Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie

Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie is a story which gives many symbolisms in an attempt to draw the connection between reality and illusion, fact and fiction. More importantly, the characters in the story appear to face certain difficulties in relating to reality, or accepting reality at the least. It goes to show that the story is one which emphasizes the shortcomings of human beings or their dire attempts to understand the things that go beyond the capacity of their minds to comprehend.There are several symbolisms or images in the story which highlight the attempt to bridge reality and fiction, to the point that creates an image of the surreal. For instance, the fire escape scene in the beginning part of the story illustrates Mr. Wingfield’s world of illusion bridged by the fire escape towards the real world. The bridge which is symbolized by the fire escape appears to be a one-way passage, although this would have to vary in context especially in terms of the pe rception of every character. For example, Tom sees the ‘bridge’ as the escape route away from the illusory world of Laura and Amanda and into the real world.On the other hand, Laura sees the bridge as the way that leads straight into her world, one which is a path that gives an escape from the world of reality (Bluefarb, p. 515). This variation in the interpretation of the ‘bridge’ or of the fire escape tells us something which can hardly be noticed on first reading. Given the observation that there is a difference in the perception of Tom and Laura about the fire escape and, hence, their desire to go for the real world or the illusory world, it tells us that The Glass Menagerie initially presents the ways in which people could prefer one over the other (King, p. 09).It gives us the initial impression that certain individuals may prefer the world of illusions over the world of reality, and the other way around can also be said about other people. In the lon g run, the disparity regarding the appreciation of either worlds by certain individuals tells us that one can hardly express one’s ‘world’ to others when others are unwilling to be a part of that world. The case of Tom and Laura presents the contrast wherein one wants the real world whereas the other wants to get away from it.It’s not only a simply disparity of beliefs or of inclinations. It is also a disparity of what one abhors or seeks to get away from which, ironically, does not apply to everybody else. Tom also has the habit of going to movie houses watching films, one which symbolizes his desire to escape reality and go towards places which can draw him nearer to a world of fantasy. His routine of escaping his apartment and proceeding to the movies tells us how his preference for the movies has become ‘habituated’, thereby pushing Tom to lose his interest for the real world.It pushes him to the point of having more interest for the movie s than having more interest for his life in the apartment. More importantly, it pushes him to the point of having more interest for the world of fantasy, or of illusion, than having more interest in the real world. Mr. Wingfield’s absorption into the thought of long distance voices from people he could not see but only hear through his telephone company led to his abandonment of the family.This symbolizes the idea that one’s responsibilities towards those who are dearest to the person can be overridden by one’s desires in life. Mr. Wingfield symbolizes the modern man who is willing to abandon one’s family just to pursue the things that one is inclined to do and the things that one is beholden to. It symbolizes man’s weakness before the bigger things that lay before him, the things which can bring both realizations to one’s aspirations and destruction to one’s beloved family. Jim O’Connor is another character in the story which represents something interesting.Despite the fact that Jim is more of an ‘average man’ lacking any outstanding qualities in life, he is a person who Laura sees as the representation of reality—the reality which Laura fears and seeks to escape. For Amanda, Jim is the type of person who symbolizes her youthful days, the times when she gone frolicking with many men. Apparently, Amanda and Laura see Jim as a person who reminds them of quite different things. For Amanda, Jim is reminder of her younger days. On the other hand, he is a fearful reminder of the real world for Laura.This situation gives us the impression where two people have differing interpretations of the importance or role of other people in their lives. One person can reflect differing reminders to others, which is indeed ironic precisely because there is only one person where the ‘reminders’ emanate from. This goes to show that the things which sow fear into our hearts and cast reminders of our younger days can only do so through the ways in which we comprehend those things. It can then be said that the ways in which we relate others to our fears and memories depend on the way in which we appreciate others.That is one of the symbolisms being taught to us by The Glass Menagerie, giving the readers the idea that the ways in which we view the world really depends on how we appreciate the world, and that the divide between the world of illusions and the world of reality is either diminished or reinforced depending on what we make out of that apparent division. Laura’s glass menagerie is perhaps one of the most obvious objects of symbolism in the story which further highlights the apparent division between the real world and the illusory world.Laura’s glass collection symbolizes who she is, relating to those glass objects very strongly as if she and her glass collection are one and the same beings (Gunn, p. 370). For the most part, whatever that the glass menageries represent is also the same representation for Laura. For example, the time when Laura told Jim that the unicorn is different from the rest of the glass menageries can also be said to symbolize how Laura is different from other people. Laura also pointed out that even though the unicorn is different from the rest, it does not complain out of that difference.That can also be said to directly represent Laura’s view that even though she is seen as different from other people she does not even bother complaining about that. There is also the time when Tom accidentally broke some of Laura’s glass menagerie after rushing to go to the movies which symbolizes the instance where Tom broke his responsibilities to Laura. It should also be noted that glass, when shone upon with light, refracts that light into a spectrum of colors like a rainbow. In the same manner, the life of Laura, when penetrated by other people—like Tom, Amanda and Jim—will also show th e different sides of Laura.The variety of her glass collections tells us that she is indeed not only a dull person living a monotonous life. Rather, the inner part of her self will reveal the multitude of personalities she has once shone into by the light of others. Perhaps it can also be said that Laura has the capacity to reveal to others the many sides to her personality if only those who are close to her will have the time to pause for a while and give her enough attention. One of the more interesting parts of the story is the scene where the horns of Laura’s unicorns are broken off, making the unicorn just any other ‘normal’ horse.That scene symbolizes the idea that one need first be ‘broken’ in order to become normal just like other people. That idea very much applies to Laura since she is seen as an ‘unusual’ individual trapped in her world of illusions. The part where Jim breaks the heart of Laura can also be said as the part whe re the horn of the unicorn is broken off, thus making Laura any other normal person in the real world. Breaking a person is oftentimes needed just to awaken that person back to the real world where ‘normal’ people live.Glass is also said to be a very delicate object that can easily be broken when not properly taken good care of. In the story, it is obvious that the glass menageries of Laura represent her delicate personality, one which can easily be shattered into many pieces and never to be put back to their original state again once broken (Rogoff, p. 89). And like the case when the unicorn’s horn was broken, the time when Laura seemed broken after Jim’s revelation would separate her from her world of illusions for the rest of her life.In real life, people do not change quite easily to the point that they would first have to experience a life-shattering moment in their lives. Sometimes it requires an experience which is truly life-changing in many ways, one that challenges the very personality of the person in both heart and soul, mounting into like an insurmountable challenge that pierces right through one’s emotions. The hardest part of it all would have to be the part where everything seems to be unclear, the part where everything seems to be in their harshest levels, thus prompting one to almost give up on life.Yet those who are able to transcend the hardest moments in life are perhaps those who are able to break away from their shells, out of their world of fantasies and illusions and into the real world, taking them back to a normal life where they rightfully belong. Indeed, the glass collections of Laura deeply represent her personality, and that whatever happens to the glass objects has something to do with Laura as well. Given the fact that the glass objects are ‘clear’, it can also be said that one can easily see through the personality of Laura no matter how hard she may try to hide it in her illusory world (Scheidler, p. 5). With that in mind, it should be the case that people close to Laura should very well be able to understand her situation and comprehend her feelings without difficulty. Apparently, this is certainly not the case as those people close to her even have a hard time putting enough attention to Laura. That is so because each of the individuals in the story do not share the same world that Laura has. Tom, Amanda and Jim all have their own respective ‘worlds’, so to speak. There is also hardly any ‘convergence’ among the worlds of the characters as each of them is busy trying to live with the world that they each live in.Perhaps the most intriguing analysis of the symbolisms in the story is that they transcend the characters in the story. That is, the symbolisms in the story actually represent the life of the author, Tennessee Williams, given the fact that the story is a ‘memory’ play. If indeed it is the case that The Glass Menagerie represents the life of Tennessee Williams, then it can hardly be doubted that for at least once in his life the author has experienced moments in his life where he was broken, taking his life back to the real world away from the world where his illusions once defined who he is (Loney, p. 9). In conclusion, there are many ways of interpreting the symbolisms and imageries in The Glass Menagerie inasmuch as there are numerous symbols and images in the story where representations can be made. Nevertheless, the substance of the story tells us that the story as a whole reflects the idea of breaking away from the world of illusions in order to be truly normal.

