Online Portfolio Reflection, 2nd Semester

Hello Mom and Dad!
Throughout the whole school year, I have learned and done so much. And my GLO portfolio has proven that. With other projects hanging over my head, I was still able to create a neat online portfolio that shows what I did, what I have learned, and what I have achieved. So, after you have viewed my portfolio, please proceed so that you can answer the questions below.

CLICK HERE to view my portfolio (:
1. What did you like best about my portfolio and portfolio conference? What would you like to see me improve on in my portfolio?
2. From your point of view, which of my attainments of the 6 general learner outcomes is of most value? Please explain why you feel it is important and what about my documentation of it impresses you.
3. Which of the GLOs would you like me to focus on in the coming year(s)?


Be sure to let them know that this post serves two purposes
1. It is an opportunity for you to comment on my learning.
2. It is part of my teacher's assessment of my attainment of General Learning Outcome #5, "Effective Communicator." My sharing of the portfolio should enable you, the parents to reflect and respond to the three questions above.

Sci-Fi Essay Draft: Science and Technology on the Rise

Science fiction is a certain genre of fiction in which the stories often associate with the science and technology of the future. It is very different from fantasy and more related to science, hence the name "science fiction". Everything pictured in sci-fi is something we all want to know about. It is an incubator for imaginative minds to create visions that help us to glimpse not only into the future, but also something about ourselves in the present. Science fiction exists because authors and screenwriters want to show us the possibilities we may have in the future that may affect our society positively or negatively.

Emphasizing the importance of science breakthroughs along with its potential consequences is one of the things all sci-fi writers do in their work to make a good science fiction story. It helps the audience to see and understand what might these advances can do to either help us or hurt us. In the movie, I Am Legend, the one science breakthrough was finding a vaccine for cancer. But the cancer vaccine that could have helped millions and millions of people, turned into a huge tragedy, mutating and infecting those cancer patients into blood-thirsty monsters who make it hard for the main character to live a normal life. That was not the only negative consequence of the vaccine. It also turned cancer into an airborne disease. The main character, played by Will Smith, was immune to it and was determined to find a cure for the infected. In the end, he accomplished his goal. Wall-E also has its variety of science breakthroughs, from hover chairs to automated pilots. And as always, along with these breakthroughs comes consequences. The hover chairs in Wall-E helped the people get to their destinations faster, but also made them lazy to walk. And over the years, the people began to gain weight and get bigger due to lack of movement and exercise. The auto pilot had the same effects on the captain as well. It forced the captain to form a lethargic attitude, making him lazy to steer and control the space ship himself. I Am Legend and Wall-E are two great movies that document the consequences of certain science breakthroughs.

Another element in good science fiction that authors and screenwriters highlight in their work is the technological advances in science and technology. Movies like Avatar and Iron Man, and short stories like "There Will Come Soft Rains" show and tell us about certain technological advances that may be a possibility in the future. In Avatar, scientists grew and created Na'vi-human hybrid bodies called avatars. The scientific developers of these hybrid bodies combined the genes of the Na'vi and the genes of humans. The avatars are operated via mental link by genetically matching the DNA. This is a great example of an advance in technology. Also, Iron Man has a certain technological advance that is being developed right now. It is, of course, the bionic suit. In the movie, the main character, played by Robert Downey Jr, is an industrialist and master engineer who builds a powered exoskeleton also known as the bionic suit. He then becomes the technologically advanced superhero, Iron Man. "There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury is a science fictional story that tells about an automated home that is fully unaware of the inhabitants' absence after they have died in a nuclear war. The robotic house makes breakfast, disposes of the untouched breakfast, and performs various domestic tasks (most of the time using robot mice to clean the home), before it finally burns down in a fire started by a fallen tree limb. All of Ray Bradbury's sci-fi stories puts things into perspective for me. When I read his stories, he really makes me think about how the future will be like.

