I added a picture of the Pacific Ring of Fire because this summer I will be flying over the Pacific Ocean. I'm going back to Hong Kong for the summer! I am so excited to be going home! I will be working at Hong Kong International School, where I graduated from high school. I am going to be a teacher aide for a high school Physical Science class which will be a great experience for me as I continue to study and get my degree in Secondary Education. I am going to show Dr. Helmer around Hong Kong and I am very excited to do that. There are so many places to take him and his family! I'm going to post some pictures of places in Hong Kong that I love.



This is the Murray House in Stanley. It is a great historical building. There is a maritime museum inside and some really great restaurants! They used to have the BEST Thai restaurant there, with the BEST mango and sticky rice, which is my favorite dessert. Stanley is becoming a very popular place and it has changed a lot throughout the years that I have lived by it. There are a lot more stores for tourists to visit now, the boardwalk has been redone (it's really nice), and many bands and dance groups come to perform at Stanley Plaza, located right next to the Murray House.



The Peak, and the Peak Tram, are very popular tourist attractions. The Peak offers a great view of Hong Kong Island and the Peak Tram is a great way to climb to the top of the peak. The Peak has developed a lot recently. There are many restaurants and a two story video game center inside the main building at the top of the peak. I have performed in dance recitals at the Peak, as there are many places to perform outside. There are always tourists here exploring the different views of the island.



The Star Ferry is a very important historic aspect of Hong Kong. For years, the Star Ferry has transported people from Hong Kong island to Kowloon and back again. It makes trips every ten-fifteen minutes, depending on the waves in the harbor between the two islands. Hong Kong side is more global and looks like a modern city, as the British controlled the Hong Kong Island. Kowloon, in contrast, has many more Asian aspects. Britain gave Kowloon back to China earlier than Hong Kong, and Kowloon retained a lot of its Chinese culture. There are a lot of markets in Kowloon, like the Bird, Jade, and Flower markets. These are famous markets to go to in order to buy these specific goods. The names of streets are also labeled in Kowloon based on what is sold on each street - there is one street for thread, for needles, for velcro, etc.

I absolutely love Hong Kong and the culture there. There are so many different aspects of the culture, as it incorporates traditions from China and England. People from all over the world live there and it is very common to hear French and Hindi around the city. As a result, the city and its culture are a melting pot of many different traditions and values.

I used the World Names Profiler to find where a few different names are commonly found. I started with my last name, Sawyer, and found that it is most common in the United States, Australia, United Kingdom, and Ireland. The name Sawyer is found in very high amounts in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. I thought this was very interesting. The name Sawyer is found in high amounts all over America, especially on the East Coast in Vermont, Rhode Island, and Maine, all over Australia, and all over United Kingdom. I love that my name is in Australia! I love Australia. :) My name is found in a moderate amount in Ireland. I was not surprised to see my name in the United Kingdom and in Ireland because my dad's family came from those two areas.
I searched my best friend's last name, Govada, to see what I would find. He is Indian so I was not surprised to see that his name was predominately found in India. His last name was also found in the United Kingdom, in a small amount, probably because of the steady migration of Indians to Britain.
I searched my roommate's last name, Rogers, to see where her name is most commonly found. Her name is found in very high amounts in Australia, then the United Kingdom, and the United States. She was very surprised and excited by this.
This website is really cool! I like searching different names and seeing where my friend's names can be commonly found. It's fun to see where our names are found together and where they are not. Now my friends are bragging about where their names are found. For example, one friend is bragging that her name is found in high amounts in Ireland, while the other brags that her name is found in high amounts in Australia. Now, they have claimed those countries to be their own and frequently defend them in conversations. It's really funny!

During my time in Hong Kong, many of my friends introduced me to the legacy of Japanese reality shows. There are some really funny videos out there! I have seen at least a hundred Japanese videos, of pranks, stunts, and challenges on reality tv shows. I thought I would post two of these videos so people can see what Japanese humor is like. It's interesting how one of the videos, about a Japanese man learning English, is so funny to the Japanese men in the video. I think this says a lot about the culture, as Japanese believe that they are learning English well and are very prideful about their accomplishments. They can laugh at the man learning English, though they probably were the same way when they were learning the language. The second video is a reality tv show in Japan. I think it is interesting to see the kinds of challenges that Japanese participate in. The audience loves the challenges and I do, too! I also included a video of a man cooking Japanese food in front of the customers, as this happens very often in Asian cultures. The video presents the type of food Japanese eat and how they cook these foods. I think it's interesting to see what they eat, especially since food is such a major component of culture.

