Thanksgiving (Journal 12)

This is my first thanksgiving in the U.S, and I it will be a wonderful experience. As long as I know this holiday is celebrated every year during the four Thursday of the month of November. in Mexico, we do not have this tradition, and I think it is Cleve to say your thanks for the year one's has had. But not only during this day is important to say thanks I believe we must to be grateful for all the possessions, goals and achieves reached every day. This year I would like to say thanks specially for the good health I have had, for the great opportunity to come to the U.S, for all the extraordinary people I have met during this year.

I want to say thanks to God for the good health I have had during this year. Although the changes of weather and the natural phenomenon, I have not had any health problem. There are many people suffering from terrible diseases, and they do not want money or material stuff they only want be healthy therefore I feel I'm very fortunate for have good health condition so far. Also I want to say thanks for the excellent opportunity I had to come to the U.S and studying English. I always wanted to learn English because my goal is to study international law and English is a requirement for this major. Specially I want to say thanks to Robert who has helped me with my studies, and my parents who have given me all the support in order to reach my goals.

Finally I want to say thanks to God for all my friends I have met during this year. To me friendship is very important, and I consider my friends as a treasure. During this year I met Pearly who is from Vietnam and she has shared with me good moments. I had learn from Pearly her culture which is amazing. Also I met Justin who is from Korea, and he has been kind with me. Indeed I'm quite grateful to life for all the positive things I have had in my life.

Another Lawsuit Against Victoria's Secret (Journal 11)

In the United States, it is common to hear that people present lawsuit against companies. The lawsuit are for different reasons. In this case the famous lingerie company Victoria's Secret is facing a new lawsuit. The lawsuit is based in the possibility of risk health problems involving the famous company. Roberta Ritter, a Victoria's Secrete costumer presented this lawsuit against the company. This woman said that every time she wore a Victoria Secret bra got burn skin underneath her breast.

Roberta Ritter filed the lawsuit against the company after she bought from the company two bras named the Angeles Secret Embrace Bra and the Very Sexy Extreme Push-Up Bra which caused her a strange effect on her skin. Roberta Ritter said that she had several symptoms such as itches, inflammation, red skin, and others. Roberta Ritter's lawyer said that Ritter is not the only woman who presented these symptoms there are more than ten women affected for this problem, and they possibly will join a potential action lawsuit against the company. The Ritter's lawyer was very astute and he sent to a lab several Victoria's Secret bras, and the bras he sent to a lab tasted positive for formaldehyde.

Roberta Ritter's doctor said that this chemical could have caused the allergic reaction on Ritter's skin. According to the web-page http://www.checnet.org/, formaldehyde is a chemical having a strong smelling, volatile organic compound (VOC) and common indoor air pollutant. Formaldehyde is used to make products of wood, and plastics and chemicals. The chemical formaldehyde is ranked as Red for Danger! However the company responded that they have high control of quality in their products, and they do not used formaldehyde in the elaboration of lingerie. A judge will decided next year if the lawsuit is possible to bring an action.

Proposition 8 (Journal 10)

Tomorrow, November 4th, citizens of The United States of America will vote to elect their new president who will guide the country for the next four years. At the same time, people will vote in favor or against of different propositions in order to make amendments to the Constitution of California. Proposition 8 is an initiative which eliminates right of same sex couples to marry in California. If the proposition pass, a new section will be added ruling the marriage in the state of California. The new section would contain this stipulation "only marriage between a man and woman is valid or recognized in California."
In March 2000, California voters passed proposition 22 to specify in state law that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. In May 2008, the California Supreme Court decided that proposition 22 and other statutes that limit the marriage between a man and a woman violated the equal protection clause of the Constitution of California. As a result, on June 17, 2008 California recognized the right of individuals of the same sex to marry under the California Constitution. According to Los Angeles Times, 16,000 same-sex couples have married since June 17th. Many experts in law have said that proposition 8 will fix some mistakes by reaffirming traditional marriage, but this new amendment won't be applied retroactively which means that it won't take away rights of the marriages rule by the Constitution in force.
In my point of view, proposition 8 is unfair. It is not possible take away rights of people with different characteristics. The Constitution of California must to protect all the individuals in equal conditions. Preposition 8 not only is unfair, but also is unnecessary because its effects will hit the economy of the state of California. This would result a decrease in revenue, primarily sales tax revenue, in the state of California.

My English Process

I have been studying English during nine months at Cal State Fullerton. In my first semester, it was difficult for me to write a single paragraph, but now I'm writing essays. In this semester, I have advanced more in my composition class. The composition class has been one of the most important subjects in which I have improve my English skill. I feel more comfortable, and confident writing in English than never before.

