Art Blog Entry

The Art of Painting by Johannes Vermeer is a famous 17th century oil painting. It was painted on canvas. I think that this was painted during the Renaissance because the painting includes a lot of examples like anatomical accuracy, body movement and realism.

I think this painting mirrors society because during the Renaissance new knowledge in music and education was discovered. This is proved in the pictures the lady is carrying a musical instrument and there is a map of the Netherlands in the background. During the Renaissance, people went out and explored the world, found out new information and invented new technology like the printing press. The book in the lady's hand shows that more people could get access to books as they were made faster through the printing press. There is a map of the Netherlands in the background and it tells me that scientist have explored and used new technology like the compass.

This picture mirrors society because a lot of new technology was being discovered and this was the way people were living at that time.

Driving force of the renaissance

I think the most important force that changed the Renaissance was trading and banking. Without trading and banking, people would have no knowledge. Trading and banking also made people want to have better things than other countries as when one country saw something that another country has, they would always want to find out more which gave them new knowledge.

This I believe

June 1st 2010

When I first joined my current school, I was very, very excited about coming to a new school, new environment and meeting new people. I was also very excited as I had found out that this was an International School so I knew how good this school was. Very, very good. This school had many more facilities than my previous school. But my excitement didn't last too long. During the first few days of 5th grade, I found out that I was almost a computer illiterate. And while the other children in my class knew what to do, they were very good at it, while I struggled to figure out how to use the vast choice of applications.

Also coming from a British system,I did not understand anything anyone was saying. I was in a world of my own. It took me a while to settle down and try to get into the system of education that I am in now. The teacher was very friendly and very supportive, giving me guidance and encouragement. But that was not enough to boost my confidence. In the first few tests that I had, I must say that I didn't do as well as I had expected. Even though I was getting discouraged, wondering if I was putting enough work to get things right, I was getting very frustrated. My parents were very supportive of me and they told me to be patient and I would soon get the hang of things. I told myself that I can't let this go on forever. I decided that I should do something to make things right. I started reading a lot and my dad got me a Mac laptop for me to improve my computer skills.

After a few weeks or so, there was a bit of improvement in what I did at school and gave my life a new perspective. With a lot of encouragement and my determination, I began to love school. By the end of the year, I began to make friends and my grade improved a lot.

Now, I think, if I had lost confidence during 5th grade, I would never be happy being in this school. I know it is not easy getting used to a new school or environment. It's easier said than done when people say 'go and adjust to it and everything will be good'. Those few days or rather a few months, only I have gone through the situation where I am in a nutshell and everyone surrounding me were all strangers. My dad told me that I should believe in myself and only then can I achieve what I really want to. So with that determination I decided, I should go forward and that made me push on. Self-confidence, self-encouragement, self-esteem and determination, in this I believe.

The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas- What is the relationship between decisions and consequences?

'What is the relationship between decisions and consequences?'
There are so many meanings for the word 'decision', but in the book, The Boy in the striped pyjamas, the main character has to make 'decision' , a choice, between being with his friend, a Jew called Schmuel, and just completely forgeting about him and staying on the safe side of the fence.
'Consequence' is like a punshment after doing something bad.
The relationship between these two words is that you have to make a decision before getting a consequence.