Blog prompt for 11/18

 Share a story about the furthest you’ve ever traveled from home.

        The furthest I have traveled from home was to Australia. I went to Australia during the summer of 2012. When I went to Australia I was traveling with a group of people in the student ambassador program, "people to people." This group was founded by Dwight D. Eisenhower, back in 1957. He founded this group because he wanted to get young people involved world peace, and to not stereotype, and let the young learn about different cultures. I started this program when I was in the 5th grade, and I have been traveling with People to People for 4 years now. 
        So in the summer of 2012, I had the opportunity to travel to Australia. It was a really nice place to be, because everybody was really friendly, nice, and accepting. When we left the U.S. for the flight, we left out of Dallas, Texas. The flight was 21 hours to Sydney, but it was worth it. This is defiantly the furthest I have ever been from home. Next summer I will have another opportunity to go to Australia again, with Dr. Hawking.

Deserted Island

Island Simulation

         On Friday our class did a plane crash simulation, where we survived a plane crash on an island, and we didn't know what part of the world we were in. In class I didn't really take the simulation seriously because I knew we weren't in that situation then. But if we were in that situation I would be really serious. I would be so focused and listen for a while then say adios and run away from the group.
         If we were in a situation like that I would run away from the group because the fewer number of people you have, the better chance of survival you have, because you don't have to worry about fighting, and food, etc. I would also not bring anybody with me and if I would bring somebody with me I would bring no one. I wouldn't bring anybody with me because i wouldn't have to deal with food scarce, moving, and cooking for two or more people.

free post 11/11

State next Wednesday and Thursday

        If you don't know, I swim for the varsity swim team at EHS. I've been swimming for the school on varsity since 5th grade. I have made state every year since 6th, and as the years go by the state qualifying time go down or we change divisions like this year. Varsity swimming is now in division 4, which means that we have a pretty good shot of winning state this year. If our team wants to win state this would be the year to do it because next year 8 of the guy swimmers will be leaving since they are Seniors.
        At state this year I will be swimming the 200 free, and the 100 back. Every state meet I have been to I always swim 100 back, because that is what I am best at. Our state meet is next wednesday and thursday, 11/20 and 11/21. This will be our finally state meet that has over 15 guys, since next year we will only have 6 guys next year. We will be leaving for Sulphur after school on Tuesday, it will be around 5:00 when we leave.

Outside reading 11/11

Outside reading

Monday: Life of Pie 9 (at home) (15 mins) (page 130-150)
Tuesday: Life of Pie (at home) (30 mins) (page 150-189)
Wednesday: Life of Pie (at home) (45 mins) (page 190-224)
Thursday: Life of Pie (at home) (35 mins) (page 225- 250)
Friday: LOTF (in class) (25 mins) (page 8-20)
Saturday: LOTF (at home) (20 mins) (page 21-27)
Sunday: LOTF (at home) (30 mins) (reread 21-27 and 21-32)

Total number of minutes: 200 mins

Outside reading 11/4

Outside reading for 11/4

Life of Pie

Monday: 30 mins
Tuesday: 30 mins
Wednesday: 20 mins
Thursday: 0 mins
Friday: 45 mins
Saturday: 35 mins
Sunday: 20 mins

Total: 180 mins

Reading Response

       This past week I had the opportunity to read the Sniper as one of our short stories. This short story stood out to me more than any other story. I think what got me is the military part, and what happens at the end when he kills his brother not knowing it was him, and walks down to see who he shot and looked into his brother's eyes. This was a really good story in general. There was not really any parts that were bad, good, or even just plain stupid.
       At the end of the story it ends with, "As i walked down the roof top and onto the dusty road I look down at the person I shot, pulled off the bag, and looked into my brother's eyes." This was just a really good and shocking part. I don't know why but I just enjoyed it.

Free Post 10/27

Swimming is almost over

       As some of you know the Episcopal Swim season is almost over, meaning that after it is over I am not doing a sport until January. So I will have about a 5 week vacation from sports. Meaning I can rest and start focusing more on my homework instead of sports. We started EHS swimming over the summer in June, and have almost gone 16 weeks with swimming at episcopal. The EHS swim team is now in Division 4 meaning that we have much smaller teams but we still have to keep our minds on we still have competition to work with.
       When I started Swimming for EHS in 5th grade I always wanted to win a state championship and get a ring. If we want that to become reality this is our year as a team to do it because almost all of the guys will be gone next year because they are seniors. We have a good shot at getting above top 3 at state and even becoming state champions but we have to have that goal in mind while we are swimming.