Dear Diary,

 

I can’t control anything in my life anymore, everything happens in an instant. A wave of grief hovers inside me as I hear screams of children crying in pain and parents shouting, pleading for mercy.

 

We board the boat hoping to have a healthier lifestyle, oh were we wrong. The salty water of the sea burns my eyes as the revolting smell of vomit takes over my nostrils. I overhear the weeping of others surrounding me. I will never forget this day, the echoes of people howling will torment me forever. I gaze at the smoke filling in the gaps of the dark night sky. Cool touch of the cold droplets together with the wind brushes towards me causing me to shiver.

 

I was dozing off when I felt a sudden stop. I heard people sob for joy, while others whine in guilt leaving their families behind. We slowly come to the exit. I cough due to the smoke entering my lungs, I look up at the night sky looking at the clouds overpowering the dull stars. This place is nothing like home, I started to worry as I stared at my dads face. His face looked like a puppy that lost its owner. We finally start to walk not knowing where we are or what would happen next.  We come across a fancy bakery, with many different delicacies. I watched the cake as its icing drizzled down. 

 

My dad led me to this fancy doorstep, I was excited, finally getting off the streets. My excitement, happiness and joy started to fade away as my dad bent down, kissed me on the forehead and left. I will never forget the look on his face when he turned around to look at me for the last time. His glance looked guilty, angry, that’s when he put up his umbrella and left.

 

 I still feel the kiss he implanted on my cheek.

 I skip blissfully from side to side through gloomy weather down a dark lonely alleyway drowning in snow. I slowly come to a stop, sliding across a garden of stone cold ice. Distracted by a blackboard, what caught my attention were the layers of names built on top of each other. Suddenly I locate a spot, it is reserved just for me! Without a doubt I quickly take a random piece of chalk and write my name.

 

Backing up to see my name blend in with many others. My smile of pride eventually dissolves into a face of despair and confusion. A creaky spontaneous sound creeps up behind me… Turning steadily, finding myself a doll who seems oddly familiar. Moving closer to get a clear view, forgetting about my name on the wall. Looking back at the doll with the same blank stare while wiping the fog off the window, noticing that it looks like me! I take a quick look at myself then again try to look at the doll, it has disappeared… I go on the tip of my toes and push myself up to look around. The doll is nowhere to be seen. 

 

I walk over to where the door is, and took a quick peek. There it is my mini me, sitting on top of a table. I try to barge in through the door, it won’t budge. All that is left is a foolish door and a sense of rising anger. I stand there with a pout, seeing the snow on the ground, pick it up, make a snowball and throw it at the door with no remorse! I trudge away angrily, then out of the blue I hear the door creaking open, together with the ring of a bell. I rush with excitement to the door and make my way in.

 

The soft echo of my footsteps doesn’t bother me. I have come here for one thing! I look at the doll delighted by its detail. I allow myself to reach out to the doll however I trip on a male wooden doll, in a suit riding a bike, laying sideways. I pick it up, put it right side up and it rides ferally towards the door like it was about to escape.  The door has closed but the doll keeps slamming non stop into it. That was besides the point though, I have to get the doll. I glance back up to look at the doll, it is missing again… Here we go, I am on the search again for the doll, I look up. There it is on one of the shelves. I run to the couch and climb up, shoving dolls aside on the way up. Made it ! I pull off my mitten, and reach out for the doll.

 

I got it! Once I touch the doll, I have a vision of baby dolls flying while feeling the cold touch of the glass doll. It suddenly goes black. My eyes open, it is like I have woken up from a nap… Something seems different. I can’t move, my vision looks like I’m looking through a fish lens. I start to panic, I can hear myself breathing heavily. My eyes click whenever I blink or look around. The thought of never seeing my family again haunts me. In an instant I hear a familiar mechanical sound that lured me towards this room. It is the reason I am trapped inside this glass doll. The only difference is that a new doll has arrived and is ready to tempt another victim into entering this cold and empty body of another doll.

