $ Each body paragraph will present one aspect of your argument, and the topic sentence of each paragraph will inform the reader what that specific paragraph will discuss. $ Each body paragraph will include supporting details in the form of explanations, facts, examples (both personal and observed), and/or statistics. If you obtained any information from another source, be sure to state the source of the information and if needed, use quotation marks. $ Each paragraph should stick to its topic and not break unity or coherence by discussing ideas that belong in other paragraphs. All paragraphs will serve to prove your thesis. $ Add needed transition words such as those found on page 9 on your text. A few terms that signal you are adding more examples for explanation purposes are for instance, in addition, and furthermore. Some terms that prepare the reader for a contrast or change in viewpoints are however, although, and but. Some terms that show a result of idea and lead to a summary are therefore, consequently, a a result, and in conclusion.

Anne Bradstreet The Puritan Poet English Literature Essay

Anne Bradstreet The Puritan Poet English Literature Essay Anne Bradstreet was a puritan poet in the 17th century. She experienced hardships throughout her life, but she did the best she could to live by God. She often expressed her thoughts and emotions throughout her poetry. In terms of puritan ideals Bradstreets poetry closely reflected her personal faith in God and the kingdom. Anne Bradstreet was born in Northampton, England in 1612. Her father, Thomas Dudley, was a puritan, but Bradstreet loved to read and seemed to be drawn to the puritan world herself. At the age of 16 she married Simon Bradstreet who was also a puritan. As a child she found much comfort in reading the scriptures. However, during her childhood Bradstreet experienced many moments of ill health. And as an adult, she gave birth to eight children, but only one survived. In spite of her hardships Bradstreet continued on her journey to authorship. Puritanism back then was considered to be a way of life. Its ideal may be best expressed as living in the world without actually being a part of it. A puritan remained strict with morals, and their religion. Puritans believed it was necessary to to live on the earth, and abide by the laws given, but kept in mind that eventually this world would pass. So, that meant the puritans tried to contain a balance between this world and the next. There was no way to safely turn their back on the world since God had created it, and found it to be good. But they could not rely on the security of an earthly world either. However, just as any imperfect human being would, Bradstreet struggled to maintain her faith at times by rebelling and submitting. But just because she may have had doubts did not make her any less of a puritan. She expressed these feelings in poetry as well discussing struggles between her love for this world, and reliance on the next. This was not an attempt for rebelliousness but her attempt of achieving the puritan way of life. Bradstreet not only wrote about events that occurred in her life, but she wrote about the people in it. For example, the poems about her husband whom she loved very much. In To My Dear and Loving Husband, Bradstreet wrote about the love for her husband but created it to be in harmony with the love for God. Puritans were taught that if a husband and wife did not express love towards each other than they disobeyed God. In the last 2 lines The heavens reward thee manifold I pray. Then while we live, in love lets so persevere. That when we live no more, we may live ever (105 Daly). In these lines she expresses her obedience to God, and how she looks to him. She is determined to maintain love in her marriage until the day they die no matter what they may face. Therefore, when they do pass, they will meet in heaven and be together forever. In A Letter to Her Husband, Absent Upon Public Employment Bradstreet wrote about what her husbands love meant to her. Not only does she use symbolism, but she uses a metaphysical approach. In this poem her husband is absent, and she misses him dearly. She goes on to describe how lonely she feels without him, and compares herself to being like the earth without a sun. For her, he is like the sun providing warmth, so without him she is cold and numb. In Upon the Burning of our House Bradstreet shows a brief attachment to materialism, and realizes if it was meant to be then so be it. In this poem her house has burnt down, and she is feeling down. In the beginning she is observing everything that will no longer be used. But she does not lose faith, and keeps in mind that God has the power to give and take as he pleases. Therefore, she puts all her trust in God that he can and will provide for her. In The Author to Her Book Bradstreet wrote of her own faults. She is honest of pointing out her own flaws. I believe the poem is about her work being ready to be published, and seen by others, but she is not ready. She is supposed to have the pure image of a puritan, but she may have fallen short in some areas. Bradstreet feels like she is going to be judged by all, and it is not going to be positive feedback. The tone of the poem is frustration and worry. I cast thee by as one unfit for lightà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Thy blemishes amend, if so I co uld: I washed thy face, but more defects I saw, and rubbing of a spot, still made a flaw. I stretched thy to joints to make thee even feet, yet still thou runst more hobbling than is meet (102 George Perkins). However, in the Prologue, Bradstreet wrote about herself and her limitations as a woman. Bradstreet is proud of who she is, and what she has become. But she does not forget how women are viewed differently, and how men may judge her as a woman trying to be a poet. Other women in England seemed to have the same attitude and feelings of their sex. Why cant they be looked upon as equals? Bradstreet just expressed herself more bluntly than most. A sense of pride and belief in herself was required if she wanted to become known as a poet in the 17th century. She expresses this in Who says my hand a needle better fits, A poets pen all scorn I should thus wrong, For such despite they cast on female wits (10 Watts). In Bradstreets works she displays a sense of spirituality, but in others she seems to be her own judge. She realizes herself, her flaws and where she falls short. Over all, she kept her faith pretty well. Work Cited Bercovitch, Sacvan. The American Puritan Imagination. Cambridge University Press 1974. 107- 108. Daly, Robert. Gods Altar: The World and the Flesh In Puritan Poetry. University of California Press 1978. 93, 100, 104, 106-107. Perkins, George. The American Literature. 12th Ed. McGraw-Hill 2009. 92-92. Watts Stripes Emily. Poetry of American Women from 1632 to 1945. University of Texas Press 1977. 10-12.

