March Writers Have Arrived!

 All Students:  Be sure to read the entries for this group -- March writers).  Everyone is required to comment on at least THREE different pieces of writing.  You must submit comments on Canvas (for each one, include the name of the author and the title of their piece, and then your positive, specific comment ) by Friday, April 8 on Canvas .

Remember, comments must be positive, supportive, constructive, and SPECIFIC.  No "Good Job!" comments, unless you follow that with specific things you thought were done well in the piece.  Show them you actually took the time to read and enjoy their work!

"My Marine World " by Lea A

 

My world seemed to stop the day my boyfriend of 2 years made the decision to go to the marines on March 13 of 2022. My marine will be gone for 3 months, or 13 weeks, or 91 days. I discovered that taking the days in small increments helps a ton. I've spent 5 days without him and I can’t seem to find the light at the end of the tunnel. For the first 2-3 weeks I will have no contact with my marine under any circumstances. After 2-3 weeks I will receive one letter from my marine which will include an address where I can mail him back after reading what he wrote to me. I’ll continue to do that from this point on until his graduation day. The difficult part is not hearing him, visiting him, touching him, or being near him. There is a saying “no news is good news” yet I find it impossible to cope with. It seems as though this saying had a two edged knife because if I hear from him it could be bad and if not that could still be bad. The marines are a world full of wonder and a life expectancy of disappointment.

I am stuck at a cross road when it comes to timelines. My senior year will go by fast, but the amount of time my marine will be gone feels like an eternity. Everything about my senior year ending brings me back to the events he will miss as he's gone. Prom is April 9th and my best friend won't be there with me, the celebration of graduating will have to be expressed through one simple hand written letter. The lack of emotions and connection is driving me crazy. Before my boyfriend left he hugged me and whispered clearly, “your strong Lea and I have no doubt that we will be stronger when I get home”. I couldn’t look at him and tell him how scared I was, nor could I let him see that I was incredibly sad and angry. Now that he’s gone I feel lonely, afraid, bored, scared, and most of all, weak. Trying to live up to how he wants me to be is crushing my heart into disappointment. How can I be angry at him for making a great sacrifice? How can I be upset at him for doing something honorable? Although, why can’t I be upset about him leaving me? Why can’t I be angry at him for missing my senior activities? I wish I could answer these questions for myself but even I know that there are no answers. The goal is to stay distracted and trust his decision.

The support of my friends and family is incredible, I have everyone by my side during this roller coaster of emotions. I love each and every person who is there for me in any way possible. The problem that I am having is that no matter who can help me, they won’t be him. I have had a number of people in the past few days tell me “I get it” or “I understand”. The problem that I have is that  no one understands me or what i'm going through unless they have been through this exact process. I am flustered and irritated with the constant questions I face everyday when someone asks “when is he done?”, “how long has he been gone?”, and most of all, “are you okay?” I am not okay as much as I want to be. I am not as strong as everyone thinks. I thought my boyfriend going to the marines was only going to be his battle and yet im faced with so many challenges.

Beyond my emotions, the benefits for him will be good, he has a title that he earned, he will be filled with pride, he will be happy. The moment I see him on graduation day I know all my worry will float away with the excitement and happiness I'll be faced with. The struggle with being in a relationship while the other is in bootcamp is challenging for a reason. The process is meant to be difficult for both partners to test the strength and willpower we each have. Despite the roller coaster of emotions I've learned that I can't be selfish. I’ve learned that I need to trust my marine. The strength that I have can be used if I try hard enough. I learned that my world isn’t going to be perfect or happen according to my plans. The lack of control gives me peace in knowing that I can change and adapt for the betterment of myself and others. I am learning how to be alone so that my marine and I can grow together while being ourselves no matter how different our worlds are. Not being selfish has taught me that no matter the questions people ask me I can be grateful that they are helping in the only way they know how. My friends and family don’t understand what I’m going through and that isn’t their fault. One of the most important things I learned is that I need to love him more than I am angry because what he is facing in bootcamp is much harder than I could ever imagine.The entire process has taught me how to love myself enough to gather my own strength for both my marine and I.