Every science fiction story and movie always need a convincing plot/conflict and resolution (a.k.a. storyline) that has enticing action and suspense. This is what all sci-fi writers try to create and it is what really grabs the attention of the audience. Without a persuasive storyline, the audience won't be riveted or impressed. Movies that I think have convincing plots and resolutions are The Day After Tomorrow and I Am Legend. The Day After Tomorrow is such a sad movie that helped me to realize what is happening in our world today. The screenwriter focuses on global warming and air pollution, and how it can affect our world later in the future if we don't do anything about it now. In the movie, it starts off in the Arctic. The scientists there were observing the changes in climate of the Arctic. They noticed that the ice was beginning to melt and crack easily, proving that global warming is present on our planet today. It soon began to affect different parts of the globe causing worldwide natural disasters and developed the worst ice age in the history of the world. The movie finishes with the ice age melting away from the face of the Earth. I Am Legend is truly one of the best movies I have seen in a long time, from the cinematography to the storyline. While watching it, I always felt a sense of intensity. I kept yearning to know what would happen next. The movie kept me on edge the whole time while I was watching it.

Science fiction is all around us; in movies, books, magazines, etc. They all foretell what might become of our society's future, our planet's future, and even our universe's future. There are good and bad ramifications with science and technology pictured in sci-fi everywhere, from mutating cancer vaccines to hybrid bodies controlled through mental links by genetically matching DNA. The world around us is changing and we are probably going to depend more on technology as the years go by. Everything that makes up good science fiction are emphases on the importance of science breakthrough (including their consequences), superb technological advances/scientific breakthroughs, and always, a convincing and believable storyline (plot/conflict and resolution). These elements help the audience to become aware of the things happening in the world right now that may lead to either a bright or dark future.

Journal #32

PAINTING: The Potato Eaters By Vincent van Gogh
The poor family shares a humble meal of steaming mashed potatoes and a hot cup of tea. The mother serves the food and listens intently to her husband as he tells them about what happened at work that day. The grandfather reaches out his cup so that the grandmother can pour more tea for him to drink. Spoons and forks "clank" as the family digs into their dinner. The dim light coming from the lamp above them flickers. Their tiny, crowded home doesn't seem to bother them, and as long as they are together as a family they will always be happy.

Poetry Website Invite (:

GO TO MY --> POETRY WEBSITE

And again, please don't forget to leave a comment below.

It would be greatly appreciated! ^___^
-Sharmaine

Journal #27

I want to be compared to a camera because I'm the kind of person who likes making memories and remembering them. I first wanted to be a rubiks cube, but it didn't work out. Then I chose legos, but that was difficult as well.

Metaphor Project Reflection

Doing this metaphor project has helped me to become a better reader and writer of poetry and also has improved my skills in videography. The process to creating my self-metaphor was not easy. I first had to find something to compare myself to. Then I had to create the poem itself and finally make a video about it. My choice to compare myself to a camera was not the first one. I first had chosen a rubiks cube, then legos. I chose a camera because I'm the kind of person who wants to make memories and keep them forever. Cameras hold the captured moments in your life and you have the choice to keep them or delete them. I thought a camera was perfect for me.

Now that I had finally chosen what I wanted to be compared to, I needed to create the poem. The poem was probably the most difficult part of the process (even more difficult than the video). I had a hard time because I couldn't really think of the things that cameras do besides capture and clicking. I got a few suggestions from Mrs. S and began to create my poem. In my poem, I used the camera verbs to describe myself as a person. Here are a few quotes from my poem: "I'll always be there with you to capture the moment", "I zoom through life without regret", and "With just one click, I'll make a brief minute last a lifetime". Those are just some of the phrases in my poem that I used to compare myself to a camera. I wasn't afraid to write down what was in my mind, even if some ideas sounded cheesy. Like what I have stated in my Poetry Website, writing poems is a way for people to EXPRESS THEMSELVES. And I feel that I have shown my true self in my self-metaphor poem.

The video was very easy for me to do. After doing my poem, I already had visuals and ideas in my mind. I kept thinking about it and then made a storyboard so that I wouldn't forget anything. I used different angles and perspectives in my video. I used the camera to my advantage taking as many shots and footage as I could. The editing process was the most fun for me. To not make it look boring, I used different effects to catch people's attention. I feel that my video has been shot and edited well. For audio, I used a happy music to keep people interested. I decided to use voice overs than text because I feel that voice overs give it more meaning. My videography skills and creativity skills have definitely improved during this process.

My poem is metaphoric and full of imagery. The imagery of the poem made is what made it easy for me to film my self-metaphor video. I decided to use more verbs and nouns rather than adjectives because verbs and nouns give it a more realistic feel than just DESCRIBING with ADJECTIVES. Here are a few examples (I WILL BOLD THE VERBS AND NOUNS): "I perceive things from a different point of view", "I pan", "I tilt", "I zoom". Those are just a few examples. The rest are stated in my poem.