A Baleen whale is a different kind of whale, they have baleen instead of teeth. Baleen Whales has a unique filtering system for feeding. They have hair like baleen that strains or filters their food from water. The diet of the Baleen whale changed caused by the ocean currents that flow at the bottom of the earth which lures krill and planktons. Since Baleen Whales don’t hunt for large prey their teeth is no longer in use which makes them form into bristles. The baleen is used like a sieve to catch prey. The Baleen Whales that we have in NZ are Humpback and Southern Right Whales.

 

There was a famous Maori Pilot named Johnny Pohe. He was captured and was taken to prisoner of camp (POW) . He escaped but was captured again and was executed together with another New Zealand Pilot, Arnold Christensen.

 

John 15:1 –

 I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.

 

Good Friday is the day Jesus was crucified on the cross. It is like a tradition, every year Room 8 shows the juniors what Jesus had gone through. We act it out so it could be more understandable, and easier to strengthen our belief. 

 

It was so silent, the sun grew dim as we started our act. My role was to read the script, like a narrator. As I was reading the script and watching my fellow classmates playing their role, I could feel the pain and suffering Jesus felt.

 

First station, Jesus is condemned. 

In this station Jesus was unfairly accused for spreading His faith and beliefs with people that needed to be saved. Pontius Pilot falsely declares Jesus as guilty due to the pressure of the crowd.

This tells us that people sometimes forget their own values and morals just to keep our wealth or power.

 

Twelfth Station, Jesus dies on the cross.

Once Jesus knew that everything had been completed He yelled out “ It is finished! “ Than gives up his spirit. Jesus had done no wrong but died for our sins. 

 

These 2 stations for me made me feel a mixed of emotions, seeing my classmate playing the role of Jesus act out what He went through made me feel devastated. Seeing and feeling what Jesus went through. As a follower and believer of Jesus it has always been hard listening and watching stories of Jesus’ crucifixion knowing that it was our sins that caused it. The 1st Station shows us an example of peer pressure as well as knowing that doing the right thing will always have a bad effect on others.

 

After all the stations were done, Daniel sang “ Were You There.” His singing was so magnificent and beautiful.  I have no words to express how soothing and magical it was to hear the perfect rhythm, melody and most importantly the words that were sung.

 

These 2 stations show Jesus’ everlasting love for us, it tells us that no matter how much we struggle, we must keep going till the end.

Zoo, by Anthony Browne is a story we studied for English. What is the role of a zoo and what is the relationship between man and animals? Below is my recreation of an orangutan entering it for the first time.

It is currently 2:30pm. I walk into my enclosure, people murmuring rushes through my ears. Blinded by the reflection of the rustling leaves swaying side to side. A scent of freshly cut grass invades my hairy nostrils. Water dripping from the droplets of the leaky fountain. My amazement makes me overwhelmed as it fills my soul with happiness. The touch of cool breeze catches my attention as I start to think “ Why didn’t they do this before? “ Beautiful patterns of plumage flying across the sky as if it were a rocket ship.

 

Zoo workers walk out of the enclosure. A moment of silence before the door of the enclosure closes with a long “ beep “ then THUMP. Brown tiny cicadas crawl as it camouflages with the roughly chunky tree trunk. I am at home. It is as if I was born again. Staring into the blue sky. My humongous hairy back rushes through the spiky grass as I lay on top of it. The relief of being free from isolation gives me hope that not all humans are cruel. I stand back up on my big feet, wandering around. I wonder if I can see my family again, so I can share the same happiness with them, feeling safe and sound.

For my reading project I did a Diagram of how you can get Malaria and what the symptoms are. Malaria is some type of Mosquito that carries a disease. Read my diagram for more information!

 

 

 

This picture shows a ripple effect. I am the stone and as the water ripples it spreads throughout the water. It sets an example of how my actions can affect others and spread. As you can see the water turns red, it is my heart spreading Mana and Kindness.

What does Lent mean to you ?