"How to make Tabbouleh Salad!" by Angela S.

 

Arabic culture and food have always been a part of my everyday life. Many of you have heard of places that sell kabab or falafel in Middle Eastern restaurants, and this salad is something that you can always pair with any of these types of foods. One of my favorite Arabic dishes is tabbouleh salad because it is something that I can make so easily and tastes very delicious as well. Tabbouleh salad is a fresh bulgur salad, bulgur is a food that is made from parboiled groats of many different types of wheat (this is the main ingredient paired along with the parsley hence why it is a very green color). It is very heartwarming because my mom and I always make it together during family occasions and on regular days as well. My mom has passed down this recipe to me and I hope you guys will enjoy it as much as my family and I do!

 

Ingredients Needed:

➢   3 tablespoons of Bulgur (this can be found in Ralphs or Walmart)

➢   9 bunches of fresh parsley *this is one of the main ingredients so it is highly necessary

➢   ⅓ cup of Onions

➢   4 tomatoes and 2 cucumbers

➢   3 tablespoons of Olive oil

➢   ¼ cup of Lemon juice

➢   1 teaspoon of salt and ground red pepper

➢   Optional: fresh mint that can be added into the parsley & lettuce if preferred to eat with the tabbouleh

 

Tools needed:

➢   Cutting board

➢   Measuring cups

➢   Vegetable chopper

➢   A few different sized bowls

Steps to making Tabbouleh:

 

1. First, grab a small bowl and add some cold water until half of the bowl is filled. Add the 3 tablespoons of Bulgur into the bowl and let sit for about 1-2 minutes.
2. Wash the parsley and cut the stems off of them. We will need to cut the parsley until it is very thin without the stem. This is an important step because we want the parsley to be as thin as possible.
3. Wash the tomatoes and cucumbers and then slice them into medium sized slices before putting them into the vegetable chopper. Also, in this step we can cut the onions into slices. Then using the vegetable chopper, cut the tomato slices into thin square cubes. After all of the tomato slices are cut, put them into a separate bowl. With the cucumber slices, cut them using the vegetable chopper and add the onions as well until they are small square cubes. After this is completed, add them into the bowl with the tomatoes.

➢   It is important to be very careful while doing this step!

4. Next, grab a large bowl and add all of the vegetables into this bowl with the chopped parsley. Drain the water bowl with the bulgur, and then add the bulgur into the large bowl with the rest of the ingredients. After this, add a teaspoon of salt and a pinch of ground red pepper. Along this, add the ¼ cup of lemon juice with the 3 tablespoons of olive oil into the same bowl.
5. Finally, mix all of the ingredients together and taste the delicious salad to see if it needs any salt or more lemon juice.
6. Optional: Wash a batch of lettuce and cut into slices just like it is shown in the picture. As it is served on the side of the tabbouleh, put some tabbouleh in the middle of the lettuce and enjoy!
7. Optional: You can also add in fresh mint, that can add a little bit more flavor into the tabbouleh.
8. Once everything is to your liking, serve the tabbouleh and enjoy this flavorful salad with any other meals that you would like!

 

As this might seem like a very complicated recipe to make a salad, it becomes very easy to make after more practice. Tabbouleh is also served with fries, kabab, or hummus. Our personal favorite is eating tabbouleh with BBQ (such as kabab and chicken) with a side of hummus in the summer. We usually make this salad in the summer because it can be refrigerated and refreshing on a hot and long summer day. It is a very delicious salad as it can add a little taste of sourness from the lemon juice. There are many more Arabic foods that are very popular and delicious but this salad is in my opinion the best because it can be paired with so many other Arabic foods. Enjoy!

 

 

Picture from: https://www.simplyleb.com/recipe/tabbouleh/

"Purple" by Stephen J.