Parents are Teachers. :: essays research papers

Many people think that those who are the best teachers in their life are parents. However, I disagree with that statement. I will give reasons for my point of view. In my opinion, there are many factors that bring us up. First of them are parents, who are the great authority for whole our life. Certainly, this is the parent`s contribution to teach us the rules and main lines of conduct. Thanks to them and the contact, which they try to make between themselves and their child, we know how to be good people. However, there is something that allows us to become aquinted with different situations and the world faster and also more painful. What I mean is life. In my opinion, a person learns the most from their own mistake. The parents give us only the bases for our later development. The life, in turn, teaches us how to behave and react on different situations, which not always are nice and full of positive stress. It helps us to get to known to many situations. During our, sometimes very complicated life we acquire some knowledge, which we are not able to get from books and the Internet. From time to time, it is very hard to accept the situations and troubles, with which we have to cope. But, we can be sure - from our experience - that there will be always time to rest and reconsider our life's decision one more time and then we will have a chance to change something. Furthermore, I claim that the nice method to learn and understand more is to have close friends and try to talk to them about the situations, which are not easy neither for us nor for them. It can give us the opportunity for clearer thinking about the world and all circumstances that meet us. Parents are Teachers. :: essays research papers Many people think that those who are the best teachers in their life are parents. However, I disagree with that statement. I will give reasons for my point of view. In my opinion, there are many factors that bring us up. First of them are parents, who are the great authority for whole our life. Certainly, this is the parent`s contribution to teach us the rules and main lines of conduct. Thanks to them and the contact, which they try to make between themselves and their child, we know how to be good people. However, there is something that allows us to become aquinted with different situations and the world faster and also more painful. What I mean is life. In my opinion, a person learns the most from their own mistake. The parents give us only the bases for our later development. The life, in turn, teaches us how to behave and react on different situations, which not always are nice and full of positive stress. It helps us to get to known to many situations. During our, sometimes very complicated life we acquire some knowledge, which we are not able to get from books and the Internet. From time to time, it is very hard to accept the situations and troubles, with which we have to cope. But, we can be sure - from our experience - that there will be always time to rest and reconsider our life's decision one more time and then we will have a chance to change something. Furthermore, I claim that the nice method to learn and understand more is to have close friends and try to talk to them about the situations, which are not easy neither for us nor for them. It can give us the opportunity for clearer thinking about the world and all circumstances that meet us.

Carvers boxes: Something Is Not Right :: essays research papers

Carver's "Boxes": Something is Not Right Have you ever had that eerie feeling in the back of your mind that something just is not right? It is as if there is some unknown reason that a situation has a different meaning then what is obvious. This feeling is the disguised backbone of Raymond Carver's story, "Boxes". In this story the son seems to be experiencing this feeling as his mother decides to move again. There are gaps in the story line which shows that the son's dialog does not match up with his thoughts throughout the situation. These gaps highlight a hidden theme that associates the son's feelings about his mother moving with her death. One of the reasons the son unconsciously believes he will never see his mother again, is because his mother mentions more than once in the story that she would like to die. These gaps in the story where the mother mentions dying in the same scenes that have to do with her moving associates her moving with her death. One instance that she mentions dying is where she is complaining about the weather in Longview: "I mean it, honey. I don't want to see this place again except from my coffin. I hate this g.d. place. I don't know why I moved here. I wish I could just die and get it over with" (p. 413). I do not think the son believes she really wants to die but she puts the idea of her dying in his subconscious. There is a gap at that point that is up to the reader to figure out. The gap is widened farther in that same scene. The son remembers thinking about a man working on a power line. The man leaned out supported only by a safety belt and the son thought about if the man fell. The son is still on the phone with his mother: "I didn't have any idea what I was going to say next. I had to say something. But I was filled with unworthy feelings, thoughts no son should admit to. 'You're my mother,' I said finally. 'What can I do to help?'" (p. 413). What were these thoughts? Why doesn't the narrator tell us? The son cannot help being affected by these powerful words of his mother. This gap in the story is important because the son is thinking about how that man working on the pole could easily die if his safety belt does not hold. At this point he also has unmentionable thoughts about his mother.

Medieval Castles :: essays research papers

Medieval Castles Medieval Castles were huge protection camps made to protect the king. They had every kind of defense known to medieval man. From murder holes, to arrow-loops, a castle had it. Medieval castles were usually built on a high rocky cliff located by water. Castle locations were very hard to find and sometimes months were spent looking for one. A moat was built around the castle and was usually filled with sewage and bathroom â€Å"goodies.† All these things played an important part in keeping the castle strong and ready to fight. A couple other defenses the castle had were murder holes; soldiers would dump many things on the sieging warriors. Another tactic was the arrow-loops; a small slender cut in the castle wall that arrows could be shot out from but not in to. See Diagram. Castles also had huge 20-foot walls to be protected from. Only two-ways in or out from the wall were present. One in the front of the castle where two iron gates had to be broken. Another gate was located somewhere towards the back of the castle. It was a secret gate that was very hard to find, and only the king knew where the gate had been hidden. The gate was used during an attack to escape from the siege. In the middle of the castle there was a huge building called the keep. This is where the king and queen slept, the kitchen and armory was also located inside. The dinning quarters (the largest room inside) was used very frequent and many employees were assigned to it. The castle was the heart and soul of the country. The king and queen and all of their loyal servants were inside, running the

O Pioneers!