Statement of Academic/ Career Goals

Being fond of pharmacy and with a desire to be a pharmacist, I m currently an undergraduate student in College of Arts and Science with my majors in Chemistry. I’ve always dreamt of becoming a pharmacist while studying in USA for which I am eager to work hard and whole heartedly. I was also in Letters Dean’s list in 2007-fall semester and joined the Chemistry school department symposium in 2008. I am also a social servant and have been a lifelong volunteer in Taiwanese Social Organization that took take care of impoverished patients in persistent vegetative state (PVS) suffers in nursing home environment. By serving there I gained experience in cost reduction and acquired leadership and managerial skills. I always wanted to achieve something high in academics due to which I have high spirits and faith in me. The reason for selecting United States among the numerous choices was the excellent learning environment found there which is the only way to fulfill my academic aspirations and for which I am ready to strive as much as possible. The way of teaching and inspiration that comes from United States attracts me the most which unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find in my country Taiwan. The learning environment at United States positively reinforces and encourages the students to think, express and be creative whereas in other countries punishments are used to push students along with cramming studies. In the United States, I believe that EMU is the platform where I can pursue my highly spirited goals and where my skills can be enhanced and polished because of the learned science faculty available there. I’ve been enrolled at this grand institute for more than a year and through my hard work have been able to complete 50 credit hours up till now. Even though I was faced with a lot of problems and financial constraints, I never compromised on my result and attained an overall GPA of 3. 07 and maintained an excellent GPA of 3. 4 in my major. This institute opened me to a new world of science where I saw my dreams coming to be true. This period holds strategic importance in further nurturing my interest and convincing me with the passing time that EMU is the right place for me for providing quality learning. EMU not only played a role in increasing my knowledge and skills but also made me learn other important things. The first thing that I learnt at the place was the significance of honesty. The institute explained me new definitions of cheating and plagiarism which had been never taught before and I eventually realized their importance in building my personality once I began to study at EMU. It made me more creative, self dependent and work harder since I learnt to complete assignments and reports with the help of my own ideas and information acquired through hard work from different sources. This also helped in nurturing my grammar and composition skills which were tremendously improved. Moreover, my interpersonal skills improved drastically in the university’s environment which was previously hidden in the Chinese culture I came from. My introvert nature disappeared and I was able to interact freely with my professors and classmates while frequently raising questions which was not so in my old country school. EMU has taught me to be individualistic and self-reliant while at the same time made me affluent and interactive. By studying at EMU, I’ve been able to acquire a professional knowledge through the courses and lectures taught by my learned professors. I had to take a lot of science courses since I was in the pre-pharmacy program. This was the point where my interest in Chemistry developed and eventually I became fond of it. Previously, I had an impression that Chemistry is a tough subject but the professors and learning environment at EMU made everything easy for me and my interest in Chemistry was further nurtured. In the initial semesters I learned about the basic principles and laws of Chemistry while in the last semester this knowledge became more profound and in-depth. All this knowledge and courses are adding up to my skills which will make me appropriate to pursue a career in pharmacy. Moreover, at EMU I’ve learnt to collaborate and work as a team. This skill was acquired by working in labs where I gained not only practical skills but also attained the spirit of a team. I am now experienced at handling chemical apparatus and equipments for the purpose of using them in experiments. This demanded considerable hard work because of the language barriers due to which I had to preview lab manuals and practice a lot before coming to the lab. But since I am not afraid of hard work I did everything that it took to acquire complete knowledge. Breaking the language barriers was one of the greatest achievements for me and that built in me self confidence and strength to face challenges. This actually allowed me to help my classmates with their problems related to labs, equations and graphs. The language obstacles instead of serving as a hindrance actually motivated me to strengthen my English skills and communication power due to which I started being careful on every detail. Besides Chemistry, I also focused on Biology and Physics which advanced my researching and citation, and measurements and calculations respectively. I also felt the warmness of American culture at EMU since my classmates understood that I came from a different cultural background and helped me in every way in understanding the language and accommodating into an American culture. Studying at EMU has changed my life, and I truly think that EMU is the right place for me to accomplish my dream of being a pharmacist. The promising environment and the learned faculty encouraged me to take a further step towards my goal. Delving more into my career aspirations I assimilated more and more knowledge which made me more eager to learn. For all these reasons I have made my decision to complete my bachelor degree of Chemistry at EMU and then apply for pharmacy schools. I have high aspirations to pursue what I yearn for and want to live up to my dreams in order to be proud and self-satisfied. I am also aware of the fact that behind every dream there are hardships and I am ready to strive and work hard for achieving what I plan to. My philosophy in life is the belief in hard work because this can earn me what I strive for and I look forward to develop my specific skills and competences for achieving my long-term goals. For this my bachelor degree from EMU is very important for my future. I have financial troubles but your scholarship can serve as a blessing to me and help in fulfilling my long awaited dreams. Statement of Need I am a Taiwanese student working hard to achieve a career in my field of interest. Like all other students, I am also striving to attain the skills and knowledge for expanding my horizons of intellectual abilities. In order to accomplish this, I have decided to shift to US since it is a land of excellent education which can quench my thirst for knowledge. Though adjusting in American culture is difficult but I have tried my level best to handle all the obstacles and have been able to adjust quite well. I want to pursue career in pharmacy so that I can help people in their pain and sufferings which has always touched me. I come from a single family since my dad passed away when I was 13 and my mom was the only person who had to work to earn a living for the whole family. She is now a 70 year old retiree and the whole family has to live on her pension plans. To date, I have completed my education from my previous savings and help from my family. Since I have a younger brother and an elder sister, I cannot use much of the savings of my family and therefore, I am left with a meager amount which is not enough to complete my under graduation. My family income is my mother’s pension plan and her whole life savings which have almost exhausted. She has mortgaged her only house to a bank so that I continue studying in US in order to seek the dream of becoming a pharmacist. I am in a strong need for scholarship which is the only way through which I can make my future. Since I am categorized as an international student I have to pay a higher sum of money than the US residents which further worsens the problem. Moreover, the US government does not permits international students to work and regards it as illegal therefore; I don’t have any source of income at present. My annual tuition fee is around $32000 apart from living, renting, transportation, books, eating etc. Since I am living without my family members therefore, I have no family support and have to manage all the expenses myself. The total expense of tuition and living becomes enormous and cannot be managed with the loaned amount and my mother’s pension plans. This is why I am in a dire need of your scholarship so that I can continue my education and get the degree I promised my mother and myself. All these factors are a hindrance towards my academic progress therefore, I m writing this with great hope and faith in your scholarship program which can help in removing my worries and troubles. I need this scholarship desperately because I have exhausted my savings and family income on previous tuitions in US. My request for financial help is well intentioned and your scholarship can provide me with a relief after which I can devote my maximum attention to my dreams and aspirations of becoming a successful pharmacist.

Lifes of Rizal in Hongkong and Macao Essay

Haunted by enemies and threatened by friars, Rizal was forced to leave Philippines for the second time. It was February 1888 then. Rizal at 27 was an embittered victim of human iniquities, a disillusioned dreamer, and a frustrated reformer. This was the start of Rizal’s second travel. On February 3, 1888, after six months of stay in Calamba, Rizal left Manila for Hong Kong on board the Zafiro. He was sad and sick during the crossing of the choppy China Sea. He did not get off the ship when it made a stopover at Amoy, because he was sick, it was raining and the city was dirty. He arrived in Hong Kong on February 8. In Hong Kong, Rizal stayed at Victoria Hotel. He was welcomed by the Filipino community in Hong Kong. During this time, a Spaniard, Jose Varanda, was shadowing Rizal’s movements in Hong Kong. It is believed that he was ordered to spy on Rizal. On February 18, Rizal accompanied by Basa, boarded the ferry steamer Kiu-Kiang for Macao. He was surprised to see a familiar figure among the passengers—Sainz de Varanda. Rizal described Macao as a small, low and gloomy. There are many junks, sampans, but few steamers, it looks sad and is almost dead-like. The two stayed in at the home of Don Juan Francisco Lecaros who was married to a Portuguese lady. During his two day stay in Macao, he visited the theater, casino, cathedral and churches, pagodas and botanical gardens and the bazaars. He also saw the famous Grotto of Camoens. In the evening of February 19, he witnessed a Catholic procession wherein the devotees were dressed in blue and purple dresses and were carrying unlighted candles. On February 20, Rizal and Basa returned to Hong Kong on board the ferry steamer Kiu-Kiang. A Landmark in Honor of Rizal’s Visit in Hong Kong Rizal stayed in Hong Kong for two weeks. There he studied the Chinese way of life, language, drama and customs. Rizal noticed some experiences and wrote them in his diary. Some of them include the noisy celebration of the Chinese New Year which lasted from February 11th to 13th. There were continuous explosion of firecrackers and he himself fired many at the window of his hotel. He also observed the boisterous Chinese theater, the marathon Lauriat party, which was the longest meal in the world; the Dominican Order was the richest religious order in Hong Kong, and the cemeteries. On February 22, 1888, Rizal left Hong Kong on board the Oceanic, an American steamer and his destination was Japan. Rizal did not like the meals on board but liked the ship because it was clean and efficiently managed. Chapter 11 In Hong Kong and Macao 1888 Hounded by powerful enemies, Rizal was forced to leave his country for a second time in February 1888. He was then a full- grown man of 27 years of age, a practicing physician, and a recognized man-of-letters. The first time he went aboard in June 1882, he was a mere lad of 21, a youthful student in search of wisdom in the Old World, a romantic idealist with beautiful dreams of emancipating his people from bondage by the magic power of his pen. Times had changed. Rizal at 27 was an embittered victim of human iniquities, a disillusioned dreamer, a flustrated reformer. The Trip to Hong Kong. On February 3, 1888, after a short stay of six months in his beloved Calamba, Rizal left Manila for Hong Kong on board the Zafiro. He was sick and sad during the crossing of the choppy China Sea. He did not get off his ship when it made brief stopover at Amoy on February 7. for three reasons: (1) he was not feeling well, (2) it was raining hard, and (3) he heard that the city was dirty. He arrived in Hong Kong on February 8. During his stay in Hong Kong, a British colony, Rizal wrote a letter to Blumentritt, dated February 16, 1888, expressing his bitterness. In Hong Kong, Rizal stayed at Victoria Hotel. He was welcomed by the Filipino residents, including Jose Maria Basa, Balbino Mauricio, and Manuel Yriarte, (son of Francisco Yriarte, alcalde mayor of Laguna). A Spaniard, Jose Sainz de Varanda, who was a former secretary of Governor General Terrero, shadowed Rizal’s movement in Hong Kong. It is believed that he was commissioned by the Spanish authorities to spy on Rizal. Hong Kong, wrote Rizal to Blumentritt on February 16, 1888, is a small, but very clean city. Many Portuguese, Hindus, English, Chinese, and Jews live in it. There are some Filipinos, the majority of whom being those who had been exiled to the Marianas Islands in 1872. They are poor, gentle, and timid. Formerly they were rich mechanics

