Meeting Maung-Maung

I think the theme of this essay is that sometimes it is the people on meets on a trip that make the trip truly memorable. Throughout this essay, we learn very little about Iyer himself, and we do not learn much about the city of Mandalay, but we learn the details of Maung-Maung's entire life, because meeting him and getting to know him was the part of the trip that stuck out to Iyer the most. This story is not about a man traveling to a foreign place, it is about a man meeting an fascinating and kind person whom he would not have met if he wasn't traveling. I thought Iyer's choice to keep Maung-Maung's broken English intact rather than to paraphrase him was very effective, because it made their conversations seem more realistic. I also thought the little details Iyer provided throughout the story, such as the price of Maung-Maung's room, or the fact that his roommate drinks, were incredibly effective because they helped to paint a vivid image or Maung-Maung and his life.

Maung-Maung

A theme that I noticed throughout the reading was the theme of trust. Maung-Maung places a lot of trust in Pico, and similarly Pico trusts him to show him the city. When Maung-Maung tells Pico that they are going to his home, he questions it and worries that Maung-Maung is going to mug him or drug him or something, but he trusts him anyway. He even comments directly on how much trust Maung-Maung is putting in him by showing him "his two most valuable belongings." Pico says later "I was touched by his show of trust." Maung-Maung had so much trust in Pico Iyer that he opened up his entire life story to him, and to share his dream.

Maung-Maung

I see the theme of Iyer's essay to be that experience is more valuable than money.I see this when Maung-Maung talks about experience being the best teacher.  It is also clear when Muang- Muang is telling the tourist why he drives a trishaw instead of working a higher up job.
One place I find his language effective is when he compares love to physics.  I think this is cool as it relates a feeling to something concrete.  Another place I found his language effective is when he lists Maung-Maung's values.  I liked this because it was very clear as to what was important to him.

Maung-Maung

I think the theme of Iyer's essay reflects unexpected adventures.  I believe this because he was initially expecting a typical trishaw ride, and when he realized it wasn't going to be, he felt fearful. He was scared something bad would happen to him, but eventually he ended up having a pleasant experience with Maung-Maung.
The way Iyer uses Maung-Maung's voice in the story is very effective. Iyer realistically portrays his personality, and his values, and especially the way he spoke in broken English. It really helps the reader immerse themselves into the story and makes it more fascinating.

Describe a Place - Nikki

Describe a Place: London

Everything about this place is grey but I’ve never felt so alive.

London is overcast, as it usually is, and the pavement seems to blend into the buildings which in turn blend into the sky. I suppose some might want to call it boring, but as I make my way down the road, listening to the idle chatter of men walking to work, of children in school uniforms, of construction workers, of friends, and thinking about the millions upon millions of people who have walked this exact path before us, I can’t help but feel that this particular grey, this London grey, is not drab. It is not dull. It is ancient; it is monumental. I turn my head slightly and watch a man flick a cigarette onto the place where Jack the Ripper might have stood. It’s one thing to read about history in a book. Here, somehow, it all feels more real. Here, I feel as if I am a part of it.

The air smells vaguely of smoke and fried food from the various pubs lining the street. The West End is behind me - thrilling, sparkling, bright - as I make my way towards Trafalgar Square. The narrow street opens up into an enormous concrete clearing. In the center of it all is the monument to Horatio Nelson - he towers above everything, watching over us. I’m on my way to the bookstore across the way but I can’t help but take my time, stopping every now and again to watch a busker perform for a moment, to take a picture for a group of tourists like myself in front of one of enormous fountains that makes Trafalgar Square so beautiful. It feels as if there must be a thousand people here, going about their business just like me, but I don’t feel lost. I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. It begins to drizzle, and I wait a moment before pulling my umbrella out. I look around and see others doing the same. This city welcomes the rain. It is as ordinary as the streetlights or the cracks in the pavement. I watch as the concrete begins to shimmer with the reflections of disposable camera flashes and I can’t help but feel that this is the center of the universe, grey and rainy as it is.

In the distance, I can hear the bells of Big Ben chiming in the hour. It is only twilight, I think to myself. As I head toward the bookshop at the edge of Trafalgar Square, I think about how this city has endured for so many centuries, and only becomes more beautiful with each tick of the clock.

Meeting Maung-Maung - Alex Kruse

1. I believe the theme of this essay is open-mindedness. Throughout, Iyer exclaims his views on Maung-Maung as he first meets him and as they travel along together. Early on Iyer describes him as kind of someone that feeds off of tourists and takes advantage of them, later, he expresses his view on what he thinks Maung-Maung will do to him if he is able to take him into his house. But in a turn of events, we find out that Maung-Maung may just be one of the most interesting and deep characters that Iyer has ever met.

2. Iyer writes this piece using very casual language and descriptors. This ensures a first-read grasp of the story. I love the analogies that Iyer includes in the story such as on page 21 about his volleyball analogy. Iyer also uses good descriptions to make people realize his uneasiness and his level of discomfort such as on page 22 when he describes himself "as uncertain as an actor walking through a play he hasn't read."

Maung Maung

I think that the theme of this essay is to embrace opportunities when they come to you and not to make snap judgements. Iyer could have easily denied Maung Maung's requests and just had a typical trishaw ride but he said yes to things he may have usually said no to and had such a good experience because of it.
Iyer's use of Maung Maung's broken english really makes the story feel more realistic and makes you feel more connected and in the moment. Also, Iyer's inner dialogue helps us to understand what he is really feeling and feel more involved in the story.
One of the sentences I found most effective was, 'You see,' he went on, 'if I love other people, they will love me. It is like Newton's law, or Archimedes.' This sentence is effective because it really shows who Maung Maung is and what he is like. Additionally, the section of, 'Where, I instantly wondered, was the catch -- was he framing me, or cunningly putting me in his debt? What was the small print? What did he want?' This inner dialogue helps to really get inside Iyer's head and see what he's truly thinking through this entire experience rather than just the exterior words.