Japanese man learning english
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNCsVts-G_4&feature=related

The men in the classroom are not supposed to laugh at the man speaking English, or they lose the game.

Japanese reality tv show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JPTYwDYphQ

The men have to get through the shapes.

Japanese food at a restaurant
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC02oB9Ep0c&feature=related

The chief prepares food for his customers.

Throughout my time in Asia, I have seen people eat many different weird, very bizarre foods. I have seen a lot of foods that incorporate seafood. For example, at one restaurant, your waiter will bring you a bowl of shrimp swimming in beer. You watch as the shrimp become drunk, bump into the glass in the bowl, and eventually die. Then, the shrimp are slightly cooked and added to your main dish. Many other dishes are created with squid and are considered delicacies. Some of the weirdest dishes I have seen are chicken feet, bird nests, shark fin soup, and snake soup. On the streets in Cambodia, I ate grilled cockroaches. The man was also selling grilled frogs and flies. Culture plays a big part on diet as different cultures have different traditional dishes and drinks. For example, drinking fermented milk is a delicacy in Mongolia, while it is considered disgusting in America. Also, there are different types of food in different areas of the world, so people in Asia will eat different food than people in America. For example, when I am in Asia I can eat a lot of rice and mangoes, while in America I can eat a lot of corn and soy beans. The availability of different foods in different areas will affect what the people of the different areas will eat.
Globalization will affect what people around the world eat because food from different regions will be available to a lot of other regions. Food can be quickly transported from country to country, depending on the demand for it. No longer will people in Australia only get to eat fruit and vegetables from Australia, but can get food from any other continent as a result of quick trading techniques. This easy availability to any type of food can begin to cut down on the differences between cultures. For example, McDonald's has spread all over the world, creating a desire for fast food in most countries. Twenty years ago, this was not the case but now many areas depend on McDonald's and Starbucks. Their local foods have lost importance, as famous food chain restaurants dominate the market. Globalization has begun to merge cultures all together, so that there are not distinctions between cultures but more of a mesh of one worldly culture. As globalization continues, cultures will continue to lose their distinctions - one of these distinctions will be their special foods and drinks

The G-20 is the group of twenty finance ministers and central bank ministers. It was established in 1999 to bring together important industrialized and developing economies, in order to discuss important issues about the global economy. The inaugural meeting took place in Berlin which was hosted by German and Canadian finance ministers. These discussions encourage open and constructive discussion between different market countries, as they discuss issues related to the stability of the global economy. G-20 helps support growth and development across the globe by strengthening the international financial architecture and creating opportunities to discuss national policies, international co-operation, and international financial institutions.
The twenty members of the G-20 are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, and the European Union, which represents the Council presidency.

This is an image of the Middle East at a different angle. The Mediterranean Sea is at the top right of the image, with Europe at the right of it, the Middle East in the center of the image, and Africa to the left. It is interesting to see how close all of these countries are to each other and how the Mediterranean Sea is the only thing truly separating them.

Slumdog Millionaire is an amazing movie that realistically depicts the life of the poor in India. I have been to India and seen the poor and devastated parts of the country. The movie illustrates these areas well, especially since the movie was actually filmed in the slums of India. The orphan children in the movie are perfect replicas of the orphan children of India. Their lifestyles - begging every day on the streets, depending on money from strangers, and hoping for food, is a very common occurrence. There are many children on the street every day, either because they have no where to go (not even an orphanage to stay in) or they are working for a group, like the children in the movie were. When I'm in India, people always tell me not to give money to the orphans on the street for the very reason that they might be working for rich men. However, it is so hard to not want to give them something because they are so cute! At all of the historical sites, especially the Taj Mahal, there are hundreds of orphans running around. They are always asking tourists for money or to buy the products they are selling.
The images of India are exactly as they should be presented - I was happy to see the Taj Mahal shown as it actually is. The Taj Mahal is a great site, but it is not how it is seen in postcards. The real thing is crowded and not shimmering white. I loved that the movie depicted India as it is, down to the very smallest detail. Things were not cleaned up, but shown raw and real. It was great to see a movie so full of the truth of the situation of people in India.
After seeing this movie, my dad and I wanted to go back to India. We both love the country and the people there. The movie portrayed people as they are - they are very interesting to be around. They are hard working and motivated. They want to succeed, an idea very prominent in the movie. This movie was a great way to understand the personality of a the Indian people.
This movie is a great way to help people understand India. It is a good tool for geography because it accurately portrays India. Viewers can see what India is like, even if they aren't there. They can see the streets, the land, the people, the sites - they are presented with a view of India so that they can understand the image. This movie is like a documentary with a plot line. It's interesting and realistic! This is a great way to get people to see other parts of the world. More movies like this should be produced so that more areas, that are not commonly displayed, can be presented to the viewers of the world. In this way, all areas of the world will be better understood.

