Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Ozgecan's NMAI Diary Entry
On March 15, our class went to the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC. On that morning, we met at the bus stop which is located in front of the Stamp Student Union. We took the shuttle bus, and when we arrived at the metro station, we took the metro to go there. I sat with NaRy on the metro. We talked about similarities between Turkey and Korea. The trip took around 40 minutes. There was nothing to see except metro station names during the metro ride because we were under the ground. While we were walking to the museum, I saw the Capitol. Actually, last summer, I was in Washington, DC, and I saw this building and also some museums at that time.
Before we went there, we talked about the museum and its architecture in the class. I think the building was nice, but I couldn't see any interesting things about architecture. We entered the museum through a side door, which was not the main door, so we couldn't see the other side of the building, but our teachers suggested that we look at it later. After lunch, I went there, but I think it was nothing special.
The museum has 4 floors. Our assignment was on the 4th floor, so we started from these floor. When we were climbing the stairs, I saw some boats on the main floor. I saw a reflection of a light--like a small rainbow-- on the wall. Maybe it was because of the sunlight which was coming from a sky light in the roof. In "Our Universes", I focused on the "Q'eq'chi" tribe. They live in Guatemala. They have four cardinal directions: North, South, East, and West. Each of them has different colors and meanings. North is white, and they offer prayers toward the north. East is red, and where the sun rises, it is the region of light and blood and a source of happiness. The sun is very important for them because it gives them life and strength. Every morning, they greet the Lord Sun. South is yellow, and it represents human beings in nature and in society. It was the birthplace of water. The believe that they are composed of water, and it is part of their life. West is black, and it is related to death and darkness. They believe that they need a little light to see their way in the dark, but the dark is also as important as light. They say that the sun, water, stars, planets, and the other things in the universe were left them by their grandparents. The most interesting thing for me is that I saw a word on one of the exhibits. It was "Su", and it means water gourd. In Turkish, water means "su". It was really interesting for me.
At the Mitsitam Cafe, I sat with Eman, NaRy, Boram, Lun and my teacher Nina. The foods are very strange to me. I had difficulity choosing food, but then I ate something which is a kind of mashed patatoes with spice. It was delicious. After our field trip, I went somewhere else in DC. I had to deal with one of my Turkish friend's phone account. After I solved her problem, I went back to the University for International Coffee Hour. I really like Coffee Hours.It was fun again. After that, some friends and I stayed on campus a little bit more. Then, I came home. The day was very interesting, fun, beneficial, and tiring for me. I felt good at the end of the day.
Before we went there, we talked about the museum and its architecture in the class. I think the building was nice, but I couldn't see any interesting things about architecture. We entered the museum through a side door, which was not the main door, so we couldn't see the other side of the building, but our teachers suggested that we look at it later. After lunch, I went there, but I think it was nothing special.
The museum has 4 floors. Our assignment was on the 4th floor, so we started from these floor. When we were climbing the stairs, I saw some boats on the main floor. I saw a reflection of a light--like a small rainbow-- on the wall. Maybe it was because of the sunlight which was coming from a sky light in the roof. In "Our Universes", I focused on the "Q'eq'chi" tribe. They live in Guatemala. They have four cardinal directions: North, South, East, and West. Each of them has different colors and meanings. North is white, and they offer prayers toward the north. East is red, and where the sun rises, it is the region of light and blood and a source of happiness. The sun is very important for them because it gives them life and strength. Every morning, they greet the Lord Sun. South is yellow, and it represents human beings in nature and in society. It was the birthplace of water. The believe that they are composed of water, and it is part of their life. West is black, and it is related to death and darkness. They believe that they need a little light to see their way in the dark, but the dark is also as important as light. They say that the sun, water, stars, planets, and the other things in the universe were left them by their grandparents. The most interesting thing for me is that I saw a word on one of the exhibits. It was "Su", and it means water gourd. In Turkish, water means "su". It was really interesting for me.
At the Mitsitam Cafe, I sat with Eman, NaRy, Boram, Lun and my teacher Nina. The foods are very strange to me. I had difficulity choosing food, but then I ate something which is a kind of mashed patatoes with spice. It was delicious. After our field trip, I went somewhere else in DC. I had to deal with one of my Turkish friend's phone account. After I solved her problem, I went back to the University for International Coffee Hour. I really like Coffee Hours.It was fun again. After that, some friends and I stayed on campus a little bit more. Then, I came home. The day was very interesting, fun, beneficial, and tiring for me. I felt good at the end of the day.
Class Field Trip to the NMAI
On March 15, we went to the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. The students' homework was to write a journal entry about what they had seen and done on the field trip.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Ozgecan's Opinion Essay
Reiki
Reiki comes from Japanese culture, and it treats the whole person including body, emotions, and mind. There is an energy in the world, and people just help to transfer it to treat a person or themselves. They don't use their own energy while they use Reiki. Reiki uses the power of positive emotions to heal certain conditions effectively.