O Pioneers! Was written by Willa Cather and was first published in 1913 and it is a literary fiction. This book is about all the hardships of living in the planes or even just the hardships and challenges that people had to endure in the life of a pioneer. O Pioneers! takes place between the late 1800s and the early 1900s in Hanover Nebraska. The main character in the book is Alexandra a strong, young woman who bests the difficult lifestyles of living in the great planes. Some of the themes shown in O Pioneers!  Could be self sacrifice, building a civilization out of nothing, and Imagination of pioneers. An example of self sacrifice is Alexandra, she gives up most of her childhood to making sure her farm flourishes and learning more effective methods of farming. Pioneers must have imagination because they have to be able to look at an empty plot of land and imagine the city that could spring up from the area or what their farm could potentially yield. Also pioneers build their civilization out of nothing on the frontier. Its originally just a bunch of grass and planes but farmers work the land and produce crops, and eventually it attracts more people. Life in the great planes was extremely difficult for multiple reasons. The great planes didn't have very many trees, and without trees there was no wood to build houses, so most pioneers built their houses out of sod. The winters were long and cold and the summers were hot and dry. Farmers had to plant crops that didn't require much water because they had to carry their water from nearby streams to their crops. There were many droughts and grass fires often started because it was so dry. Also there weren't that many people out in the great planes yet so they had to develop new technology making new farm equipment that would help make their farming easier. Women also play different roles in O Pioneers than the usual roles of women. The women work, and cross different gender lines on the frontier and for some women its a refreshing taste of freedom. In O Pioneers! Alexandra owns land on her own instead of the men in her family. This is an overall interesting book to the general public, it is ostly accurate in the depiction of how life was for pioneers in the late 1800s early 1900s or maybe even for the life of a pioneer in general, except for It shows the successful side of pioneering. Most pioneers ended up in debt by picking the wrong plot of land or just using the wrong farming techniques. But it does show the drought that made the majority of people in Hanover sell their land which Alexandra later invests in. O Pioneers is a useful book for the general audience in depicting some of the hardships of life in the great planes.

Medieval Manuscripts And Modern Media

The history of written literature is long and fascinating; in Medieval times, manuscripts were made in a laborious and expensive process of using animal skins for pages, feather quills for pens and colored inks to make exquisite bibles and other religious texts. The literary culture of medieval times was very different than today; since books were rare and literacy was low, texts were passed on orally through reading or memory (Mary Swan, 2003). Manuscripts were enormously expensive and the manuscript writers were accomplished artists and mostly monks who composed their work in the cloisters. A typical medieval manuscript began its life as a stretched and treated animal skin (parchment). Next, an outline was sketched then penned using a feather quill of the highest quality. The ink was made of metal gall (usually iron), or oxide, which was a mixture of tannic acids with coppers and thickened with gum Arabic. The main ingredient was oak apple, derived from the leaves and twigs of an oak tree (Diane Victoria Horn, 1997). This mixture of ink containing acids actually etched the parchment and the pigments of ink filled in the etchings and could be reapplied over time to keep the manuscript in pristine condition. Next, gold leaf was applied and burnished, followed by the copying of the text by scribes. The last to be added were the decorations and illustrations, which were elaborate. Finally, the book was bound, the parchments sewn by hand and covered with wood such as ash or beech or oak. The making of a manuscript could take anywhere between days (in the case of a professional scribe paid by the job) or years (in the case of monks, who had other obligations and penned books when duties were done). Because of the amount of time and care involved to make a manuscript, not to mention the employment of highly skilled artisans and scribes, manuscripts were prohibitively expensive to buy and were largely confined to church altars. Bibles were the most copied manuscripts, and eventually churches took a vested interest in teaching nobles and their children to read, using these manuscripts. The manuscripts bore no date of completion, nor the names of the men who made them (Horn). In medieval manuscript culture, originality of text was not the aim of the scribes as it is today with contemporary authors. The scribes simply made copies, embellishing them with the decorations and script of their culture and time (Swan). Unlike today, collections of books were unheard of in terms of the general populace. The churches protected the manuscripts, even as they are today, in museums, cathedrals and the Vatican. These priceless treasures bear the skill and devotion of craft and skill by those who made them. Looking at an original manuscript, one is awed by the care and level of expertise evident in the pages of elaborate decorations. We will now move forward in time to early mass production of books, which began in the 16th century when the codex replaced the roll and book printing and binding was transferred from churches and monasteries to universities and later commercial publishers (David Fernando, 2002). Where in medieval times manuscript bindings were lavishly decorated with ivory, precious gems and gold, subsequent books were leather-bound and decorated with stamp embossing and gold leaf. As book production increased, the use of cloth replaced that of parchment, and paper later replaced cloth. In modern times, bookbinding reflects the art and architecture of the time; books are still hand-bound and very expensive, requiring these editions to be safely stored to prevent damage. Many hand-made books are used as journals, with hand-bound blank pages contained within leather or decorated wood covers. In moving to the 21st century, we now find books readily available at a low cost. The current culture is attracted to books by author and genre, and a book begins as a decision by a publisher to print it. The use of digital technology to reproduce books gives them a rapid distribution and the artwork used is wide and varied depending upon the publisher’s decisions. An original manuscript is put through the process of editing and finishing. Stored electronically and ready to be printed, in a method called offset printing. Today’s books require a certain amount of care and proofreading before going to print, and in stark contrast to manuscripts of old, texts are now fiercely protected under copyright laws and originality is imperative to sales. With the advent of digital texts, e-books, and paperback copies, books are largely taken for granted and handled carelessly without regard to craftsmanship. What was once revered as forbidden territory to be handled lovingly and carefully is now so much a part of everyday life that books are given away, sold to second-hand bookstores, discarded easily or donated to libraries and schools. As with many modern items, books have made the transition from belonging to the few to the many, and what was once reserved for serious study is now used for everything from learning to entertainment. References Ferdinando, David, â€Å"Book Binding Trade.† Ferdinando Family History Site. December 2002, 25 November 2005 http://www.ferdinando.org.uk/book_binding.htm#manuf%20today Horn, Diane Victoria. â€Å"Leaves Of Gold: How Medieval Manuscripts Were Made.† 2000 – 2002. Philadelphia Museum Of Art. 26 November 2005 Swan, Mary. University of Leeds. â€Å"Medieval Manuscript Culture.† The Literary Encyclopedia.   4 Sep. 2003. The Literary Dictionary Company.   27 November 2005. http://www.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=1324      