Over Spring Break, I traveled back to Michigan to see my family. I was with four friends, two of which we dropped off in Chicago. This ended up to be a great opportunity to visit the city of Chicago for a few days. I spent a lot of time on Michigan Avenue, shopping in all the wonderful stores, ranging from the Coach store to the Disney store. I also visited the Chicago Institute of Art for four hours. I especially enjoyed the Impressionist exhibit in the museum and I spent most of my time there. At night, we visited the Navy Pier, even though it was raining. It was really fun to walk around. A friend and I walked around Chicago at night for three hours, wandering down different streets and across different bridges, just taking in the sights of the town. I love big cities (I practically grew up in one) and I was so delighted to be back in a big city. I hadn't been to Chicago in about 9 years, so I had forgotten how great the city really is. The city of Chicago celebrated Saint Patrick's Day on Saturday. This was a huge event! Everywhere we walked people were dressed in green and full of excitement and energy. Even the river that runs through Chicago was dyed green! This was an incredible feat and many people were getting pictures by the river. There were many different people in Chicago, from all over the world. It was so great to hear other languages being spoken around me again. We stayed directly downtown so we got to experience of the life of the city first hand. People were still walking around at 5 in the morning, quite a change from the quiet town of Seward at night.



When we weren't in Chicago, we were in Michigan with my family. This was a completely different experience since our house is basically in the upper-class suburban area of Rochester, Michigan. Rochester is a nice city, but it definitely does not compare to Chicago. Mostly while we were in Michigan we went through walks in my subdivistions, went on bike rides, and spent time at Caribou Coffee.

I took my friends to Frankenmuth, the oldest German city in Michigan. Lutherans in Michigan are very proud of this city and it always has tourists visiting. We also went to the biggest Christmas store in the world, Bronner's, which is one of my favorite places in Michigan. It has around 10 wings within the store, with every wing being filled with a different kind of Christmas decoration. There is practically a whole forest of different Christmas trees in one section of the store!

If countries, like the United States, are going to provide funding for Sub-Saharan Africa, they must also provide help with reform movements, to bring change to these countries. The countries need more than money - they need change, they need directed change. Money is very helpful for this change, but its usage needs to be monitored and the money must be used in ways that will be beneficial for change.
Developing countries need to be stabilized and guided with political, economic, and social advice. When countries only give money to this region and walk away, the chances of this money being productive are very low. This is because the countries do not spend money in ways that will help the country stabilize and prosper. The leaders of these countries need to understand what must be done in order to better the their country. Often, money is given to ill-advised programs which will not aid the development of this region.
Another side of the story is the corruption of the leaders in developing countries. When they are given money, that is not designated to a certain program, they are free to do with it what they will. In this way, the high officials of the country receive better salaries, the higher-up people prosper from the extra money which is focused on their well-being, and the poor are left in the same sad circumstances. However, if the money was designated towards a certain reform program, etc the leaders will not be able to take the money and use it to their advantage. The money needs to be watched. It cannot just be given freely to corrupt leaders who do not care about their people.
It is better to provide other services to developing countries, other than providing money. If developed countries focused on developing trade and industries in Sub-Saharan Africa, these African countries would be able to stand on their own. There would be more programs for the working class, which would provide them with more economic opportunities. The increase in stable industries would also help the economy. By providing these services, there is no chance that the leaders will be in charge of money. They are not receiving money! Instead, they are being given ways to make money for themselves, instead of having to depend on others. This is very beneficial because the country can then begin to become a prosperous country, with a stable economy and work force. The standard of living will increase and the country will function better.

The Human Development Index looks at countries beyond their GDP's. It looks at the welfare of the citizens of the country. It looks at a broader view of well-being. The HDI provides three dimensions of human development. These three things are: living a long and healthy life (which is measured by life expectancy), being educated (measured by literacy and enrollment into school), and having a decent standard of living (PPP, income, etc). HPI shows a broadened perspective of average human progress and illustrates the complicated relationship between income and well-being. It is not a comprehensive measure of human development, as it does not include gender, income inequality, the influence and respect for human rights, or political freedom. By leaving these areas out, HPI does not measure all areas of human development within society - it is still a general measure of well-being and human progress.

High Human Development countries are found in the Western world, including countries like England and the United States. Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, and other countries close to them in Europe are included in this list of High Human Development countries. Middle Human Development countries are mostly found in the Middle East, Asia, South America, and the Caribbean.

