Creative Writing
Feat of Awesomeness- Baby Pygmy Hippo Survives his mother's Rejection
Pygmy Hippos are a rare and endangered species residing in West Africa. Harry the Baby Pygmy happens to be a new addition to the Congo Wildlife Ranch in South Africa's Western Cape in 2012. The first six hours of a pygmy hippos life are the ones where they need the most nourishment and Harry's mother was giving him none. So the people from Congo took him away and started the nourishment process themselves and, though mother knows best, he began to flourish under their care. Unfortunately, even though he was doing well, he died the same year during surgery; Harry had an umbilical hernia that had to be fixed and, during the operation, went into respiratory arrest and, eventually, heart failure.
Now I know what you're thinking. Who is this girl who finds baby hippos dying awesome? Well, you're wrong, I don't find baby hippos dying awesome, I find the people who take care of them awesome. The fact that they attempted to put extra time into saving this baby amazes me on so many levels. How is it that these people can put so much time and effort and love into something so small and innocent only to have it taken away within the last couple months. And they're still at it now, helping other animals in need. That is sooooo cool.
I couldn't help get stuck on this topic and have to look at it over and over again through different websites, pictures and videos. I am not ashamed to say that I cried just a little bit because hey, this little guy is so cute and look at the way he hobbles! For more information on Prince Harry's death, (the baby hippo was named after the prince because of his love for Africa) click on the button below.
Now I know what you're thinking. Who is this girl who finds baby hippos dying awesome? Well, you're wrong, I don't find baby hippos dying awesome, I find the people who take care of them awesome. The fact that they attempted to put extra time into saving this baby amazes me on so many levels. How is it that these people can put so much time and effort and love into something so small and innocent only to have it taken away within the last couple months. And they're still at it now, helping other animals in need. That is sooooo cool.
I couldn't help get stuck on this topic and have to look at it over and over again through different websites, pictures and videos. I am not ashamed to say that I cried just a little bit because hey, this little guy is so cute and look at the way he hobbles! For more information on Prince Harry's death, (the baby hippo was named after the prince because of his love for Africa) click on the button below.
There are a couple things I know I would love doing when I grow up: music, singing, anything that has a beat and a rhythm; swimming and water polo so I can keep doing something I'm good at plus keep in shape; and working with animals because I've always had a certain fascination and love for them. Plus I'm so much better with puppies than babies. I guess you can call it my fallback. I don't know. Helping animals sounds like something that would keep me happy and excited to get up in the morning and that sounds awesome to me.
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Feat of Awesomeness- Americans try Filipino Street Food
BuzzFeed is all about making interesting videos that people can relate, understand, or are interested in based off of current events. I have always found these videos interesting and decided to scan through for my next "feat of awesomeness". So, while scanning their list I managed to find one all about people from the USA trying "Exotic Asian Foods" and decided that this was my next target. In this video, not only do they try Asian fruits and beans that we as US citizens have never even heard of, they take it a step further with different sized, shaped and even cycles of life when preparing/eating these dishes. For example, a Balut is a, as explained in the video, "Developing Duck Embryo" meaning that it's literally a baby duck about to hatch but couldn't because it's going to be, well, eaten.
What I find so amazing about this video is the fact that these people are actually eating these foods; I am not one to eat anything moving, smelly, or with a face. It scares me and makes me start to think about what it was like or would be like when it was alive and then I get all sentimental and it's not good. One of the question my teacher asked me to answer in these paragraphs is, "What danger does this athlete face?" I think these "athletes" are facing the dangerous action of puking, diarrhea and other gnarly stomach issues.
Many people who look at these videos search them up for fun but many of them don't realize that most chinese people don't eat Panda Express orange chicken all day long. The website I found was, unfortunately only about chinese food, but does a cool comparison on American Chinese food and the actual Cultural dishes they serve in China.