Education Cultural Policy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Education Cultural Policy - Essay Example It is also endeavors to help the government understand the importance of contributing funds for commercial development (Adams and Goldbard ,1978). The current trends in global cultural policy now include two trends: 'Cultural democracy', which supposes that everyone participates in one or more cultures and 'Democratization of Culture' which believes that some people have 'real' culture and participate in cultural activities while others look at cultural activities as a hobby (Adams and Goldbard, 1987). The policy of cultural democracy advocates the development of an autonomous and cooperative individuals and a state which encourages participation in all sub-cultures. This kind of a policy helps artisans and cultural members by providing them support in dealing with local authorities finding adequate space and conceptualizing their ideas . This policy promotes participation, cooperation and self-confidence in a cultural community. (Adams and Goldbard, 1978) Changes in technology and global economy have forced the government to consider the implications of cultural industries and the revenue and employment and export earnings . The cultural sector also has an impact on the sociological factors of a community which helps in understanding the health of an individual or a community and is often known as a cultural capital (CAC ,2001). A culture's economic contribution is substantial . In the United States the cultural contribution has generated an income of 450 billion dollars in copyright revenues and contributes to 2.5 percent of the nations GDP. It is also the capital that holds communities together and helps them adapt to change (CAC, 2001). Today many of our and trading partners amongst developing and developed nations appoint high level officials to understand the implications of cultural issues and cultural implications of broader policy issues. The aim of a cultural policy is to embrace cultural pluralism which recognizes that the American society compromises a number of co-existing and equal sub cultures. The cultural policy must influence the international educational policy and student exchange programs to understand cultural diversity. Crucial points that should be covered in Cultural Policy According to Adams and Goldbard, The current culture policy is inadequate and they have made the following recommendations to be incorporated in the new policy. The new cultural policy should incorporate a relationship between commercial culture and the non-profit realm. They also state that a cultural policy should stimulate active participation in community life. (Adams and Goldbard ,1987). a. It is important that the cultural policy helps in resolving the chronic unemployment issue in USA, and concentrate on occupations that might lack commercial value but have social and cultural relevance. b. The federal government could set up federal theatres and provide employment to artists, technicians and writers throughout the nation. c. Provide employment to local artisans by giving them projects that are economically viable alternatives within the country. i.e. Local

Unethical Behavior Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Unethical Behavior - Assignment Example The organization should outline some strategic goals and objectives in the company for the help of proper management. Again, the management team should formulate roles and responsibilities accompanied by ethical behaviors in the company (Jackson, 2011). The roles and responsibilities will reduce unethical and moral behavior practiced by the employees and other teams in the company. Currently, the JPMorgan & company are bearing largest history issues of fraud in the civil society. The company is in a position to get in to deep matters of finding the cause and solution of unethical and immoral behavior in the business (Jackson, 2011). According to the latest news from the internet, JPMorgan is the latest show of unethical behaviors practiced by the workers within the company. In order to do away with the bad issues, the company has paid the security investigations from the business traders to settle down the problem of the frauds in relation to unethical behaviors. Bryan Cain-Jackson (2011). Unethical Behavior. A Journal of JPMorgans Latest Show of Unethical Behavior, Wednesday July 13, 2011 Retrieved from

America's Ethos and why Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 decided to intervene Term Paper

America's Ethos and why Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964 decided to intervene militarily in the Dominican Civil War - Term Paper Example The constitution began as a compromise between the people who believed in central government with diffusion of power across the state and those who perceived the central government to be weak if diffusing its power across states (Bryson 771). Lyndon B Johnson became the 36th president in US. He served in all elected federal offices in US. He served as a democrat between 1937 and 1949, as a senator between 1949 and 1961. After assassination of President John Kennedy in 1963, Johnson took over the presidency. He won the support of Democratic Party. He designed the legislation on Great Society that saw the inclusion of the law that upheld the civil rights and fight on poverty. The bill on civil rights banned racial discrimination in the public facilities (Colman 34). According to the ethos in America, U.S. was not to seek the leadership position in the world. However, it was providence or fate that forced America into a new role. The American ethos does not include of America becoming the worlds police. Nevertheless, events in history conspired in creating a bipolar world comprising of two superpowers competing on global governance structure (Segal 366). For instance, after President Truman informed the new responsibilities by America to the Joint Congress in 1947, the Soviets undermined the agreements. Currently, each nation has its own way of life, with the choices being free for anyone. Among the different preferences lie in freedom of religion and speech, free elections and free institutions among others. Remarkably, in a very short timeframe, the foreign policy in US and the world politics pivoted to internationalism from the isolationism if not interventionism. The U.S. was prompted to increase its massive military to survive the effects of WWII. As a result, there was intervention in US troops to take the forward positions in projecting the US power as well as deterring

How much has US succeeded in building democracy in the world since Term Paper

How much has US succeeded in building democracy in the world since world war 2 - Term Paper Example The Cold War, with its potential threat of nuclear conflict, was a very big threat to democracy in the world, and the United States, in the presidency of John F. Kennedy kept the world from a third major war. In this period, America played the role of peacemaker, and counter-balance to Soviet power. The difference between Communism and Capitalism expressed itself both economically and politically, and it took many years for Communism to fall, and the forces of democratic capitalism to take over. In this phase, too, America promoted democracy and proved in the end to be successful. Although America failed to establish military dominance in the Cold War, during this time from the 1950s to the 1980s America supported the creation of world agencies like NATO, the United Nations (UN), the World Trade Organization, the World Bank and the International Monetary fund (IMF). These non-state entities represent crucial attempts to spread a Western style democracy across the world. In her article about global democracy, A.M. Slaughter notes that â€Å"Power is certainly military. It is certainly economic.† (Slaughter, 2000, p. 225) and makes the point that it is in America’s own interest to promote systems and organizations which operate along American style lines. Through these agencies the United States promoted democracy and pursued its own interests at the same time. This joint objective is in fact the reason why the United States has in the end only partially been successful in building democracy across the world. Some of the military interventions that have happened seem to focus more on the United States’ desire to advance its own agenda, such as resisting communism in Korea, or fighting Islamic terrorists in Afghanistan. The line between stopping human rights atrocities, as in Kosovo, and implementing regime change as in Iraq

Building Services system Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Building Services system - Essay Example Distribution of electric power usually entails a complete distribution network. A complete distribution network entails several components including, a distribution substation, primary distribution feeder, a transformer, distributor and the service mains (Fink and Carroll, 2013). The transmitted electric power controlled in substations for primary distribution and use. The distribution system will take the model shown below: This power is then fed to the distribution transformer via the primary distribution feeders. The system will use a voltage of 2,400V. The distribution system to use in this project will take the form shown in the diagram below: The type of distribution system will be ring main electrical distribution system. This is preferred to the radial distribution system in that in case of a transformer failure or feeder failure, power is not interrupted. This is because one ring network of distributors gets power from several feeders. This implies in case one feeder fails to work, the others will still supply power and there would be no power interruptions. Addition this system consists of various section isolates at distinct points in the system. If a problem occurs in any of the isolates, then the others are available to supply power. This system will appear as shown in the figure below For emergency purposes the power system will include an independent reserve power source which will function in case of failure of the primary power source. This power source should be able to function for several hours before the main power supply is rectified. This alternative source of power will consist of an additional independent source of power complete with its independent controls ((Nasar and Unnewehr, 2012). This can be in form of engine driven generators and in this case they will have a voltage of 500 kW. The power system will consist of cables made of copper and aluminum

GLOBAL BUSINESS CONTEXT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

GLOBAL BUSINESS CONTEXT - Essay Example Airline Industry remains a most important figure at global level as it is providing different services at the same time. We found its first origination in 1909, and since then the structure of this industry changes over time showing a regular boosting and improvement. The structure of airline sector compromises of passenger services and freight services. On the other hand, its services are categorized as intra-continental, inter-continental, domestic services, operated or scheduled services and charter services1. The airline industry includes different sectors that together give rise to a complete Airline Sector. These sectors are Airbus, Jumbo Jets, Boeings and other small jets. The airlines deal with different services and among them passenger services and freight are the most common and most important services. Though, it was 1909 when the first airline craft was introduced by the Germany but this wasn't the most important figure. The actual industry starts when the airbus discovery took place. But before that, in 1914 the very first commercial flight in the US starts but this remain the only service till 1925 when the ford introduces their commercial flight holding 12-passengers capacity. At the same time the US decided to operate at global level and by 1930, the introduction of Boeing was made2. But till this time, the airline sector did not show any good performance and enhancement. Actual chronicle belongs to the year 1970 when European consortium (Germany, France, Great Britain and Spain become the member later after few years) started an airbus Industry. The objectives of the goals behind this industry were to create commercial aircraft with Germany, Great Britain and Spain. Where as, within the consortium France play the role of assembling. The logic behind this was to give a growth to international travelling. As, the need and demand for the international travelling increases in that era, the airbus industry play an important role in Airline sector3. The industry employee more than 57,000 people and are working in sixteen regions. The Airbus Industry has its subsidiaries in United States, China and Japan due to the reason that these countries are ranked top in the most advance technological growth. The Airbus was named by the airline industry due to its specific size and range. Airbus includes different types of Jets and planes namely as Aerospatiale, Deutsche airbus, Hawker Siddeley and Fokker. Within the airbus industry, Aerospatiale and Deutsche took 36.5% of share according to production; Hawker took 20% and Fokker as 7%. During the year 1971 in October the Spanish company CASA acquired 4.2% of the share of Airbus Industry. Than later in the years different changes took place including the British acquisition of British Aerospace and acquired 20% of the s hare. This impacted on the share of shareholders which reduces to 37.9%. Initially the growth of consortium was poor by 1979 much of the improvements take place and among them was the services of 81 aircrafts or airbuses. It was 1981, when the launch of A320

