America's Changing Face

 So here I am sitting in my Human Societies and Globalization class when the professor plays this video clip:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp6EYasU_nM

This video talks about how the number of Hispanics, African Americans, and Asians are rapidly increasing in the United States. The debate is set between three men including James, who is strongly against this change. James argues that these "illegal alien invasions" will turn us into a third world country. First of all, Martin made a great point in stating that these people James was referring to are still Americans.They inherit the same rights as each an every one of us and believe in the same constitution. He also stated that James is a racist, which I can agree with. There is nothing anyone can really say that would change James' opinion on this issue, but the fact that he classifies these people as minorities is somewhat ignorant, seeing how he was once a minority himself.


An issue that caught my eye was the idea of assimilating, adopting a new culture and leaving the old one behind. James claims how he is worried that not many of these 'illegal immigrants' are willing to learn how to read which may lead us into a third world country. I think if someone has the ability and the opportunity to go to school and get an education, then they should not let that chance pass them by. After all, this diverse population is increasing for the American Dream which is clearly defined as the opportunity for prosperity and success.
Paul Reyes stressed the idea that most Hispanics are different from every other ethnic group because instead of assimilating, they acculturate (adopting a new culture while still retaining your old one.)
At the end of the day, these are all just opinions and there is nothing anyone can say or do that would change that. Everyone has their right to an opinion. NB

Facebook VS. Twitter

By now, almost everyone you know has a facebook account. Facebook started out for a website just meant for college kids but turned viral after myspace went downhill. It's a great place to stay connected with the people in your life, share photos, and update people on your life. So why are a lot of people now moving to twitter?

I am personally starting to like Twitter a lot more than facebook for numerous reasons that many people would probably agree with. Number one, facebook has gotten a lot more boring over the past year. It also has gotten a lot of span lately which makes it even more annoying. Twitter is much more live and the updates can be more interesting than the ones you see on facebook. It can also be entertaining because you can choose to follow your favorite celebrities, comedians, and all your friends! However, I still don't think twitter will be the more popular social networking site because people will most likely stick to the place where all there friends are.

Things To do Around Fairfax!

I'm sure many people can agree with me when I say that 'NoVa is a very boring place to be.' After living in a city for a couple of months where there is always something to do, it's hard to have to come back into the suburban town. However, during this break I found some pretty cool hangout spots right in the heart of Fairfax.

Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt
I never even knew this place existed until a couple of weeks ago. Their frozen yogurt is absolutely to die for and...it's healthy! Can you say yummy? It's a self-serve kind of thing where you can pick your own flavors--anything from Nutella and cheescake--and then choose whichever toppings you want, then weigh and pay! Find the most convenient location for you at www.tfyogurt.com and enjoy! :)

Malick's Kabob & Restaurant 
This place has the best kabob I've ever tasted! It's a small little family-owned business that brings in a lot of the Islam culture. Many people go there on a Friday or Saturday night, smoke some hookah, and just hang out with friends. After 11:00, the music gets louder and it becomes a very chill spot. Here's their website: www.malikskabob.com

Fairfax Ice Arena
What better fun than to go ice skating!? Instead of always going to the movies or to the mall, ice skating can be a great way to do something different and that almost everyone can enjoy. (That's if they know how to ice skate) There's a great place right in Fairfax, this is their website: www.fairfaxicearena.com/ NB

Ballin' On A Budget

We all know college kids are broke as can be. With all the tuition and hidden fees that sneak up on you, it takes time and effort to look for something cute and affordable to wear! I've been going to the mall about twice a week since break started and mostly to Fair Oaks, Potomac Mills, and Tysons Corner. I have learned a lot about what's in and what's out, where to go for the best deals, and much more! I thought I would share the top things I discovered while snooping around in the malls in order to be Ballin' On A budget :)


Need Boots? Charlotte Russe to the rescue!
So I don't know what it is about this place, but Charlotte Russe has gotten to be my new obsession lately. The last few times I've been there, I've never walked out of the store without a bag in my hand. The thing that caught my eye the most about their store is the selection of boots they have that can be bought at a reasonable price! Tysons had a whole shelf of them for just $15 each! Can you say steal!? You can find something very similar to this for just under $20!

