I have always loved challenging myself. The struggles I go through make the feeling so much better when I reach my goal. Hiking stands out as one of my favorite activities because of its challenge. There are some hikes I like more than others, but there is one that is truly my favorite. There was nothing like climbing part of Mont Blanc, one of Europe's tallest peaks. The trail was extremely steep almost the whole way and my legs started to burn after about 15 minutes in. I loved when my ears started to pop because I knew that I had made a lot of progress at this point. When I made it to the point where my hike ended, there was a large flat area with a restaurant and an amazing view of the Alps. I was above the tree line and the wind was howling. It was the middle of the summer but there were still a few patches of snow. I looked up to the top of the mountain that towered above me and it was fully coated in tons of snow. I was right on plane with a massive glacier which was breathtaking. I luckily got to enjoy this view while I ate my lunch out on the porch of the restaurant. I couldn't get over how cool the Alps looked and how dramatic they were. These made the white mountains of New Hampshire look like minuscule rolling hills.
I guess its more than just hiking. I just love the outdoors and the feeling of freedom it gives me. I was surrounded by such a vast and dramatic landscape which what I really loved. These things are what relaxes me and there is nothing better than having nothing to worry about.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Assigned reading
When I was younger, I loved to read. I would read almost any book put in front of me no matter what. I read the entire Hardy Boys series, all the Harry Potter books, the Percy Jackson series, I would read all the time. However, when I hit ninth grade and learned of a little site known to many as Sparknotes, my reading career basically came to screeching halt. I now won't read a book that is assigned by a teacher. At this exact moment, I am actually putting off reading both my independent book and the Telling Writing book to write this blog. It isn't that I don't like reading anymore or that I find the reading challenging, I just don't like being told to read something. If I see a book that looks interesting, I will pick it up and read, I enjoy doing that. But if you give me any school related book there is less than a ten percent chance I read that book. A lot of the time I can look it up on Sparknotes and I will be fine, sometimes that isn't the case, unfortunately both my independent book and Telling Writing aren't on Sparknotes so I will read them. Will I enjoy it, most likely not, but it has to be done so I will power through.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Philosophy
Mr.
Hackman liked to talk about oak trees almost every time he tried to explain a
new philosopher to the five or so of us that were actually listening. His desk
in the front of the room (cluttered with a stack of neat manila folders, a
candle, his extra large Dunkin Donuts cup, and a light-up children’s toy) faced
the window at the other end of the room, which he would look out while
explaining oak trees. He told us that the branches on oak trees grow staggered
rather than in a symmetrical patter, a fact I have since not been
able to stop thinking about. He used oak trees as an example in the Allegory of
the Cave, and he drew them on the board and gazed across the room and out the
window behind our heads as he sat in his chair, teaching. To have someone spend
fifty minutes for four days a week solely talking to you about various
philosophers doesn’t sound appealing to most people, but Mr. Hackman made it
appealing. The class laughed with him when he drew faces on the board that
resembled Easter Island statues, and we all listened eagerly when he told us
about his morning routine and his early life as a lover of math.
The
textbook was rarely used in or outside of class, and even so, from what we did
read I could gather that it was not an ordinary textbook. Its cartoons and a
playful font reflected Mr. Hackman’s cheery attitude – but it wasn’t so much
that he was cheery and happy to teach philosophy as it was his general attitude
towards life. He found himself humorous and at the same time was one of the
most selfless people I’ve met. He handed out tests with a “bon chance” and said
goodbye at the end of the period with an "hasta la vista". The décor in his room
changed by the day, but his jalapeño lights that surrounded the white board
never moved. On one occasion, he asked a student to hang his disco ball from
the ceiling and turned off the lights to make sure it worked.
Most
of the students surrounding me were seniors, and it was spring and the sun was
finally out after four months, so they had little to no motivation to do
anything but sit and listen. I did the same, lost in the crowd, but I left Mr.
Hackman’s room for the last time after turning in my final essay on Walden with a newfound respect for the
teacher and the class. I had spent six months learning the names and identities
of Plato, Socrates, Thales, and more. I had taken tests and written essays, and
out of the unique experience grew my appreciation for Mr. Hackman and all that
he has taught me.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Dreams
When I hear the word "dream" the first thing that comes to mind is a simple bubble above ones head just like they're drawn in a comic. The idea of a dream is so odd to think about. I mean, how can someone be in such a deep state of mind and completely believe that what is going on in their subconscience is actually real. The movie "Inception" looked really far into this and I found it really cool despite its fiction. A thief infiltrates the subconscience of his targets to have a chance at getting his life back. Once he gets people to dream within his dream, the whole world moves much slower, giving him much more time to accomplish things in the real world. Inside the dream, whoever the dreamer was, they could control whatever happened in the dream with their thoughts because it was their dream. The idea that one can have a dream within a dream is also presented in the movie; each time there was a kick or death, the dream would end and each person would go back to the real world. Such an interesting idea that was stretched a little bit to make a really intriguing movie.
