The Expatriates of the 1920s :: American America History

The Expatriates of the 1920's 1ex†¢pa†¢tri†¢ate- 1: to withdraw (oneself) from residence in or allegiance to one's native country 2: intransitive senses: to leave one's native country to live elsewhere; also: to renounce allegiance to one's native country Merriam-Webster Dictionary Nothing before, or since has equaled the mass expatriation of the 1920's. It was as if a great draft of wind picked up these very peculiar people and dropped them off in a European life style. Europe and the rest of the world were beginning to see a large population of these American expatriates. "... the younger and footloose intellectuals went streaming up the longest gangplank in the world." (Cowley 79) Along with the intellectuals went the wealthy à ©lite, the recent college graduates, the art students, and the recent war veterans aptly called "The Lost Generation". Although many went all over the world, the largest density of these expatriates was in France. "Indeed, to young writers like ourselves, a long sojourn in France was almost a pilgrimage to the Holy Land." (Cowley 102) Many expatriates flocked to Paris to follow forerunners in the movement such as Ezra Pound and Gertrude Stein. Most of the expatriates wished to have an introduction to Gertrude Stein at her apartment. There they would discuss art, literature, and the ideals of America for hours on end. Gertrude Stein characterized the expatriates' view of America when she said, "America is my country, and Paris is my home town". (Stein) This idea, of having a place that you consider your home, but not your homeland, is the basis of the expatriate movement. The writing of this era was influenced by a few things. With the new ideas of America, there also came much criticism of it to. After World War One, many Americans became somewhat dissatisfied with the way that their own country's people and leaders acted. This was also a catalyst in the massive expatriation that occurred. Also, it is speculated that many war veterans could have developed various and unknown disorders caused by the type of warfare in which they had taken part. The optimistic culture of The Roaring Twenties also could have been a factor in the attitudes towards America and the writing that developed from it. Through a close study of the Expatriates, I will propose this list of probable influences towards the attitudes and writing that occurred. 1.) World War One, and the physical affects that it created among American and European Citizens.

Service Learning Helped My Career Decision :: Community Service, Volunteer Work

My community service experience was great! I learned many new things that I can use not only in the workplace but also in life. The people I had the opportunity to work with were very generous with their time and talents. They helped me to gain insight into what I want to do with my life. During high school, I was indecisive on what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to work either as a firefighter or an engineer. I performed my community service at the City Utilities Company. I worked with people who were water engineers and they gave me great advice on becoming an engineer. I was told that there were many different types of engineers. I didn’t even know which type of engineer I wanted to be. Then I told him that I was thinking about being a firefighter as well. That’s when I learned his son was a firefighter and loved being one. When I heard about how his son loved the job, I knew then that’s what I wanted to do. I was their secretary for the week from 8am to 5pm. I had to pick up the phone and take messages when they were out of the office, I had to organize some of their paperwork, and talk to the people who walked in looking for information of for one of the other workers. I had learned the responsibility of being on time and following directions. This experience helped me be more comfortable around people I didn’t know and able to interact with them. That came in handy in my job now, I work at American Eagle and I have to interact with people every day but I’m already comfortable doing so. It helped me in life because I’ve been able to meet new people around the college because I’m comfortable talking to complete strangers. The chance I had to work with these people was amazing. I always had the feeling of me being welcome there. In the time I was there I received many gifts from them but not for volunteering for them but because I was a friend. They let me take home leftover candy and popcorn home to my family, even though my mom and sister never knew because I ate it before I got home.

