Essays for Mrs. Whitman's writing class.

Below you will find some wonderful essays written by Mrs Whitman's writing class at the Fremont Middle School in Nebraska.

To view the photos they wrote about, look at the previous posting.

Cheers,

Dean

 

Comments

[wholesale cheap tisa hat]

Your blog too good, I will soon come back again, to keep at it.

[Mrs. Whitman]

My mother and I are cramped in such a small place trying to sell the contents of our newly harvested garden for some money. It is so hard with the lack of money and the lack of people who want to purchase our vegetables. I sit on the first wooden bench I see and my mother stands next to me at a nearby table. She rapidly starts unloading the, close to bursting, sack that we bought. She hands me a handful of green leafy veggies. I remember this plant that is now in my hand. It was my mother’s birthday when she got these, I gave them to her. We planted them the very next day and I was wondering why she was so excited to receive such an awful birthday gift. Now I know why they were so important. These vegetables are the only way we will be able to live because of the scarceness of money in our family.
We are surrounded by people trying to sell their products hoping that will be the ones honored enough to sell their food. It’s like we are competing in this race to see who can sell the most food as possible and it feels like the room is swirling around me. I feel my eye lids sip down shielding my eyes from what is happening around me. I am being taken out of a world of poverty and having to sell most of our food for the things we need. Now I see nothing everything is dark and gloomy and very confusing.
I open my eyes and see people literally surrounding me. I’m not on the chair anymore. I can feel the cold hard floor against my back. I am confused and have a terrible headache. My mother is sobbing but a grin spreads across her face when my eyes open. I lift myself up onto the bench and just sit with my eyes fixed on the ground. Since everyone is still gathered around us they notice the green leafy plants on our table, the ones grown from the seeds I gave my mother. People seem happy when they notice them. We started selling to the people and we sold them all and we were able to have a feast that night because we had enough money to buy extra food. I felt great because of the lousy gift I gave my mother and fainting at the market we were able to have an extra special night and most of it because of me!
By: Alexis B. (photograph #12)

[Mrs. Whitman]

I woke up today, and I went to school, if you want to call it that. I wore my nicest bright pink shirt today. I think it will be a very good day. When I go to school I saw my teacher, I asked her what we were doing today and she said she had a surprise for us! I was so exited; I couldn’t wait to see the surprise that was coming! They were all so happy! The rest of the day I was really jittery, I just couldn’t get the surprise out of my head. I wanted to know what it was!
After we ate lunch, we had sandwiches; the teacher announced the big surprise was on its way. Wait I thought, it has to be a person if it’s on it’s way, because only people can walk, well and animals. Knock, Knock, somebody was at the door everybody got up out of the wooden stumps we were sitting on to go see who was here. To our surprise it was a man, he was wearing brown pants, and a brown hat. The teacher told us all to go sit back down, because the man had to talk to us. After we sat down he started telling us how he was from America, I’ve always want to go there. He told us he has been traveling the world meeting a bunch of people, just like us! He also told us how he takes pictures of everything he sees and shows it to schools like ours back in America! He asked us is he could take a picture of us, and of course we said yes. He pulled out this thing he called a camera, it was so cool, it was jet black and very shinny. He told us he was going to count to three and then we have to put our thumbs up. One, Two, Three! I put my thumb up and smiled my biggest smile! The man said goodbye and we all ran up and gave him a hug. A little bit later it was time to go.
When I got home I ran up to my mom and told her all about school and the man who came and visited, she said it sounded very fun! she was right, it was so much fun! Later that night I found out my mom had made my favorite meal that night for dinner! It was spaghetti with yummiest, creamiest, most amazing sauce ever! This was the great end to a great day! I hope I can see that man again!
By Taylor S. (photograph #1)

[Mrs. Whitman]

It was a hot, wet, and windy day outside. I worked at the farm with everything that had to be done, like feeding the animals and planting seeds, I try to earn enough money to feed both of my children. Even though I don’t get paid much, it gives me enough to purchase food. I was done working for the day and had received my money so I traveled to the local Mercado to buy some food for my family. As I was steadily walking home, I looked carefully around me to see if there were any sticks lying on the ground to take home and use for the fire. This day I was lucky to find many sticks and branches, other days there would be nothing on the ground.
I think of my wife when I get home and my marvelous children playing in the dirt. My wife goes out to the village and makes clothes in different colorful hues. I have two kids and they can be mischievous sometimes, but it is worth it in the end. I made our house a couple of years ago when I met my wife and it still stand s tall; our house isn’t the best house you could live in, but it keeps us safe.
Life out here is intense, especially if you are poor like me. Even though we are poor and hungry most days, we have hope and know that we are going to be alright. Every day I wonder what awaits me in this cruel world and I never stop thinking of my family and how it would be if we were rich. Then I realize that being poor is better than being rich because when you are rich you don’t know how much something means to you until you lose it. I have nothing to fear because I cherish my family with all my heart.
Abby A. (photograph #8)