In my personal experience with dreaming, I have found similar aspects to those of "Inception". I've had a reoccurring one where I've been falling off a cliff and right before I hit the ground, I wake up realizing that I'm taking a deep breath of air. I've actually had a lot of reoccurring dreams, but theres only 3 that stand out. 1.) When I get to school and realize that I forgot to put clothes on, and thinking to myself how I could have possibly missed such an obvious step in my morning routine. 2.) Running from someone who is trying to harm me and I am incapable of moving faster than a slow walking pace, which is extremely frustrating. 3.) I am on a really fun vacation having the time of my life and just as I reach the peak of my good time, I wake up and realize that Im in my bed and have to go to school in an hour.
Everyone has different dreams, but there's my experience with them. What a weird concept they are.
In my personal experience with dreaming, I have found similar aspects to those of "Inception". I've had a reoccurring one where I've been falling off a cliff and right before I hit the ground, I wake up realizing that I'm taking a deep breath of air. I've actually had a lot of reoccurring dreams, but theres only 3 that stand out. 1.) When I get to school and realize that I forgot to put clothes on, and thinking to myself how I could have possibly missed such an obvious step in my morning routine. 2.) Running from someone who is trying to harm me and I am incapable of moving faster than a slow walking pace, which is extremely frustrating. 3.) I am on a really fun vacation having the time of my life and just as I reach the peak of my good time, I wake up and realize that Im in my bed and have to go to school in an hour.
Everyone has different dreams, but there's my experience with them. What a weird concept they are.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Math Class
The subject of mathematics is something that has haunted me since approximately the sixth grade. Throughout middle school I did really well on all my quizzes and tests, until my sixth grade math class. We were in the second quarter learning some math related topic and afterwards we had to take a test on the material. Standard procedure one would assume, however, for me this test was the first, among many, math tests that I did horribly on. Ever since the day I got that test back, I was never able to grasp math very well. I don't know what happened, but that was the turning point for me in the life of math. I know this blog is a place to rant on about ones problems or to talk about a new favorite album you have, but I decided to rant on about how much math sucks. To me it is an awful subject, that although I realize is a necessary part to one's education, I really despise it. Yet, even though I hate it with an indescribable passion, I still try my best to do well in the class. The main thing that gets me by in the class is my one rule: If you don't know what you are doing, plug and chug.
A User's Guide to the Lakes of New England
Over the school year, we pick up tons of useful information, whether or not we like the process of learning it. However, part of what makes the start of the school year after the summer so shockingly enticing is that, as fun as the summer is, it is also three months of learning nothing, and the human brain was designed to absorb information. I like to think that I absorb some things from my experience over the summer. But this summer, I spent literally 50% of the vacation at various lakes around New England (I use the term "Lakes of New England" loosely, as by "various lakes" I mean about three, and one ocean, not to mention that one of them is not even in New England), so while I learned nothing about math, science or the humanities, I acquired a pretty in depth understanding of a few societies around America. And since what makes humans superior as a race is there ability to pass on information, I may as well pass on what I learned. Who knows? Maybe someone someday will find this knowledge useful.
We'll start with the one outlier--Lake Powell. Hardly even a lake, and definitely not in New England, Lake Powell is nevertheless one of the most beautiful bodies of water that I've ever been to. And more pleasing is that I was not at a hotel, nor a house on the lake... well, technically it was a house on the lake. But it was a house literally on the lake. My family took our houseboat out on the lake and spent a week in the canyon that is Lake Powell. And while the society was not a particular social one, there are many things you can and should learn about spending a week on the water with thousands of other people who have the same idea.
1. When you park your houseboat for the night, keep it in an area away from other people. You may enjoy partying, but you certainly won't enjoy other people partying while you're trying sleep. And vice versa, sound travels like crazy on water, so it's only polite to party in an obscure nook in the lake.