Looking for Denim? Look no further at Forever 21! 
Looking for a new pair of jeans can be stressful for some people because it's always hard to find the right pair that makes your butt look amazing and gives you that perfect fit. Forever 21 has an amazing selection of jeans that includes dark skinny, black, ripped, and much more starting as low as $10.50! These jeans are $10.50 and can be found in different colors.

  

Dress It Up at H&M!
If you're looking for a casual dress but could also be good for a night out, H&M is the place to go! You can find a simple dress for under $15! This dress here could be spiced up with some accessories and a pair of killer heels for only $14.95!

 Grab your tops at Papaya!
Papaya does a great job at carrying items that are actually in-style! I personally love their tops because there are just so many options and of course, affordable! The only thing about Papaya that you should be aware of is their clearance rack! Yeah, you may just find the perfect top that's seven bucks but then discover a hole in it the second you go home. Not cute. However, you can still find some great dressy tops starting at just $9.99! This cute lacy one sleeve top is only $12.99 and totally worth it! NB

 

Final Season of One Tree Hill!

So I just got done watching the season nine premiere for One Tree Hill and I'm still having chills. The first two minutes of the show was absolutely crazy! I think it was foreshadowing what was going to happen or what the whole season would lead up to. It showed Dan's diner burning into flames, Brooke throwing things in her own store, Quinn and Clay fighting, and Haley looking at what it seemed to be a dead body. That was a lot of things to see in such a short period of time! The season looks like it will be off to a good start and it definitely has a lot of potential. Chris Keller is back in town and I don't really know how I feel about that. Actually, I do. Chris Keller was the reason Naley (Nathan & Haley) separated in season three and went through a hard time. Every since that, Chris Keller became the bane of my existence. But thankfully, I don't think he's here to get in the way of Haley's relationship but more of Alex's with her boyfriend Chase. I saw the sexual tension going on in the studio between the two of them and it seems to me that things won't end so well with her and Chase. Speaking of Naley, they look cuter and happily married just how I imagined <3 . However, I'm not so sure how I feel about Dan living with them until he 'gets back on his feet.' I'm sorry but that man does not deserve a second chance after killing his own blood. I just wish he would move to another town and get out of Tree Hill already! In other news, Brooke and Julian look pretty happy with their two cute little baby boys and I couldn't be more thrilled for Brooke because she deserves it. Quinn and Clay also look like their relationship is going in the right direction, but apparently Clay has a sleep walking problem? I'm sure this will cause a huge problem later on in the season. All in all, I can't wait to see what will happen later on in the season! One Tree Hill captured my heart from day one. Alright, that sounds kind of cheesy, but it's how I feel :) NB

Different College, Different Attire.

So as you may know, I attend VCU, a school highly known as being the 'art' school. When you put a bunch of artsy kids on a college campus, the attires you see will definitely become interesting. Walking through campus, I've noticed a very strange fashion sense that is mostly linked to art kids. For example, a girl in my class last semester, would dye her hair a different color every week! Talk about damaging. And they weren't even normal colors, one week it could be red and the next week it could be pink. Another style I've noticed is the half-shaved-half-long hairstyle found on girls. This is an example:

Now if someone from UVA visited VCU, they might experience a little bit of a culture shock. I've seen the UVA campus and the typical attire for girls is a pretty little sundress, a satchel, and cute sandals. Nothing compared to a crazy frenzy hairstyle. For instance:

Now there are some schools who don't have a sense of  style seen on the college campus. A school like Virginia Tech's typical attire to class would be a T-shirt with the school logo, pair of jeans or even sweat pants, and no makeup. I get the feeling that Tech is more of an athletic school so seeing an attire like this on campus wouldn't be so shocking. NB

