Neighborhoods/Schools

Michael Salas
Doug Dickens
November 13, 2009

Neighborhoods/Schools

Dear Mr. Mayor:

While I was watching the morning news, I heard that you received a considerate amount of money. You are trying to figure out what is the best option to use it in benefit for the people of this city. The first option is to improve the quality of the schools in bad neighborhoods. On the other hand is to improve the quality of the neighborhoods near tourist attractions such as the Met and Time Square. I am writing this letter to recommend that you support the first option to improve the schools in bad neighborhoods.

Using the money to improve the schools in bad neighborhoods will enhance the attendance to class by the students. First of all, classrooms need new chairs. The chairs of most of the classrooms in bad neighborhoods are broken. The students cannot pay attention to the class because they have to receive the class standing. If you choose to improve the schools in bad neighborhoods will help the students to pay attention to the class. Another reason is the computer lab needs more computers. The computers make easy to finish fast students' homework. But there is not enough equipment to each student so students have to wait to use one. It makes waste the time. Finally, if you support the option to improve the schools in bad neighborhoods the classrooms have to have a new blackboard. The classrooms in bad neighborhoods have blackboards on which you have to use a chalk. It makes difficult to clean. Teachers can't teach their classes without a blackboard because they can't explain more clear what they are teaching. Now is in your knowledge that if you choose to improve the schools in bad neighborhoods will be benefit to student attendance the class.

High Fidelity

Michael Salas
Doug Dickens
November 10, 2009

High Fidelity

Nick Hornby, who wrote this book named “High Fidelity,” told us about the style of music which has been listened in the 70’s and how a sort of boy who is passionate for it grow together. While I was reading “High Fidelity” noticed that the author involves the style of Rob’s life, who is the protagonist of the novel, with the music; in other words, each Rob show us a Top Five of things that he feels that represent the moment that he has lived sexually and sentimentally . You want to know what sort of things Rob has lived? You should read this book and realized it for yourself because “high Fidelity” is an interesting novel that I’m sure you are going to enjoy. Rob has problems in his daily life because Rob doesn’t have a good relationship with his parents, has no good luck with women and Rob feels conflicted about his job.

Rob doesn’t have a good relationship with his parents. First of all, Rob goes to his parents’ house attempting to guess all the things that are going to happen. On page 135 of high fidelity, the narrator tell us that “Rob gets back to the flat at one; at two, things have got so bad that I decided to go home”—home home. He means that he doesn’t want to belong at this home but home is the only place that he supposes he knows. When he gets at home the activities that were regular for his parents changed; like Rob thought that his parents don’t like go to the cinema but actually they do, or that they were in the house but they went to a party tasting some wine, real wine, not Dad’s homemade wine. Rob was expecting an afternoon of silence misery, but that afternoon was an incontrovertible proof that Rob is going through a phase of depression. Furthermore, on Rob’s birthday, he received a call and a card from his parents. On page 214, from High Fidelity Book, it says that parents don’t count, and if you don’t get a card from your folks then you are really in trouble. In fact, in page 215, it says that if you don’t get a call from your mum then you are really in trouble. This means that he was expecting something else from his folks and from his parents because anyway you always are going to have the affection of your parents. In a summary, Rob doesn’t want to be with his parents but he needs them.
Rob has no luck in his relationships with women. First of all, Rob’s first relationship hardly was four days. Her name was Alison Ashworth. She gave him his first kiss but she was only a child. This means that she was experimenting with new things like kiss with boys. So on their fourth night Rob saw her with another boy, Kevin Bannister, in their corner where they were supposed to meet to kiss. This is important because Alison was his first experience so Rob expects that while he gets older his new relationship is going to be different. Another example according with the book, most of the women who were in a relationship with Rob went off with another guy. As you can see at the beginning of this paragraph Alison went off with Kevin, who turns out to be her husband few years later. Penny Hardwick went off with a guy named Chris Thomson because she didn’t sleep with Rob. He told her that their relationship never goes to anywhere “What’s the point” he said. Then he left her and three days later she slept with Chris. It is more proof of having no luck in love. Finally, Hornby tries to explain to us that Rob’s behavior is immature with the ladies. When Rob met Laura, who is the girl who Rob feels is the love of his life, he cheated on her while she was pregnant. As a result, she went off with other guy. His name is Ian Ray. While she was living with Ian, Rob everyday asked her if she had slept with him yet. This is immature because nobody who loves someone asked things like that to win back their love. Rob is not too smart to hold a good relationship with a girl who is looking for a serious and stable relationship.

Another problem that Rob has is feeling conflicted about his job. First of all, the record store is not a lucrative job. Rob’s economy is almost broke so he had to borrow money from his ex-girlfriend. It was around $5000. His record store has regular customers barely to pay the basic serves like electricity and telephone. So Rob is thinking about changing his job. Furthermore, Rob never plans his career. He just left the school in order to work in what he wants for the rest of his life. He thought that that it’s cool. He never thought in responsibilities. As a result, now Rob is not successful to pay his own bills. Even thought he was insecure to start his own job because Charlie, Rob’s ex-girlfriend, wants him go with her to do the next step. It means that he has to live with her but not only that; he also has to get marriage with Charlie. So Rob makes this decision in order to avoid the engagement. In conclusion, Rob is the kind of person who takes decisions before think about how is going to be in the future.

