Famous Last Words - Week 3

Well, it's only week three but it feels like we've been in school for a lifetime. To be honest, this class has been more work than I expected but I really haven't minded it. I enjoy how much room for self-expression we get in this class, that is something that has been very rare in my college classes thus far. I have gotten the chance to explore my writing styles and techniques and apply them in my daily writings. I have realized I do better writing when the topic is more vague and I can elaborate while expressing my own thoughts.
I enjoy writing the Storytelling posts and I enjoy reading everyone else's Storytelling posts. I feel like that is where I have done my best writing. One thing that I had not gotten a lot of practice doing in the past in incorporating dialogue into my writing. I have begun to do it in my Storytelling posts and I like it; it seems to give the characters more personality.

I haven't had any tests yet for any of my classes but I have my first one coming up in a week for my Methods of Social Research class. I am a perfectionist so my biggest fear lies not in my grade, but that I will feel like I didn't put enough work in for it; my conscience will take over. Other than a little anxiety over my first test, my classes haven't been too bad. The class I was the most worried about going into this year was my Social Statistics class. I cannot do math to save my life. However, it has proved to not be as scary as I thought it would be...thank God.

My week has once again been saved by Yoga. Exercise is one of my biggest passions and it completely de-stresses me. I have finally started back up and I feel great.
I would definitely advise hot yoga to anyone feeling any kind of stress. It kind of takes you out of your element and make you forget about your day, even if it is just for an hour and a half.

Photo: Google Images

Storytelling: High School Prank Gone Wrong - Week 3

Victor and Samuel were not only brothers but best friends; they did everything together. Samuel was a couple years younger then Victor but Victor always let Samuel tag along with his friends on the weekends.

However, this mostly consisted of getting in trouble. 

Victor and Samuel had fallen into the wrong crowd in high school and now spent their spare time engaging in illegal activities. 

One Saturday afternoon Victor decided it would be a fun prank to break into their high school and steal the school statue in the front hall! Samuel, being the younger and more naive bother, always did what his brother said. 

Victor and Samuel, along with a couple of Victor's friends, arrived at their high school at eleven o'clock that night. Victor, who had this prank planned for a while now, had stolen a key from the janitors cart that friday. Samuel would be in charge of carrying the keys that night. 

The boys entered the high school, walking quietly through the halls in the case that someone was there. Once it seemed safe, they headed towards the front hall. Victor skipped down the halls with his friends, obviously very proud of himself for his idea. Samuel walked quickly and cautiously behind them. 

The statue, which was a replica of their school mascot, was small enough for Victor to carry on his own. Right as he lifted it up, a voice came from down the hall.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?"

The boys bolted down the hall. Victor ran behind the rest of the boys, statue in hand. 

Suddenly, someone grabbed Victor by his shirt collar, jerking him backwards. He squealed and the statue flew out of his arms and shattered on the floor. 

The other boys, including Samuel, turned their heads around but never stopped running. 

They reached the front door and bursted outside.

"We have to lock the door behind us so they never know how we got in!"

Samuel hesitantly locked the door behind him and they ran to the car. He felt guilty for leaving his brother but was too scared to go back. 

The boys decided to drive to the back of the parking lot and wait to see what happened to Victor. Eventually, Victor came marching out of the school, head held high. He had made up some extravagant story and persuaded the security guard to let him go.

Victor walked up to the car and climbed in. His pride turned to anger and it was directed at Samuel. Immediately, Victor punched Samuel in the face...over and over. He blamed Samuel for everything and told him he would never be allowed to hang out with him and his friends ever again.

Photo: Google Images

Author's note:
I did my story based on Vali and Sugriva's past. Vali was fighting a demon and chased him into a cave. Sugriva, trying to help, closed the cave the behind them. Vali came out enraged at Sugriva and attacked him then sent him into exile.
Narayan, R. K. (1972) The Ramayana.

Reading Diary B: Sita's rescue -Week 3

Hanuman finds Sita in the Ashoka Vana Pleasure Garden being guarded by demons.
He gives Sita Rama's ring and in return she gives him a piece of her jewelry.
Hanuman is led to Ravana and tries to convince him to surrender. I find it admirable that Hanuman goes to such an extent to save Sita when he had actually never met her before. Ravana attacks Hanuman and Hanuman burns down Lanka in retaliation.

Indrajit- Ravana's son
Vibhishana- Ravana's brother

Indrajit offers to kill Rama and Lakshmana; Vibhishana advises that Ravana release Sita.
Ravana foolishly rejects Vibhishana's advise and tells him he must leave.
I believe this was one of Ravana's biggest mistakes. He has a curse put on him and he will be no match against the humans.

Vibhishana crosses the ocean to ask Rama to asylum. Vibhishana advises Rama about  how to attack Lanka.
Ravana tries to convince Sita that Rama is dead but she does not fall for his tricks.
Rama attacks Ravana and breaks his crown.

Kumbhakarna- Ravana's other younger brother who is eventually killed by Rama.

Indrajit tries to trick Rama and the monkeys by killing a fake version of Sita.
When Indrajit is killed, Ravana wants to kill Sita.
Mahodara is also killed trying to kill Rama and Lakshmana.
I believe that everyone on Ravana's side being defeated is a foreshadow of Ravana's ultimate defeat.

Rama finally defeats Ravana by driving his Brahma-astra into his heart.
Rama orders a funeral for Ravana.

Rama feels like he must test Sita's purity so he makes her build a fire and jump into it. I was surprised by his need to test her.

After fourteen years, Rama finally returns to Ayodhya in his royal gown, ready to accept the throne!

Reading Diary A: finding Sita - Week 3

Sita sends Lakshmana out to find Rama. Meanwhile, Ravana comes to capture Sita. This shows a bit of naivety from Sita.

Jatayu (a bird who is a demigod ) is killed by Ravana trying to save Sita, however he is able to tell Rama and Lakshmana what happened before he dies. I imagine Rama is devastated at this point considering Sita had given up so much to be with him and he's let her get captured.
They head South to the kingdom of Kishkinda

The book gives brief insight into brothers Vali and Sugriva.
Vali fought a demon and chased him into the cave. Sugriva blocked the cave to trap the demon inside. Vali, angry with Sugriva, finally came out of the cave and beat Sugriva and chased him into exile.

Rama feels for Sugriva, for he is also in exile.
Sugriva finds Sita's jewelry and gives it to Rama. He wants to help find her. I find it interesting that they find this bond with one another since they are both experiencing exile.
Rama agrees to help Sugriva battle Vali. Rama shoots Vali with an arrow during Vali and Sugriva's battle.
Eventually, Vali dies. Since Sugriva is Vali's younger brother, he becomes king with Vali dies. I was pleased when Sugriva became king, I think he deserves it after all Vali had put him through.

Sugriva creates a search party to help Rama find Sita.
Hanuman and Angada, who are leading the search parties, become trapped for awhile in a deserted kingdom.
I find it interesting that so many are willing to help Rama for nothing in return. Everyone in the book seems to hold a good amount of loyalty to someone else.

Sampathi is Jatayu's brother. He saw Ravana take Sita to Lanka. Hanuman crosses the ocean to Lanka.