Walmart Company

Walmart Financial Analysis Prepared for Becca Leland BIJSN 5600, Accounting Theory and Practice Fall 1, 2013 Webster University 1 November 2013 Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates approximately 11,047 retail units under 69 banners in 27 countries. It has three segments: The Wal-Mart Stores, The Sam's Club, and International. The Wal-Mart Stores segment includes 4,759 Discount Stores, Supercenters, and Neighborhood Markets in the United States, as well as Walmart. om. It offers apparel for women, girls, men, boys, and infants; domestics, fabrics, and notions; stationery and books; shoes; housewares; hardware; electronics; ome furnishings; small appliances; automotive accessories; horticulture and accessories; sporting goods; toys; pet food and accessories; cameras and supplies; health and beauty aids; pharmaceuticals; Jewelry; and optical, as well as photo processing services.The Neighborhood Markets include dry grocery, meat, produce, deli, bakery, dairy, frozen foods, pharmaceuticals, ph oto processing, health and beauty aids, household chemicals, paper goods, general merchandise, and pet supplies departments. The Sam's Club segment includes 624 stores and comprises the warehouse membership clubs in the United States and samsclub. om. It offers hard-goods, soft-goods, software, electronics, Jewelry, sporting goods, toys, tires, stationery and books, institutional-size grocery items, and selected private labels.The International segment operates 6,288 various retail formats in countries to include Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. This segment operated 261 Canadian Wal-Mart stores and SAM's Clubs, 11 units in Argentina, 150 units in Brazil, 88 units in Germany, 16 units in South Korea, 697 units in Mexico, 54 units in Puerto Rico, and 292 units in the United Kingdom, as well as 48 units in China under Joint venture agreements. The company was incorporated in 1969 and is based in Bentonville, Arkansas. Walmar t employs 2. 2 million associates/employees around the world to include 1. million in the United States alone. Although there are many opportunities, numerous employment opportunities exist in the Accounting arena. Walmart has Finance and Accounting departments impacting business and communities in all 27 countries, under 69 different banners and in every corner of the business, from Enterprise Risk Management to Sustainability. For instance, Global Shared Services aggregates and streamlines much of the financial and payroll services for Sam's Club and Walmart in North America, while Global Internal Audit helps ensure each store operates in the most cost-efficient way.These are Just a few of the many groups within Accounting & Finance, each responsible for vital services that impact the entire company. Projects range from determining the financial impact of mergers and acquisitions to estimating the effect on business when a hurricane hits. Every decision is driven by the mission to save people money and help them live better. The responsibility xtends beyond retail and corporate officials make decisions in partnership with each other.Accounting & Finance is composed of these departments: Accounting, Corporate Corporate Tax (International & Domestic) Treasury & Investor Relations Finance and Planning Walmart U. S. , Walmart. com International Finance Sam's Finance Corporate Strategy Global Shared Services Balance Sheet Assets: Cash and Cash Equivalents – Pertain to liquid assets found on the balance sheet. In essence, cash equivalents can be converted into cash and include commercial paper, treasury bill, money market holdings and short term government bonds. Walmart reported nearly $7. billion in cash and cash equivalents for fiscal year ending January 31, 2013. Of the $7. 8 billion, surprisingly, $5. 2 billion were held outside of the United States in support of foreign operations. All non-cash transactions due from various banks amounted to $1. 3 bil lion. Additionally, Walmart had $715 million in restricted cash in addition to another $876 million of cash that remains abroad and may not be easily transferred to the United States because of local laws. Short Term Investments – Walmart did not report any Short term investments and have not or the previous three years.Receivables – Money that others owe the company. Account receivables are the amounts that a company has a right to collect because it sold goods or services on credit to a customer. Walmart had a variety of receivables for year ending January 31 , 2013 that included insurance companies resulting from pharmacy sales, bank transfers that took in excess of seven days to process, suppliers for marketing or incentive programs and real estate transactions. Its net receivables amounted to nearly $6. 8 billion that included $1. 