In a summary, Nick Hornby, the author of this novel, wrote this novel for the purpose to share his experiences through a guy who has problems in his daily life. He had like problem with his parents, no luck with women and conflicted about his job. In the future I am going to try to be more careful and responsible with my life rather than similar problems either with my parents with my work or my personal life.

Homeless Shelter

Michael Salas
Doug Dickens
December 1, 2009

Homeless Shelter

Dear Mr. Major:
I heard in the New York City morning news that you received a great deal of land and it has two proposals that are being reviewed for its use in the way that is good for the city. The first proposal is to build a large new shopping center. The other proposal is to build a shelter to help the poor and homeless live a better life. I’m writing to recommend that you support the proposal of building the homeless shelter because it is beneficial for New York City, it will increase jobs, could be helpful for homeless education, and it will lower the crime in the streets of New York City.

Building a homeless shelter is good for New York City because it will increase jobs. First of all, a homeless shelter can provide an opportunity to work for a construction for a construction workers. In order to build the shelter, we will need to hire many different workers. We need carpenters, engineers, plumbers, electricians, and painters. Currently the unemployment rate is very high. Hiring people to build the homeless shelter is going to lower it. Secondly, there are some homeless who need help from social workers. After finishing school, social workers will have a chance to find employment in shelters. Social workers could provide psychology help to the homeless who have any mental problems. Finally, building a homeless shelter will help to give a chance for doctors and nurses to work. The Homeless need medical attention, so doctors and nurses could offer their services. A homeless shelter is another place that doctors and nurses of New York City can get jobs. A Homeless shelter provides many different jobs.

Building a homeless shelter could be helpful for homeless education. First of all, it is in your knowledge that the 20% of homeless people are illiterate. The Homeless can get those abilities through study programs like reading and writing groups. This is going to be beneficial to the city because the homeless could get betters jobs. Secondly, homeless shelter could encourage to the homeless to improve job skills. The Homeless can learn manual labors like carpentry and sewing. Thus the homeless could start their own workshops, and with that earn some money. The payments of these works are really good like $1000 per month approximately. Finally, the homeless, as you know, don’t have money to pay any service including their elementary studies. So the homeless shelter could provide this benefit for free. As a result, when the homeless will finish the program enabled in the shelter; they are going to be successful in reading and writing. I could say that with this homeless shelter will lower the statistics of illiteracy in the city in the conceivable future.

Building a homeless shelter is good for New York City because it will lower the crime in the streets of New York City. First of all, the proposal of build the homeless shelter would reduce the drug sales in poor neighborhoods. Many homeless people sell drugs. Criminals are the principal customers. But with the help of this shelter, those drug dealers are going to disappear. The shelter will provide talks for overcoming addiction. As a result, no drugs no crime. Secondly, the shelter could reduce the robberies in the restaurants. The morning news informed me that the number of homeless robberies in restaurants has increase. This is an indication that homeless don’t eat well. The shelter can provide enough food, and with this decrease these robberies. Finally, build the homeless shelter is going to help the homeless in collaboration with the local police. This is safe because with the police around the building the antisocial could not work with illegal activities around. Most of the homeless are involved with kind of illegal activities, so the police are going to arrest them. As a result the shelter will received them and try to improve their behavior in order to be a good person. Giving advices about drugs it’s not the best way to spend their time. In summary this homeless shelter will enhance the safety of the city.

My Biography

Michael Salas
Doug Dickens
September 24, 2009


My Biography

The time is the only thing that you cannot waste. And what better to spend time with your loved ones where you grew. There is my small city in Ecuador named Santo Domingo. There are some events in some place that could occur in your life and have made an important mark in you. Like people who have been your neighbors and you remember all the moments when you were enjoying with them. Those things that I remember a lot, since I moved to New York City, are Santo Domingo a beautiful Ecuador's province, my family, and my neighborhood.

I lived in Santo Domingo, Ecuador. Santo Domingo is a beautiful province in Ecuador. It is almost in the middle of Ecuador. My family moved there in 1940. But I wasn't born there because my mother when she was young she traveled to New Jersey, USA. Thus I was born in New Jersey. Nevertheless Santo Domingo is an interest place where you should visit. This wonderful city has many tourist places which you can choose from the entire city view from the top of the hill Bomboli which is calm to spend your time on a wild party in any of the different bars restaurants that are in Santo Domingo. From the natural view in the Carolina Botanical Park to the antique buildings that have part of the history about who were the first citizens of Santo Domingo. You should appreciate the natural forest which is recognized with a simple view. Better if you fly over this city.

