The Garbage Concert

January 2, 2009

Dear Avshalom

Hey, how are you? I hope everything is going well. I'm sorry I haven't written to you in a long time, but I actually couldn't, because I just returned from Albania. I guess you are wondering what have I done in Albania, so well, my friend, I am going to tell you about the most suprising and embarrassing incident that ever happend to me.- This is a great opening!

As you know, I'm a big fan of the band Garbage. I actually have all their CDs. A few weeks ago, my sister, a big fan too, told me that she got tickets for a Garbage's concert in Tirana, Albania! At first I was quite confused, because Albania is such a godforsaken place. But then I was very happy, because I just love Garbage, and attending one of their concerts is a big dream of mine. I told everyone that I was going to fulfill that dream, and I was very excited.

So, we flew to Albania. I must admit that I thought Albania would look like Gaza, but eventually, I discovered it is a really nice place. On our second night there, we got to the park where the concert was held. There were many people, all looking for Shirley Manson, Garbage's vocalist, to get on the huge stage. At least, that what I thought. A bald man got on stage, playing on a weird guitar and singing folk music. My sister looked shocked. "That's probably the pre-concert", she said, unsure. But the old bald guy never got off the stage, and the whole audience was singing these "dai dai dai" refrains. All this time, me and my sister were still waiting for Shirley to get on stage, singing "The World Is Not Enough", but she never did - sadly, she stayed in Edinburgh that night.

We returned home very sad, and as soon as we got there, we checked what happend to the Garbage concert! Well, my dear friend, nothing. That bald guy and his musicians were actually a local Albanian band called, suprsie suprise, Garbage. When I came back, all my friends came to my house, excpecting to see pictures and souvenires, and when they heard about this suprising coincidence, they laughed so hard, and I was so embarrassed!
.
Anyway, I hope to see you soon, after you're done laughing. And please write back, I can't wait to hear your opinion about this story.

Greetings,
Omer.

* Daphna, sorry for the delay. I had internet problems so I couldn't publish the letter, but I wrote it on Word on December 20th.

It's OK, Omer. Your letter is so good, I'll let you get away with it....
I really enjoyed that and your comment on Raz's work was accurate and to the point. Well done!
Daphna

Sundials and Hourglasses

The two exhibits I chose to show you are two unconventional and maybe even primative clocks who are no longer popoular; the Sundial and the Hourglass, more known as the Sand Clocks.


Exhibit No. 1: The Hourglass

The Hourglass is created by two glass that are placed one above the other with a very small hole between them. One of the glass is filled with sand, that flows through the other glass. In most Hourglasses, we know an hour have past when the upper glass is empty and the lower glass is full with the sand.


The Hourglass was said to be invented in the middle of the 3rd century in Alexandria. It was the first measure of time in history, and people actually carried it with them, as we carry analog or digital hand watch today. Nowdays, there are only few pratcial uses to the Hourglasss, and except board games and egg cooking, it isn't very popoular.


In the picture: The fresco "Allegory of Good Government" from the 14th cetnruy, which shows how old this device is.


Exhibit No. 2: The Sundial

The Sundial is maybe the "father" of the known analog clock. It measures time by the position of the Sun. In the middle of the sundial, there is a very thin object, mostly shaped like a triangle or a stick, and its shadow can tell more or less what's the hour, according to the position of the sun in that moment.


The Sundial is said to be invented in ancient Egypt, nearly 6000 years ago. With time, it became more specific and efficient, but even now, you can't tell what is the exact hour from the Sundial. There is no use for Sundials now for many reasons, the major of them is that it can't really tell the specific hour and it's not moveable, also.


In the picture: A horizontal sundial in Taganrog, from the 19th century.


These are the two exhibits I chose to show you. I hope you've learned a bit more about ways of measuring time.

