Growing up, I was very shy and for most of grade 1 to 5, I would bury my nose in books. I am a fan of historical fiction and so reading books about Russia, France, England etc. made me curious about their lifestyles and cultures. Sometimes lost about what is happening in the books I’ve read, I began to research about the particular country. I became more and more curious. In my research, I also came across many global issues.
In elementary school, I wasn’t very socially active and kept to myself. I didn’t participate in any fundraisers or clubs, except Silver Birch. However, in grade 6, when I helped organize my first fundraiser, my eyes opened to the world around me. I began to have deeper understandings of many issues like discriminations and global warming. After organizing that fundraiser, I began to feel as if I could change things and I started to crawl out of my shell. I have then started to help and organize fundraisers and join clubs.
I am generally a serious person and I can focus on tasks easily, which I think would help me in the IB program. I work well in groups as well as independently. Other helpful traits are self regulation and time management. I think that these traits will not only help me get through IB but also to thrive in it.
My hobbies are reading and music. Reading lets me find another view on situations and can bring me into the author’s point of view. I started playing piano at the age of 7 and I have earned my grade 6 certificate and I am now reaching for my grade 7 certificate. Many times, I wanted to quit piano as I could never reach the right key or my tempo was always wrong. Still, I held back the tears and persevered and in the process, I became more determined in all my works, not allowing myself to give up.
My career goal is to become a doctor and I hope that I would find a path trough IB. Ever since I was in grade 4, I wanted to be in medics. I watched some documentaries on medics to try to understand how different diseases and viruses affect the body. I also research about breakthroughs in medical history and the history of medics. I would like to take Science and Math and have a better understanding of how the body functions and body parts.
To me, IB is a chance to pursue my dreams. It is the door to my hopes and the pathway to my future. It is the source of satisfaction for my thirst of knowledge and my increasing curiosity.
Saturday, 30 November 2013
Monday, 25 November 2013
Broken Arm
Monday August 5th, 2013 was Civic Day; everything seemed perfect. The sun was bright and warm and the blue sky held no trace of clouds. Squirrels and birds made amends and played. The lively breeze nudged the trees into whispering laughter. The flowers smiled and the grass was green.
On that beautiful morning, we decided to go to Sunnybrook Park. My friends and I frolicked around, running in the grass and climbed a tree. I climbed higher and higher, gaining more confidence. Suddenly, my foot slipped and I came crashing down. A small but sturdy twig caught me, flipping me over. I landed with my arms outstretched and the wind knock out of my lungs.
Everyone asked in unison, “Are you okay?” Out of breath and slightly embarrassed, I told them in a light tone that I was fine. I got up to brush the dirt off my pants, wondering how I would explain the dirt stain on my pants. When I looked down, it felt like I fell off the tree again. My wrist was crooked. My face instantly paled and I could only say 3 words: Oh. My. God. I was unable to take my eyes off my alien wrist. This was obviously a nightmare; it wasn't real.
5 minutes after we called 911, we heard the high pitch siren of the ambulance. The paramedics gently put my arm in a makeshift cast letting some of the younger children hold the equipment. He guided me to the ambulance where 2 other paramedics waited. We were seated in the ambulance but I kept fidgeting and my mom’s face was ghostly pale. The paramedic, upon seeing us instantly said it was nothing.
“I broke my arm 3 times. Heck, I even broke my skull! I’m still here,” he joked.
After filling many forms and applications, we sat in the waiting room of the hospital. At first, we kept little conversation, but after 5 minutes, we were silent. My arm began to throb, which didn't happen before. At first, it only lasted for a second or so and then stopped. But it soon came back, lasting longer and longer. I began to gasp as the throbbing became a stab and I cried in my mom’s shoulder, biting my tongue to try to keep my mind off my arm. Again and again I told my mom that my arm hurt and she would bite her lips each time, wanting to do something. After the millionth time, my mom asked a nurse for painkillers.
To keep my mind off my arm, I forced myself to think about something else. Suddenly, my foggy mind cleared and I sat up straight. I would miss the Backstreet Boys concert. Before summer vacation, my family and I heard that the Backstreet Boys would be touring in Toronto. We scoured the Internet for tickets and when we finally found a site, we managed to snag the last few tickets. Everyday, we ticked off the boxes of our calendars, impatiently waiting for the day to arrive. Timidly, I asked my mom if I could still go.
