The Best and Worst Jobs Throughout the Middle Ages

                Throughout the Middle Ages, most professions were gruesome and highly undesirable.  One of the few jobs I would have been willing to have would be a Cathedral builder.  Although their job was highly dangerous, they were given higher wages, interacted with other workers on a daily basis and, most importantly, avoided the battle field.  Cathedral builders did not have it easy; however, their work conditions did not expose them to mass amounts of sickness or death.  Instead, the builders constructed beautiful Cathedrals that still exist in England today.  My least desirable profession would be an Archer.  Unlike the Cathedral builders, Archers were stationed on the battle field.  Before Archers participated in battles, they were expected to survive the harsh traveling conditions as they made their way to the battle field.  Along with the deadly weather conditions, the Black Death spread, and many lives were lost.  If the men survived their expedition, their next threat was capture.  Rather than killing other knights, the Archer’s aimed to kill the opposing horses.  The fairly dull arrow increased the Archer’s ability to be captured.  If captured, the Archer’s fingers were cut off by the enemy.  Once battle had ended, the remaining Archer’s were responsible for surveying the carnage across the field and would have to take wounded knights out of their misery.  This placement was terrifying and lacked the honor it deserved.

Online Field Trip: The Anglo-Saxons

                Whether you are looking to explore the history of the Anglo-Saxons or simply looking to learn more about their lifestyle, visit the interactive site I have provided below.  Not only will you find a wealth of information regarding their heritage, but this website found through the creditable source BBC provides fun, interactive games for students and other teacher resources that could be brought into every learning environment.  Helpful timelines created by this site show the evolution of the Anglo-Saxons throughout history as well as their part in our modern-day world.  Though the Anglo-Saxons diminished due to Viking invasions, historians have been able to collect valid, credible information to provide insight into this early civilization.  Unlike other educational sites, BBC allows the reader to avoid lengthy, time consuming articles and instead provides short, informative explanations to common questions.  To ensure that every visitor benefits from the use of this site, there are quizzes that reflect on the material covered in each article.  Not only are the quizzes short and simple, but they can also be used by teachers that may be concerned that students are not investing the time that they suggest.  This website is user-friendly and easy to use for any age.  This website is also extremely helpful for visual learners.  It is filled with maps and images of historic artifacts that connect directly to the Anglo-Saxons that entered Britain in AD 410 from the North Sea after Roman invasion.  To further their explanation of the Anglo-Saxon people, BBC compares their way of life to the ways of lifestyles that are more prevalent in modern-day society, such as Christianity, to demonstrate and compare their beliefs that evolved overtime as the Anglo-Saxons diminished.  I have found this website to be helpful and informative while searching to learn more about the Anglo-Saxon people.  For more information, visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/anglo_saxons/. 

"To be, or not to be..." Translation

Hamlet: To be, or not to be, that is the question:
Me:  To act, or to watch, that is the question:
Hamlet:  Whether 'tis Nobler in the mind to suffer
Me:  Is it better to suffer
Hamlet:  The Slings and Arrows of outrageous Fortune,
Me:  The pain of tragedy,
Hamlet:  Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles,
Me:  Or to take action against the evil force,
Hamlet:  And by opposing end them: to die, to sleep
Me:  And end their lives myself: to die, to rest
Hamlet:  No more; and by a sleep, to say we end
Me:  To end; and by rest I mean to eliminate
Hamlet:  The heart-ache, and the thousand Natural shocks
Me:  The pain and suffering brought by tragedy
Hamlet:  That Flesh is heir to? 'Tis a consummation
Me: He is my own flesh and blood?  It is satisfying
Hamlet:  Devoutly to be wished. To die to sleep,
Me:  To hope.  To die, to rest
Hamlet:  To sleep, perchance to Dream; Ay, there's the rub,
Me:  Or dream; There is the problem,
Hamlet:  For in that sleep of death, what dreams may come,
Me:  After death, the dreams that come,
Hamlet:  When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
Me:  When we have escaped this terror,
Hamlet:  Must give us pause. There's the respect
Me:  We must take time, and show respect
Hamlet:  That makes Calamity of so long life:
Me:  For the wonders of an honorable life:
Hamlet:  For who would bear the Whips and Scorns of time,
Me:  Who would carry the burden of time,
Hamlet:  The Oppressor's wrong, the proud man's Contumely,
Me:  The guilt, the proud man's pride,
Hamlet:  The pangs of despised Love, the Law’s delay,
Me:  The pain of love, and the burden of the Law,
Hamlet:  The insolence of Office, and the Spurns
Me:  The mistakes of a leader, and the thorns
Hamlet:  That patient merit of the unworthy takes,
Me:  That innocent men take,
Hamlet:  When he himself might his Quietus make
Me:  When he himself gives thought
Hamlet:  With a bare Bodkin? Who would Fardels bear,
Me:  With a sword?  Who could officials take,
Hamlet:  To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
Me:  To punish them with a life of misery,
Hamlet:  But that the dread of something after death,
Me:  But the dreadful, awaiting afterlife,
Hamlet:  The undiscovered Country, from whose bourn
Me:  The undiscovered future, from those who
Hamlet:  No Traveller returns, Puzzles the will,
Me:  Never return, frightened eternally,
Hamlet:  And makes us rather bear those ills we have,
Me:  We prefer to suffer here on Earth,
Hamlet:  Than fly to others that we know not of.
Me:  Than enter an afterlife of uncertainty.
Hamlet:  Thus Conscience does make Cowards of us all,
Me:  Therefore, our conscience takes over,
Hamlet:  And thus the Native hue of Resolution
Me:  And leads us to a Resolution
Hamlet:  Is sicklied o'er, with the pale cast of Thought,
Me:  Overshadowed by a cloud of thought,
Hamlet:  And enterprises of great pitch and moment,
Me:  And the system of perfection through action,
Hamlet:  With this regard their Currents turn awry,
Me:  With this idea, we turn the other direction,
Hamlet:  And lose the name of Action. Soft you now,
Me: And abandon action... --You are innocent,
Hamlet:  The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy Orisons
Me:  My love, Ophelia!  Your beauty, in my prayers
Hamlet:  Be all my sins remembered.
Me:  My sins never forgotten.

