Safari of the Renaissance

I am going on a Safari!!! I came to the guide and he said we would explore the art from the Renaissance which was a great time for learning and art, and how an eager family created a great environment for new ideas and creativity. The first painting that we saw was one of the best ever.Leonardo da Vinci's master piece. It was made in Florence, Italy which was at the time the center of ideas and art. This painting many people legitimately considered one of the best ever.

After we saw that we went outside and saw Brunellschi's miracle. It was his free standing dome. The biggest ever at the time, but he couldn't have done it without Cosimo de Medici the man who funded everything and trusted him. Although Brunelschi was considered a nut job by everyone else, Cosimo took a chance on patronizing him and it ended up paying off. This really sparked the legacy of the family.

Then we went and saw the famous painting by Michelangelo "The Last Judgement" It was painted on the Sistine Chapel and commissioned by the Medici popes. Michelangelo had a cynical feeling for the Medici popes. they forced him to paint the Sistine Chapel. he thought of himself as a sculptor not a painter. The extraordinary thing about it was that it was church art and the painting was filled with nudes which was strictly forbidden, so they had a different painter come in and cover up the "private parts". Even though the Medici popes were despot rulers, they helped create a astounding painting.

Then we went to see Donatello's David. Donatello was known for his very short temper. He would smash his own sculptures if he didn't love them instead of selling them to a less picky buyer, but all the Medici's saw was a great artist. They figured do whatever you want away from work, as long as you get work done. He had created a masterpiece. It was the largest free standing statue ever built before.

Then we went to Botticelli's Primivera. This was a new style of art never tried before. The painting was the welcoming of spring with the goddess Venus. The church didn't like this because this was the first from of art that wasn't about Christianity. This was a real breakthrough of thinking and who else would've commissioned it. The Medici.








In conclusion the Medici created a harmonious society for all great artists and thinkers.  

M:10 "Sammy the Samurai"

My Teacher Tomoko

               This week I am going to become a Samurai and learn the ancient delicacy. I know it might take a long time, but I am willing to practice even in the Frustrating hours. I know that the Samurai where on of the most loyal groups of people ever in the history of mankind. I don't know if I'm up for that, but its too late because I am already here to master the first part of being a samurai. The bow and arrow.
               I have already met my teacher his name is Tomoko. He is a man because the woman samurai were not treated fairly at all and no one respected them. To start out he showed me how to hold the bow and shoot a target. He was so good at hitting the target it was insane. He hit it right on the bull's eye every time. Then I tried it. I got in on the very outside of the board. At least I hit the board, then he showed me the proper technique and I hit a little closer and he told me I was a natural and I had it in my blood. He asked me for my name and I told him "Sammy, Sammy the Samurai" That night I went to bed thinking I was going to be great, but that was the introduction. It was going to get harder.
               It did get harder, much harder. I had to learn to ride a horse and shoot a bow and arrow at the same time keep my horse in check. There was no margin for error, but I could tell he liked me. I must be one of his more prominent students. It is really hard and I don't know how I am going to do it. Today we only did a little bit of bow and arrow and we went inside a classroom to learn calligraphy. Apparently samurai had to be great warriors and they had to be educated. In america if you can shoot a target and didn't pass kindergarten you are good to go.
               These days have been tough on me, but I am determined to become a the best samurai ever. So the next day I came prepared I had already mastered the art of calligraphy and was ready to over on to the next step, but today was not a day to keep slow because today we had just started war with a neighboring village. Since Japan is separated by mountain ranges they were not what you would call a united kingdom. When I got to school Tomoko rushed me into the changing room and told me there was going to be a battle of the ages that day. So I started getting ready. When I had finally put on my last robe Tomoko rushed me outside with all of the other Samurai. To my surprise Tomoko had a battle suit on, so he was right it was a battle for the ages.
               The other Samurai had already started calling out their achievements, rank, family, etc. I decided not to yell out, because I would seem weak. I thought I might shoot a horse and cause an opposing Samurai die, but then out of nowhere I feel the urge to prove everyone wrong, to show I deserve to be a Samurai. Then we go into battle. I run in like a crazy madman and kill anything in my way. After the war is over we all go back to the pub to get a drink. The other guys get regular Beers, but I prefer Root in my Beer. They all vote me MYP of the war. Now I have something to scream out before battle. "I am Austin family of Powers, and am the reigning MVP" Most Valuable Player, I like the sound of that.
  

M9: To Korea

               This week I am in the golden age of ancient Japan and Prince Shotoku has sent me to Korea to bring a cultural trait back. I think that I have a chance to really make a difference on the shape of how Japan will turn out. I already have a plan. I will go to Korea by boat an when I get there I will live for about 1-2 years and learn their customs. After this I will come back to Japan and show the traits of culture. I am like a navy seal going undercover. AAAWWWWWWW!!!!!!!! YEEEEAAAAHHH!!!!!!!!!

               I am now loading onto the ship to go from Kyoto, Japan to Kosong, Korea it will be a very long trip, but I have packed all of my things and will be off. As soon as I get on I see people coming back from Korea filled with joy and things different about them. They have new ideas about culture that are borrowed from Korea. Now I have some competition with all of these people. I quickly scan the boat and notice all of the "borrowers" all have 23 folds on their fans. This means we are all in the same classes, because that's also what I have. Now no one man has an edge in this game with money or class. It's just the wit of the man to see how far he can go to get what he wants.