“We'll see”, she replied and I knew it was impossible now.
Slumping quietly in my chair, I suddenly realized that I wouldn't be going to China either. To save money, my mom bought our tickets earlier this year and they were non-refundable. She already packed our bags a few weeks earlier and I was looking forward to a trip to the Terra Cotta warriors which I missed on my last visit.
Sensing my dark mood, we decided to try to go to Backstreet Boys concert. There were obviously going to be big crowds at the concert so we devised a system where my family members would stand around me to prevent anyone from accidentally bumping my arm. I would wear only one sling so everyone would get the message that my arm was broken without me losing my balance.
As if fate didn't want me to go, the forecast was rain. My cast could not touch water so we had to find a rain jacket. There couldn't be any sleeves as my arm could not fit and it had to be well insulated.
The day was quickly upon us so we scrambled into stores, scouring shelves and exploring aisles for the perfect raincoat. The days disappeared, one by one yet no stores had the perfect jacket. As the days went by, I became more frantic. It seemed that I wouldn't go after all.
The day before the concert, I was scrunched up on the couch, all hope gone and tears prickled my eyes. The Backstreet Boys concert was going to be my first live concert! Now because of my arm, my family and I couldn't go.
I heard the door closing, knowing what my dad would say. He walked up to me, holding something behind his back. He smiled and produced a pink bicycle raincoat. I slipped it over my head; it covered me from neck to toe and my arm was safely under the thick waterproof fabric. There were no sleeves. It seemed as if God sent it himself. I clutched the jacket, almost kissing it.
After the exciting, awesome concert, another wall slammed in front of us. How would I go to China? I only had my cast on for one week and we all knew from the Internet that I needed at least 2 weeks before the doctors gave me a fiberglass cast and I might be able to travel. My luck couldn't be repeated the second time so I sulked in the corner. Still, my parents were able to read me like an open book and knew what I was feeling. My dad proposed that he and I would go 2 weeks after my sister and mother if possible. If my arm still couldn't take it after 3 weeks, he and I would go on winter vacation. Still, my dad was away for most of the day and since my other arm was also hurt, without my sister or mother, how was I going to eat, bathe, dress or use the washroom? To make matters worse, we were renovating our staircase and there was no way that I was able to use it without assistance.
A week after the incident, when we went to the hospital for a checkup, I was taken by surprise when the nurse began to cut my cast before I saw the doctor. The nurse pawned our comments of how I only had my plaster cast for 1 week, saying that it was fine. Afraid to hope, I timidly asked the doctor if I could go to China. I held my breath waiting for his response. He stopped writing. Was he biting his lips and shaking his head? He seemed to be on the verge of giving me bad news and my heart sank. He looked up from his sheet, his eyes seemed furrowed and I could already hear his answer: I’m sorry, but no. Then he smiled.
“Of course you can,” he said and I did a silent whoop, “I’ll just put you in a fiberglass cast and you’ll be ready to go.”
Snip, snip. After we came back from China, a month later, the cast finally came off. I took one last look at my cast, its familiar color and texture, filled with names and get well notes with happy faces and hearts from all my friends. I tentatively touched my right arm which tingled with the foreign touch. My arm prevented me from writing to playing with a dog; it was something that is least on my mind at night when I crawl under the covers yet I depend on it the most.
Everyone asked in unison, “Are you okay?” Out of breath and slightly embarrassed, I told them in a light tone that I was fine. I got up to brush the dirt off my pants, wondering how I would explain the dirt stain on my pants. When I looked down, it felt like I fell off the tree again. My wrist was crooked. My face instantly paled and I could only say 3 words: Oh. My. God. I was unable to take my eyes off my alien wrist. This was obviously a nightmare; it wasn't real.
5 minutes after we called 911, we heard the high pitch siren of the ambulance. The paramedics gently put my arm in a makeshift cast letting some of the younger children hold the equipment. He guided me to the ambulance where 2 other paramedics waited. We were seated in the ambulance but I kept fidgeting and my mom’s face was ghostly pale. The paramedic, upon seeing us instantly said it was nothing.