2 billion from consumer credit roducts alone.Just to name a few, Walmart has the Walmart in-store credit card, Walmart Discover, Sam's Club in-store credit card and the Sam's Club Discover card. Internal Controls – designed to help an organization accomplish specific goals and mostly importantly, in laymen's terms, â€Å"keep everyone honest † . Walmart used t criteria set forth by â€Å"COSO† Internal Control Integrated Framework. This framework primarily evaluates the achievements of objectives in the effectiveness and efficiency of operations, reliability of financial reporting and compliance with laws and regulations.For the year ending January 31, 2013, Walmart's financial reporting was audited by Ernst and Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm. Sarbanes-Oxley Act – In July 2002, a corporate reform bill was passed into United States Federal law by the U. S. Senate and the U. S. House of Representatives. This legislation introduced new and amended ethical standards regarding financial practice and corporate governance for all publicly traded U. S. companies, as well as for management and accounting organizations. U. S. Senator Paul Sarbanes and U.S. Representative Michael G. Oxley spearheaded the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Act. Just three years, after the bill was passed, in September 2005, a former CEO from Wal- Mart de Mexico sent an email to a high ranking Walmart lawyer that referenced how Wal-Mart de Mexico had bribed foreign officials to expedite permits in an effort to win market control in Mexico. This opened up a formal internal investigation by Walmart that found documentation implicating that the Wal-Mart de Mexico executives knew about the bribes and took measures to conceal them as well.The case was later dismissed. In August 2012, SOX violations resurfaced with Walmart. This time, two U. S. congressmen claimed that they received internal documentation that outlined possible illegal activities that involved tax evasion and money laundering in Mexico. Their concerns were expressed in a letter to Michael Duke, the chief executive at W al-Mart. Inventory Valuation – Walmart values inventories at the lower of cost or market as determined primarily by the retail method of accounting, using the last-in, first-out, â€Å"LIFO†, method for all of the Walmart U.S. segments. Walmart international is valued by the retail method of accounting as well but by using the first-in, first-out, â€Å"FIFO†, method. In contrast, Sam's Club uses the weighted- average cost using the LIFO method. Total Current Assets for year ending January 31, 2013 were $59. 9 billion. Long Term Investments – Walmart did not report any long term investments and have not for the previous three years. Property, Plant and Equipment – A large portion of Walmart's assets come from the property, plant and equipment section of the balance sheet.In fact, of the $203 billion in total assets, property, plant and equipment makes up Just over $116 billion which includes $25 billion in land, $90 billion in buildings and improve ments, $40 billion in fixtures and quipment, $2 billion in transportation equipment, $5. 9 billion in construction in process and $5. 9 billion in property under capital leases for an approximate property and equipment gross of $171 billion. Walmart uses straight-line depreciation and major improvements were capitalized as leasehold improvements were depreciated over the shorter of the estimated useful life.Accumulated depreciation and amortization was $55 billion dollars which resulted in a property and equipment net of $116. 6 billion. Intangible Assets / Accumulated Amortization – Walmart did not report any and have not for the previous three years. Goodwill – An account that can be found in the assets portion of a company's balance sheet. Goodwill can often arise when one company is purchased by another company. Walmart's goodwill is as a result of the acquisition of 147 Netto stores from Dansk Supermarket in the United Kingdom and to the acquisition ot a 5 % owner ship in Massmart, a retailer based in South Africa.Goodwill for this period was $20 billion. Balance Sheet – Liabilities and Equity: Accounts Payable – money owed by a business to its suppliers shown as a liability on a company's balance sheet. At year ending January 31, 2013, Walmart owed Just over 59 billion to its suppliers that are to be paid compared to $56 billion the previous year. Short current long term debt – this includes the long term debt that must be paid within 12 months. Walmart recorded Just over $12 billion. Total Current Liabilities – Year ending January 31, 2013 = $71. billion Long Term Debt – Financial obligations that last more than one year. Walmart recorded around $41 billion. This accounts for loans that Walmart has with several financial institutions. Deferred Long Term Liability Charges – a collection of future obligations on the balance sheet. These sometimes include employee related expenses such as retirement pl ans, 401 k plans and workman's compensation plans is which Walmart currently has Just over $7. 