Maung-Maung: Lilly Corrigan

I think that the theme of this essay is that people are not always who they seem to be and you should not judge them based on a first impression. (Or, as the old cliche goes, don't judge a book by its cover.) Iyer talks a lot in the beginning about how he is unsure of whether he should go with Maung-Maung and expresses some fear of being robbed. However, once he finds out more about Maung-Maung's life he realizes that he wasn't in any danger.
"Ah, I thought, here comes the setup." At this point Iyer is afraid that he will be swindled and robbed. This struck me as effective because he does not appear to be too greatly concerned. He is worried, but not worried enough to refuse to go. It shows his sense of adventure and his small amount of trust for Maung-Maung.
"Then, as gently as if it were his Bible, Maung-Maung passed across the other volume, a dusty old English-Burmese dictionary, its yellowed pages falling from their covers." This I found effective because it shows just how important communication with tourists is to Maung-Maung. It uses good comparisons to show very clearly how important the book is, and it also shows us a lot about Maung-Maung's character; a caring and dedicated person.

Maung Maung-Ashley Hoffman

I believe the theme of this essay is that the people we meet on a trip might be more important than the trip itself.  The entire essay is dedicated to Iyer's time with Maung Maung. This emphasizes the focus on Maung Maung's story instead of Iyer's trip.

Iyer did a great job of showing Maung Maung's broken English. "I had picture before. But after she broke my heart, and fall in love with other people, I tear it out" (20). This was really effective because it gave the reader a sense of what it would be like to talk to him.

Iyer also used similes to help give the reader a better sense of what was happening. "I also felt as uncertain as an actor walking through a play he hasn't read" (22). This gave the reader a comparison to show how confused Iyer truly was in this situation.

"Meeting Muang Muang"-- Irene Enlow

1) I think that the theme of "Meeting Muang Muang" is that every stranger we meet when traveling has complex personalities and back-stories that we would never know if we didn't stop to engage with them. Because the author was friendly with Muang Muang, he gained access to an eye-opening look at the other man's life, which was so fascinatingly unlike his own. Not only did he make a friend, but he gained a new perspective on how some people live life.
2) One bit of language throughout the story that really struck me was the way that the author used dialogue to really bring Muang Muang to life. I thought including so much dialogue really made Muang Muang seem like a real person. Another part of the writing that I thought was well done was how the author used his internal monologue to propel the story, for example, "Ah, I thought, here comes the setup. Once I'm in his house, far from the centre of a city I don't know, he will drop a drug in my tea or pull out a knife or even bring in a few accomplices." The author's voice and attitude contrasted dramatically with Muang Muang's and it helped to point out the differences between them.

Travel Writers--I just saw this on the Google Blogger site on how to write a successful travel blog:


http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/23/travel/travel-blogger-tips/


Reminder of the HW for next week:  If your last name begins with A-K, you post on the theme, evidence for the theme, and language of "Meeting Maung-Maung."  Make sure you post early--by Sunday at noon to give your commenters time to post their comments.


 If your last name begins with M though Z, then you comment on someone else's post--maybe you agree, disagree, a little of both.  Maybe you want to add something.  Comment by Monday at midnight.


Also, please read and think of feedback points (for class) for Alex's and Nikki's place pieces posted on the blog.


Thanks!


See you next week.


Carol

Temptations of Two

I see the theme of Rogers essay to be that there is both joy in traveling alone and with another person.  I see this at the end when she is talking about how being alone is perfect, but that two people allows for more adventure.
An example of language I found effective is when she is talking about the feeling after being on the river and referring to it as a "tantalizing heat".  I thought this was an effective way of relating to the reader the exact feeling.
Another example of language I found effective was when she relates loneliness and freedom.  I think this helps explain both the positives and negatives one feels when one travels alone.

The Temptations of Two - Nikki

I thought one of the themes of "The Temptations of Two" was that there are benefits to both traveling alone and traveling with somebody else. Rogers describes the experience of both adventuring alone and adventuring with another person, but through her writing it does not seem like she prefers one over the other, it just seems as if they are two separate experiences. For instance, she brings up the fact that when one is traveling with another person, they can go farther and take more risks together, but when one is traveling alone, it might be better to make safer choices and not stray too far from the path one is comfortable with. I thought Roger's use of dialogue was very effective. She used it sparingly, but when the characters did speak, everything they said felt very realistic, and it helped to involve the reader more personally in what was happening in the story. I also thought that the fact that Rogers wrote the story in the present tense helps to make the reader feel as if he or she is involved in the moment as well.

The Floating City - Alex Kruse

The Floating City

There are those who love beaches, and those who love mountains. But who’s to say that you can’t love both? I’ve spent most of my life going back and forth year after year, trying to decide which popular vacation spot I’ve enjoyed the most. Ultimately, the two have become equals in a limited selection of locations. My view on the endless, blue water is no more superior or inferior to my view on the mastiffs that are still being transformed by nature today.

            Something that I grew very accustomed to during any family vacation was the idea of having a “free” day. I always found it funny that we called them that, oh the irony! Because it seemed that whatever we did on that day was never free. But it was precisely the day that greeted me as a naïve teenager spending an exuberantly warm summer on the beaches of Destin, Florida. Destin is a very popular spring break town for many college students, but once summer came along it was inhabited by laid-back beach goers that weren’t too keen on spending their vacation in a fast-paced, tourist environment. Needless to say, this was a perfect destination for the Kruse family who were longing for a relaxing vacation. It was decided early on during breakfast that we were to be renting paddleboards and kayaks from a local business within the full harbor. Reluctantly, my parents decided to accompany their relatives on a paddle boarding trip, in order to catch a glimpse of what a “relaxing” vacation might be.

            When all of the paperwork was said and done we were on our way to a local hangout dubbed Crab Island. This was to be two-hour trip for any experienced paddler, which seemed daunting to the ambitious ones from Iowa. The Kruse kids operated paddleboards with no experience, as for the parents, a two person kayak. Nevertheless we made our way with one sweeping swing of the oar to another. The harbor we set course out of was an immortal maze that only the savviest navigator could comprehend. There were sailboats, tugboats, and houseboats. There were yachts, replica pirate-ships, and wave runners. There were even small cruise ships, dinghies, and fishing vessels, all of which were laid out in the harbor like a beginner playing Battleship. No pattern or strategic placement was found. And although we were the most vulnerable wave farers, the larger ships rarely acknowledged our existence.