Effective Project Communication Management Essay Example for Free

Effective Project Communication Management Essay Different communication methods are used within the business environment in order to ensure that the business runs as smoothly and effectively as possible. By doing so, this means that no misinterpretations or misunderstandings are made and therefore all information is both passed and received correctly. Different examples of communication used within a business environment can vary from phone calls, emails and face to face meetings. Depending on the situation and case you’re dealing with depends on what form of communication you would use as you want to use the one that is the most effective for what you’re doing. For example, if you want something in which you gain the most information from and get a feel for what you’re dealing with then a face to face meeting will probably be the most effective. Whereas if you just want to send something quick and easy then an email is probably more appropriate to use. When considering requirements for different audiences you have to take into consideration different things that might mean you have to vary how you go about things. For example, age, gender, and any disabilities may all be factors that you have to cater around. If you have a group of people who you’re wanting to do some sort of activity with and someone within the group is in a wheelchair then you have to make sure that they are also able to take part too and that you make any adjustments if needed to do so. Just like if you have someone who is partially/ fully death then getting a translator in so that they can understand too is necessary to make sure all information is collected efficiently by everyone there. Grammar. Grammar is what makes a sentence make sense. It’s the way that sentences are constructed. Without correct grammar, sentences can easily be misunderstood. By using correct grammar in a business environment means that you’re communicating more effectively and therefore acts as a time management skill as it lessens any confusion. Sentence structure. It is key to use sentence structures in the business environment. This ensures your messages are broken down clearly and aren’t all one big message with no punctuation or break down etc. By doing so helps emphasize any points being made and also means that communications are correctly interpreted. Punctuation. Punctuation breaks down texts into sentences, phrases, clauses and so on. It’s important that it’s used in a business environment because it helps stop any confusion arising or misunderstanding of the message that is supposed to be given. This is because lack of or incorrect punctuation can give a sentence a completely different meaning. For example, â€Å"Let’s eat Faye† as opposed to â€Å"let’s eat, Faye†. That’s why, in order to communicate effectively, it is important to ensure you use correct punctuation where needed. Spelling. When it comes to spelling and business communications, again, it is key to make sure everything is spelled correctly. Just like the rest, incorrect spelling leads to a misunderstanding of what is trying to be said as one misspelled word can change the entire meaning of a message. Conventions. Conventions make writing more understandable as its broken down into paragraphs with correct grammar, spelling etc. This makes communications in a business easier as it means that the message can be fluently read rather than having to be broken down in order to be able to understand it properly. Correct grammar is important when being used in business documents, such as emails, as it forms a professional relationship between both colleagues and customers. A massive part of communicating involves face to face meetings and therefore means the way that you put yourself across with, not only your tone of voice, but also body language is extremely important. This meaning that when dealing with sensitive cases, the tone of voice you use and body language you express should be taken into consideration greatly. You should make sure that you’re empathetic and that you consider the words in which you emphasize when trying to draw the listener’s attention. It is important to make sure you make a conscious effort to control your body language and tone of voice when speaking because body language portrays subconscious messages when communicating and can sometimes mislay the wrong impression. Examples of good body language would be making sure you make sufficient amount of eye contact, correct gestures if necessary and making sure facial expressions are appropriate. As for the tone of voice, a lot of the time people don’t remem ber what we say as such but more how we say it and that’s why using the correct tone of voice is important within the business environment to stop any misinterpretations.

Selecting An Appropriate Method Of Intervention Social Work Essay

Selecting An Appropriate Method Of Intervention Social Work Essay Intervention is rarely defined. It originates from the Latin inter between and venire to come and means coming between Trevithick, 2005: 66. Interventions are at the heart of everyday social interactions and make inevitably make up a substantial majority of human behaviour and are made by those who desire and intend to influence some part of the world and the beings within it (Kennard et al. 1993:3). Social work interventions are purposeful actions we undertake as workers which are based on knowledge and understanding acquired, skills learnt and values adopted. Therefore, interventions are knowledge, skills, understanding and values in action. Intervention may focus on individuals, families, communities, or groups and be in different forms depending on their purpose and whether directive or non-directive. Generally, interventions that are directive aim to purposefully change the course of events and can be highly influenced by agency policy and practice or by the practitioners perspective on how to move events forward. This may involve offering advice, providing information and suggestions about what to do, or how to behave and can be important and a professional requirement where immediate danger or risk is involved. In non-directive interventions the worker does not attempt to decide for people, or to lead, guide or persuade them to accept his/her specific conclusions (Coulshed and Orme, 1998: 216). Work is done in a way to enable individuals to decide for themselves and involves helping people to problem solve or talk about their thoughts, feelings and the different courses of action they may take (Lishman, 1994). Counselling skills can be beneficial or important in this regard (Thompson 2000b). Work with service users can therefore involve both directive and non-directive elements and both types have advantages and disadvantages (Mayo, 1994). Behaviourist, cognitive and psychosocial approaches tend to be directive but this depends on perspective adopted and the practitioners character. In contrast, community work is generally non-directive and person-centred. Interventions have different time periods and levels of intensity which are dependent on several factors such as setting where the work is located, problem presented, individuals involved and agency policy and practice. Several practice approaches have a time limited factor such as task-centred work, crisis intervention and some behavioural approaches and are often preferred by agencies for this reason. In addition, practice approaches that are designed to be used for a considerable time such as psychosocial are often geared towards more planned short-term, time limited and focused work (Fanger 1995). Although negotiation should take place with service users to ensure their needs and expectations are taken into account, it is not common practice for practitioners to offer choice on whether they would prefer a directive or non-directive approach or the practice approach adopted (Lishman, 1994). However, this lack of choice is now being recognised and addressed with the involvement of service users and others in the decision-making process in relation to agency policy, practice and service delivery (Barton, 2002; Croft and Beresford, 2000). The purpose and use of different interventions is contentious. Payne (1996: 43) argues that the term intervention is oppressive as it indicates the moral and political authority of the social worker. This concern is also shared by others with Langan and Lee (1989:83) describing the potentially invasive nature of interventions and how they can be used to control others. Jones suggests that in relation to power differences and the attitude of social workers especially with regards to people living in poverty: the working class poor have been generally antagonistic toward social work intervention and have rejected social works downward gaze and highly interventionist and moralistic approach to their poverty and associated difficulties (Jones, 2002a: 12). It is recognised that intervention can be oppressive, delivered with no clear purpose or in-depth experience however, some seek and find interventions that are empathic, caring and non-judgemental due to practitioners demonstrating rele vant experience and show appropriate knowledge (Lishman, 1994:14). For many practitioners, these attributes are essential in any intervention and are demonstrated through commitment, concern and respect for others which are qualities that are valued by service users (Cheetham et al. 1992; Wilson, 2000). Dependent on the nature of help sought there are different opinions on whether interventions should be targeted on personal change or wider societal, environmental or political change. Some may want assistance in accessing a particular service or other forms of help and not embrace interventions that may take them in a particular direction i.e. social action (Payne et al. 2002). In contrast, problems may recur or become worse if no collective action is taken. Importance has reduced in relation to methods of intervention over recent years as social work agencies have given more focus to assessment and immediate or short-term solutions (Howe, 1996; Lymbery 2001). This is strengthened by the reactive nature of service provision which is more concerned with practical results than with theories and principles. This has a reduced effect on workers knowledge of a range of methods resulting in workers using a preferred method which is not evidenced in their practice (Thompson, 2000). Methods of intervention should be the basis of ongoing intervention with service users, but often lacks structured planning and is reactive to crisis. This reactive response with emphasis on assessment frameworks is concerning, as workers are still managing high caseloads and if not supervised and supported appropriately, workers are at risk of stress and eventual burn-out (Jones, 2001; Charles and Butler, 2004). Effective use of methods of intervention allows work to be planned, structured and prioritised depending on service users needs. Methods can be complicated as they are underpinned by a wide range of skills and influenced by the approach of the worker. Most methods tend to follow similar processes of application: assessment, planning of goals, implementation, termination, evaluation and review. Although the process of some methods is completed in three/four interactions others take longer. This difference shows how some methods place more or less importance on factors such as personality or society, which then informs the type of intervention required to resolve issues in the service users situation (Watson and West, 2006). More than one method can be used in conjunction with another, depending on how comprehensive work with service users needs to be (Milner and OByrne, 1998). However, each method has different assessment and an implementation process which looks for different types of information about the service users situation for example, task centred looks for causes and solutions in the present situation and psychosocial explores past experiences. Additionally, the method of assessment may require that at least two assessments be undertaken: the first to explore the necessity of involvement and secondly, to negotiate the method of intervention with the service user. An effective assessment framework that is flexible and has various options is beneficial but should not awkward or time consuming to either the worker or the service user. As Dalrymple and Burke (1995) suggest, a biography framework is an ideal way as it enables service users to locate present issues in the context of their life both past and present. Workers should aim to practice in a way which is empowering and the process of information gathering should attempt to fit into the exchange model of assessment, irrespective of the method of intervention and should be the basis of a working relationship which moves towards partnership (Watson and West, 2006). As part of the engagement and assessment process, the worker needs to negotiate with the service user to understand the issue(s) that need to be addressed and method(s) employed and take into account not only the nature of the problem but also the urgency and potential consequences of not intervening (Doel and Marsh, 1992). Importance should be placed on presenting and underlying issues early in the assessment process as it enables the worker to look at an assessment framework and approach that assists short or long-term methods of intervention. An inclusive and holistic assessment enables the service user to have a direct influence on the method of intervention selected and be at the heart of the process. The process of assessment must be shared with and understood by the service user for any method of intervention to be successful (Watson and West, 2006). The workers approach also has an influence on method selection as this will affect how they perceive and adapt to specific situations. The implementation of methods is affected by both the values of the method and value base of the individual worker. The worker will also influence how the method is applied in practice through implementation, evaluation, perceived expertise and attitude to empowerment and partnership. Methods such as task centred are seen to be empowering with ethnic minority and other oppressed groups as service users are seen to be able to define their own problems (Ahmad, 1990). However, when an approach is used which is worker or agency focused the service user may not be fully enabled to define the problem and results in informing but not engaging them in determining priorities. Empowerment and partnership involves sharing and involving service users in method selection, application of the method, allocation of tasks, responsibilities, evaluation and review and is crucial in enabling facing challenges in their situations and lives. However, service users can have difficulty with this level of information-sharing and may prefer that the worker take the lead role rather than negotiating something different and not wish to acquire new skills to have full advantage of the partnership offered. Selecting a method of intervention should not be a technical process of information gathering and a tick box process to achieve a desired outcome. Milner and OByrne (2002) suggest it requires combining various components such as analysis and understanding of the service user, worker and the mandate of the agency providing the service otherwise intervention could be is restrictive and limit available options. However, negotiation and the competing demands of all involved parties must be considered and the basis of anti-oppresive practice established. Methods of intervention can be a complex and demanding activity especially in terms of time and energy and therefore, short-term term methods are seen as less intensive and demanding of the worker as well as more successful in practice. However, Watson and West (2006: 62) see this as a misconception, as the popular more short-term methods often make extensive demands on the workers time and energy. Workers are often dealing with uncertainty as each service user have different capabilities, levels of confidence and support networks. Therefore, there is no one ideal method for any given situation but a range of methods that have both advantages and disadvantages and as Trethivick (2005: 1) suggests workers need to have a toolkit to begin to understand people and need to widen the range of options available in order for them to respond flexibly and appropriately to each new situation (Parker and Bradley, 2003). When using methods of intervention, workers have to be organised to ensure that the task is proactively carried out and often attempt to prioritise involvement with service users against both local and national contexts and provide an appropriate level of service within managerial constraints. This prioritisation means in practice that, given the extensive demands, work using methods can only be with four or five service users at any one time and with the additional pressure of monitoring and supervising service users and reports, risk response is often responsive and crisis driven (Watson and West, 2006). To work in an empowering and anti-oppressive perspective is to ensure that intervention focuses clearly on the needs of the service user, is appropriate to the situation than the needs of the service. An understanding of these competing demands and the workers ability to influence decision-making processes does impact on method selection however, this should not mean that the service is diluted and methods be partially implemented as this is not conducive to managerial or professional agendas on good practice. Thompson (2000:43) sees this as the set of common patterns, assumptions, values and norms that become established within an organisation over time and a concern of workers is competitive workplace cultures where ability is based on the number of cases managed rather than the quality that is provided to service users which may result in use of less time-consuming methods. For work to be effective, an ethical and a professional not just a bureaucratic response to pressures faced is required and is not about the service user fitting into the worker or agencys preferred way of working but looking at what is best for the service user and finding creative ways to make this happen. Workers need to be careful not to seen as the expert who will resolve the situation as even the most established and experienced practitioners have skills gaps and often develop skills when working with the service users. This process of learning in practice requires good support and supervision, enabling the worker to reflect on assumptions about service users and their capabilities especially in relation to gender, race, age or disability to prevent internalised bias to impact on what the service user requires to work on to change the situation (Watson and West, 2006). It is crucial to appreciate the situation from the service users perspective and see them as unique individuals as Taylor and Devine (1993: 4) state the clients perception of the situation has to be the basis of effective social work. This concern is also shared by Howe (1987:3) describing the clients perception is an integral part of the practice of social work. Service users often have their own assumptions about what social work is and what workers are able to provide which is generally based on past relationships and experiences for example, black service users experience may reflect a service which in the past was not appropriate to their needs (Milner and Byrne, 1998: 23) but to alleviate this practitioners need to work in an open, honest and empowering manner and recognise that although service users may be in negative situations they also have strengths and skills that need to be utilised in the social work relationship. Workers should ensure that written agreements are developed that acknowledge all participants roles and responsibilities and avoid assumptions or issues (Lishman, 1994), this avoids breakdown in trust and encourages honesty and open shared responsibility between service user and worker. This involves negotiation on what should be achieved, by whom, including agency input. Agreements can provide the potential for empowering practice that involves partnership. However, cognisance has to be taken to ensure that the agreement does not become a set of non-negotiated tasks that service users have no possibility of achieving, combined with no reciprocal commitment or obligations by the worker as this does not address the issue of empowerment or oppression and can reinforce the power difference (Rojek and Collins, 1988). The final stage of the process is termination which should be planned and allow both parties time and opportunity to prepare for the future however, it has to be carefully and sensitively constructed and is much easier to achieve if the work has been methodical with clear goals as it demonstrates what has been achieved. Evaluation is beneficial as it enables the service user and worker to be reminded of timescales and can acknowledge the service users increasing skills, empowerment, confidence and self-esteem which can be utilised after the intervention has ended. Endings can however, be difficult for both the worker and service user resulting from various factors such as complexity of service users situation, issues of dependency and lack of clarity about purpose and intervention. This lack of clarity can result in a situation of uncertainty for both worker and service user (Watson and West, 2006). Finally, termination as part of the change process creates opportunities but also fea r, anxiety and loss (Coulshed and Orme, 1998). It is important for workers to take a step back and reflect on their practice and review their experiences to ensure that they are providing the best possible service in the most ethical and effective manner. Reflective practice provides support and enables workers to not just meet the needs of the organisation but also develop their own knowledge and skills and increased understanding of their own approach and the situation experienced by service users. A good tool to facilitate this is the use of reflective diaries. Reflecting in action and on action both influences and enhances current and future practice. The use of effective supervision is another process where workload management, forum for learning and problem-solving should take place which should be supportive and enabling to the worker (Kadushin and Harkness, 2002). However, the workers role in supervision is often viewed as passive as the supervisor sets the agenda. This can lead to disempowerment of the worker in relation to the agency and is potentially oppressive and discriminatory and provides a poor role model for work with service users and therefore consideration must be given on how they can create a positive and empowering relationship (Thompson, 2002). In conclusion, good practice requires workers to have knowledge to understand the person in situation, (Hollis, 1972) understanding both sociological (society and community) and psychological (personality and life span) and the interrelation and impact on the service user (Howe, 1987). A critical skill for effective and ethical practice is empowerment which is based on knowledge and values and is the difference between informing and genuine partnership and the importance of active participation of service users throughout the process. Social work is a value based activity and workers through reflection and supervision can all learn from experiences, adapt and enhance these to develop practice and gain self-awareness to understand how they themselves and their approach impacts on service users.