6 billion. Minority Interest – This represents the amount of stock that is not owned by Walmart.Currently, Just over $5 billion is not owned by Walmart. Common Stock – Walmart primarily issues common stock that represents ownership in the corporation. Currently, there is neither preferred or treasury stock, however for year ending January 31, 2013, there $332 million of stock was outstanding. Current Market Value of Stock – The current market value of Walmart's stock is currently $74. 79. Through the last 12 months, the trend has been from $67. 37 – $79. 96 which is primarily because of fluctuating sales/wages.Walmart's stock value has continued to grow over the last 12 months that can be easily contributed to its ability to remain a constant force in the market by providing lower prices, creating Jobs with competitive wages and clearly out-distancing itself fro m its closest competitor. Dividends – As noted below, Walmart last paid a dividend on September 3, 2013 with the next pay out date of January 2, 2014. Record Date Payable Date March 12, 2013 May 10, 2013 August 9, 2013 December 6, 2013 April 1, 2013 June 3, 2013 September 3, 2013 January 2, 2014 The last dividend paid for year ending January 31, 2013 was paid on December 27, 2012 at $0. 975 per share for a total of $1 1. 3 billion. Income Statement Comparison – Walmart's income improved from fiscal year 2012 to fiscal year 2013. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. was been able to grow revenues from $447. 08 USD to $469. 28 USD. Most impressively, the company has been able to reduce the percentage of sales devoted to selling, general and administrative costs from 19. 8% to 18. 94%. This was a driver that led to a bottom line growth from $1 5. 7B USD to $17. 0B USD.Extraordinary gains/losses – Perhaps the most important factor that caused Walmart to increase its profits from 20 12 to 2013 was its Non-recurring events. In 2012 alone, Walmart discontinued operations which caused them a loss in excess of $67 million. To its surprise, there was not a lost in year ending January 31, 2013. According to the Management Discussion and Analysis, the present situation it is very much essential that industries need to compare themselves witn the past ears. Analysis of performance ensures the industry get an idea as where they are lagging behind and the short falls which has to be rectified.Walmart has to make progress in improving their performances in the future in order to withstand in the market so that they can compete with the upcoming competitions in the future. Additionally, it has to mainly concentrate to increase the profit rather than increasing the volume of business, so they have to increase their sales and satisfy their customer to withstand in the market. In an attempt to analyze the financial position f the Walmart, it has been revealed that though the turnover of the company increased however the profitability of the company has not increased correspondingly.Overall financial position of the company is satisfactory but however in the long run the company has to take measures to increase its working results in order to keep stay well above its competitors. Financial Statement Analysis: Solvency: Debt to Equity Ratio The company has improved its strength by increasing the working funds. The company should explore the possibility of reducing the operating expenses to increase its profit. Walmart should also take urgent steps to reduce the debtors so as to increase its working capital position.The company should also take steps to reduce the current liabilities and the overall liabilities position. Profitability: It should take steps to increase its working capital base. The company should take steps to make use of the surplus funds in a profitable manner. Efforts must be put in increasing net profit. It is necessary to take steps in improving the growth rating. Competition – Perhaps Walmart's greatest competitor is target. However, Walmart ontinues to prove itself as the world's leading retailer. In comparison to Target, its market cap was at $243. 8 billion while target was at $40. 04 billion. Additionally, Walmart dominated Target in revenue as well. Walmart's revenue was $473billion while Target earned Just $73. 48 billion which generated a net income of $17. 09 billion for Walmart and $2. 71 billion for Target. In conclusion, Walmart continues to be the leading retailer in the industry. It clearly out-distances its closest competitor, however, in order to remain that force, it need to reduce its liabilities. It currently wes suppliers $59 billion. This needs to be reduced significantly.https://finance.yahoo.com/https://www.stock-analysis-on.net/NYSE/Company/Wal-Mart-Stores-Inchttps://www.stock-analysis-on.net/NYSE/Company/Wal-Mart-Stores-Inc/Ratios/Profitabilityhttps://www.stock-analysis-on.net/NYSE /Company/Wal-Mart-Stores-Inc/Ratios/Liquidityhttps://s2.q4cdn.com/056532643/files/doc_financials/2013/Annual/2013-annual-report-for-walmart-stores-inc_130221024708579502.pdfhttp://c46b2bcc0db5865f5a76-91c2ff8eba65983a1c33d367b8503d02.r78.cf2.rackcdn.com/93/a7/ff21a9764702bb5bc8271faacfeb/2012-annual-report-for-walmart-stores-inc_130221023846998881.pdf