            As we paddled our way out of the labyrinth we were greeted by a towering trestle, which created a bewilderment of currents underneath its shadow. An obstacle for any knowledgeable seafarer, but for the Iowans, it presented no issue. It was there, on the antagonistic side of the span, where we first caught view of our objective. Ahead there was a vast collection of houseboats and pontoons floating on the pale green and blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico. No sight of land was apparent, making the name of Crab Island more of a description surrounding the city of vessels parked in the area for recreational activities. Upon each platform was an assembly of friends and family, which included some of the friendliest people outside of Iowa, their skin sun kissed by the strong, Florida UV and never without a red Solo cup in their hand. Boat after boat, it seemed to be an ongoing theme, and a spectacle at that! You could hear music playing aboard every ship that crowded the ambiance with a mixture of genres. The smell of grilled cuisine, added to the atmosphere creating a genuinely American setting. There were those who were eating hot dogs, those with brats, and those with burgers looking to share their creations with anyone. The lack of movement by all of the ships created a stable surface that I was able to balance my paddleboard on. I began to feel the sun start to tenderize my skin that I would later have to sooth with Aloe Vera. I mentally noted the necessity of sunscreen if I were ever to partake in a similar voyage later in life. My surroundings were consuming me and I was entranced by the spectacle that was Crab Island.

The Temptations of Two- Emily

One theme that I picked up on from this reading was the idea of safety vs. taking risks. The entire story is about whether it is less dangerous to travel in a pair, although you take more risks, or to travel alone and take the safer route. An example is when she says "Years ago, I made a rule for myself: if you go solo, reduce the variables, go someplace familiar. It's a rule I seem to have invented only to break." She's saying that her safety is in danger when she travels alone, yet she still takes the risk. She also brings it up at the end of the excerpt when she reflects on the importance of safety. "What is safer? The folly of two or the caution of one? Neither and both. But the question is flat; safety is not why I go." She is saying that there is always an element of risk. However, safety is not all that important to the trip in the grand scheme of things, in the end you go for the risk and not for the safety.

The Temptations of Two

I think the theme of Rodgers' story is that both the confidence one gains by traveling alone and the joy one feels when traveling with a companion make for two very different but equally worthwhile adventures. Rodgers contemplates whether kayaking by herself or with Emily makes for a better trip. "Which is safer?" she asks. "The folly of two or the caution of one? Neither and both. But the question is flat; safety is not why I go." Rodgers finds the benefit in traveling with a partner but also enjoys, and at times even prefers, adventuring by herself. "To me, solo is more natural than not, and at times the effort of two feels too much: two paddles, two vests, four straps." I enjoyed Rodgers' use of a list of three in this quote as it provides a rhythmic yet dragging feel that displays the daunting task of traveling with an extra person. After Emily informs Rodgers that she missed her turn during a kayaking trip, Rodgers replies "'Good thing you were here,' I say with a laugh." I really admired this quote as it seemed to pull the story full circle in a creative way by showing Rodgers' appreciation for Emily while keeping the same playful tone they have when talking with each other.

The Temptations of Two

To me the theme or Rogers essay is that there is a temptation to do things in pairs of twos so you don't have to go out alone and risk anything that comes with that, but also going out with someone else isn't necessarily a bad thing. I got this message as Rogers talks about how Emily can't go out paddling with her one night, and she falls into a trap of negative thoughts surrounding her possible trip. She recalls all of the times she's gone out alone and ponders all the good and bad outcomes of this possible trip and inevitably heads out and loves the experience she had. On the other hand though, after her late night adventure with Emily she realized that she would never have done those things solo, so having a partner can also make for wonderful adventures as well. The use of alliteration in the first paragraph with, 'saucer-sized snapping turtles' really drew me in and helped me to picture the scene with the creative description. Additionally, on page 163 when she talks about the comforts of her car and how it's a place a safety it just connected with me to see the one thing that makes her feel comfortable fade away as she paddles farther out. These are effective because they caused me to read more closely to get the full effect of what she was saying.

The Temptations of Two--Rachel

The theme of the essay is, while there is more freedom to traveling solo, having a partner can force you outside of your comfort zone.

"We first collect my bike and then ride double (the first time I've done this since grade school) to her house" (166).  This is an effective quote because it mentions the large time-span that has passed since Rogers last rode double, which further emphasizes the adventurous effect Emily has on her.

"Until then, I had seen the river only as a playground where sailboats skimmed on windy weekends and where some came to fish.  That sound and image had thumped me out of my complacency, had made the river infinitely more interesting" (161).  I really like this quote because it shows how Rogers' perception of the river changes with experience.

Temptations of Two-Ashley Hoffman

The theme of Rogers' essay is to enjoy your adventures whether alone or with someone else.  She and Emily served as foils showing the enjoyment in a solo adventure along with traveling with a friend.

Rogers uses alliteration throughout the piece as a small means to keep the reader interested.  One example is "building become on billowing beige" (163).  This has a kind of flow that seems natural to the reader.

Also, Rogers uses personification to better explain her environment and to keep the reader's attention.  An example of this is "river grass snags my paddles" (163).  Her use of language is one tool that she uses to convey her message.

The Temptations of Two

I think the primary theme of Roger's essay is that sometimes other people can bring out the best in you, and help you realize that you can do things that you never thought you could.  I understand this as the theme because near the end of the essay Rogers says, "Truth: I never would have left at seven-thirty alone, never would have paddled backward, or raced in the dark, or stood at Cheviot admiring the lights from the factory across the river."  She realizes that she can be more adventurous and have new and exciting experiences when she is with her friend Emily, whereas she can't do those things when she is alone.

