JeJu Island

Jeju Island is the most popular island in South Korea. Sometimes I went to JeJu to visit with my friends from school; that was so fun because it was like camping. When I was a child, I went to JeJu with my family, grandfather, and grandmother to play. My grandfather had a house in JeJu, but he lived in Songdo. We swam at the beach around the island and caught some crabs, fish and marine organisms. This island was an ancient jailhouse for misdemeanors. Now this island is one of dhe most visited islands in South Korea. This island is interesting because a native person spoke a little different language.

As I can see, that island was very close to the sea, but Utah is so far. When I went to the pet store in Utah, I saw pet crabs for three dollars. I didn't understand because in Korea we got crabs and frogs for free, and my friend was so surprise dbecause in Korea we can catch crabs and shrimp. JeJu island is also different from Korea because JeJu has many horses, but in Korea there are very few horses. When I went to JeJu, I tried to ride some horses. I love horses, so I want to ride a horse in Utah. I told to me friend this, so probably we will ride horses somday. JeJu has a big mountain called Halla. Compared to Utah, the mountain is so little, but Halla has many trees and lflowers. As far as I'm conserned, JeJu looks like Utah because JeJe has a lot of people and few buildings, but in Korea there are a lot of buildings.

If you want to visit a tourist attraction, you should come to JeJu.

-By Do Young Ro (Daniel)
Kelly Zirker's level 2 writing class

Barranquila Carnival

Fourty days before holy week, Barranquilla, capital of Atlantico Department, decks itself out for four revived nationals and foreign tourists who, attracted by the fame of this festival, join together with the city's inhabitants to enjoy four days of the country's most important folklore celebration. During this period, the carnival queen presides over the different festivities until Tuesday, when the symbolic burial of Joselito Carnaval brings the celebration to the end and announces the preparation for the next year's carnival.

Baranquilla's inhabitants, irrespective of race or creed, join together to make the carnival. For them, the most important thing is to dance and enjoy themselves for four days, and then prepare for the following years of celebrations.

The history has been passed from fathers to sons to keep their roots from being lost i nthe mists of time. It is said that the Spaniards brought with them the tradition of celebrating the European Carnival. The slaves in Barranquilla combined with their own traditions, taking to the streets, dressed in typical costumes, singing, dancing, and playing their instruments.

- By Liliana Auza
Kelly Zirker's level 2 writing class

You know what is happening with our children?

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to read an article that caught my attention. He spoke of the importance of exercise in children and the problems that exist in to nutrition and obesity in children. Relating this problems with the technology with which we have today. Perhaps many of us think that it has nothing to do, but in reality is a real problem and alarming. Since technology such as computers and video games are replacing sports and outdoor activities, many of our children spend hours watching television, computers or video games forgetting to eat or eating what quickly found to continue the game or movie, most of the time passing without movement encouraging the children. The obesity in an adult is a serious health problem, but in a child's obesity is somewhat alarming since the health problems or rather diseases as early stage could cause problems more irreversible and very serious. The first lady Obama has launched a very important campaign to give a solution to this problem, through sports, improving recreation in to school and the preparation of good breakfast and nutritious meals. 

Another way to help is to improve communication between parents and children to establish rules for the use of technology as the Internet, television and video games and improve habits to nutrional food and thus avoiding the obesity problem our children, improving the quality of life. As regards the exercise not only in school in but the home too. The parents must be conscience of the importance the health and the good nutrition on the children.

-By Diana E. Garcia

Kelly Zirker's Level 2 Writing Class

The Most Embarassing Moment in my Life

The most embarrassing moment of my life happened when my husband's best friend graduated with her Master’s Degree. She celebrated her graduation in a luxurious restaurant.

That day my husband and I wore our best clothes. When we were entering, we saw that the guests were already enjoying their drinks and snacks. Then we started looking for a table where our friends were sitting; when at last we found the table, we greeted all our friends, and when I was about to sit, I did not look carefully. I slipped to the floor and I fell down. Then I tried to grab the table cloth, but everything in the table fall down, getting everybody who sat at the table wet and dirty.

My husband was so ashamed that he did not ask me how I was; he only covered his face. My husband’s best friend helped me get up and sort the mess than I made it.

When this incident happened, first I felt ashamed and I wanted the earth to swallow me, but later I thought "that can happen to anyone." After wards, I continued at the party as if nothing had happened.

Today when I remember the time I laugh a lot, but my husband is still ashamed of it and does not want to remember it any more.

-Cecilia Monterrosa
Kelly Zirker's Level 2 Writing Class

Galapagos Islands

These are the most famous islands in the word. They are located in South America in front of the cost of Ecuador; their official name is Colon’s archipelago. They are conformed by 19 islands and 107 very small islands. They are famous because when Charles Darwin traveled around the world, and visited them in 1835, he saw some animals like: birds, mammals, and turtles, that they were very similar to another of their species, but they had changed, he studied and wrote the book “On the origin of species”, and proposed the Darwin’s theory about the evolution of the species.

They are known by several names: Enchanted Islands because we found an amazing wildlife with flora and fauna unique in the world. They are also called Galapagos Island, its name is due to its famous giant turtles; and Colon’s Archipelago as recognized to Cristobal Colon, discover of America. They are located to 972 kilometers from the coast line of Ecuador. They are discovered by Tomas de Berlanga in 1535. In 1979, UNESCO declared Humanity's Natural Patrimony; in 1985 was declared Biosphere’ Reserve. In 2007 was declared Humanity’s Patrimony with environment risk and they are included in the list Humanity’s Patrimony in danger. 

They are visited by thousands of tourists each year. The most visited islands by tourists are: Baltra, where is located the airport; it was built by American Navy in the II World War. San Cristobal, where is located the main city called Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. Santa Cruz with its city Puerto Ayora, and the Galapagos National Park, and Isabela the greatest island of the archipelago. In these four islands can find hotels, restaurants, cruisers, ships, and some amazing touristic attractions.

Tourists can’t visit the entire island; just some of them like the named before can be visited; it is due to recommendations to preserve the species. Almost all of animals like: sea lions, iguanas, seals, penguins, and others animals can be touched by the persons, due they don’t have fear of the humans. I don’t need promote them; I just recommend you visit them if you want an amazing adventure.

-Oscar X. Quevedo
Kelly Zirker's Writing Level 2 class