What I find so amazing about this video is the fact that these people are actually eating these foods; I am not one to eat anything moving, smelly, or with a face. It scares me and makes me start to think about what it was like or would be like when it was alive and then I get all sentimental and it's not good. One of the question my teacher asked me to answer in these paragraphs is, "What danger does this athlete face?" I think these "athletes" are facing the dangerous action of puking, diarrhea and other gnarly stomach issues.
Many people who look at these videos search them up for fun but many of them don't realize that most chinese people don't eat Panda Express orange chicken all day long. The website I found was, unfortunately only about chinese food, but does a cool comparison on American Chinese food and the actual Cultural dishes they serve in China.
Lately, I've been going on a "new food streak" where I try every new food I come across, despite the look, taste and smell. But this video, to me personally is just crazy because it involves foods I never even knew existed and I find that very interesting and, dare I say, awesome. I would love to be that brave when it comes to my food but I just honestly don't think I have to guts to try that kind of crazy cuisine.
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Feat of Awesomeness- Pentatonix
The Pentatonix are a popular acapella group who made their first appearance on a show called the Sing Off. After winning their season in 2011, they went off touring and continued making amazingly cool covers that I admire highly. The one video that I am referring to is their original “Evolution of Music” video where they sing some of their favorite songs ranging from the 11th century to modern day pop.
When I watch this video, I literally get goosebumps crawling up and down my arms. I mean for goodness sake, they’re not just singing the words, but they’re also creating the accompaniment with only their voices. There isn’t much danger but the fact that they can actually create a trumpet sound or hit those high notes in one crazy combination of songs is just crazy! It sounds amazing and I find it just insanely cool.
The first time I really recognized them was when they were on the Sing Off in 2011 and they sang Video Killed the Radio Star by Buggles. It was a live performance of their interpretation of the song where they sang, remixed and came up with sounds I didn’t even knew existed; It was safe to say I was completely and entirely amazed at everything they could manage to do.
There are only a few things that I would truly enjoy doing when I grow up: writing music for the world to hear; playing as many instruments as I get my hands on; and producing so I can put it all together and really be apart of the finished product. These people don’t use instrument very often but the way that they arrange the songs that they choose always manages to send goosebumps up and doesn my whole body and it’s legitimately one of my favorite feelings in the whole entire world. If I can do that with my music one day, I will feel accomplished in everything that I’ve done.
When I watch this video, I literally get goosebumps crawling up and down my arms. I mean for goodness sake, they’re not just singing the words, but they’re also creating the accompaniment with only their voices. There isn’t much danger but the fact that they can actually create a trumpet sound or hit those high notes in one crazy combination of songs is just crazy! It sounds amazing and I find it just insanely cool.
The first time I really recognized them was when they were on the Sing Off in 2011 and they sang Video Killed the Radio Star by Buggles. It was a live performance of their interpretation of the song where they sang, remixed and came up with sounds I didn’t even knew existed; It was safe to say I was completely and entirely amazed at everything they could manage to do.
There are only a few things that I would truly enjoy doing when I grow up: writing music for the world to hear; playing as many instruments as I get my hands on; and producing so I can put it all together and really be apart of the finished product. These people don’t use instrument very often but the way that they arrange the songs that they choose always manages to send goosebumps up and doesn my whole body and it’s legitimately one of my favorite feelings in the whole entire world. If I can do that with my music one day, I will feel accomplished in everything that I’ve done.
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Snapshot Narrative- Opportunities Untold
First thing I’m going say is I’m very sorry. Let me clarify: I’m sorry to those who begin this story in total ignorance because, well, it’s not for them and there is much they will not know. These words, this page has nothing to do with them and their lives and I know it won’t mean much. And they can sit here and read all they want but they’ll never truly understand like you do.
But will you understand? The moments were always so brief they bordered on nonexistent. It was as though my over imaginative mind took parts of a wish and projected them before my eyes to your exact likeness and position. And it’s not like we talked much before, just a few friendly exchanges in the halls- ones that I would think about for days in pursuit.
