Peace Between The Civilizations

Objective: Peace between the civilizations

Silence... silence... relaxing and disturbing at the same time. It is very luminous and dark. All is black. I look around trying to find a sign of movement, something unknown, strange, new, scary but exciting. I am free, I feel free. I try to swim in the emotions that I have, too many for name them all: loneliness, hope, courage, excitement... The cold is different. Even with the heating of the suit, the emptiness of the place makes the cold enter through your eyes when you see the white-spotted black.

All I hear are my teammates talking through the radio about procedures and status reports. Watching the Earth, the Moon and the Sun from here creates happiness in me, and some vertigo too. I was thousands of kilometres away from home, floating in space, attached with a cable to my ship. Incredibly I took a nap. I think that was the last time I slept well, even if they were 20 minutes.

-"Neptune (our command station in Earth)says that the radars detect an anomaly  2.500 km away from Uranus. And it's moving fast, very fast."- Said Laaren through the radio when I was sleeping.

-"What type of anomaly"- Asked Floria.

-"Maybe a comet?"- Answered Feena.

-"What? Could you check again...Ok. Neptune says that now it's near Jupiter"- Said Laaren.

-"That can't be right, are you sure it's the same anomaly?"- Asked N'gongo.

-"It has passed mars!"- Said Laaren alarmed.

With so much noise I woke up and went back to the ship without paying attention to the conversation. I was impressed with the unique beauty of the place. 

-"Moon sensors detect an unidentified propulsion system 12 parsecs from here"- added Feena

-"May... Maybe the rumour is true, the one 2 years ago, do you remember?"- Suggested Floria

-"Get ready, prepare the shields just in case!"- Said Captain. We never knew her name so we called her Captain. I think she's from Nicaragua. She was the most courageous person I've ever seen.

-"1107 klicks!"-Laaren informed.

-"Damn, it's fa..."- Tryed to say N'gongo.

Just in that moment, when I was closing the gate of the ship, I saw a dark blue explosion that became a hole, a big hole. My heart started beating fast, I thougth that it was going out of my chest, my throat dryed like a a water drop in a hot pan, I didn't know if it was fear or excitement but the next thing I saw discarded the excitement option.

END OF PART ONE. TO BE CONTINUED...

By: Eduardo Travesí

A Few More Photos

 

Happy to be here!

 

Howrah bridge on the Ganges

 

Familiar faces

 

Ain't nobody got time for that

 

Off to visit some homes.

 

Friendship bracelets for everyone.

 

Our diet. More rice.

Cormac Keogh's Invaders from Another World, Part 1

                                  The Invaders from Another  World

24^th March 2062 -  Somewhere in the desert of Arizona, North America, a couple were camping out in a caravan.

“Where are you going dear?” asked Tom's wife Roxanne.

“ I am just going out to take some air. I'll be back in a minute” replied Tom.

Tom was 6' 3'' in height, with a strong build, with dark wavy hair and in his early fifties.  He was well dressed in a pair of jeans, a red flannel shirt and riding boots.  Roxanne was average height, of slender build and had gleaming blue     eyes.  She was 45 years of age but did not look it.  She was dressed in a flowery summer's dress and a pair of espadrilles .

It was  a warm, clear night and stars filled the calm sky.  “The stars are out in full tonight dear.” Tom called back to his wife.  “That's good” she called back without looking out.  Suddenly the silence was broken with a distinct humming sound coming from the sky.  Within a split second a dazzling light illuminated the whole area around Tom.  The light was so intense that it blinded Tom causing him to stagger backwards.  Before he could recover he heard a loud metallic thud coming from a cluster of tumbleweed nearby and when he looked he saw, amid the cloud of dust the object had risen, a colossal , silvery-gray spacecraft.  The ship was oblong in shape and completely unmarked, clearly not part of the Federation's fleet. 

First contact had been made two years before this, so the spacecraft was not a complete surprise to Tom, but what most terrified him was that this was an unknown spacecraft.  In terror he called out to his wife to stay put.  With that a loud voice issued from the craft.  “We are the priests of the Temple of Syrix and we have taken over the Federation.  All that remains is for us to take this miserable planet.  To all the peoples of the world you have one hour to surrender yourselves to us.  Whomever does not comply with this will be annihilate d.” concluded the voice.