"Why am I following a heartbroken woman into the dark; what makes me imagine that just because there are two of us this is reasonable?"  I enjoy when Rogers asks herself this because it shows how she disregards her uncertainties when she is with her friend Emily.  She is able to just enjoy her experience.

"The comfort of the car is peculiar but real; in a child's game it would be home base, the place of safety."  I love the way Rogers describes her feelings about the car. The way she describes the car makes it easy for the reader to channel the exact feeling she had during her experience. I think it was very clever to use such a universally relatable anecdote.

The Temptations of Two - Alex Kruse

1. One possibly theme of Roger's essay might be the theme of exploration. Throughout the piece she describes "quick" scenes of journeying into the unknown. Towards the end Iyer describes her "quick" kiss and how it was a temptation, that the curiosity of the unknown overcame her. Earlier she explains how she would travel solo and how she would venture to new routes or new kayaking loops.

2. Throughout, Iyer uses the grouping of two things as a tool to convey her ideas. In doing so she uses a lot of neat language. On page 162 Rogers describes desires as being "twinned," which isn't a common descriptor for emotions. This adds to her common thought of two. Another usage of language that struck me is when she portrays air as having the texture of velvet (Rogers 166). Often writers use adjectives such as heavy or thin to describe are, but using velvet as a descriptor really creates a vivid image of what she is talking about.

Temptations of Two

I think the theme of this story is about enjoying life and not over analyzing each action for possible error. At the end, when Rogers talks about how the folly of two versus the caution of one, she seems to express that the positives of going on these adventures far outweighed the risks. The temptation to travel with a partner makes complete sense, whether it is a romantic partner or not. It gives you someone to support you and process the environment around you with.

The Temptions of Two - Reece

I think the theme of Rogers' essay is that traveling and adventuring with a partner -- perhaps one more daring than yourself -- can push you to do things you thought you never would.  Having a partner to "pressure" you into certain adventures can create memories that last a lifetime.  Although it might be more dangerous at times, taking these risks often times proves to be worth it.  One of the examples that Rogers used to express her feelings was when she said, "I can't resist; I fly through the stop sign chasing her."  I think this quote showed how Rogers was more outgoing and daring when she had a partner.  However, the best example in the piece was when Emily asked, "Would you have done this on your own?" and she revealed how she truly felt about their adventure.

Land of the Locals

Land of the Locals 

As soon as we got off the bus, I could tell we were away from the touristy area and now in the land of the locals.  It was exciting and scary and so foreign.  A pack of wild dogs ran up alongside of me.  They were looking for food and stopped to see if we had any.  As we walked up the old cobblestone street, I could smell the flour of the corn tortillas being cooked.  Laughter filled the street of children playing soccer nearby.  They were all so young but could kick the worn rag ball with such strength and skill.  Women with babies tied to their stomachs with homemade slings stood outside to witness the mass of foreigners invading their territory.  A young brown child peeked her head outside of her hut and yelled “gringos”.  I was filled with awe of such a lively village.  As we reached the top of the hill, I looked back down and saw how the hill was farmed into perfect little squares.  Being from the Midwest, I did not realize it was possible to grow corn on the side of a hill.  The first house we walked up to had a garden with perfect little rows, like a tiny plow had been there, filled with vegetables.  The mother was sitting outside at what looked like a sideways harp.  It was a sewing machine that was powered by her feet.  Next to her sat a basket of what she had recently made.  She pulled out a deep maroon scarf that looked like a tapestry but smaller. It was woven so finely and felt softer than anything I had ever touched.  When we stepped into the house, the smell of the recently burned out fire filled my nose.  I looked around and was amazed at how they had maximized their space.  Although it had a dirt floor, the house felt homey and welcoming.  One of the daughters laid a blanket on the floor and invited us to sit down.  They had prepared a meal of chicken, a luxury, beans wrapped in leaves and hibiscus juice.  As they brought out the food, the smell of spices filled the room.  After we were all seated, they began to pray in Spanish.  Although I could not understand them, I could feel the power and trust in their voices.  With the smell of the freshly cooked food, the beauty in the small hut, and the sound of foreign voices ringing, I felt awed and humbled.  

The Temptations of Two - Becc

The theme of Rogers' essay is being alone and being together each come with their own uncertainties and challenges, but are both enjoyable in their own way. This is highlighted in this passage: "What is safer? The folly of two or the caution of one? Neither and both" (167).

"River grass snag my paddles, so each dip is like treading, with my arms, in the thickest milkshake" (163). This quote is just plain beautiful, as well as a very accurate portrayal of paddling against the current. I was right there in the moment - my arms felt heavy just reading the description.

The entire essay builds up to the climatic moment of Susan kissing Emily, "I couldn't hug or kiss the river, the sky, the factory across the river, or my kayak, which sat five miles south, and so I kissed Emily, fast and sweet" (167). This is the turning point where Rogers realizes she does want to travel with Emily, compared to an earlier proclamation that she had been resisting doing so. Just like the essay, the sentence builds tension (often of the romantic sort), before finally reaching the climax.

Temptations of Two: Lilly Corrigan

I think that the theme of Rogers' essay is that traveling alone and traveling together are two distinct types of travel that both have high points and low points. This is evident in the way the she discusses how she feels when traveling with Emily and when traveling alone; how she is more adventurous with her around but more relaxed when she's alone.
"we're-kayaking-buddies hug" "we're-still-kids competitiveness" This language sets the tone for the essay as a whole and for the relationship between Rogers and Emily. It makes it seem more conversational and youthful. This is the only place I saw it used (the 3 words connected by dashes) but I found it very effective.
"Here, though, the word that comes to mind is love. And why else do this?" This quote touches on the theme. Here Rogers mentions the reason she travels, alone or with others. This is a strong piece of language because it reflects her love of travel regardless of which way she does it.