It could’ve been true. Really, I mean, maybe it wasn’t a trick of the light or my lack of glasses that I now wear religiously. I really could’ve been there, glancing at you as you did at me from across the way. You and your silly snapback that sat perched, almost toppling off the back of your head. You and your crazy blue eyes that seemed not only to mirror the water, but the whole ocean and its plethora of colorful sea life. You and your suddenly rigid body that jolted as your skateboard ran over an unexpected bump because your eyes were locked with mine. Just you and your smile I cannot justify with my lonely sheet of paper.
It’s not hard to think of the “what ifs” in life. What if I smiled? What if you smiled back, a real excited smile telling me you were just as happy to see me as I was to see you? What if you came up to me after that smile, walking casually without a care in the world? What if I had talked to you? And I mean really talked to you like, what if we talked about food and about color? What if we talked about college or hobbies or politics? What if I had the guts to actually look up into those open seas of yours and say, “Hey, you’re staring at me, I’m staring at you, let’s go get a coffee.” What would have happened then? Would we be friends or dating? Funny how life teases you like that- dangles an opportunity right between your eyes and pressures you with thoughts of rejection and failure. Life is the one bully who no one can escape.
Yet, in the end, the only one you can blame is yourself. You can’t blame the spark for lighting the flame. All it does is fly, if you let it. You had every chance you could get to quench its light, but you let it fly anyway, bobbing along the pleasant breeze until it catches and the real fire begins.
That’s what I did. In that moment when our eyes met, I let the spark fly, glowing softly where only my eyes could see. The glow, small as it was, blinded me and wiped you from my sight and when I could finally see again, you were gone and so was my chance, my opportunity that life once again rubbed in my face the moment you started dating her.
So, in the end, I guess I should say I’m sorry to you too. We both had a chance, swift like one of the currents in your eyes. And we both missed it. No, missed is not the right word. I mean, how can you miss what you’ve never had? But it’s gone nevertheless and I don’t think it’s an opportunity we will ever see again.
But will you understand? The moments were always so brief they bordered on nonexistent. It was as though my over imaginative mind took parts of a wish and projected them before my eyes to your exact likeness and position. And it’s not like we talked much before, just a few friendly exchanges in the halls- ones that I would think about for days in pursuit.
It could’ve been true. Really, I mean, maybe it wasn’t a trick of the light or my lack of glasses that I now wear religiously. I really could’ve been there, glancing at you as you did at me from across the way. You and your silly snapback that sat perched, almost toppling off the back of your head. You and your crazy blue eyes that seemed not only to mirror the water, but the whole ocean and its plethora of colorful sea life. You and your suddenly rigid body that jolted as your skateboard ran over an unexpected bump because your eyes were locked with mine. Just you and your smile I cannot justify with my lonely sheet of paper.
It’s not hard to think of the “what ifs” in life. What if I smiled? What if you smiled back, a real excited smile telling me you were just as happy to see me as I was to see you? What if you came up to me after that smile, walking casually without a care in the world? What if I had talked to you? And I mean really talked to you like, what if we talked about food and about color? What if we talked about college or hobbies or politics? What if I had the guts to actually look up into those open seas of yours and say, “Hey, you’re staring at me, I’m staring at you, let’s go get a coffee.” What would have happened then? Would we be friends or dating? Funny how life teases you like that- dangles an opportunity right between your eyes and pressures you with thoughts of rejection and failure. Life is the one bully who no one can escape.
Yet, in the end, the only one you can blame is yourself. You can’t blame the spark for lighting the flame. All it does is fly, if you let it. You had every chance you could get to quench its light, but you let it fly anyway, bobbing along the pleasant breeze until it catches and the real fire begins.
That’s what I did. In that moment when our eyes met, I let the spark fly, glowing softly where only my eyes could see. The glow, small as it was, blinded me and wiped you from my sight and when I could finally see again, you were gone and so was my chance, my opportunity that life once again rubbed in my face the moment you started dating her.
So, in the end, I guess I should say I’m sorry to you too. We both had a chance, swift like one of the currents in your eyes. And we both missed it. No, missed is not the right word. I mean, how can you miss what you’ve never had? But it’s gone nevertheless and I don’t think it’s an opportunity we will ever see again.