Tom was struck with awe at this instruction and didn't know what to think other than that the situation was not good. 

Suddenly, a ramp descended from the ship and three figures emerged from the craft and walked towards him.  Tom thought at first that they were men by the way they walked and talked but clearly they must have been some sort of humanoid.  They wore long, dark robes and each wore a crown on his head.  When they spoke their voices were like ice.  They asked Tom where the people were and commanded him to take them there.  When he refused they threatened to kill him and his wife, which Tom knew instinctively they would do so without any hesitation. 

Reluctantly,  Tom agreed to their request.  He escorted them to the nearest village in his truck, accompanied by Roxanne fearing that if he left her behind something dreadful would happen to her.  As  soon as they arrived the leader of the group made the same demand.

Nothing but misery and pain ensued afterward as village by village surrendered.  The invaders blocked off any communication the Earth had with any other planets and obliterated all memory of the past, along with any independent thought from the peoples' minds.

END OF PART ONE.

Maya's Blogpost: Mother's Love

In the lush green plains of Africa,a mother cheetah is hunting zebras and antelopes to bring back to her cubs.The cubs are asleep in the den lined with straw.The mother cheetah crouches down low behind a clump of grass when she spots a herd of antelopes.When she sees a little antelope has wandered away from the rest of the herd.The mother cheetah leaps out from behind the clump of grass and pounces on the young antelope.With a lash of her teeth,the little antelope is killed instantly.She carries the precious dinner back to the den where her cubs are sleeping.When she nears the den,she is greeted by hungry mews.The mother cheetah responds with a soothing ‘purr’.She tears the antelope into chunks for her cubs to eat.The cubs eat up the antelope hungrily.After dinner the mother cheetah washes her cubs and puts them to bed in their straw-lined den.She purrs softly to her cubs as they fall fast asleep.The mother cheetah curls herself around her cubs.The next day when the dew is still on the grass the mother cheetah sets out on a morning hunt.The birds are singing in the trees.All was still,except for the mother cheetah walking through the tall grass.She spots a herd of zebra grazing on the lush green grass.She crouches down low behind a tuft of grass.When she spots a young zebra that has wandered away from the rest of the herd.She jumps out from behind the tuft of grass and pounces on the young zebra.With a quick lash of her jaw she kills the zebra instantly.The mother cheetah carries the dead zebra back to her den.In her minds eye she can see her two cubs curled up around each other in the straw lined den.On her way back from her hunt she spots a figure with a gun on his back.It was an animal’s worst fear.Poachers.She hurries back to her den fearing the worst.The mother cheetah keeps low to the ground as she half crawls,half walks along the grass lined path.When she reaches her den she quickly gives her cubs their breakfast.After breakfast is over the mother cheetah and her cubs quickly rush into the darkest part of the den.She curls herself around her cubs,hoping the danger would pass by quickly.The mother cheetah hears a gunshot outside followed by the voice saying ‘Those cats always escape!!’ The mother cheetah and her cubs give a relieved ‘purr’. The cheetah cubs start playing with their mother’s tail and give contented growls and purrs.The poachers made one last attempt to kill the cheetah mother and her cubs but they failed miserably and the mother cheetah and her cubs lived happily in the lush green plains of  Africa

Isobel's Opinion

It seems to me that there is a general assumption among us first world inhabitants that the people living in poverty-stricken areas such as the Sunderbans are content with what they have and are happy despite their deprived circumstances.
This was not the impression I received when we visited the some of the local families in their homes. These people are entirely self-dependent. they have nothing to fall back on if something goes wrong. For example, one mother told us of her family's loss in the floods. They had lost their home, their produce and all their worldly possessions and they were simply left, along with many others, to rebuild their home and cope as best they could. Another family had a son who had lost a finger while working with a rice machine. The accident had happened more than six months ago and the boy, who was only ten years old, still had not received treatment for his injury. these are just some examples of how the infrastructure in the area is really not up to scratch. The physical and mental stress of such a life is visible in the people, who age much faster and have a shorter life expectancy than us in the western world.
However, I do not believe that moving these people from their homes in this impoverished area into a society like ours would be much of a service to them. As the women's independent society, situated up the road from where we were staying in Jarkhali promoted, they life in a beautiful area, rich with nature. It is my view that the best thing for these people would be to improve the infrastructural services in the area such as health services, education and insurance.
I think our project of educating the children in the area is a very good starting point towards further development of the community. Of course, to really revolutionize the situation would require governmental co-operation (funding), and this may be the biggest problem due to  issues of corruption, but I think education is the first step. Where the people are educated, positive change will follow. Irish history is a prime example of this (though, of course, India's problems outweigh Ireland's).
Our program is essentially a form of self help for the people and I hope to see it eventually contribute to development in the area and maybe even in the entire country.