How does MAPUA relate to R.A. 9163? Essay

MAPUA relates to R.A 9163 by means of acknowledging that R.A 9163 is a program that targets to develop civic consciousness and defense preparedness in the youth by developing the morals of service and patriotism by having a training in any of its three program components such as ROTC, CWTS and LTS which is specifically designed to develop the youth‘s active contribution to the general welfare and was said that all incoming freshmen students, male or female, enrolled in any baccalaureate and in at least two-year technical-vocational or associate courses, are required to complete one NSTP component of their choice, as a graduation requirement. That’s why, the National Service Training Program of the Mapua Institute of Technology Office also known as NSTP-MAPUA Office organizes the application of the Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS) and the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). Its application is administrated by R.A. 9163. It also helps the students to socialize through community services. 2. Explain the MAPUA CWTS Support and Delivery System? The MAPUA-CWTS has three Support and Delivery Systems that harness MAPUA‘s expertise which can be offered to the community. The first one is the ENGINEERING AND HEALTH SUPPORT AND DELIVERY SYSTEM (EHSDS). It involves students who work in terms of engineering expertise and health services. These students will do some projects that are related to their fields and that will benefit the community. The second one is the LEARNING SUPPORT AND DELIVERY SYSTEM (LSDS). It involves students who work in terms of literacy programs. The MAPUA-CWTS offers Alternative Learning Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ALEAP) for out of school youths and adults where the students will be the mentors of the program using modular method. Lastly, THE SOCIO-CIVIC SUPPORT AND DELIVERY SYSTEM (SCSDS) where students who work in terms of socio-civic programs are involved. These students will serve and act as ambassadors of the MAPUA-CWTS that will strengthen the relationship between MIT and the communities.