               I have officially considered myself a Navy Seal. I uncovered information that about 15 men on this boat are here for info on the Korean. I have ruled eight out. One guys because he is REALLY ugly! One guy is holding the wrong fan he is one of the lowest class. The rest are just wimps, but only one stands a chance. He goes by the Youko. He is alright. I will figure him out. I know his weak spot, he has no lady. They ALL hate him, and me I have no weakness besides being to boss. 

               We get off and I directly go to my room that I have reserved. I get in put my stuff away and leave to find different traits  to bring home to Japan. Everything is different. The writing is the same. In Japan we use Kana  it is a Chinese writing system, but I speak Japanese. I just write down what I want to say. It works well. It already feels like home, and I have only been here for 3 months. It is fun. Even though it is fun I am getting good information, but I have to leave to go back to my homeland.
              I am on the boat back to Japan from my adventure to China. It was very fun and a great experience. I met people, I ate Chinese food, I basically became Chinese. On the ride home no one looked all happy and exited to go to a new world. Everyone looked dull and just wants to just go back home. Same with me and when I got of the boat I saw Prince Shotoku smiling and waiting for  me with a smile. 

                

M8: I found it!!

               This week I have to go to Maya and sit through a Coming-Of-Age Ceramony, and figure out how the ceramony's work and what you do in one. I don't know anything about this ceramony besides it's ceramony and that I might've learned about this in around 7th grade. The problem is that the information went through my ear and out the other. Well that's probobly a mistake I made. Would've, Should've, Could've. now I am off to see my first Coming-Of-Age Ceramony. Woohoo! Exept I don't know if they will let me in.
               Now I am kind of scared, yet the boys are 14 and the girls are 12 when they do this ceramony. There might be some crazy parents. I was kind also scared for the boredness.It wa just a kid that goes around confesing "In ate the last cookie in the cookie jar" Cleansing with water "Cannonball" and reciting rules of behavior "I will not kill ANYONE" Then the priest cuts some bread from the top of the boys head and the priest removes red beads from the girl. Apparently as a child the boy has white bead in his hair and the girl has a red beaded braclet.
               The WORST thing was I had already beat the new Angry Birds game and Temple Run was too easy, so I had to actually watch the whole thing. I was suspicious of the priest though, he looked like Jerry Sandusky who was the  University of Pennslyvania State's assistant football coach who raped little kids. That would be bad if this was Billy Sandusky his way back relative that did creepy stuff to kids and this would be the time for him to strike, so I would also have to strike back when he did.
               I had to sit through the long and boring tasks of reciting rules of behavior, confessions and cleansing with water. At the end the priest would cut the white bead from the boys hair and remove a string of red shells from around the girls waists. The children had been wearing these for a long time to show that they were kids and where vulnerable. With the priest taking these symbols off represented that the boy or girl are now a man or woman and now are their own person.
               This was frighting thought of Billy Sandusky just gave me the shivers,but the kids coming-of age looked pretty tough. Then I realized it. He was a counterfeit. The person up there who was the priest was my a lot of greats grandfather. I was an original Mayan. I was a tiny bit Mayan, and that was pretty cool to see how much success my family has had over the years. That's because priests were very highly ranked and that just helped us out the rest of the way. Instead of finding a really creepy guy I found a guy who looks pretty chill. After the ceremony I told him my name was Ahmakiq and we ended up hanging out. he was pretty cool, just like me. The ultimate guy.
                                                         

M7: Modern South Africa

               This week I get to go back to South Africa, but my little rhino buddy I found last mission had to stay home at my mansion. :( Oh well. This week I have to go around South Afirca and find out what it is like to live in South Africa's 3 capital's. Cape Town the Legilative Capital, Pretorio the executive capital, and Bloemfontein the judical capital. First I will be vistiting Cape Town. This scares me because it is consistintly rated in the top 10 of most dangerous cities...
               When I get in Cape Town I put on my hood and run to a cab, and quickly tell him to go. That's how frightened I was of Cape Town, those people really freaked me out. I had no idea of what to expect. This a capital so you would think that the security would be better, but also since it's the capital there are more reasons to start riots, fights, etc. Even though I was scared I had a mission to do: I needed to see what it is like to live here. if you want to go to school in South Africa Cape Town ha a lot of options. Cape Town has 3 different Public University's. The University of Cape Town (UCT), The University of the Western Cape (UWC), and The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).
               I am glad I am done with the threat of being killed and now I am in Bloemfontein. It is really hot here. The average high for the year is 75 degrees F and the average low is 46 degrees F, but its in January and here February is one of the hottest months it averages around 59-84 degrees F. This is a bad transition from a rainy place (Portland) to a hot place (Bloemfontein).
                 Now I am in Pretoria and I am glad to be out of the cooking pot. In Pretoria there are a total of 9 museums they are The African Window, Freedom Park, The Kruger House, The Mapungubwe Museum,The Melrose House,