The Leap.

THE LEAP.

The mountains stretched above, their majestic prowess barely visible in twilights approaching mists.
Air gushed in torrents of fading curls from the mouths of spectators, their tension tangible to the touch.
It arose, as if in flight before plummeting down to occupy the hearts and minds of each person present.
High up, one man, his red coat glinting in the last rays of the day, was perched upon a protruding crevice.

His features tense, stretched in anticipation , mirroring that of his awaiting audience, far below.
A single  copper tinged hair falls into his ice blue eyes, blinding the man temporarily, before his gloved hand , clasping a ski pole in a death grip, brushes it aside.

The world is still.
waiting,
watching.
Nothing exists but this man and this mountain,
and for a moment, one brief moment , suspended in time, they become one...
...Before the blood rushes back and to the triumphant roar of his supporters and one final intake of breath,
the man leaps.


By
 Clara Skoog-Smyth.

Kiah's Creative Writing Blog

Goodbyes

(Based on actual experiences)

The gentle turquoise waves lap against the grainy, wet sand. The smell of the sea and sunscreen invade the senses. The taste of salt water is tangible as the cool water drips down my upper arms. The only sounds are of the waves and a few small children making sand castles. A careful breeze rolls through the beach, catching my wet hair and dragging it across my sun-kissed shoulders. The sand is hot between my toes and sticks to my damp feet. I trek through the already travelled sand to the cool water. It wraps around my ankles gently and washes away the next second. The smell of the ocean is stronger beside the waves. I turn and walk back up the beach, my feet already covered in sand again. I pick up my sand-covered towel and walk up the stick-strewn passageway. Leaving the tranquility and beauty behind me.

I walk across the shards of rock that make a driveway for cars, my feet are hard and calloused from two months of doing this already. I make my way back to the caravan. I am on my own. They must have left when I went for a swim. Small ants trail across my feet and up my legs, leaving a ticklish imprint in their wake. My dog lounges in the shade beside the opposite caravan, pretending he doesn’t notice me. I can feel the hot sun against my bare back and I am more than aware of how my tan line from my bikini will look the next day. My feet hit the hard concrete with a satisfying slap as I enter the caravan. We would be leaving soon.

I try my hardest not to notice the fresh smell of Dettol as I make my way to the shower. I notice a small sandwich in tinfoil resting on the sparkling counter in the kitchen. A note attached read:

‘Eat up. It’s a long car ride.’

I tear the tinfoil away from the bread which makes a metallic sound. I take a large bite and taste a simple ham and butter sandwich. It’s taste doesn’t compare to the saltiness of the sea water. In fact, it’s bland compared.

I ponder how to squeeze two months worth of goodbyes to my friends into such a short amount of time and the thought makes my eyes sting with unshed tears. Suddenly, the lunch isn’t so appealing.

My feet pad along the linoleum floors as I make my way to the shower. I turn on the hot tap and let the cold water soak my hand as I wait for it to heat up. Another breeze cradles my body and goosebumps rise on my arms. The water still wasn’t hot. It didn’t get hot at all.

After a few more minutes waiting, I stumble out of the cold bathroom and make my way out into the heat. My hair is almost dry and I can feel it curling just above my shoulders. I can hear someone mowing the grass, the faint buzz drifted up from the football pitch and drowned out the beautiful sounds of the sea. It seemed like it was all ending. Melancholy invaded my mind as I checked the gas tank. It was removed. Which meant no hot water.