Sub-Saharan Africa is ranked so low because of its lack of resources - resources needed to improve and increase human development and economic progress. It does not have enough funding to improve facilities for the citizens. Facilities such as schools and hospitals are uncared for, which negatively impacts the welfare of the people in these region. There are also gender imbalances in this region, providing males with more opportunities than for women. As a result, a smaller amount of women are educated and receive the same amount of economic opportunities as men.

Thailand is a BEAUTIFUL place. I've been there many times; my last visit was in March. I went on a Habitat for Humanity trip to help rebuild areas that were devastated by the tsunami. Even after the years that have passed, many areas in Thailand are still in ruins, and Thailand's economy has suffered greatly as a result. Most beaches still look like this one in the picture. However, I visited one beach that was no longer a beach. Actually, it had a been a coral reef. However, as a result of the tsunami, all the water had left the area, and all that was left was a dry, dead coral reef on land. It was the strangest event in the environment that I have ever witnessed. Walking along this 'beach' was bizarre because coral was everywhere. It was literally a coral reef, without any water around it. It is amazing how powerful the tsunami that hit was, and how catastrophic its effects have had on Thailand's environment.

I absolutely love this picture, which was taken in the Red Sea. I got my scuba diving license in the Philippines during my freshman year of high school, and ever since, I have loved exploring the ocean. During my sophomore year of high school, my family traveled to Egypt during Chinese New Year. Half way through the week, we stayed at a resort right on the Red Sea. My dad, brother, and I went scuba diving in the Red Sea many times. It was so amazing! I got to swim with dolphins right next to me! I have never seen bluer eyes than this one particular dolphin, who became my best friend, had. I love scuba diving, I love the ocean, and I love looking at underwater pictures ( secretly, I've always wanted to be a mermaid :D ). I think the ocean is so beautiful. There are so many parts of it that we have yet to explore and it fascinates me. I love traveling all around the world, so that includes 'traveling' around different parts of the ocean. Scuba diving in the Red Sea was definitely one of my favorite scuba diving experiences, and when I saw this picture, I fell in love with it.

The ban on travel to Cuba should be lifted. There is no ban on traveling to other communist countries, like China, Vietnam, or South Korea. Why are there restrictions on going to Cuba? In a country that could use the income that Americans would bring it, it seems beneficial to let tourists spend time in Cuba. Tourists would spend money in Cuba, increasing the economy. As a result of an increasing economy, the standard of living would increase. There would be so many benefits for Cuba if Americans were allowed to go to this country. In the 1920's, Americans spent a lot of time in Havana, as it was the best vacation spot. This was beneficial to the Havana area. If the ban is lifted, tourist areas could begin to benefit again.
Also, if the ban is lifted, political tensions between Cuba and the United States might be lessened. Right now, it is understandable that there would be tension between the two countries, as the United States is basically insulting Cuba by not letting its citizens travel to Cuba. If Cuba could see that America respects Cuba as a country, by treating Cuba like any other country, Cuba and the United States might be able to work together better.
A change needs to be made. It is quite obvious that many people are beginning to see this, as a bill, over this issue, is in debate right now. It is unwise to not take heed to opinions on this issue and rethink the current situation. It is unfair to work with some communist countries, while still keeping Cuba out of the picture. It is clear that the age of decommunization has passed us by - this age is mainly focused on economic gain and benefits. From this perspective, the United States looks to the benefit of working with China and other countries, while they are ignoring the benefit that could come out of working with Cuba.
Also, how wonderful would it be for families who have been exiled from Cuba to go back and see their family and friends? How great would it be for them to be able to go home? I know some teachers in Hong Kong who are not allowed to go to Cuba because of the ban, and they have not seen their family in years. In my opinion, that is extremely wrong. No person should have their freedom of seeing their family taken away from them.

Mexico Mass grave may be Aztec resistance fighters
By Mark Stevenson

I thought this article was interesting because it explained Indian graves that were recently found. Scientists believe these people, buried in the bottom of a pyramid, were killed during the conquest of the Spaniards. I think this is really interesting because I love history and this time period is something I am studying right now. We talked in class about the Spanish influence in Latin America, and these graves represent the last stand the Indians made against this group of Europeans. As a result of them losing, Latin America has gotten a lot of of its modern culture from Spanish traditions and culture. It is interesting to think about how this continent has changed and how the culture of the people living there has drastically been affected. If the Spanish hadn't colonized Latin America, what would the continent look like now?


http://xrl.us/befz2y

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090211/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_mexico_mass_grave;_ylt=Aj5CEXmsroFWV.Jwrvc1jPi3IxIF

Approximately 73 million children are enrolled in a secondary education program around the world. There are about 122 million children in the world, meaning that only 60% of children are getting a secondary education. 