“I broke my arm 3 times. Heck, I even broke my skull! I’m still here,” he joked.
After filling many forms and applications, we sat in the waiting room of the hospital. At first, we kept little conversation, but after 5 minutes, we were silent. My arm began to throb, which didn't happen before. At first, it only lasted for a second or so and then stopped. But it soon came back, lasting longer and longer. I began to gasp as the throbbing became a stab and I cried in my mom’s shoulder, biting my tongue to try to keep my mind off my arm. Again and again I told my mom that my arm hurt and she would bite her lips each time, wanting to do something. After the millionth time, my mom asked a nurse for painkillers.
To keep my mind off my arm, I forced myself to think about something else. Suddenly, my foggy mind cleared and I sat up straight. I would miss the Backstreet Boys concert. Before summer vacation, my family and I heard that the Backstreet Boys would be touring in Toronto. We scoured the Internet for tickets and when we finally found a site, we managed to snag the last few tickets. Everyday, we ticked off the boxes of our calendars, impatiently waiting for the day to arrive. Timidly, I asked my mom if I could still go.
“We'll see”, she replied and I knew it was impossible now.
Slumping quietly in my chair, I suddenly realized that I wouldn't be going to China either. To save money, my mom bought our tickets earlier this year and they were non-refundable. She already packed our bags a few weeks earlier and I was looking forward to a trip to the Terra Cotta warriors which I missed on my last visit.
Sensing my dark mood, we decided to try to go to Backstreet Boys concert. There were obviously going to be big crowds at the concert so we devised a system where my family members would stand around me to prevent anyone from accidentally bumping my arm. I would wear only one sling so everyone would get the message that my arm was broken without me losing my balance.
As if fate didn't want me to go, the forecast was rain. My cast could not touch water so we had to find a rain jacket. There couldn't be any sleeves as my arm could not fit and it had to be well insulated.
The day was quickly upon us so we scrambled into stores, scouring shelves and exploring aisles for the perfect raincoat. The days disappeared, one by one yet no stores had the perfect jacket. As the days went by, I became more frantic. It seemed that I wouldn't go after all.
The day before the concert, I was scrunched up on the couch, all hope gone and tears prickled my eyes. The Backstreet Boys concert was going to be my first live concert! Now because of my arm, my family and I couldn't go.
I heard the door closing, knowing what my dad would say. He walked up to me, holding something behind his back. He smiled and produced a pink bicycle raincoat. I slipped it over my head; it covered me from neck to toe and my arm was safely under the thick waterproof fabric. There were no sleeves. It seemed as if God sent it himself. I clutched the jacket, almost kissing it.
After the exciting, awesome concert, another wall slammed in front of us. How would I go to China? I only had my cast on for one week and we all knew from the Internet that I needed at least 2 weeks before the doctors gave me a fiberglass cast and I might be able to travel. My luck couldn't be repeated the second time so I sulked in the corner. Still, my parents were able to read me like an open book and knew what I was feeling. My dad proposed that he and I would go 2 weeks after my sister and mother if possible. If my arm still couldn't take it after 3 weeks, he and I would go on winter vacation. Still, my dad was away for most of the day and since my other arm was also hurt, without my sister or mother, how was I going to eat, bathe, dress or use the washroom? To make matters worse, we were renovating our staircase and there was no way that I was able to use it without assistance.
A week after the incident, when we went to the hospital for a checkup, I was taken by surprise when the nurse began to cut my cast before I saw the doctor. The nurse pawned our comments of how I only had my plaster cast for 1 week, saying that it was fine. Afraid to hope, I timidly asked the doctor if I could go to China. I held my breath waiting for his response. He stopped writing. Was he biting his lips and shaking his head? He seemed to be on the verge of giving me bad news and my heart sank. He looked up from his sheet, his eyes seemed furrowed and I could already hear his answer: I’m sorry, but no. Then he smiled.
