Paris and Peace Essay Example for Free

Paris and Peace Essay Serene tried to remember the last time she and her cousin, Tina actually behaved like family, but she had to make a truce with her nonetheless. This truce was her ticket to freedom in a new city, a new country and the action necessary to please her parents. Tina was now her roommate. Selena knew her parents would never have allowed her to study Philosophy in Chicago without a chaperone. Tina fit that role in Serenas new life, but how could it be new with these old world requirements? Her parents believed that she was irresponsible, always allowing her taste for life and excitement to cloud her good judgment. Her mom and dad always wished that she would be more traditional and docile, but she had always defied that logic in her quest for her own female freedom. They were reluctant in sending their only daughter in a land known for its schmoozing and adulterous love affairs. Nonetheless, she was allowed to live away in Chicago and spend her summers alone in Lebanon. She was making her own money and felt like an independent American here, as well. Back then she knew that if they had said â€Å"no,† to this quest she would still find a way to fund her trip and defy her parents. Serena was the type of girl, who had a reputation for always winning, but without Tina accompanying her on her first big journey, the family wouldn’t allow her victory to be totally complete. Serene knew all too well that once they arrived in Rome Center, she and Tina would be living separate lives. While Tina would befriend everyone she possibly could, Serena would resolve to make a few good friends to accompany her in her nightly city adventures. She cleared her throat. She really had to say something. â€Å"Just so you know,† she began. â€Å"You won’t have to check on me every now and then. Do you understand me? † â€Å"I understand you perfectly,† Tina replied in her usual condescending voice reminiscent of old world values. â€Å"This is why we never get along. Don’t worry; I won’t ruin your plans. † â€Å"Trust me, you dont want to. † So a truce was made. Months had passed since that conversation. They were both living separate lives indeed. The two would only be seen together in Dr. Mike Silva’s Philosophy 101 class; even then, they sat on opposite sides of the classroom ignoring each other. Being the belated girl that she was, Serene often came late to class. Serena had always believed in the power of a fashionably late entrance to demonstrate her importance. Although appearing to be the model student, Tina inwardly and occasionally, outwardly, objected to her cousin’s behavior and could not help but be bothered by it. Dr. Silva, otherwise know as Mike to Serene, however, didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he was quite fond of her, in Serena’s mind he believed her to be a perfect model of colonized beauty. After classes, the professor and his protege were always seen having coffee or dinner at Mundelein or at one of the nearby cafes. At least she had someone to talk to that respected her independence and charm. A short time later, it didn’t come much of a surprise when Mike asked her to accompany him to Paris for the holidays. Although Serene had her own plans to go the World Cup, she agreed, since she could not convince anyone to come with her to Germany and would not contemplate asking her conniving cousin. She knew all about the rumors circulating about her and Mike. They simply were weren’t true. She thought of him only as a friend. She was sure that he thought the same of her. However, she knew that if these rumors would circulate further, not only would the University reprimand her, but the whole Chicago Arab community would shun both her and her parents for indecent conduct. She had to ask Tina, although she half expected her to decline the offer. That afternoon, she spent hours preparing Tina’s favorite maamoul, a traditional dish from home. She had to make a peace offering. As she handed it to Tina, the her archenemy looked at her incredulously. â€Å"Do you intend to poison me or something? † Tina asked. â€Å"Just shut up and eat! † She watched Tina eat. She knew Tina longed of at least a piece of home unlike her. She never missed home. â€Å"I want you to come with me and Mike to Paris. † Tina almost choked on one cookie as she heard those words. â€Å"Listen, I intend to come back with my virginity and my reputation intact. Besides, those rumors about he and I aren’t true. † â€Å"Ugh! This is worse than poison. † She said, wiping some sugar on her jeans. â€Å"But alright. I’ll go. Why do you want to go there with him anyway? † Serene turned red with anger, but maybe it was embarrassment. She was sick of everyone asking about her relationship with Mike. â€Å"If I have to answer to one more person, you will see me leaving Rome Center tomorrow! † â€Å"Fine! Leave. That would save me a lot of trouble. † Serene sighed. Tina’s impossible, but at least she agreed. Mike’s office desk was full of clutter. He spent weeks reading the tour books and travel brochures that were scattered on his desk. He thought of throwing them away. He was upset by the message that Serene sent him, excusing herself on the trip to Paris because of several assignments due the week after the holidays. He did not understand that her first refusal was customary of Arabic women, as to not seem so eager to accompany a man on an extended holiday. But, Serena had fully intended to go. He heard a few knocks on his door. When he opened it, he was surprised to find himself Tina, one of his least favorite student standing there. Tina didn’t waste time. â€Å"I had