GLOBAL WARMING: A GLOBAL PROBLEM

Dear Friends,

The forecast predict that there would be snow through Friday. But unfortunately, we’re going to have to wait. My friends here in New York are already so frustrated by this. They kept wishing for snow on the first day of winter, it didn’t happen. They kept wishing for white Christmas, and again, it dint happen. But its so fun to see them wishing desperately, haha. Anyways, speaking of winter and snow, I want to talk about global warming

Save the earth!”, “Go Green!”, “Save the tree!”. You rarely hear that phrase by now. Years ago, when Global Warming just started, people always pay attention to their surroundings. But some years passed by and people seem to have forgotten about it. Do you notice the temperature is getting hotter and hotter everyday? Do you notice that even though it’s almost winter, yet it still feels hot? If you ask people that question “why is that?”, I’m sure most people will answer ‘Global Warming’ or ‘Greenhouse effect’. The Greenhouse effect is a warming effect caused by certain gases that has heat from sunlight including CO2 ,water vapor, etc. To be honest, I was unaware of everything around me but since Global Warming has gotten more obvious, I started to notice about the plastic issue, weather, pollutions, etc. Don’t people want to stop this global warming? Think about it, what could happen if there are pollutions everywhere? What could happen if there are so many plastics that can’t be dispose? We need to have some solutions.

First, there are some things that caused pollution, for example transportations, industries, etc. If we don’t reduce the usage of fuels and oils, it could worsen the CO2  in the atmosphere. So, the very little thing that we could do is to ride/use public transportations more often than personal transportations (depends on the distance to destination). Because by doing that, it will reduce the usage of fuels and oils, so it will reduce the pollution in the atmosphere. I know some people who uses their personal transportation in their everyday life might disagree with my solution, “We don’t have time”, “We’re too tired, or “we want to be there (destination) faster” or maybe “Public transportations are not clean” they might say. People can use their personal transportation but also try to use public transportation as much as they use their personal cars.

Nowadays, plastic issue has been a topic quite a lot of time. Most everyday products that we use uses plastic, for example plastic bottles for us to drink, plastic cup, plastic bags for shopping, etc. Plastics can’t be dispose. Even though scientists are still figuring out how to dispose it, we still have to help lessen the unused plastics. We don’t want plastics to pile up everywhere, right? There are solutions to it, the first one is to recycle, there are some organizations (sometimes in schools too) that recycles used things, for example, plastic bottle, snacks plastics, etc. People usually create something out of those used things. For example, they recreate plastic bottles into something creative and useful too like wallet, small bags, lamp, etc. Even though it’s a waste of time for people who have work, studies, and others, I think recycling is a good way to reuse plastics. And people could do it on their free time too!

My second solution to lessen the plastic is quite obvious, which is to use less plastic. It’s an easy way and everyone could do it! For example, kids could do it by bringing their water bottle and just refill it if it’s empty instead of buying plastic water bottles. It’s easy and you don’t have to waste money. For housewives, they could buy one (or more) shopping bags and they could reuse it over and over again for shopping instead of using plastic bags. I think this idea is an excellent idea to use because it’s pretty easy and you could use it over and over again.

So, I think we could ride public transportations more often, recycle, or use less plastic if we want to lessen the pollution and plastics. Because by lessening pollutions will also lessen the percentage of CO2 in the atmosphere and stop the greenhouse effect that made the climate and the temperature on earth changed. Just an advice from 13 years old ;)

BIRTHDAY DRAMA

Dear Friends, 

Today, i'm going to tell you about my 10th birthday. The most amazing and twisted birthday drama i've ever experienced.

"People never know how special someone is until they leave, but maybe sometimes its important to leave, so they are given that chance to see how special that someone really is”. After I read that quote, I giggled and said, “This reminds me of ‘that’ time”. I’m now 13 years old, a lot of things has happen and I’ve made lots of mistakes and eventually learn from it. And one of the challenges I have to face was on my 11^th birthday. It was the day ‘they’ test my patience, my reaction, and everything else. And thanks to that ‘gift’ they gave me, I changed.

I opened the window in my car as I waved my hand to my mom. “Bye, Mom!” I yelled out, “Have fun at school!” she answered. Today is my birthday and unlike other days, I feel very optimistic about today. “Hm, there it is,” I whisper to myself. My car entered the parking lot of a big white and blue building, “That’s my school”. The car stopped. “Thanks” I thank my driver, “No problem” he answered.

I got out of the car and I stopped for a second. I took a deep breath, I clenched my hand and whisper to myself my catchphrase, ‘Fighting!’. I’m smiling so bright its as if the sun is right behind me. I always observe the people around me as I walk through the hallway and up the stair. Today is a busy day, I see teachers walking busily, crowds of students, and my friends chatting by the shoe locker.