“Of course you can,” he said and I did a silent whoop, “I’ll just put you in a fiberglass cast and you’ll be ready to go.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Snip, snip. After we came back from China, a month later, the cast finally came off. I took one last look at my cast, its familiar color and texture, filled with names and get well notes with happy faces and hearts from all my friends. I tentatively touched my right arm which tingled with the foreign touch. My arm prevented me from writing to playing with a dog; it was something that is least on my mind at night when I crawl under the covers yet I depend on it the most.
Sunday, 10 November 2013
Le Petit Prince
Un Rapport du Livre
Sommaire
Un garçon était inspiré par un livre et décidait de dessiner un serpent qui mange un éléphant. Quand il donnait aux les adultes ou les « grands personnes », toute le monde disaient que c’était un chapeau. Découragé par son échec, il laissait ses dessine et apprenait comment piloter un avion.
Des années ont passé et le garçon a grandi. Un jour, il volait a travers le désert Sahara quand son avion a mal fonctionné et il a attiré. Soudain, il a aperçut un étrange petit garçon qu’il a nommé le petit prince. Le petit prince et l’homme sont devenus les amis et le petit prince a raconté son histoire.
Le petit prince vivait sur l’astroïde B 612. Sur son astroïde, il y a des baobabs qui vont occuper la planète si tu ne creuses pas. Le petit prince a vu une plante qui ressemble à un baobab alors il le laisse. La plante était une magnifique rose qui était très vain. Le petit prince l’aimait beaucoup et la rose prend l’avantage de l’amour du petit prince et donnait beaucoup des ordres alors le petit prince a décidé de partir mais pas avant le rose a avoué son amour pour lui.
Le petit prince a visité des autres astroïdes habité par les grandes personnes comme un roi, un vaniteux, un buveur, un homme d'affaires, un allumeur de réverbères et un géographe. Ces personnes donne une impression que les grandes personnes sont très étranges et manque d’imagination. Finalement, le petit prince a arrivé au Terre et il voir un aiguilleur du chemin du fer qui lui disait que toutes les adultes vont par ici et par la mais ils ne savent pas ce qu’ils cherchent. Seule des enfants regardent dehors leurs fenêtres et savait ce qu’ils cherchent.
Le petit prince a marché à un jardin et il était triste de voir des millions des roses. Il avait pensait que sa rose est la seule de l’espèce et a pensé qu’elle était spéciale. Après, il a rencontré un renard qui a demandé d’être apprivoisé. Le renard a donné beaucoup des sagesses au le petit prince. Il a dit que l’amour donne la signifiance aux personnes et chose. A cause du amour du petit prince, le champ de blé avait de la signifiance a le renard car c’était la même couleur de ses cheveux. Le petit prince a réalisé que son rose est spécial car il l’aime.
Le petit prince finissait son histoire et l’homme n’avais plus du l’eau. Heureusement, ils sont trouvé un petit puits. Le petit prince a resté au le puits et a dit que l’homme doit retourner pour réparer son avion et de retourner le lendemain. Le prochain jour, l’homme trouve le petit prince avec un serpent qui le petit prince avait rencontré avant. Le serpent a mordu le petit prince qui mourait. Il disait que c’est le plus rapide façon de retourner à son astroïde.
Thème
Il y a beaucoup des thèmes dans cette livre mais le plus important ce que les choses importantes et sérieuses ce n’est pas toujours mathématiques ou la science. Les grandes personnes pensait trop sur la sujet du l’argent et l’efficace comme l’homme d’affaires, qui calcul les étoiles toute la journée et a placé les étoiles dans la Bank et penser c’est a lui. Aujourd’hui, beaucoup des personnes juste veulent l’argent et pensent que c’est la plus importante chose dans la monde et ils ne prennent pas le temps de fait des amis et regard des petites choses dans la vie qui te fait content. Aussi, nous essayons de faire les choses plus efficaces mais pas pour les choses importantes. Dans un parti, le petit prince rencontre un Merchant qui vendre les pilules pour qu'un personne sauver le temps pour boire du l'eau. Nous manque d’imagination. Nous devons regard les choses avec nos cœurs et comme le renard a dit, l’œil est nul.
Qui
Les protagonistes dans centre livre sont le petit prince et le narrateur. Il y a aussi le renard, la rose, le serpent, le roi, le vaniteux, le buveur, l’homme d'affaires, l’allumeur de réverbères, le géographe et l'aiguilleur d’un chemin du fer.