Describe a Place: Lilly Corrigan

The Haven of Mountain Haven

Every time I sat on the porch time seemed to stop. The calm stillness set me to island time, and nothing else seemed to be relevant. My family was in the US Virgin Islands, and we had rented a tiny cottage at the top of an incredibly steep hill. The drive up was tedious and nerve racking, but the house itself, Mountain Haven, was a gem well worth it. We spent quite a bit of time sitting on the wrap around porch, painted a mixture of teal and sky blue and decked out with dated patio furniture. There was a long wooden table that served as our breakfast nook and an old fashioned lantern that didn’t do much good since it attracted bugs at night. The awning above the porch was strung with out of season Christmas lights. The porch itself didn’t seem like much. That is, until you waited for a while.

We were not the only inhabitants of the secluded space. The owners who rented the cottage to us were big fans of animals; they had found a stray cat and decided that it needed a home. They decided its home would be on the porch of their vacation rental. There was a cat box on the far end of the boards, where a small black cat would sit and meow at us. He would come and go, sometimes hiding from us and sometimes trying to eat food out of our laps. My sister and I decided to call him Coral Bay, named for the bay at the foot of the hill. There was also a small dish full of turbinado sugar on the corner of the railing; next to it was a Tupperware full of water. If you stayed still, exotic song birds would come to eat sugar and wash themselves. It was a treat to hear their soft pecking and the trickles of water they flicked onto themselves with their beaks.  Every so often some not-so-exotic animals would wander onto our porch. As the owners told us, the island was having a bit of a problem with chickens. When we looked over the side of the railing, we saw that they were right. There were twenty or so chickens milling about beneath us. They rustled through the leaves and made quite a ruckus; one rooster in particular seemed to carry on regardless of what time of day it was. Some of the more adventurous chickens would come up onto the porch with us. We tried to shoe them away, but they were quite persistent. We did our best to coexist with our noisy feathered neighbors. Little lizards would join us as well, scurrying up the walls and basking in the sunlight.

We did our fair share of basking in the sunlight too. The warm island air greeted us every morning, with a slight breeze that whistled through the wind chimes. The air wafted up scents of the sea water below and the flowering trees planted around the property. It made me feel weightless, like I was drifting up the mountainside along with it. Still, all other things aside, the best part of the porch was the view.

We were well above sea level, and situated in such a way that we looked right out over the bay where sailboats would dock for the night. You could see for miles. The bulk of the island, St. John, was on our left, while the tail end jutted out to sea at our right. At the foot of the hill was Coral Bay, and beyond the bay you could see the British island of Tortola in the distance. The water was an impeccably clear blue, which got progressively darker as it got deeper. One could get lost in the beauty.

It would have been easy to spend the entire vacation sitting on that porch, letting the island ebb and flow around you: the scent of the sea, the warm breeze, the pattering feet of chickens and lizards and Coral Bay the cat. Mountain Haven’s porch was a vacation of its own, and it is a spot I would readily revisit.

"The Temptations of Two"--Irene Enlow

1. I think the theme of "The Temptations of Two," is that sometimes having another person with you will push you to take risks and try new experiences that you would never do alone. This can be beneficial but also dangerous. Overall, I think the piece shows how companionship can add a lot to one's travel.
2. I really liked how Rogers used language in this piece. One part that really struck me was in the end, "The abbreviated kiss seemed more dangerous than anything I'd done in a long time: The temptation of two was dismantling my edifice of one. For so long the pleasure of one was not just enough, but perfect, and now, so quick, I had been swept away by the adventurous possibility of two." I thought this was just a beautiful way of describing the way love and travel came together in for the two women in the story. I also liked the parallels between the physical danger of the river and the seemingly greater danger of the kiss. Another line that I really enjoyed was, "Full of bold caution, I slide my boat into the river." I just really liked the way the words bold caution worked together.

Ascension in the Moonlight

I think the theme of Ascension in the Moonlight is that our experiences would feel empty without the ability to share them with others. In Winchester's case, the Reverend Paul Wilson and his wife Angela  physically shared his adventure as they all watched the Brazilian green turtles lay their eggs. He was also able to verbally share his travels with his tailor who emphasized Winchester's good fortune in meeting such generous people.
Initially, the author was unimpressed with the island's offerings stating that it "was so lonely that I almost shuddered," and describing the place as "hot, lonely and exceptionally boring." Winchester's negativity towards the island was even apparent when Paul and Angela wanted to see him off as he said, "they apparently had something planned," which I read with an annoyed tone. However as the story progressed, Winchester's outlook starkly changed.
"'Aren't we just the luckiest people? she said. 'Isn't this a privilege?' But that wasn't the half of it. There was more." Winchester fully agrees with Angela that he had a great deal of luck. In my opinion, his luck was not in his experience but rather in his meeting the Wilsons. The turtles, the comet, and the stories would not have happened had he not have fallen into the generosity of Paul and Angela.
Along with being around the Wilsons, Winchester was able to tell details of his trip to his tailor. "'You know, you are a very, very lucky man indeed. Lucky to be in such a place. Lucky to see such things. And luckiest of all to meet such very kind people.'" The tailor's words perfectly sum up the adventure. Winchester's journey would have stayed lonely and exceptionally boring without the Wilsons, and his tales would not have lived on without his ability to tell them to the tailor.

Ascension Themes

A theme that I picked up on in Winchester's work is the theme of kindness and doing good onto other people. For example, Ascension Island let him land there and got him a flight back to Britain, the couple he stayed with showed him incredible kindness, and then at the end the tailor was kind to him as well, and all these things helped to shape his opinion on the journey he took. I enjoyed when he used the phrase "the house was alive with a curiously expectant air." It really brought the scene to life and was a unique way of describing something that doesn't fit into the 5 senses very neatly. He also describes the eggs as "glistening wetly in the moonlight." This phrase stuck out to me for no real reason other than I could really picture exactly what he meant.

Ascension In The Moonlight - Lauren

I believe that the theme of Winchester's article is appreciating the things around you and taking opportunities granted to you. For example, when he was first there he didn't seem totally enthralled such as when he said, "and signing my name in what must be one of the least-used visitors' books on the planet," giving off a vibe that he didn't really love it there. However, later on as he embraced Paul and Angela more and took the opportunities to see amazing things they offered him his demeanor shifted to, "I was at that instant blessed beyond belief, beyond all understanding." It was nice to see the shift in him to slightly standoffish to completely blessed and thankful to them.