Problems facing Costa Rica Essay

Is Costa Rica really the best nation on earth? This paper through qualitative analysis of legitimate website sources, published work and peer reviewed articles aims at determining whether the level of satisfaction of Costa Ricans with their country exceeds that of other countries. This paper, besides giving a brief history of Costa Rica, will explore the structure of the government of Costa Rica, the current problems facing the nation, in addition to a short bibliography of its current leader so as to determine the reasons as to why the country is important. Introduction Costa Rica is a middle-income developing nation which has a strong democratic tradition (Vorhees and Firestone, 2006). The country possesses numerous and extensive tourist facilities. The country has come a long way, characterized by periods of peace and political turmoil, to its current status. Christopher Columbus first entered Costa Rica on September 1502 (Vorhees and Firestone, 2006). Columbus stayed in the country for seventeen days and was pleased by the architectural designs and gold decorations worn by natives. As a result, he named the country Costa Rica, meaning the rich coast. The capital city of Costa Rica is San Jose. Spanish is the major language in Costa Rica, with English coming second. Costa Rica was colonized by Spain, even though it had resisted colonization for many years. It took over sixty years for the Spanish settlers to establish a strong hold of the country (Vorhees and Firestone, 2006). Costa Rica has a distinct form of government. One unique characteristic of Costa Rican’s administration is that it does not have a military force. Approximately 92% of the Costa Rican population practice Christian faith (Vorhees and Firestone, 2006). Catholicism is the state religion, and as a result, only Roman Catholic marriages are recognized as legal by the government. The quality and standards of education in Costa Rica are very high as compared to the neighboring countries. Costa Rica has the highest rate of literacy in Latin America (Vorhees and Firestone, 2006). Nation Survey: Costa Rica Brief history of Costa Rica Costa Rica is a country lying in between mountains and volcanoes in the western region of the Americas. It has four characteristic mountain ranges namely, Tilaran and Guancaste in the north Talamanca and central in the south. The history of Costa Rica can be traced back to over a hundred thousand years. By then, the country was sparsely populated. There exists no tangible sign of the existence of a major community in the country during that period. It is estimated that there were over twenty thousand indigenous inhabitants in the country by 1502 (Vorhees and Firestone, 2006). These people came from different backgrounds and had separate cultures and beliefs. McNeil (2001) makes it clear that the main inhabitants of ancient Costa Rica are believed to have been the Indians. Hostility of these people acted as a major factor that deterred colonialists from entering Costa Rica. However, a colonial base was established by the Spanish in Costa Rica (Baker, n. d). Civil war broke out in1823, in Costa Rica, after Central America was granted independence. Costa Rican leaders were divided on whether to join the newly sovereign Mexico or to join the confederation of Central American states. In 1824, Juan Mora Fernandez was elected as the first president of Costa Rica (Vorhees and Firestone, 2006). Fernandez implemented policies that promoted expansion of public education and agriculture. This resulted in the establishment and growth of new Costa Rican elite. The early years of political development in Costa Rica were characterized by anarchy. For twelve years, starting 1870, Costa Rica was under the rule of a military dictator General Tom S Guardia (Vorhees and Firestone, 2006). In 1940, Dr. Rafael Angel Calder? n Guardia was elected as the president of Costa Rica (Vorhees and Firestone, 2006). Guardia implemented a number of policies including land reforms, progressive taxation, and minimum wage. However, a civil war erupted in 1948, after Guardia under the support of his United Social Christian Party refused to quit power after being defeated in elections (Baker, n. d). The war lasted for forty days and resulted in the death of over two thousand people. The Founding Junta of the Second Republic of Costa Rica was headed by Figueres. Figueres developed various policies and merged them with the reforms of Guardia (McNeil, 2001). The communist party was banned, women were given the right to vote and blacks were given full citizenship. Armed forces were also abolished and a term limit for the heads of state was established. In 1986, Oscar Arias Sanchez was elected as the Costa Rican head of state (Baker, n. d). Oscar implemented policies and strategies aimed at promoting peace in the western region. Structure of the government of Costa Rica Costa Rica is a democratic nation which has a very strong system of constitutional checks and balances. The president, who is bestowed with executive powers, acts as the center of power for Costa Rican government. The government is made up of two vice presidents and twenty cabinet members. The president and other members of parliament and their deputies are elected for four-year terms. The Costa Rican Constitutional Court, in April 2003, declared a 1969 constitutional reform that barred presidents from running for re-election as invalid. This made the law to revert back to the 1949 constitution (Travel Document Systems, 2009). This law allows former presidents to run for re-elections after they have been out of office for two or more terms. McNeil (2001) states that the work of supervising the electoral process is carried out by an Independent Supreme Electoral Tribunal, which is made up of three principle magistrates and six alternates appointed by the Supreme Court of Justice. The Supreme Court of Justice is made up of twenty two magistrates, who are selected for eight-year renewable terms by the legislative assembly (Travel Document Systems, 2009). The last national elections were held in February 2010. Supervision of government activities is carried out by the office of the Comptroller General, the Ombudsman and the Solicitor General. The statutory obligation of the office of the Comptroller General is to scrutinize all contracts of the public sector and firmly enforce procedural requirements (Travel Document Systems, 2009). Even though there are provincial boundaries for purposes of administration, there are no elected provincial officials. The first mayoral elections in Costa Rica were held in December 2002 (Travel Document Systems, 2009). Mayors are supposed to hold office for four years. The office of the mayor was not in existence before December 2002. Administration of municipalities was the mandate of the president of each municipal council. Most of the state agencies in Costa Rica enjoy high levels of operational independence. These agencies include: the state insurance, the telecommunications, electoral body, state petroleum refinery, social security agencies, and nationalized commercial banks (McNeil 2001). Maintenance of law and order in Costa Rica is conducted by domestic police along with other domestic forces. There is no military in Costa Rica. Respect for