Resolutions and an Update on my Strange Life!

Happy New Years! Can you believe it's a new year again? Because frankly, I can't. I don't know about you, but 2009 really rushed by! It just feels like that year isn't over yet, for me at least. I simply can't wrap my head around the idea that 2010 is finally here! But I guess, as I always do, I'll come around and get used to this fact. Anyway, every new year, almost everyone creates new years resolutions and tries to reach their goal. But honestly, how many of us have actually succeeded in fulfilling our goals? As a matter of fact, how many of us actually take the time to think of these goals? I'm just saying that some of us don't truly think about these things. Like in my case. I do occasionally make a resolution for the new year, but I have to admit that I often don't reach my goal. That's probably because I choose not to bother or care that much. But I hope this year will be different; I want to try and make an effort to reach my set standards. I guess we'll see! So now, let me share my goals!

1. Actually work on my goals and prioritize to complete and fulfill them.

I mean, you know, if I'm going to get anywhere, I've got to stay committed!

2. Get fitter and eat healthier.

My mom insists that I do a sport or something to stay fit and healthy, so I've decided to go ahead and try. As for eating healthier, I want to try eating more veggies, (gulp) and drinking a lot more water! You see, over break, I kinda got sick from lack of water, so I'll push myself to drink it more!

3. Be kinder and more thoughtful towards family, friends, and people in general!

For this goal, I'm mainly focusing on having these virtues when it comes to family. For example, my behaviour towards my parents and sister needs work. (Especially my behaviour towards my sister! But in truth, the way she treats me isn't really any better!)

4. Maintain relationships with friends and open up to new people.

This last goal is something that would be nice for me to reach, because once I make a decent batch of friends, I stay enclosed in that group. And I choose not to let others in . Which I know is an extremely bad attitude to have, particularly because I'm in an international school and I move a lot. So I will try to complete this successfully as well as my other goals.

Okay, now that I've got that first part out of the way, I'll work on the second half of the task. The task by the way, is to write a piece that can focus on whatever we wish to write about. It's free choice, with a minimum of four paragraphs. Now, I've chosen to plainly write about my life so far. As in, the main events occuring in my weird yet wonderful life. But be prepared, as some, maybe even most, of my topics will be pretty sad. At least, they aren't that happy. Here it goes!

Everyone has a favorite experience or moment from their holidays. Some, like me, have more than one. And many, have an event or moment that they absolutely loathed and hated. But in my case, I didn't really have anything happen on my Christmas holiday that I hated. I mean, the event that I want to focus on, is more on the sad side rather than the anger filled one.

My worst event during vacation was actually at the end of my holiday. When my mother, my sister, and I had to fly from the Philippines back to Malaysia. I wasn't sad because I had to fly on a plane or go to school; in fact, I quite like those things. I was unhappy because I had to leave my dad again. For your information, my dad was based there in Batangas (a province in the Philippines), which meant he had to move there. Most people would wonder why we couldn't have just gone and moved with him. Well, both my parents decided it would be best to allow my sister and I to finish our school year in Malaysia. So that is what we are doing. Sadly, my father still had to go. Without us. Tears rolled down my face like small raindrops falling from the sky when I had to say good-bye. That was literally the first time I've ever done that; when I come to think about it. You know, cry at the airport. It was pretty embarrassing, but hey, I couldn't help myself! I never realized how much I loved my dad until he actually left. Life is just isn't the same without his voice echoing around the house. And it's pretty empty without his lame jokes that still always seem to make my smile and giggle. I still and will always miss him. Until we move there at least. Oh yeah, did I mention we are moving there after I finish the sixth grade?