 

In our day to day lives, it’s not uncommon for emotions to be tied to colors. When I was little, my parents painted my room blue because water always had a soothing effect on me. My mom only wore white and black when my grandparents died, thus my only association with both colors is mourning and loss. One time when I was playing at the park next to my house, I gave a mortified glance to my mom as I had just stepped in dog poop, continuing to only associate brown with disgust. Once, my 2nd grade teacher asked, “What is your favorite color?”. Nonchalantly, I respond, “Purple.” Given that a few of my other classmates had also said their favorite color was purple too, it didn’t come as a surprise when I had the same choice. Though my thoughts and opinions have evolved with time, my choice of purple has remained the same. A combination of red and blue, the secondary nature of purple blends the contrasting feelings of red and blue. Red tends to have an association with danger, anger, passion, and blood. Blue portrays the opposite: tranquility, freedom, the sky, and sadness.

Playing off the idea of Sigmund Freud’s iceberg analogy of psychoanalysis, blue can be analogous with id and red with superego. The blue of my life is what I describe as my “inner child”, the primitive impulses, non-conformity to the norm, idealistic views of life, and the same child that did just about anything they wanted without a care in the world. It is who I am when nobody's looking; it’s who I am when the mask comes off. Similar to how the water soothed me as a baby, blue is the person I feel most comfortable being. At least that’s what it would have been if social constructs didn’t exist. My red can be described as the social limitations, insecurities, and fear that protect me from harm. Like the angel on my shoulder, my “red” is in a constant battle with “blue”, fighting the impulses for the sake of social acceptance. Most of that “red” is a by-product of my parents and the views they fed me growing up, but also encompasses the morals I’ve obtained through my peers and teachers. It’s the environment that created who you see, the conscious habits that shape the actions I do.

When the concoction of my past is finished brewing, the result is purple. The id and superego forming my ego; red and blue becoming purple. I am my favorite color. I am purple. Rather than a light purple that incorporates more blue, my purple resembles more of a plum. Having lost most of my impulse with maturity, red has taken over my purple from 2nd grade. Purple to me is a key to my mind, unlocking the experiences that I repress that make up who I am. Like yin and yang, purple represents red and blue: the danger in freedom and the freedom in danger. We all have a purple, it just needs to be found.

“A Single Word” by Kyler A.

Love. A single word with a variety of meanings behind it. This concept, feeling, or whatever you want to identify it as is difficult to measure and understand as humans. All we know is that we feel it, right?

 

This intangible thing that a lot of us, including myself, desire to feel is extremely ambitious to grasp our minds around. According to the Oxford Languages dictionary, love is an intense feeling of affection, interest, and pleasure. Read that sentence again, and it's clear for many to establish that it sounds relatively simplistic. An emotion that makes us feel safe, wanted, or even agitated and overwhelmed. That surface-level understanding is what we as humans can mostly perceive and share towards others when we are asked “what is love”, but I attempt to dive deep into this strong emotion.

 

We all know that people such as our family show and give us their love, including our parents, siblings, cousins, and many more. Some of us have even experienced love in a romantic setting, where we care for one’s well-being in order to better the intimate and friendly bond created between one another. However, as cliche as it sounds, love is complicated. Whether we address love in a platonic or romantic way, it will always be perceived differently by every individual as we all have different experiences that establish our individual definition of what love ultimately is. Additionally, love between anyone within our lives is simply just shown in a multitude of different ways. I like to relate this speculation particularly with the way in which we understand subjects differently in school. Whether the cause is the teacher or the student due to the situations that they are in or have experienced before, our understanding of the concepts being taught is influenced by a vast amount of incidents and responses. In essence, we learn things differently compared to other students, the same way in which we interpret the meaning or feelings regarding love.