Où
Le lieu de cette livre est dans le désert Sahara, l'astroïde B 612, l'astroïde 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 330 (la maison du le roi, le vaniteux, le buveur, le homme d'affaires, le allumeur de réverbères, le géographe), et la Terre.
Quand
Il n'y a pas d'une spécifique période du temps dans cette livre mais c’arrive il y a 6 ans.
Quoi
Quand le narrateur était petit, il fait un dessine que toutes les grandes personnes mal interprète et personne ne savais pas qu'est que c'est. Le narrateur, maintenant un adulte, se trouve dans un désert et trouve un petit garçon qu'il a nommé le petit prince. Ils sont devenu les amies et le petit prince à raconté son histoire et le narrateur est content d'avoir un amie avec d'imagination.
Comment
Le petit prince réaliser que sa rose est spéciale après le renard a dit que l'amour donne le signifiance. Il a aussi réalisé que sa rose lui aime aussi derrière ses ordres et ses étranges besoins.
Pourquoi
Le narrateur était découragé par ses designs et pensée que les grandes personnes manque d’imagination. Il n’avait pas des amies qui vraiment comprendre ce qu’il sent et il fait un modifier son personnalité pour que les autres grandes personnes pense qu'il est normal et raisonnable.
Un garçon était inspiré par un livre et décidait de dessiner un serpent qui mange un éléphant. Quand il donnait aux les adultes ou les « grands personnes », toute le monde disaient que c’était un chapeau. Découragé par son échec, il laissait ses dessine et apprenait comment piloter un avion.
Des années ont passé et le garçon a grandi. Un jour, il volait a travers le désert Sahara quand son avion a mal fonctionné et il a attiré. Soudain, il a aperçut un étrange petit garçon qu’il a nommé le petit prince. Le petit prince et l’homme sont devenus les amis et le petit prince a raconté son histoire.
Le petit prince vivait sur l’astroïde B 612. Sur son astroïde, il y a des baobabs qui vont occuper la planète si tu ne creuses pas. Le petit prince a vu une plante qui ressemble à un baobab alors il le laisse. La plante était une magnifique rose qui était très vain. Le petit prince l’aimait beaucoup et la rose prend l’avantage de l’amour du petit prince et donnait beaucoup des ordres alors le petit prince a décidé de partir mais pas avant le rose a avoué son amour pour lui.
Le petit prince a visité des autres astroïdes habité par les grandes personnes comme un roi, un vaniteux, un buveur, un homme d'affaires, un allumeur de réverbères et un géographe. Ces personnes donne une impression que les grandes personnes sont très étranges et manque d’imagination. Finalement, le petit prince a arrivé au Terre et il voir un aiguilleur du chemin du fer qui lui disait que toutes les adultes vont par ici et par la mais ils ne savent pas ce qu’ils cherchent. Seule des enfants regardent dehors leurs fenêtres et savait ce qu’ils cherchent.
Le petit prince a marché à un jardin et il était triste de voir des millions des roses. Il avait pensait que sa rose est la seule de l’espèce et a pensé qu’elle était spéciale. Après, il a rencontré un renard qui a demandé d’être apprivoisé. Le renard a donné beaucoup des sagesses au le petit prince. Il a dit que l’amour donne la signifiance aux personnes et chose. A cause du amour du petit prince, le champ de blé avait de la signifiance a le renard car c’était la même couleur de ses cheveux. Le petit prince a réalisé que son rose est spécial car il l’aime.
Le petit prince finissait son histoire et l’homme n’avais plus du l’eau. Heureusement, ils sont trouvé un petit puits. Le petit prince a resté au le puits et a dit que l’homme doit retourner pour réparer son avion et de retourner le lendemain. Le prochain jour, l’homme trouve le petit prince avec un serpent qui le petit prince avait rencontré avant. Le serpent a mordu le petit prince qui mourait. Il disait que c’est le plus rapide façon de retourner à son astroïde.