In Santo Domingo, Ecuador, where I used to live, is my family. First of all, there are 4 people in my family with whom I used to live. My grandmother is on the top. Then in chronological order comes my uncle who is the youngest. Next is my aunt. And finally is my mother. Of course, there are more people who become to be my siblings but I didn't spend time with them as I talk about them. However my family and I used to go swimming to San Gabriel River every Sunday mornings. And also we carried some meat to make a BBQ. We did a lot of things as a family like preparing a surprised party for my mother's birthday or go visit to my aunt in Loja. Loja is another Ecuador's province. This is in the boundary south of Ecuador. Now is in your knowledge that my family is not too big. Now we are in different ways. In other words, my family is not joining anymore. My aunt is in Spain right now, I am here in New York City, and my mom is in Ecuador. I don't what to tell you about my grandmother because she passed away 6 years ago. I could say that my family is the best thing that could happened to me.

On the other hand, my neighborhood in Santo Domingo is not too big. I used to live in Urb. Los Rosales. It is at north east of Santo Domingo. There I made some real friends who then during a few years became my best friends. But like in any place where you've lived there are the typical neighbors who get mad about everything you doing. One of those mentioned people was the lady of the grocery store. Just because some friends and I were playing soccer in front of her house she takes away the ball and burst it. Nevertheless I have good memories about my pretty neighbors. As once, my mother, my aunt, and I used to play with my little tricycle. It was very funny because my aunt rode the little tricycle while I was pushing her by a hall. You can imagine her, a lady, who is 35 years old, driving a little tricycle. I feel good about it. Those great moments I'll never forget. Those have happened in my old house. Even until now I remember how my house looks like. It was a beautiful story house, with old brick style with edges. The windows seemed doors because of their length. Finally, a balcony on the second floor and a large wooden door at the entrance principal complement my whole house. In summary, my neighborhood and my house have the perfect connection to make feel proud to have grown up with them.

Like I said events occur for one reason which I think is for our benefit. We live through life experiences that we have to faced every single day. That happened to me with my loved ones in the place where I grew up. Santo Domingo is a beautiful Ecuador's province, with my family, and with my neighborhood. I feel glad that I have grown girded of people who I appreciate from the first moment I met them.

Influential People

Michael Salas
Doug Dickens
September 22, 2009

Influential People

What are those things that people do every day of our lives to become influential to us? To recognize an influential people in my life is not too difficult because they took care of me when I was a child. There are my mother, my uncle, and my aunt, whom become to be the most influential people in my life.

My mother is an influential people in my life. First of all, my mother teaches me to be responsible with my credit. She gives me the values to be responsible in what I do. She always is punctual with her payments. For example she has to pay a bank loan. She goes three days before the payday. Seeing this responsible action I learned to be responsible with my payments. As a result the bank never refuses me a petition of a loan because of my good credit. Secondly, my mother encourage me an excellent studies. She puts me in one of the best high schools in Santo Domingo, Ecuador. I study in my country and just finish the high school I traveled. Now I am here in the United States of America thanks to my mother. She is spending a great deal of money on my education in New York. This is influential because she always wants the best for me. Finally, my mother is an extremely influential people in my life because she loves me. She takes care of me through thick and thin. When I feel sad I just call her to talk about any problem that I could have. Then she tells me one of her experiences that she had when she lived in New Jersey. For example, when she came to The United States of America she came like an in-migrant. She had to rather to cross the boundary. But the illusion of a “better life” was the reason to keep going. She said “don't give up until your last breath, if you give until you will do it forever. I love my mother. My mother is an example of strength and pleasure.

My uncle is another influential people in my life. First of all, my uncle was like my father. He carried me anywhere I wanted to go. I didn't know my father during my childhood. So my uncle used to play with me. I really appreciated that my uncle took care of me. Secondly, my uncle teaches me to be punctual in my jobs. He always get early to his job. He goes an hour early. I copy this habit. I always criticized about punctuality but now I'm the one that puts into practice. Now I can be responsible in my future work thanks to his habit of punctuality. Finally, my uncle is one of my best friends. I fully trust him. He is my confident. He gives me advices when I'm in troubles. Like when I had fights with other people and I get hurt because of that. He said “the best way to win a fight is avoiding it” because fights never bring anything good and nothing is solved with violence. In conclusion, my uncle is my father, my real father. Because a father is not just the person who gives you the life, in fact is the person who lives that life with you.

Finally my aunt is the last person who is very influential in my life. First of all, my aunt took care of me when I just came from New Jersey. My mother sent me to Santo Domingo, Ecuador, because she was too busy to take care of me. So my aunt attended to all my needs. This is influential because my aunt fulfilled the role of a mother while my mother worked to support my family. In addition, my aunt gave me her unconditional love. In 1994, my mom came from New Jersey, but I didn't know her and what she was for me. So my aunt had to travel to Spain to make her own life but she said that I will always have her support. I love her as a mother. So when she went I fell into a deep sadness. Nevertheless I saw her again but there I was 9 years old. I felt weird when I saw her because my feelings about her had changed. But I still love my aunt even if we are so far to each other. My aunt is like my mother. My aunt is part of my life. She works hard every single day. Now she has her own job after her having fought in the case of an immigrant. She is a Spain citizen. This is influential because she came out ahead in a country that was not hers. I could say that my aunt is admirable.

In our lives we have lived fantastic moments with people that make the difference from the rest of all. And for me those people have influenced me that every day be a better person. These are my aunt, my uncle, and my mother.