 

Likewise, I believe that there is and never will be a genuine step-by-step guide on how to show someone or something our intense passion and energy towards them. Sure, advice can be given to situations like gift-giving or other languages that technically show love, but nothing regarding love is ultimately explicit. Personally, a romantic relationship that began over three years ago has solidified my insight towards the efforts one must adhere to in order to portray their emotional and physical attachment. Sacrifices, concern, and compliance are one of many actions that a person must admit to in order to present love, but this struggle results in a successful and valuable perspective that cannot be described until one reaches that point.

 

As I said, love will never be explicit. It’s something that simultaneously keeps our minds going, as well as breaking our dreams apart. Life will always contain the fight for love, so next time you hear the words “I love you” from anyone significant within your life, always recall the deeper intentions and significance behind that single word.

"Rejection" by Arsalan H

What is rejection? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word “rejected” is “not given approval or acceptance.” When one feels rejected, one most often feels the emotional lows of life. But one must always remember that this feeling is only temporary and rejection only opens up thoughts of redirection.

As E.L James once said, “I am crying over the loss of something I never had. How ridiculous. Mourning something that never was – my dashed hopes, dashed dreams, and my soured expectations.” Rejection is something everyone will face at one point in their life. After so many rejections, we become numb, creating a sort of tolerance. But after so many rejections, there is always a redirection; A “white light” at the end of a dark cave. Rejection is associated with failure, but no one has had a perfect life. Failure in itself is a key to success as most teachers would say.

Think of famous public figures that have gone through so many rejections, until they finally got an opportunity. J.K Rowling, for example, credited for the writing of Harry Potter, was rejected from 12 different publishing houses until Bloomsbury decided to offer Rowling her first contract. Now after so many rejections, why did she continue to persevere until she finally made it? The main reason was that she believed in her ideas and did not let the thought of rejection put her down. What we should realize from her life story is that we must always believe in ourselves, and our strengths and not undermine the talents we possess regardless of how many rejections we come across. Other people such as Steve Jobs faced rejection from his own company but managed to bring themselves back on top. As he said himself, "I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me." Rejection is a chance for us to reflect back on past conditions to see what could’ve been done better, or believe in ourselves and continue to try until we see that “white light.”

 

So, why am I writing about rejection? Well, today is March 18th, the day when 3 major UCs released their admission decisions. Long story short, I got waitlisted for all 3 of those colleges, which is basically a rejection without the added emotional trauma. The chances of getting out of the waitlist are, on average, 10%. Instead of collapsing to my knees and questioning my worth, I thought about everything that I had done all 4 years of my life in high school; Thought about everything I had accomplished, and everything I planned on accomplishing. I came to realize that this minor rejection was not the “end of the world.” I realized all the other opportunities I was blessed with in form of admission to various other colleges. Even though I would’ve loved to see that “Congratulations” at the top of my UCLA or UCI letter, the fact is, I did not get that reality. There is no point in crying for something that you never had or something that is out of your control. No one can change the past but you can certainly change the present and the future.

Always remember that rejection is a form of failure, but failure is the only working key to success.

 

 

 

 

 

Sources

 

Quotes:

 

https://www.heart.co.uk/showbiz/10-stars-who-were-rejected-before-making-it-big/steve-jobs/

 

https://www.therichgetsricher.com/50-rejection-quotes-on-life-by-famous-people/

 

Examples:

 

https://www.insider.com/revealed-jk-rowlings-original-pitch-for-harry-potter-2017-10#:~:text=T

 

he%20novel%20was%20rejected%20by,houses%20before%20Bloomsbury%20accepted%20it.

 

&text=It%20goes%20on%3A%20%22A%20copy,J.K.%20Rowling%20her%20first%20contract

 

.%22

 

https://www.heart.co.uk/showbiz/10-stars-who-were-rejected-before-making-it-big/steve-jobs/

Check out our new submissions!

 All Students:  Be sure to read the entries for this group -- February writers).  Everyone is required to comment on at least THREE different pieces of writing.  You must submit comments on Canvas (for each one, include the name of the author and the title of their piece, and then your positive, specific comment )by Friday, March 11 on Canvas .