Ten Guilty Pleasures

These are not in any specific order :)

• Spanish Music -Even though I don't understand what they're saying, there's something about Spanish music that is so intriguing. 
• Chocolate - I'm sure every sane girl can agree with me on this one. 
• Soap Operas - I love watching cheesy episodes of Days of Our Lives.
• Maury - Even though every episode is basically set the same, (raging woman yells at the potential father of her baby until the results come out) the drama always makes me want to tune back in. 
• Crossroads - No matter how many times I watch this movie, it will never get old! Even though the plot is kind of pointless and obvious, it's still a cute movie. 
• Grand Theft Auto - Ever since I was a little kid, I used to always play this game just to run over hoes on the sidewalk.
• Really Cheesy Holiday Socks - Whether they're Christmas or Halloween themed, I love love love wearing holiday socks year-round. 
•  The Twilight Saga - I don't know what it is about those blood sucking vampires that make me love it so much, but I just can't get enough of the books and the movies!
•  Facebook - The only reason why facebook is a guilty pleasure of mine is because of the amount of time I spend on it. It's ridiculous.
• The Smell of Nail Polish Remover - Nuff said. 

Jersey Shore Becoming Repetitive?

The reality television series Jersey Shore has become the guilty pleasure show for millions of  people in the past five years. The show started out in Jersey, where eight strangers came together to live in a house on the shore. Relationships were made, fights broke out, friendships were tied, and the drama was over the top. The house shipped off to Miami for season two and were back at the shore for season three. Things took a turn for season four when the show was set in Italy. Season five, the current one on television, is set back at the shore.

After five years of being on air, you can already guess that things are becoming a bit repetitive. Every episode is set the same way: it usually starts out with "GTL" (gym, tan, laundry), then it shows them working at the shop, then it turns into a drunken mess when they go out clubbing. At first, it was entertaining and things were kept interesting; however, there comes a point where it's just a continued cycle set on replay. I'm tired of seeing the same problems over and over again week after week. Not only are their problems redundant and repetitive, but the dialogue is looking more scripted within each season. The whole point of a reality t.v. show is to get raw footage of their lives, not having some director in the back telling them how to act and what to say. The bottom line is: the show has been around for too long and it's time to say 'ciao' to the famous orange guidos and guidettes. NB

Living Away From Home vs. Commuting

When it's time for college, students have to make the big decision as to whether or not they want to move away from home or commute to a nearby college. In most cases, the chance to be on your own and move away from your parents is the best choice out there. However, some kids are stuck living at home, whether it's due to money problems, religious issues, fear of living on your own, etc. Both decisions have their own advantages and disadvantages.

 Living away from home means freedom freedom freedom. I don't think many students realize how much freedom they have until they actually move away. It's an amazing feeling to be able to do whatever you want to do, whenever you want to do it. Living on your own and being forced to make your own decisions helps a person grow and become independent. This is essential in a teenager's life because I feel that it is the only way they will truly learn about the real world. It also will be a great tool to make new friends! Being in a whole other environment and living with a bunch of strangers will inevitably force you to meet new people.

Commuting to a school could either be the worst decision of your life or the smartest one. It could be the worst because you could be absolutely miserable at home, always being tied down by your parents and having no freedom whatsoever. I have seen it happen with two of my friends who weren't able to go away to college and were forced to attend GMU and commute. All they talk about is how their parents are always asking them questions and wonder where they are all the time. I've also heard that it's difficult to make new friends while being a commuter seeing how everyone just goes to class then goes back home which makes sense because going to class is such a small portion of the college experience. However, commuting does have its advantages. Staying at home means not having to worry about housing costs, meal plans, laundry, etc.

                                                                                VS.

Personally, I think going away to college is definitely the best choice for an education. It's the only way you can achieve the full college experience. NB

First Post!

My very first post! I decided to get a blog because I thought it would be a good place to talk about various things I see/hear about. It will also be a place for me to ramble on about random things that you may or may not care about. The end :)