Vocab Blog Numero 2

We have been reading Othello in class and it is tacit that we know all Shakespearean language, but I find it hard to understand. I don't think I'm the only one, but I just wanted to let everyone know that haha. From Othello, I have noticed that Iago wanted to savor every moment that he got a little closer to taking over for Othello. Othello is in control of an expansive area and is a very powerful man so I can understand why Iago would be so happy to control this, but his way of going about it is all wrong. He is a malevolent man and his actions are absolutely insane. He tells his wife and others to do his dirty work for him. For instance, he told his wife to steal Desdemona's handkerchief she gave to Othello. He also told Roderigo he could set him up with Desdemona but simply stole his money and killed him. When we were reading the play I was actually transfixed sometimes when I heard of the things he did, and also the sexual connotations the play had. I remember when Mrs. Abrams told us about a dirty beard or something or other, it was extremely disgusting. But the play made that reference for a reason so it should be mentioned. Dont worry Mrs. Abrams you didn't do anything wrong! To be honest though the movie kind of had the adverse effect on me. Maybe it was just because it was 8th period, and I was tired, but the movie had a soporific effect on me. I kept wanting to go to sleep, even though I knew the ending was exciting. I ended up just dozing for a minute, but of course that minute was when all the action happened. But I read the end of the play online so no harm was done. If Iago had taken over for Othello and would subjugate over the people of Venice I would have been so upset. He definitely shouldn't be allowed to rule over anyone especially because of the way he got some of his power. During this whole play I wonder what I would have done in their situations. Like what would I have done if I witnessed one of these events. I would have probably given all of these government officials impunity because they are defending out country, even though killing still isn't morally correct. I also would have given people pseudonyms so that their true identity couldn't be found out and they would be safe from getting killed. I feel like I have talked about enough bunkum in Othello to last a lifetime now so this is the end of this post.

Vocab Blog Numero 1

My cousin, Ben, just got back from his two month visit to Nepal and his one month voyage to India. Nepal is a relatively small country in between China and India. He graduated early from Johns Hopkins University in December and before entering Medical School he decided to take some time off. He thought it would be fun and exhilarating to help out in an orphanage in Nepal. It was actually an august orphanage because it was subsidized by the government. Before he went he had to be inoculated with a bunch of shots in order to stay healthy for his entire voyage. While he was at our grandparents he was telling us about the exorbitant prices that we pay. He told us that in Nepal and India, he would not pay over the equivalent of $2 for anything! Ben also told me that people imbibe ALL the time. They will start drinking at like 6 AM. He said they also smoke a lot, which is very unhealthy. As the only white person in this small little village in Nepal, my cousin seemed like a celebrity. He was surrounded by an entourage of people when he went into town because he had a lot of money according to their standards. I have learned a lot about third world countries from my cousin. He told me in Katmandu there is garbage lining the streets, and that stray cows roam the streets and eat it. Because of this, the smog in Nepal, specifically Katmandu, is very bad. Also, it causes the city to be noisome and the stench is so bad at times people need gas masks to breath.

My cousin after staying in the orphanage for two months then decided to travel all over India. He assured me that he would buy me something form the Taj Mahal, but of course never did :(. He also told me that the Taj was extremely tortuous inside and you can't even climb up any stairs in it because you would fall. Looking back on the Taj Mahal the builder of it was ingenious. The architectural ability that one most have to be able to do such a thing is incredible. I would not be able to even think of designing a building of that magnitude. Just to show its importance, it is the mecca for Hindus. In Islam, Muslims make a Hajj to Mecca once in their life time, but in Hinduism, people are supposed to make a Hajj to the Taj, or at least I believe so. Anyway that is all the information that I can remember about my cousins trip to Nepal and India and I hope you enjoyed.