Well we are. That was the plan all along. That we move and rejoin with my dad back home in the Philippines. Once my sister and I finish the school year we started. To be honest, I'm not so sure how I feel about that. The moving I mean. I'm pretty much okay with it, I think. I'm pretty familiar with the routine; move into a new house, go to a new school, make new friends, settle down, etc. I'm fine with all those things. I can deal with making new friends and going to a new school. I've had lot's of practice throughout the years. Trust me. It's just that this particular move has a few differences in it's routine compared to the one I'm used to. A huge difference is that we won't exactly be living with my dad. My mom, my sister, and I will be living in Manila, whilst my dad continues staying in Batangas. This is much better than our situation now, but I still wish dad could live in the same house. I just like it that way. Plus, my dad gets lonely living all alone in his house! But my parents did tell me that we will all get together every weekend. At least that's the plan. (You can drive from Manila to Batangas or vice versa.) Anyway, another big difference to the move is that I might not have that hard of a time making friends and knowing the school. (The key word in that last sentence being "might".) I say that because one of my best friends from ISKL moved to Manila, and is going to a school that I may possibly go to as well! I am quite happy with this possibility. Already having a friend there would make adjusting to the school much easier! And I won't feel so isolated and lost, you know? This is just a thought. Okay, so the last big difference I can think of is the house we will be living in. I'm not trying to brag, but normally, when my family is abroad we live in fairly big houses. Not like a mansion of course, but luxurious and reasonable for our family. Now back on track; when we move to Manila the house we will live in is tiny! Since my dad is working in his own country, he gets paid less, so to save money, I'll live in a box. Or something similar! But the grounds and location of the apartment makes it worthwhile to live there. Oh I just remembered! Once I move, I can get a dog!

This is a definite upside to the big, nerve-wrecking move! My family knows how much I want a dog- a lot. They also know how long I've waited for the moment they will finally say yes- around forever. But, all that wishing and dreaming has finally become a reality! Finally! But, there is one condition. (Which was set by my mother, who by the way, doesn't seem too happy about a dog.) I am literally the only one in our house that will be taking care of the dog. As in, I have to do all the work all on my own! If I don't follow that rule, my mom will immediately take the dog to the pound! And that is a very bad and scary place for any dog! When I said I wanted a dog, I thought everyone in my family could pitch in with the work. But apparently, that's not what is going to happen. With the one condition, I'm not so sure about owning a dog anymore. I mean, when it comes to pets, I'm not the best owner around. I've had pets before, and to be honest, I didn't really care for them after about two months passed. I just get bored with them I guess. When that happens, they either pass away, or my mother is left to care for them. But since she said that won't happen this time, I can only rely on myself to be responsible and take good care of my dog. But that isn't something I can promise will work out. So, I don't think I'll get a dog. Maybe. I'm just afraid for my dog's life. It might not last long in my hands! But we'll see how things turn out. Who knows? Maybe a miracle will happen and my mom will change her mind about that painful condition! I really, really want a dog of my own, so I won't have to play with someone else's and have my heartbroken every time I have to leave! Take my best friend Cindy for instance, she has her own Golden Retriever. However for her, it's not so much of a struggle to care for it, because her whole family helps. (Sigh) I suppose I won't get my dream dog after all. When I really give the idea some thought, I realize it takes a lot of patience, time, and reliability to raise a dog, which is something I'm not ready for. Yet. People like Cindy are dependable enough to care, unlike me. Oh and speaking of Cindy...

By the way, this last paragraph isn't about really about Cindy, but relates to her in the sense that she is a best friend. In other words, this last section is about another one of my closest friends. Her name is Irene. I must admit, I haven't known her for very long, but she truly is a very dear friend. I know a whole bunch of different things about her as she does about me. We've shared many secrets and times together, and I can always rely on her to be there for me. She is in fact, one of the nicest people I've ever known. Therefore, I will miss her terribly when she moves. That's right, Irene is moving. She is leaving back for her home country, Korea. I know it shouldn't make that much of a difference since I'm leaving as well, but her situation isn't the same. I, like many of my other peers who are moving, are finishing this sixth grade school year. Irene unfortunately, is leaving in February. Which is quite far from the end of the year. As if that wasn't sad enough, her family has decided that she will not be attending school for the rest of her stay in Malaysia. She could continue, but there isn't really a point since she's leaving in around a month. I will of course try my hardest to keep in touch with her, but you know, it isn't the same. So, while she is still actually here, I'm making the most of it. She lives extremely close to me, so of course, there will be some sleep-overs and chatting. But her time to leave is coming quite fast. So Irene, if you are reading this, I've got a few things to say. Irene, you are as I've mentioned before, one of the nicest people I've ever met. I could always confide in you, and I could be sure that you'd keep my secrets safe. You're a very forgiving person, and I admire that. Thanks for supporting me in everything, and thank you for always being there for me. I'm going to miss you so much when you leave, but hopefully we can keep in touch. True, I haven't known you for that long, but I know you and will always know you as my best friend. Okay, I'm not sure if she will actually read that, but it's okay. I can always tell her later on. Anyway, this is the conclusion of my epic story. So far. You know, I have a lot more days ahead of me, along with many more stories to tell. So, until the next time!