Thème
Il y a beaucoup des thèmes dans cette livre mais le plus important ce que les choses importantes et sérieuses ce n’est pas toujours mathématiques ou la science. Les grandes personnes pensait trop sur la sujet du l’argent et l’efficace comme l’homme d’affaires, qui calcul les étoiles toute la journée et a placé les étoiles dans la Bank et penser c’est a lui. Aujourd’hui, beaucoup des personnes juste veulent l’argent et pensent que c’est la plus importante chose dans la monde et ils ne prennent pas le temps de fait des amis et regard des petites choses dans la vie qui te fait content. Aussi, nous essayons de faire les choses plus efficaces mais pas pour les choses importantes. Dans un parti, le petit prince rencontre un Merchant qui vendre les pilules pour qu'un personne sauver le temps pour boire du l'eau. Nous manque d’imagination. Nous devons regard les choses avec nos cœurs et comme le renard a dit, l’œil est nul.
Qui
Les protagonistes dans centre livre sont le petit prince et le narrateur. Il y a aussi le renard, la rose, le serpent, le roi, le vaniteux, le buveur, l’homme d'affaires, l’allumeur de réverbères, le géographe et l'aiguilleur d’un chemin du fer.
Où
Le lieu de cette livre est dans le désert Sahara, l'astroïde B 612, l'astroïde 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 330 (la maison du le roi, le vaniteux, le buveur, le homme d'affaires, le allumeur de réverbères, le géographe), et la Terre.
Quand
Il n'y a pas d'une spécifique période du temps dans cette livre mais c’arrive il y a 6 ans.
Quoi
Quand le narrateur était petit, il fait un dessine que toutes les grandes personnes mal interprète et personne ne savais pas qu'est que c'est. Le narrateur, maintenant un adulte, se trouve dans un désert et trouve un petit garçon qu'il a nommé le petit prince. Ils sont devenu les amies et le petit prince à raconté son histoire et le narrateur est content d'avoir un amie avec d'imagination.
Comment
Le petit prince réaliser que sa rose est spéciale après le renard a dit que l'amour donne le signifiance. Il a aussi réalisé que sa rose lui aime aussi derrière ses ordres et ses étranges besoins.
Pourquoi
Le narrateur était découragé par ses designs et pensée que les grandes personnes manque d’imagination. Il n’avait pas des amies qui vraiment comprendre ce qu’il sent et il fait un modifier son personnalité pour que les autres grandes personnes pense qu'il est normal et raisonnable.
Saturday, 9 November 2013
Canada's Wonderland
When the anticipated summer vacation became boring, my mom came home one day with a surprise. I was lounging on the couch doing nothing when 3 tickets were shoved in my face.
"Canada's Wonderland tickets were on sale today! I got you enough tickets to go twice with your sister and Arissa!" my mom said excitedly.
Since sitting on the couch wasn't my idea of 'fun', I didn’t want to miss my chance. Dialing Arissa's number as quickly as I could, a map of rides was already forming in my mind. The last time I went to Canada's Wonderland was years ago, and I didn't qualify for many of the rides. This year, all the rides were available for me.
"Hello?" Arissa’s voice said.
"Hi Arissa, it’s me Shirley. Want to go to Canada's Wonderland with my sister and I? My mom already bought us tickets, so we can go whenever we want." I told her.
"Really? I was thinking about going there too! Is it okay if one of my other friends come as well?"
"Sure! When we get there, we should…"
This went on for a while.
Our next ride was going to be Dragon Fire. There was a corkscrew and loops with rushing speed. Screaming filled the air.
"Uh…" my sister said with doubt. No one said anything, but we all didn't want to go on.
As we were making our way towards another ride, Arissa stopped.
"Wait! We haven't been on any of the bigger rides! We’ll have to go on one of them!" she exclaimed so we all agreed to backtrack to the Bat.
Arissa and I played hand games and tried to forget our situation. We suddenly found ourselves in the seats, being strapped tightly. I was sitting next to Arissa and my older sister was behind us. Screaming and screaming through horrifying loops, we finally stopped. My hand clenched the bars tightly, expecting to lurch forward again.
Feeling somewhat heroic, we decided to go on the Behemoth. Before we could change our minds, we stepped into line. Up close, the ride seemed much higher than from afar. Since my sister and Arissa mutually agreed to go on, I didn't want to seem afraid.