This project has helped me to improve my poetic skills, both reading and writing, and I had the chance to apply the skills I learned in my media class as well as enhance them. Analyzing poems using the five-step process has helped me to appreciate poems more and their meanings too. I'm hoping to do another project like this again, where we can become creative and show people our skills. (; Through this project I learned more about myself. I learned that I enjoy making videos if I set my mind to it. As a writer, I learned that it helps me to get in touch with my inner feelings. I want to continue doing poetry in the future and I hope to improve my current skills throughout the rest of the school year, or maybe even beyond that. I feel that I have accomplished my visions and goals for this project.

Journal #31 - Poetry Website

Songs: Slideshow by T.I. feat. John Legend

Stop & Stare by OneRepublic

Poems: Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost

Touched by an Angel by Maya Angelou

Self-Metaphor Poem: I am a Camera

Self-Metaphor Poem - Rough Draft

I Am a Camera

I perceive things from a different point of view,

Taking in everything as it goes,

Sometimes good, sometimes bad,

Still, through it all,

I know that I am strong enough to handle.

With just one click,

I make a brief minute last a lifetime.

I know that I can’t keep everything I have,

But I’m willing to give it up to make room for something new.

I may not be what you expect,

I’ll surprise you with the many stories and memories that I’m willing to share.

And when at times you feel like it’s going to end,

I’ll always be there with you to capture the moment.

Journal #25 - My Vocabulary History

Journal #25: Post on your own blog: “My Vocabulary History”

What are your strong points; what are your weak points when it comes to the trait of Word Choice in your writing and reading?
My strong points when it comes to the trait of word choice are that I can use simple words and still get my opinion and point out to the readers. Also, I can use long, complicated vocabulary without making the writing piece sound boring and difficult to understand. My weak points in the trait of word choice are that I sometimes use the wrong word in an incorrect manner when I try to find a synonym for the word I'm trying to replace. When I read articles, books, etc. there are some words that I do not know the meaning of.

Describe how you have studied vocabulary in the past. What kinds of class activities and assignments have you experienced to work on your word choice?
In the past, I had workbooks that helped me expand my vocabulary.

Describe how you, personally, learn new words. Give a specific example of how you have learned a new word recently.
I personally learn new words by reading. When I read and come across a word that I have never seen or heard of before, I go straight to a dictionary to see what it means because I lose track on where the story is going. For example, eversince we started reading To Kill a Mockingbird, I have stubled across some difficult words like assuaged. I learned that assuage means to to make milder or less severe.

What are your specific vocabulary/word choice goals? How many new words would you like to learn this semester?
Overall, i would just like to learn more and new vocabulary and use them in my daily life. I would like to learn a lot of words that would help me throughout my high-school career.

What will be your evidence that you “own them” and can use them in your speaking and writing?
My evidence is that I improved more on my essays.

Journal #20 - My Final Minutes of 2009

New Year’s Eve...The day where everyone celebrates the coming of a new year with a “BANG!” (LITERALLY!!!) I check to see the time on my cell and it’s 11:55 at night. “Ohhhh Myyyy Goshhhh! 5 minutes more till 2009 is over,” I think to myself. I’m popping fireworks with my cousins. We light up everything we can. The neighbors begin to pop the illegal kinds of fireworks that shoot up in the sky and make a big BOOM! I look up and see the bright colors of pink, green, purple, blue, and gold. I hear the cute, little screams from my baby cousins as they gaze up at the sky in amazement. All of my family gathers outside the house together making the most of the last five minutes of 2009. Time definitely goes by quick and before I knew it, I hear everyone saying, “5…4…3…2…1! HAPPY NEW YEAR!” My cousins and I pop the last batch of fireworks and I go over to my family and greet them a happy new year. I hug every person in sight with teary eyes. Yes, I’m filled with sadness as I say goodbye to the year 2009, but I know 2010 will have something good in store for me!

Online Portfolio Reflection, 1st Semester

Throughout the semester, I have learned many things. My online portfolio is used to display all of the works and learning I have done in school.

Your comment posts serves two purposes:

1. It is an opportunity for you to comment on my learning.
2. It is a part of my teacher's assessment of my attainment of General Learning Outcome #5, "Effective Communicator". My sharing of my portfolio should enable you, the parents, to reflect and respond to the three following questions.

QUESTIONS:

1. What did you like best about my portfolio and portfolio conference? What would you like to see me improve on in my portfolio?
   