It has been a progressive process in which I have noticed a improvement in my writing work. The instructor has given me the necessaries tools in order to correct my writing process. Also, I think ALP it is good English program, but it is crucial the enthusiasm of each student which determines the ability to learn English. I have the enthusiasm, and brave to choose complicate topics such as foreclosure houses in the U.S because this is the best way to have an advance in English writing.

I know that the ability to write is not easy even for native English speakers. Therefore, it is very important to keep writing, and to keep learning. I will put all my energy and time at school because there is not other way to learn and improve my English. Even more the school is the only way to progress and reach my goals. The work it is not easy, but Little by Little I'll improve my English writing.

The Rotary Club (Free Journal)

Rotary International was founded in 1905 by Paul P. Harris. His first project consisted of building public restrooms in the city of Chicago. To these days the organization has 32,000 clubs with 1.2 millions members. The organization has spread to more than 200 countries according to the Rotary International web-site. The Rotary Club is a organization which help improve many areas in the society. Poverty, health, hunger, illiteracy, and the environment are the root of the Rotary Club.

Fullerton Sunrise Rotary is one of the clubs belonged to this organization. Sunrise Rotary has worked in Fullerton giving help to countless people in neighboring areas. Carolyn Johnson is the president of Sunrise Rotary Club. Carolyn Johnson along with the organization has worked serving the community. For example, Sunrise Rotary is working in a project to provide clean water in a Village in Nigeria.

Fullerton Sunrise Rotary has gone door by door looking for donation. Sunrise Rotary is now working in a project to help children in the Fullerton Unified School District. The project will help financially to Family Assessment Counseling and Education Services, Inc; which is an organization that specializes in family counseling. "We are very careful about making sure the money goes to where it's suppose to be spent", Carolyn Johnson said. The Rotary Club is an amazing organization battling problems in the society.

Tuesdays with Morrie

Title · Tuesdays With Morrie: An Old Man, A young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson
Author · Mitch Albom
Genre · Autobiographical documentary
Language · English

"Tuesdays with Morrie" is not a famous movie, but it is my favorite film. The movie is based in a true story. Also is based in a book that has the same name ''Tuesdays with Morrie", by Mitch Albom. It is a great story about a professor called Morrie Schwartz and his student, Mich Albom, who is the author of the book. This story about Morrie has touched my heart, I’m sure has touched the heart of every single person who has watched “Tuesdays with Morrie”, is also a reflection of my memories, a reflection of my life with my old professor. Mitch Albom started this movie with the words “The last class of my old professor’s life took place once a week, in his home. The class met on Tuesdays. No books were required. The subject was the meaning of life.” Morrie shared many thoughts with Mitch Albom; thoughts that could help people change their material beliefs for spiritual beliefs. He calls these thoughts his “final thesis.” Morrie saw life different from most other people. Philosophy of life is the principal theme in “Tuesdays with Morrie.” Many topics are mentioned in this movie, but some of the most important are about love, family, and emotions.

The story begins with Mitch who is an important sport reporter. Mitch had a professor, Morrie, who promised to keep in touch. Mitch with his busy life forgot to be in communication with his professor. One day Mitch was watching the TV when he saw to his old professor. Morrie was giving an interview to Tend Koppel. In the TV show program, Koppel related the life of Morrie Schwartz who was a philosophy teacher for about thirty years. Morrie who had a good reputation, and was an excellent person, had a mortal illness. Morrie had just a couple of months of life.

When Mitch knew about Morrie's illness through the TV show, he decided to visited Morrie, and he flew from Detroit to Massachusetts to see Morrie. After 16 years Morrie and Mitch met again. Morrie never forgot to Morrie, and his first reaction was gave a hug to Mitch. Mitch visited Morrie on Tuesday then he flew every Tuesday to visit to Morrie, and both together started talking about death, fear, aging, greed, marriage, family, society, forgiveness, and a meaningful life. Mitch wrote a book, "Tuesdays with Morrie", this was the last thesis of Morrie's life. The book is about Morrie's life and his thoughts.

In conclusion, this movie is an amazing story of love to the life. The story of a professor who changed the life of his student, and now it is changing the life of the people who have watched or read "Tuesdays with Morrie". To learn how to live, to learn how to accept the circumstances of life are the great lesson that Morrie Schwartz has taught indirectly to each person. Definitely it is the best movie I have ever watched not only for the wonderful love story, but also for the strong connection I felt with the author because I have a professor who has made a difference in my life.

why high gas prices (Journal 6)

People are worried about the high prices of gas. Gas prices have reached record high according to AAA's Fuel Gauge Index which measures gas prices around the nation. Gas prices in 2001 cost just 1.53. Today the price of the gas per galon is about 3.60 per galon. The refining capacity, the supply and demand, and the lack of politics of energy are some of the the causes of the high prices in gas.