the rights of individuals and development of democracy are some of the major issues the government of Costa Rica emphasizes on (Vorhees and Firestone, 2006). The political system of the country has undergone steady development, and democratic institutions have been maintained in an orderly manner. There are various factors that have resulted in the steady development of Costa Rican politics. These factors include: enlightened leadership, educational opportunities that have resulted in development of a stable middle class, flexible class lines in addition to relative prosperity (Travel Document Systems, 2009). Based on the fact that Costa Rica has no military forces, chances of military involvement in politics and government operations have been eliminated. Biographical sketch of Laura Chinchilla Laura Chinchilla is the current president of Costa Rica. She is the first woman to be elected president of Costa Rica. Laura Chinchilla Miranda was born in San Jose Costa Rica on March 28, 1959 (Chinchilla, 2010). Chinchilla grew up in left-wing College halls when the countries neighboring Costa Rica were entangled in civil war. She studied at the University of Costa Rica. During her school years, Chinchilla was very much concerned about the welfare of the people as a result of the numerous challenges facing the world by then. Chinchilla obtained her master’s in public policy at Georgetown University. Laura has published great articles, books and monographs concerning justice, public security and police reforms. Between 1994 and 1996, Laura worked as the deputy minister of public security and later as minister of public security (1996-98) (Chinchilla, 2010). Before being elected president, Laura acted as the vice president to Oscar Arias Sanchez. Laura took office in May 2010 (Chinchilla, 2010). Problems facing Costa Rica Universidad de Pennsylvania (2010), states that Laura Chinchilla, the first woman Costa Rican president, is faced by numerous challenges. Poverty is one of the major problems facing the country. Poverty has been a long standing and legal concern in Costa Rica. Only those who are wealthy are likely to live on a healthy diet. Crime is the other major challenge that Costa Rican leaders are faced with. Local law enforcement agencies do not have the capacity to effectively deal with crime as compared to other countries like the United States. Robberies are conducted during the day (Universidad de Pennsylvania, 2010). Colombian cartels are also invading the country leading to an increase in the level of drug trafficking. Costa Rica is also faced by numerous health challenges. Diseases such as malaria, dengue, travelers’ diarrhea, altitude sickness and hepatitis are a major cause of worry for Costa Rican leaders. Traffic accidents act as a major cause of death in Costa Rica. Costa Rica is also faced with a variety of environmental challenges (Universidad de Pennsylvania, 2010). These include: deforestation, soil erosion, environmental pollution, and poor solid waste management. Presence of dangerous insects is the other challenge facing Costa Rica. Ticks, which are the common insects found in the tropics, transmit numerous diseases. The other major challenge is the current global economic recession, which has adversely affected the economic growth of Costa Rica. During this period, Costa Rica has experienced a fiscal deficit of approximately 5%. This is the highest level of deficit Costa Rica have had for the last ten years (Universidad de Pennsylvania, 2010). Estimation of why this country is important The likelihood of contracting serious diseases in Costa Rica is very low. The health system in Costa Rica is excellent and the quality of sanitary systems is high. Even though there may be outbreaks of mosquito borne diseases such as dengue during wet seasons, serious cases of hemorrhaging dengue are rare. Greenspan (2009), states that Costa Ricans do not require vaccinations for a variety of diseases because they have been eradicated in the whole country. Diseases such as infectious hepatitis are a serious threat to human beings but have rarely been reported in Costa Rica. The level of public safety in Costa Rica is relatively high. There have been no recent cases of terrorism reported in Costa Rica. Costa Rica is a major tourist destination; there is numerous attraction sites scattered all over the country. The country is popular as a result of adventure tourism (Greenspan, 2009). Safety of tourists is monitored by the government, which have implemented policies to make sure that tourist companies meet the stipulated safety standards and have insurance coverage. Various commodities which are expensive in other countries can be bought at a cheaper price in Costa Rica. The cost of living and traveling in Costa Rica is relatively cheap as compared to other Latin American countries (Greenspan, 2009). Conclusion It can therefore be concluded that Costa Rica is one of the best nations in the world. It is one of the few countries where citizens are contented with their government and the mode of leadership. Costa Rica enjoys a sovereign in addition to strong criminal justice system as well as a highly educated population which comprehends and reverences the rule of law. The history of Costa Rica can be traced back to over a hundred thousand years. By then, the country was sparsely populated. The main inhabitants of ancient Costa Rica are believed to have been the Indians. The early years of political development in Costa Rica were characterized by anarchy. For twelve years, starting 1870, Costa Rica was under the rule of a military dictator General Guardia. Costa Rica is a democratic nation which has a very strong system of constitutional checks and balances. The president acts as the center of power for Costa Rican government. The government is made up of two vice presidents and twenty cabinet members. The president and other members of parliament and their deputies are elected for four-year terms. Laura Chinchilla Miranda, born in San Jose Costa Rica on March 28, 1959, is the current president and the first woman to be elected president of Costa Rica. Currently, Costa Rica is faced by a number of problems including the current global economic recession, crime, and poverty. However, the country remains one of the major tourist destinations in the world. This is due to the high level of public safety and cheap cost of living and traveling. Reference: Baker C. , (n. d. ), History, retrieved on August 12, 2010 from http://philip. greenspun. com/cr/mo on/history Chinchilla L. , (2010), Biography of Laura Chinchilla Costa Rica, retrieved on August 12, 2010 from http://laura-chinchilla. com/biography-laura-chinchilla-costa-rica-presidential-campaign/ Travel Document Systems, (2009), Government, retrieved on August 12, 2010 from http://www. traveldocs. com/cr/govern. htm Universidad de Pennsylvania, (2010), The Challenges Facing Costa Rica’s First Woman President, retrieved on August 12, 2010 from http://www. wharton. universia. net/index .cfm? fa=viewArticle&id=1900&language=english Vorhees, M and Firestone M. , (2006). (edn 7), Costa Rica, ISBN 1741044634: Lonely Planet McNeil J. , (edn 3), (2001). The rough guide to Costa Rica, ISBN 1858287138: Rough Guides Greenspan E. , (2009), Frommer’s Costa Rica, ISBN 0470482176: Frommer’s