2. From your point of view, which of my attainments of the 4 traits of writing is of most value? Please explain why you feel it is important and what about my documentation of it impresses you.
   
3. Which of the traits of writing would you like me to focus on in the coming semester?

Theme Essay - Empathy

True empathy can never exist until one has walked the same path as the one who needs sympathy and understanding. Feeling empathetic does not mean to feel pity or to feel sorry for. Instead, it means to see things from a new perspective and to put yourself in another person’s position. I used to think that I lacked the quality to feel for others, especially for those who created their own trouble. I’d always say to myself, “Why should I feel for them?” But over the past few years, as my self-awareness has grown, so has my ability to feel empathy.

Empathy occurs when the heart is softened by the hardships of life, and when someone is able to understand the other’s situation more fully. But how can one be genuinely empathetic? True empathy is rare, but it can be an eye-opening experience. Disposing our characteristic of fear and cultivating the trait of compassion is a huge step to being empathetic. By becoming fearless, we are able to open up to new things and new people. Having fear prevents us from wanting to understand the other person’s point of view because we are afraid of being proved wrong. For example, you see a boy with tattoos. You quickly judge him and say that he’s a punk. But once you get to know the person, you actually see that he’s a nice guy. And by being compassionate, we attune to the needs and feelings of the person we want to help. When we resist the needs and feelings of others, it is pretty hard to really open yourself to them enough to know what is going on.

One of the many definitions of empathy is to put yourself in another person’s shoes. But what does that really mean? It means being aware of, being sensitive to, having the action of understanding, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of another of either the past or present without explicitly articulating these feelings.

The one time where I felt really and truly empathetic, was when I helped serve food at the Kaka’ako Homeless Shelter during November of last year. While serving them food, I had a brief moment in which I saw myself as one of them. I imagined myself living on the streets, begging people either for money or food. Before, I used to be unaware of my surroundings that I didn’t really care much for those who stood on the sidewalks of highways, holding up signs saying, “PLEASE HELP. I NEED MONEY.” I would just look at them and think to myself, “Why don’t they get a job?! That’s the reason why they are living like that. They caused their own troubles. Good for them.”

Helping at the homeless shelter and those who are less fortunate didn’t make me feel sorry for them, rather, it made me want to help them, to give them hope. I can give hope to them by giving them words of encouragement and cheer to help them understand that someone has gone through what they are going through and that there’s always someone there to provide help and relief. Through this experience, I have learned how to give more attention and awareness to the people around me, and that I’m not the only one with worries and problems in this world.

True empathy is a complicated but a rare event. It is indeed difficult to overcome fears and the desire to argue or persuade and to listen attentively to understand. To make it easier for us to empathize with others, we need to become less self-centered, and become more compassionate. Often times, all many need are just an understanding, a few kind words, and a shoulder to lean on. It seems to me that those things are not too much to ask for.

KC3 - Cause and Effect Essay Draft

TOPIC: Renewable Resources

SUBTOPIC: Biomass Fuel

Renewable Resources: Biomass Fuel

Hawaii has been dependent on foreign oil and imported fossil fuels. Now, oil prices and gas prices are rising, and the demand for these fuels are high. Hawaii needs new and better ways to produce energy. What better way to do that than by using biomass fuels? Biomass fuels (aka biofuels) are renewable energy from plants and animals, and refer to anything that can burn or decompose to provide energy and power. It is more suitable than fossil fuels, and can be implemented directly or with relatively low investment costs. Using biofuels can help make the world cleaner and greener, but sometimes, the process to making biofuels can be harmful to the environment if not controlled properly.

Global warming, air pollution, and greenhouse gases are some of the reasons why Hawaii needs to start using biomass for energy. There are different types of biomass and there are different ways in which we can convert them into energy. The different kinds of biomass are wood, crops, garbage, landfill gas, and alcohol fuels. The usual way to produce biofuels is to burn it. But burning biomass isn't the only way to release its energy. It can be converted into methane gas or transportation fuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel. Corn and sugar cane can be fermented to make ethanol. Biodiesel is made from left-over food products like vegetable oils and animal fats.

Another reason why we need new resources for energy is because oil and gas prices are increasing , and the amount of fossil fuels are decreasing. We have been too dependent on these resources, and we need new solutions. Hawaii gasoline prices historically are higher than on the mainland and follow trends at a slower pace. Critics have argued that oil companies have kept their prices fictitiously high to take advantage of the small businesses in Hawaii.