We were almost there and half an hour already passed, but all the while, I was becoming more and more uneasy. I watched a train leave a station and listened to the screaming. Since the seating plan was 2 by 2, one of us was going to have to sit by ourselves.
I told Arissa and my sister that I was not going to go, fear overcoming my dignity. Arissa looked at my sister and a look of doubt crossed her face. But the train had arrived, and they still decided to go on. I went down the stairs and waited at the exit. I heard the train leave the station. I saw it climb up the slope. I felt my stomach clench when the train teetered at the peak. Soon enough, the ride was over and my sister and Arissa were running towards me.
"It was awesome!"
"The air was so fast!"
"If you scream, it’s better!"
"You need to ride it!"
They both took turns yelling excitedly at me. This time, comfortable with the knowledge of their experience, we lined up again. Arissa was going to sit with me, and my sister would sit behind us.
When it was our turn, I sat down, taking deep breaths. I reached over to the lap restraints and latched it down as tightly as I could. Groping for the body straps, I realized there was none. How is this piece of plastic and foam going to keep me in my seat? From waist up, I was exposed. The next thing I know, I’m moving forward and the people who work at the ride were wishing us a good journey.
Good journey?! More like the scare of our lives! I thought. Our train jerked up as it began to climb. The air was cold and I noticed how dark it was. 2 ladies behind my sister were talking calmly and laughing. Do they not realize that they are on the Behemoth?! I looked down, and we were pretty high up. I sucked in air preparing to scream as we drop. But we continued to climb, and climb. When will this thing drop? The heads in front of me disappeared. We had reached the peak. Our train was suspended for a moment and below us, city light glowed and car headlights flashed by. The faint sound of traffic was all we could hear. I got in as much of the cold air as I could before plunging into darkness. I was out of breathe that I couldn't even scream anymore when we began climbing again. Before I could recover, we were rushing back down. We slowed down after a while and returned into the booth, where everyone was applauding. A bit dazed, we then went on the Stunt Coaster, Flight Deck, and Skyrider, though nothing came close to the Behemoth.
When Arissa's dad came to pick us up, we were all exhausted. However, Arissa jumped into the car and began talking to her dad.
"Dad, dad! We went on the Behemoth! We went on the Behemoth!"
This lasted the whole ride home.
"Canada's Wonderland tickets were on sale today! I got you enough tickets to go twice with your sister and Arissa!" my mom said excitedly.
Since sitting on the couch wasn't my idea of 'fun', I didn’t want to miss my chance. Dialing Arissa's number as quickly as I could, a map of rides was already forming in my mind. The last time I went to Canada's Wonderland was years ago, and I didn't qualify for many of the rides. This year, all the rides were available for me.
"Hello?" Arissa’s voice said.
"Hi Arissa, it’s me Shirley. Want to go to Canada's Wonderland with my sister and I? My mom already bought us tickets, so we can go whenever we want." I told her.
"Really? I was thinking about going there too! Is it okay if one of my other friends come as well?"
"Sure! When we get there, we should…"
This went on for a while.
The beautiful day finally came. The sun kissed the flowers and the birds sang happily. Arissa's mom was taking my sister, Arissa, and I to Canada's Wonderland, where we would meet Arissa's friend, Yi Fong.
When we entered the gates of Canada's Wonderland, a train on the Leviathan thundered above our heads, followed by screaming. I glanced nervously at Arissa.
When we entered the gates of Canada's Wonderland, a train on the Leviathan thundered above our heads, followed by screaming. I glanced nervously at Arissa.
We quickly spotted a rocking boat and decided to go on it. While we were in line, we were chatting normally. This would be a piece of cake.
When it was our turn, we got on without a glance back. We were rocked up and down a few times before slowing down to a stop.
When it was our turn, we got on without a glance back. We were rocked up and down a few times before slowing down to a stop.
Our next ride was more of a roller coaster, called the Wild Beast. It zoomed forward and around a curve before climbing up a slope where we were suspended for a moment. I screamed because everyone else did.
