Entry Twenty

Surfing the internet has many advantages you can surf for books, images, and music, solve problems, read magazines, play games, watch videos, download music, videos, books, games and magazines. Chat with friends on the various social networks, Facebook, Hi5, Tagged, and Msn and so on. There are even various online dating systems to find your match , listen music from online radio stations or dj’s who have their own web pages. You can even create your own web page; decorate your pictures or web page with Widgets letting your personality shine through by gracing your social networking profile with web widgets. There are many things you can do while surfing the net it’s a fun, cool and entertaining way to relax and have pleasure.

Entry Nineteen

There are many books in this world today that can help you gain knowledge from either medical, science, behavior, education, love, religions, how to get over death the list can go on forever. Books are full of information as there are good books there are books that can aid you in any problem except maybe relaxation these books such as paranormal, suspense, thriller, romance these books can be harmful to our mind as well they paint this picture about these creatures or men and women stating that these vampires, werewolves, faeries, warlock what so ever they name them can give you total pleasure thus women look for this in men they keep looking for it. They show men as dominants and women as submissive men controlling women ordering them to do some degrading things bark like a dog, kiss their toes, even sexual acts for the public, music these days reggae music in fact paint the same picture. These paranormal books do more harm than good these books are best sellers and majority of the authors of these books are females writing about themselves as submissive under total control of their master or dominatrix men. There are books that have helpful knowledge in them and then there are those that have none at all.

Entry Eighteen

The dress code of the University of the Southern Caribbean is informed by the traditionally accepting understanding of modesty and decency, as understood by the Seventh- day Adventist Church. On this premise, USC students are expected to dress and behave appropriately at all times, on campus or off campus, or in any off – campus activity conducted under the auspices of the University.

Women are allowed to wear:

• ·          Loose fitting, full – length pants
• ·         Knee length skirts
• ·         Loose fitting tops, cap sleeves

Extreme immodesty and extravagance is not allowed which includes:

• ·         Low riders (hipsters) pants and skirts and their kind, ALL JEANS PANTS, tights and their kind are prohibited in the classrooms, the Library, the Cafeteria, and campus office.
• ·         Short skirts and dress ( any garment more than an inch above the knee)
• ·         Short tops that reveal the waistline and navel
• ·         Shorts/three quarter pants (men and women)
• ·         Sleeveless tops and dresses, halter back, tube tops, or spaghetti straps
• ·         Low necklines that reveal the breast and cleavage

• ·         Tight fitting or transparent clothing
• ·         Conspicuous make- up such as brightly coloured lipstick, rogue, eye shadow, eyeliners and nail polish must not be worn.

The dress code or what not to be worn is what is worn by majority of the female of the campus, they wear the tightest, shortest, most cleavage and breast outside on at the cafeterias, classrooms, and even some offices. Lecturers and Deans need to enforce the dress code law at this University.

Entry Seventeen

People who "shop 'till they drop" and run their credit cards up to the limit often have a shopping addiction. They believe that if they shop they will feel better. Compulsive shopping and spending generally makes a person feel worse. It is similar to other addictive behaviors and has some of the same characteristics as problem drinking (alcoholism), gambling and overeating addictions. Compulsive shopping or spending can be a seasonal balm for the depression, anxiety and loneliness during the December holiday season. It also can occur when a person feels depressed, lonely and angry. Shopping and spending will not assure more love, bolster self-esteem, or heal the hurts, regrets, stress, and the problems of daily living. It generally makes these feelings worse because of the increased financial debt the person has obtained from compulsive shopping. Shopaholics, when they are feeling "out of sorts, shop for a “pick-me-up." They go out and buy, to get a high, or get a "rush" just like a drug or alcohol addict. Shopping addiction tends to affect more women than men. They often buy things they do not need. Holiday seasons can trigger shopping binges among those who are not compulsive the rest of the year. Many shopping addicts go on binges all year long and may be compulsive about buying certain items, such as shoes, kitchen items or clothing; some will buy anything. Women with this compulsive disorder often have racks of clothes and possessions with the price tags still attached which have never been used. They will go to a shopping mall with the intention of buying one or two items and come home with bags and bags of purchases. In some cases shopaholics have an emotional "black out" and do not remember even buying the articles. If their family or friends begin to complain about their purchases, they will often hide the things they buy. They are often in denial about the problem. Because they cannot pay their bills their credit rating suffers, they have collection agencies attempting to get what is owed, may have legal, social and relationship problems. They sometimes attempt to hide their problem by taking on an extra job to pay for bills. It is recommended that spending addicts seek professional counselling or a self-help group to deal with this problem. Addictive behaviors tend to come in clusters, so if you have an eating disorder, a problem with drugs or alcohol, or gambling, you may be a candidate for shopping addiction. Many communities have credit counseling centers that will also help with shop holism.

