Paris is Different

Hello, my name is Roynell Anderson, and I’m a senior at Sacramento Charter High School. I have been going to Sacramento Charter High School for all my four years and have seen this school changed positively. This is my second time applying for Context Travel. The first time I applied, I was applying because going to Rome sounded fun and I’m always positive to learn new materials from different places. This process have shown me if you want something, you should go for it. That's the reason why I'm applying for Context Travel again.

Credit to google images

I really liked the idea of going to another country for 11 days. I am applying for this scholarship because when I get to college, I do want to study aboard and this trip will help me to get closer to my dream. As I said in my interview, I want to be a political scientist and by going to Paris and seeing how their government is ran, it will help me as I make laws for Congress and make this world a better place.

I am looking forward to see the way Paris is ran. When I think of Paris, I see it as a city that does sleep, like New York City. However, it probably isn’t like New York City. I hope I do get the chance to go to Paris because their no better way to learn about a city without seeing the city for yourself. I’m looking forward to learning and speaking the language of the Paris's citizens. I know that it will be a challenge, but its a challenge that I'm willing to take.

The important part of my timeline was the 21^st Century of Paris. It shocked me that Paris has changed their religion since they have been created. For my timeline, I am doing a board game named What Time Period Are You In? I got my idea from a Paris board game named Small World. In What Time Period Are You In, you are trying to find out what time period you are in. This year I wanted to do something that is personal to me. I created this board game because I am a kind person and a person that likes to have fun. To me, board games are fun so, I made my timeline into a board game. I hope you like it and enjoy it. Thank You for giving me a second chance to do this process again. What do I have planned next? I don't know. It's a surprise to me too.

credit to google images

 

-Roynell Anderson

Paris in 5 Seconds Or Less

      

      Stop what you are doing, close your eyes, and think. What did you think about – a situation at school, a bill you have forgotten to pay, the stress of work? Regardless, you just wasted five seconds of your life, gone, never to be retained again. What are we doing in life? Are you living for a purpose? I mean, there is a reason that you are reading this blog at this very moment, right? Or did you just happen to be surfing the internet and the title caught your attention? These are the same questions that I have begun to ask myself on a daily basis. What is my purpose in life?

Wikimedia Commons: Philippe

Wikimedia Commons: Leo Gonzales

      This question has often been directed towards me by my parents; however, not until recently have I begun to formulate a serious answer. Even as a young girl, I have always been fascinated with architecture and construction projects. From transforming cardboard boxes into mini-dollhouses to using 3-D design programs to sketch eco-friendly homes, architecture has long been the underlying theme of my creative ventures. A couple weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to travel abroad – destination: “The City of Lights”. Paris boasts some of the most culturally vibrant and artistically stunning buildings in the world. The arches and stained windows of the Notre Dame cathedral speak of the mystery and of the reverence of the medieval era; while, the glowing white crosses on the beaches of Normandy usher in a somber reverence for the sacrifices made on D-Day. Concerning architecture, my goal for the future of construction in America is to identify the aspects specific to a country’s culture and incorporate them into the buildings which I design. Thus, a trip to Paris introduces a vital opportunity for me to immerse myself in European culture (specifically that of Paris), and experience first hand the mysteries and subtleties enveloped in the daily lives of the average French citizen.

      My research on Paris has brought me directly to the sophistication of the Belle Epoque era. I was specifically intrigued by the rejection of tradition and the emphasis on human pleasure and freedom, displayed in the cabarets, best described as sophisticated night clubs complimented by circus, dance, and theatre. “Out with the old, in with new,” I laughed to myself. Such institutions turned commercial advertisement into an art, as businessmen began to experiment with the use of bold words, small words, and multiple colors to promote their businesses. In addition, my mouth watered when I discovered that the French culinary delicacy, the macaron, became famous through the growing popularity of tea salons and pastry shops, specifically Ladurée, during this period. The Belle Epoque is also known as the “Beautiful Age”, particularly because due to the economic success of the country of France, allowing the middle and lower class to enjoy luxuries such as running water, gas, electricity, and good plumbing. However, I distinctively enjoyed the attention placed on the ideals of naturalism and realism by the writers during this period. In contrast to the use of literature by previous authors to question the government, Guy de Maupassant placed a comedic emphasis on real life situations through poetry and multiple short stories.