I summoned up all of my courage and strode through the tough shards of rock again and made my way to the bathroom. The cold water was still running, a desperate hope for an ounce of heat. Still in my bikini, I dove under the shower head and cried out in surprise. The cold water, colder than the sea, sprayed down my body. I shook violently. I was becoming numb. Inside and out. Readying myself for the fatal blow of saying goodbye.

Soon, the cold water felt as if it was burning my skin and I switched off the water. My breaths came in quick gasps and I braced hand against the plastic door. After my breathing slowed, I moved out of the frigid air and wrapped the towel around my frame like a cocoon. I changed out of my bikini and into my casual Summer clothes. The thin fabric of my t-shirt hung loosely over my denim shorts. I moved out of the caravan after putting on a pair of plimsolls. I walked down the passageway beside my caravan. Sticks and thorns scratched across my legs but I couldn’t care less. The smell of freshly mowed grass filled the air and added a bittersweet feeling to the moment. I wasn’t ready for goodbyes yet, I had planned to but I couldn’t at that moment. So I walked.

I walked down the dark black tarmacadam track, small pebbles sticking into my shoes. The sound of the sea washed over me and felt like a soundtrack to my stroll. Bees and wasps buzzed around, collecting nectar from the vibrant orange flowers which were planted neatly on each side of the road.

Soon, I got to the end of the track beside the gate and the revolting smell of rotting rubbish attacked me like a small army, making my eyes sting.

As I turned to walk back to my caravan and ready myself for the final blow of leaving, a familiar car drove by me,’leaving in ten minutes!’My mother called out the window as she drove by. My heart dropped to my stomach and my tears were no longer from the putrid smell of rubbish.

My feet hit the tarmac hard as I ran quickly to my friend’s caravan, where everyone had amassed. My lungs burned and my calves ached when I arrived. I pulled open the door and told them about my departure. I was enveloped in warm bear-hugs from some of my closest friends, my heart breaking with every goodbye and every caring word. Some held on tighter than others and empty promises of gatherings were made. They had been made every year since we were all young and had never been pursued. Though, it had been different this time. Promises seemed more solid, words of kindness spoken seemed sincere and the situation became harder with every second spent dwelling.

I made my way back to my caravan, my walk slow and lethargic. When I arrived, I was handed bags to pack into the car. I sat in the back of the car, the black leather burned my skin as I sat. I put my headphones on and opened my window, breathing in the last bit of Summer.

The smell of the sea.

The crash of the waves.

The hot sun.

The clear skies.

The night sky.

Sand between my toes.

Endless memories.

Music played through my headphones as we drove down the track. Tears threatened to fall as we got nearer to the gate. We turned a corner and all of my friends were standing beside the large wood and metal structure. The tears fell as ‘Goodbye!’ was called loudly by them. I yelled it back and waved. We drove through the gates and I closed my eyes and counted to ten.

Tears were wiped.

Breaths were shuddered.

Goodbyes were still just as hard as they had always been.

Four photos of the beginning

Loreto Girls with JSS TYs in the Loreto Day School

Fareed waving to friendly passengers on the other side.

The gates to the Lee Memorial School where we stayed.

Arrival to the school in Jharkhali.

Creative Writing - Toms Story by Sophie

Toms story

It was dark. He didn't know how to get out. Its was a dead end. Tom could hear the dogs and could almost smell the en's hunger for revenge.

“Why did I do this?” tom whispered under his breath hoping that they wouldn't hear him. He didn't know how to escape. All that was surrounding him was dusty Grey trashcans overflowing with a stench that could kill a man if he got to close. He could see his heart pounding against his t-shirt, bright red blood splattered all over the crisp white cotton. He knew this was the end.

A loud crash woke him from a slumber that was lighter than a feather. Any shadow that passed across his face made him brace himself for the end of his life. He couldn't run away, they would find him. He couldn't go to them, they would end him. Suddenly Tom was brought back to his favorite place in the world. In his true loves arms. Lucy. She was perfect. She had long flowing hair that was as brown as melted dark chocolate. Then he was brought to the office that changed his life forever. The scan revealed it was a baby girl. He was going to have a daughter.

At once his memory turned black and all he could see was bags and bags of white powder. The white powder that was going to end his life. This white powder had a whole army of men coming after him with knives and guns.

