Querencia Final 

It was a very rough school year. Filled with drama, fights, and mixed emotions. I couldn't handle it anymore. I wanted to scream my lungs out into a pillow so the sound was muffled. I was searching for happiness, but I just couldn't find that special place.  


During my summer break I traveled everywhere on Oahu. We went to the beach, the mall, hiking, but nothing felt right. I wish I had a GPS that would just lead me to it. I would just lay in my room thinking what place makes me calm and happy. I wanted a special place that is just me and peace.


     One day I remember my dad asking me to help cut the leaves off the hibiscus plant in the backyard. It was getting a little late after we were done. I was admiring the good work  I did and how the plants looked. When my dad left to go put the materials away I started playing fetch with my dog. I kicked the ball and looked up to see how fast she got the ball. There it was. My special place. It was perfect. A beautiful view of everything from Sand Island to Pearl Harbor.

     
     As a watched the sun go down in my backyard, it soothed me and makes me go clueless on what is going on in life. The down setting sun glistens as the last streaks of light fade away. As it faded all I could see was the brightest stars in the whole world. They were
 sparkling really, like a diamond in the sky. As I examine the stars to try and make 
a constellation, a cool brisk breeze brushes my face. That breeze knocked everything out of me 
and made me forget about everything. Just me and beautiful mother nature bonding. I could also see Pearl Harbor and just imagine how everything was back then during the war. I was so thankful that I lived where I live today and that my special place is right in my backyard. 
A place that I will cherish forever.


     From then on I go there and just sit on the old ancient brick wall and sit to calm me down and get away from the world around me. I couldn't believe that my special place was right before my eyes. My backyard. This was my home destination to peace and happiness.

    

Rough Draft

 It was a very rough school year. Filled with drama, fights, and mixed emotions. I couldn't handle it anymore. I wanted to scream my lungs out into a pillow so the sound was 

muffled. I was searching for happiness, but i just couldn't find that special place.  

During my summer break I traveled everywhere on Oahu. We went to the beach, the mall, hiking, but nothing felt right. I would just lay in my room thinking what place makes me calm and happy. I wanted a special place that is just me and peace.

     One day I remember my dad asking me to help cut the leaves off the hibiscus plant in the backyard. It was getting a little late after we were done. I was admiring the good work  I did and how the plants looked. When my dad left to go put the materials away I started playing with my dog fetch. I kicked the ball and looked up to see how fast she got the ball. There it was. My special place. It was perfect.

     

     As a watch the sun go down in my backyard, it soothes me and makes me go clueless on what is going on in life. The down setting sun glistens as the last streaks of light fade away. As it fades all I could see was the brightest stars in the whole world. They were
 sparkling really, like a diamond in the sky. As I examine the stars to try and make 
a constellation, a cool brisk breeze brushes my face. That breeze knocked everything out of me 
and made me forget about everything. Just me and beautiful mother nature bonding. 
,This was my happy place. One that I will cherish forever.

     From then on I go there and just sit on the old ancient brick wall and sit to calm me down and get away from the world around me. I couldn't believe that my special place was right before my eyes. My backyard. This was my home destination to peace and happiness.

As a watch the sun go down in my backyard, it soothes me and makes me go clueless
on what is going on in life. The down setting sun glistens as the last streaks of light fade
away. As it fades all i could see was the brightest stars in the whole world. They were
sparkling really, like a diamond in the sky. As I examine the stars to try and make a
object, a cool brisk breeze brushes my face. That breeze knocked everything out of me
and made me forget about everything. Just me and beautiful mother nature bonding.
This was my happy place. One that I will cherish forever.

Final Draft

Tyler Shimogawa
                            August 15,2012

Shimogawa's New Years Tradition

     It was New Years Eve when everyone was gathered as a big Ohana. But this New Year celebration was different. My soccer team came over. After a hard years work of soccer and school my family wanted to bring everyone together that was special to us. We anxiously waited until the clock turned to 12 a.m. when it was going to be a New Year. Every second was dreadful and felt like eternity. When I would play with fireworks I would feel like a little kid playing on the playground having the time of my life. 5,4,3,2,1! "Happy New Years!" I lit the 10,000 firecracker. On this cold New Years Eve the fireworks gave us warmth and made us feel nice and cozy.  It felt like sitting by a campfire while snuggling in a soft blanket."Sizzle,Pack,Boom!" As the noises of fireworks echo in our neighborhood and as the noises ring in our ears, the fireworks lit up the sky just like the bright glistening sun

     The time has come. We all ran into the house. As we dashed in, boom! It punched me right in my face. The savory smell of my families "Traditional New Years Soba." Soba is a type of Japanese noodles. As we all got a steaming hot bowl, well dug in. First I took a spoonful of the broth. Sluuurp! The broth was a savory mouthful of joy. My throat was a little bit sore from all of the smoke and powder inhaled, so the broth soothed my throat to the dearest perfection.

     After we demolished the whole ginormous pot of the soba, I couldn't get over how delicious and mouth watering it was. Something about the amazing combination of charsiu, siamin noodles, soba noodles, fish cake, and the delightful broth comes together so well to make a delicious tradition. Even if it's not New Years I still crave this dish throughout the whole year. I can just imagine the steam roaming through the air and the savory broth satisfying my taste buds. The most amazing dish ever.

     This dish was not only special to me but to my whole family. This dish goes way back from my dads Japanese heritage. When he was a kid he always ate this dish on New Years with his family. Soon later when my dad and my mom got married, my mom adapted to this tradition and never missed one New years. My dad ate this because he believed this dish gave you good luck and a longer life.

     As the party wrapped up and everyone was saying their goodbyes, I was pooped and exhausted I took a bath and knocked out. I fell asleep like a baby. But boy did I have fun. That was the best New Years ever because I got to spend it with the people I love and my friends and neighbors. Something I will never forget. Hopefully we can do it again next year.