Month: April 2021

E-Portfolio

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In order to create my e-portfolio, I have chosen to use wix as my platform. As a person who struggles with technology and especially with creating websites, wix seems like the best platform for me. According to the website builder expert website, it has an above four star rating for ease of use and help and support; both of these measures are significant to me because I will most likely run into trouble while trying to create my e-portfolio and it would definitely help if I found the web builder accessible and also having easy access to tech support when needed.

I have decided that I will have my grandparents as my audience for this project. All three of my grandparents live very far away from me and it has always been difficult to see them, especially during the pandemic. I am sure that they are curious to know what I have been up to my first year at Penn State and I believe that this project would be the perfect way to show off my accomplishments and my hard work to them. I would certainly include a tab regarding my Civic Issue Blogs; my one grandmother, a Filipino American, would definitely enjoy reading about my analysis of the Asian American expirience during the pandemic. I’m both all of my grandparents would like to read my passion blogs too. I would include the projects I’ve done for this class and for other classes. I would also create a tab displaying my acceptance into the NSLS. All of these things would allow them to see what my life has been like so far at Penn State and I’m sure they would love the idea of having a final project created for them.

Turkey: The Bridge Between Continents

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One of the countries I find to be the most fascinating is Turkey. Its geographical position has made it significant throughout history with many different empires and nations ruling over the territory. It also has a unique place on the world stage today as a rising power in the Middle East but also with its distinct culture and plethora of beautiful sites and cities.

Turkish Flag with the Bosphorus Bridge as a backdrop | © KLMircea/Flickr

One could not visit Turkey without seeing the Aya Sofya. As one of the great architectural masterpieces of the world, this magnificent building is one of the most popular cites of the country. Originally constructed as a Church, the Ottomans modified it once they took the city of Constantinople (now Istanbul) from the Byzantines. This place has artistic beauty and historical legacy to show off, both of which I would love to see.

Aya Sofya

To eplore the natural allure of the country, I would definitely check of the rocks of Cappadocia. The natural elements have created extraordinary rock patterns throughout the centuries and the top provides an amazing view of the surrounding landscape. Cappadocia also has many churches and religious sites constructed during the Byzantine Empire. Finally, you can also take hot air balloon rides over the rocks to get an arial view of the scene.

Cappadocia

To get more of a glimpse into the Ottoman Empire’s history in modern day Turkey, I would love to visit the Topkakpi Palace. The interior decoration shows the lifestyle of luxury and grandeur that the Ottoman Sultans lived. The palace also has beautiful public gardens and a wonderful view of the surrounding waters. When I was in France, I missed the opportunity to visit Versailles; I will not squander another chance to explore a large, historic and exhuberant palace again.

Topkapi Palace

The country of Turkey has a rich history and no shortage of historically significant monuments and places. Its place between Europe and Asia has allowed Christian and Muslim influence to perpetrate the country creating historical importance for both religions. Its proximity to the Mediterranean provides easy access to the sea and the other countries with wonderful sites and places to visit along the way. There are too many places that I would visit in Turkey and just not enough time.

Works Cited:

Lee, Jess. “15 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Turkey: PlanetWare.” PlanetWare.com, PlanetWare Inc., 27 Mar. 2019, www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions/turkey-tr.htm.

Yalav-Heckeroth, Feride. “9 Cool Facts About the Turkish Flag.” Culture Trip, The Culture Trip Ltd., 20 Dec. 2017, theculturetrip.com/europe/turkey/articles/9-cool-facts-about-turkeys-national-flag/.

The Philippines: Half of My Home Halfway Around the World

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If there is one country that I could visit right now before any other, it would be the Philippines. My paternal grandparents immigrated to the United States from the Philippines in the 1960s and I would love to visit the country of my ancestors. The Philippine archipelago consists of over 7,000 islands and lies south of China and east of Indonesia and Vietnam. Centuries of Chinese, Malay, Spanish and even American influence have created a unique blend of culture, language and people. The Philippines stands out from other Asian nations as it is the only predominantly Roman Catholic country in Asia. The rich history and my familial connections have always drawn me to the Philippines.