      So, here is where we revert back to my original question. What is my purpose in life? If anyone had asked me that question a couple months ago, I would not have been able to give a straight answer, but now I am confident. My purpose is to live beyond my wildest dreams, to explore, to seek for the challenges in life and to overcome them, to travel, to build, and to take advantage of opportunities and to make my imaginations reality. There, five minutes of your life is gone, but this time it was not wasted. What is your purpose in life?

Belle Epoque

Hello, my name is Seta. I'm a Jr at Sacramento High and this is my first time applying to the "Transforming Youth Through Travel Scholarship". I am super excited about the Paris trip, just the idea of Paris drives me crazy! I have always been very fond of Paris and its cultural history. Paris is a breath taking city.Looking over Context Travel's website I learned why they give scholarships. The city allow access to place and cultures people only dream about, to educate and impassion curious travelers. I am applying this year because I feel that there is more to life then the city of Sacramento and I want to experience life in a whole new way and adventure.

                        I have fantasized about what life in Paris is now and during the "Belle Epoque".  I am currently adding the finishing touches on my timeline. This era was also known as the beautiful age and to me it sticks out the most because of How much of a Diamond in the rust it really is. By that I mean,  yes it was a beautiful time to where France had tripled with huge factories, telephones,and the beautiful Entertainment grew with new music styles and performances however the reality of it all was rough. The people during that era was always in constant fear of Germans starting another war to get even, or how some people scapegoated the Jews, blaming them for the horrific war.

                       

Looking forward to Paris

 My name is Julian Montanez, I am applying to Context to gain information on another culture other than my own and earn a better understanding of the people of France and their lifestyles. In Paris, I am looking forward to viewing archaic architectures from historical events such as the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Lovre bridge. I plan to gaze at the amazement of the scenery of many historically popular sights and buildings that so many wish to visit and witness in person, such as myself. I am also looking forward to learning the different cultures of the French society such as their food, language, and history.

While composing my timeline, I have grown fond of the French Revolution in the late 18th century. I was intrigued at how ordinary civilians were infuriated at the bad harvests and debt from wars, which fueled them to overthrow King Louis XIV and decapitate him through the guillotine. The guillotine was then used crudely on innocent civilians during Napoleon Bonaparte's rule, resulting in countless wrongful deaths, which, in my opinion, should be considered a massacre. After the monarchy was overthrown, a democracy was put in as a replacement, and the Declaration of the Rights and of the Citizen was established. This gave the rights to people that were "endowed to them by their creator" and cannot be taken away. This lead to the creation of "natural rights", which also followed into America, thus having a similar Declaration.The revolution helped accelerate the rise of republics, democracies, and nationalism; also noticeably similar the politics of America.

The Beauty of Paris

My name is Rebeca Vargas, I am a senior at Sacramento high school and a future business women. I am applying to contexts travel scholarship to Paris because I want to learn about the culture and lifestyle of Paris citizen. Also, as the oldest and only girl out of my three brothers, I want to set an example and not only show my brothers but also my community that anything is possible. I've lived in California all my life and I have only reached to Reno, Nevada other than that I have not been out of California . Coming from an immigrant and low income family, traveling is a limited topic at home. However, I am determined to expand my knowledge through travel even if I do not get the privilege of this wonderful opportunity.  In Paris, I look forward to meeting context docents because they are intellectuals and experts that will share information regarding Paris history, art, architecture, and many other topics. I admire the beauty of Paris buildings and landscape and seeing these beautiful sites is one of my biggest dreams.

The Belle Époque era in Paris interested me the most because the art reflected mostly on the  women's beauty and positive environment. The optimism and peace during this time period created a relaxing mood and with the research that I have made, was an era of flourishing literature and innovations. Literature in this time period was based on realism and naturalism. After France had been a part of the revolution and dark ages this period reflected the complete opposite and shows the highlights of Paris history. For artist like Vincent Van Gogh, this time in Paris increased the interest of art. Although, Vincent Van Gogh died during this time period many artists started to admire his work and accomplishments which then lead to the attention of the public. Knowing that France was involved in many wars and downfalls, this part of my research caught my attention and inspired me to learn more about art and history. Thank you for your time. 