One of the most important factors in the cost of refining is the process of transforming oil into gasoline. Even if the oil were cheap its transformation is quite expensive. Existing refineries in the U.S that produce gasoline and other oil-products in the 90 percent plus range of their capacity, and it causes the lack of oil production. There is a big demand of oil and refineries cannot stock up this demand. One solution is opening new refineries, but not new refineries have been built in the U.S for over 32 years because these are subject to environmental restrictions.

The second factor is the supply and demand. China, India, Indonesia, and other third world countries are using more oil because their middle class population is growing, so they demand a large amount of oil. Americans also are consuming more gasoline today than a years before. Moreover, high demand from growing countries is keeping oil prices high. The world economy has been growing rapidly as a result, oil demand has been increasing faster, and it causes high prices in gas.

Finally, the lack of politics of energy is other factor that causes high prices in oil. Politics of energy need to be reformed in order to regulate alternative energy, for example, the exploration of new areas where government can drill oil, the building of nuclear power plants, and other kind of alternative energy. The politics of energy in force do not allow drilled oil in new areas where it is known oil exists. At the same time, the law in force contains environmental regulations that restrict built nuclear power plants. The U.S has not built a single nuclear plant in the last 12 years because of the restrictions in law.

In conclusion, the refining capacity, the supply and demand, and the lack of politics of energy are three important factors which determinate high prices of gas. The world has changed, and it needs to adapt new discoveries about alternative energy. The U.S needs to build new refineries, nuclear power plants, and it is urgent to reform the law in force which has environmental restrictions that do not allow working in finding alternative energy.

Tourism causes benefits and problems (Journal 5)

Tourism is an important factor in the economy of many countries. According with some researches the tourism constitutes one of the most significant sources of incomes of a nation. For many developing countries, in particular small economies, tourism is the strongest economic sector. Tourism not only provides economic benefits, but also it provides certain disadvantages.It is true that tourism brings good incomes in the economy of some countries, but also it brings some problems which affect directly the environment of those countries surrounded by tourists.

Since tourism plays a important role in the improvement of the economy of developing countries, it has become a plataform in which exists a transformation in the lack of economic resources into a wealth economic. Tourism also provides the increase of employment. Many industries are benefited by the tourism, which is a important factor that provides new jobs. Tourism also provides excellent benefits to the countries bringing cultural pride and reduce the vulnerability.

In contrast, tourism provokes environmental impacts in those countries where the affluence of tourist is enormous. In those countries which are characterized for having natural areas, is where exists environmental damages. An increase in the tourism can ruin areas of natural beauty. Tourism can damage coral reefs, pollute beaches and destroy natural areas. Tourism also creates great consume of resources, for example, energy, water, and other. Tourism also bring changes in the infrastructure of the country because the more tourism, the more increase of construction which affect natural lands.

Indeed, many are the benefits that tourism brings to developing countries. Many industries are benefited with the affluence of tourism which contribute in the creation of job opportunities. The economic of the countries increase its profit. At the same time diverse are the impacts that tourism carried to those natural areas. The environment is suffer a change in its original structure which are fatal since natural resource are not renewable.

Getty Center Museum and Bowers Museum (Journal 4)

The Southern California has many museums to visit, but two interesting museums are The Getty Center Museum and the Bowers Museum. The two museums are full of valuables pieces of art which make of them two attractive places to visit. Both museums received every year thousand of visitors, and the two museums are considered part important in the history of California. The two museums look very similar, but both museum have many differences.

First of all, The Getty Center was founded in 1983, by J. Paul Getty who also donated this building. The museum is characterized for its singular architecture which is Modernism. The Getty Center was built over a mountain which makes of the place an amazing and unique museum. The visitors must to leave their cars in a building located five miles from the museum, and they have to ride a train from the top of the parking lot to the installations of the museum. Riding the train is other singularity of the museum because you can admire the beutiful enviroment surrounded around while you are transported to the museum.

In contrast, The bowers Museum was founded in 1936 by Charles Bowers who donated the land where the museum is located. It has more of 70 years of history. The architecture of the bowers museum is Classic Spanish very different from The Getty center which is contemporany. The Bowers Museum is located in the city of Santa Ana, California. Arrived to this place is very easy by following a map, and the parking is located in the same building.

Other difference is that The Getty Center Museum has many room with exposing pieces the art but basically it exhibits paints. The museum possess important paints from Van Gogh and Monett. The Getty Center has recently a especial exposition of the work of a famous Italian sculptor who name is Cian Lorenzo Bernini from 1598-1680. The sculptures of Cian Lorenzo were made with the influence of the Catholic religion. The museum also offer a exposition of photography.