A Life Revolved Around Time

I rise with a schedule filling my head,
rushing to my car, with coffee in hand.
To improve, I cherish the words said,
but somehow my thoughts divert to what's planned.
If only time could stop, the world would freeze,
commitments would come with joy and delight.
With time we rush and loose our sense of ease,
instead of what we did, it's what we might.
But as time moves on and the world spins around,
I realize I couldn't live without my life mapped.
Being busy keeps my feet on the ground,
without this constant pace, i would feel trapped.
Instead I will find a way to align,
the map that controls this blessed life of mine.

Paradise

I lay on the beach
The shore smells like sweet tanning lotion.
Relaxing under the bright, warm sun.
The air tastes fresh and clean,
The waves crash into the shore like rolling claps of thunder.
The colorful umbrellas say, "welcome to paradise."

The Troubles Of Being A Teenager

                As a teenager, it is easy to be the first person for an adult to blame when something goes wrong.  Unfortunately, some teens choose to follow a path of rebellion, while the others are left to work hard to improve their negative reputation.  Like the African-American woman in “Sears Life”, Wanda Coleman, shopping as a minor, or a person of a different race, can make a person feel inferior to the judgmental, intimidating salesmen that surround you with their suspicious eyes.  While feeding off of misconceptions, the workers often expect the worst from some of the best people.  While shopping during the holiday season last year, I was on top of the world.  I was glowing with pride as I shopped with my newly acquired driver’s license and debit card in hand, determined to find the perfect gift for each member of my family.  As I walked into stores, I immediately felt uncomfortable as the salesmen followed my every move, as if they were trying to count my steps.  Like Coleman, I had come with good intentions, only to be looked down on. 

                While leaving one of the stores, the metal detectors began to sound as I approached the doors.  Immediately, my face turned bright red and my stomach twisted into knots.  The workers surrounded me with their glaring eyes, assuming that I had attempted to steal their merchandise.  I immediately began to panic as they began searching my bags.  After what had seemed like hours, an employee came across a shirt I had purchased at a previous store that still had a security tag sewn into the seam.  Rather than assuming it was the other clerk’s mistake, the manager began reviewing my receipts, desperate to catch me in the act.  When they realized I was innocent, the workers practically seemed disappointed.  Whether you differ in age, size or race, everyone is subject to judgments formed by stereotypes and assumptions.  Wanda was immediately judged because of her race, with no reason or proof behind the worker’s claims.

 As a teen, I am still learning from my mistakes.  I openly admit my imperfections and I look to find the best in others.  Although most adults teach adolescents to treat others with respect and equality, they struggle to follow this advice themselves.  Not one person is alike.  Although skepticism towards my age can be insulting, discrimination is inexcusable.  Breaking barriers is difficult; however, once they are broken they can lead to a greater good and understanding of others. 

Seize the Day

                Come one, come all!  Explore the depths of living life to its fullest.  In his poem, “A Birthday Poem,” Ted Kooser references light and nature to convey a theme of growth and progress throughout one’s lifetime.  As each birthday passes, Kooser insists that we must pursue opportunities that are, “waiting for someone to come.”  Like the break of dawn at the start of a new day, we begin our lives with a spectacular future ahead.  As we grow in age, we develop into the people we are destined to be.  Kooser describes the importance of appreciating life by, “feasting on every green moment.”  Kooser personifies the darkness by suggesting that is “calls” to us and suggests that the trees, or opportunities, are “waiting” for someone to come to them.  As our life comes to a close, like the end of the day, we walk into the darkness with the hopes of being remembered.  Kooser’s simple style encourages the reader to appreciate the simple memories acquired throughout our life’s course.  Have you truly lived life to its fullest?  Do you feel you have struggled to find the key to happiness and solitude?  Welcome, my friend!  You have come to right place.