Trade Deficit

Trade Deficit and Current Account Deficit [Name of the Writer] [Name of the Institution] Trade Deficit and Current Account Deficit Critically examine this statement, â€Å"Current Account Deficits do not seem to matter anymore – the US$ appears to remain unaffected by escalating US trade deficits†, by reference to the â€Å"Balance of Payments Approach† to exchange rate determination The trade deficit of the US is at exorbitantly high levels. Many economists suggest that depreciating the US dollar would help put a squeeze on United States enthusiasm for globally produced goods.Since this move of depreciation would inherently curb the exaggerated import costs that the US so loves to incur. Furthermore, these three critical factors essentially would help limit the import prices incurred by US due to the trend of rising demands that has permeated in the societal culture: * The practice of using USD for US trade invoicing; * Exporters concerns on market share dynamic s, and; * The outrageous US distribution costs. $759 billion is the aggregated US trade deficit in 2006. This is six percent of the actual nominal GDP of the country.One of the biggest contributory factors is the impasse of plethora of imported goods from foreign lands. In the perspective of numerous investigators and policymakers, dollar depreciation remains a crux system for tending to this export-import imbalance and restoring the worldwide competitiveness of American producers. Indeed in principle, a weaker dollar might as well raise the expense of different merchandise for U. S. consumers, in this manner diminishing U. S. mandate for imports in the meantime that it helps gather interest by foreign nations for U. S. products by making the country's exports increasingly cost-focused abroad.My investigation uncovers that dollar depreciation is unrealistic to shut the exchange crevice courageously. To make sure, remote request for U. S. exports may as well develop, as speculation p redicts. Since basically all U. S. exports to different nations are invoiced in dollars, remote buyers will determine an instantaneous profit from dollar depreciation as the expense of their buys decreases in varying foreign currencies. Notwithstanding, the value of outside imports for U. S. consumers will be impressively increasingly versatile to conversion standard updates.Exchange invoicing practices, it is contended, donate altogether to the lack of care of import costs to trade rates. Since very nearly the sum of the products that the United States imports, for instance those it exports, are invoiced in dollars, the costs of foreign made merchandise remain settled for a period when trade rates change. Also, even in the longer term—over, state, the year emulating dollar depreciation—the craving of outside makers to remain focused in the huge U. S. business sector might lead them to oppose expanding the dollar value of their products.Beyond any doubt, the atypically towering showcasing and appropriation takes added to imports once they drop in the United States—fetches designated in dollars—further isolate the last utilization value of foreign made merchandise from conversion scale updates. The American President stated that: â€Å"The best way to, deal with the trade deficit is to make sure that America is the best place in the world to do business†¦ † Examine this view that promoting growth is more effective than direct targeting of the trade deficit USA is a diverse country with numerous of its regions continuously producing high growth, innovative companies.These companies have risen above the economic downturn that hit the global economy in the start of the 21st century. Rather with surprise, the diverse US states boast such companies not only distributed in the locales of Silicon Valley and Boston but rather in most of its states. End of 2012; saw a sharp decline in the trade deficit of the US. In this period, o il imports drastically reduced whereas exports increase sharply. This essentially iterates that the shrinking trade gap, has improved on the government’s estimated growth and trade deficit levels.Furthermore, the levels reached in the closing months of 2012 indicate towards levels that have not been observed in the last three years. This is a positive inducement. Exportation of US products saw rise in oil exports and other petroleum based-product exports. Further, aircraft sales and agricultural good sales also demonstrated positive increment. Various economists believe that this is a very encouraging sign. Though, economists have stated that the essential focus of the US treasury should be to enhance growth in the country, and secondary considerations should be given to the trade deficit.This assertion is based on the belief that reinvigorating the business systems of the country would deplete the rising gap between the socio economic classes of the country. Furthermore, ind ividual families would be given financial stability and long term sustainability. It also has to state that the narrowed gap between imports and exports, i. e. the trade deficit, essentially iterate that US corporations earn extra then their foreign counterparts. Furthermore, domestic consumption of foreign goods is also less in comparison.It is expected that the companies are not piling up their inventories; this indirectly suggests that curbing expenses including cuts in defence spending would help in keeping a positively skewed growth rate in the future months. These events would see an additional negative pressure on the trade deficit that has started to show signs of decrease. As such economists are of the view that trade will be favourably impacted in 2013. These forecasts are dependent on premises that iterate that the EU debt crisis will finally show some features of stabilizing.This would further give a positive boost to the US exports. Moreover, economic growth witnessed i n Asia would also positively impact the growth potential of the US. One of the biggest negatives for US is the rising trade deficit between China and the US. This trade deficit climbed to a spectacular 300 billion mark in 2012. This would be the biggest pressure point on the growth prospects of the US economy. Economists have confronted this issue by attacking the economic policies of China, specifically the country’s practices to artificially peg their currency at far lower levels, than is required.This assertion is made with the logic that such an economic move by China would essentially lower the costs of its exports in the US. UK trade statistics show similar trends to the US situation. Review the suggestion of b) above for the UK situation UK trade statistics show similar trends of that of US i. e. ever-increasing trade deficits and curbing growth prospects. Given these circumstances and the global economic turmoil that hit the global economies in the early years of the millennia, it is disappointing to even follow the growth prospects of the World, let alone the UK.Britain’s trade deficit also demonstrates a serious picture of disappointment. Economic chiefs of the country suggest that the super competitive currency i. e. the British Pound Sterling can be the glimmer of hope in this dismal economic prospect. This is because the currency is almost a quarter below the pre financial crisis levels. In 2008, December reports indicated that the nation’s deficit consumed after trade sharply rose to 14 billion pounds. One of the biggest factors of this deficit jump is attributed to magnified increase in aircraft import costs.Given these factors, it juxtaposes a truly saddening prospect for the country. Economists who eagerly made plans to rebalance the economic prospects of the economy, by cashing on the decline in pounds value to feed increases through export based growth. BoE has thus decided to restrict any particular changes to the inter est rates. This was due to suggestions that raising the rates would cause pound to appreciate, thus thwarting the trade prospects, negatively. Nonetheless, declining GBP has not appeased the concerns of above targeted and persistent economic inflation, as well as higher than necessary import prices.Current UK growth prospects and outlook suggests that the region would see improvements, although the road to recovery would be filled with bumps and slowness. Outlook prospects also indicate that consumer spending would be positively impacted. Furthermore, squeezes on real incomes would also subside, slowly. These are thoughts that do not cross the normal household. As such they remain scared, and cautious towards excessive spending. This is keeping a tap on growth. UK economy does not have the support of infrastructure of commerce that is established in the US.As such the economy is overfilled, without vacuum, and without much chances of astronomical growth. Additionally, close associat ions with a debt ridden EU has also kept pressures on growth. Though, it is accepted that growth in the nation is the biggest policy to be looked for, economic wise. Moreover, trade deficit should be given a secondary consideration. References Smith, David (2011) Trade Deficit Sunday Times The Balance of Payments and Macroeconomic Policy in an Open Economy Book Chapter