Afterwards, wishing for more thrills, we came across Thunder Run. Yi Fong glanced at the speed of the trains and refused to go on. After a bit of convincing, she hesitantly agreed to go on with us. Our train sped forward into a dark cave with flashing lights all around us. We all hollered loudly, feeling the wind against our faces.
"Let’s go on the Bat!" Arissa said pointing to an image on the map. When we were actually standing in front of the Bat, my heart lurched. My eyes followed the red tracks leading to two loops. I had never been on loops, and this didn't seem like one for amateurs and my head barely passed the qualifying line.
"Let’s actually skip this one…" Yi Fong said nervously after we watched a train race past us with a lot of screaming. We moved on.
"Let’s go on the Bat!" Arissa said pointing to an image on the map. When we were actually standing in front of the Bat, my heart lurched. My eyes followed the red tracks leading to two loops. I had never been on loops, and this didn't seem like one for amateurs and my head barely passed the qualifying line.
"Let’s actually skip this one…" Yi Fong said nervously after we watched a train race past us with a lot of screaming. We moved on.
Our next ride was going to be Dragon Fire. There was a corkscrew and loops with rushing speed. Screaming filled the air.
"Uh…" my sister said with doubt. No one said anything, but we all didn't want to go on.
As we were making our way towards another ride, Arissa stopped.
"Wait! We haven't been on any of the bigger rides! We’ll have to go on one of them!" she exclaimed so we all agreed to backtrack to the Bat.
Arissa and I played hand games and tried to forget our situation. We suddenly found ourselves in the seats, being strapped tightly. I was sitting next to Arissa and my older sister was behind us. Screaming and screaming through horrifying loops, we finally stopped. My hand clenched the bars tightly, expecting to lurch forward again.
Feeling somewhat heroic, we decided to go on the Behemoth. Before we could change our minds, we stepped into line. Up close, the ride seemed much higher than from afar. Since my sister and Arissa mutually agreed to go on, I didn't want to seem afraid.
We were almost there and half an hour already passed, but all the while, I was becoming more and more uneasy. I watched a train leave a station and listened to the screaming. Since the seating plan was 2 by 2, one of us was going to have to sit by ourselves.
I told Arissa and my sister that I was not going to go, fear overcoming my dignity. Arissa looked at my sister and a look of doubt crossed her face. But the train had arrived, and they still decided to go on. I went down the stairs and waited at the exit. I heard the train leave the station. I saw it climb up the slope. I felt my stomach clench when the train teetered at the peak. Soon enough, the ride was over and my sister and Arissa were running towards me.
"It was awesome!"
"The air was so fast!"
"If you scream, it’s better!"
"You need to ride it!"
They both took turns yelling excitedly at me. This time, comfortable with the knowledge of their experience, we lined up again. Arissa was going to sit with me, and my sister would sit behind us.
When it was our turn, I sat down, taking deep breaths. I reached over to the lap restraints and latched it down as tightly as I could. Groping for the body straps, I realized there was none. How is this piece of plastic and foam going to keep me in my seat? From waist up, I was exposed. The next thing I know, I’m moving forward and the people who work at the ride were wishing us a good journey.
Good journey?! More like the scare of our lives! I thought. Our train jerked up as it began to climb. The air was cold and I noticed how dark it was. 2 ladies behind my sister were talking calmly and laughing. Do they not realize that they are on the Behemoth?! I looked down, and we were pretty high up. I sucked in air preparing to scream as we drop. But we continued to climb, and climb. When will this thing drop? The heads in front of me disappeared. We had reached the peak. Our train was suspended for a moment and below us, city light glowed and car headlights flashed by. The faint sound of traffic was all we could hear. I got in as much of the cold air as I could before plunging into darkness. I was out of breathe that I couldn't even scream anymore when we began climbing again. Before I could recover, we were rushing back down. We slowed down after a while and returned into the booth, where everyone was applauding. A bit dazed, we then went on the Stunt Coaster, Flight Deck, and Skyrider, though nothing came close to the Behemoth.
When Arissa's dad came to pick us up, we were all exhausted. However, Arissa jumped into the car and began talking to her dad.
"Dad, dad! We went on the Behemoth! We went on the Behemoth!"
This lasted the whole ride home.
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