Studying and Treating the Communicative Dyad Essay -- Medical Conditio

Aphasia is a communication disorder that affects not only the communication of the individual but also the communication of the people who interact with the individual on a regular basis. Language intervention, therefore, should include a component of training and educating the caregivers as well as the person with aphasia (Purdy & Hindenlang, 2005). In recent years, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have begun to take more of a social context approach to aphasia intervention, making it more functional for the client and including the caregivers through training (Turner & Whitworth, 2006). Many studies have investigated different types of caregiver training programs and their effectiveness on improved communication between the person with aphasia (PWA) and his or her caregiver (Hopper, Holland, & Rewega, 2002; Purdy & Hindenlang, 2005; Turner & Whitworth, 2006). While these studies suggest that caregiver training programs improve the communication dyad, there is little existing evi dence to suggest that skills learned through these programs generalize to settings outside of the therapy room. The types of caregiver training programs, the programs’ effectiveness, and their long-term outcomes have been reviewed by Turner and Whitworth (2006). There were three major types of conversation partner training (CPT) programs that the researchers identified in the available literature. One type was Conversation Analysis motivated therapy, which encourages collaborative conversation, and the communication partners shape their responses based on the previous conversational turn. In this manner, both conversational partners have a responsibility to do their part in achieving a successful interaction. Another type of CPT examined in the rev... ...econd, this study may provide further support for the benefits of actively including the spouse or caregiver in therapy. Finally, it may provide a detailed training program that SLPs can use when training caregivers and loved ones of people with aphasia that could be used as part of the therapeutic process in addition to traditional therapy aimed at improving the communication of the person with aphasia. Works Cited Hopper, T., Holland, A., & Rewega, M. (2002). Conversational coaching: Treatment outcomes and future directions. Aphasiology, 16(7), 745-761. Purdy, M., & Hindenlang, J. (2005). Educating and training caregivers of persons with aphasia. Aphasiology, 19, 377-388. Turner, S., & Whitworth, A. (2006). Conversational partner training programmes in aphasia: A review of key themes and participants’ roles. Aphasiology, 20(6), 483-510.

Hamlet :: essays research papers

In Hamlet, Shakespeare follows regular convention for a large part of the play. In the beginning, Shakespeare sets up the scene, having a ghost on a dark night. Everyone is working and something strange is happening in Denmark. It is as if Shakespeare is saying that some kind of foul play has been committed. This sets up for the major theme in the play which is of course revenge. The ghost appears to talk to Hamlet. It is quite obvious that the play had a gruesome, violent death and the sexual aspect of the play was clearly introduced when Claudius married Hamlet’s mother Gertrude. The ghost tells Hamlet that he has been given the role of the person who will take revenge upon Claudius. Hamlet must now think of how to take revenge on Claudius, although he doesn’t know what to do about it. He ponders his thoughts for a long period of time, expecting to do the deed immediately, but instead he drags it on until the end of the play. Although what was important to note was that all tragic heroes of plays at that time delayed their actual revenge until the end of the play. In most revenge plays, the revenger was often anonymous and well disguised, stalking the enemy about to be killed, but Hamlet started a battle of wits with Claudius by acting mad and calling it his â€Å"antic disposition†, although the whole thing was a ploy to get closer to Claudius to be able to avenge his father’s death more easily. The tactic was a disadvantage in that it drew all attention upon himself. More importantly though it was an advantage that his â€Å"antic disposition†, isolated him from the rest of the court because of the people not paying attention to what he thought or did because of his craziness. One important part of all revenge plays is that after the revenge is finally decided upon, the tragic hero delays the actual revenge until the end of the play. Hamlet’s delay of killing Claudius takes on three distinct stages. Firstly he had to prove that the ghost was actually telling the truth, and he did this by staging the play â€Å"The Mousetrap† at court. When Claudius stormed out in rage, Hamlet knew that he was guilty. The second stage was when Hamlet could have killed Claudius while he was confessing to god. If Hamlet had done it here then Claudius would have gone to heaven because he confessed while Hamlet’s father was in purgatory because he did not get the opportunity to confess. So Hamlet therefore decided not to murder Claudius at this

Bombay :: essays research papers

The city of Bombay originally consisted of seven islands, namely Colaba, Mazagaon, Old Woman's Island, Wadala, Mahim, Parel, and Matunga-Sion. This group of islands, which have since been joined together by a series of reclamations, formed part of the kingdom of Ashoka, the famous Emperor of India. After his death, these islands passed into the hands of various Hindu rulers until 1343. In that year, the Mohammedans of Gujerat took possession and the Kings of that province of India ruled for the next two centuries. The only vestige (mark) of their dominion over these islands that remains today is the mosque at Mahim. In 1534 the Portuguese, who already possessed many important trading centers on the western coast, such as Panjim, Daman, and Diu, took Bombay by force of arms from the Mohammedans. This led to the establishment of numerous churches which were constructed in areas where the majority of people were Roman Catholics. There used to be two areas in Bombay called "Portuguese Church". However, only one church with Portuguese-style facade still remains; it is the St. Andrew's church at Bandra. The Portuguese also fortified their possession by building forts at Sion, Mahim, Bandra, and Bassien which, although in disrepair, can still be seen. They named their new possession as "Bom Baia" which in Portuguese means "Good Bay". Sir George Oxenden became the first British Governor of the islands, and was succeeded later by Mr. Gerald Aungier who made Bombay more populous by attracting Gujerati traders, Parsi ship-builders, and Muslim and Hindu manufacturers from the mainland. He fortified defenses by constructing the Bombay Castle (the Fort, since then vanished except for a small portion of the wall) and provided stability by constituting courts of law. Between 1822 and 1838, cattle from the congested fort area used to graze freely at the Camp Maidan (now called Azad Maidan), an open ground opposite the Victoria Terminus. In 1838, the British rulers introduced a 'grazing fee' which several cattle-owners could not afford. Therefore, Sir Jamshedji Jeejeebhoy spent Rs. 20,000 from his own purse for purchasing some grasslands near the seafront at Thakurdwar and saw that the starving cattle grazed without a fee in that area. In time the area became to be known as "Charni" meaning grazing. When a railway station on the BB&CI railway was constructed there it was called Charni Road. The Zoroastrian Towers of Silence on Malabar hill were built by Seth Modi Hirji Vachha in 1672.

