From the history readings, we learned about the wreck of the whaleship Essex. We also learned more about Ahab, Moby-Dick, and the gam - that social gathering of ships at sea.
Blog about a time when you were in a social gathering with a lot of people you did not know. What happened? What did you talk about? Did you rush to leave, or did you linger? Did you wish you had never met them, or did you make new friends and stay in touch?
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I went a rave over the summer with some friends, and while they wanted to take a break I wanted to continue dancing. There were a few people preforming a jumpstyle routine with what looked like space for one more person, so I joined in. They were impressed, and we hung out after the rave for a few hours. We now occasionally go down to Boston for the weekend to enjoy the nightlife.
When I first met my grandfathers side of the family that I have never met before. I went to a party they had and i only knew my grandparents. I was shy when I was there i didn't talk that much I just sat down. The whole time I was there I was bored and just wanted to leave. When I did talk to people they just asked what school and what sports kind of questions.I do not really talk to them that much anymore but sometimes I run into them and talk to them for a bit.
I went to a baby shower with my mom for her friend so she didn't have to go alone and I didn't know anyone there. I just sat with my mom and she introduced me to the people she knew and they made small talk with me. I couldn't wait to leave. I don't wish that I never met them, but I don't keep in touch with them.
I am the kind of person that when thrown into a situation with new people I don't know, I am very social and outgoing. It is a time to meet new people. Over the summer, I was invited to go to a leadership camp that taught me a lot. One of the first things they taught me was that I could be whoever I wanted with new people. They had no clue who I truly was, so I was always able to start fresh.
By that, I started fresh. Usually being shy and innocent, I was outgoing and made a lot of new friends out of it. I talked about a lot of things that people could relate to which helped to make things more comfortable. I have stayed in touch with most of them, but I was always willing to stay longer.
I once went to Vermont for a family reunion. Most of the people there I had never met in my life. I did not have a good time, I was only 6 or 7. It was very boring and I would never see 95% of those people again. This is the only instance I can think of going to a social gathering without knowing most of the people.
In most social gatherings, if I didn't know anyone there, I'd be wondering why I was even there in the first place. I would be confused about why I was even at the said social gathering. Then I'd try and talk my way around. And if that didnt work, I could always just leave.
When I went to a get together for my best friends family I was shy at first, but I started conversations with the people. I wasn't very shy, we had long conversations about their family and who people where and where they came from. They talked a lot about the different groups of people who were fishers, baseball players, campers, funny people and boring people. I'm not close to them, but when I run into them we have long conversations about what has happened since we last met.
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?v=C8OBlq_svBY
When I went to France and had to teach a couple french classes I felt weird. I felt weird because I was the only American there and the only one who could speak English. I made lots of friends and stayed in touch with some of them.. some of them I still talk too today. There isn't much you can talk about with people that don't speak your language, you just happen to get along with them without having to say anything. I wish I spoke french because I think it would have been even better then it already was.
This year is my first year at Westbrook High School. I came from Bonny Eagle, and wasn't super thrilled about transferring schools. I moved in with my dad, so there was a lot of changes going on. I only knew two people coming in to school, but had no classes with them. Its kind of awkward at first, walking through the halls not knowing anyone. My teachers were really nice, and I opened up quickly. I focused on my school work, and naturally got involved in groups and making friends. I wouldn't say I wanted to leave, because I didn't have a choice at all. I had to finish high school. I now stay in touch with many new friends at Westbrook, and actually like Westbrook better than Bonny Eagle. Its difficult to stay in touch with friends from Bonny Eagle, being so busy and farther away. However, it was a change for the better.
When I was little I would go with my dad to his friends houses or on a business meeting, and would sit there quietly not knowing anyone. Being young I wouldn't be outgoing and talk or try to interact. If I was asked a question I would answer the question, but not continue the conversation.
This is my first year at Westbrook High School. I moved in with my dad over the summer, and had no choice but to leave Bonny Eagle, and attend Westbrook schools. I wasn't thrilled about the changes, and felt pretty awkward coming into a new school, knowing only two people. I didn't know anyone in my classes, and kept to myself at first. My teachers really nice, and I focused a lot on my school work. I naturally got involved in activities and made new friends. I keep in touch with a lot of friends from Westbrook currently, and am happy with the friends I have. I wouldn't say I wanted to leave, because I didn't have a choice, I had to graduate High School. It's hard to stay in touch with my Bonny Eagle friends, because it is farther away. However, for my education, it was definitely for the better, and worth the awkward beginning.
When I went to Kobe camp for basketball I was the only kid form westbrook there so I had to make friend on the team I got put on. We played basketball 10 hours a day so I got to know the kids I played with an we became friends through the game of basketball.
I went to a soccer camp at Thomas College a couple of years back for a week. I didn't go with anyone it was just me. When I showed up there were all these kids I have never talked to before or met. It seem like everyone brought a friend along. When we went out to play, I would do the drills. People would be talking and I would stand there not saying anything. Once we played and they realized I was pretty good, people started to talk to me. They asked where I was from and stuff. It was fun but I never stayed in touch with them.