[Mrs. Whitman]

I’ve never seen such a beautiful building, the way the moon hits the lights in the top towers is magnificent. I’m visiting the small city of Lima, Peru. It’s all so new to me here, the way everyone must walks the streets, but that’s not even the strangest thing here, it’s their buildings. They all look like castles, so old and made of fine bricks, I just want to stand and look at it forever.
You can tell many people come to this small city to tour. From day until night hundreds of people are wandering the streets, and I am one of them, I just can’t get enough of this place! I need some where to stay though, so I decided to stay at the oldest historical hotel this city has to offer. I arrive and I’m already ecstatic to go inside! On the outside it’s humongous, there has to be thousands of pillars all along the front of this hotel. It’s a pasty white color, and even though it’s the oldest building in the city, it still looks brand new. It reminds me of the fairy tale Repunzel because at the top here are two towers, with flags blowing easily in the breeze.
I step inside and it’s absolutely breath taking. Red rugs are flowing into every room and the furniture is an old antique material it’s gorgeous. I’m dreading going to sleep because I know I will have to leave this fairy tale place in the morning, but for now I will just bask it in, and dream of what this pleasant city will bring me tomorrow.
Hanna M. (photograph #2)

[Mrs. Whitman]

Today I wake up to the brisk cold air ready to go to school. Usually I want to just sleep in but today is something to look forward to! We are going to a place I have never been before! I grab my bagged lunch and I’m off!
We are all lined up outside waiting for the bus, everyone is jumping up and down with excitement when we hear the engine of the bus roaring up the road! We all take the two steps up to the bus and sit down. We are all seated and off to……the zoo! I’ve never been here before. I hear there a lot of animals there. Maybe…bears, tigers, snakes, and even leviathan elephants! My classmates as well as I are all anxious when we see the zoo now. We get out, got our hands stamped and everyone is wandering with eyes of amazement.
Later that day, our feet and legs are tired of walking up and down hills. I’ve seen so many magnificent animals today! I have so much to tell my parents when I get home. I want to go back again sometime, and I’m almost sad to leave but very happy we got the chance to go!
We are now lining up for the bus, as I take one last look at the creatures. It was a long ride home but it was all worth it. When we arrive at the school we take a picture to put up on the chalk board at school. We said the day was a “thumbs up”!

Savannah B. (photograph #1)

[Mrs. Whitman]

I sit on a lonely bench, just me, my soul, and my god. I stare into the ever going ocean of life where many people create and share memories. The sun is setting over my west coast friends creating a beautiful missile battery of sunrays and colors. It’s as if god is opening the clouds and dropping fish food into the ocean and giving the ocean life before the night over-shadows it.
Street lights begin to snap on, and off down the boulevards and the board walk, the light house spins about with an eerie but yet still comforting feeling as it sends a beam of light around in 360 degrees. I thought everyone would be heading in for the night but there was still a couple sharing a moment together on the beach in front of my feet. I feel a sense of comfort being here next to the biggest life source on planet earth in which we call our home. Cars pass by going to their destinations that are unknown to me and the traffic stop lights flash with green, yellow, and red telling these wanderers when to stop and when to go.
Being here next to these west coast waters’ I realize my west coast friends never sleep, everyone here stays up and has a drink with friends sharing coastal memories with family that isn’t from around here, Even though I feel comfort and many do around me in this paradise, there is still sirens of police and medical persona, risking their lives for many times people they don’t know, people are still dying and being killed around me but that’s comforting also to me, I choose not to focus on the bad. Instead I focus on the good; this is just our mortal bodies. A body that grows old, a body that can consume sickness, and is not always healthy, a body that can be broken with feelings that will slow us down. Who wouldn’t want to go to the real “Paradise”? Where the lord will comfort us and we will be able to share memories again with our loved ones who aren’t with us anymore and left their mortal bodies long ago.
Although for now this is as close we can get to paradise our west coast friends see their gateway to heaven as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California USA. One of the cities besides New York that never actually “sleeps” What I have learned about being here is that the ocean and the sun seeping down over the ocean along with a mixture of the simplest things in life can create the best of thoughts and memories and is quite soothing to be among one of the great paradises’ in the great land of The United States of America.

Alex S. (photograph #2)

[Kim Cox]

These are great posts. So inspiring to hear about inspired students!