The Secret of Ella and Micha Chapter 2

Ella â€Å"I swear to God if we don't find a bathroom soon, I'm going to piss in my pants.† Lila bounces up and down in the driver's seat. The air conditioner is turned up as high as it will go and â€Å"Shake it Out† by Florence + The Machine plays from the speakers. There's a long road of highway stretched out in front of us, weaving over the hills spotted with trees, sage brush, and the pale pink glow of the sunset. My cell phone is in my pocket, heavy like it weighs a hundred pounds. â€Å"You can always pull over and pee behind a bush.† I prop my bare feet up on the dash and pull my white lacy tank top away from my skin to get air flowing. â€Å"Besides, we're like five minutes away from the off-ramp.† â€Å"I can't hold it for five more minutes.† She shoots me a dirty look and squeezes her legs together. â€Å"You're not going to think it's so funny when the car smells like piss.† I smother a laugh and search the GPS for the nearest restroom. â€Å"There's one right off the exit, but I think it's more of an outhouse.† â€Å"Does it have a toilet?† â€Å"Yes.† â€Å"Then it works.† She makes a sharp swerve, cutting off a silver Honda. The Honda lays on its horn and she turns in her seat to flip him the middle finger. â€Å"What a jerk. Doesn't he understand that I have to pee?† I shake my head. I love Lila to death, but sometimes she can be a little self-centered. It's part of what drew me to her; she was so different from my old friends back in Star Grove. My phone beeps again for the millionth time, letting me know I have a message waiting for me. Finally, I shut it off. Lila turns down the music. â€Å"You've been acting weird ever since we left. Who called you?† I shrug, gazing out at the grassy field. â€Å"No one I want to talk to right now.† Five minutes later, we pull up to the outhouse at the edge of town. It's more like a shack with rusty metal siding and a faded sign. The field behind it is spotted with corroded cars and trucks and in front of it is a lake. â€Å"Oh thank God!† She claps her hands and parks the car. â€Å"I'll be right back.† She jumps out and shuffles inside the bathroom. I climb out of the car and stretch my legs, trying not to look at the lake or the bridge going over it, but my gaze magnetizes toward the level bridge with beams curving overhead and out from the sides. The middle one was where I was standing the night I almost jumped. If I squint one eye and tilt my head, I can spot it. An old Chevy pickup comes flying down the road, kicking up a cloud of dust. As it nears, my nose twitches because I know who it is and he's one of the last people I want to see. The truck stops just outside the perimeter of the field behind the restrooms. A lanky guy, wearing a tight t-shirt, a snug pair of jeans, and cowboy boots comes strutting out. Grantford Davis, town pothead, infamous brawl starter, and the guy who dropped me off at the bridge that God awful night eight months ago. I bang on the bathroom door. â€Å"Come on Lila, hurry up.† Grantford looks my way, but there's no recognition in his eyes, which isn't surprising. I've changed since the last time anyone saw me, shedding my gothic clothes, heavy eyeliner, and tough-girl attitude for a more lighter and pleasant look, so I blend in with the crowd. â€Å"You can't rush nature, Ella,† Lila hisses through the door. â€Å"Now let me pee in peace.† I watch Grantford like a hawk as he rolls a tire across the field toward his pickup. The bathroom door opens and Lila walks out cringing. â€Å"Gross, it was so disgusting in there. I think I might have caught herpes just looking at the toilet.† She shivers, wiping her hands on the side of her dress. â€Å"And there were no paper towels.† Grantford has disappeared, although his truck is still there. I grab Lila's arm and tug her toward the car. â€Å"We need to go.† Lila elevates her eyebrows questioningly as she tries to keep up with me. â€Å"What's wrong with you?† â€Å"Nothing,† I say. â€Å"There was just this guy over in the field that I really don't want to talk to.† â€Å"Is he an old boyfriend?† â€Å"No, not even close†¦.† I trail off as Grantford rounds the bathroom. There's sweat on his forehead and grass stains on his jeans. â€Å"I need to talk to you for a minute.† â€Å"Why?† I question, swinging the car door open. Please don't bring up that night. Please. Lila freezes as she's opening the door and her gaze darts to me. â€Å"Ella, what's going on?† Grantford tucks his hands into his pockets, staring at the hood of the car. â€Å"This ain't your car, is it?† â€Å"No, we just stole it and took it for a joy ride.† Shit. Ten minutes back and my old attitude is slipping out. â€Å"I mean, yes it is – her car anyway.† I nod my head at Lila. â€Å"Well, I was just wondering how fast it goes?† He gives me a fox smile that makes me want to gag. I was never a fan of Grantford. He always had a sleazebag attitude, which was part of the reason why I had him drive me to the bridge that night – he was the only one I knew who would leave me there alone. I can't help myself. â€Å"Probably a lot faster than your pick up over there.† He has a shit-eating grin on his face. â€Å"Is that a challenge?† I shake my head and motion for Lila to get in the car â€Å"Nope, that wasn't a challenge. Just a mere observation.† Recollection fills his eyes. â€Å"Wait a minute. Do I know you?† Ignoring him, I start to shut the door, but he catches it. â€Å"Holy crap! I do know you. You're Ella Daniels.† His eyes mosey up my legs, cutoff jeans, lacy white tank top, and land on my eyes lined with frosty pink eyeliner. â€Å"You look†¦ different.† â€Å"College will do that to you.† I scale up his scuffed cowboy boots, his torn jeans, and stained shirt. â€Å"You haven't changed a bit.† â€Å"I see your mouth hasn't changed at all,† he snaps. â€Å"And besides, you didn't change for the better. In fact, you look like you could be friends with Stacy Harris.† â€Å"Don't exaggerate the situation,† I say. Stacy Harris was a popular girl in our grade; head cheerleader, homecoming queen, wore a lot of pink. His face scrunches. â€Å"You didn't just change on the outside either. If anybody would have compared you to Stacy Harris, you'd have punched them in the face.† â€Å"Violence solves nothing.† I begin to shut the door again. â€Å"I have to go.† He complements my move and seizes the door, prying it back open. â€Å"You ain't going anywhere until I get something out of you.