Querencia Final Draft

 Being at the shore of the beach is my special place. And not just any beach. Ko 'Olina Beach Park. It's my comfort zone. My safe haven. My special place.

It began with a difficult assignment I was assigned with and a stressed brother 2 years ago. My brother wanted a family bonding day so being the tense person I was, I disagreed and outed myself out of the group trying to finish my essay that was due tomorrow while they sat in the living room suggesting ideas. Not even five minutes later I heard loud 'okays!' and 'yessss!'. But I just minded my own business until I felt stares burning into my back. I turn around and I see all of them looking at me with curious stares. They knew I knew what they wanted which was for me to get ready because the bonding day was final. So I just gave up thinking that I could actually go with my plan and staying home to finish my essay. I upped and shoved spare clothes with a towel in my blue tote and brought my backpack with me too. Right when I finished I heard a car horn beep in the garege signaling that I should hurry. So I ran out of the door and jumped in the car and we were off.

When my dad was content with the parking he got, my parents, sisters, brother and I flew out of the car to grab the stuff they packed and the picnic basket. But I just wanted to finish my paper so I just sauntered off looking for a table for us. It was when I saw a glistening sparkle in my peripheral vision. I immediately turned to my right and saw rocks built up four feet off the ground with the ocean waves crashing and colliding together. The waves were so entrancing that I felt calm and relaxed so I put both my bags on the table and ran towards the scenery like a cheetah ignoring the calls that were seeming to sound far away as I kept running. Climbing and stumbling over the rocks until I got to the edge of it.

And there it was. The most amazing scene I have scene in my eleven and a half years of living. Its amazing what the sun and a body of water could do when being together. You hear things like hating the sun because its too hot or despising the water because its getting you wet. But when both the sun and water being pulled together its like a never ending dream that keeps you intact with nature. It clears your mind like a memory destabilizer and keeps it that way until you look away from it. All those worries and stress I had were all gone. I didn't even have one single drop of memory of my essay or my family bonding day. And I liked it that way. So I stayed staring at the waves, sun, and the clouds over head. Leaving my family to socialize and wonder what in the world I was doing.

It was like that until the sun was almost gone and my brother woke me out of my trance and back into reality saying that they packed up and was just waiting for me to get in the car. As soon as we got home, I opened the trunk and carried some stuff we brought out into the house. I quickly put it away and went into my room completely and utterly intoxicated with the view that wouldn't get out of my head and finished my essay with a clear mind.

Querencia Rough Draft

Being at the shore of the beach is my special place. And not just any beach. Ko 'Olina Beach Park. It's my comfort zone. My safe haven. My special place. 

It began with a difficult assignment I was assigned with and a stressed brother 2 years ago. My brother wanted a family bonding day so being the tight up person I am, I disagreed and outed myself out of the group trying to finish my four page essay that was due tomorrow while they sat in the living room suggesting ideas. Not even five minutes later I heard loud 'okays!' and 'yessss!'. But I just minded my own business until I felt stares burning into my back. I turn around and I see them looking at me. They knew I knew what they want so I just gave up thinking that I could actually go with my plan and staying home to finish my essay. So I just upped and shoved spare clothes with a towel in my blue tote and brought my backpack with me too. Right when I finished I heard a car horn beep signaling that I should hurry. So I ran out of the door and jumped in the car and we were off.

When my dad was content with the parking he got, my parents, sisters, brother and I flew out of the car to grab the stuff they packed and the picnic basket. But I just wanted to finish my paper so I just sauntered off looking for a table for us. It was when I saw a glistening sparkle in my peripheral vision. I immediately turned to my right and see rocks built up four  feet off the ground and the ocean waves crashing and colliding together. The waves were so entrancing that I felt calm and relaxed so I put both my bags on the table and ran towards the scenery like a cheetah ignoring the calls that were seeming to sound far away as I kept running. Climbing and stumbling over the rocks until I got to the edge of it. 

And there it was. The most amazing scene I have scene in my thirteen and a half years of living. Its amazing what the sun and a body of water could do when being together. You hear things like hating the sun because its too hot or loathing the water because its getting you wet. But when both the sun and water being pulled together its like a never ending dream that keeps you intact with nature. It clears your mind like a memory destabilizer and keeps it that way until you look away from it. All those worries and stress you had were all gone. I didn't even have one single drop of memory of my project. And I liked it that way. So I stayed staring at the waves, sun, and the clouds over head. Leaving my family to socialize and wonder what in the world i'm doing. 

It was like that until the sun was almost gone and my brother woke me out of my trance and back into reality saying that they packed up and was just waiting for me to get in the car. As soon as we got home, I ran out and went into my room not helping them carry out the stuff we brought completely and utterly intoxicated with the view that wouldn't get out of my head and started on my project once again with a clear mind

Querencia Essay Draft: The Waves Beneath Me

My comfort zone, safe haven. My special place.

This very particular area acts upon as my comfort zone. Sitting on a rock and imagining sea gulls flying overhead squawking as they please. As for the waves, they represent the comforting movements that flow and linger through my mind, body and soul when they crash and collide together like an earthquake. I can inhale the salty and misty air through my lungs that gives me more the reason to be as comfortable as possible. I watch as I dwell on the past of my troubles, stress, and hard times which gave me tough decisions to go with and live through. But the waves get me caught in this magical trance that makes it highly possible to snap out of.  The clouds are another addition that completes the scenery and pulls together the whole “special place” as I watch it move across the sky and slowly travel behind me. I grab my backpack and shove the clouds, ocean, waves, rocks, fears, stress, and emotions deep inside. Down  to the core to the point where I feel as if  I’m ready to leave and never come back but still have the souvenirs’ of the journey I experienced.  