Using biomass for energy may cut back on waste and greenhouse gas emmisions. Landfills can be a source of energy too. If we burned all the garbage and waste in landfills for energy, there would be less trash in landfills that get buried! But burning these wastes can release harmful chemicals and substances, such as carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Even though the process may be unsafe, using fossil fuels are much worse!

Biofuels are currently providing 4% of the energy used in the United States and 14% globally. Using biomass for energy is more suitable than fossil fuels because it costs less and is abundant in Hawaii. Hawaii has enough arable land to meet our fuel needs. 200,000 acres of 675,000 acres of land are being used as prime agricultural land.

In conclusion, biomass is a good solution and alternative to oil. Making use of wood waste and other waste products can help reduce the trash put into landfills. And using biomass can also help reduce air pollution and the emissions of greenhouse gases. There are still many issues to be worked out with ethanol and biofuel, but these alternative fuels may play a bigger role in meeting our energy needs for transportation in the future. If Hawaii makes the change to go green (and as green as possible) we could cut the demand for gasoline below 300 million gallons per year by 2025!

Journal #14 - Thesis Statement

TOPIC: Renewable Resources

SUBTOPIC: Biomass Fuel

THESIS STATEMENT: Because of the increasing demand for oil, biomass fuels can help provide energy for homes, cars, etc. and cure its dependence on foreign oil. It is also better than fossil fuels and can be implemented directly or with relatively low investment costs.

Journal #4 - Response to Teacher Commentary on Writing Pre-Assessment

Mrs. Sueoka,

I can see where i might need some work. I should've put more details about my grandpa and our relationship, just like you suggested. I also could've added things to describe his funeral and what i did to help with the preparation. I know that my organization, sentence fluency, word choice, and ideas were kind of on the weak side. I'll be sure to work on these traits throughout the year.

-Sharmaine Sebastian

Querencia - Essay Draft

Empire State of Mind

By Sharmaine Sebastian

I wait impatiently for my dad to pick me up from school. I sit under the palm tree unable to stick around the school for a little longer. Finally after 5 long minutes, I see the silver-gold car gleaming in the sunlight, taking the left turn to the front of the school. I hop into the car and laid my head back on the seat. “How was your day?” my dad asked. I replied, “Uhm, it was good.” We stopped talking after that. I couldn’t wait to get home.

My dad drove onto the driveway, and I begin to gaze at the white and maroon house. It still looked the same as it was when we recently bought it during December of 2008. The green palm trees and green bushes around our home gave it a woodsy and tropical appearance. I got out of the car right after it came to a stop. I thought to myself, “Yes. I’m finally home!”

As I walked into the living room downstairs, I saw my grandma sitting on the couch. I go over to her and hug her. I run up the stairs, passing by the old-looking kitchen. It really needs to be repaired. The stairs were old too. While walking up the stairs, I could hear the creaking of it. That felt very uncomfortable. I kept thinking that it would break.

I could see my cousin in the living room as I took the last step on the stairs. He was watching football like always. I drop my bags onto the floor and then he gave me the remote to change the channel, but I refused. I said, “Oh. It’s okay. I’m going to go to my room, and do my homework.” He didn’t respond. But I stayed in the living room for ten minutes though, so that I could relax for a while. I examined everything about the living room. The white paint was flawless. There were no chips in it. The room was kind of messy too. Papers and books were scattered across the coffee table. Most of them belonged to my cousin. He likes to read a lot.

I stare out the window. I took in the view of the mountains. I can see it clearly from where I was sitting. It would be about an hour before the sun goes down. “I better get started on my homework,” I said. “Okay,” said my cousin. I grabbed all of my books and bags and went to my room. I put the key into the gold door knob, turned it, and opened my door. The cool breeze hits my face every time I walk in. It always refreshes me and has the scent of my perfume, peach & honey.

I place my books onto my bed and bags onto the ceramic-tiled floor, took off my shoes, and I lay down, very exhausted. The light outside shined through the windows and brightens up my room. The pink blinds compliment the very white walls, which were covered in posters and pictures of my friends and me. I love decorating my room. It lets me express myself without limits. I sometimes draw my own pictures and post it up on my wall.

