the quintessential bag

Imagine your first day of school. How did you bring your lunch and blanket to school? Most of us would answer: a backpack. Backpacks are used by every age group, from students, like us, to the elderly, who feel obligated to carry around every essential object that they may or may not use. Backpacks come in all different styles, colors, and sizes to fit your own personality. They are convenient, easy to carry, good for travel and you can even eat while using it, not like your average handbag. Backpacks are reasonably cheap, pricing between $25 to $160+. Whether you are simple or value organization, there is a perfect backpack for you.

final proposal

-What will you read?
I will read about the history of Japanese cuisine, etiquette and cookbooks that include traditional Japanese recipes.
-What will you write?
I will write about the different dishes that I make, the history of the different dishes and Japanese etiquette.
-What will you do?
I will go to ESPCO host to find any information on the history of Japanese cuisine and if not, I will visit the Hawaii State Public Library to find informational books on Japanese food/etiquette, cookbooks and books on scrapbooking.
-How will you share?
I will share by making a scrapbook and by making meals for my family and friends.
-Who will you serve?
I will serve my family, friends and classmates.
What do you hope to learn?
I hope to learn how to make traditional Japanese breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert. I also hope to improve my cooking skills and scrapbooking skills.

new proposal

-What will you read?
I will read about different types of pigs, their habits, diets, intelligence, etc.
-What will you write?
I will write up different portions for the most common pigs that will include their behavior, diet, background, breeding...
-What will you do?
To find information, I will visit the public library and bookstores since Punahou doesn't carry informational books on pigs. If I feel like I need more information, I will try to visit a farm, where I can interview someone and observe the pigs' behavior.
-How will you share?
I will share by making an informational scrapbook about pigs which will include pictures and design.
-Who will you serve?
I will serve my family, friends and classmates.
What do you hope to learn?
I hope to learn strange facts about pigs as well as learn the proper way (if any) on how to put together a scrapbook.
-What do you hope to contribute?

proposal

-What will you read?
I will read about the history and modern (weight loss) facts of green tea, recipes of green tea
-What will you write?
I will write up a history portion, modern facts portion, weight loss and recipes.
-What will you do?
I will research green tea, in general, then make an informational green tea scrapbook. I was hoping I could make recipes that have green tea [eg. ice cream, tea (grow a green tea plant)]
-How will you share?
I will share by making a scrapbook of several different categories of green tea.
-Who will you serve?
I will serve my family, by making our own tea, the Punahou community, by possibly putting it on display in the library.
-What do you hope to learn?
I hope to learn about the pros and cons of drinking green tea, ceremonies in Japan, the significance, how it came about, etc. I also hope to learn about the process of scrapbooking, planning it out,
-What do you hope to contribute?

final PWB essay

With privilege comes great responsibility to yourself and others. In my opinion, it is more effective and ethical to try to change your self, versus changing others. There are several examples in the book, The Poisonwood Bible and the column, What Could You Live Without?

First of all, when you have a privilege or advantage, you are able to share that privilege or knowledge with others to improve and help their lives. Initially when the Price's move to the Congo, their goal was to help the Congolese's government. Although the Congolese people do not end up in a so-called productive and efficient government, the Price's left a well-embedded impression and religious beliefs with them.

Second of all, it is easier to change your lifestyle, than to force another person into changing his or her lifestyle. One cannot change another's beliefs on demand. In The Poisonwood Bible, Orleanna changes her way of life, her perspective and her strength, after Ruth May's sudden death. She decides to leave the Congo, along with Nathan, as her daughters follow her lead. "I had to keep moving. I didn't set out to leave my husband. Anyone can see I should have, long before, but I never did know how," (383). Orleanna was able to change her life, not changing the lives of her daughter. Her decision was very effective for her daughters, who all lived a decent life after. It was definitely more effective and ethical to try to change herself, than to try to change her daughters'.

Third of all, in the column, What Could You Live Without?, the Salwen's had the advantage of a lovely home and the privilege of always having a meal in front of them when hungry. The Salwen's were willing to sacrifice their luxurious life for a decent one to help the ones in need, the ones suffering in Haiti and Ghana, as well as a local charity for the homeless. As their project went along, the Salwen's got some negative feedback, as one can expect, which is an implication of sacrificing the things in their lives for people in other countries. I can see how others can argue about helping other countries, versus the people in their town or even their own country, but it gave them a chance to "define themselves by what they give as well as what they possess."

Though there are implications of trying to change yourself and trying to change others, it is more effective and ethical to try to change yourself. The Poisonwood Bible and the column, What Could You Live Without, both have significant examples that can stick with us for the rest of our lives.

poison onion: orleanna

What kind of world is this and how do I live in it?
In the beginning of the Poisonwood Bible, Orleanna was a shy and meager mother who was always obedient of Nathan, her husband.

"I remained his wife because it was the one thing I was able to do each day. My daughters would say; You see, Mother, you had no life of your own," (8).

Orleanna has no true reason as of why she married Nathan and why she shares a family with him. Orleanna views the world as cruel. She seems somewhat innocent and incapable of changing her life for the better. Orleanna just "goes with the flow" when it comes to interacting with Nathan and making decisions.

Although Orleanna's and Nathan's relationship is a huge component of Orleanna's attitude and her life, there are other parts of her life that she could have changed to improve her life as a whole. Orleanna's attitude towards life was negative, never believing in herself and her self-pride.

"It makes me want to keen, sing, clap up thunder, lie down at the foot of a tree and let the worms take whatever of me they can still use," (87).

Inferring that her body, physically and mentally is consumed and depleted, one cannot expect that her life would improve. but the turning point, when Ruth May suddenly passes. Orleanna decides that she must step up, for herself and for her 3 daughters. Orleanna figures out a way to push aside Nathan and his beliefs; Orleanna leaves the Congo. She realized that Nathan wasn't a plus in her life.

"Nathan was something that happened to us, as devastating in its way as the burning roof that fell on the family Mwanza; with our fate scarred by hell and brimstone we still had to track our course. And it happened finally by the grace of hell and brimstone that I had to keep moving. I moved, and he stood still," (384)

Towards the end of the book, Orleanna finds the world a much better place to be, finding happiness in her daily life. Moving into a cabin in Georgia, once again, to be close to Adah, she finds a special talent of gardening. Selling bouquets of flowers on the side of the road, she earns money in order to support herself. Now, Orleanna's character is much more of a leader and independent, since she has more freedom and living in solitude.

Assumptions:
Orleanna values her daughters the most in her life. She is always willing to make sacrifices and changes in her life for them. Even when the Price's were still in the Congo as a family, Orleanna was always thoughtful of them. Her daughters relied on her for many things around the house and Orleanna felt that she should take care of them at all times.

"If I only hadn't let the children out of my sight that morning," (324)

The girls are always her first priority. Obviously, I don't have children of my own, but I do have a family. They are always my first priority in life. I count on them to care for me a take care of me, as they rely on me as well, whether they live in the same house, like my parents, up the street, like my aunty and uncle, or in another state, like my brother.