Literature Circles Reflection!

Yes! Finally! At last! Literature Circles is completely over! After those long, everlasting five weeks, it's entirely finished! It's not like I didn't enjoy the experience, of course I did! But you know, life is much easier without it! However, to be clear, I must say that this Literature Circles activity was interesting and fun! Since I love to discuss and be an active part of a conversation, the task was not too difficult. Although, I still adore the fact that it is all over. Sorry! Anyway, I guess I'd better get on task, and actually reflect based on our questions given!

1. Did you like the book? Why/Why not?

Truthfully, I really loved "Julie of the Wolves". I liked it mostly because the story line and genre was different from the books I'd normally read, and it didn't bore me. If I were to choose a book out of the library, I certainly would have not even thought of the possibility of reading this book. I normally best read books, if they interest me, and if I'm reading because I want to . So of course, I pick books that I enjoy and are used to. I don't try new types of books, I stay in closed with the ones familiar. So I'm happy for trying this book out. I've done Literature Circles before, and almost every single book I read bored me to death! Because of this, it was extremely hard to concentrate, and try my best, due to the fact that I absolutely hated the book! It is different with Julie of the Wolves though. Yes it is a different genre, but, I truly like it. It doesn't bore me; it interests me. I was very hooked on the book and that luckily, made the tasks much easier for me! I did not like Julie of the Wolves; I LOVED it!

2. What was your favorite part?

Frankly, I don't really have a favorite part, you know? It's just too hard to choose! But if I really had to pick one, I guess it would be the part when Julie/Miyax first lays eyes on the wolves. As in, when she is just beginning to observe them. I like this part particularly because it involves some exceptionally adorable animals, and because of the descriptions and topic. The author's use of vocabulary and amazing content really made me visualize the scene in my head. It felt almost real, and I could picture it clearly. That advanced my understanding and made me enjoy the book! And the topic of this certain part just pulls my attention right towards it. I mean, the topic is something I find absorbing to read about. I loved learning about the wolves, their habits, and language. They seemed almost real; as if I could see and feel them myself! I find this a talented skill for writers to possess.

3. What do you think the message of the story was?

I think the message of this story was, to appreciate your culture and it's values as well as to have pride in where you originally come from. I feel this is the message since in the end, Julie/Miyax realizes the great wonders of the traditional Eskimo lifestyle, and begins to appreciate it and live it. She then takes great pride in being an Eskimo, and she completely transforms into that traditional Eskimo girl she noticed she was born to be! I also think the message could be, learn from each day and with every great journey develop. I think this because Julie/Miyax was on her voyage to reach her dream destination-San Fransisco. But really, her journey was a quest for self-discovery. And I must say that Julie/Miyax really developed both mentally and physically. I guess this is what we should all do with every new day. Learn from our mistakes, and celebrate our successes. Truly, the story could have many different messages. It just depends on how you look at it.

4. How did you like the Literature Circles assignment? What suggestions would you make to improve it?

In my opinion, the Literature Circles assignment was fairly difficult yet doable. In fact, the assignment was quite easy, but time consuming, and you really needed to give it a lot of thought in order to meet expectations. For this assignment, you definitely needed patience, time, and a good understanding of the book. So, I'd say that this Literature Circles wasn't very easy, but not too hard either. I know it might sound confusing, but I don't really have a side; I'm more on the fence about it. To improve this task... Truthfully, there is nothing needed to be improved. At least in my opinion. I mean, it's easy; you just need the time, effort, and comprehension in order to succeed!