How do I prevent shopping binges?

• Pay for purchases by cash, check, and debit card.
• Make a shopping list and only buy what is on the list.
• Destroy all credit cards except one to be used for emergency only.
• Avoid discount warehouses. Allocate only a certain amount of cash to be spent if you do visit one.
• "Window shop" only after stores has closed. If you do "look" during the day, leave your wallet at home.
• Avoid phoning in catalog orders and don't watch TV shopping channels.
• If you're traveling to visit friends or relatives, have your gifts wrapped and call the project finished; people tend to make more extraneous purchases when they shop outside their own communities.
• Take a walk or exercise when the urge to shop comes on.

Entry Sixteen

Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts. In its narrow, technical sense, education is the formal process by which society deliberately transmits its accumulated knowledge, skills, customs and values from one generation to another, e.g., instruction in schools. A right to education has been created and recognized by some jurisdictions: Since 1952, Article 2 of the first Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights obliges all signatory parties to guarantee the right to education. At the global level, the United Nations' International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights of 1966 guarantees this right under its Article 13. Etymologically, the word education is derived from the Latin ēducātiō (“A breeding, a bringing up, a rearing) from ēdūcō (“I educate, I train”) which is related to the homonymēdūcō (“I lead forth, I take out; I raise up, I erect”) from ē- (“from, out of”) and dūcō (“I lead, I conduct”). The purpose of school is that it:

·         Develop reasoning about perennial questions

·         Master the methods of scientific inquiry

·         Cultivate the intellect

·         Create positive change agents

·         Develop spirituality

·         Model a democratic society

Entry Fifteen

Religious belief is a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny. Such a state may relate to the existence, characteristics and worship of a deity or deities, divine intervention in the universe and human life, or values and practices centered on the teachings of a spiritual leader. In contrast to other belief systems, religious beliefs are usually codified. While the term religious belief is often considered to have the same meaning as religion, the latter term usually deals with both ideas and religious behavior. Religious belief can be seen as a focus exclusively on ideas. Adherents of particular religions deal with the differing doctrines and practices espoused by other religions in a variety ways. All strains of thought appear in different segments of all major world religions. People with exclusivist beliefs typically explain other religions as either in error, or as corruptions or counterfeits of the true faith. People with inclusivist beliefs recognize some truth in all faith systems, highlighting agreements and minimizing differences, but see their own faith as in some way ultimate.

Entry Fourteen

Social Networking has become very popular during the past few years, but it can still be very difficult to understand for someone new to social networking. The open-ended nature of social networks adds to this. Once signed onto a social network, having answered a few basic profile questions, it is easy to sit back and wonder what you are supposed to do next. The easiest way to understand social networking is to think of it like high school. You had friends in school, and you knew quite a few people even if you weren't friends with all of them, but it's likely that you didn't know everyone.  If you ever moved to a new school -- or if you can imagine moving to a new school -- you start out with no friends. After attending classes, you start meeting people, and as you meet them, you begin associating with those that have similar interests. Getting started with social networking is much the same as starting at a new school. At first, you don't have any friends. But as you join groups, you begin to meet people, and you build a friends list of those with similar interests. Social networking is based on a certain structure that allows people to both express their individuality and meet people with similar interests. This structure includes having profiles, friends, blog posts, widgets, and usually something unique to that particular social networking website -- such as the ability to 'poke' people on Face book or high-five someone on Hi5. Social Networking is a nice form of entertainment, great for meeting people with similar interests, and can be a very effective business technique for entrepreneurs, writers, actors, musicians or artists. Most of us have hobbies, or things that we are keenly interested in such as books, television, video games or movies. Social networks allow us to reach out to others that have the same interests. For example, if you like movies, Flixster can help you decide if you might like a new movie just out at the theatres. If you like music, Last.FM can help you find new artists that are similar to your favorite bands. You are never too old to get involved in social networking! There are plenty of social networks to choose from including niche social networks that focus on a specific theme like Take Part, a network for social activism, and 43 Things, a social network dedicated to goal setting.