Vector Flag Map Of The Philippines 671402 - Download Free Vectors, Clipart Graphics & Vector Art

There are so many different things that I would do in the Philippines. My family lives on the island of Cebu, so naturally I would go there. I would love to visit Inambakan Falls to swim and explore the caves. There are several different “levels” and natural pools to swim in. I would also go snorkeling at Moalboal. Here, you can swim along with schools of sardines and see the lush wildlife in the clear and colorful waters.

Moalboal Pescador Island Hopping Tour: Snorkeling with Sardine Run, Exotic Species and more, Cebu – Full Day - Book Now | TripGuru

While the Philippines is full of natural beauty and interesting sites, I would definitely want to do some non-tourist-like activities. I would visit my family on Cebu and Bantayan, an island off the northeast coast of Cebu, where my family is originally from. I would love to hang out at the white beaches and stare at the beautifil waters and landscape, but I would also explore my ancestral home and meet more of my extended family.

Bantayan Island - Google My Maps

A trip to the Philippines would not be complete without visiting the capital city of Manila. I would certainly go see the Manila Ocean Park; I love aquariams and sea life and Manila has a top tier aquatic attraction with many different forms of life. I would also visit the National Museum of the Philippines. I could learn more about the history and culture of the Philippines with a firsthand look at artifacts from throughout the centuries  Finally, I would love to go to the Divisoria Market and barter with local vendors. I visited a similar market in Beijing and found haggling over small trinkets and souvenirs to be a fun and exciting activity. I have to buy gifts and things to remember my trip but not for the absurd prices that the vendors offer.

National Museum of the Philippines

The Philippines has always been at the top of my travel bucket list. The history, culture, geography and uniqueness make it a very appealing country to travel to. I have always wanted to see where my family is from and to observe the differences in our lives and culture but also what makes us similar. The Philippines has a plethora of natural and man-made attractions. I would definitely suggest traveling there; hopefully in the near future I will be traveling there myself.

Works Cited:

Google My Maps, Google, www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1gj6hh-pjgL3wPylVFQRwws-SY6A&ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=10.776650000000014%2C123.85436999999999&spn=0.944339%2C1.167297&z=9&output=embed.

Hamper, Anietra. “12 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions & Things to Do in Manila: PlanetWare.” PlanetWare.com, PlanetWare Inc., 10 Mar. 2020, www.planetware.com/philippines/top-rated-tourist-attractions-things-to-do-in-manila-phi-1-2.htm.

January , Jenny, et al. “26 AWESOME THINGS TO DO ON CEBU, PHILIPPINES.” Journey Era, Journey Era, 5 July 2020, www.journeyera.com/things-to-do-cebu-philippines/.

Nightwolfdezines, nightwolfdezines. “Download Vector Flag Map Of The Philippines for Free.” Vecteezy, Eezy Inc., 1 Oct. 2019, www.vecteezy.com/vector-art/671402-vector-flag-map-of-the-philippines.

The TripGuru, TripGuru Limited, 2019, thetripguru.com/tour/moalboal-pescador-island-sardine-run-tour-from-cebu-full-day.

Advocacy Project Ideas/Evaluation of Photographer as Witness: A Portrait of Abuse

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I have a couple ideas regarding what to do for my advocacy project. I could do the project on the same topic as my Civic Issues Blog: The Asian American Experience during COVID-19. I could talk about the issues that the Asian American community faces and identify how these issues affect the perception of race in America while outlining the struggles that Asian Americans have gone through. The audience for this topic could be the Penn State community but also the public in general since this is an American issue and all Americans should be informed. I also think that talking about screen time and/or social media addiction would be an interesting topic. The audience would have a wide range, but it would be especially relevant to my peers and any young person who spends considerable amount of time on social media. It has a dominating effect on our lives and while it provides entertainment, it also has many negative consequences.

