11 for 2011

What do I have in my pocket? Um, well, let's see; I've got a crumpled gum wrapper, and Halloween jelly thingy, and a 1cent coin. I'm rich!
What was the last thing I had to drink? Water, I guess. I never get juice!
What makes me happy? I love drawing, that makes me pretty happy, I love looking at messily-iced cupcakes - I don't know, it just has a certain cute thing about it - I enjoy cooking, and being with my family and my best friends, looking at sweet, fluffy harp seals, and reading lots of books.
The last nice thing I did for someone? Get Suzie, my sister, a cup of ice.
What SCARES me? A lot of things - snakes, crocodiles, reptiles, human eating animals - but strangely I adore bears; I just want to hug them, they're so adorable - even though they'd probably bite my head off!
The last movie I saw? Pirates of the Caribbean, which scared me so much I started screaming at one point!
The last song I sang was a mix of songs that have melded over the years in my head, so much so I can't pin point where each of it's different parts came from!
The last thing I bought? I went to 'Accesorize' with JJ last week and bought a set of sparkly pink sequined flower clips! Girly, I know.
I definitely couldn't live without my family, and my best friends - but if I had them, then a pencil, paper, and a REALLY FAT BOOK.
What do I hope for? To go to either St.Martin's college in England or Oxford - that's my dream, to become a writer or an artist.
I could live without lots of things- so that a hard one, Ms. Deu! I could probably do without the teasing I get, even though I try to laugh when it is given. Yep, I could definitely live my life without that!

My name - Samantha

My name is Samantha, and that's how I like it, but before? When I was younger, I despised the name. I longed for a beautiful jewel name or a flower name, as I thought those exotic - and mine commonplace- but actually my name was nowhere near as common as others!
My name was originally English, and is mainly used in English speaking countries, but it was a variation on the name 'Samuel' which had originated in Israel - but in my name the Hebrew origin was so thoroughly diluted with the English it wasn't considered in any way to have a link with Israel. The meaning of my name is 'listener', so people who bear the name 'Samantha' are considered silently steady and responsible. I'm English, and so is my name, so there is a cultural significance in there.

My Mum chose the name Samantha because she loved the main character in the TV serial 'Bewitched', who simply twitched her nose and became a reigning witch. She thought Sam was so endearing the name Samantha grew on her, so when I came around, there was no need for a second name( boohoo) because my Mum and my Dad both thought the name Samantha was so beautiful, they knew I'd suit it. As soon as my Mum saw my little peachy head, she knew I was to be Sam.

I love my name now, not only because I now know the story behind it, but because my parents took the time to choose it for me - and they know best, right? So I would think it so sad to change it, because my name is full of sentimental value! I wouldn't like my kids to change the name I gave them - I probably will give them old fashioned, beautiful names, because I'm inspired by the people who bear them. Elizabeth, Oliver, Victoria, Grace, Diana, Audrey - These are all names I sometimes wish I had, they sound so graceful and swan-like. So, really, even though I have moments of wishing my name wasn't mine, overall I love my name and it's general story!

My Traditions

Well, that's hard to cover. See, I'm Dutch, Maltese, and English, and those three combined create a LOT of traditions that are very extremely positively fun to celebrate, and a lot of stuff to write about. Anyways, here it goes. I'll just explain our core celebrations.

From a Dutch point of view, I celebrate 'Sinter klaas', a special Christmas celebration where Sinter Klaas, otherwise known as Santa Claus, comes in the dead of night on 5th December, flying with his 'Schvartepetter' (Black Petes) coming all the way from Belgium to give you sweets and gifts - traditionally a big chocolate initial and fat puffs of gingerbread cut in to perfect spheres - if you were good, and if you were bad, well, coal instead of gifts wasn't enough. The Sint would parcel you up in his canvas sack - and if Sint was having a good day he wouldn't roast you for eating all the sweets in the sack you were trapped in!

                                                           

 Malta is sort of an almond-loving country. You have to make special, hard almond cakes called 'Figola' with a shell of crunchy, soft alomondy cookie on top and bottom and the middle is stuffed and stuffed with sweet ground almond paste( and maybe some glace cherries or raisins), and then on top of everything there is sweet pink or green icing, traditionally. Sounds yummy, right? Also, in November, in some sort of 'party' for the dead, there is tremendous celebration and bone shaped cakes are eaten, almost like figolas but instead of a crunchy cookie base there is a softer pastry shell- but still stuffed with almonds!

                                       
Now, in England, I celebrate Guy Fawkes' day - a group of, as they are known now, 'guys', who desperately wanted to overthrow the parliament that was just opened and let England roll free.
                                                 ''Remember, remember,
                                                         The fifth of November,
                                                  Gunpowder, treason, and plot.
                                                      We see no reason why
                                                          Gunpowder treason
                                                  Should ever be forgot!''

Is what we sing as we make small 'guys' like scarecrows, put them in prams and ask, 'a penny for the guy, ma'am?' of which many oblige - and then we ceremoniously throw throw them into a blazing fire! Lots of people then gobble warm fish and chips from the side of the road - though, unfortunately, not anymore packaged charmingly in newspaper.

P.S Sorry if I talk a lot about food -  it's just one of my favourite parts of my culture:)

                                                          

My Favourite Spot

Imperial War Museum, London

This is the entrance to the Imperial War Museum in central London,United Kingdom, where it's like everything comes alive, all the happenings during war grouped into one amazing place. It is by far my most favourite spot - as I stand in front of the entrance, I anticipate what wonders lie behind the huge antique doors.

This museum is my favourite place because I love history, and what happens behind the scenes at world wars and revolutions is rediscovered here. You can walk around, smelling what old subs smelled like, hunker down to sleep in a remake of a bed a sailor would have had, shoot blanks from guns while hiding in a stinky trench, experience a bombing during the blitz, wear Hitler's clothes, and learn about the holocaust intensely.This is what makes it special; a whole world inside one building.

Other people should visit this place because even if you don't enjoy history particularly, it will all come alive in this museum, and Social Studies class will never be the same again - because you'll have experienced it all, in your mind, first hand.

Hi, fellow bloggers!

Just wanted to say hi, hello, 'hola', 'aloha', 'bonjour', before I start posting, and because hello is just plain nice to say before you start talking, right?
So, Au revoir, bye-bye, salut!