The flower print comforter and my hello kitty pillow make me feel like I’m still a little girl. (To be honest, I like that feeling) I examine it carefully, noticing the lace around the ends of the comforter. Then my closet caught my eye. My clothes were hung the way it’s supposed to, color coordinated and separated by category. Jackets were all the way at the beginning of my closet, and then it would be t-shirts, blouses, dresses, and jeans. The shelves above held my bags, shoes, and boxes of old clothes from when I was a baby. I laugh to myself thinking about those days. Then it reminded me of the old wardrobe I had ever since I was born. I saw it sitting in the far left corner of my room. The stickers I placed on it since I was 3 were still there, along with the many markings made of crayons, markers, and paint. (You won’t believe how many times I got scolded for doing all of that)

To the right of the wardrobe, was my dresser. My note books, hello kitty jewelry box, make-up, perfume, lotion, deodorant, facial cleansers, and other daily essentials were on top of it. It didn’t look organized, but it wasn’t messy either. I spot my stereo on the right corner of my eye. I decide to turn it on, putting in a CD of classical music from Mozart, Debussy, Beethoven, and Pachelbel. I heard Claire de Lune being played.

I have different personalities when I’m in my room, but I don’t have a personality disorder. I can be a nerd if I wanted to, just by reading a book or even organizing my book shelf. I could act like a musical genius, just by listening to classical music like I am right now. Or I can just be downright crazy when I play alternative music very loud that it would force my parents to pound on my door so hard and yell at me to turn it down a notch. I’ll admit that I can be very unusual.

After being distracted by everything around me, I started on my homework. It's 6:03 p.m. I have just completed all of my assignments. Now, there wasn’t anything else I wanted to do but chill and hang loose. I jump onto my bed, sprawl on my back, and cover my face with a pillow. I slowly fall into a trance and all of my worries, stress, and problems disappear. I’m in my own world now, my own empire, my own state of mind. There’s nothing that can bring me down, not even gravity. (If you know what I mean) This place brings out the true me and helps me to know more about who I really am. I feel so secure in my room because there’s no one that can judge me besides God.

Journal #9 - Cultural Roots/Heritage/Identity Story

The book I'm reading is "When My Name was Keoko".

My novel is related to culural roots because the Koreans have their own way of life and so do the Japanese. The Japanese invade Korea, make the Koreans change their names, and teach them a whole different way of life. They have to count in japanese, write in japanese, and they can't even fly the korean flag.

EXAMPLE: "The government order spoke of wishing to make our land more beautiful, with thousands of cherry trees. But it wasn't just a wish for beauty. The cherry tree was a national symbol of Japan.

And the final part of the order was that all rose of Sharon trees had to be uprooted and burned." (The Sharon tree was the national tree of korea.)

My novel is related to cultural heritage because it shows how proud Sun-hee and Tae-yul of their background, and their parents as well. They are willing to do anything to get their country back and to help their family.

EXAMPLE: In order to protect his uncle, Tae-yul enlists in the Japanese army.

My novel is related to cultural identity because ever since they have changed their names it seems like they've lost their korean identity. But it doesnt change who they really are. They stay true to themselves and their family.

EXAMPLE: "Bow", he whispers. "Bow to the Korean flag."

"Never forget," he says.

Journal #8 - Brainstorming: My Favorite Place(s)

1. My Room

- It is quiet and peaceful. A good place to relax.

- It has a good view of the mountains and the sunrise.

- A place where i can let loose and not care what anyone thinks of me. A place where i can express myself.

2. The park near my neighborhood

- It is very breezy there.

- A nice, peaceful place where you can lay on the green grass and read a book, listen to your iPod.

- There's this bench where i sit on and i reflect.

3. The Mall

- I can hang out with friends

- buy things (clothes, food, etc.)

- always full of people

Roots & Recipes - Final Revision

My Mom's Pinakbet

By Sharmaine Sebastian

Usually every Monday, as I walk through the main door of my house, I hear the chopping of string beans, garlic, and ginger. And I knew that my mom would be cooking her favorite dish today, Pinkabet. I have to say that this is my favorite Filipino dish too!

I go to the kitchen, dropping all of my bags and books to the floor, smelling the aroma of squash, okra, eggplant, tomatoes, and bitter melons being boiled in bagoong. I used to hate that smell as a kid, but I got over it and learned to love it. My mother greets me with a sweet hello, and I smile back at her knowing that in about half an hour, those veggies would be melting in my mouth.