2. Sound travels like crazy on water. I had no idea until I was across the water from a boat and could hear everything they were saying, whether or not they were shouting. It made me wonder how much people were hearing from my boat, and from then on, whenever I was near a boat, I talked in hushed voices. You never know who's listening.
3. Finally, check the depth meter before going off the water slide. Pretty self explanatory.
Okay, now for the other one that doesn't quite fit in: the Atlantic Ocean. But more accurately, Bar Harbor, Maine. I spent a week with my family at my house there (the first time in a few years) and realized it was exactly as I remembered it. Bar Harbor is, above all, a tourist town. You won't find yourself making personal connections with other campers up there, so make sure you're nice and cozy with the people you travel there with, because when all you're doing is hitting tourist attractions, you won't have time for socializing.
1. I'll reiterate: be sure to enjoy the company of the people you go with. Between Acadia National Park, the carriage biking trails, downtown Bar Harbor, and of course the Jordan Pond House, you won't be put in situations to meet new people, just situations to bond with the people you went with.
2. Bar Harbor may be a tourist town, but its one of the best ones out there. So hit all the tourist attractions before trying to find something else to do. Most of all, go to Acadia National Park. You won't feel more alive than when you're taking a 10-mile-long bike ride to the Pond House, or hiking the pseudo-dangerous Precipice Trail 1000 feet up the face of Champlain Mountain. Bar Harbor may not be a place to socialize, but its the best place to feel alive.
3. The road to Hell is paved with un-bought lobster boxers. The one thing I found worth buying in downtown Bar Harbor was a pair of tourist-y lobster boxers and matching sleep pants. They're pretty awesome, and super cheap (only $15 per pair, and $25 for the pants) so don't leave Bar Harbor without them.
As for actual lakes, Lake Seymour on Vermont, a rather unheard of one, can be quite enjoyable if you're fine putting extravagance behind you and embracing the quaint spirit of Vermont. The cabins are small, the boats are old, the beaches are only about twenty square feet, and yet there is a unique feel to the area: one that is unachievable anywhere else. I spent only a week on Lake Seymour, just like the aforementioned two vacations, but time slows there, and it felt like so much longer. Here's a few tips on how to live your life (or just your week) on Lake Seymour.
1. Get out on the water. I'd give the same advice about Lake Winnipesaukee (see below), however there is a certain stillness to Lake Seymour that cannot be achieved anywhere else. It is a small enough lake that there is little to no traffic on it, and yet large enough that there is plenty of space to engage in water activities. And while water skiing is fun, I personally have got to suggest kayaking: you won't get the same kayaking experience elsewhere.
2. While we're on the subject of kayaking, there is a small river off the lake that ends at a dam. Make a trip there. And while you're at it, don't speak--just kayak silently down the river. It is impossible to describe the experience in words, but if you want a story and you're on Lake Seymour, go there.
3. Lake Seymour is broken up into neighborhoods assigned to small beaches. So get to know your neighbors. The whole week (or longer, depending on how long you're there for), you'll be seeing those people down at the beach. Even though Lake Seymour tends to be an introverted experience, it's only enhanced by having people to spend it with.
Without a doubt, I absorbed the most information from Winnipesaukee, considering that I spent the bulk of my vacations there. I put it here last because I thought I could spend the most time on it, but since the three before it took up so much space, I'll be brief.
1. John Marriott Jr. Jr. Jr. throws the best parties. Not just the best on Lake Winnipesaukee. Literally, the best anywhere. Kind of makes sense, considering he's J.W. Bill Marriott's grandson. Do whatever you can to get your hands on an invitation.
2. Similarly, don't go near Mitt Romney's lake house without an invitation waving in your hand. Even if it's just in your bag. Oh. Also, don't go near Mitt Romney's lake house with a bag. Intentions can be misunderstood.
3. And last of all, while Winnipesaukee may be big, it's not big enough to amuse you for an entire month, unless you make friends. People of all ages stay there, and it's a huge lake. Without integrating yourself into the society of Winnipesaukee, you'll probably have a pretty miserable time. But if you do integrate yourself, you'll have a time that you never forget.
Cas Stone
We'll start with the one outlier--Lake Powell. Hardly even a lake, and definitely not in New England, Lake Powell is nevertheless one of the most beautiful bodies of water that I've ever been to. And more pleasing is that I was not at a hotel, nor a house on the lake... well, technically it was a house on the lake. But it was a house literally on the lake. My family took our houseboat out on the lake and spent a week in the canyon that is Lake Powell. And while the society was not a particular social one, there are many things you can and should learn about spending a week on the water with thousands of other people who have the same idea.