To be honest, I’m a shy person but I get along with everyone in school. But the problem is, I’m not really independent. I always follow other people and never do anything on my own. Now I’m always with my 6 best friends, and they helped me a lot with many things. Everyone in the school knows about us because we’re always together. I’m hoping that my best friends will congratulate me and give me presents today like all other best friends do.

I stopped in front of my class, I bend down and took off my shoes, and then put it in my shoe locker. I took a deep breath and open the door with a nervous look on my face. But in a second, my nervousness turned into a confused look. I see my classmates staring at me with a weird look on their face. I look around trying to find my best friends, and found them on the corner of the room near the girl’s book bag locker. I smiled and ran to them. “Hey guys!” I greet them. But instead of a reply, all I felt was the wind that brushes my hair as they all passed by me without saying a word. My head is already full of thoughts and questions. What is going on here?

The bell has rung, and the teacher just entered the classroom, first period is about to begin. It was pretty normal at first. But then most of my classmates started to ignore me and refused to work together with me. And the same is second period. In third period, I started to hear some people bad mouthing me. I tried to close my ears but that would probably make the situation worse. And now we have social studies for fourth period. And finally my turn to read the textbook came.

The teacher always asked us to read the textbook out loud one by one so we’ll be used to speak in public with a loud voice. I looked around the classroom while I read. My classmate’s reactions when I read were different than their reaction when other people read. I could see the wrinkles in their forehead, Its as if I betrayed them or something. I looked away with my lips bitten and my eyes holding my tears. I have no one to talk to, and I have no one to depend on. It’s just me and myself alone. Finally the period ended and we have lunch next, so I took my lunch box and ran in full speed like a cheetah to my secret place.

My secret place is the only place where I can relax and enjoy the view of the sky by myself. I always go there for lunch. Only my best friends knows about that place. Usually, they would come here running to me like they haven’t seen me for a year. But today is different, I guess. After I finished eating, I ran back to my class to check on my Indonesian Language notebook. My hands are sweating, I look through my book bag over and over again but I still couldn’t find it.

I was so sure that I put it in my book bag this morning. I tried to keep calm and find another notebook so I won’t worsen the situation. Finally the teacher came and the lesson started. “Where is your usual notebook, Alsa?” My teacher asked. I tried to explain, “It was in my book bag, but I think I lost it this morning, I’m so sorry” He sighed and then quickly signed my notebook. After that, he suddenly gathered us to sit and form a circle in the carpet.

“We’re a little ahead of the other class, so why don’t we play a punishment game?” He asked us with a smile. My classmates were all bored so they agreed. I don’t really like to participate in games especially when I feel bitter. But then he said, “Whoever forgot their notebooks, or doesn’t have it with them, come to the center of the circle”. I paused. I can’t refuse to that since I’m he culprit here, so

I have no choice but to come out and sit in the center of the circle. I don’t want the teacher to call out my name and embarrassed me. “Since it’s a punishment game, you will do whatever I tell you to do,” my teacher said, I didn’t answer because I’m still hesitating. “Dance while you sing in front of your classmates.” My eyes got bigger and I just stand there without doing anything. My cheeks are red like a tomato and the boo’s are ringing in my ear, so I covered my face with both of my hands out of embarrassment. But in a second, the class was silent as a graveyard. And then I opened my eyes and I hear my best friends came in from outside with a cake and a candle while singing “Happy birthday to you” I smiled while blowing off the candles and then cried again while hugging them.

I feel satisfied, embarrassed, and furious at the same time. It’s like my feelings are stirred up like a bowl of hot soup. “Why did you guys do that to me? I feel so alone!” I complained while crying. “Well, we wanted to give you the best birthday present, so we thought of this! A cake and a Test!” Diva giggled while answering my question. I laughed and cried for a very long time. The day ended up with me feeling delighted and the others satisfied. It was the best gift and lesson for me.

After that day, I always try to be independent and try to solve problems on my own, which is very pleasure because when you do that, you will get the feeling of being mature.

MY FIRST POSTING

Dear Friends,

This is my first time posting on a blog, i guess. Oh, I'm Alsa btw. My real name is Salsabilla Narishky. It's a pretty long name so everyone calls me Alsa hehe. I'm Indonesian and i live in New York. My impression of New York? hmm, New York has completely changed my life. Ever since i've arrived in New York, i always feel like a different person. Emotionally and Physically. I don't regret moving here though, because it's a new experience for me and i get to learn new things here! So i'll be posting stories or news from New York and thank you for reading my first diary hehe ;)