Capsule 2 Revised Version Essay

Jose Antonio Vargas wrote â€Å"Outlaw: My Life In America As An Undocumented Immigrant†, for the New York Times (June 22, 2011), and in it, he claims that being an illegal immigrant is more complicated than it seems on the surface. Like Vargas, many illegal immigrants are often sent to America at young ages and have to hide their true identities to succeed. Vargas develops this fact when he begins to adapt to his new life and continues to fake documents and lie to those around him to maintain his place in America. Vargas’s purpose for writing is to prove to that immigrants come to America seeking endless opportunity to gain success but often have to do this through deceit. Vargas does this by telling his story in this narrative to grasp the interest of other immigrants. He acknowledges the fraudulent identity he has developed, that clashes with his morals and his character and creates major issues while growing up and trying to adapt to society. Vargas unfolds his story by first discussing how he is forced to migrate to America. This immediately resembles many of those who came to America at a very young age and also had to find their own way to success while maintaining confidentiality. Vargas originally doesn’t understand the struggles he will face in society. His family, the beginning of his support system, creates his fake identity without his knowledge while he was at a young age. He discovered the truth while attempting to get his driver’s permit (Vargas 326), and when he gets turned down he began his pursuit to prove to everyone around him that he is American. Vargas sharing his experience at the DMV and how it taught him how to adjust easier to society without others noticing his illegal status, makes the narrative more relatable and personalized. Once he realizes he is an immigrant and isn’t welcomed in society, he understands the hostility attached to the label he is given by his family and by Americans. Throughout Vargas’s writing, he continues to find ways to relate to other immigrants using his profession â€Å"that is all about truth-telling† (Vargas, 330). He discusses the issue of finding work in journalism which is his passion and finding jobs are often major issues for immigrants. He also talks about the constant sense of deficiency and dislocation he felt living in America and having to live a fabricated lifestyle. Vargas’s purpose was constantly encouraged throughout his story to pursue his dreams which gave him the incentive to keep pushing regardless of his unknown legal status. Vargas shows that if he increases the amount of work he achieves he can gain citizenship even if he lies about who he is to do so. Vargas and his family make multiple sacrifices, that could reveal their secrets, in order to grant him some kind of way into success. When he got the hang of living in America undocumented, it became the norm for him, and he had â€Å"no intention of acknowledging [his] ‘problem’† (Vargas 331). Vargas clings to the new version of himself and constantly overcomes his hardships to prove his citizenship. His determination consumed his morals and he forgot about his integrity to maintain success. On the surface, he seems like the perfect American citizen living â€Å"The American Dream† (Vargas, 326) but he knows deep down that his career validated his succes s and his presence. Vargas used the idea of using hard work to gain citizenship to encourage him to continue hiding his legal status especially since â€Å"claiming full citizenship was actually easier than declaring permanent resident† (Vargas, 328). His fabricated lifestyle allowed him to succeed professionally for the majority of his life, proving that his hard work does fill the displacement he felt as an immigrant. Vargas allows people to just see the surface qualities he displays to validate his presence here (Vargas, 327) and to keep his secret more concealed. The image he creates as an outlaw becomes the only life he knows and coming to terms with the truth was definitely liberating. Vargas attacks the ideas of what an illegal immigrant really is, a person searching for a dream that America displays but doesn’t fulfill. There is obvious tension in America when it comes to how society defines them. The article as a whole makes an attempt at reaching out to other immigrants who are experiencing the same struggles. Vargas does this by telling his story to be authentic. Understanding that the life of a successful immigrant is possible if your dreams for a better future are your constant motivation, is the purpose that Vargas had for writing this piece. Vargas constantly uses his narrative to show that even though many immigrants develop an identity established in deceit, their struggles emotionally, mentally, and socially, help shape them and in the end make them the American citizens they fight to be. Vargas proves that once you value hard work it makes it easier to earn status and build an identity for yourself.

European External Action Service Introduction Essay

European External Action Service Introduction Introduction   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   To strengthen the European Union, make it more efficiency, make its projects more interesting and give it more profile, there was the need for the establishment of External European Action Service (EEAS). According to treaty of Lisbon signed in 2007, the establishment of EEAS was to be carried out by high representative council after consulting European parliament. Following this, on 25th march 2010 high representatives council sent a proposal for the establishment of EEAS to European Parliament. With discussions, negotiations, and consideration of various concerns, EEAS was approved for established by European government on 8 July 2010. Functions of external European action service   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The main aim why the external European action service was made is to enhance European Union global functions. It was created to make broad functions of European Union more Efficient and that is the base which creates the functions of the external European service action. The external European action service performs presidency and diplomatic functions. In the precedential role, the body assists the President of the European Council to carry out his responsibilities on foreign issues. In its diplomatic service, external European action service supports High representative who is also the vice president of the European commission (Eeckhout, 94).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The external European action service is responsible of coordinating the ministries of development and defense. From a development perspective, the external European action service plays a role of shaping strategy and programming development collaboration all over the word. The body combines the technical experts of the European commissions and the council’s political weight in the process of enhancing European Union role all over the world. On the side of defense, the body works under the European Union where they provide military support all over the word in the peace keeping process under the European Union policy of common security and defense (Austermann 70).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   External European action service maintains a good neighborhood relation with other countries. Most of the countries who border the European Union in sides are undergoing a political change. Under the policy of neighborhood, the external European action service work hard to ensure a solid union with those countries in the process of easing political transitions in those countries. Challenges external European action service face   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Integration is the key challenge that the external European action service is facing today. The body was formed recently and is still struggling to integrate bodies of the European Union which they work hand in hand for global role achievement. For example the security and defense body has is decision making council, this council decisions contradicts the decisions of the external European action service and thus they fail to agree on any issue. The efforts of external European Union to integrate this bodies end up fruitless because of lack of teamwork between the organs of the European Union (waele et. al, 251).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The external European action service is facing another main challenge of competition between the institutions. During the formation of external action service, the main bodies that were involved were the council and member state. Their main aim was to make external operations of the European Union effective. Other institutional took it as a plan to bring inter-institution competition. This altitude makes it difficult for the External action to operate because other institution performs their duties with the aim of competition and thus they can not agree with the decisions of the external European action service (Blocksman and Steven 23). Recommendations   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   More has to be done to increase authority and capacity of the external European action service in its operations. One, chairperson of the working groups of the external action should be permanently appointed other than the current system where the chair is rotational. The capacity of external European action service in handling major European Union policies should be increased. The policies that should be considered are; struggle against terrorism, energy security and environment among other policies (Boening et. al, 33).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The policy and planning capability of external European action service should be strengthened. This will enable the body to be more efficient on strategic issues and paper work planning. The external European action service should be provided with the necessary resources for it to function well this should be done after the staffing level review has been done. All this recommendations will ensure that the external European action service is efficient in its work. This will be an advantage to the European Union (Morgera 64). Relation to European Union Countries   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   External European action service ensures that there is strong cooperation between the European Union and European Union members on matters of foreign affairs and policy. This is done through the influence of the civil servants of both the European Union and European countries, where they establish a living link. External European action service has helped European Union to be stable on matters of foreign affairs and thus many countries have aspired to join the European Union. This has made the number of European Union members to rise where currently they are more than 28 (Brierly and Clapham 142). Conclusion   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In conclusion, we have discussed about the functions, challenges, recommendations and relation of external European action service in this easy and we have seen that this organization is one of the strongholds of the European Union. The global picture of the European Union is reflected by this body and since the formation of the European action service the performance of the European Union has improved. More research on how this organization can be entrusted with more power and ways to solve the institution competition should be done. This will enable it to be more efficient in its operations. References Austermann, Frauke. European Union Delegations in Eu Foreign Policy: A Diplomatic Service of Different Speeds. , 2014. Internet resource. Blockmans, Steven. Fit for Purpose?: The European External Action Service One Year on. Oxford: Oxfam GB, 2012. Print. Boening, Astrid, Jan-Frederik Kremer, and Aukje . Loon. Global Power Europe: Volume 1. Berlin: Springer, 2013. Internet resource. Brierly, J L, and Andrew Clapham. Brierly’s Law of Nations: An Introduction to the Role of International Law in International Relations. , 2012. Print. Eeckhout, Piet. Eu External Relations Law. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011. Print. Morgera, Elisa. The External Environmental Policy of the European Union: Eu and International Law Perspectives. , 2012. Print. Waele, Henri C. F. J. A, and Jan-Jaap Kuipers. The European Union’s Emerging International Identity: Views from the Global Arena. , 2013. Print. Source document