Very good work, Omer. I really liked the way you chose to present your exhibits. Please correct your mistakes and make it perfect.
Daphna

Barcelona

I want to tell you about a special Spanish city I visited last holidays with my parents - Barcelona, and about its special places like the Sagarda Familia, La Rambla and the Gaudí buildings.

Barcelona is located in northern Spain in a district called Catalunya, so except Spanish, most of the Barcelona's citizens also speak a language called Catalan. The city was built by Hercules and was rebuilt by Carthaginian Hamilcar Barca, the father of Hannibal. Barcelona offers many shops and wide, crowded avenues, but also historical buildings and astonishing churches. The Sagarda Familia is no doubt the most impressive of them. Though not beautiful, this church is amazingly huge and the whole buiding is covered with thousands of details, sculptures and artistic symbols.

Barcelona also offers, like I mentioned, wide avenues, full of shops and cafes. The most signicifant one is La Rambla. Besides places to shop, it also offers still sculptures, entertainers and painters. It's a beautiful place. Barcelona also has many buildings of the architect Antoni Gaudí, like Park Güell, the Casa Milà and the Casa Batlló, which are full of many colors and works of art. I also found the citizens of Barcelona very nice and kind.

To conclude, I had a perfect time in Barcelona and I would like to visit there again, because I don't feel I saw everything interesting in this very large city. I also think that if you want the perfect vacation; a mixture between "Art Nouveau" buildings, Gothic churches, very big parks and wide shopping avenues, you should visit Barcelona.

Excellent work, Omer!

Now, let me give you a piece of advise. The body of your essay was too "crowded" and had to be divided. I did that for you. Next time you write an essay, think of the structure and divide your writing into as many paragraphs as needed.

Daphna.

About Ori

I would like to tell you about a friend of mine, Ori. She is 15 years old and is a very mature, funny, open-minded and smart person.

Ori is an albino. It means she was born with a lack of pigments. She has blue eyes and blond hair, although she often changes her hair color, sometimes even to unusual colors like red or pink. She is also a very tall person.

Ori has many hobbies and interests. She likes literature, history, politics, hiking, biology and music of all kinds, but her biggest hobby is sports of any kind, particularly Goalball. Goalball is a team sport for people with sight problems, and since Ori has sight problems, she is allowed to play this game. She plays in a team with other people like her, and they even fly to championships in other countries. Last time, they flew to Hungary, and won the first prize, mainly because of Ori's goals. Another major hobby of her is her activity in the youth movement HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed.

Ori is a wonderful friend. She often gives me advices and makes me laugh anytime. We also have a lot in common; we listen to the same music, we share the same political opinions and we both like hiking and literature very much. Currently, we even read the same book by the Israeli author Amos Oz.

To conclude, Ori is one of my very best friends. She is always there for me and she always makes me laugh. All my conversations and meetings with her are fun and interesting. Plus, I appreciate her very much because she is very strong and confident.

Great work, Omer. Your essay is very well written, as well as clear and interesting.

Daphna.

About myself

My name is Omer. I'm 15 and I live somewhere in the Middle East. I have one older brother and one older sister but I live with my parents only.

In my spare time, I enjoy watching my favourite TV shows (mainly Grey's Anatomy), reading books and meeting my friends. During the holidays, I like to travel, mainly in my country, but also abroad. Last November I flew to Prague and I enjoyed it very much. When I meet my friends, we usually watch a movie or meet at each other's homes.

I study in a very big school, and almost all my friends are with me in my class. I like it, because this way I also spend time with them. Another thing I like about school is the breaks, and some of the teachers, who are very funny. But, the school also has some disadvantages. I don't like it when the teachers give a lot of homework or a lot material for a test.

My favourite subjects are Chemistry, Biology and Arabic, because it's easy and interesting. Chemisry and Biology are the basis to our lives and Arabic is a very important language.

My expectations from this coming year are to get good grades and to be good at Math because I think it's very important, and I'm not very good at it. I'm pretty sure I'll have success this year, because I've changed my attitude about school.

Daphna.