You know, I never did see my mom use measuring utensils before. And to this day, I’m still confused about how my mom would know when the food is done without a timer, or even how she would know that the taste is perfect, that it might need something to give it that zing.

I shuffle back and forth from my room to the kitchen. The sizzling bite-size pieces of pork that would soon be put into the pinakbet, were being sautéed in the frying pan. I saw my mother add a cup of water to the boiling pot. She lifted the cover and steam flew out of the pot, along with the different savory scents of the dish. I walked to the stove so that I could peek inside. The vegetables broiled under hot water. I could already smell the garlic, ginger, and bagoong.

It is 5:30 p.m. and I had just finished all my homework. I attempt to distract myself from what awaits me at the dinner table. I hear my stomach growling. I try to stop it by eating a piece of bread, but it just wouldn’t keep quiet.

I help my grandma set up the dinner table (it was all part of the plan to distract myself). My mother goes to the stove, grabs the pot, and places it on the table. She tells me to call all of our family to come up and eat. I became so annoyed because they took forever to walk up the stairs.

We’re all together now and my grandma removes the top of the pot. “Yummy” was all I could think about as the sight of squash, string beans, okra, eggplant, tomatoes, bitter melons, and shrimp came into view. Each of us took spoonfuls and poured it onto our plates. I could hear the sound of satisfaction from the people around me as I take a bite of the soft eggplant and the green string beans. It melted in my mouth like I knew it would. The sweetness from the squash complimented the saltiness of the shrimp and pork, as well as the bitterness if the bitter melon. I tried to make my plate last because I knew that if I went back for seconds, there would be nothing in the left in the pot when I get there.

Every time my mother makes pinakbet, I sense a positive vibe in the kitchen. I can see that this dish is very special and important to my mom because she always has to make it perfect as possible, without flaws. I sometimes ask myself, “Will she teach me how to make it one day?” I have hope in me that she will. It’s a tradition and I’ll be sure to carry it on.

Roots & Reicpes - Essay Draft

My Mother's Pinakbet

By Sharmaine Sebastian

Usually every Monday, as I walk through the main door of my house, I hear the chopping of string beans, garlic, and ginger. And I knew that my mom would be cooking her favorite dish today, Pinkabet. I have to say that this is my favorite Filipino dish too, next to pancit.

I go to the kitchen, dropping all of my bags and books to the floor, smelling the aroma of squash, okra, eggplant, tomatoes, and bitter melons being boiled in bagoong. I used to hate that smell as a kid, but I got over it and learned to love it. My mother greets me with a sweet hello, and I smile back at her knowing that in about half an hour, those veggies would be melting in my mouth.

You know, I never did see my mom use measuring utensils before. And to this day, I’m still confused about how my mom would know when the food is done without a timer, or even how she would know that the taste is perfect, that it might need something to give it that zing.

I shuffle back and forth from my room to the kitchen. The sizzling bite-size pieces of pork that would soon be put into the pinakbet, were being sautéed in the frying pan. I saw my mother add a cup of water to the boiling pot. She lifted the cover and steam flew out of the pot, along with the different savory scents of the dish. I could already smell the garlic, ginger, and bagoong.

It is 5:30 p.m. and I had just finished all my homework. I attempt to distract myself from what awaits me at the dinner table. I hear my stomach growling. I try to stop it by eating a piece of bread, but it just wouldn’t keep quiet.

I help my grandma set up the dinner table (it was all part of the plan to distract myself). My mother goes to the stove, grabs the pot, and places it on the table. She tells me to call all of our family to come up and eat. I became so annoyed because they took forever to walk up the stairs.

We’re all together now and my grandma removes the top of the pot. “Yummy” was all I could think of as the sight of squash, string beans, okra, eggplant, tomatoes, bitter melons, and shrimp came into view. Each of us took spoonfuls and poured it on our plates. I could hear the sound of satisfaction from the people around me as I take a bite of the soft eggplant and the green string beans. It melted in my mouth like I knew it would. I tried to make my plate last because I knew that if I went back for seconds, there would be nothing in the pot when I get there.

Every time my mother makes pinakbet, I wonder if she’d teach me how to make it someday. I only helped her once, and only once! That kind of disappointed me because I knew that I could’ve done more than just wash the vegetables. I think the reason is that my mom is very, let’s say “protective” of her dish. I guess she didn’t want me to ruin it. But anyway, I know that she’s going to teach me how to make pinakbet. It’s a tradition and I’ll be sure to carry it on.