† â€Å"Like a kick to the balls,† I threaten, but my insides churn. I can talk tough, but when it all comes down to it he's a really big guy who could easily hurt me. His grey eyes turn black as the sun sets behind the shallow hills. â€Å"I heard you bailed. Packed up your stuff one night and took off. Pissed off a lot of people, too. The ones that were always protecting you when that mouth of yours got you into trouble. Especially that one guy you were always with.† â€Å"Don't pretend like you don't know his name.† My voice is slightly uneven. I feel out-of-control of the situation and I'm starting to panic. â€Å"You don't forget the names of the people whose fist have slammed into your face.† A vein bulges in his thick neck as he punches the window. â€Å"That night I was wasted and Micha was completely sober. And it was total bull shit that he sucker punched me for leaving you on the bridge. I mean, you asked me to take you there. How the hell was it my fault?† Apparently, Micha hit him more than once because it's not the instance I'm referring to. I tug at the door handle. â€Å"I'm going to close the door now and you're going to walk away.† â€Å"Who are you?† His eyes are all over me. â€Å"I'm who I always was,† I mutter. â€Å"Just without all the baggage.† Calmly, I close the door. â€Å"You can drive away now, Lila.† She floors the car backwards and skids it onto the asphalt. I don't look back at Grantford or the bridge. I breathe through my nose, trying to stay composed and in possession of my feelings. â€Å"What was that about?† Lila asks. â€Å"Who was that creep?† I buckle my seatbelt and turn up the air conditioning. â€Å"Just some guy I used to know from high school.† â€Å"I thought he was going to kill you or something†¦ Maybe we should call the police.† Flashbacks of my old life resurface. â€Å"That's just how things are around here. Besides, he was all bark and no bite. Trust me. He was just irritated with something I did.† Her eyes enlarge and she grips the steering wheel. â€Å"What did you do?† I glance in the rearview mirror at the desolate road behind us. â€Å"Nothing I want to talk about.† She slows down as the speed limit decreases. â€Å"How did you do that? You were so calm even when he tried to hold the door open. I was freaking out.† â€Å"It was just instincts,† I lie. If she knew the real reason we sure as hell wouldn't be friends. *** The urge to make Lila flip a U-turn and floor it back to Vegas becomes more powerful the closer we get to my home. Lila relaxes about the Grantford ordeal when the outhouse is far behind us. We make the rest of the short drive talking about classes and frat parties, but when we pull into the driveway of my house, her fear and panic reemerges. â€Å"This is†¦ nice.† She shudders as she peers through the windshield. â€Å"So this is where you grew up?† The full moon shines in the starry sky, lighting up the trash piled in the driveway, the old cutlass balanced on cinderblocks in front of the garage, and the peeling paint off my two-story home trimmed with a broken rain gutter that's swaying in the wind. The tree beside my window looks like it's dying. It was once my gateway for sneaking out of my room, but the last time I snuck out was the night my mother died. I'll never climb that damn tree again. â€Å"Yep, this is home.† I step out into the cool breeze. Rise Against â€Å"Like an Angel† blasts from the speakers next door. The lights are on in the house, and there's a lot of screaming and yelling going on. The driveway is lined bumper to bumper with cars and people are smoking on the dry front lawn and on the deck. One of Micha's parties. It's like time has frozen and was waiting for me to return. â€Å"God things never change around here.† I round the back of the car. â€Å"Lila, can you pop the trunk, please.† The trunk pops open and Lila steps tentatively out of the car. Her eyes fasten on the party and she's chewing on her thumbnail, which is a nervous habit of hers. â€Å"Jeez, it's more intense than even a frat party. I didn't know that could be possible.† I sling a heavy bag over my shoulder. â€Å"Are you sure you want to sleep at my house tonight?† I rummage through the trunk for the bag holding all my toiletries. â€Å"There are some pretty decent hotels in the next town over.† â€Å"I'm just not used to this kind of a place. That's all†¦ But I'm sure it's fine.† She collects one of my pillows from the trunk and hugs it tightly. â€Å"Are you absolutely sure?† I balance a small box under my arm. I don't want her to stay and witness this side of my life. â€Å"This place is a lot to take in for some people.† She narrows her eyes and points a finger at me. â€Å"I may come from an upper class town, but that doesn't mean I haven't been in rougher areas before. Besides, we went to that pawn store that one time in Vegas and that neighborhood was definitely sketchy.† It really wasn't that bad of an area, but I decide to let it go, since she'll only be staying here for one night. â€Å"Sorry, I just†¦ I want to make sure you're comfortable.† I shift the bag onto my hip and feel around the dark trunk for my other bag. â€Å"I promise I can manage for one night.† She crosses her heart with her finger and smiles. â€Å"In fact, I might even get brave enough to go check out the party next door.† I rapidly switch the subject. â€Å"We can probably get the rest of this stuff out tomorrow, since it's dark and I can barely see. And I don't know about you, but I'm exhausted.† â€Å"I think†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Her eyes wander in the direction of the driveway. â€Å"Dear God Almighty, who is he? Wait a minute. Isn't he†¦ yeah†¦Ã¢â‚¬  She lets out a quiet squeal and hops up and down. â€Å"Ella, I think it's the guy from your drawing, that Micha guy you insist you never dated.† My bag falls to the ground as I slouch down, debating an escape. Duck under the car? Run into the house? Dive into the trunk? â€Å"Hey there, beautiful,† Micha says in his flirty tone. â€Å"You shouldn't park your car out here in the open. Someone will probably jack it.† The sound of his voice sends a tremble through my body that coils down deep inside me. I thought the feeling would be gone after being away for eight months, but somehow time has had the opposite effect – it's amplified and taking over my body. I pretend to be engrossed by a box in the trunk and put my head amidst the shadows. Lila giggles. â€Å"I'm sure my car will be okay. This is my friend's house.