siddhartha comes to america

Siddhartha Comes to America

It was three in the morning, I was so excited I couldn’t sleep.  I have been waiting to meet my great uncle Siddhartha for years.  He was coming to America all the way from India, and I am the lucky one who gets to pick him up from the airport in the morning, and plan our whole weekend.  I wasn’t quite sure where I wanted to take him yet, but I had a few good places in mind.  I was so overwhelmed with thoughts, but I knew I needed to get back to sleep.  I had a long weekend ahead of me, so I cleared my mind and shut my eyes.

“Wake up Sam!” my mom yelled, “its time to get Uncle Siddhartha.” I jumped out of bed, threw on some clothes and on my way I was.  I arrived at Bradley International Airport with my mind still racing and anticipating Siddhartha’s appearance.  I saw a tall, slender man wearing very unusual clothing walk out of the baggage claim area and thought to myself, that must be him.  I ran up to him, introduced myself, and informed him that we had a busy day, and we started to get going.

The big city, that’s where I decided to take uncle Sid.  I have always loved Times Square, and I wanted to share my experience with my uncle.  I decided we would take the train to get the full effect.  We arrived at Grand Central Station, and uncle Sid's mouth dropped with astonishment.  I assumed he never seen anything like it before.  “Its amazing” he said “I’ve never seen so many people.”  This is a whole other world from India.Before evening that day he reached a large town and he was glad because he had a desire to be with people. (50/51) “this is more than a town.” I told him. “This is the big city.” I hope you don’t hate some of the things you see, I thought to myself.  We got to walking around, he gazed at the bright lights everywhere, and his eyes wondered in all the commotion of the city.  “whats the smell?” he said. It smells gross. “That would be American food” I chuckled.  “Here you have to try some”  “I’ve never tasted anything like it” he said. “Its…its delicious!” I smiled at him and leaded him over toward some of the street vendors, so he could get a souvenir, when all of a sudden his face went blank, and he stopped dead in his tracks.  “why are those people sitting on the streets?” he asked.  “They look cold and hungry.”  “They’re homeless”  I replied.  This is horrible, I don’t want to see this.  I’ve never seen anyone look so dissapointed as my uncle did looking at the homeless people on the streets.  “Come on  uncle Sid, lets go to central park.” I suggested. “ you can relax and find peace there.” Siddhartha reflected deeply as he went on his way.(37) I realized maybe the city wasn’t such a good place to take him for his first visit in America. He explained to me how he hated seeing people like that, and he didn’t understand why it happened. No one should suffer, no one should live life like that. ‘ Its okay.” I reassured him. “Tomorrow we’ll go to a place where you can meditate and connect with your inner soul.” “You can even teach me how!” I exclaimed.

After a long day and a good nights sleep it was time for another adventure. Today we were off to the Botanical Gardens. I knew Siddhartha would love it there. The smell of flowers and fresh air, the sound of the waterfalls and birds chirping. It was a world of beauty, and the perfect place for uncle Sid to refresh himself. “ This is perfect Samantha.” He said. “You will be able to find your inner self here.” We sat on a little bridge over looking the water. He talked to me about Samsara and finding Nirvana. He rambled on about many things, and he told me that if time is not real, then the dividing line that seems to lie between this world and eternity, between suffering and bliss, between good and evil, is also an illusion.” I was pretty overwhelmed and confused by all of this, but I pretended to understand. After we finished meditating we walked around admiring the beauty of nature that surrounded us.

Siddartha bent down, lifted a stone from the ground and held it in his hand.(144) “ What are you doing?” I asked. “ This is not just a stone.” He said, “ it may not have value, but it could be something one day.” “ Perhaps an animal or a spirit.” I began to realize how different Siddharta was from the rest of the family, but his beliefs were interesting to me. “ Well, I hope you liked it here.” I said. “ I love it, I feel reborn.” He said. My face lit up with a smile and we headed home.

Out of this whole experience with uncle Sid I learned a lot about him.i was glad he enjoyed our visit in New york, and I wish I had more time to spend with him. It had been a long couple of days, and we were both exhausted. We both crashed as soon as we got home. “Goodnight uncle Sid.” I said. “Goodnight.” He replied.

college essay

a) I chose this essay because its something that i really love and that interests me. Horses really express who i am as a person
b) I think my essay has good detail, it full fills my point
c) It may  sound too "listy" maybe make it flow better
d) does my first paragraph seem to not go? also, does my essay seem to argumentative?