Entry Thirteen

Electronics has advanced gradually throughout the years. Psp, IPods, IPods, I phone, Laptop, Desk top, Kindle, Xbox are but a few of the many famous electronic devices invented over the pass years. But is it good or bad? Children even adults are sometimes caught hostage by these electronics spending hours sometimes days playing games or reading on the eBook Readers. Study shows majority of these electronic addicts or junkies are males. They spend hours on these games neglect their chores even so far as not going to work because of these electronics. I have seen my cousins play games for days chores abandoned, school work forgotten, exams neglected all because of these games. I have also seen that people play or use these electronics to ease stress just being able to play a game killing or fighting ease stress. Electronics is it good or bad? I believe it can be good for a hobby or past time but once it becomes an addiction and makes you begin to neglect everything else its bad so it can be a 50 – 50.

Entry Twelve

When travelling to a different country culture varies. My culture Trinidad and Tobago will be different than England even our twin island Tobago culture has some difference than Trinidad. People are so familiar with their own language, gestures, facial expression, conversational customs and norms that they experience anxiety when these familiar aspects of communication are disrupted. This occurs when we travel to another country and interact with people from different culture. Culture shock is the psychological discomfort you feel when you attempt to adjust to a new cultured situation (Klyulkanov 2005 page 33)

Entry Eleven

Trinidad and Tobago is a country of seasons and festivals and there is no bigger festival than CARNIVAL. It spans more than just the two day earmarked on the annual calendar. Carnival activity begins as early October when local radio stations starts playing the new calypso and soca recordings and ends the weekend after Carnival Tuesday when promoters hosts “cool down” fetes to help nationals unwind after months of nonstop partying. During this period you can see the creative energy and ability of Trinibagonians at work as mas designers; entertainers, musical bands; party promoters and patrons try to top their offerings from the previous year. When it comes to the actual festival thought there are four important elements:

·         Calypso

·         Steel pan

·         Parade of the Bands

·         Fetes

Some important competitions are;

·         The Soca Monarch

·         Chutney Soca Monarch

·         Calypso Monarch

·         Road March

Trinidad is a place where people throw a fete for every and any event from your children doing well in exams to our cricketers losing a match. Coming closer to the Carnival weekend there is a major fete every night many of them are “all- inclusive” that is food and drinks provided as part of the admission cost so the tempo never drop. Carnival is known as the biggest show on earth.

Entry ten

I use slang in my everyday conversations slang is the use of informal words or expressions that are not considered in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when use socially. It’s often used as euphemism and may use informal lexicon to identify one's peers. I use it with friends and family for a clearer understanding of what I say .slang is only appropriate depending on your environment or listeners for instance you can use it in a personal letter to a close friend or when you are communicating informally with people who definitely understand what you are talking about you cannot use it in business meetings or formal places because people in business or formal places are looking for people who are proper and formal using slang would be inappropriate and sloppy.

Entry nine

I am a effective verbal communicator because I always try to know my audience, know my topic, plan my presentation and I own the room I think it helps you when you do the above tips because it helps you grasp your listeners attention and you can free style in your speech id you forget something because you know and understand your topic  and when you plan your presentation you don’t say too much and you have too many points to get across just use the more basic and informative points .I try and speak clearly but sometimes I mumble or have some articulation errors I demonstrate linguistic sensitivity for persuasion ,memorization and description in my speech

Entry eight

The article I choose is “  HOT ATTRACTIONS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO”EzineMark.com, it talks about carnival how it’s the biggest show on this earth and how participants prepare themselves many months in advance. I perceive this to be foreign tourism describing how great carnival is in Trinidad and Tobago inviting foreign people to come and enjoy themselves in the various fetes and come participate in playing carnival with different bands. My perception after reading this article was to bringing foreign exchange in the country and to improve the tourism of our country. 