5. After talking with your classmates, which of the novels that you did not read, would you like to read next?

After conversing with others outside my group, I'd probably choose to read The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. Did I spell that right? I hope I did! Anyway, it sounds rather gripping, and compelling. From my faint understanding of the book, I know that this is a mystery book. (Correct me if I'm wrong!) I've literally never tried the mystery genre, but many people say they enjoy that genre so I'd like to try it out! Plus, the plot sounds unique and well written and many have said they liked the book so maybe I will too! I don't know, but I'll try something new. The book sounds exciting and well I want to see for myself! So I guess I'd pick The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle for a second read! (It was my second choice on my list anyway!)

The Last Discussion!

For our final blog post, our humanities class had a choice of three activities. Each individual had the chance to choose what they would favor doing. The different activities were; writing a prediction as to what will happen to the character next; writing a letter to any character in the book, or writing a letter to the author. At first, I wasn't sure which one I'd feel comfortable working on. I'm rather picky, by the way. So yes, it took me a while to choose a task. However, in the end, I decided to write a letter to the author of Julie of the Wolves, Jean Craighead George. At this point, let me share my letter with you guys!

Dear Jean,

this is Kat; an ordinary sixth grade girl who has just finished reading your fabulous book, Julie of the Wolves! I'm writing this letter to you, to discuss your book. (Which I absolutely loved, by the way!) I really liked your descriptions throughout the book; the language and context really helped my understanding due to the images I was able to visualize. For instance, when Miyax was making her way to the village of Kangik there is a passage that was truly beautiful! Here it is: "A green fountain of magnetic light shot up into the sky, its edges rimmed with sparks. The air crackled, the river groaned, and Miyax pointed her boots toward Kapugen." I am particularly fond of this passage due to the choice of words, and for some reason, when I read it, I feel peace and the word nature enters my mind. Is that what you intend others to feel whilst reading your book? I'm just wondering, since most of the language has the same sort of "vibe", if you know what I mean. I also have a liking for the fact that Julie of the Wolves revolves around nature related concepts. What I mean is, I like how the setting allows Miyax to develop herself mentally and physically. She focuses on practical and realistic matters rather than the materialized side of life. The book shows friendship, intelligence, and love. For example, Miyax's close relationship with the wolf pack, as well as, her amazing survival skills. To be quite honest, I first fell in love with those wolves! The whole entire pack just continued to engage me; with their adorable actions and loyal, trustworthy personalities. (I'm not sure about Jello though.) Anyway, I basically just adored your writing, which I must say you have a talent for! But, I would like to ask a few questions.

First of all, I read some of your biographies, and I just want to know a bit more, if you don't mind. I have to say that I think it's pretty cool that you actually went to Alaska yourself! I find that awesome! I hope it wasn'tto cold! Personally, what did you think of the experience? Do have any memorable moments from that trip? I found out that this book was inspired by your own personal incidents; communicating successfully with a wolf and witnessing a young girl alone out on the tundra. What did you tell the wolf? I really can't imagine myself doing that, I'd probably be too paranoid and hesitant! Oh, and I've also read that the character Miyax/Julie was inspired by an Eskimo women you met named Julia Sebevan. Apparently she taught you about the old ways of Eskimos. I have one question, how did you meet her? Wow, your life seems so fascinating and exciting! As if you never get bored... Do you? Since of course, you have so much to do, right? Sorry, I think I'm asking to many questions! Which hopefully, you wouldn't mind answering!

But... I have even more questions to ask you about the book itself! My apology! (Everyone says I write too much! Which is fairly accurate actually!) Okay, so about your book, Julie of the Wolves... When did you finally decide to write it? It must have taken some time to plan, and draft it. That's another thing; how do authors find the time to write an entire book? It is a lot of work! But, I guess your work paid off, since it's been awarded! One question I have about the actual story is, what was truly wrong with Jello? I never fully understood why he was shunned from the wolf pack and why the rest of the group was so mean to him! So what did Jello do to be so hated? It's all really confusing! (No offense!) Yes, and another question I'd like to ask is, did you resolve the problem of your book being banned? Or is it still not allowed in some places? I read how Julie of the Wolves was prohibited several times due to the inappropriate actions. I find those certain sections not as bad as it could have been, really. However, back on the topic, I'd like to thank you for your time and I look forward to a reply!