Experiencing a New Country: France Essay

In this short essay, I chose a country I traveled to that opened my eyes to different cultures. France is a country full of diversity and a place I would feel honored to return to, in hopes of learning more from the culture they have to offer. Traveling to France I expected to be entranced by the grand architecture and art that had contributed to history, I was mistaken. I found the heart and soul of the nation in the people. I realized, after much travel, that it is the people and their culture continually that amaze me. After exploring France, I discovered the invigoration of hearing a dissimilar language and learning how to adapt to the new environment. While some travelers carried the pride of their nation, I found it invigorating to assimilate into my new surroundings. In order to accomplish this, I decided to learn French in hopes that continual study of common practices would allow me to live the life of a Frenchmen. Upon arrival I found it easy to adopt the concept of public transportation, and each metro ride became more satisfying as I met varying people of varying nations. I then adjusted my eating schedules and found a taste for French cuisine. With this, I commenced greeting my fellow Frenchmen with, â€Å"Bonjour monsieur! † I was determined to not leave as a stereotypical tourist. I made it my goal to experience the nooks and crannies far from tourist France that is so often portrayed. That is when I found myself sitting in a local brasserie sipping â€Å"une lemonade† and thinking this is one adventure of a lifetime. Now being back in Texas, I hope to embark in my next adventure, to be apart of Colgate Univesity, an institution rich with culture and diversity that produces diplomats of the world.

Starry Night, by Vincent Van Gogh Analysis

Rebecca Shulman February 25, 2013 ENGL 205-04 Epic and Romance Paper #1: Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh, 1889 Swirls mix with white, yellow, blue, and black as the town sleepily yet still so helplessly moves on with its life. No one can truly understand the mystery of the night until they’ve watched it grow. The night is born so magically as the sun of the day descends over the horizon and the moon peeks in through the shadows. It’s a darker sun, and although it is not quite as bright as the first, it is still able to shine down and create a new light for those who wake.The earth is cooled to the core as the town howls with blue breezes, while the wind chills the bones of those who walk the streets. I ponder at this painting, and wonder what thoughts pop in the minds of those whose eyes before mine have already fallen upon this golden wonder. It seems like such a small and quiet village, where the trees, so dark and gloomy as they are at dusk, grow ascending from the ground and are never ending structures.Behind the eyes of the painter was the thought of an ever-changing starlit sky in France, comparing dark with light and how it’s effects were so important to how life can look in one of the many perspectives. The oils are swimming expectantly across the page, creating this wild cotton candy vibe to the soft creamy delight of sweets that enter my imagination while I sit and stare at the tinted buttercream colored moon.As it smiles in my direction, I imagine what it’d be like if there were tiny raindrops slowly falling, but there isn’t a single cloud among such radiant tiny balls of fire. The lines in the sky dance and twirl like waves of an ocean crashing along the shore during the mightiest of storms. I can’t help but wish that I could be a part of this memorable scene, thinking what it would feel like to swim amongst the honey dipped stars so high above me, as I raise my hands and lift my chin, aiming towards the he avens.I’d look below me as my arms spread so angelic, looking down toward the low-lit buildings as I surf around this world full of beautiful wild colors of nature. Though there is a glow throughout the drawing, there is also a clear exactitude of how the sky and land are separated by colors. Where the skies glow of yellow is stronger than it is near the ground, the brightness of the waning moon shows how far that beauty can shine over the land like a guide, or a distant friend.