Reading Notes: Ramayana, Part D

As I finished up reading Narayan's Ramayana I was very excited to see how it all would end. Would Rama defeat Ravana? Would they both live? Would Rama and Sita be reunited with one another? It was very fun to read and figure out the answers to all of these questions.

When Ravana was meeting with his council to decide what to do regarding Rama, the detail that was put into all of the conversations that were taking place was very realistic. His council was telling him so many different things, the way I feel like cabinet meetings go for the President. I thought it was very interesting that many of his councilmen were telling Ravana that he was in the wrong for holding Sita captive for so long, however in the end Ravana did as he pleased. I also think that it was admirable of Vibishana to stick up for himself and continue to believe that what Ravana did was wrong and seek asylum with Rama.

As the epic got into the battle sequence, it was very fun to read with all of the details the author put into it. I really felt like I was there watching the battle occur! Once it got to the final battle between Rama and Ravana, it was very interesting. It almost reminded me of the scene in Hercules where Hercules is fighting the Hydra where its heads keep coming back.

Once Sita and Rama were finally reunited, it was very disappointing that Sita threw herself in the fire, however I love that it all worked out and that Sita and Rama were able to end up together and rule the kingdom with one another. When Rama's father, Dasartha, came back to visit Rama, it was very emotional and I'm glad that he was able to forgive Kaikeyi like how Rama wanted.

(Rama and Lakshmana fighting Ravana;

Web Source)

While reading, I found a few things that I may want to incorporate while doing some of my retellings. They are as follows:

IX. Ravana in Council

• I could rewrite the story to where Ravana is trying to win back the love of his life rather than take someone's love away from them
• I could rewrite to where Ravana is battling Rama for land rather than a woman
• I could rewrite the story to where Ravana is out Black Friday shopping and is trying to steal a great item from someone

X. Across the Ocean

• I could rewrite where Vibishana is like Snowden seeking asylum after giving out a countries secrets

XI. Siege of Lanka

• I could rewrite the story to where Kumbakarna is helping Rama rather than his own brother

XII. Rama and Ravana in Battle

• I could rewrite to where the chariot races are like a Mario Kart or Nascar race

XIII. Interlude

• I could rewrite the story to where Rama is so happy to see Sita and knows that she didn't do anything un-pure while being held captive, this way she doesn't have to throw herself into a fire

XIV. Coronation

• I could rewrite the story to where Bharatha doesn't want to give up the crown to Rama

Bibliography

Narayan's Ramayana, link to Reading Guide D

Rama and Lakshmana fighting Ravana, Web Source

Week 3 Review: Comfy Cat

I really like the following gif that you posted in Saturday's Class Announcements! I love how comfortable this cat looks, and this is how comfortable I want to be every time I go to sleep!

(Comfy cat gif,

Saturday's announcements)

Story: The Big Fight

The arena is dark. There is no one here, except for the janitor, cleaning up making sure everything is ready for the big night. People have been awaiting this event for a year. Tickets were sold out within three hours. If you weren't able to initially buy a ticket, get ready to cough up thousands of dollars. Anyone who is anyone will be there tonight. Front row full of A List celebrities, people barely able to pay the bills in the nose bleeds. If you were so unfortunate to not be able to get a ticket to see the action live with your own eyes, you can watch on pay-per-view. You do not want to be the person who misses this fight tonight.

As it creeps closer and closer to 7:30, the time of the match, things start to fall into place. Slowly the janitor turns on each light, one switch at a time, each switch lighting up a different section of the arena. The judges for the match arrived in the wee hours of the morning, some of them even too excited for what today holds to sleep through the night. It is almost as if everyone is a child on Christmas Eve. The volunteers start coming into the arena, ready to clean and prep everything to make sure it is all in pristine condition. The people sitting in the general admission seating have been waiting outside for hours, just so they can get up close and personal to the action. 

Finally, the main men of the evening begin their journey to arena. Each in their vehicles, their drivers carefully transporting the precious cargo they each have in their back seat. As they pull up to the arena, people are lined down the street hoping for just a glimpse at them. Of course they could not be bothered, each having their expensive headphones on listening to their hype music, waiting until the match that could make or break them for the rest of their career. They are each alone in their respective locker rooms, each performing their pre-match rituals to ensure nothing happens to mess up their performance for tonight.

The moment has arrived. People are pilling into their seats anxiously waiting as each minute passes. The time has finally come and the brothers are about to emerge out of the tunnels and into the ring. A voice rumbles over the speaker. "In the blue corner weighing in at 190lbs, Shane. In the red corner weight in at 186lbs, Vince. Come into the center of the ring men and shake on a good, clean match." They followed suit, however each thought of how they were going to punch the other ones face into itself. 