Two examples of language would be "I was at that instant blessed beyond belief, beyond all understanding," and "virtue is its own reward, I thought to myself, a reward written here for eternity on this tiny unremembered island." Both of these examples really speak to me and are relatable from when I've had an absolutely amazing experience and reading these bring me back to those moments so it's nice to be able to connect to the writing.

Ascension in the Moonlight- Alex Kruse

1. I believe the theme in "Ascension in the Moonlight" to be spontaneity. Throughout the essay we are shown a vivid image of what this means. In the first couple of pages we have the surprise of taking the author to a special beach in addition to the luxurious snacks they bring along. Later in the essay we see the surprise that is attributed to seeing the turtles coming onto the beach.

2. The descriptive language used within this essay is what struck me mainly because on the detail included. The author goes into great detail to create a scene which we all can imagine. "As it rose... and with a clear sky full of a blizzard of stars. (p. 268)" is a whole paragraph devoted to creating a setting for our minds. Later on page 269 the author describes a turtle as a "lady" which adds to the elegance at which these large figures were moving.

Ascension in the Moonlight

I think the main theme of Winchester's essay is telling us that you should always keep an open mind because the most amazing moments usually happen when we least expect it. I especially see the reflection of this theme when the narrator says, "And it was in that instant I realised something: that in this astonishing grand conjunction - of new friendship, of tropical warmth, of strawberries and cream and cool white whine, of white sand and sea swimming, and of Brazilian turtles, an eclipse of the moon and the rising of a comet - was perhaps the greatest wealth of experience that any one individual could ever know in one moment." In this passage, he expresses his utter disbelief and joy that such a wonderful experience could have happened to him so randomly, and this directly correlates to the theme of the essay.

"Angela was happy, though, and spent her day in the garden contentedly buried in the Daily Mail and a copy of Tatler, lobbing pebbles at any donkeys that tried to eat her sandwiches."

"As it rose, the soft and sugary sand took on an appearance just like snow - the sea beyond it black, its waves crashing rhythmically on the shore, the rocks behind black also, and in between them this postcard-sized field of the purest white shell powder, illuminated by the immense pale moon, and with a clear sky full of a blizzard of stars."

These two passages stood out because of the way they captivated me and gave intricate details that allowed me to picture each scene perfectly and with ease.

Ascension in the Moonlight - Ashley

I believe that the theme is that when traveling, the actions of others can greatly change the trajectory of the trip.  The people he met while traveling gave him an experience that money can't buy; he got to watch the turtles come onto the beach and lay their eggs all thanks to the kind people he met.

I found that Winchester is amazing at descriptions.  My favorite example is "it is possible to see a hundred kilometres in all directions, and the ocean -- looking like an unblemished sheet of hammered pewter -- stretched empty into every horizon" (266-267). He describes this scenery so well to where if I closed my eyes I could imagine this scene.

Another example of a description is "water warm and velvet soft" (268).  This is an excellent description of the ocean water. Also, he uses alteration with "water warm" to give a sort of rhythm to what he is saying.

Ascension in the Moonlight - Nicole

In my opinion, the theme of "Ascension in the Moonlight" was that it is the people one meets on a journey that make that journey truly amazing. He was "Lucky to be in such a place. Lucky to see such things. And luckiest of all to meet such very kind people" (271). Winchester's journey wouldn't have been quite as memorable if he hadn't met Paul and Angela, for example, because they stood out in his memory and made his trip that much more memorable.

One aspect of Winchester's writing I found particularly effective was the way he listed sensory details, for instance: "- of new friendship, of tropical warmth, of strawberries and cream and cool white wine, of white sand and sea swimming, and of Brazilian turtles, an eclipse of the moon and the rising of a comet" (270). By listing details like that, Winchester gives the audience an idea of how much of an overwhelmingly good time he was having. I also liked how at times Winchester's writing was conversational. For instance, he says, "But that wasn't the half of it. There was more" (269) and "Paul had been preaching quite happily, thank you" (266). These conversational elements give the essay a much more personal feel and bring us closer to Winchester as a narrator.

Ascension in the Moonlight Response

One possible theme in Winchester's Ascension in the Moonlight is one of valuing the present and appreciating what others do for you. One part that stuck with me was when he wrote about seeing the comet on top of everything else, because it seemed almost to perfectly lined up to be true. But it is true, and it really sticks with me. This is a perfect example of enjoying the present moment. As I read this, I thought about how this event was a parting gift by near strangers and how wonderful a gift it was to give. At the end, they addressed this with his tailor.

Ascension in the Moonlight--Rachel

The theme of this essay is people we meet on our travels lead us to some of our most magical experiences.  Watching the turtle lay her eggs is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that Simon wouldn't have experienced if he didn't meet Paul and Angela.
His language has a poetic rhythm when he sets a scene so it creates very strong imagery.  "As it rose, the soft and sugary sand took on an appearance just like snow--the sea beyond it black, its waves crashing rhythmically on the shore, the rocks behind black also, and in between them this postcard-sized field of the purest white shell powder, illuminated by the immense pale moon, and with a clear sky full of a blizzard of stars" (268).  It is evident though his language that he is eternally grateful for his time with Paul and Angela.  "I was at that instant blessed beyond relief, beyond all understanding" (270).  His language makes me think back to my travels and how grateful I am to the people who made it so special.

Ascension in the Moonlight - Reece

I think the theme of this piece was that our greatest and most memorable moments occur when we least expect them.  Ascension Island was far from a popular tourist spot, but Winchester was able to experience something truly incredible there.  When Angela said, "Aren't we just the luckiest people?  Isn't this a privilege?" it clearly showed how rare their experience was.  Winchester supported the theme by agreeing with Angela later and saying, "And it was in that instant that I realized something:  that in this astonishing grand conjunction...was perhaps the greatest wealth of experience that any one individual could ever know in one moment."  These quotes made it clear that although Ascension Island wasn't particularly busy or exciting, they were truly blessed to be able to enjoy what the island had to offer.