Sincerely, Kat

Merina, Here Are my Comments for You!

Literature Circles Blog Post 1

Hi Merina! I think your blog post is fairly good. I like the effort shown in your work, especially since you were not able to take part in the discussion. It's great how you were able to actually write about something related to Literature Circles. What I mean is, instead of just writing "I wasn't able to participate", you thought outside the box, and wrote about your response sheet. It was related to the topic of Literature Circles, and was structured well. I like how you explained what you thought of finishing product; how you wrote what you liked about your response sheet and how you could improve. From your blog post I learned how being unorganized makes Literature Circles much harder than it really needs to be. However, you need to look at the grammar and punctuation in that post, and check for repetitive language. For instance, "I practiced my discussion and home." But overall, your first blog post was rather a success!

Literature Circles Blog Post 2

Hey Merina! Your second blog post is rather of fine quality. I liked your use of vocabulary, specifically in the first paragraph. I am also quite fond of your explanations. Though, I think you could have added more information. You could have added what we talked about during our discussion. Like the common questions asked and the main topics explored. You could have stated what you think of the outcome of our discussion, and what you gained from it. Plus, it might have been good to explain what was currently happening in the book. I think you once again, need to re-check your punctuation and grammar. But only in paragraph two. This is all you really need to add, because all in all, this post was still wonderful!

Literature Circles Blog Post 3

Hello Merina! I must say that this blog post was excellent! I really liked your explanations for the changes you've seen in Julie/Miyax. Your vocabulary was great, and used in proper context. Though, you might want to look at your repetitive language. For example, the word mature was used multiple times; a thesaurus would be helpful! And, yes, your punctuation and grammar needs work. For instance, "She learned more ways to survive which helped he mentally." Lastly, you could add more information and examples to your writing. Like, what examples could you use to support your ideas on Julie/Miyax growing mentally and physically? (Use the book!) Basically, you should use examples from the book to support the ideas and thoughts that you write down. But don't worry, this post still has it's fine points, and you still did very well.

Literature Circles, Of Course!

I arrived at the humanities room, while a cool breeze greeted me at the doorway. I slowly ambled to a desk, and positioned my belongings on top of the smooth, brown surface. I flopped into the chair, and relaxed. I was fairly early, so I just sat and waited for the rest of the class to turn up. I was particularly tired that lazy afternoon, but still ready to partake in the discussion about to happen. Of course, I was excited! You probably already know this, but I'll repeat it again if you don't; I LOVE DISCUSSIONS! I really like to converse with others, and listen to their ideas and thoughts, which may help develop mine. As usual, I was prepared with my completed response sheet, and I had read the segment of the book that was assigned. I took a good, long while on the response sheet. I wanted it to be perfect. I am quite the perfectionist when it comes to writing! Back on the topic, I must say that the book really does get better and better! I'm rather fond of Julie of the Wolves. It is gripping and very interesting. Especially this part we have just covered. Which is about Julie/Miyax's early childhood. This part was full of so many excellent descriptions as well as, facts for clarification! Anyway, the rest of the class, including my group members, arrived. And so the discussion commenced!

Naturally, we began by sharing and discussing our passages. But just as the last meeting, none of us actually discussed the passages. Everyone just listened to what the person had to say, then we moved on to the next person. None of us were really that enthusiastic, which I know is a shame. All everyone wanted to do was get on with the assignment and be done with it. The whole point of the discussion is to discuss! To elaborate, share and converse with your peers. Sadly, our group didn't entirely do that. At least, that is what I felt. So, we then moved on from our passages, to our questions and responses. Now this is normally where we discuss the most, but during that discussion, not as thoroughly. We did respond to each other's questions, basically. As in, there wasn't such a deep conversation going on. It was just plain and bland, nothing much to it. But, we still saw how the main character, Julie/Miyax changed.