I would consider Photographer as Witness: A Portrait of Abuse to be an ethical piece of advocacy. The captions for each photo paint the narrative that the relationship started with a man released from jail hoping to become a better man and help a young woman raise her children; however, the relationship deteriorates as the pictures go on and Shane’s issues with Maggie and her children only increase finally culminating with an assault in the kitchen. The captions provide backstory to the pictures and serve as textual evidence. to describe the situation. The author tries to show Shane’s positive values, especially him wanting to be a role model for Kayden, but his flaws are also shown through talking about his arguments with Maggie that demonstrate his anger. The photographs serve as a look inside domestic abuse and the inappropriate nature of the action; Maggie wanted the photos to tell her story but to also help others. The audience could be anyone in a relationship or any person who knows someone in a relationship; the purpose is to identify what leads to domestic abuse and the reactions and responses to it. This advocacy peace follows a story of domestic abuse and its implications but also shows others what to expect and how to help.

Malta: Mediterranean Link Between Africa and Europe

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The island nation of Malta contains geographical beauty and historical intrigue. Known for its beautiful coastiline, thriving marine life, and historical structures, Malta certainly stands out from its neighbors. Located in the Mediterranean Sea between Tunisia and Sicily, the Maltese archipelago is only about 121 square miles and receives more tourists each year than it has population. However, Malta has many unique and interesting sites that I would love to check out.

Malta

First, I would love to visit the ancient capital of Mdina. The ancient city is full of traditional Maltese architecture and historic grandeur. The city has several museums to offer insight into the history of the island along with many places to sit down, eat, and admire the city. Mdina is also surrounded by many fortifications that have been used to defend the city throughout the ages. Personally, I think that I would love the ancient vibe of the city and would love to walk up and down the archaic streets.

Old Capital Of Mdina

I would also love to spend time at some of Malta’s many harbors. I love coastal areas and as an island nation, Malta has plenty of access to beautiful waters and scenic views. Fort St. Elmo overlloks the Valletta harbor and historically has been used to protect the area. Also called Pinto Wharf, this area is full of restaraunts and places to shop along with the historic buildings and bright blue waters. In southern Malta, Marsaxlokk, a small fishing village, has unique fishing boats called luzzus that traverse the waters and has its own delicious seafood. The “Three Cities” of Senglea, Cospicua and Vittoriosa have similar historic structures, botas and emerald water. I love the aesthetic of coastal cities and long docks lined up with boats; this is one of the reasons why I find Malta so fascinating and am dying to visit the country.

Valletta Harbor

Finally, as someone who loves history, I would enjoy visiting the Great Siege of Malta and the Knights of St. John. This site uses actors and real life exhibition to show tourists how the Great Siege of Malta occured in 1565. The bright and outlandish uniforms of the knights immediately draw attention. I would love to see the knights defend their territory against Turkish invaders and learn more about the history of Malta.

Great Siege Of Malta and The Knights Of St. John

There are too many places that I would want to visit in Malta. The country has many things that pique my interest: beautiful coastlines and waters, traditional buildings and fascinating history and culture. Its unique location has put it at the center of history between different empires and nations while also creating unique language and culture among its inhabitants. Its proximity to two continents would allow me to visit other countries easily after seeing Malta. I hope to travel their one day and I would encourage others to visit too.

Works Cited:

“25 Best Things to Do in Malta.” The Crazy Tourist, The Crazy Tourist, 26 Jan. 2020, www.thecrazytourist.com/25-best-things-malta/.

Raeside, Rob. Malta, FOTW Flags of the World, 15 Sept. 2019, www.crwflags.com/fotw/Flags/mt.html.

says:, S. Msisya, et al. “Top 37 Facts and Info About Malta You (Probably) Didn’t Know.” MaltaUncovered.com, MaltaUncovered.com, 11 Dec. 2020, www.maltauncovered.com/malta-island/top-facts/.