During my 5th grade summer I went to Camp Good News. Camp Good News is about an hour away, and it is heavily influenced by Christianity. When I first got there I was introduced to my bunkmates and we didn’t exactly hit it off. We weren’t interested in the same things, they were kind of nerdy in a way to me. They didn’t like the same sports teams as I did, they didn’t play the same video games as me, and they didn’t dress the same way I did. I was almost intimidated because they had known each other from past camping experiences or from school. I was alone and didn’t really know anyone. After we introduced ourselves we began to settle and put our things away and I began to converse with a kid who was my age. He was really nice and he also didn’t know anyone else. He became my best friend, at least for that week that I would be away at Camp Good News. For the remainder of the week we hung out and we basically inseparable. We spent the entire week together and even stayed in touch a few months after camp had ended. Middle School started and I guess we just went our separate ways, and we haven’t talked since. My friends name was Robert.
When I was in 8th grade a couple of older kids asked me to come to a party. I really didn't want to go, but I felt like I had to. I ended up going and was in a group of a lot of people doing bad things. I started doing all the things that they wanted me to. These people were never my friends after that and I regret the things I did. I knew I shouldn't have stayed and that's why I make better choices today.
When entering 5th grade, I switched schools. It was difficult for me to transition between schools because everyone at my new school already knew one another, and I knew no one. I kept to myself for a short period, then once I felt more comfortable I started making friends. I still keep in touch with a few people from that class and I'm glad that I met them.
Last Summer i went to a Cross Country Camp at Colby College. I really did not know any one their and had never been in any races or track meets with theses people. At the first part of the week i was pretty much alone and really did not talk to anyone. But by the the end of the week once i got to know a lot of the people i started to hangout with them and talk to them more.
On my fathers side of the family all of my cousins are much older then me. most of them have kids who are 5 or so years older then me. They grew up all together, so they have a good time around each other during our family get togethers for holidays and stuff. Usually my brother and I are the odd kids out because we don't know our 40+ year old cousins and we don't know their kids. I'm a little more comfortable then my brother, with talking to people that I don't know so its a easier for me. But still awkward.
I went to Windham High school's homecoming dance a couple of years ago. It was awkward because girls were staring at me because they didn't know who I was, and we all know how judgmental girls can be. I had some fun, but I was too shy to dance in front of all of them. I was happy to meet people, but I was happier to leave.
I went to my uncles wedding a few years back. I had no idea who the brides family was or what they were about. A random lady stared yelling at me and telling me to move a bunch of stuff to get ready for the wedding. So I had to linger around making no new friends, and moving stuff around being barked at by some random lady.
The largest gathering that I think that I have been in the largest would prob be when I went to California with my church's youth group. We went there with a group called Youth Works which is a mission trip there were groups from all different areas but We from Maine were the farthest away then any of the groups were there for the longest time difference. When we got there it was pretty late Maine time. when we first got there most of us were really nervous as it was our first mission trip for our group in Maine. when we first met the people we were really not concerned but worried about what they thought of us because of what they had heard about Maine, but before we went left for the summer I had made tons of friends and I am still in contact with all of them.
Over Christmas vacation, I went to a party that my mom's friend was having. It was all people I didn't know and it was really awkward because it was all her family. My mom knew everyone and so did my dad, my brothers and I sat at the table and talked to each other. we didn't want to stay at the party long but ended up staying for over 4 hours.
One of the biggest moments in my life where I was surrounded by hundreds of people I didn't know was in 2008, at Seeds Of Peace. Not only were they people I didn't know, they were people from all around the world, such as Egypt, Palestine, Iraq, Somalia, Libya, Sudan, etc. It was really difficult at first, and took some time for everyone to but they're history and cultures aside so we could learn about each other as people, not as where we come from.
The point of Seeds Of Peace, is to create a common peace starting with kids, all around the world. It's our generation that can allow peace to happen. We are the creators of the future. So, Kids that Attend SOP, are each called "seeds" because each kid is a seed of the future and present peace.
Once everyone put their differences aside, people started noticing the similarities in their lives, and hobbies, and things they liked.
Anyways, That's my blog. :}
When I was in kindergarden I loved recess. One time I was playing with my pals and of course with no girls. I was having a blast. Suddenly a few girls came around and thought it would be a good idea to kiss me.. Eww! I thought girls had cooties. I would never let my friends see me get kissed by those things. The next thing I knew I was being chased then cornered by about four girls. I made a last effort sprint between two of the girls. One of the two grabbed me by my hood, I was so scared that I turned and slapped the her in the face. The teacher made me go inside and I got in a lot of trouble. The next day my mom made me buy the girl a present and apologize... I guess I'm just hard to get.
A few years ago I went to a field hockey camp for a week at USM. I went with one of my friends, and we didn't know anyone. As the week went on we met many new people. Everyone was friendly and we all got along. We kept in touch over the internet and would hangout. The next year my friend and I went back to the camp. We knew some people from the last year and we also met new people.