Reiki is an alternative medicine which is used by some doctors in their hospitals. This kind of non-conventional method is usualy not accepted by scientists, but some doctors believe that Reiki is a very effective way to heal someone, and they accept it as a complementary medicine. All around the world, there are many hospitals which perform Reiki, there are many scientists who research about Reiki, and there are many institutes or academies which teach Reiki. Reiki also doesn't work alone. It works with conventional medicine, and it acknowledges that conventional medicine is important.
Reiki is a simple and natural method for healing that everyone can use and benefit from it. If someone's "life force energy" is low, then he/she is more likely to get sick or feel stressed, and if it is high, he/she feels happier and healthier. There are 7 places in the human body called "Chakras" and they have different colors. Reiki is used for the sick chakra. If you want to learn how to use Reiki, you must take some classes. These classes are broken down into 3 parts. I took the beginning part of Reiki classes. I can use it for myself or another person. I think it is effective for stomachaches, headaches, feeling weak or accidents. For example, at times when I fall down, I use Reiki, and my arm or my leg doesn't bruise. It has happened to me many times. But I think these kinds of remedies are risky because some people become obsessed with them, and they become strange. Therefore, I don't want to get too involved, but I can say that Reiki is effective for some illnesses.
These kinds of treatments proved that the human mind has a significant effect on human health. I think it is all about positive emotions. I believe positive emotions affect our health. When you think positively, your life becomes better. Reiki is also about positive emotions. It teaches us to look positively at life. I believe the human mind has this ability. I think this is not just belief anymore; it has been proved by scientists.
(Source: www.reikiturk.com/yeni/)
Reiki comes from Japanese culture, and it treats the whole person including body, emotions, and mind. There is an energy in the world, and people just help to transfer it to treat a person or themselves. They don't use their own energy while they use Reiki. Reiki uses the power of positive emotions to heal certain conditions effectively.
Reiki is an alternative medicine which is used by some doctors in their hospitals. This kind of non-conventional method is usualy not accepted by scientists, but some doctors believe that Reiki is a very effective way to heal someone, and they accept it as a complementary medicine. All around the world, there are many hospitals which perform Reiki, there are many scientists who research about Reiki, and there are many institutes or academies which teach Reiki. Reiki also doesn't work alone. It works with conventional medicine, and it acknowledges that conventional medicine is important.
Reiki is a simple and natural method for healing that everyone can use and benefit from it. If someone's "life force energy" is low, then he/she is more likely to get sick or feel stressed, and if it is high, he/she feels happier and healthier. There are 7 places in the human body called "Chakras" and they have different colors. Reiki is used for the sick chakra. If you want to learn how to use Reiki, you must take some classes. These classes are broken down into 3 parts. I took the beginning part of Reiki classes. I can use it for myself or another person. I think it is effective for stomachaches, headaches, feeling weak or accidents. For example, at times when I fall down, I use Reiki, and my arm or my leg doesn't bruise. It has happened to me many times. But I think these kinds of remedies are risky because some people become obsessed with them, and they become strange. Therefore, I don't want to get too involved, but I can say that Reiki is effective for some illnesses.
These kinds of treatments proved that the human mind has a significant effect on human health. I think it is all about positive emotions. I believe positive emotions affect our health. When you think positively, your life becomes better. Reiki is also about positive emotions. It teaches us to look positively at life. I believe the human mind has this ability. I think this is not just belief anymore; it has been proved by scientists.
(Source: www.reikiturk.com/yeni/)
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Assignment 2: Opinion essay
In this unit, you learned that an essay is a group of paragraphs about a topic. The first paragraph is the introduction, and the final sentence of the introduction is called the thesis statement. A thesis statement expresses the topic and controlling idea of an essay, just as a topic sentence expresses the topic and controlling idea of a paragraph.
After the introduction, an essay has one or more body paragraphs, each with its topic sentence. The body paragraphs provide support for the thesis statement.
An essay finishes with a conclusion, which restates the thesis in a different way and offers a solution, makes a prediction, or gives advice to the reader. The conclusion should provide the reader with a sense of closure.
Your assignment was to write an essay about a non-conventional medical treatment, expressing your opinion about its effectiveness and/or safety. You wrote at least three drafts before writing your final paper. In this blog, you are going to post your final essays after incorporating my grammar corrections.
After the introduction, an essay has one or more body paragraphs, each with its topic sentence. The body paragraphs provide support for the thesis statement.
An essay finishes with a conclusion, which restates the thesis in a different way and offers a solution, makes a prediction, or gives advice to the reader. The conclusion should provide the reader with a sense of closure.
Your assignment was to write an essay about a non-conventional medical treatment, expressing your opinion about its effectiveness and/or safety. You wrote at least three drafts before writing your final paper. In this blog, you are going to post your final essays after incorporating my grammar corrections.