Remember, comments must be positive, supportive, constructive, and SPECIFIC.  No "Good Job!" comments, unless you follow that with specific things you thought were done well in the piece.  Show them you actually took the time to read and enjoy their work!

"The Happiness Theory" by Emmanuel A

  

            Trying to be “happy” has, and always will be, a losing battle. Sounds weird, right? My theory about happiness can be summed up in a simple sentence:

 

So long as you chase happiness, you will never live a fulfilled life.

 

I know you are probably thinking, “What is this guy talking about?” Allow me to explain. A few months ago, I watched a clip from Kevin Durant’s podcast, The Boardroom. In it, he speaks about how chasing happiness is not an “efficient way to live.” This excerpt really stuck with me and was all that I could think about in the following days. The more time passed, the more I realized how true this statement was, which influenced me to cultivate this theory.

 

One of the most important building blocks of this theory is the idea that happiness and sadness are two opposites of the Spectrum of Feeling, as I like to call it. Sadness is not a feeling that any sane person would try to attain, correct? So why is it that happiness is the end goal for most people? What even is happiness? Merriam-Webster defines happiness as a “state of well-being.” As humans, it is impossible to continually be in a state of well-being. Life kicks our butt so much that we have come to accept that fact. If that is true, then that is also saying it is impossible to be continually happy. So why chase it? The falloff from true bliss to complete and utter misery is an indescribable experience that nobody should have to go through. Yet so many people find themselves in that situation due to their warped views on the concept of happiness. On the other hand, the rise from sadness to happiness can be one of the most fulfulling feelings in the world. However, that constant struggle with emotions, the continuous falling from one end of the spectrum to the other, can become excruciatingly exhausting. Eventually, it gets to a point where the ascent to happiness is equivalent to climbing Mount Everest, while the descent to depression is on the same level as going down a children’s slide. In my opinion, that is no way for a human to live.

 

You might be wondering, “So what should I do?” The answer is simple. Strive for the middle of the spectrum. Chase satisfaction and contentment. Take each experience for what it is, and do not let your emotions get the best of you. There is a wise saying that I always hear: The one who has their emotions in check has the most power. If very few things can effect your state of being, you will be a much more emotionally mature human because of it.

 

Happiness is a fleeting emotion, just as sadness is. It’s not worth chasing the high, as life will occur, and drop you towards the low, which is just as scary as a Six Flags ride. By staying level-headed and not getting too close to either side, life will be all the more satisfying and fulfilling.

"How to Fund a Non-Profit Organization" by Alana O

You have the ability to be a philanthropist in your community. In the Summer of 2021, I joined a youth program that taught me invaluable skills about youth philanthropy, grant writing, and the role of non-profit organizations in our community, called the Youth GrantMakers Program. At the end of the program, myself and four other students distributed a $5,600 grant to three non-profit organizations in the Inland Empire who serve youth from marginalized communities. The Youth Hope Foundation used the $1,500 we granted them to help homeless students receive life skill trainings at Loma Linda University, The Youth Enterprise used the $2,100 we gave them toward professionally publishing the literature and poems of students undergoing mental health problems, and the Inland Empire Immigrant Youth Collective used their $2,000 grant money toward creating a leadership program for immigrant students. Philanthropy, or giving away money to support a cause, is an activity available to people of all ages from all walks of life. All that you need in order to become a philanthropist is a little guidance, so I am here to help you out!

 

Note: There are many ways to fund a non-profit organization, but in this guide you will learn how to fundraise and distribute grants online.

Tools:

●      A computer, cell-phone, or cellular device that has access to a reliable WiFi network.

○      A cellular device will allow you to research non-profit organizations in your community and utilize online resources that help you build your fundraising platform.

●      A personal email account.

○      A personal email account will allow you to log-in to the online fund and personally reach out to the non-profit organizations you grant the money to.