† â€Å"Your friend's house†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He drifts off, making the connection and anxiety strangles me. â€Å"Wait a minute? Are you talking about Ella Daniels?† Collecting myself, I slam the trunk down. When he sees me, his eyes enlarge and he has the same expression on his face as when his mama told him his daddy wasn't ever coming back. He blinks the stunned expression away and a hint of anger transpires. â€Å"What are you doing here? I thought you were in Vegas.† For a moment, I'm unable to speak, caught in a mixture of emotions from seeing him again. Micha has always been stunningly beautiful in a way that makes artists' hands ache. He's dressed in a red plaid shirt, dark jeans, and a pair of black boots. His lips are full and ornamented with a silver loop and his dirty blonde hair has a slight wave to it. His skin is like porcelain and his aqua eyes carry more than I can handle. â€Å"I was down there for school, but I'm back now,† I say in the polite tone I've used with everyone over the last eight months. But on the inside my heart is wild, and my blood is roaring with the same yearning I felt for him when I left. â€Å"Wait a minute. You knew I was down there?† He sidesteps around Lila and positions himself directly in front of me. Micha is one of the few guys that is taller than me and I have to angle my head up to meet his eyes. â€Å"I had no idea where you were until this morning,† he says. â€Å"Since you didn't tell anyone where you went.† The ache in his voice stabs at my heart and the phone carrying the voicemail in my pocket weighs a thousand pounds. â€Å"Sorry, but I needed a break from this place. It was†¦ things were†¦ well you know how it was.† â€Å"No, I don't know how it was.† He braces a hand on the trunk like he's going to fall over. â€Å"Since you took off and never told me where the hell you went.† I need to go before he gets to me, and all my self-control evaporates. Picking up my bag from the ground, I wave good-bye to him. â€Å"It was nice talking to you again, but we've been on the road for like twelve hours and all I want to do is lay down.† â€Å"I'm not really that tired,† Lila says and I press her with a pleading look. â€Å"Oh, wait maybe I am.† She fakes a yawn. I hurry for the side door of my house, but Micha blocks my path, and his hand comes down on the car like a railroad track barricade. He drags his lip ring into his mouth with a passionate look on his face, like he might kiss me or something. For a second, I wish he would. He leans toward my ear, lowering his voice to an intimate level. â€Å"Come with me somewhere. Please. I've been waiting eight months to talk to you.† I flinch at my body's fiery reaction his voice emits. â€Å"I can't talk to you, Micha.† I choke, backing away, and bumping my hip on the edge of the car. Tears threaten the corners of my eyes, but I haven't cried in over a year and I refuse to break down. Spinning on my heels, I dash for the house. He doesn't call out to me – it's not his style. But his gaze bores a hole into my messed up head the entire way, until I'm finally locked inside my house. Then I can breathe again. Micha I swear I'm dreaming. Ella is standing in front of me and she looks just like Stacy Harris, a slutty cheerleader we used to go to high school with and who Ella beat up once because Stacy was making fun of a girl in a wheelchair. It was one of the things that made me fall in love with her; the fire, passion, and the need to stick up for the outcasts, even if it meant being an outcast herself. She never fell into any category – she was just Ella – but now she looks like a freakin' Stepford Wife. She's still hot as hell, a rock hard body, and long legs that go on forever. I've pictured those legs wrapped around my waist many times and the same images flood my head, even though she looks like a stranger. Her gorgeous green eyes are glossed over, like she's repressed everything inside. She's unhappy to see me and it hurts a little, but pisses me off more. She starts rambling about being tired, something she used to do all the time to avoid confrontation. I watch her lips move, wanting to kiss her so God damn bad, but knowing she'd probably kick me if I tried anything. So I lean in, smelling her hair and beg her to come with me somewhere. Then she runs down the driveway and locks herself in the house. I start to chase after her, but a Frisbee smacks me in the side of the head. â€Å"Sorry man,† Ethan calls out, hopping over the fence with a smirk on his face. â€Å"It slipped.† Rubbing my head, I arch my eyebrows at Ethan. â€Å"Perfect timing asshole.† He holds up his hands. â€Å"I said I was sorry. You were just standing there all dazed out like a freaking whipped pussy, so I thought I'd snap you out of it.† He scoops up the Frisbee from the concrete and gives a low whistle at Ella's friend's Mercedes as he circles it rolling up his sleeves. â€Å"Whose sweet ride is this? Wait, is it Ella's?† â€Å"I think it's her friends.† I eye the back door of her house, debating whether I should barge in after her and demand to know why she shut me out for eight months. â€Å"Since when does Ella hang out with people who drive cars like this?† he asks, peeking through the tinted windows. â€Å"She's been gone for eight months.† I back toward the fence that separates Ella's yard from mine with my hands in my pockets. â€Å"Who the hell knows who she is anymore?† I need a drink, even though I haven't had a drop of alcohol in eight months. The day Ella took off, with no note or a good-bye, I had gone up to the cove, got drunk, and took all my anger out on Grantford Davis' face. The cops showed up and I got busted for being under the influence and for assault. I'm still on probation for it and I had to go to anger management classes for a while. I've been really good about keeping my crap together, but five minutes after Ella shows up and I'm about to throw it away. I head to the kitchen, scoop up a beer from the ice chest, and settle on the couch between a blonde and a brunette. The blonde one giggles. â€Å"Oh my God, is the bad boy Micha finally back?† I can't remember her name, but I play along. â€Å"I sure am, baby.† Then I swig my beer back and bury my pain, along with Ella. She's the only girl that's ever been able to get me this upset. The only girl that's never wanted me.

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