I went to a few raves and a few parties with a friend who knew everyone while I knew no one. I loved it. I met a ton of people and we all danced as crazy as we wanted too. It was great.
The last social gathering I was at where I did not know a lot of people was a Marine Core Pool Function. The Southern Maine recruiting office and Central Maine recruiting offices got together and we had to run the PFT(Physical Fitness Test) and then they put us through a hardcore workout used by MMA fighters, and then finally after that we did a little hand to hand combat. Both recruiting offices were mixed together so we were forced to mingle with other future recruits and also compete against them in the hand to hand combat. When the competition was over 2 out of the top 3 winners were from Westbrook including myself:) Throughout this experience there wasn't very much talking, but there was some. I got to know a few other guys, but we don't really stay in touch.
When I went to swish camp at USM sophomore year it was an overnight basketball camp. There was people from all over Maine and some from some other states that I didn't know but my the end of the week i ended up liking some of them. I definitely do not wish I never went but, I also do not keep in touch with any of them.
Every summer I go to work at my summer camp, and the first day/week is really awkward because you don't know anyone and nobody knows what to talk about, so I always start off by talking about how cool the summer is and if the person doesn't have anything interesting to say it gets weird and I feel like I'm carrying the conversation so then i find a excuse to leave.
I applied to work at Funtown, and went to a job fair for my interview. I didn't know a person in the building, and it was packed to the point where there was lines coming out the door. I was anxious to even go in, not knowing a single person, not knowing exactly where I was supposed to go, and freaking out already because I had an interview. After circiling the parking lot for a few minutes and calling my mom to calm me down, I finally ventured into the building. I signed in and tried to find a place to sit and anxiously await them calling my name. I didn't talk to anyone for awhile, and finally a mom came and sat next to me and sparked up conversation. In a way it took stress off of me, hoping that whoever was going to interview me was going to be as kind as her. I did the interview, and had never been so happy to finally leave, and have the bricks removed off my shoulders.
I enjoy making new friends but it's hard for me to socialize with quiet people, like myself. If I like the people that I just met and there are no awkward silences then I usually linger. If the people are awkward and don't talk, I go and find others. I usually meet new people on sporting teams and youth conferences. Usually, when I meet people they are too far away to hang, so I just stick with my old friends. But I usually jump up and down at the prospect meeting new people.
I recently started working at Little Caesars. There was a lot of new people I had never met before. They all seemed to be very good friends and hangout outside of work frequently. This made it very awkward for me for the first week or so I worked there. I wanted nothing but to leave, I felt so "out of the loop" about everything. It was very uncomfortable for me. Until I got to know them, then I was always apart of the conversations. Come to find out it actually made work a lot more stressful because it added drama. People always gossiping about what happened the next day and it made it frustrating to be there. I felt it was less of a work environment. Now I just stay on good terms with them but decide to keep my personal and work life separate. So I did make new friends, who i still occasionally hangout with! :)
At my Uncles wedding there was a lot of family members that I knew and a lot of his friends that I did not know. They got married at the end of the dock then it was just kind of a social party from then on. We had cake and a cookout too. I stayed with my cousins most of the day so I didn't meet anyone new. We didn't rush to leave though. We stayed the night in a tent on the beach by the water.
Moby "Tweet" by Mr. Ruthman
Looking through the lens of history can give insight into the workings American literature. In fact, understanding the historical and cultural forces of our country is more important when reading American novels than those of our cousins across the pond. When Moby Dick was published, America was only three generations removed from being created as a new nation. What is often overlooked is the huge amount of sectionalism and the fractious nature of America. Our young nation was often at war with itself on many levels due to regional economic and cultural forces that were at play. When Americans referred to the United States of America, they used the verb "are" instead of "is" (what we use today). This simple statement showed that our country was a collective of vastly different states that were at best working together, but not always agreeing. Indeed, within 10 years after the publication of this book, the United States would be involved in a bloody civil war that would destroy society and require that we reinvent ourselves. At this point, you may be asking how does this relate to the story?. Well here's the connection, the unique nature of the maritime identity was one of the many faces of 19th century America. Ironically, withing three generations of publishing Moby Dick, this unique sub-culture would be just about gone. Today, the closest distant relatives are the few commercial fishing communities (not counting the Alaskan fleet which is a sub set all its own). One of the more notable themes in the book is the sea as a frontier that is played against the individual fighting against forces that are beyond his control. The sea allowed the iconic image of the lone American to become part of our cultural identity. As we began to lose this frontier, we turned west. After the Civil War, the United States moved west, both physically and culturally. Instead of the lone seaman fighting against the vast watery depths, we now had the cowboy who faced a vast wasteland of a different character. As time moved on, this iconic image would supplant the mariner and become part of who and what we are. As you read Moby Dick in the twenty-first century, you need to remember that although the maritime culture was not dominant anymore, it was still a central iconic identity for our young nation.
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