 

Steps:

1. Hone in on a cause you want to support.
1. There are many different problems impacting our generation that may be meaningful to you. Whether you are an advocate for mental health services, LGBTQ protections, environmental sustainability, youth empowerment, or another cause, determining one or two causes you are passionate about is an important start to your campaign.
2. Research non-profit organizations that work toward your cause in your city, county, and region.
1. Grow your understanding of the non-profit organizations that already exist in your community that are working toward solving your cause. It is important to create a list of 5-10 non-profit organizations so that you can advertise your grant to these non-profits later.
3. Collect the contact information of the non-profit organizations in Step 2.
1. Find the phone numbers, email addresses, and building addresses of the non-profit organizations you found in Step 2. By collecting this information, you will be able to easily contact these organizations later in Step 7.
4. Create a giving circle to collect donations.
1. Connect with people who are close to you and see if they would be interested in helping you collect donations for your grant.
2. What is a giving circle? A “giving circle” is a strategy that philanthropic organizations use to collect donations from groups.
3. Who is in a giving circle? Giving circles may include family members, school classmates, coworkers, neighbors, or anyone who is willing to donate to your cause!
4. Why would we use a giving circle? Creating a giving circle is important at the beginning of your philanthropic endeavors because it allows you to obtain donations from people who you know the best.
5. Create a Grapevine account.
1. In the Youth GrantMakers Program, we collected donations from the community through an online platform called Grapevine. Grapevine allows you to expand your giving circle online and receive donations from people who are outside of your sphere of acquaintances.
2. To create a Grapevine account, visit the website www.grapevine.org.
3. Click the blue button called “Create a Grapevine” in the upper right corner of your screen.
4. Then, fill in all of the information listed in the Grapevine application. You will need to include…
1. A title: what are you fundraising for?
2. A description: why are you passionate about this cause and what type of non-profit are you giving your grant to?
3. A donation goal: how much money do you want to give to the non-profit organization?
1. Tip: If you want to give multiple grants away to different non-profit organizations, create a high donation goal and specify that you will be funding multiple non-profits in your description.
4. A deadline: when do you want to stop collecting donations?
6. Write a RFP.
1. A request for proposal (RFP) is a document that you can send to organizations applying for your grant. It contains your contact information, the eligibility of the non-profit organization you are awarding the grant to, and the deadline of the application.
2. In the RFP, it is important that you highlight what you look for in an applicant:
1. An applicant must be spending the grant money on a [program/initiative/event] in order to further [your cause].
2. An applicant must be an organization based in [specify a location].
3. An applicant must explain what they will be using the grant money on.
7. Distribute your RFP to the non-profit organizations you listed in Step 2.
1. Use the contact information you collected in Step 3 to distribute your RFP to the non-profit organizations you were interested in.
2. You may also want to share your RFP with your city’s office so that they can share it with other community members.
3. If you need any more strategies for distributing your RFP, try some of the options below:
1. Advertise your RFP and campaign on social media.
2. Create a website for your grant so that people can access your RFP online.
3. Share your RFP and campaign information to your local newspaper, news network, or radio station.
8. Fundraise, fundraise, fundraise!
1. You did all of the hard work up until this point. Now, all you have to do is fundraise money until you reach your donation goal. Utilize the Grapevine platform to collect donations because Grapevine is able to send the grant money directly to the non-profit organization of your choice.
2. If you need any help fundraising, here are some tips:
1. Ask for donations on social media and link your Grapevine campaign into your social media bio.
2. Contact businesses in your community and ask for monetary donations.
3. Create a bit.ly and a QR code for your Grapevine campaign so that people can easily access it.
4. Continue to seek donations from your giving circle in Step 4.
9. Distribute your grant to the non-profit organization.
1. After you reach your donation goal, it’s time for you to give your grant to the non-profit organization who applied using your RFP. They will need to create an account in Grapevine to accept your grant. Contact your grant recipients to congratulate them on being awarded your grant.