“ What about my little girl?” thought Tom whilst tears rushed down his cheeks. He knew that saying that to those cold heated animals would mean nothing to them. Even the thought of his little girl growing up with her daddy not there to teach her how to ride a bike or to question every boy that walks through the house.

He knew that Lucy was waiting for his arrival. She would be waiting for him to walk through the door so that she could hold her in his arms. She couldn't wait to show him little Scarlet. …..

She was six months old she had her first tooth and has said Dada several times and he was there for none of that. The last time Tom saw his daughter she was merely a picture on a screen. He thought about all the nights he missed while Lucy had to tend to a crying baby. “Whilst Lucy was struggling with a teething baby I was out doing lines upon lines of cocaine that has ultimately wrecked my life” thought Tom as the guilt washed over his body like a tsunami wagging across a country wrecking lives.

“I have brought this upon myself, nobody else there is nobody else to blame and yet all I can think about is my next hit. I already have the dealers coming after me for money but what can I do I need the drugs so I steal them. I have stolen from everybody. My mother, my father and even Lucy. I am not fit to be in this world. I am everything that is wrong with this world!” Tom screamed this as if it was his last words. The tears just kept falling one going faster than the next. “In not fit to be a father!!!!! I do not deserve to have a wife and a daughter.

Tom then made a decision that wouldn't change his life, but end it. He walked up to the bridge where he met Lucy. This was the bridge that gave Tom hope. He thought that by meeting Lucy he could change his ways and start again. He climbed up to the edge of the bridge. He took a breath and in his head all that he was saying was “ I love you Scarlet , I love you Lucy. Love lasts forever. My love is no exception” Then with one last tear rolling down his face, he jumped.....

Kolkata Reflection - Fareed and Darragh

We really enjoyed the India trip and we thought it was amazing. Each place we stayed was completely different and held new experiences, some good and some bad like showering everyday with a bucket of cold ‘clean’ hand pumped water in Jharkhali and trying to sleep through the noise in Kolkata every night.   When we arrived in Kolkata many different characteristics of the city became obvious to me on the bus trip from the airport to Lee Memorial and during our explorations on the first day. Our senses were assaulted by new smells and sounds. On the first day Ajeeta, Rory, Chris and us went out into Kolkata city with Sean, Philip and Kate and subsequently got lost and wandered around identical looking streets for roughly 2 hours. The next few days we went on day trips around interesting parts of the city such as The Queen Victoria Memorial and New Market. Kolkata has a lot of negative characteristics such as the widespread poverty, the overcrowding and lack of space, the rubbish all over the streets, the noise pollution,  the stray dogs everywhere and the air was dirty and thick with smog which blotted out the sunlight but for me the positives outweighed the negatives. The sprawling street markets, the nice people, the river going through it, the cheap food, the city's very unique and distinctive character and the fact that Ajeeta and I (Fareed) got the nice comfy, springy beds while the other lads suffered on wooden beds.

Hannah's Blog; The Power Of Nature

                                    The Power Of Nature.

       It had a lush, green, open field. There were tall trees all around, and a waterfall. The waterfall rained down onto huge rocks, and created a beautiful river, which ran for miles. The sound of the water, with unreal power and force, smacking the rocks and splashing up was breathtaking! The green open space, drenched in sunlight, was quite a sight to behold. The trees, tall and proud surrounded this vast green space, but not enough to conceal the glorious sunlight.

      Suddenly, the serenity was lost. Tree after tree began to fall, a piercing sound accompanying the dreadful sight. The trees fell in different directions, some towards the green space, some away from it, and on top of the once tall and courageous, but now stripped of their power and beauty and fallen to the ground trees. The sound of the calming waterfall could no longer be heard, and the beautiful sight of it could not offer one moment of relief from the pain of what else was happening, just so close to, and not even affecting the beauty of this magnificent waterfall.

      The trees were running out. Only but a few were left to be terrorised by the unreal power of the ‘Death Machine’. The sirens began to wail, warning the others of the attack that was now imminent. The bombs from the overhead planes that had destroyed this once great, and wonderful piece of nature, had now passed, and were heading on to destroy some more life elsewhere. But one reminder of what once was, just a short matter of minutes ago, was the waterfall, the beautiful wonder of the wild that could withstand the power of war.