The end of the world

There were some religious group saying that on May 21, 2011 the world was coming to an end. They spent more than $100,000 in advertisement to tell people that Christ was supposedly coming.  What I want to know is: who is this people? Who is their leader? What can they possibly win by cheating others? Why do people that belong to these sects follow them so desperately? To read the Bible is not a science. Some books need deep study to understand but some are quite simple. Such as the Gospel of Mathew were it said that not even the angels know when the Son is coming back to take off his Church.

I’m Christian, and I do believe in the return of Jesus but there are people that get as lost as fanatics that they forget that the Salvation comes from God and not from man. How can a rational person render his life to a similar person? I think that people is in such a bad economic shape or willing to end their lives- due to the social chaos the entire world is submerged- that they invent the end of the world to see if all their calamities could end once and for all. But repeating things in such a ways doesn’t mean that it’s going to become true.

My advice is not to let anyone disrupt you from the truth of the Gospel of Jesus. The only way one can discern between it and the falsehood of the corruption is by reading oneself the Scriptures while asking the interpretation from the one that inspired it.

I love dogs

For the first time in my life, I went to Villa Michelle in Mayagüez. They are a non-profit organization who rescues cats and dogs. They also have the service of vaccinations, and sterilization. When I entered the place I started sniffing. But trying to resist the more I could I went to see the amount of dogs they had in huge cages.  I didn’t think there were going to be so many dogs. Small, big, black, brown, puppies and adults they were all there waiting for someone to pick them up. On one side it is really sad to see them, but on the other side it is good to see the work of people trying to make a difference on the world. As a volunteer, if a person cannot take the pet home, one can visit them and play with them for a while. I always imagine myself having a big house with three dogs, so when the day comes I will look to adopt them in place like this. This place subsists out of the aid from people like me and you. That’s why it is important to teach others about the kind of work there is done here.

In the western region of Puerto Rico we have many groups in defense of the animals. I know the existence of the followings: “Añasqueños en defensa de los animales”, “Aguadeños en defensa de los animales”, “El santuario de animales San Francisco de Asís” from Cabo Rojo, Defensores de animales, and the FEPA. So if you ever need to learn about pet adoption or pet protection this groups can advice you in the law.

I finished my senior thesis

This has been a really though week. There were many exams, oral reports, research essays and more. I had the opportunity to work on my sub-graduated thesis which was the final research to complete my bachelor’s requisites. It is certain that when one reaches to this point as student, one can see how much one had academically grown.  At the beginning of my bachelor degree, in a literature class I couldn’t write research paper longer than six pages. It was really difficult for me to develop a subject on a research. So I tried to read the most I could to get ideas, concepts and theories from books. Now at the end of my last semester, I look back and I see that I have developed my own way of researching. In my senior thesis I wrote sixty pages. For me this was a celebration. They weren’t just sixty pages, they were sixty analyzed, translated and well thought thesis pages; which amazes me because at the beginning of the seminar I didn’t see myself writing so extensive.

Right now, I’m just relieved that this stage of my life has just ended. I think that the difficult thing of being a student is not the study part; it is all the other things around that keep you from being only a student. Honestly, I wish I didn’t have to work during my 5 years of college. Even though I’m graduating with a GPA of 3.95, I think I could be a better student. So if I had the possibility of doing it all over again, I would look for the way to pay for my studies without having to work so much.

Good-bye colegio

Well, my sub-graduated preparation has come to an end. This June 26 I will be walking in the ceremony of graduation with the centenary class. The things I will never forget from the Colegio of Mayagüez are the following:

-The $800 cuota of fiscal stabilization. I had the hardest time ever to come up with the money. My monthly budget changed to a state of negative and all because the nice leaders of the Universities couldn’t pay their lunches at fine dining restaurant or their travels in regular airplanes like anyone else would do.

- The great resources of book in the library. If I needed to make a research on a literary subject I had to look for days on the internet and then, if possible, solicit the resources on interlibrary loan. I look for Frantz Fanon’s book Les damnés de la Terre in Spanish for a long time. When the time of completing the essay came, I ended using the English version from the library and translating myself each quote I used.

- The large amount of parking spaces for students. I can testify that at least I received three parking tickets from the municipal police of Mayagüez. Once I had an accident trying to park and I had to change my car’s bumper.

-Technology fee without computers. One semester, the library spent all of it trying to remodel the C.R.E. so, they let students without the computer and the printing facilities. On the other hand, sometimes when I used the computers from the Humanities Department I lost my work due to virus or unpredicted incidents with the hard drive.

In conclusion, being a student in the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez will not be easier until the administration change.

Epilogue

While writing this research I learned that if any other relative of mine get sick with any illness, the first thing I ought to do is search for information about it. There are so many things about cancer that I didn’t know in the time that was needed, that now I look back and I wish I could have dedicated a little more time on it. I learned that in order to win the battle against cancer it is completely necessary to win the battle against depression. The hopelessness that rises from all these unexpected events takes us unprepared and in the mean time it can destroy the ones that get tire easily.