 

Congratulations! By following these steps, you were able to research different organizations in your community who work toward your cause, fundraise for your own grant, create a RFP, and distribute your grant to a non-profit. Granting a non-profit organization made me feel empowered to make a difference in my community, and I am positive that you will feel empowered too! Good luck and have fun.

“The Anthropocene Reviewed, Reviewed” By Branden N

 

B

 

 

     The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green is a non-fiction book that brilliantly encapsulates many of the wonderful facets our planet has to offer through a compilation of 5-star reviews. But before I can continue this review, I must first define what the word “Anthropocene” means to those who are uninitiated. The Anthropocene is the time period in which humans had a profound influence on the Earth. Green masterfully analyzes how humans have impacted the Earth whether that be through topics that range from seemingly insignificant subjects such as his love of Diet Dr. Pepper to more weighty topics like comparing the black plague to our pandemic or more obscure issues of the ‘Yips’. No matter what topic it is, Green produces intriguing stories that always allow its readers to be drawn in.

Green typically opens each review with a personal anecdote usually of his past experiences with a certain topic. These personal anecdotes create more meaningful and personal connections between the author and their audience which helps Green introduce his thoughts and feelings about the topic. For instance, in many of Green’s essays, he would connect many of his stories to our contemporary world and especially about the pandemic. As a result, the theme of death became not uncommon, yet when it does come up, Green brings solace to the reader by telling them to cherish the memories they’ve had with their loved ones and the great moments we’ve had with them. Even though Green calls each 5-star review “essays”, they are much more interesting than what the word implies. The 5-star review Green does at the very end of each chapter also adds a personal touch like a yelp review on their experience at a restaurant.

 

What I love about this book is that it made me contemplate our influence on the planet and how we progressed during our time on Earth. One of my favorite quotes that shows Green’s thoughts about how special human life is, “We all know how loving ends. But I want to fall in love with the world anyway, to let it crack me open. I want to feel what there is to feel while I am here.” Many of Green’s perceptions of life can be pessimistic at times, but he would always try to comfort the reader soon afterward. Optimism, especially in the current state of our world, is very difficult to have; however, Green wants the reader to love our world and notes how lucky we have been to experience it, “What an astonishment to breathe on this breathing planet. What a blessing to be Earth loving Earth.”

 

There are many amusing and unique aspects of the book that drew me in. For example, right after the “contents” section, there is a small mini review on “half-title pages” where the page would simply state the main title without the author’s name or other subtitles. He’d claim that they are useless since the reader already knows about the title and gave half-title pages two and a half stars. You can tell that he put a lot of care into the design of this book because he pays attention to the reactions of his readers to even the smaller details such as the book’s half-title page. I also found it both amusing and ironic that in the back of the book there is a book ad on John Green’s previous works, and he writes a review of that book ad and found it “a bit gauche.”

 

I believe that this truly is a “good book” of both literary value and reader interest because it causes the reader to contemplate their time on Earth and how we progressed. We can see this through Green’s diction and his beautiful use of the English language. During Green’s review of the song, “Auld Lang Syne,” he talks about the hellish landscape of WWI and how British soldiers would repeat the phrase, “We’re here because we’re here” in the tune of Auld Lang Syne. Even though the story is dark, Green believes that the soldiers are not misguided and that “We might never know why we are here, but we can still proclaim in hope that we are here.” Our existence is truly a marvel to behold, and Green helps the reader understand that idea and made me contemplate on the preciousness of life and I believe that it will do so too for you.

 

I give The Anthropocene Reviewed four and a half stars.

