Breaking Through Ch. 1-6

So today's post will be homework. Woo. But hey, I'm enjoying this book, so count it as a recommendation.

Breaking Through by Fransico Jimenez is a memoir about a young boy who is at first an illegal immigrant. At first you may think, oh illegal immigrant, did he steal jobs or something? or something of the sort. But I felt connected to Panchito (the boy) in some way. When I read about him, I actually have pity for him when he has to work, or get angry at his dad for acting like there's a bee in his pants.
So at first, Panchito crosses into the US with his family, and lives his life for a few years. Until he gets caught by la migra, or the border patrol. What gets me wondering though, is when the officer said that we was turned in by "someone of his own." I started wondering during that part. Could it have been Mr. Ito, the cropholder? Or maybe one of their neighbors? But I had no time to play detective, because I wanted to read more.
So then the family goes back to Nogales, where they spend a couple nights. The family gets a check up in the US then decide to go to a relative's place. Mom and Dad talk about it and decide to let Panchito and his older brother, Roberto, return to the US to continue school. I couldn't imagine just abandoning my family like that, and taking my younger brother with me. I started thinking about everything else. Taxes, chores, and I have to send some of my money from my job to help out my parents. I admire the two because they are really sacrificial, and I don't think that I would've been willing to do that. But I felt good about Panchito, he got to go back to school and see his friends again. I was also amused at the parts where he started learning about rock n' roll. And the dances and class presentation of Elvis was cool.
Then the rest of the family came, eventually and it was a happy reunion. I could feel the warm and fuzziness coming from the scene. Dad apparently, was "hexed" which was to blame for his bad back. But like Panchito, I was a bit skeptical about the whole process: a tent full of incence, flowers, and holy cards; drinking tea that makes you drowsy; and stripping to your waist, getting a massage faced-down, being chanted on, and then puking up blood... I don't know, it all seems weird from my perspective. But it was good to hear that Dad was all better again.
Now, though, Panchito, Trampita (another brother), and Roberto all have to work in a strawberry field now, that Dad now looks after. I feel a bit sorry for Panchito and his brothers during this part because they all have to do manual labor, and it's really tiring for them and affecting Panchito in his studies. But, it can't be helped; they need the money. They start by pulling weeds, then hoeing the seeds in. But the seeds won't grow so they fumigate during the night. Turns out they killed the plants, and Dad's devastated. Now I feel sorry for him.
Later, Roberto and Panchito ask to go to the Vet's High School Dance, but Panchito gets yelled at for being "disrespectful" by asking if they could go while the Dad was thinking. At that part I was like, WTF? I mean, just because, your little strawberries won't grow, doesn't mean you have to take out by lashing at your kids and restricting them, when they've never done anything wrong!
Then Panchito "graduates" from Junior High, and I feel good about this. It was sad though that his parents couldn't come, but I could see that it meant a lot for Panchito to have his dad give him a special medallion and put some aftershave on him. And then I can't read chapter 7.

All in all, I've really enjoyed this book and I feel like I can connect to the characters. I look forward to reading the next parts.

Start of the Weekend

Yay! Froday! Finally, after all that work. Okay, not so much. I mean, the only "work" was the tests we did today in Spanish and Math/Physics. God, my brain is fried and dead. Humanities was OK, we worked on our Portfolios and did other stuff that I'm too tired to remeber. "Cept that we gave speeches and we took an assesment about the person that inspires us. Ugh. If you're somehow reading this Ms. Wood, I want you to know that I wrote about YOU! Feel even more special :)
So after school today, there was this social partay, at the park near the school. It was really fun, cuz I went with my friends. We went on the swings, then started to roll down the hill. The first time, my arm landed in a mud hole, near a drain grate, and my arms started itching. xD Then I called my friend from my elementary school to come over. We met up and caught up on things, and she brought her friend along. Then I went bobbing for apples. It was fun and I think some water came up my nose. Eww. But I got one! Then my friend came over gave it a try, while getting his head dunked by various people. Then we did a water balloon toss, resulting in a soaked me. Then some other stuff, and then getting wet again. Then I rode home with my friends dad, and now hear I am. Actually, I was here ever since 6ish, but whatever. xD

Update from home at nite

Just wanna share a vid with all.



Poor bee x]

I changed my layout. How does it look? Comments? Question? Concerns? Comment!

P.S. I finished setting up my Spanish notebook! Yaaaay! Sorta. I did all the odd page numbers and then I got lazy. :p Like a panda bear! :D Kinda.

Hello from High School!

Yes, I'm already in high school, ever since a couple days ago. It's pretty cool. We get to call the teachers by their first name, we use our fingerprints to get our lunch, and Advisory is pretty fun. We actually can start an electives class, and for those who know me, you'll probably know what I'll do ;) I guess I can be the teacher.