With the loud chime of the bell, the match has begun. It was fast-paced, high energy from the very beginning. Each was holding their own. Then, Vince hit Shane square in the face, practically knocking him out. Shane fell to the floor, groggily looked out into the crowd, and somehow mustered up the courage to get back in and fight. Shane would get in a few good punches right to Vince's sweet spots. Suddenly, Vince came in with the biggest blow anyone in the crowd had ever seen. Shane lay, almost lifeless on the floor. Everyone was holding their breath, praying that he still had his. They saw his hand move, almost as if it were a motion to someone outside the ring. That is when everyone's head turned to see Rocky, Shane's coach hurdle into the ring and deliver a single blow straight to Vince's head that knocked him out.

Everyone in the arena was numb. What had they just witnessed? Are Vince and Shane even alive? How was this even a clean fight? Rocky was escorted out of the ring, and the arena and has never been heard of within the boxing world again. Shane and Vince were both taken out of the arena on stretchers, and neither of them have stepped into the ring again.

Author's Note

For this retelling, I used the story of the fight that Sugreeva and Vali had with one another. Sugreeva and Vali were brothers who had gotten into a fight, and they represent Shane and Vince. Once Sugreeva had almost died from the battle, Rama (Rocky) came in and shot and killed Vali. I figured that using a boxing match would be the perfect tool for retelling the story.

Bibliography

Narayan's Ramayana, Link to Reading C

Image Information

Photo of a Boxing Ring, Web Source

Reading Notes: Ramayana, Part C

As I continue reading The Ramayana, it is getting more and more thrilling. I cannot wait to figure out if Sita and Rama will ever be reunited, and if Rama will ever get to rightfully take his place on the throne.

While reading Part C of The Ramayana, I was fascinated by all the detail the author used in his writing. The part where the author discussed the fight that Vali and Sugreeva got into was so interesting. I really like how you could practically see what was happening, just by the description that the author gave. It is almost as if you were there watching Vali gang up on Sugreeva, then seeing Vali get shot by Rama.

I also thoroughly enjoyed the detail the author put into the story once the rains ceased. When he started discussing how all the animals were finally making their way out of the brushes and back into normal life, it is as if you were standing in the forest seeing it for yourself.

As I was reading Part C of The Ramayana, I started thinking about some changes that I could make to the story when it comes time for a retelling. They are as follows:
VI. Vali

• I could rewrite the part of Sugreeva and Vali fighting to where they are in a boxing match with one another
• I could also rewrite the same part as if Vali were a bully beating up Sugreeva and Rama coming in and saving the day with one swift punch to Vali's face, knocking him out

VII. When the Rains Cease

• I could rewrite the part where Hanuman is searching for Sita with a "Dora the Explorer" feel to it, or something along those lines but perhaps a little older

Bibliography

Narayan's Ramayana, link to Reading Guide C

Painting of Vali, Web Source

Week 2 Review: Geek Meditation Session, Heroin/e

I found two things that I thought were really funny on this weeks announcements that are both found in Sunday/Monday's announcement! The "Geek Meditation Session" is so funny because it kind of reminds me of some of the people that are in some of my classes. And the "Heroin/e" meme was funny as well because it shows how just how careful you have to be when using the English language and how detrimental missing one letter in a word can be.

(Geek Meditation Session;

Sunday/Monday's announcements)

(Heroin/e Meme;

Sunday/Monday's announcements)

Tech Tip: Weather Widget

I decided to add the weather to my blog! I think that weather is a pretty cool thing to be in the know about, and it's always nice to be aware of what the temperature is so you can plan on what to wear! I chose the design of the sticker because it reminds me of traveling and going to India!

Feedback Thoughts

The article that I really related to was the "5 Tips for Taking Feedback Like a Champ" article. Often times, I have difficulty taking feedback because I feel as though when people give me constructive feedback it is because they don't like me. The other article I related to was the "Be a Mirror: Give Readers Feedback That Fosters a Growth Mindset" article. I really liked how both of these articles were written in the form of tips and it was easy to see what I could be doing better in regards to feedback. One thing I really like in the "5 Tips" article was when they said that getting feedback and having growth areas is a good thing because it means you haven't reached your full potential. This was very helpful for me to read because it showed me that feedback isn't meant to push you back, but rather propel you forward and help you improve. I also really enjoyed the "mirror" theory in the "Be a Mirror" article. It really focused on the fact that feedback is for the person, not you. 

There have been a few times where I've had to give feedback  and peer-review in the school setting and it has been awkward because I'm friends with these people and now I'm telling them what they need to do better, even though it is suppose to help them. This was discussed in another article where people with lower self-esteem have a problem giving constructive feedback because they want people to like them, which is what I struggle with. 

Although getting feedback is always uncomfortable especially for me, it helps me because I know that the person is trying to help me, not hurt me, even if it takes me a while to figure that out. I think that some of the best strategies for giving feedback is to always remember that you are giving feedback to help the best, so focus on them and their work. You can also always use the pro-con-pro strategy if you're uncomfortable giving feedback that way you start with a pro, then get into what they need to work on, then end with a pro so that it has a positive vibe to the feedback.

(Get Feedback, Use Feedback Meme;

Web Source)