On the other hand, I found that using the multi-genre method to write is way more amusing than doing it traditionally. Obviously, there are so many things one can do that are not an easy task to choose just some of them. I think that the genre that I wanted to use the most was the interview.  I thought so because I was just going to be a way to let the real character reveal her role. In my opinion, as a research I mixed the best elements one can use to argument about such a painful subject for cancer survivor and their closer relatives. I hope my audience could become more aware of the seriousness of this sickness in the Puerto Rican population and that we’re not exempt of experiencing it anytime.

Genre # 6: Prayer

Dear Lord, I bless you with all my heart and I thank you for your love and mercy. I know there are a lot things going on in the world. There are many wars, sickness, violence and poverty. But today, I have come to thee to ask you for one important request. My petition is that you give man and woman the wisdom to deal with the cancer epidemic. I would love if patientscould have a better future, that their emotional strength could remain untouchable. I pray thee to ask you to illuminate the physicians that work to prevent the sickness but also to give them prudence to deal with people. I pray thee to ask you to give the people of Puerto Rico economic resources to help needy patients. I’m grateful for the work people such as Raymond and Dagmar are doing. Bless them and give them strength to accomplish their mission in life. But over all I pray thee to ask you to heel this nation. I know you have the power to restore every cell in every human being, after all you created us. I’m aware of the gift given by the sacrifice of your son Jesus Christ, so in his name I ask you give us the cure for cancer. Halleluiah, Amen.

Genre # 5 Wanted Poster

Genre # 4: Menu

Soul Therapy Restaurant  Daily Specials by Chef Patience May 20, 2011 Appetizers Cancer education seasoned with will An innovative plate created by the determination and will of the patient who has the power to research important data on the internet.

Cinnamon Coping Strategies A spiritual dish prepared by pastoral counselor. Sweeten with a strong relationship with God cinnamon.

Entrees

Roasted Group Social Support A network of family, friends, neighbors, and community members that is available in times of need to give psychological, physical, and financial help roasted during difficult times.

Counseling salad with love dressing A special treat provided by psychologist, social workers, ministers and relatives willing to listen to the patients concern mixed with a tasty house made love dressing.

Puerto Rican Lasagna Psychotherapy A plate of delicious Puerto Rican style lasagna topped with treatment of mental, emotional, personality, and behavioral disorders pasta accompanied by ingredients such as discussion, listening, and counseling. Dessert Relaxation Training Apple Pie A delicious tart made to reduce tension and anxiety, served with control pain whipped cream on top.

Genre # 3 Picture with description

The last picture I took my Aunt
This is the last picture I took my aunt. I present it as an example of group support. We were celebrating the 6th grade graduation of her older daughter, Gabriela. As you can see in the picture, her dress was loose-fitting, she didn’t use to dress like this and she felt weird in that clothes but her stomach was bloated and it was her only option. In that moment, she was thanking god for letting her experience the success of her first child. Aunt Magui was in pain, but as a family, her relatives and neighbors came in to dress her, do her hair and give her hope. Maybe for other people a graduation was just another insignificant event. But for her it was a dream came true. I could witness that she went away satisfied in her participation.

 

Genre # 2: Quiz on cancer

1. According to classical developmental theory, children do not fully comprehend the irreversibility of death until what ages?

a. from 13 to 15 years old                   c. from 7 to 10 years old

b. from 11 to 16 years old                   d. from 9 to 14 years old

2. Sometimes children young as _________________ pick up cues from the physiological changes in their bodies as well as the reactions of parents and hospital staff and thus have an advanced understanding of disease and the concept of death.

a. age 3 years or 4 years                      c. age 7 years or 8 years

b. age 5 years or 6 years                      d. age 9 years 0r 10 years

3. Each year, approximately, _______________ women are diagnostic with breast cancer in the island.

a. 2,090           c.1, 540

b. 946              d.1, 083

4. Each year, around ___________ women die from cancer in Puerto Rico.

a. 331              c. 345

b. 359              d. 363

5. In Puerto Rico, more than _______ of the labor productivity loss was caused by the types of cancer directly related to tobacco use.

a. 50%             c. 12%
b. 30%             d. 27 %

6. The symptoms of depression in cancer patients can lead to

a. alcohol abuse           c. insomnia      e. all of the aboves
b. suicide         d. lack of hunger         f. a and b are correct

7. When depression in cancer patients is a side effect from medicines it can be healed by

a. changing the treatment                    c. visiting other physicians
b. quitting the treatment                     d. taking anti-depression pills

8. The Oncology Hospital of Puerto Rico treat cancer patients from countries such as:

a. Mexico, San Salvador and Peru      c. Saint Croix, Tortola, Saint Kitts
b. Barbados, Aruba and Martinique d. Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Haiti

9. What is the name of the surgery practiced to cancer breast patients?

a. masonry       c. mastectomy
b. vasectomy   d. chemotherapy

10.  Cancer patients without __________________ have showed to be more vulnerable during the process of treatment.

a. sentimental partners            c. parents
d. children                               d. job

Answers:

1) B

2) A

3) C

4) D

5) B

6) E

7) A

8) C

9) C

10) A