The Twilight Saga 4: Breaking Dawn 38. Power

â€Å"Chelsea is trying to break our bindings,† Edward whispered. â€Å"But she can't find them. She can't feel us here. . . .† His eyes cut to me. â€Å"Are you doing that?† I smiled grimly at him. â€Å"I am all over this.† Edward lurched away from me suddenly, his hand reaching out toward Carlisle. At the same time, I felt a much sharper jab against the shield where it wrapped protectively around Carlisle's light. It wasn't painful, but it wasn't pleasant, either. â€Å"Carlisle? Are you all right?† Edward gasped frantically. â€Å"Yes. Why?† â€Å"Jane,† Edward answered. The moment that he said her name, a dozen pointed attacks hit in a second, stabbing all over the elastic shield, aimed at twelve different bright spots. I flexed, making sure the shield was undamaged. It didn't seem like Jane had been able to pierce it. I glanced around quickly; everyone was fine. â€Å"Incredible,† Edward said. â€Å"Why aren't they waiting for the decision?† Tanya hissed. â€Å"Normal procedure,† Edward answered brusquely. â€Å"They usually incapacitate those on trial so they can't escape.† I looked across at Jane, who was staring at our group with furious disbelief. I was pretty sure that, besides me, she'd never seen anyone remain standing through her fiery assault. It probably wasn't very mature. But I figured it would take Aro about half a second to guess – if he hadn't already – that my shield was more powerful than Edward had known; I already had a big target on my forehead and there was really no point in trying to keep the extent of what I could do a secret. So I grinned a huge, smug smile right at Jane. Her eyes narrowed, and I felt another stab of pressure, this time directed at me. I pulled my lips wider, showing my teeth. Jane let out a high-pitched scream of a snarl. Everyone jumped, even the disciplined guard. Everyone but the ancients, who didn't so much as look up from their conference. Her twin caught her arm as she crouched to spring. The Romanians started chuckling with dark anticipation. â€Å"I told you this was our time,† Vladimir said to Stefan. â€Å"Just look at the witch's face,† Stefan chortled. Alec patted his sister's shoulder soothingly, then tucked her under his arm. He turned his face to us, perfectly smooth, completely angelic. I waited for some pressure, some sign of his attack, but I felt nothing. He continued to stare in our direction, his pretty face composed. Was he attacking? Was he getting through my shield? Was I the only one who could still see him? I clutched at Edward's hand. â€Å"Are you okay?† I choked out. â€Å"Yes,† he whispered. â€Å"Is Alec trying?† Edward nodded. â€Å"His gift is slower than Jane's. It creeps. It will touch us in a few seconds.† I saw it then, when I had a clue of what to look for. A strange clear haze was oozing across the snow, nearly invisible against the white. It reminded me of a mirage – a slight warping of the view, a hint of a shimmer. I pushed my shield out from Carlisle and the rest of the front line, afraid to have the slinking mist too close when it hit. What if it stole right through my intangible protection? Should we run? A low rumbling murmured through the ground under our feet, and a gust of wind blew the snow into sudden flurries between our position and the Volturi's. Benjamin had seen the creeping threat, too, and now he tried to blow the mist away from us. The snow made it easy to see where he threw the wind, but the mist didn't react in any way. It was like air blowing harmlessly through a shadow; the shadow was immune. The triangular formation of the ancients finally broke apart when, with a racking groan, a deep, narrow fissure opened in a long zigzag across the middle of the clearing. The earth rocked under my feet for a moment. The drifts of snow plummeted into the hole, but the mist skipped right across it, as untouched by gravity as it had been by wind. Aro and Caius watched the opening earth with wide eyes. Marcus looked in the same direction without emotion. They didn't speak; they waited, too, as the mist approached us. The wind shrieked louder but didn't change the course of the mist. Jane was smiling now. And then the mist hit a wall. I could taste it as soon as it touched my shield – it had a dense, sweet, cloying flavor. It made me remember dimly the numbness of Novocain on my tongue. The mist curled upward, seeking a breach, a weakness. It found none. The fingers of searching haze twisted upward and around, trying to find a way in, and in the process illustrating the astonishing size of the protective screen. There were gasps on both sides of Benjamin's gorge. â€Å"Well done, Bella!† Benjamin cheered in a low voice. My smile returned. I could see Alec's narrowed eyes, doubt on his face for the first time as his mist swirled harmlessly around the edges of my shield. And then I knew that I could do this. Obviously, I would be the number-one priority, the first one to die, but as long as I held, we were on more than equal footing with the Volturi. We still had Benjamin and Zafrina; they had no supernatural help at all. As long as I held. â€Å"I'm going to have to concentrate,† I whispered to Edward. â€Å"When it comes to hand to hand, it's going to be harder to keep the shield around the right people.† â€Å"I'll keep them off you.† â€Å"No. You have to get to Demetri. Zafrina will keep them away from me.† Zafrina nodded solemnly. â€Å"No one will touch this young one,† she promised Edward. â€Å"I'd go after Jane and Alec myself, but I can do more good here.† â€Å"Jane's mine,† Kate hissed. â€Å"She needs a taste of her own medicine.† â€Å"And Alec owes me many lives, but I will settle for his,† Vladimir growled from the other side. â€Å"He's mine.† â€Å"I just want Caius,† Tanya said evenly. The others started divvying up opponents, too, but they were quickly interrupted. Aro, staring calmly at Alec's ineffective mist, finally spoke. â€Å"Before we vote,† he began. I shook my head angrily. I was tired of this charade. The bloodlust was igniting in me again, and I was sorry that I would help the others more by standing still. I wanted to fight. â€Å"Let me remind you,† Aro continued, â€Å"whatever the council's decision, there need be no violence here.† Edward snarled out a dark laugh. Aro stared at him sadly. â€Å"It will be a regrettable waste to our kind to lose any of you. But you especially, young Edward, and your newborn mate. The Volturi would be glad to welcome many of you into our ranks. Bella, Benjamin, Zafrina, Kate. There are many choices before you. Consider them.† Chelsea's attempt to sway us fluttered impotently against my shield. Aro's gaze swept across our hard eyes, looking for any indication of hesitation. From his expression, he found none. I knew he was desperate to keep Edward and me, to imprison us the way he had hoped to enslave Alice. But this fight was too big. He would not win if I lived. I was fiercely glad to be so powerful that I left him no way not to kill me. â€Å"Let us vote, then,† he said with apparent reluctance. Caius spoke with eager haste. â€Å"The child is an unknown quantity. There is no reason to allow such a risk to exist. It must be destroyed, along with all who protect it.† He smiled in expectation. I fought back a shriek of defiance to answer his cruel smirk. Marcus lifted his uncaring eyes, seeming to look through us as he voted. â€Å"I see no immediate danger. The child is safe enough for now. We can always reevaluate later. Let us leave in peace.† His voice was even fainter than his brothers' feathery sighs. None of the guard relaxed their ready positions at his disagreeing words. Caius's anticipatory grin did not falter. It was as if Marcus hadn't spoken at all. â€Å"I must make the deciding vote, it seems,† Aro mused. Suddenly, Edward stiffened at my side. â€Å"Yes!† he hissed. I risked a glance at him. His face glowed with an expression of triumph that I didn't understand – it was the expression an angel of destruction might wear while the world burned. Beautiful and terrifying. There was a low reaction from the guard, an uneasy murmur. â€Å"Aro?† Edward called, nearly shouted, undisguised victory in his voice. Aro hesitated for a second, assessing this new mood warily before he answered. â€Å"Yes, Edward? You have something further†¦ ?† â€Å"Perhaps,† Edward said pleasantly, controlling his unexplained excitement. â€Å"First, if I could clarify one point?† â€Å"Certainly,† Aro said, raising his eyebrows, nothing now but polite interest in his tone. My teeth ground together; Aro was never more dangerous than when he was gracious. â€Å"The danger you foresee from my daughter – this stems entirely from our inability to guess how she will develop? That is the crux of the matter?† â€Å"Yes, friend Edward,† Aro agreed. â€Å"If we could but be positive†¦ be sure that, as she grows, she will be able to stay concealed from the human world – not endanger the safety of our obscurity . . .† He trailed off, shrugging. â€Å"So, if we could only know for sure,† Edward suggested, â€Å"exactly what she will become†¦ then there would be no need for a council at all?† â€Å"If there was some way to be absolutely sure,† Aro agreed, his feathery voice slightly more shrill. He couldn't see where Edward was leading him. Neither could I. â€Å"Then, yes, there would be no question to debate.† â€Å"And we would part in peace, good friends once again?† Edward asked with a hint of irony. Even more shrill. â€Å"Of course, my young friend. Nothing would please me more.† Edward chuckled exultantly. â€Å"Then I do have something more to offer.† Aro's eyes narrowed. â€Å"She is absolutely unique. Her future can only be guessed at.† â€Å"Not absolutely unique,† Edward disagreed. â€Å"Rare, certainly, but not one of a kind.† I fought the shock, the sudden hope springing to life, as it threatened to distract me. The sickly-looking mist still swirled around the edges of my shield. And, as I struggled to focus, I felt again the sharp, stabbing pressure against my protective hold. â€Å"Aro, would you ask Jane to stop attacking my wife?† Edward asked courteously. â€Å"We are still discussing evidence.† Aro raised one hand. â€Å"Peace, dear ones. Let us hear him out.† The pressure disappeared. Jane bared her teeth at me; I couldn't help grinning back at her. â€Å"Why don't you join us, Alice?† Edward called loudly. â€Å"Alice,† Esme whispered in shock. Alice! Alice, Alice, Alice! â€Å"Alice!† â€Å"Alice!