Ascension-Lilly

I think that the theme of Winchester's essay is that the actions of others can have a greater impact on your experience abroad than any other circumstances. He talks about how the town is so boring and the place itself has little to offer, but the kindness of his host and hostess show him how much wonder there really is in that place. Much of this he says himself. It is also evident by the mood change from indifferent and slightly annoyed at the beginning to awe-struck and grateful at the end.
"in a place that was so hot, lonely and exceptionally boring" This piece of language is effective because it serves as irony. Winchester talks about the boredom he is experiencing, not knowing that that night he will witness one of the most amazing scenes of his life.
"had decided to offer me, for one unrewarded moment, no more and no less than their kindness." This ties into Winchester's theme. He is blankly and openly stating the reason he had such an amazing experience; this is powerful because of its rawness and simplicity.

Ascension in the Moonlight - Becc

1) The theme of Winchester's essay is the pure beauty and luck of the unexpected. Winchester never planned on visiting Ascension Island or meeting Paul and Angela, his experiences with them were completely spontaneous. It is like what the tailor says to him: "Lucky to be in such a place. Lucky to see such things. And luckiest of all to meet such very kind people" (271).

I found the description of Paul to be particularly well done: "dressed in white shorts and a tropical shirt, but with the telltale clerical collar. He was short, fair-haired, very pinkish, precise, aimlessly bespectacled" (265). The idea of a cleric in a tropical shirt with the clerical collar is both humorous and easy to picture.

I also liked the description of the eclipse: "As I looked up at the moon I could see that the shadow of the earth was now steadily sweeping across its face, and the whole world was darkening again, being turned back to black as this portion of our planet experienced a total lunar eclipse" (269-70). This description came as a surprise, mainly because the story is called, "Ascension in the Moonlight." It surprised me much like I am sure it surprised Winchester. It is also a nice contrast to the snow-like description of the beach earlier.

Ascension in the Moonlight

I think the theme of Winchester's essay is that your travel experiences give you more wealth than anything money can buy.  This is evident when he says "It was in that instant that I realized something: that in this astonishing grand conjunction- was perhaps the greatest wealth of experience that any one individual could ever know in one moment."  He did not have to pay anything to see the turtles or the lunar eclipse, yet it was one of the most incredible things he had experienced.

A place where his language struck me was when he talks about the "velvet blackness of the night".  It really gives you an image of how pitch black the night is.  Another place I found his language effective was when he describes the mother turtle shoveling the sand back over her eggs and "battering" her weary self back into the surf.  I loved this because it shows the exhausting task that the mother goes through.  It makes the image of what he saw so vivid to the reader.

Ascension in the Moonlight

1) I thought that the the theme of of Ascension at Moonlight was summed up in the last sentence of the piece. "[Where would you be] without all their kindness , and without all this luck?" the writer's tailor asks him. I think this exclamation reflects an important part of traveling. You can plan out your trip and go to famous locations but the most memorable moments will come from two things you cannot ensure-- luck and other people's kindness. For example, the narrator would ever have seen the wonderful sight of the turtles laying their eggs if not for being lucky enough to be in the company of kind people and also being lucky enough to be there at the proper time for then turtles.

2) Several extremely beautiful used of language stood out to me in this piece. The first was the imagery in the line, "As it rose, the soft and sugary sand took on an appearance just like snow-- the sea beyond it black, its waves crashing rhythmically on the shore, the rocks behind it black also, and in between them this postcard- sized field of the purest white powder, illuminated by an immense moon, and with a clear sky full of blizzard stars." I thought the repeated analogies to snow were beautiful and I also appreciated the analogy of a post-card which helped reinforce the theme of travel.
The second bit I really liked was when he described how the turtle laid her eggs: "Once it was ninety centimeters or so deep, she quietened herself and concentrated, until, with a strangely, unforgettably intimate sound of chelonian parturition, she expelled a clutch of thirty or forty eggs into the hole." I had to look up two of the words in this sentence, but I really enjoyed how the writer's use of language created a calm, wondrous, yet primal mood. For some reason, I just really enjoyed this sentence.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable piece!

Elephant Struggle

    

        

      As I sat atop the swaying back of an elephant as he plunged through the jungle, my ten year old self was convinced beyond a doubt I would fall off into the murky foliage that lay below. There are no seat-belts or handle-bars to cling to when you ride an elephant in Cambodia— my father and I sat on a simple, cushioned platform that was attached precariously to the elephant’s broad back and each time the beast took a step, we lurched from side to side. I clung to my father’s sweaty hand tightly as we lumbered along. The mahout, the elephant’s handler and “driver,” was far more confident, riding bare-back on the neck of the elephant, a sharpened rod poised to jab into the poor creature if he were to make a miss-step. Before I had gotten on the elephant—a process that involved climbing to a wooden platform built high into a tree and jumping on the animal’s back—I had not liked the look of the painful looking rods the mahouts carried, but now, despite myself I felt grateful for its presence. The elephant was walking on a path that seemed absurdly tiny compared to his great size. On one side, a gaping ravine lay while on the other, the dense jungle crowded in. I was glad for a little insurance that the elephant would go in a straight line.  

      A balmy twilight was settling as we made our way through the dense, sweet smelling forest of bamboo and flowers. We were on our way to the top of a mountain to catch the sun as it set over the crumbling palaces of Angkor Wat. At our hotel, the elephant ride had seemed like a good idea, but now I wasn’t so sure. In addition to my fear of falling off, the elephant was not the kind I had anticipated, having grown up on sleek circus elephants and their similarly well-groomed cousins in the zoo. The elephant we were on now was filthy—his leathery skin was streaked with dirt and punctuated by great bristling hairs. His floppy ears looked like they had been dipped in mud and his trunk was similarly discolored with dried earth. In addition, the animal had a strong stink about him that smelled like a combination of manure, dirty water, and well—elephant. This was not the cuddly image of Dumbo that I had envisioned when my father said “elephant.” This was a hulking, filthy, unpredictable creature.