 The wind blowing through my hair, and the exhilaration of the power and strength I suddenly have. I can feel his muscles underneath me as he floats through the air.

               Many people ask me what sports I play, and I tell them that I am an equestrian. Most people think it's not even a sport, that it requires no skill, and all you do is just "sit" there. Many don't think of us as much of athletes at all, but I tell myself otherwise, because I know better. I know that it's much more than that, but some people are just too naive to understand.

               To trust something so unpredictable, something that has a mind of its own, is something so much more than trusting a human being. Falling from twenty feet up, going thirty miles an hour, brushing yourself off, and climbing back up in the saddle without shedding a tear. It's what I call fearless. The courage to be able to run full speed at a solid obstacle, hoping your horse will jump over something taller than the both of you.

               It's not just about riding around in a circle, a horse is such a smart and talented animal. No one thinks a team of horse and rider can do half the things we are capable of. To be able to preform an intricate dance on an animal that doesn't speak your language, to slide to a complete halt in two seconds flat, or to be able to attempt a handstand on a moving creature that could turn on you at any second. Horses have a mind of their own, and as equestrians we are able to connect with them in a way that no one else can.

               Before people underestimate us, they should think to themselves, have you ever had a team mate that was five times the size of you? Or had a connection with a 1300 pound animal? I risk my life every day for this sport, but it makes me a stronger, more responsible person. My horse and I help each other get over our fears. We work hard to be able to do what some people call just riding, hours a day every day a week. To be a true rider is to be courageous, responsible, dedicated, fearless, and always up to tackle a new challenge. to ride a horse is anything, and everything but easy.

summer reading essay

Samantha Cole
Accel English 12
A block

            The Long Journey Ahead
                                        ( The Bean Trees, Friday Night Lights)



There was nothing but my bug, the open road, and I. The only other thing besides nature was the welcome to Kentucky sign in the distance behind me. This was my escape I needed to get out of here, I was going to drive and drive until my bug wouldn't let me anymore. I was so exhausted, the long stretch of road looked never ending. Then I saw a sign that said Welcome to Arizona, and a small little coffee shop just up the road. I walked inside, and sat down at a small table in the back. The waiter came over and I swear I had seen him before.
    “Mike? Mike Winchell?” I asked. “It’s me Missy, well now I go by Taylor.” I hadn't seen Mike since I was a little girl, when I used to live in Texas. “Missy! Hey, how are you?” Mike asked me. “ I'm alright, as you can see i left Texas, i live in Kentucky now, well actually i just left there too. i think I'm going to stay here in Arizona.” “How are you, what brings you here Mike?” “I played football all through high school, we even made it to semi finals for states, but then we lost. Now I'm here looking at a college to play ball at. I'm working here part time to make a little money.” Mike explained. Mike had always loved football, even when we were growing up. “So how come you came to Arizona, um Taylor, right?” Mike asked. “ Well mama isn't too happy with me leaving home, but i wanted better for myself. Every girl in high school was dropping out cause they were pregnant, i didn't want that kind of life.” i explained. Mike nodded understandingly. “ Well I'm glad you made a smart decision. Lately I've been thinking that my decisions aren't so smart. I'm never going to get onto the college ball team, what was i thinking?” Ive never seen Mike so disappointed before.
    I told Mike to sit down, and have a cup of coffee with me, i couldn't leave until i knew that he had his head held high. “ Do you remember when we were little kids Mike? and you used to make me play ball with you everyday, that's all you ever did. You loved it, and you still do. You've got to go after your dreams Mike, I know you can do it, its what you love. Just promise me one thing, that you’ll try?” Mike just starred down with a blank face for awhile, then he looked up at me and said, “okay.” “You're more successful than me, at least you finished high school, i dropped out and practically ran away.” i explained to him.
    “ Well, you better get back to work, i don't want to get you fired. I should probably get back on the road anyways.” I said. “ thank you Taylor, I'll see you around, it was great to see you.” Mike said. I smiled and walked out of the shop. As i got to the car i noticed something moving in the back seat, it was a baby. I couldn't tell the gender, and it looked as though it had been abused. I didn't know what to do, except to take it with me. I couldn’t believe someone would do this. I started up the bug and drove off into the distance. “This is going to be a long journey ahead of me” I whispered to myself.