How to run a maze

I thought it time to reveal the extent of my nerdiness. I read this novel in 2 sittings...

James Dashner’s novel The Maze Runner just taught me how to run a maze. ‘If you want to run a maze,’ I imagine Dashner saying, ‘you run hard so you and the audience are out of breath. You need to make sure the maze is dangerous and exciting so the audience can know how scared they should be. You’ve got to lead them right to a Cliff and jump off.’ Dashner knows this is the only way to run mazes and boy have I enjoyed the ride.

The concept of The Maze Runner is incredible.  This man had a plan and executed it with stunning results. Thomas’ sudden appearance in a complex maze with no memory, no friends or escape ideas to speak of really thrilled me- I was just as confused as he was and just as curious. His interactions with the other Gladers –the inhabitants of the maze- were carefully constructed to pike interest but not give the ending away.

The Maze Runner, book 75 in my Goodreads challenge 2013

My favourite scene was Thomas’ first run in the maze. Dashner’s very visual writing style highlighted the maze’s eeriness and the mad dash from the monsters was easy to imagine. The big reveal of Thomas’ memories was diabolical.

The only thing that bothered me was a lack of subplot, a problem I found most annoying as various subplots had time and opportunity to develop. However, I have no doubt that Dashner will use The Maze Runner as strong foundation for the rest of the trilogy.

To wrap up, I gave The Maze Runner 4/5 stars on Goodreads and I will definitely read book 2. Fans of Maximum Ride, The Hunger Games, Virals and Harry Potter will love the mystery as well as the fresh voice of Thomas. Read it before the movie in 2014.

Ciao!

Writing letters

I have always been a big believer in the power of words. Some people don't think that words are all that useful in capturing exactly how a person is feeling at one moment but I really do. So for my graduation gifts -you know, the ones students give teachers at the end of high school to say thanks and don't miss me- I've decided to write people letters. Not just teachers either, friends and random people who've helped me so far. I am writing them all by hand and then folding them up into little envelopes like this. Consider me a postal service.

In year 9, I wrote my friend a short story about how we first met and why I respected her so much and thereafter all my friends wanted their own story for their birthdays too. Not only are stories or even memories hard work to put on paper, I sometimes felt as if I'm giving bits of myself away and opening myself for judgement. What if these feelings were one sided? Does the other person even remember it? I figure that since I'm leaving and may never them again, I will go for broke.

So far I have maybe 6 letters with many more to come. There are a couple for my subject teachers, friends, fellow captains and some people who have just had a perhaps accidental impact on my life. An example of this accidental impact is my year 10 English teacher who introduced me to Atticus Finch. Another is a particular librarian to whom I recommended a book and received it new, uncovered and fresh from a bookstore the very next day. I was first to read it. Another to whom I will write is my principal who I have a strangely friendly relationship with. Another to a teacher who always teased me about my hair until I teased him back. It is odd to think I am leaving these people for good. I hope that if they've forgotten what I'm talking about, they'll try to remember.

John Green quoting his wife wrote, "Thinking about the future is a kind of nostalgia." 

To this I say, "Exactly."

Let me know if you've ever written a letter to someone that you've regretted or what you gave for graduation gifts. Ciao.

Multilinguism: is it special?

As most of you have probably guessed by my name, English isn't my first language. For a long time in primary school I thought it was a bit weird that no one else spoke another language with their parents. Even as an Australian citizen, I still felt quite ostracised from my friends, especially when their vegemite sandwiches  (the grossest thing I've ever eaten) sat next to my pastellitos. Somewhere between primary and high school, speaking another language became special. People would ask me to say sentences in Spanish. I was able to pick up a third language -Italian- quicker than my classmates. My initial defect was now seen as a talent.

A portion of my bookshelf. Currently reading Il Diario da Anne Frank and really enjoying it.

This all changed when I went overseas to the United States. Sitting in an American diner, the waiter would suddenly join in our Spanish conversation. In Disneyland they play rides' safety instructions in at least five languages. I felt smaller still when visiting Italy this year. Italy's economy depends on tourism thus, most retailers I encountered spoke multiple languages pretty fluently. I realised pretty quickly that my supposed "talent" wasn't so special after all.

Don't get me wrong, I love Australia to bits. It just seems to me that for a country whose original owners spoke over 500 languages on the one island, our attitude towards cultural expansion has diminished somewhat. Languages are seen as a talent and non-essential. I personally know immigrants who have "Australianised" their name into its English equivalent to make life easier. Much is lost in translation.

I wonder if any of you have had a similar experience where your talent is found to be common somewhere else? How many languages can you speak? Is it even important? Let me know. Also check out this great video which I found  about being bilingual.

Ciao!

The Crew

Disclaimer: what follows is sappy. Read if you so desire.

So yesterday was the school award's night, my last ever awards night as a high school student. I swore I wouldn't cry and I was very close to successful. I've been so lucky, blessed, to be part of the leadership "crew" 2013 at my school. I am one of the ten captains who sit in the front row. I am one of the ten who handed out trophies and medals to their worthy recipients. I am 1/10.

I don't think I can adequately explain how being a part of something bigger than you, being part of a united front, can make you feel. It's a family. We fight and some days we say the wrong thing and hate each other. In just under two weeks we will finish high school together, the gates are waiting for us and for this moment we cling to each other like life rafts.

#glorydays

I feel her pent up excitement next to me all night. "I'm so happy for you," Olive says to me. She's smiling like she just saw something wonderful. I feel that we are each others' cheer squad and that if anyone dared take it off me, my team would be all over them.

There is this euphoria as we received our gifts, as my class was called out and as the cameras flash. I am proud of everyone although there is nothing about them that I could take credit for.

To finish, I've included an awesome youtube video of a college graduation. This is definitely something I want to do in my last few days of school and it has great music.

Please let me know what your thoughts were at graduation, if you even remember it or what you feel about it now. 

Ciao.