Julie/Miyax has changed in several ways. One major change we've seen in her is that she can communicate much better with the wolves. Their relationship has strengthened, and she has truly become one of the pack. The book explains and exhibits all of this. It shows how she communicates with them and how she can somewhat give them orders. The book also features how she plays games with the younger wolves, and how the wolves have supplied her with food. This is only one way Julie/Miyax has changed; her skills have also changed. The skills she possesses have grown and developed. She has even learnt new ones! The book clearly shows this. It displays how she has practiced the skills familiar to her by using them to survive. For example, the skills she learnt for cooking, have been used and practiced for her survival! As for learning new skills, well, she learned the signals used to communicate effectively with the wolves! Isn't that a skill? Because it sure seems like one! This is another way she has changed. Julie/Miyax has also changed in terms of bravery. Before, when she did not know the wolves, she was so afraid and unsure. She was afraid that she would not survive, and that she would probably starve to death! But then, she met these wolves, and they provided her with food, which helped her gain bravery and confidence. Even when the wolves had left her, she was brave. She was confident, and determined to reach San Francisco. These are all ways in which Julie/Miyax has changed and evolved.

So overall, the discussion went alright. However, considering the fact that we basically skipped the vocabulary, and that we didn't really discuss or elaborate, I wouldn't say that this discussion was effective. None of us were really enthusiastic, as I've mentioned before. We were all pretty bored and just wanted to get it over with. Kind of. We did have moments where we did some talking and debating, but not a lot. I am quite disappointed with the outcome of this discussion, but I am also at fault. But, I guess, we could have done worse!

Literature Circles-AGAIN!

I've uploaded this image from:

http://static.desktopnexus.com/wallpapers/35628-bigthumbnail.jpg

I've chosen this image to represent the family of wolves in

Julie of the Wolves

It was coming to the end of the day, and humanities was my very last period. I was pretty tired, but still prepared for my last period. I still had enough energy to sit through the last eighty minutes of the school day. I slumped down at a desk, and set my books down. There was a little time before class, so I just awaited the arrival of the rest of the group. I was actually quite happy to be having humanities, because of the second Literature Circles meeting! Once again, I had my completed response sheet with me, and of course, I read the assignment given. As I predicted, I loved it! With the fabulous imagery and fantastic writing, how could I not? I mean, the scenes are thoroughly described, and the use of vocabulary is of fine quality. However, just as before, there are parts within the plot that I couldn't comprehend that well. And yes, most of the misunderstood sections were basically vocabulary. Though, I still love to discuss and hear other individuals and there opinions. That way, there is conversation between us, and maybe some clarification. Anyway, my other group members finally appeared, and the discussion began!

During our discussion, we must "present" our papers to the rest of the group. We use that as our base for the exploration over the book. In other words, we use our response sheets to begin our discussions; a starting point that will lead us to connections and questions. In the content of our response sheets, we must pick three passages, and explain the importance of these passages. Everyone shares theirs, and we expand our thoughts on the quotation indicated. For example, I had multiple passages that were all based on the same reason of choice. These extracts were about the main character, Miyax/Julie, and her progress with the wolves. These passages were important because that was her task all along; to gain acceptance into the pack and live like a wolf in order to survive. I shared my passages and reasoning with the group, like we were meant to. But even though we were meant to elaborate on the passages, we didn't. Yes people said whether they agreed or not, but that didn't help because everyone agreed with my thoughts anyway. As a matter of fact, we never really discussed anyone's passage! Everyone, including me, would just remark whether or not they agreed with the person's view. The real elaborating began once we made our way to the questions segment of the sheet.