"How To Make Sheer Chai " by Husna

 

★    My family became political refugees, having no choice but to escape their homeland, Afghanistan, after the Soviet Invasion in 1979. Over time, their Afghan identity started to dim, becoming more interconnected with American ideals; however, one thing always remained and kept the culture alive: food. My family would not be the same family that it is today without the variety of Afghan foods and treats that has been present for generations and generations. My grandma has been the sole person in our family to continuously uphold our culture through recipes. So, with that, we have all tried to learn this adored and valued drink known as and sheer chai, translating to “milk tea.” Sheer chai is widely known for its adorable pink color, oftentimes being referred to as “pink tea” to those who may not know exactly what it is made up of. I hope by sharing, we could all keep Afghan culture and tradition alive, as the past years have made us forget the beauties that lie within the chaos.

★    INGREDIENTS

○      Pot full of water

○      1 cup of loose leaf green tea

■      I recommend finding the “Alwazah” brand at any local Arab/Asian markets, but if not, any loose leaf green tea is perfectly okay!

○      1 cup of ice

○      Milk of choice

■      I have personally tried this recipe with oat milk since I try not to drink cow milk, and it works just as good!

○      Sugar

■      (of any kind)

★    TOOLS NEEDED

○      2 medium sized pots

○      Ladle

○      Measuring cups

○      A strainer

■      I recommend the fine mesh sieve strainers, but any sized strainer could work by following the instructions!

○      A pitcher

*WARNING* -- once you begin, your stovetop may get messy with spills, so prep the kitchen/stovetop area for a mess so no one gets in trouble with parents :))

★    STEPS

○      Set your pot of water to boil and while waiting for the water to boil, gather all your ingredients.

○      Put the one cup of loose leaf green tea in your pot once your water is boiled.

○      Let the loose leaf green tea sit for 3-5 mins in the boiling water

○      Once the water turns dark purple, *with dark purple bubbles*, add the teaspoon of baking soda to start the activation of the pink color

○      Ladle the mixture in the pot until the bubbles turn light pink

■      This step may take about 5-7 mins, so be patient and don’t let your arms get too sore from ladling for so long

○      After several minutes of ladling from the step above, pink bubbles should appear

■      If pink bubbles fail to appear during this time, it’s okay, just be patient and keep going :)

○      Once the pink bubbles appear, add the cup of ice and continue ladling until the pot mixture turns a magenta color

■      *This step of adding ice and baking soda activates the pink color, so it is KEY to this recipe*

○      Once your pot mixture turns magenta, strain out the loose leaf onto another pot

■      WARNING-- be careful straining!

■      Wear oven mitts, keep your face at a distance in case of splash back from pouring, and most importantly, avoid a bad burn!

○      Once the pot mixture is strained and there is no longer loose leaf particules, place the chai into the new pot and add your preferred kind and amount of milk to the pot

■      The milk should be a balanced milk to tea ratio, depending on your specific preference (similar to your preference when adding milk to coffee)

○      Continue ladling for about 1 minute to ensure everything is balanced and mixed → (see image to see the color you should strive for!)

○      Place the sheer chai in a pitcher and serve it in mugs to everyone in your household!

○      Serve the sheer chai in a mug, and add your desired amount of sugar to your cup

■      OR, if everyone in your household has similar taste buds, you may add the sugar to the pot and then serve!

 

★    ENJOY

○      With sheer chai, Afghans traditionally pair it with any pastry for dessert

■      For the people who are like me and never have time for a proper breakfast, I typically reheat the tea in a pot for breakfast and pair it with something small like a croissant or muffin!

○      Sheer chai is absolutely perfect for cold days when everyone stays in, so I strongly suggest trying it out soon before it gets too hot!

○      I personally have never tried sheer chai iced, but if any of you decide to make it a cold drink and add ice, PLEASE tell me how it is! I’d love to see all the different ways you all incorporate your own cultures into this drink!

○      I hope that with this recipe, we can spread this Afghan delicacy to all cultures and homes, keeping Afghan culture alive!

 

 

 

 

 

*Image pulled from the Youtube Channel “Mazar Cuisine,” uploaded on March 31, 2017.

*Image pulled from website “We Heart Living,” posted on De