come to ask about the Paris trip agenda, Dr. Silva. I am coming with Serene. † Mike’s feelings of rejection were replaced with outright fury and confusion. Serene failed to mention that her cousin would accompany them. â€Å"Well, I don’t know what you intend on doing in Paris, but Serene and I intend on dedicating an entire day to the Louvre. Dinner will follow at Fouquet’s. Day Two, we will go up the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame. After that, we will spend more time looking at paintings in Musee DOrsay. Going to the Hotel Invalides is optional. We might try taking the train to Versailles on day three if nothing unfortunate happens. † He memorized the itinerary well, but he didn’t imagine reciting it to this girl. â€Å"I am not quite sure what you had intended on doing in Paris or why you came for that matter, but I respect any decision of Serene’s. † Tina didn’t know how to react. This man was disappointed that she was coming, and he made no effort to hide it. â€Å"Serene feels uncomfortable traveling to a new place alone. † It was a lie. Serene was used to traveling alone. Her attempts at initial rejection were in part customary (though she would never admit it) and similarly to avoid intensifying rumors that could destroy her family and send her packing back home. He was doubtful of Tina‘s revelation, but he decided to let that pass. â€Å"Alright then, Paris can be a dangerous place. Just make sure that you can watch yourself, Ms. Maalouf. † With that, he slammed the door to her face. â€Å"The only person, who I have to watch out for, is you! † She mastered all her self-control so that she wouldn’t say that out loud. It seemed Tina was more intuitive than her cousin would realize. They all arrived in Paris via the Artesia Night train. After checking in their hotel, Serene and Tina prepared to go shopping on Champs Elysees. They decided not to ask Mike, or as Tina referred to him, Dr. Silva, thinking that he would prefer to spend the morning in his bed. They were wrong. Both girls saw him on the downstairs foyer pressuring the receptionist to give him a conjoining room with the girls. His face looked crumpled with disappointment and irritation, but when he saw them, he forcibly flashed a smile. â€Å"Girls, were you planning on leaving without me? † he asked half-jokingly. Tina noted that he was obviously annoyed. Serene noticed it too. â€Å"No, we just figured to do some serious shopping, something you might not be interested in. † She never saw this side of him before. It disappointed her. â€Å"No, I am coming with you,† Mike insisted. Serena felt obligated to pacify the professor. â€Å"Ok then. But I’m afraid it will bore you. Louis Vuitton has nothing to do with history or philosophy. † She continued to downplay his disdain and provided jokes and forced laughter to keep the trip from falling short of her dreamy expectations. Tina remained silent. Perhaps no one will ever know of whatever violent thing she thought of doing to Mike at that moment. Mike was furious. They spent the whole morning shopping along the famous two-kilometer-long avenue. The girls were ready to see the Eiffel Tower next. His plans with Serene were ruined. Tina was to blame. â€Å"The Eiffel Tower is better seen at daytime than at sunset,† he said in his matter-of-fact voice. â€Å"We should wait for tomorrow. † â€Å"We have only three days in Paris. † Serene replied. â€Å"If we are to spend all day tomorrow at the Louvre, I do not think we will have time to see the Eiffel Tower tomorrow morning. † â€Å"You’re right, Serene,† Tina agreed with her for the first time. At that point, Mike lost his patience. â€Å"Your opinion does not matter. † Serene was stunned at Mike’s rude behavior to her cousin. â€Å"How dare you speak to her that way?! † Tina was still family although she never got along with her. Mike realized his mistake. He was worried that his comments would prevent Serene from wanting to spend any time alone with him. â€Å"I’m sorry. I think I just didn’t have enough sleep. † That was a petty excuse. He knew it. Tina knew it and Serene was beginning to realize that Mike was behaving like a spoiled child. â€Å"That is exactly why we choose not call you, but I accept your apology nonetheless. † â€Å"Serene, I am sorry, I did not mean to-† â€Å"The one you should be apologizing to is Tina. † â€Å"Tina, I am sorry. † Tina shrugged. â€Å"Don’t worry. My opinion doesn’t matter anyway. † She decided to do the unthinkable: she would leave Serene and Mike to themselves. Despite Mike’s earlier protests, the pair visited the Eiffel Tower. The view on the Tower’s top floor was truly breathtaking. Serene was awed by the sight of all of Paris glistening beneath her, spreading across to the horizon. No words could completely describe what she saw. No single picture could capture that moment. It was just as she had imagined it, her in all her beauty surrounded by more beauty and her companion, a man who appreciated not only her beauty, but her intellect. Paris was alive. Several times, she had to remind herself that it was real. Mike interrupted her thoughts. He made several comments on the tower’s architecture, its history and its heritage to Paris. She listened intently. He was truly her professor. At that moment, Serene forgot the irritation that he caused her that day. She was grateful to him for taking her to Paris. Without warning, he suddenly kissed her. Serene out of pure reflex, slapped him on the face. â€Å"What are you doing?! † She yelled, astonished, and unaffected by the other travelers around them. â€Å"Doing what one must do in Paris. C’mon Serene, you cannot be blind to this. † â€Å"There