Whereas The Bowers Museum has six permanent galleries. The museum basically exibits pieces from the Azteca culture from Mexico, and other Asian cultures. The Bowers Museum offers a exposition of jewerly that makes one of the most important galleries in the museum. The Bowers museum has in these days a exposition of the Chinese culture which is called "Terra Cotta Warrios". The figures have over 2200 years old. Only two museums in the U.S have this especial exhibition because of the difficult transportation of those pieces.

In conclusion, both museums look very similar but are differentes. Nevertheless both museums are interesting places to visit in the state of California

My visit to The Getty Center (Journal 3)

On August 30, 2008 I visited The Getty Center, in Santa Monica, Ca. I was impressed of how beautiful and interesting this place is. In 1983 J. Paul Getty bought the land where today this museum is located. Mr. Paul Getty chose the famous architect Richard Mejer who is characterized for his contribution to architectural Modernism. Finally the Getty Center opened to the public in 1997. This museum is free thanks to Mr. Paul Getty who donated the building and the pieces of art that are exhibited in this amazing place.

This museum offer to the public different expositions. I had the opportunity to see a special exposition of sculptures which are the work of a famous Italian sculptor, Gian Lorenzo Bernini from 1598-1680. Some sculptures exhibit in the museum were lent by The National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, and others. The work of this sculptor is dominated by religious themes from the Western European art. The room where is the exposition of Bernini is jealously guarding.

The sculptures that most caught my attention are portrait of Cardinal Francois d' Escoubleau de Sourdis 1621-1622 it sculpture was thrown into a well during the religious unrest of 1790 fomented by the French Revolution. Other sculpture is portrait of Carlo Barberini about 1632, this portrait reveals a transformation of the traditional papal portrait because looks like speaking. Finally other sculpture that is really impressive is the portrait of Louis XIV about 1700 after Gian Lorenzo Bernini it is made of bronze and there is another sculpture made from marble in Versailles. Also, The Getty Center has some piece of art from Van Gogh and Monette. Because of its architectural style and the amazing pieces of art, The Getty Center is the best place to visit in Santa Monica, California.

Journal 2

Studying at ALP has been one of my best experiences in my life. First of all, learning English was always one of my projects in life. After I decided to study a master in customs, my need of learn English increased. I was too difficult to choose the right English school, but finally I elected the best. During the last two semesters studying at ALP, I have improved enormously my English , and it is very satisfactory when people noticed my advance.

Second, beside greatly improving my English communication skills, I have been able to make new friends from all over the world. I have had the opportunity to share with them experiences, culture and good friendship. Every time I meet a new classmate, my knowledge increases because everyone teaches me something new about her or his culture. It is really fantastic to study in a place where there are diversity of cultures. Friends are very important to me, so I must to say thanks ALP for giving me this wonderful gift.

Finally, the instructors at ALP are perfectly trained. I have learned a lot from my teachers who are people Ready to help to resolve any question. Something that I have noticed of my teachers is that they posses the ability to teach to every student in the best way because every person has different capacity to learn. It is my duty to say thanks to all my teachers for their dedication and patient. Without the help of my teacher I wouldn't have been who I am now.

In brief, being part of ALP has been a wonderful experience. I have improved my English, I have made good friends, and I have had excellent teachers. I'm proud to be a student of ALP, and belong to the history of it.

Journal 1

I'm going to introduce myself I want to tell you about my background, achievements, and my goals. My name is Leticia Chacon I was born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico. I'm the youngest of my two sisters as the youngest I was extremely spoilt by my mother who always tried to do anything for me. I raised close to my parents whou taught me good values and principles which are part important in my life. I lived a wonderful infancy I have good memories of it.

Since I was eight years old, I wished to study law and to become a lawyer. My parents thought that I would have changed my way of thinking as soon as I was grew up, but what a surprise to them because I never changed. When I was 18 years old, I was admitted in The University of Guadalajara. I was a good student always I got good grades, but I was not the kind of student who spent the whole day just studying. I liked to go out with friends to the cinema, clubes, excursions, and parks. I really enjoyed my time at the university where I made good friends.

After 4 years studying law, I became a lawyer. I worked one year for a office lawyer and two years for a famous bank in Mexico. Even when I had a job, a family, and a stable life, I felt that I needed to do something new in my life and to feel independent from my family, so I decided to change of residence. I came to the U.S to study English and possibly a master degree. Now I've been living in California for seven months, and I'm studying English at Cal State Fullerton. My wish is finish my English program and in the short time, to study my master. I know that studying in a foreing country with other languaje it is not easy, but I'll work hard to reach my goals.