Issue Brief (Very) Rough Draft

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I have attached a pdf of my issue brief. I know that I need to change the format a little bit and add Chicago notes and an original infographic. I have a couple questions regarding the content of my issue brief. Should I add another argument in favor of DWI courts? Are my arguments strong enough? Is there anything else that I should add or change? Thank you for giving feedback.

RCL Issue Brief_ Drunk Driving

San Marino: The Longest Standing Republic

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Out of all the countries in the world, microstates seem to get the least amount of attention. Granted, being microstates, it’s easy to miss them on the map. If you were to look at a map of Italy, you would probably miss the two microstates that lie completely within the country’s borders. I’m sure many are familiar with Vatican City, the world’s smallest country; however, most people probably have not heard of San Marino. San Marino is another microstate completely surrounded by Italy. While San Marino may be obsure to the average map observer, it has a rich hisotry full of natural beauty and amazing tourist destinations. Founded in 350 A.D., the country has managed to retain its independence throughout centuries of conflict in the region including both World Wars and Italian unification. It is the oldest republic in the world with medieval-like architecture; this hidden country has so much to offer the outside world.

Flag of San Marino with Stock Footage Video (100% Royalty-free) 6651017 | Shutterstock

San Marino does not have the highest tourism numbers, even though it lies within a country with many hot tourist destinations. However, this means that the streets will be less crowded and more people miss out on such interesting tourist attractions. One of these attractions, the Rocca Guaita, is a fortress that lies atop a hill. Built in the 11th century, this monument overlooks the city of San Marino and provides a view of all the natural and man-made beauty that San Marino has to offer.

Rocca Guaita

The Museo di State (National Museum) would also be a worthwhile attraction to visit. Any country’s national museum provides so much historical value, and San Marino’s is no different. You can find ancient art from the Italian peninsula dating back to Etruscan and Roman times. There is also Byzantine, Renaissance and Egyptian art at the museum. I would definitely like to see some antique San Marino coins and how they compare to other ancient currencies. A microstate founded in 350 A.D. must have an interesting history, considering that it has managed to retain its independence since then. Visiting the National Museum would provide greater insight into the political and cultural history of the country.

Trafila San Marino | Trafila Garibaldina

You can also take a cable car for a ride to have an arial view of San Marino. You can see the lush and green landscape hundreds of feet in the air but also the architecture that seems untouched by modernity. The cars go up to Mount Titano, so even after the trip up is finished, you will still be able to have a magnificient view of the surrounding landscape.

San Marino’s Funavia

I feel like microstates do not get enough attention on the world state or the tourism industry. However, that just means that less tourists will come and wreck the natural beauty of these places. San Marino has a beautiful natural geography and landscape. Its streets are filled with authentic Sammarinese buildings and architecture. Its unqiue history sets it apart from other countries in the region and only adds to its mystique. I would love to have the opportunity to visit San Marino and the other microstates of Europe.

Works Cited:

“170° ANNIVERSARIO DEL PASSAGGIO DI GARIBALDI SUL TITANO 1849 – 2019: DA SAN MARINO A RAVENNA AGLI APPENNINI.” Trafila San Marino | Trafila Garibaldina, NEXT TRENDS COMMUNICATION S.R.L., www.terredidante.it/it/tour-trafila-sanmarino.jsp.

Rogers, Barbara Radcliffe. “14 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in San Marino: PlanetWare.” PlanetWare.com, PlanetWare, 9 Mar. 2021, www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/san-marino-rsm-rsm-rsm.htm.

“San Marino.” Infoplease, Sandbox & Co., www.infoplease.com/world/countries/san-marino.

Smigielski, Adam. “Flag of San Marino with Stock Footage Video (100% Royalty-Free) 6651017.” Shutterstock, Shutterstock, www.shutterstock.com/video/clip-6651017-flag-san-marino-fabric-structure-looping.