Besides significant passages, our response papers must also include the questions we have, as well as our own responses towards them. For our group, that is when we start talking and sharing ideas. From one another's questions and replies, we all build on our opinions and feelings, and make connections. For instance, someone in our group was wondering why the wolves would leave Miyax/Julie in the Winter. Everyone had the same reply; because come Winter, wolves migrate and become nomadic. Then, another individual asked why the wolves must migrate. We developed all our thoughts, and discussed for quite some time. All of us had our opinions and theories on the subject. Even so, most of our thoughts were wrapped around the same big idea. We all thought that wolves migrate during Winter because, they constantly need to find new food sources, and new land to live on. We wanted to be sure, so we double checked with our teacher, Mrs.Narsiman. Turns out, we were really quite correct! This is was in fact, my favorite part of our discussion.

All in all, the discussion went great! I forgot to mention this, but I also learned what a few words were! One of these words were ulo, which if I'm not mistaken, is a knife that women use. That is roughly what it is, but I'm still glad I know something about it, because the book has that word multiple times! It is one of the main tools Miyax/Julie uses. The discussion is really helpful in vocabulary, because you learn what some words are. Which can be helpful to your understanding of the story line. This discussion, as I've said before, went very well! Even with the little tension that occurred between two of my group members! I forgot to mention that too! Honestly, there was a tiny bit of conflict between two of my group members; but despite that, the second Literature Circles discussion went perfectly! I really did enjoy it, and I'm sure I'll enjoy the third one as well!

The First Discussion

I've uploaded this image from:

http://www.marshall.edu/LIBRARY/bannedbooks/images/juliewolves.jpg

This is the FANTASTIC book I am currently reading!

I arrived in the cool humanities room; anticipating the first literature circles meeting. I walked over to a desk, placed my heavy books, and sat. I was actually rather excited, unlike a few of my fellow classmates. I like group discussions as well as contributing and participating. My group and I were reading the book "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George. This book was in fact, my first choice of read. I was glad when we got to have a say in what we wanted to read; but I was exceptionally glad when I got my first choice! Previously, I'd read what was assigned, and absolutely loved the book! The plot and characters were clearly and explained and described. It was so clear that I could really picture the images through my mind. I found the story line interesting; plus, I liked it. Especially since there were animals in the book! Anyway, I was prepared with my book, and of course, my response sheet! Now with the response sheet, it took me quite a while. I had to take time and effort to do a good job on it. And in the end, that really paid off. (I got an A+!) I was proud of what I did. But even though I was well prepared and I read the book, I was pretty confused on a few areas in the segment read. Some words weren't ones I knew, and some parts were still unclear to me. However, that was before my group and I had our discussions...

Throughout the discussion, my understanding of the content in the book became much better. It was mostly the vocabulary that I had trouble with, specifically. There was quite an amount of words that I didn't know. Some of the words that I weren't familiar with were; tundra, lichens, semaphore, and a few more. Within the discussion, I found out what some of these words are. For example, a tundra is a vast, flat, treeless region in which the subsoil is permanently frozen. I also learnt that lichens are composite plants consisting of a fungus. I have learnt a lot of vocabulary from the discussion, which has made the story much more understandable. The plot itself was already quite clear to me, but some others were unsure on a few points. So within the discussion, I also helped my group members, just as they assisted me.

Once everyone was clear on the story, we made connections, shared our thoughts along with our feelings. Most of us had almost the same passages on our response sheet. We talked about the importance of the certain passages to the story and what we thought about them. One topic that was quite popular was the matter of how the main character Miyax, was married at the age of thirteen. We looked at the subject, and thought that it was an arranged marriage due to their culture. We elaborated on this, and many other points from the book. This was indeed my favorite part in the discussion.

From this conversation and the text in the book, I predict that Miyax will survive. I think we all think this. I mean, with the information and facts from the book, it seems so. Because Miyax has gained acceptance into the pack, she will now have providential care from the wolves and a reliable source of food. Since she has learned to communicate with the pack, she can converse with the wolves. The group and I deliberated this point as well. We talked about the relationship humans share with wolves, and how this is important. We also went over the different signals wolves use to communicate; and the difference between their signals and humans'. We all connected our thoughts, and found a lot of similarities between each of our opinions. I found our very first discussion successful and effective. I have learned very much from it, and hopefully so did my group mates. My comprehension of the plot is advanced, and makes more sense now. I honestly can't wait for the next meeting!