In the past 3 years, I have stood small under the shadows of the Andes Mountains. Skylines have taken my breath away and left me standing with my eyes glued onto the city. People speaking in different languages have rushed and hurried past me, not knowing that the words they spoke sounded like songs I wanted to understand. You could say that traveling makes a person more knowledgable, that it makes their world a bit smaller. I believe that when I am in another country and learning about the cultures and every day lives, the world becomes a size I cannot fathom to measure. I see one place and then thirst to see another. I begin to think about all the places I have not visited and a mental picture begins to form in my head. It's a globe of the Earth, and on that globe are small, shaded shapes, representing the places I have seen. I stare at the unshaded space, and wonder what lies on the surface. I wonder what type of people live there and what they eat- what they wear. Traveling is not about luxury or staying in the best 5 star hotels. The lessons you learn and the hope that you appreciate the people who share the same ground as you do- that's what traveling is about. I think becoming one with a native allows you to experience the place on a deeper level. Taste their food, try on their clothes, walk their streets. Take in the beauty of the next place you visit, because looking at pictures on Google and simply saying "I've been there" means absolutely nothing if you have not truly "been theirs."
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After the monstrosity that was "Cinderella" on Broadway, I was hesitant to watch "Matilda" at a different theater whose name escapes me. My class and I walked into a fairly small theater to find our seats at the very top row (which were still not too far away from the stage). The show started only to hear British accents and right away my friend Vivian and I were holding on to our seats hoping this play would not be completely terrible. After a short singing and dancing number, I could say I was hooked. The small girl who played Matilda, Ripley Sobo, automatically won my heart. Her small yet impactful voice merged with the whimsical and well written script had me crying one minute and laughing the next. Miss Trunchbull's character, though unexpected, was geniously casted and played by a man, Ben Thompson. Mr. and Mrs.Wormwood's characters were brought to life by Lesli Margherita and Matt Harrington. The two on the stage shared the perfect amount of chemistry and brought a large amount of laughter into the audience. Now, the children in this production of "Matilda" were something else. Both their amazing dancing and singing skills were displayed during their roles in the majority of the play. I am telling you, these kids each demanded the stage, and when put together, they made the most impressive child cast I have ever seen.
They say music really determines whether or not a movie or play has the power to control the watcher's emotions. Well, the music in "Matilda" was phenomenal and achieved just that. In each musical scene, the orchestra was able to set the mood perfectly, whether it be through heart racing pieces or sad, emotional ones. At curtain call, I feel as thought they got the loudest claps from the audience! The totality of the play owned a very fun and whimsical feel to it. The lights were so compelling as well as the special effects throughout the production. The sets were detailed enough so the audience could tell where they were. Surround sound and spots in the theater where cast members would appear during the plot aided the production in making the audience feel as though they were really in the play. I bet you're thinking, "how could 'Matilda' the play possibly be so exciting and suspenseful?" Well, the people at Broadway smartly changed up the story in a subtle yet noticeable way. They added small parts to Roald Dahl's Classic children's novel. In conclusion, watching this play made it seem as though I was watching history in the making. I personally think "Matilda" is a classic, and the best play Broadway has put on since "Annie." New York City, to me, is a place filled with opportunity and wonder, but surprisingly, I didn't always feel this way. When I first visited the city back when I was in seventh grade, I did not want to go in the first place. My family and I were going to leave on Christmas day, and being from Miami, Fl, I was not used to weather below maybe 65 degrees. I had to wear 3 layers of clothing to keep myself warm, and my sister and I would have contests testing how long we could resist the cold before wanting to run into a warm room. I was snuck into hidden pathways and rooms in China Town only to discover multiple fake Prada and Chanel Bags. At the end of this trip, I could say I had a good time, but it was not a place I longed to return to.
Over time and as I discovered that I wanted to become a journalist, I found myself longing for a place that is different from my warm home town. I wanted to live in a place that is constantly filled with drama and excitement, and that would serve as a canvas free for artistic expression. New York City is that place for me. Manhattan reminds me of the island of Neverland, a magical place from the novel Peter Pan. Large sky scrapers replace the tall, plunging mountains. The city's lights are like stars, guiding everyone's path as they're on their way to do something exciting. The mermaid lagoons and pirate filled oceans serve as the Hudson River and the Atlantic Ocean. I'd like to think that I'm Peter Pan, and Manhattan is my island. I am free to roam around encountering new and distinct creatures. I have the ability to go on adventures and form memories that never fade. I go back to New York tomorrow with my class to attend classes at Columbia University. I return to not only my home, but my beacon of hope that one day I will become successful, and that one day I will reside with the strongest, smartest, and most creative people in all the country. It gives me strength to believe that one day I will live in the city of champions: the people who know they've made it. I go back to Neverland. In two weeks, two aspiring city dwellers will travel to the city of dreams, the empire state, the big apple: New York city. NYC has been known as a living, breathing art exhibition. Every corner you turn holds stories, inspiration, and self expression. As two members of our school newspaper, you can assume that we are very excited. Time slowly (and excruciatingly) ticks away until we board the plane, and with each passing day we get more and more pumped! As the trip gets closer, we'll be writing more about our expectations and what we plan to do on our trip. "Miami influences me to dress the best that I can to keep up with the way people see Miami," said Freshman Megan Fernandez. Fashion in this town represents the people as a whole and their desire to look as great as they feel. Style is used by people here to make a mark on those around them and to inspire. It is used as a tool to express to everyone that Miami's people are just as beautiful as their vibrant and luminous city. Clothes are said to be the greatest form of self expression, and if it wasn't already obvious, the people of Miami have much to say! When asked about the relationship between Miami and self expression, Junior Brianna Espinosa said, "I think that Miami's night life and the fact that its all about having fun here inspires me to dress excited and trendy like the people that visit the city."
As a city that hosts many high-end events and welcomes a range of celebrities, people can not help but be inspired by the newest trends from around the world. This town is appealing to visionaries and stylish people from different places due to its inspirational sights as well. While being brought up in Miami, it takes a person little time to fully appreciate the artistry of each graffiti wall in Wynwood and the sounds of loud music while walking down Ocean Drive. The mood the city sets is a blissful one and this mood translates through the clothes and style of each person walking through the town. Bright colors exhibit these constant happy-go-lucky emotions, short lengthened shorts and sleeveless tops are worn to embrace the sun's warmth and the ocean's cool breeze. Miami overall is a capital of self expression, whether it be through the clothes a person wants to wear, the music that they listen to or even the cultures they represent. |