So yeah, anyways, in Humanities, we have to set up a blog. Lucky for me, I already have one set up. Can you guess which one? Yes. This one. So yeah, some of my posts might have random things saying something about a book or something. Breaking Through by Francisco Jimenez. It's really interesting, actually.
What I'm not used to is having a binder for each class we have, which is about three. But still, my backpack is kinda heavy for some reason. I was such a dork, I titled my Math/Physics and Humanities binders in Japanese. x] Ha ha...

Attention Mario Kart Wii Players!

I made a lil playlist for the tracks of Mario Kart Wii, created out of boredom, and I'd like you to judge it.



Link

Leave reviews in comments!
MKWii number: 1633-5586-1977

Songlist:

Mushroom Cup

* Luigi Circuit
murmur twins - yu_tokiwa_djw
* Moo Moo Meadows
Uncle Chicken's drag rag - Plus-Tech Squeeze Box
* Mushroom Gorge
Under the Sky (Ryu☆ Remix) - Minami Sayaka (BeForU) with platoniX
* Toad's Factory
Happy Life Generator - capsule

Flower Cup

* Mario Circuit
smile - miru_maki.gjw
* Coconut Mall
Dough Nuts Towns Maps - Plus-Tech Squeeze Box
* DK Summit
CANDY GALY by Risk Junk-G
* Wario's Gold Mine
FOE - IOSYS

Star Cup

* Daisy Circuit
Ocean Blue Sky Orange - capsule
* Koopa Cape
5iVE STAR - capsule
* Maple Treeway
candy cutie - capsule feat. Sonic Coaster Pop
* Grumble Volcano
A - DJ Amuro

Special Cup

* Dry Dry Ruins
Saikyou Pare Parade - Hirano Aya & co.
* Moonview Highway
Wild Girls on Circuit - Puffy AmiYumi
* Bowser's Castle
We Come Alive - Gammer & InEffect
* Rainbow Road
Fleeting Fantasy/Over the frail dream - phantasma

Shell Cup

* Peach Beach (Mario Kart: Double Dash!!)
SUGARLESS GiRL - capsule
* Yoshi Falls (Mario Kart DS)
Oyome ni Shinasai - IOSYS
* Ghost Valley 2 (Super Mario Kart)
You're My Angel - DJ Zitkus
* Mario Raceway (Mario Kart 64)
Kaeshite! Knee Socks - Aya Hirano & co.

Banana Cup

* Sherbet Land (Mario Kart 64)
Milky Blue - YMCK
* Shy Guy Beach (Mario Kart Super Circuit)
You Should Drink Cucumber Flavored Beer - IOSYS
* Delfino Square (Mario Kart DS)
V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N - Puffy AmiYumi
* Waluigi Stadium (Mario Kart: Double Dash!!)
Nijiiro - DJ YOSHITAKA feat. G.S.C. license/in the sky - Ryu☆

Leaf Cup

* Desert Hills (Mario Kart DS)
God Knows... (Euro Mix) - DJ Bouche
* Bowser Castle 3 (Mario Kart: Super Circuit)
U.N. Owen Was Her? - COOL&CREATE
* DK's Jungle Parkway (Mario Kart 64)
Nice Buddy - Puffy AmiYumi
* Mario Circuit (Mario Kart: Double Dash!!)
RINGxRINGxRING - OSTER project feat. Kagamine Rin

Lightning Cup

* Mario Circuit 3 (Super Mario Kart)
Elevator - Perfume
* Peach Gardens (Mario Kart DS)
Killer Tune - Tokyo Jihen
* DK Mountain (Mario Kart: Double Dash!!)
Panic Racer - YMCK
* Bowser's Castle (Mario Kart 64)
Itteyoshi - IOSYS

"Sad?" Update

Remember that last post? Of course you would, it was the last post. Well, I found a translation for it. It's still beta, but I think it's good enough.



and another one, just found.

Does this make you sad?

Some people might be familiar with the software, VOCALOID by Yamaha. For those of you not, it's basically a singing program where you type out the lyrics to a tune you played out on a virtual keyboard. Anyways, probably the most popular character from VOCALOID is Hatsune Miku, a character part of the VOCALOID2 character series. A lot of people from Nico Nico Douga, a Japanese YouTube mentioned before, have made covers and original songs. Here's one, that may put you in a saddened mood. I don't have the lyrics, but I think it's about Miku singing about how she can't sing like a real girl and so she gets uninstalled.

In other news, I'm going camping with my family and a couple of my cousins up in the mountains. Gonna be gone for 4-5ish days, August 20-24. And I go back to school the day after we get back. ugh...

(If you didn't notice, this post was probably a measly update with something random to distract you. Enjoy (: )