has to be some mistake. I saw you only as a professor and a friend, nothing more. I should have listened to Tina. I’m sorry sir. I cannot do what you ask of me. † â€Å"So I risked my reputation, my career, just so you can be better friends with that Tina?! † â€Å"Tina is one of the best people I have known in the entire world. She’s kind to everyone, even me, her enemy. She may not know it, but I have come to admire her. You cannot measure up to who she is to me. † She paused. She couldn’t believe that she just defended Tina against him. â€Å"Please, do not follow me. † She turned to walk away. Mike growled and cursed her. â€Å"Don’t you walk away from me! † He grabbed her arm. Serene clenched her fist. Her punch went straight in his eye, knocking him to the ground. â€Å"I told you not to follow me! † With that, she walked away. Several tourists rolled their heads toward them. The scene was ironically amusing if not romantic. One Korean man even took a video of them in his phone. Serene didn’t care. She was glad to be rid of him. Tina waited at La Jules Verne. She pondered if she had decided right in leaving Serene alone with the monster. A few moments later, her doubts vanished. She was surprised to see Serene back early without Mike. â€Å"Where’s Mike? † she asked. Serene sat down. She turned away to the window. â€Å"I don’t know of any Mike. I simply know a Dr. Silva. He is taking his holiday in Paris as well. We might run into him, but I don’t think will, ever again. † Tina whistled. She realized that Serene had given him a beating worse than she expected. She wanted to congratulate her cousin. â€Å"I hope he won’t flunk the both of us. † With that both girls erupted into a heartfelt laughter that they had shared in a very long time. â€Å"Well, I have decided to drop his class anyway, if you are going to do it with me. How does that sound? † Tina agreed, sealing the pact with a handshake. At last, they had agreed on something. â€Å"You are such a bad influence. † As one relationship came to an end, another presented itself. Paris was a place for romantic love, but the familial love that Serene found again was just as beautiful. She didn’t need Mike’s Philosophy class to understand that. They would carry out the remainder of the Paris trip rekindling their cousinly relationship. They avoided a disheveled Dr. Silva, who they would see frequently muttering to himself or starting a confrontation with the hotel staff. The pair would scamper out of the place with concealed glee and burst into gales of laughter on the Paris street. They didn’t speak of the past misunderstandings they had shares, but instead intuitively knew what had happened there. Serene represented the new world, full of ambiguity and questions. Tina represented the old world with all her wisdom and answers. Together the could navigate through the fog of friendships and loves, enemies and the â€Å"Mikes† of the world. Tina was no longer a chaperone in Serena’s eyes, she was an advisor.

Great Teachers and Educational Leadership Qualities -Parent Student Rel

Great teachers & educational Leadership qualities: motivation, school discipline & teaching skills of teacher late Orhan Seyfi Ari A truly great teacher with his teaching and educational leadership can inspire even education reforms. The globally popular teaching skills and educational leadership qualities make great teachers. How do a truly great teachers' teaching inspire pupils and students? His behaviour management in school discipline is empathic. His teaching skills are with educational leadership qualities. In teacher student relations great teachers motivate. In parent teacher meetings great educators help. Truly great teachers can make educational history with education reforms, social history, enable social pride... 'His students made the state and the nation proud' (On a great educator's, the late, Orhan Seyfi Ari's passing away -Atun, Leader of Parliament TRNC 1992) How do great teachers do that? What made Orhan Ari a great teacher? This educator's exceptional teaching skills and educational leadership qualities made him one of the great teachers. Orhan Ari's teaching skills and educational leadership qualities were so great, writers and poets hailed him, people named streets after him. What were these major globally popular teaching skills and educational leadership qualities that made him a great teacher? Orhan Ari's teaching skills and educational leadership qualities in education related dealings kept parents, colleague teachers, students properly happy. This great teacher's teaching skills and educational leadership were enhanced by his wit and honesty. His sincere concern and help enabled educational reforms -made him a truly great teacher who continues to socio-culturally inspire. ... ...ife' -Nicholas press, London 2002) Truly great teachers' globally popular educational leadership qualities and teaching skills can make educational history. This great teacher's educational leadership qualities enabled education reforms -made him popular within and without his community. In retirement from teaching he was invited to visit and inspect schools overseas, when this great teacher passed away, retired from teaching years before, at his funeral with his former students and pupils school children carried flowers. Great teachers are remembered. Great teachers' popularity lasts. With teacher and teaching awards, in an unfinished monograph, this great teacher, Orhan Seyfi Ari, saw as greatest reward... 'My spiritual reward.. my beloved 'children', my pupils, have achieved success... The feeling of having been loved by them as I have loved them.'