       I had just become accustomed to the cadence of the elephant’s foot-steps when suddenly, the beast came to a halt before a large cluster of bamboo. I was only confused for a moment before I saw a snake-like trunk gently begin pulling bamboo leaves off their stalks and stuffing them into the elephant’s mouth. The mahout waited for a moment, perhaps hoping that his charge just wanted a quick snack, but the elephant continued to dig in as if this was his first meal in days. The sound of his noshing filled the jungle as the elephant consumed the bamboo leaves with the glee I would usually have expected more from a panda bear than an elephant. I wouldn’t have minded letting our ride finish his meal, but the mahout had other plans. He jabbed his rod into the elephant’s calloused skin, shouted something in Cambodian, and the elephant started plodding again.

The mahout turned back to look at us.
“His name Atkhlean,” he said in broken English, “always eating.”
          I later learned that Atkhlean meant “hungry,” in Cambodian and it was a fitting name. The elephant stopped to snack three more times before we arrived at the top of the mountain, just in time to catch the sun-set. It was beautiful, but I was already eager to ride Atkhlean again, my fear of falling off forgotten. There was something thrilling about being so high from the ground, something even calming in the way the elephant swayed from side to side.
Before we departed, the mahout handed me a sticky, peeled banana on a stick. 
“Feed him this,” he told me, “then maybe not so hungry on the way down.”
I held up my hand as I high as I could, and the elephant’s sand-paper-like trunk wrapped around my fingers, delicately taking the banana.
The mahout’s attempt at satiating the elephant’s enormous hunger was not successful. Atklean stopped for snacks three more times on the way down, but I didn’t mind. Every stop meant I got to ride the elephant a little bit longer.

Trusting the Waters -- Struggle Story

The sun violently kissed my skin leaving me bound in its warm embrace as I trudged along the black pavement wondering how close I was to salvation. My right hand, gripped so tightly onto the rope looped around one end of my kayak that my knuckles appeared white, felt a steady tremor that surged to the top of my shoulder.

“How’re you doing back there?” my guide, Danny, who was pulling me along as he held the front end of my kayak, called.

“I’m good,” I said, hoping he missed the uneasiness in my voice.

It was late July, and my best friend, Halle, planned a kayaking trip down the Mississippi River to celebrate our last few weeks together before heading off to college. Halle was adventurous. Having been her friend for nearly thirteen years, I knew that this trip was one of her many attempts to get me to fall in love with the unpredictability of nature. She was a tree climber, a runner, and she preferred to sleep in hammocks. I, on the other hand, had always shied away from situations in which I knew falling, sweating, or passing out would be a possibility. But Halle insisted on spending the day appreciating the boundless river, so I agreed.

“Now remember girls, wear your lifejackets at all times, stay in the kayaks, and we’ll help you unload once you get back to the shack. You’ll be going with the current, so paddling shouldn’t be too challenging, and stay on the right side of the river to avoid any barges,” Marcus, our other guide who was helping Halle carry her kayak to the dock, said.

A bead of sweat dripped down my back as I set my end of the kayak down on the dock while Halle settled into her seat and grabbed her paddle from Marcus.

“Off you go,” he said.

As Halle began floating away, Danny and I set my kayak onto the river, and I fastened my life jacket.

“Why do we need to wear these if we stay in our seats the whole time?” I asked him.

“The Mississippi has been known to have undercurrents which pose a serious risk to swimmers. Should your kayak tip, it’s vital to your safety that you stay in your life vest.”

My heart started beating fast as images of my capsizing kayak came to mind.

“Time to load up,” Danny said.

Breathing deeply, I stepped into my kayak as the guides held it steady. Squinting into the sun, I could see Halle holding onto a tree branch that jutted out into the river to keep herself from floating farther away. Danny handed me my paddle and waved goodbye.

Gripping tightly, I dipped the paddle into the water on my left side and pushed the river behind me. Switching to the right, I propelled myself down the beastly river. It was invigorating.

“Halle,” I yelled to her. “This is great.”

Halle turned around and shouted something back, but she was too far away for me to understand.

That’s okay, I’ll catch up to her soon.

I kept paddling. Left side, right side, left side, right side. My arms began to ache. The excitement was wearing off, and I remembered why I rarely enjoyed Halle’s plans. The sun greeted me just as I was about to forget its heat. I swatted a fly away from my ear and regretted my forgetting to bring a water bottle along.

Jolting me out of my thoughts, a cricket jumped in the kayak causing me to drop my paddle into the water. Panic set in immediately.

“Halle, help I dropped my paddle,” I screamed, frantically trying to reach into the river to grab it without tipping myself into monstrous beast upon which I floated.

Sensing the fear in my voice, Halle looked back and began trying to turn her kayak around to paddle towards me.

“I’m coming, just hang on. I can try and grab it,” she called.

Halle was significantly faster at maneuvering her kayak and reached my side quickly.

“I can’t grab it without tipping,” she said out of breath. “I’ll just jump in.”

“But what about the undercurrents? Danny said they’re common on the Mississippi.”
“It’s fine, I’m a strong swimmer, and I’m wearing my lifejacket. It’ll just take a second.”

Halle squatted to steady herself as the kayak fiercely rocked. She jumped out, and immediately floated to the top of the river as I held onto the rope at the head of her kayak and breathed a sigh of relief.

“I got the paddle,” Halle said, victoriously holding it above her head.

I grabbed it from her hands and pulled her kayak close to mine. Bracing her hands on the opposite side, Halle hoisted herself up and over as I pressed down to keep it level.

“Now there’s some teamwork, baby,” Halle said with a high five. “Let’s go.”

Halle gathered her paddle and began floating with the current as I tightened my life jacket and prepared to follow suit. Left side, right side. Left side, right side. My familiar arm cramp hugged my muscles as I moved down the river.

Turning around to face me, Halle yelled something as a smile stretched across her face. I had troubling hearing, but I knew I felt the same way.