[Mrs. Whitman]

Sitting under the bridge I feel some type of comfort. The rush of cars whirring by over my head and the supply trucks going off and on the highway, just down the road. The lighting of the bridge is just right for waking up and relaxing. Escaping from home early is fun, especially since mama knows and doesn't mind.
I watch the people unload the trucks and then drive away to get more. They bring in strange items from the country of Mexico and the island of Cuba. They don't even seem to mind touching it while the workers here wear plastic gloves like there is something that could harm them. I want to go help but no one is supposed to be here or see what they are doing, but I am and no one knows.
The workers walk slowly down the platforms to go get the loads. They all talk quietly and whisper like they know I'm here, but I know they don't. The truck drivers do weird things with their hands. They flail them around in the air as they talk to each other and with the workers here in Peru. It looks really funny.
The sun hasn't even come up yet. Just the horizon line is shining like gold from the glow of the sun. It is so pretty right now, I wish Mama could see it. She probably sees it from where she lies in the cemetary. She would love to see it in person, but I bet the view from Heaven is much better than from down here. Papa cannot communicate well enough with me to know where I go so I leave him notes and hope he can read them.
Mama always told him where I would go because she knew sign language. Life was easier with Mama around, easier to talk and communicate, and just to live life in general. Papa takes good care of me, but he doesn't know what to say.
Life is much easier sitting out here under the bridge, nothing to worry about or to fret about. Everything is peaceful and calm. The workers aren't rushing around like at night when they are ready to get home to their families. They calmly walk around and keep the scene quiet and gentle while working. Papa is probably wondering where I am. The sun is rising and the workers will notice me. I run off, away from my hiding place, ready to face the world.

Sadie B. (photograph #7)

[Mrs. Whitman]

As I walk along the ocean I spot a sea of seagulls trying to find food for their hungry babies. As I walk closer to them they start to fly away to find more food, the sky is filled with both older and young seagulls. There are probably thousands of seagulls flying around me at once, It’s very noisy because the seagulls are all calling noisily to each other and looking for food. The gray-colored ocean is coming up onto the shore and as I get closer to the center of the flock I see a nest that has about twenty to thirty eggs in it.
I slowly turn my head and see a nearby village in the distance. As I walk closer to the mysterious village I see a young girl collecting sea shells. She says "hi" and returns to collecting her sea shells. Finally I get to the village and I start to hear some people talking about how all of the seagulls are coming to nest here for the day, it’s a cool sight to the villagers of the mysterious place named Seagull Land.
Traveling home I am privileged to watch the magnificent sunset in the distance, it looks like a beautiful rainbow pouring from the enormous sky. The ocean sounds like the wind rushing through the trees as the seagulls start to leave for their long journey home for the night. I don’t want to leave this beautiful sight but I know that I get to see this wonderful place tomorrow when my next adventure begins.

Kaitlyn S. (photograph #3)

[Mrs. Whitman]

Have you ever wondered what happened in another country? How other people's lives work? How things affect each and everyone's lives? Well I have, I've been wondering. Now that we have an American here in South America, it's an experience for all of us.
Here in South America our world is tad bit more difficult than the United States. We do almost the total opposite from them, especially in our small village. In our village, called Koomosoki, we go down to the bank to gather water, or to wash our clothes, bathe, and use the restroom. Doing all these things is very dangerous for us. There's always something out there waiting for us in the deep dark valleys. Compared to the United States, they have clean fresh smelling restrooms, with toilets, sinks and a vast white tub or shower.
One day I realized someone different come to our village, Koomosoki. When I say different, I mean he was differently colored; he had better clothes on than the rest of us. I knew for a fact he wasn't from here. The tall slim light skin colored man gathered us all around quickly to take a picture like maybe he was fascinated from us little boys and girls, who knows.
As we all gathered around everyone was yelling, hollering each other's names, it felt like a crazy hectic mob! He soon took the picture; it felt like some of us were unhappy. So I smiled with a fake smile, as if they weren't happy at all. Some smiled cheesy, like they were so entirely excited to see him. He said he would return quickly with a copy of the picture for all to see.
After he took the picture, he looked and smiled at me, with a sympathetic look. I came to realize I wasn't looking at him when he took the picture. Something caught my attention, a bright fuzzy bumblebee. This wasn't just a normal bumblebee, this was a ferocious bumble bee, with a hint of a little friendly in him.
As the tall, slim man came back, he showed us a colorful picture full of smiles and laughter. There I was, looking to the right. In my blue shirt, with a white collar. With my pearly white teeth and my medium length, dark brown hair. Smiling, laughing at the chuckleheaded bumblebee. This is a memory I would keep for a long time.
The man quickly gathered us around again and made us take a chair. He was going to tell us a story, of why he came, and how he lived his American life. Finally, today is the day I'll get to find out how our lives are different from one another. I've been waiting so long, and I finally can consume some information.
The light- colored man told us he traveled the world for a living, never really had a home. He grew up in Fremont Nebraska as a child and came to realize he wanted to discover the world, and find lustful discoveries. He came here to South America to see the way we worked, the same reason I've been wondering about him! This was a coincidence, a magnificent coincidence.
Today I learned something new. I learned not all American's live the way I thought they did. This man hasn't had a home for years and years now. All because he wanted to travel the world. He wanted to experience a different life from all countries. To taste new food, drink new things. This man is someone I look up to. As I grow up, I want to be someone like him. Travel the world for a living; be as passionate about everything in life. This IS someone I want to be, all because of Dean.

Alyssa E. (photograph #1)