-Rebeca Vargas   

Transforming Me

Hello, my name is Dazhawna Miller, I am proud to say I am a student attending Sacramento High School. Attending Sacramento High I learned more about what I needed to know to be able to get into college. From that knowledge I have transformed in a huge way moving from an average student, to now being one of the top. As an extracurricular activity I play in a drum line and I am also in Expressions of Praise, a dance group at my church. For community service I operate a camera for a live international broadcast which is also at my church, Calvary Christian Center. I am applying for this scholarship because I would like to see myself transform even more before I go to college. I am taking this opportunity to do just that, because going to Paris has always been a dream and aspiration of mine. Everyone has moments when they are deeply in thought of what they want to do, and imagine that moment in life they wish to have. Going to Paris is that moment in life that I always think of. From being a child wanting to be a famous model in Paris, just to be able to walk on their runway. Then to become a designer having my designs hung up in stores in Paris. Now my dream is to be a successful business woman that sells my product internationally able to go to Paris at any day or time. Going to Paris I am looking forward to seeing the different fashions and architectural designs of Paris. So I would love to see Chartres Cathedral and to do the shopping in Paris walking seminar. I am also hoping to have an experience that will change me for the better, helping me pick up greater qualities. This is an opportunity and experience no one else can offer. To me Paris is that fantasy world that is not real but now with this opportunity can become reality, Now that I actually have a chance of going on this trip with a scholarship, I am jumping at this opportunity.

    What I really enjoyed learning about was Belle Époque. Not only does this have a beautiful name; but, this is my favorite section of the timeline because it was a time of joy and happiness for many Parisians. This section of history reminded me of the Gilded Age which was my favorite section in U.S. History. Sadly they both end poorly. During this time there was peace and prosperity. Reading further in it I learned it really was not fully the reality. I like how there was more depth into it and the negatives actually came out. When reading about Belle Époque was like reading a fascinating story that just got deeper and deeper. Although it was a beautiful era, there were still dark times. The negatives were that people saw the age as impure, and this was blamed on other races, which caused racial tensions. Then working conditions were not pleasant for many, and that this era ended when World War I started. The positives of this era were that lower class did rise up from the advancements; and the food, technology, and entertainment all improved during this era. Overall reading about Belle Époque was a very fascinating era to me.

The City of Light

 Hello everyone, I’m sure you already know me. My name is DeRael Edwards and I applied last year for the Transforming Youth Through Travel Rome Scholarship. Even though I wasn’t chosen to be a part of such an amazing experience, I still have the same level of determination and I will work hard to better myself as an applicant this year. In past years, the city the scholarship focused on was Rome, but in an exciting turn of events, the cities have changed. This year, the 2014-2015 TYTT Scholarship will be in Paris, France. Just the thought of traveling to the famous “City of Light” has me surging with excitement. I am applying because this is an opportunity that few students get to experience and I’m lucky enough to attend the only school where this scholarship is offered.

            I’ve always dreamed of one day visiting Paris. My mind is overwhelmed with all the possibilities that would await me if I was awarded to go. Staring up at the Eiffel Tower, touring around the Louvre, taking breathtaking photos of the Arc de Triomphe, and tasting delicious French cuisine are all examples of what comes to my mind when I hear Paris. I am currently in the process of completing my timeline and so far I have delved deep into the rich history of France.

            The time period in particular that I enjoyed researching was the French Revolution. I loved researching the French Revolution because it was a chaotic bloodbath. The French Revolution was greatly influenced by enlightenment ideas and lasted from 1789 to the late 1790’s. The movement failed miserably in reaching its goals. During this time, King Louis XVI was an extremely greedy monarch who spent unnecessary amounts of money and nearly ran the country into bankruptcy. He taxed peasants and the poor heavily who were already upset about years of drought and rising bread prices. This sparked a widespread rebellion including rioting and looting of the homes of clergymen and landlords. In an attempt to uproot the absolute monarchy, King Louis was condemned of treason against the state and sentenced to death by guillotine. This caused the countless deaths of many people and the ascension of Napoleon Bonaparte.  If you can execute the king by guillotine, you can execute anyone by guillotine. I also find it pretty ironic that the French people traded a monarch for a monarch who had much more power than King Louis. The history of France is very interesting indeed and I can’t wait to discover more as I complete my timeline.

Wikimedia Commons: Charles Monnet

~DeRael