Jounal #3 Opinion on cosmetic surgery

Cosmetic surgery might be important for other people who are overly conscious on how they look like, or there are certain circumstances where people have cosmetic surgery, not because they want to but because they have to. I, on the other hand, would not have cosmetic surgery because it shows that you are not confident of who you are and how you look. I also would not have cosmetic surgery becasue I'm thankful to God for giving me what I have. To have surgery would mean that I'm ungrateful towards God and His blessings. Now, its not to say that I wouldn't have cosmetic surgery at some point but it would take really, and I mean a really serious sitaution for me to even consider cosmetic surgery. Nobody knows whats going to happen next. I might get into serious accident and might get burned. Maybe then I would consider cosmetic surgery. Other than that, I'm happy the way I am. Well, we all know there's issues that everyone has to go through, mine is not as bad as to want cosmetic surgery. I also strongly believe that cosmetic surgery is bad. You really don't how good a surgeon is even if they tell you or show you their records of success in that area. There's always a first to everything and you might just be that first in that aspect. Take Michael Jackson for example, I'm not saying that his surgery was not a success, but it sure looks like it. He has way too many surgeries that when you compare him to the way he was, you wouldn't see the resemblance at all. Also in My New Nose by Dan Barden, he got cosmetic surgery on his nose because he had difficulty in breathing due to a deviated septum. But the operation failed. His breathing worsen and his nose looked like he's been boxing for years. Then he became overly conscious by his nose and started thinking that he IS the nose. He then got another surgery, and this time it's a success. His nose is better, his breathing is better and he felt better about himself. My point is that cosmetic surgery is not for everyone and I'm sure I am in that group. Just be happy and satisfied of who you are. Let's face it, you would just look too fake if you have cosmetic surgery. If you don't appreciate yourself, who would?

Journal # 2 Impression of culture and ethnicity when growing up

I spent the first 14 years of my life in the Philippines. I didn't really have any impressions on my culture or ethnicity because those are a part of me. I was surrounded by it and lived with it. It's not until I moved here in the US, approximately 4 years and 3 months ago, that I really noticed my culture. Being kinda like thrown to a different environment is really overwhelming. I noticed that I'm different from others. Of how I speak, act and see things. I wouldn't say that Americans are rude, but when I first came here, the way they interact with each other is really different. That's probably because I live in an environment where the atmost respect is towards your elders. I was really surprised when I went to high school. I really didn't feel the respect towards teachers from the students in school. I was taken aback as to the attitude the students brought to class, especially towards learning and doing homework and projects and how they always complain about everything. The kind of fashion and style they wear was new to me, but I liked some of it. In my old school in the Philippines, we wore uniforms. Short shorts and skirts, tube tops and strapless shirts are prohibited. So when I saw kids in school here, wearing clothes that barely cover themselves, I felt ashamed for them. Now, I'm not saying that to all students. Of course, there is a vast majority that doesn't do that and I respect everyone no matter the style they have. As time went on, I become more aware of my culture as I become more aware of other cultures. I've never seen cultures come together as I see here in the US and I'm surrounded by it and adopting to it. Somehow, learning different cultures taught me my culture and how important it is. I have a very rich culture and the need to preserve that culture intensifies the more I adopt other cultures. One of the cons of diversity is that you're surrounded by tons of cultures and you somehow forget some of your own. But as I see it, that makes my culture more important to me than before. There are a lot of things that I miss because I felt that a major part of me was left behind when I migrated from the Philippines. Now, I'm craving for the things that I had that I took for granted, the people that I've known and love in the Philippines and my culture. I always look forward to gatherings to taste my favorite foods and to really feel at home. I thought everything would stay the same and it never occur to me that I would go to such a change that would take away what I've known my whole life. My culture and ethnicity are both important and unique to me and I want to share them that others may know how wonderful it is. I don't want to forget the culture that makes me, I don't want to forget who I am. I want to pass it on and keep it alive. I would like to visit Philippines again someday and go back to what I really call home.

Journal #1 Is Pop Culture a good theme for composition?

I believe that discussing and learning about pop culture is a good theme for composition because its a popular topic. Discusing pop culture in our generation today is important because we can relate to it more. It is something that we are a part of, something that we have a say on. As we have discussed in class, pop culture is a culture of one's generation, so by discussing pop culture, we can have different views on things, differents ideas, aspects and different pont of view. Also, discussing pop culture, we can compare our pop culture today from older generations and we can see what lived through time that we still see today. It is also important to be aware of what is happening around us. We can have different topics because each of us has different opinions or different issues that we need to voice out in the open. I also think that everyone would be most interested in pop culture than some other theme because we enjoy talking about something that we know of because we're living it and it affects us rather than talk about something that doesn't really concern us, therefore not really producing a good discussion in class. It's also exciting to hear other people's opinion on topics discussed in class and you can learn new things from them as well.

I was kinda nervous for today because last tuesday, the teachers told us to get our books for their classses, but i still don't have my books yet because of, well, we don't have the money as of today, hopefully I'll get my books for next week and that I'll be all set ^^

Today's class is kinda interesting just because i have to think of what to write and i have to make it long so I would have 500 words, but that's okay, it's not really that hard, its just hard trying to find the right words.

I'm so used to wirting comments in my facebook and i always put smiley faces on them >.< and abbreviating words and stuff like that..lmao, but now i have to write everything in whole sentences with the right punctuations and stuff T_T, well, that would be hard...ahaha

Im hungryyyy..can't wait for this class to be over so I could go to the cafe and eat lunch ;] ahahah..mad random, well Ms. Montez did say to write anything, so here you go :P