Motorola Press Release

â€Å"Motorola will unveil a host of new groundbreaking products, partnerships and technologies. Motorola, in its consistent effort to innovate and reinvent, is enhancing the experience of what it calls â€Å"seamless mobility† by expanding its line-up of new products †¦ the ultimate combination of cool, cutting-edge technology and fashion-forward design. The new technologies promise to deliver easy, uninterrupted access to the information, entertainment and communications that people want.† (Newswire Association,1996) What is the key challenge or opportunity in this article? The article has talked about Motorola launching new products, partnerships and technologies. Motorola aims to connect people and give them access to information effortlessly anytime and any where.   That is also the main challenge to Motorola, to make that a reality. What are the underlying causes of the situation? People nowadays are busier than ever thus they need more information and data in their work and activities anytime and anywhere.   It is because of these facts that Motorola has decided to launch these new products. What did the company do, or, what strategy did the company employ to address the challenge or opportunity? Motorola saw an opportunity to widen its market and has forged new partnerships and launched new products in order to address the needs identified above. What may be the implication? Implication would be a wider market for Motorola thus more profits for the company. What do you think about this? Motorola has done a good thing by keeping up with the times and most especially with the demand.   A company that doesn’t improve its services and products will stagnate  and sooner or later will die.   That is why it is very important to always identify the needs of the clients and addressed those needs and Motorola has done just that. What is going on in the global and or industry environment? Nowadays, people are busier than ever.   People engage in numerous activities that enhance and enrich their lives.   They are always on the go, rarely sitting still.   People are also more competitive than ever most especially in the boardroom.   These are the developments in the society that Motorola has seen and has addressed.   Also, nowadays, the better the technology, the better.   Price is, most often than not, no object that is why Motorola has focused on creating great products regardless of the price. What may be a competitive response? The response would be that other companies would launch their own products addressing the identified needs.   The products may even be â€Å"identical† to what Motorolla has only repackaged. Bibliography: PR Newswire. (1996). MultiVu Video Feed: Motorola Unveils New Products, Partnerships and Technologies for Second Half of 2006.     Retrieved September 12, 2006, from PR Newswire Website: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi- bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-24-2006/0004402638&EDATE=         

Whats in Your Water - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 503 Downloads: 1 Date added: 2018/12/14 Category Health Essay Type Research paper Level High school Tags: Risk Essay Did you like this example? After pulling data from the National Drinking Water database my findings are based off the location of Glen Burnie, Annapolis, MD and the water supplier being broad neck who currently severed 249,600 people and the test data was recorded from: 2004-2007.From my area there were few contaminants that are listed that exceeded health or legal guidelines and one that did not contaminate. I chose to give a detailed description of the following containments: Combined Radium (-226 -228) and Chloroform. Radium is a harmfulcomponenttypically found around uranium deposits. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Whats in Your Water?" essay for you Create order Radium in water may represent a peril to human wellbeing when the water is utilized for drinking or cooking. Just a little bit of ingested radium is retained from the stomach then conveyed all through the body. Consumed radium carries on also to calcium and is kept in the tissues of the body, particularly bone. Any radiation got remotely through showering, washing, or different uses is not a peril since alpha particles dont go through your skin. Presentation of abnormal amounts of radium additionally has demonstrated an expanded frequency of bone, liver and bosom growth. Chloroform is a disinfection byproduct from the trihalomethane (THM) family, and is molded when chlorine, chloramines or other antiseptics combine with inorganic and organic matter in water. Chloroform can enter your body on the off chance that you inhale air, eat sustenance, or use water that comprises chloroform. Chloroform effortlessly finds itself in someone body via the skin. In this manner, chloroform may likewise enter your body if you clean up or bath in water comprising chloroform. Also, an individual can take in chloroform if the bath water is sufficiently warm for chloroform to vanish. A portion of the chloroform that arrives in one body escapes unaltered noticeable all around that you inhale out, while some chloroform in the body is separated into different chemicals. As per the EPA, at presentcontrolledstages in drinking water, chloroform denotes no known or expected risk to health.(Chloroform: A Profile in Risk Management | Water Quality and Health Council, n.d.) In conclusion there is always going to be risk in everything that we consume and I have faith that the EPA is doing the best they can and unless something bad happinen in my area I believe that the government will do the best to keep the public informed. I also understand that ignorance of what is going on could harm ones family drastically and I will use countermeasure like better water filters and possibly heating up the water to try and kill some of the pesticides that may have made it through the filtering process. To assist not just my family maybe we can post the finding monthly in a newsletter to keep the community informed of whats going on in our community. References ATSDR Public Health Statement: Radium. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=789tid=154 Chloroform: A Profile in Risk Management | Water Quality and Health Council. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.waterandhealth.org/chloroform-profile-risk-management/