In China, around 80% of the children receive a secondary education, while only 49% of children in India receive this opportunity. The numbers throughout Africa are much lower than these. 45% of children in Northern Africa, 25% of children in Southeast Africa, and 13% in Central Africa. In Nigeria, only 5% of children get a secondary education. 

I chose a map showing the numbers of children receiving a secondary education in different countries because I am going into secondary education. I was wondering how many children receive this education. All the countries that have low levels of children receiving secondary education could be places I could go teach to give more children a chance to get an education. I think it's important to know what places in the world need more teachers and more schools. I think it's better to make a difference in a country that has higher needs. For example, I could stay in the U.S. for the rest of my life and teach in nice areas, like Seward, that already have a developed education system, or I could move to Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, and other countries and help provide them with better opportunities. 

It's important for the world to be aware of where there is need in the world. As a result, those who are more privileged can help those in need. We need to be a world that helps each other. With globalization, it is easier to know what is going on in the world, and thus easier to help other countries. 

Afghanistan is listed as a LDC (Least Developed Country) because it is still developing. For years this country has been going through many conflicts, politically, economically, and socially, that have left the country in turmoil. Recently, the economy has improved significantly since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, with help from international powers. The recovery of agricultural growth and service sector growth have also been reasons for the improvement of the economic situation in Afghanistan. Real GDP exceeded & % in 2007. However, despite these improvements, there is still extreme poverty in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is landlocked, and highly dependent on international countries for aid, agriculture, and trade. Shortages in housing, clean water, electricity, medical care, and jobs continue to be a very significant problem in Afghanistan. The lack of political control, as the Afghan government is unable to extend its law to all of the country, cause serious economic issues. Afghanistan's living standards are among the lowest in the world and it will easily take another 10 years to boost these standards. Afghanistan will need continued support from international powers to become stable. Afghanistan not only has to improve its living standards and economy, but must also deal with its instability, corruption, and sustaining its budget. This country needs to create more jobs and rebuild its infrastructure, which has been destroyed by war. In this pyramid, there is a higher number of young people because many children are being born. In developing countries, the TFR is higher, meaning many children are born per family. However, many of these young people die before the age of 50. The amount of people who are above 50 is very low. This could be a result of the poverty and low living standards in Afghanistan. Disease, malnutrition, and lack of hygiene are possible reasons for the lack of people alive at older ages in this country. There is a lack of middle age people who can work and help the economy. Without a large work force, production of goods to be traded will not be as high or significant as it could be. In this pyramid, the population is decreasing with age.

Australia is a developed country, or a MDC (more developed country). The population of this country is not completely stable, but it is not drastically decreasing or increasing with time. It is beginning to become stable, as seen by the stability of people in the younger ages. If, when the people who are young now, grow up and have only 2 children per family, the population will become stable. There are many people between the ages of 20-50 who can work and fill the work force with laboring people. This strong work force can help the economy be stable, which will increase the living standard in the country. Australia has a stable economy and high living standards. It has a good medical care system, offers many opportunities to be educated, and provides high paying jobs. Globalization has connected Australia with the world, increasing its trade opportunities and communication with the world. As more opportunities are presented in Australia, people around the world are more likely to move to Australia. Tourism is also a good source of income for Australia, greatly helping its economy.  

Most interesting place in North America

I absolutely love the New England area because of its culture and historical sites. However, I find the West to be the most amazing region of the United States. Last summer, I traveled to Salt Lake City in Utah and I was absolutely astonished by the beauty of the state. I find this area so spectacular because I am not accustomed to seeing beautiful mountains, desert areas, and gorgeous blue lakes all within miles of each other. While in Utah, I traveled up one of the mountains to the snow-covered area of the mountain. Seeing the transition from the bottom to the top of the mountain was amazing and I loved the view from the top of the mountain. I could see mountains for miles and the sunset from the top was breath-taking. It was the type of moment that makes you praise God as you are in awe of His amazing creations! 

My name is Brittany Sawyer. For the past seven years I've been living in Hong Kong, so I pretty much consider Hong Kong to be my home. However, my family just moved back to Michigan. Now, I'm in Nebraska going to school at Concordia University. It is quite a change but I love it so far! I'm planning on being a high school teacher, primarily teaching the social sciences and theater. That's my plan right now, unless God has something else in mind. :)