† other voices murmured around me. â€Å"Alice,† Aro breathed. Relief and violent joy surged through me. It took all my will to keep the shield where it was. Alec's mist still tested, seeking a weakness – Jane would see if I left any holes. And then I heard them running through the forest, flying, closing the distance as quickly as they could with no slowing effort at silence. Both sides were motionless in expectation. The Volturi witnesses scowled in fresh confusion. Then Alice danced into the clearing from the southwest, and I felt like the bliss of seeing her face again might knock me off my feet. Jasper was only inches behind her, his sharp eyes fierce. Close after them ran three strangers; the first was a tall, muscular female with wild dark hair – obviously Kachiri. She had the same elongated limbs and features as the other Amazons, even more pronounced in her case. The next was a small olive-toned female vampire with a long braid of black hair bobbing against her back. Her deep burgundy eyes flitted nervously around the confrontation before her. And the last was a young man†¦ not quite as fast nor quite as fluid in his run. His skin was an impossible rich, dark brown. His wary eyes flashed across the gathering, and they were the color of warm teak. His hair was black and braided, too, like the woman's, though not as long. He was beautiful. As he neared us, a new sound sent shock waves through the watching crowd – the sound of another heartbeat, accelerated with exertion. Alice leaped lightly over the edges of the dissipating mist that lapped at my shield and came to a sinuous stop at Edward's side. I reached out to touch her arm, and so did Edward, Esme, Carlisle. There wasn't time for any other welcome. Jasper and the others followed her through the shield. All the guard watched, speculation in their eyes, as the latecomers crossed the invisible border without difficulty. The brawny ones, Felix and the others like him, focused their suddenly hopeful eyes on me. They had not been sure of what my shield repelled, but it was clear now that it would not stop a physical attack. As soon as Aro gave the order, the blitz would ensue, me the only object. I wondered how many Zafrina would be able to blind, and how much that would slow them. Long enough for Kate and Vladimir to take Jane and Alec out of the equation? That was all I could ask for. Edward, despite his absorption in the coup he was directing, stiffened furiously in response to their thoughts. He controlled himself and spoke to Aro again. â€Å"Alice has been searching for her own witnesses these last weeks,† he said to the ancient. â€Å"And she does not come back empty-handed. Alice, why don't you introduce the witnesses you've brought?† Caius snarled. â€Å"The time for witnesses is past! Cast your vote, Aro!† Aro raised one finger to silence his brother, his eyes glued to Alice's face. Alice stepped forward lightly and introduced the strangers. â€Å"This is Huilen and her nephew, Nahuel.† Hearing her voice†¦ it was like she'd never left. Caius's eyes tightened as Alice named the relationship between the newcomers. The Volturi witnesses hissed amongst themselves. The vampire world was changing, and everyone could feel it. â€Å"Speak, Huilen,† Aro commanded. â€Å"Give us the witness you were brought to bear.† The slight woman looked to Alice nervously. Alice nodded in encouragement, and Kachiri put her long hand on the little vampire's shoulder. â€Å"I am Huilen,† the woman announced in clear but strangely accented English. As she continued, it was apparent she had prepared herself to tell this story, that she had practiced. It flowed like a well-known nursery rhyme. â€Å"A century and a half ago, I lived with my people, the Mapuche. My sister was Pire. Our parents named her after the snow on the mountains because of her fair skin. And she was very beautiful – too beautiful. She came to me one day in secret and told me of the angel that found her in the woods, that visited her by night. I warned her.† Huilen shook her head mournfully. â€Å"As if the bruises on her skin were not warning enough. I knew it was the Libishomen of our legends, but she would not listen. She was bewitched. â€Å"She told me when she was sure her dark angel's child was growing inside her. I didn't try to discourage her from her plan to run away – I knew even our father and mother would agree that the child must be destroyed, Pire with it. I went with her into the deepest parts of the forest. She searched for her demon angel but found nothing. I cared for her, hunted for her when her strength failed. She ate the animals raw, drinking their blood. I needed no more confirmation of what she carried in her womb. I hoped to save her life before I killed the monster. â€Å"But she loved the child inside her. She called him Nahuel, after the jungle cat, when he grew strong and broke her bones – and loved him still. â€Å"I could not save her. The child ripped his way free of her, and she died quickly, begging all the while that I would care for her Nahuel. Her dying wish – and I agreed. â€Å"He bit me, though, when I tried to lift him from her body. I crawled away into the jungle to die. I didn't get far – the pain was too much. But he found me; the newborn child struggled through the underbrush to my side and waited for me. When the pain ended, he was curled against my side, sleeping. â€Å"I cared for him until he was able to hunt for himself. We hunted the villages around our forest, staying to ourselves. We have never come so far from our home, but Nahuel wished to see the child here.† Huilen bowed her head when she was finished and moved back so she was partially hidden behind Kachiri. Aro's lips were pursed. He stared at the dark-skinned youth. â€Å"Nahuel, you are one hundred and fifty years old?† he questioned. â€Å"Give or take a decade,† he answered in a clear, beautifully warm voice. His accent was barely noticeable. â€Å"We don't keep track.† â€Å"And you reached maturity at what age?† â€Å"About seven years after my birth, more or less, I was full grown.† â€Å"You have not changed since then?† Nahuel shrugged. â€Å"Not that I've noticed.† I felt a shudder tremble through Jacob's body. I didn't want to think about this yet. I would wait till the danger was past and I could concentrate. â€Å"And your diet?† Aro pressed, seeming interested in spite of himself. â€Å"Mostly blood, but some human food, too. I can survive on either.† â€Å"You were able to create an immortal?† As Aro gestured to Huilen, his voice was abruptly intense. I refocused on my shield; perhaps he was seeking a new excuse. â€Å"Yes, but none of the rest can.† A shocked murmur ran through all three groups. Aro's eyebrows shot up. â€Å"The rest?† â€Å"My sisters.† Nahuel shrugged again. Aro stared wildly for a moment before composing his face. â€Å"Perhaps you would tell us the rest of your story, for there seems to be more.† Nahuel frowned. â€Å"My father came looking for me a few years after my mother's death.† His handsome face distorted slightly. â€Å"He was pleased to find me.† Nahuel's tone suggested the feeling was not mutual. â€Å"He had two daughters, but no sons. He expected me to join him, as my sisters had. â€Å"He was surprised I was not alone. My sisters are not venomous, but whether that's due to gender or a random chance†¦ who knows? I already had my family with Huilen, and I was not interested† – he twisted the word – â€Å"in making a change. I see him from time to time. I have a new sister; she reached maturity about ten years back.† â€Å"Your father's name?† Caius asked through gritted teeth. â€Å"Joham,† Nahuel answered. â€Å"He considers himself a scientist. He thinks he's creating a new super-race.† He made no attempt to disguise the disgust in his tone. Caius looked at me. â€Å"Your daughter, is she venomous?† he demanded harshly. â€Å"No,† I responded. Nahuel's head snapped up at Aro's question, and his teak eyes turned to bore into my face. Caius looked to Aro for confirmation, but Aro was absorbed in his own thoughts. He pursed his lips and stared at Carlisle, and then Edward, and at last his eyes rested on me. Caius growled. â€Å"We take care of the aberration here, and then follow it south,† he urged Aro. Aro stared into my eyes for a long, tense moment. I had no idea what he was searching for, or what he found, but after he had measured me for that moment, something in his face changed, a faint shift in the set of his mouth and eyes, and I knew that Aro had made his decision. â€Å"Brother,† he said softly to Caius. â€Å"There appears to be no danger. This is an unusual development, but I see no threat. These half-vampire children are much like us, it appears.† â€Å"Is that your vote?† Caius demanded. â€Å"It is.† Caius scowled. â€Å"And this Joham? This immortal so fond of experimentation?† â€Å"Perhaps we should speak with him,† Aro agreed. â€Å"Stop Joham if you will,† Nahuel said flatly. â€Å"But leave my sisters be. They are innocent.† Aro nodded, his expression solemn. And then he turned back to his guard with a warm smile. â€Å"Dear ones,† he called. â€Å"We do not fight today.† The guard nodded in unison and straightened out of their ready positions. The mist dissipated swiftly, but I held my shield in place. Maybe this was another trick. I analyzed their expressions as Aro turned back to us. His face was as benign as ever, but unlike before, I sensed a strange blankness behind the fa?ade. As if his scheming was over. Caius was clearly incensed, but his rage was turned inward now; he was resigned. Marcus looked†¦ bored; there really was no other word for it. The guard was impassive and disciplined again; there were no individuals among them, just the whole. They were in formation, ready to depart. The Volturi witnesses were still wary; one after another, they departed, scattering into the woods. As their numbers dwindled, the remaining sped up. Soon they were all gone. Aro held his hands out to us, almost apologetic. Behind him, the larger part of the guard, along with Caius, Marcus, and the silent, mysterious wives, were already drifting quickly away, their formation precise once again. Only the three that seemed to be his personal guardians lingered with him. â€Å"I'm so glad this could be resolved without violence,† he said sweetly. â€Å"My friend, Carlisle – how pleased I am to call you friend again! I hope there are no hard feelings. I know you understand the strict burden that our duty places on our shoulders.† â€Å"Leave in peace, Aro,† Carlisle said stiffly. â€Å"Please remember that we still have our anonymity to protect here, and keep your guard from hunting in this region.† â€Å"Of course, Carlisle,† Aro assured him. â€Å"I am sorry to earn your disapproval, my dear friend. Perhaps, in time, you will forgive me.† â€Å"Perhaps, in time, if you prove a friend to us again.† Aro bowed his head, the picture of remorse, and drifted backward for a moment before he turned around. We watched in silence as the last four Volturi disappeared into the trees. It was very quiet. I did not drop my shield. â€Å"Is it really over?† I whispered to Edward. His smile was huge. â€Å"Yes. They've given up. Like all bullies, they're cowards underneath the swagger.† He chuckled. Alice laughed with him. â€Å"Seriously, people. They're not coming back. Everybody can relax now.† There was another beat of silence. â€Å"Of all the rotten luck,† Stefan muttered. And then it hit. Cheers erupted. Deafening howls filled the clearing. Maggie pounded Siobhan on the back. Rosalie and Emmett kissed again – longer and more ardently than before. Benjamin and Tia were locked in each other's arms, as were Carmen and Eleazar. Esme held Alice and Jasper in a tight embrace. Carlisle was warmly thanking the South American newcomers who had saved us all. Kachiri stood very close to Zafrina and Senna, their fingertips interlocked. Garrett picked Kate up off the ground and swung her around in a circle. Stefan spit on the snow. Vladimir ground his teeth together with a sour expression. And I half-climbed the giant russet wolf to rip my daughter off his back and then crushed her to my chest. Edward's arms were around us in the same second. â€Å"Nessie, Nessie, Nessie,† I crooned. Jacob laughed his big, barky laugh and poked the back of my head with his nose. â€Å"Shut up,† I mumbled. â€Å"I get to stay with you?† Nessie demanded. â€Å"Forever,† I promised her. We had forever. And Nessie was going to be fine and healthy and strong. Like the halfhuman Nahuel, in a hundred and fifty years she would still be young. And we would all be together. Happiness expanded like an explosion inside me – so extreme, so violent that I wasn't sure I'd survive it. â€Å"Forever,† Edward echoed in my ear. I couldn't speak anymore. I lifted my head and kissed him with a passion that might possibly set the forest on fire. I wouldn't have noticed.