1. When you park your houseboat for the night, keep it in an area away from other people. You may enjoy partying, but you certainly won't enjoy other people partying while you're trying sleep. And vice versa, sound travels like crazy on water, so it's only polite to party in an obscure nook in the lake.
2. Sound travels like crazy on water. I had no idea until I was across the water from a boat and could hear everything they were saying, whether or not they were shouting. It made me wonder how much people were hearing from my boat, and from then on, whenever I was near a boat, I talked in hushed voices. You never know who's listening.
3. Finally, check the depth meter before going off the water slide. Pretty self explanatory.
Okay, now for the other one that doesn't quite fit in: the Atlantic Ocean. But more accurately, Bar Harbor, Maine. I spent a week with my family at my house there (the first time in a few years) and realized it was exactly as I remembered it. Bar Harbor is, above all, a tourist town. You won't find yourself making personal connections with other campers up there, so make sure you're nice and cozy with the people you travel there with, because when all you're doing is hitting tourist attractions, you won't have time for socializing.
1. I'll reiterate: be sure to enjoy the company of the people you go with. Between Acadia National Park, the carriage biking trails, downtown Bar Harbor, and of course the Jordan Pond House, you won't be put in situations to meet new people, just situations to bond with the people you went with.
2. Bar Harbor may be a tourist town, but its one of the best ones out there. So hit all the tourist attractions before trying to find something else to do. Most of all, go to Acadia National Park. You won't feel more alive than when you're taking a 10-mile-long bike ride to the Pond House, or hiking the pseudo-dangerous Precipice Trail 1000 feet up the face of Champlain Mountain. Bar Harbor may not be a place to socialize, but its the best place to feel alive.
3. The road to Hell is paved with un-bought lobster boxers. The one thing I found worth buying in downtown Bar Harbor was a pair of tourist-y lobster boxers and matching sleep pants. They're pretty awesome, and super cheap (only $15 per pair, and $25 for the pants) so don't leave Bar Harbor without them.
As for actual lakes, Lake Seymour on Vermont, a rather unheard of one, can be quite enjoyable if you're fine putting extravagance behind you and embracing the quaint spirit of Vermont. The cabins are small, the boats are old, the beaches are only about twenty square feet, and yet there is a unique feel to the area: one that is unachievable anywhere else. I spent only a week on Lake Seymour, just like the aforementioned two vacations, but time slows there, and it felt like so much longer. Here's a few tips on how to live your life (or just your week) on Lake Seymour.
1. Get out on the water. I'd give the same advice about Lake Winnipesaukee (see below), however there is a certain stillness to Lake Seymour that cannot be achieved anywhere else. It is a small enough lake that there is little to no traffic on it, and yet large enough that there is plenty of space to engage in water activities. And while water skiing is fun, I personally have got to suggest kayaking: you won't get the same kayaking experience elsewhere.
2. While we're on the subject of kayaking, there is a small river off the lake that ends at a dam. Make a trip there. And while you're at it, don't speak--just kayak silently down the river. It is impossible to describe the experience in words, but if you want a story and you're on Lake Seymour, go there.
3. Lake Seymour is broken up into neighborhoods assigned to small beaches. So get to know your neighbors. The whole week (or longer, depending on how long you're there for), you'll be seeing those people down at the beach. Even though Lake Seymour tends to be an introverted experience, it's only enhanced by having people to spend it with.
Without a doubt, I absorbed the most information from Winnipesaukee, considering that I spent the bulk of my vacations there. I put it here last because I thought I could spend the most time on it, but since the three before it took up so much space, I'll be brief.
1. John Marriott Jr. Jr. Jr. throws the best parties. Not just the best on Lake Winnipesaukee. Literally, the best anywhere. Kind of makes sense, considering he's J.W. Bill Marriott's grandson. Do whatever you can to get your hands on an invitation.
2. Similarly, don't go near Mitt Romney's lake house without an invitation waving in your hand. Even if it's just in your bag. Oh. Also, don't go near Mitt Romney's lake house with a bag. Intentions can be misunderstood.
3. And last of all, while Winnipesaukee may be big, it's not big enough to amuse you for an entire month, unless you make friends. People of all ages stay there, and it's a huge lake. Without integrating yourself into the society of Winnipesaukee, you'll probably have a pretty miserable time. But if you do integrate yourself, you'll have a time that you never forget.
Cas Stone
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