Roots and Recipies Final Draft

     It was a Saturday afternoon when my mom barged into my room instead of knocking on my door. " Chelsea", she said in a triumphant tone, " I'm going to the filipino store and come back. You wanna come?" And at that precise moment I knew what was going to happen. She was in the mood. The Pork Guisantes mood.  So instead of answering her I immediately got up from my bed, changed into my knee length shorts and slipped some slippers on at the threshold of my house within a minute smiling big and saying, " Don't just stand there woman! Lets get this show on the road!" And with that we were off.

     Pork Guisantes has been one of my family's favorite ever since I was a little elementary kid. The first time my sisters and I tried it, it just clicked. My mom knew that we liked it that first time because when she and her mom made it for the whole family to eat, she watched us and had a hint of happiness in her eyes. The reason I think she was happy was because Pork Guisantes has been in her family when she was younger. Along with my dad. Though he believes she makes it better than his family that he always jokes around with her saying that that's the reason why he married her. It's been in our family for so long that my sisters and I gave it a nickname which was Pork G's (gees).

     The reasons I love this recipe are due to the fact that even though it has a weak aroma, it tastes amazing and looks very mouthwatering. Like your taste buds want to burst because it taste so incredible. The way the pork goes to gather with the sauce and peas just fills your heart and stomach with a lot of joy.

     Once we got home I took off towards the kitchen leaving my slippers behind at the front door and packages flying back and forth in my hands. About ten seconds later she came into view in the kitchen with just a smile on her face. I love it when she smiles because it reminds me of the days her and my grandma used to cook it together in my elementary days. While I sat at the dining room table and listen to the sizzling of the pork being made, I watched how they joked around with each other and talked their ethnic(filipino) language of theirs which was mostly foreign to me. Now that my grandma moved out due to a misunderstanding, it was basically just me and her who which I didn't mind at all......  "Hoi what you looking at?!" she said with her funny accent she had that gave me a few years to be nice and contain my laughter. So I smiled and said, "Nothing, I just love looking at you. Now lets get this started before dad and the other two comes home and still finds us still cooking it."

     At least two hours later me and my mom are chilling on the couch in the living room eating the worlds greatest creation made. " Taste good?" my mom asks. I shook my head, inhaling the faint smell I haven't drawn in for a while, and devoured the remnants of my last bite down and said, " Taste amazing!  I wonder when da-", and I get cut short because my dad walks in and instantly spots our plates filled with Pork Guisantes over our rice. He then wastes no time to take off his shoes at the door and sprints through the hallway and towards the kitchen. And not even five minutes later I see my two sisters, Angelica and Monica slowly opening the door and taking their shoes off too. "Hey guess what? Nick and I saw dad driving down the street- wait, is that-," and Monica just runs off like my dad did earlier leaving Angelica lapping closely behind her. And at the same time, my dad comes back with a plate in one hand and pointing towards the two running and just laughs. So I look back towards my mom and say, "Think there would be enough for seconds?" And all she did was laugh.

Roots and Recipes Rough Draft

     It was a Saturday afternoon when my mom barged into my room instead if knocking on my door. " Chelsea", she said in a triumphant type of tone, " I'm going to the filipino store and come back. You wanna come?" And at that precise moment I knew what was going to happen. She was in the mood. The Pork Guisantes mood.  So instead of answering her I immediately got up from my bed, changed into my knee length shorts and slipped some slippers on at the threshold of my house within a minute smiling big and saying, " Don't just stand there woman! Lets get this show on the road!" And with that we were off.

     Once we got home I took off towards the kitchen leaving my slippers behind at the front door and packages flying back and forth in my hands. About ten seconds later she came into view in the kitchen with just a smile on her face. I love it when she smiles because it reminds me of the days her and my grandma used to cook it together in my elementary days. While I sat at the dining room table and listen to the sizzling of the pork being made, I watched how they joked around with each other and talked their ethnic(filipino) language of theirs which was mostly foreign to me. Now that my grandma moved out due to a misunderstanding, it was basically just me and her who which I didn't mind at all......  "Hoi what you looking at?!" she said with her accent she had which gave me a few years to just smile and contain my laughter. " Nothing, I just love looking at you. Now lets get this started before dad comes home and still finds us still cooking it."

     At least two hours later me and my mom are chilling on the couch in the living room and eating the worlds greatest creation made. " Taste good?" my mom asks. I shake my head, inhale the smell I haven't drawn in for a while, and swallow the remnants of my last bite down and say, " Taste amazing!  I wonder when da-", and I get cut short because my dad walks in and instantly spots our plates filled with Pork Guisantes over our rice. He then wastes no time and takes off his shoes at the door and sprints through the hallway and towards the kitchen. And not even five minutes later I see my two sisters, Angelica and Monica slowly opening the door and taking their shoes off. " Me and Nick saw dad driving down the street- wait, is that-," and Monica just runs off like my dad did earlier leaving Angelica lapping behind her. And at the same time, my dad comes back with a plate in one hand and pointing towards the two running and just laughs. So I look back towards my mom and say, "Think we got made enough for seconds?" And all she did was laugh.

Roots and Recipes Brainstorm

1. The food I will be describing is Pork Guisantes.

2. Some special memories it has to me is that my mom only makes it once in a while so I would always watch her make it. I would always smell of it just finished being made right when I come home. 

3. That the aroma of it has a twang to it. For example, you could smell the pork AND the sauce together in the air. Another thing is that it has a reddish orange sauce color to it, preferably like the sun.

4. The person I would be interviewing is my mom of course since she's the only one that makes it. 

HI!!!

Hi Mr. Zavala!