Entry seven

I’ve learnt the name of the country which is St. Jago de la Vega or Spanish Town and some of their major music artiste such as Bob Marley who sang about freedom and opened the wider world to Jamaican culture, life style, language and music. In the 80's reggae music took on a new form called rub-a-dub, in which a new style came out, instead of singing the artist chanted. Lieutenant Stitchie and Papa Stan were two of the first artists to adapt this style. Lieutenant Stitchie was considered the most lyrical and Papa Stan the fastest. They sang about their community, women, violence and what was happen in their lives. But today the Lieutenant and Papa Stan are converted to Christianity. The reason for this change is the spiking rise in crime in the area. They are now singing songs to bring folks closer to God and about their various religions and foods and traditional wears. Their culture is not strange to me because Trinidad has a lot of the same cultures as them the new information I’ve learnt influences the way I communicate now cause it gives me a broader knowledge on communication the various slangs and non verbal communication of another country.

ENTRY six

The in class presentations on culture thought me a lot I learnt a lot of cuisines from Spanish town, Jamaica we have ackee and salt fish, Jamaican patty Jamaican festivals, from Japan we have sushi, seaweed, wasabi and yakitori, from Antigua and Barbuda fungie and the maroons in Suriname, bojo cake I learnt their histories traditional wears and religion and there language.

Entry five

My culture impacts the way I communicate negatively at times, my culture language is English but we speak broken English we use a lot of slangs that is informal vocabulary used by particular groups in society and a lot of jargons are used as well this is technical terms understood only by selected groups. my non verbal behaviors are also influenced to for instance if I raise my middle finger at you it is a sign of dislike or disrespect, if I raise my eye brow it either means I am questioning you or I realize you are telling a lie and I am calling you out on it.

Entry four

The article I choose was “WOMAN BITES OFF WOMAN’S EAR” By JADA LOCITOO, as the heading states Carlene Richards bit off Petronella Clarence left ear. The perception I gathered from the information given was puzzling the story was very vague it didn’t have the basics of the whole scenario I perceive this story to be neighbors having problems could not take it anymore and decided to scuffle after words were exchanged the3m fight which Clarence’s common law husband intervene which Richard’s left Clarence yard and brought back a “a big black tall guy” who started fighting Clarence’s husband then the women continued fighting in the house which they fell on Clarence’s son’s bed ,Richards who was on top of Clarence leans over and bit Clarence’s left ear gets off and then says “look piece of your ear” this article’s perception is a aggressive, brutal, gutsy, jealously, quarrelsome and vicious this story has a motive behind it.

Entry three

I perceive myself to be a very out spoken person, I am not a person who shy away from a challenge instead I take it head on, I am not afraid to fail, failure sometimes is good it makes you see how important and how hard you have to work for success, I am very loud at times if I have something to say I get to the point I do not beat around the bush its time consuming, I try to always be a positive influence to my friends and family I try and stay away from negative influences cause people tend to believe that once you lime with them you somehow are like them as the parable goes “Birds of a feather flock together” I have a serious shopping problem it’s something I am trying to curb I have many phobias I always say “it’s better to be safe than sorry”. Self Perception or concept is important it’s how we form impressions about ourselves.

Entry 2

My personal response to an event that had an impact on my life is Baptism, I have been on such an amazing journey I still am but this stood out the most to me I was a catholic for 7 years then one day my grandmother took me to an Adventist church and that’s when the Holy Spirit interceded in my life, this event changed my life forever I went to church with her around crusade time Pastor Murphy was the pastor at that time and he preached a sermon that was so inspiring it was like the sermon was made just for me everything he preached that day reflected on the life I was living I was living a very sinful life the sermon was basically about God and how he is omnipresent everywhere so he said when you think you doing something in the dark and no one knows God knows and sees everything and how selfish we have become because when Christ died on the cross for us he didn’t say I do not know these people ,they have been so bad to me ,spitting on me ,stoning me ,beating me and the lies the said about me most importantly they never believed in me and he could of just said “Father I am not doing this for these selfish people ”and ascend to heaven leaving us on our own but he didn’t he died for our sins after he preached he did a calling if you wanted to baptized and I got up and went to the front of the church and the following month I was a proud and still am a Seventh Day Adventist it changed a lot of my personal points of views in life my purpose to life and how much we actually mean to God I started behaving differently everything about me changed for the better. 

ENTRY PART 1

My name is Shanice Marchan ,my major is in Psychology my hobbies are reading ,making new friends and sign language.I rate myself an eight because i do not mind speaking my mind but I get stage fright when I have to speak in front  of large crowds, I can improve this by praticing my communicating skills in front of crowds and reading out loud in class.