Veiwing the World in New Perspectives

My House

Nebraska's Irrigation

Australia and Antarctica

By viewing the world from different perspectives, it allows us to learn new things about the world. Posted in this blog are three images in which I discovered new things about the world around us. When we take time to look at situations, places, and experiences from new angles in life it allows us to step back and think of new things with new solutions to the problems. Google Earth is a great application that allows to easily fly around the world and see places from above that we may never be able to see in our lifetimes. Not only can we see new things, but also new angles and new directions.

The first image that I saved from Google Earth is my house in St. Louis Missouri. Based on this picture, you can see that my subdivision is right on the river. Although I can see the river when the trees lose their leaves in the fall, I never knew the shape that the river outlined. The river truly curves our subdivision and it allowed me to see things from above and to be able to put my house in perspective to how big the river is. Normally when we hike down to the river in the fall, you just think of the river as a straight line. From this Google Earth image, you can see that the river is very large and does not flow in a straight line but rather in a curve.

My neighbors also told me that before most of the other houses were built in our subdivision, the barge lights would hit their house every night as the river curved the bend. By viewing this picture from above, I’m now able to picture just how the lights could shine on my neighbor’s house.

The next image is taken from the area just outside of Seward, Nebraska. This image I just found fascinating. These images would not be able to be seen from land but can only be seen from this new perspective from above. From this bird’s eye view, so to speak, you are able to depict all the different patterns and how irrigation is such a big part of Nebraska.

The next image is of Australia and Antarctica. I have always known Australia to be very warm and sunny. From this Google Earth image, we are able to see that is very close to Antarctica where it is cold and snowy for the majority of the time. It is hard to imagine that they are so close together and just separated by an ocean but it affects so much of their climate.

From these three images and new angles, we can learn so much more about the world. These new angles allow us to learn new things. This application will allow us to enhance our understanding of Geography better.

Learning Geogrpahy Through The Multi-Media

The art of viewing movies helps us to be enlightened to the world around us and the events that are happening. Movies allow us to engage and expand our imagination along with experiencing new places that we may not be able to travel to in the world. Slumdog Millionaire allows us to see places, like India, in which most of us has never had the chance to travel to in our lifetimes. By seeing these movies, it also sparks our interest and excitement to travel. We are also not only able to see Geography, but experience daily life and people of that region.

Some movies do not accurately portray the region properly. Some movies make the regions look appealing to the movie audience, while there are few movies that portray the region in all aspects of daily life correctly.

Slumdog Millionaire portrays India as a very poor and rundown area. As they showed the cities from above, there were many poor houses all very close together. There were many people trying to live in any square foot of land they could. This region was very dirty and kids ran wild in the street. The area of India that the movie showed also showed the city very dirty. There was trash everywhere and the water was filthy. It looked like kids could die of infections from the unsanitary living conditions.

Not only did India have dirty and unsanitary living conditions, but also there was much violence in the town. Many citizens feared for their lives and families were broken apart. There was also much violence and people were treated as slaves and possessions. There was a very big gap between rich and poor. The rich had no respect for the poor. The rich took for granted the poor and used them as servants or for personal gain. Families were broken apart and even families were turned against each other.

The area was so poor that anyone would do anything for money. The movie even showed kids striving for money. They put money before their own personal safety. When the kids were giving tours, they did anything including going against morals such as lying to gain money. They even faced punishment and violence no matter what they did and risked it all in terms of money.

Violence also affected even the kids, and they were conditioned to love violence. The kids in the movie risked even their lives as they were captured and abused for a good meal and home. Kids were separated from their families at and early age and were forced to protect themselves and raise themselves. They fought for their own survival. Not only were they abused with violence but also they were forced to live in unsuitable living conditions.

Life in India was very risky and most citizens were forced to live one day at a time. No one knew if they would survive that day, but were forced to fight for survival amongst violence and dirty close living conditions.

This movie made me appreciate where we live in America. After seeing this movie, we forget even the little things in life we take for granted. This movie made me appreciate to live in safe environment where we are blessed to live in clean conditions with our families. We are blessed to not have to fear our life everyday.

After seeing this movie, it not only made me thankful for living in America but it also opens are eyes for life around us. This movie opens our eyes and encouraged me to help those who are less fortunate than us. God calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves, along with spreading the good news of His love.

This movie portrays life in India very accurately along with opening our eyes to Geography and the world around us. Movies cannot only be watched for enjoyment but also can be used as a learning lesson about the world and events around us.

Historic Main Street

The hats we got at the St. Patrick's Parade

Kayaking at Lake Innsbrook

St. Louis Cardinal Baseball Stadium

Seeing the St. Louis Arch

Spring Break was filled with many unforgettable travels, friends, family, and memories. Spring Break was enjoyed with touring and sightseeing St. Louis, along with many relaxing moments.

The first destination on spring break was in Kansas City. My boyfriend flew into Kansas City and we enjoyed touring the Plaza and downtown Kansas City with my cousins. We enjoyed a relaxing time playing games at Starbucks along with chatting in the park at the Plaza.

The next stop was in St. Louis. Even though this is home to me, it was fun being a tourist while showing my boyfriend a taste of St.Louis. The first day we went with my family to the arch, Cardinals stadium, the famous ice cream place called Ted Drews, and eating on the Italian hill.

Along with a day of downtown touring, we also took in the sights of the countryside. Our family owns a lake place outside St.Louis. We spent the day walking on the beach, enjoying the scenery, and kayaking.

Other highlights of spring break included taking pictures at historic Main Street in St.Charles. St.Charles is well known for the crossing of Lewis and Clark. We spent the day seeing the boathouse, walking along the brick historic roads, and seeing the Lewis and Clark monument.

The last day we were able to celebrate my birthday and St.Patricks holiday. Every year in St.Louis a St.Patricks parade is held. We dressed in our green as we enjoyed sitting on the streets of downtown St. Louis as the parade passed by us. That night we had a BBQ with friends and family to celebrate my Birthday. It was nice to see everyone again since I hadn’t been home since Christmas.

Although we haven’t converted my boyfriend into a Cardinals fan yet, spring break was blessed with warm weather, relaxation, sightseeing, friends, family, and scenic drives in my dad’s 1966 mustang.

Aiding Sub-Saharan Africa

As of now aid for funding development in Sub-Saharan Africa is a very controversial issue that I can see both sides too. I think it is very important that other countries help Africa develop so they are not depended on the support of aid, but at the same time they cannot develop without the aid. Therefore, I take the side that we should continue to aid Sub-Saharan Africa. We are blessed with so many luxuries here and God calls us to share with those that are less fortunate. I think by helping this country develop along with sending aid is just one of the ways we can love our neighbors, as God commanded.

According to our textbook, foreign direct investment in has increased from 1990 to 2004. Many are optimistic about this statistic and it shows signs of economic renewal. This statics shows that by aiding a country we can help also in helping it to develop. If we continue to aid Sub-Saharan Africa then I think that we can help to continue in the development of this country.

Another reason according to our textbook that we should help aid Sub-Saharan Africa is because it is craving capital. This country is seen as too poor and unstable and therefore gets overlooked. Foreign investors also take advantage of low wages and put their money in other countries like Asia or Latin America. Therefore it is our job to help to aid them. They cannot defend themselves and cannot afford to be taken advantaged of. If more countries were to help aid Sub-Saharan Africa then maybe this would help them have higher prices and therefore could stand up themselves, leading to development.

The country is not depending on the aid just for daily living, but is using it for steps needed to work towards development. This shows me that they are taking advantage of aid but are using it wisely to develop their country. According to our book, many African countries have begun to privatize areas of the economy. This process can help lead to faster economic growth as well.

I also think that is kind of other countries, like the United States, send aid in other ways than money. I think that in order for a country to develop they are going to need more than money to develop. The used clothing trade supports economic growth because it employs many citizens along with supplying customers with affordable daily needs. The reason this trade exists is due to the fact that many people live on little money. If we continue to send aid and money we are also providing jobs, which provides more income for families. This will help to increase the price of daily living and can lead to development.

After reading the article, I also found it important to give aid with out a loan. I think that we should give from the heart of helping our neighbor. If we were to set a price of a loan for aid, then the country will be so busy trying to pay back the loan, that will take away from the attention of developing the country.

Also if we can help lend a hand in developing the country, it could also bring positive rewards for other countries. If we were to send aid and help them develop then later down the road we could benefit from trade from Africa. Also if we were to stop the aid that has been currently sending to Africa, this could have a negative effect on political relationships with Africa and other countries that use to support them.

It is very important to continue to aid Africa because if we can help to develop the country then they will be able to support themselves, and become less dependent on aid. Although it looks like the country will not be developed in the near future we must be patient because in the long run if they can develop Africa, it would lead to many benefits for other countries around the world.