The Rapunzels of our youth have become dissatisfied with their long locks, constantly chasing a different color, a better style, a new identity.

Our childhood fairies no longer strive to fly, but rather to rev up a hot pink SUV and trample over the toadstools and lily pads on a shortcut to the mall.

Who needs picture books and playground swings with MTV marathons and spin the bottle? Why play a unicorn, frolicking through wild flowers, when I can play Sharpay Evans from High School Musical, bossing everyone around as I lay by the pool? Why be a teacher and teach students to read when I can be a Disney Channel star and drop a record called “Push your body close to me” by the time I’m thirteen?

Paris Hilton’s whine and Hannah Montana tunes seep between the cracks of every young girl’s bedroom window, a toxic smoke that suffocates the independent mind, dims the creative curiosity, and heightens the thirst for materialism.

Mac make-up and Abercrombie mini skirts pound against the bedroom doors of every young American daughter, like an angry stampede, stopping at nothing to tear them apart. Who knew they just unveiled a pre-teen line across the nation? Maybe it’s just a new generation, but when the teens pass the words “whore” and “slut” to the tweens, the tweens lend eyeliner and midriffs to the kids, do the kids turn over their bikinis and Britney Spears CDs to the toddlers? Neverland will never be again, while the second star to the right appears faint behind Covergirl’s blimps.

Working at a preschool filled with bright imaginations and unlimited potential, four-year-old Vanessa pranced toward me in her Prada Mary-Janes and flawless lavender ensemble. Somehow I can only recall dirt-covered overalls and “paint-friendly” t-shirts as my preschool fashion statement.

“I love your sweater, Vanessa.” I say with a smile.

“It’s actually a cardigan.” She replies with a dismissive flip of her hair.

Well, excuse me.

I was a freshman, and I didn’t understand how girls who looked so healthy could have their image so distorted in their mind that they would be driven to starve themselves. I had always been an active individual and had never faced any weight issues. In fact, dieting or weight had never been a subject discussed very much in my family at all. My mom cooked fairly healthy meals, and that was all the nutritional matter my siblings and I dealt with.

Sophomore year, I quit the cross country team, but still taking dance classes, I remained feeling healthy and active. It wasn’t until the end of sophomore year that I began to feel like taking one dance class a week wasn’t compensating for the other days I was coming home straight after school to watch TV until my parents reminded me that I probably had some homework to be done. I want to say that was the only reason I decided to join the gym; actually, at the time, it was. I wanted to start running again and rejuvenate myself into the active lifestyle I had shied away from. I wanted to feel healthy. Healthy. A term that can be very relative and a root cause, I believe, to the trap so many girls set themselves into when struggling with body image issues.

I started going to the gym a few times a week, and it felt great to be running again. Then, when the summer began, my best friend joined me, and we began to go more and more, making it a fun routine. We would work out, stretch and chat for a while, and finish by going to Jamba Juice, a healthy choice. From our healthy morning, I would be inspired to have a healthy day, trying to avoid junk food and sweets, and focusing on my nutritional pyramid. Sounds innocent enough, right? I thought so too. I guess what I didn’t realize was that I wasn’t just thinking about my health while at the gym or saying no to McDonald’s if my brother wanted to get something. It was the summer going into my junior year, and my schedule was not very busy. While my friends went away on their various trips, I worked at a preschool in the morning, and spent the rest of my day usually with friends, shopping, tanning at Dolores Park, going out to eat, and always making room to work out. My health was always in the back of my head. It wasn’t until the end of the summer when I really kicked things into high gear, working out almost every day, increasing the intensity of my workouts, and going from minding my food groups to reading nutrition labels and checking my caloric intake with the calorie count I was losing on the treadmill…so I could be my healthiest self when I went back to school. I never ignored my hunger, I just worked hard to make the healthiest decisions possible – decisions I didn’t need to be worrying about- so that only the purest nutrients were entering my body.

On the first day of junior year, a few people commented on my figure, not shocked by my weight or anything, but noticing a difference. My consuming health conscience continued to persistently whisper in my ear, until one afternoon a few weeks into the school year. I was at the gym during my daily after-school routine, reading a Teen Vogue while running on the tread mill. I turned the page to the Health and Wellness section and saw the word “Orthorexia” written in big, bold type, surrounded by pictures of fruits and vegetables. “Oh God,” I thought to myself, “another story about bulimia, or anorexia, or whatever.” It seemed as if every week teen magazines had a new article about the constant “suffering” of teen girls under pressure of body image and low self-esteem issues, some new doctor’s analysis. But as I scanned the article, the content seemed uncomfortably familiar. Reading it more closely at home, I learned that orthorexia regarded not starvation dieting to lose weight, but instead the obsession with only healthy foods entering one’s system, and meeting all nutritional requirements with the purest, most natural diet. The article gave accounts of numerous teenage girls who did not consider themselves to have an eating disorder, but just didn’t want bad things going in their system. Doctors reported that, in many instance, this mental illness can be a gateway to serious eating disorders if not turned around. Soaking in the information, I realized that I identified with many of the symptoms, and I did not want to be headed anywhere near the direction some of the girls in the article had ended up.

I continued to work out, but no longer counted my calories or obsessed over avoiding junk food. I also made sure to incorporate working out into my schedule when it could fit, rather than scheduling my entire life around working out. Slowly I loosened up on my health consciousness until I was comfortable eating anywhere again, no longer finicky about ingredients or proportions. I’m not saying I threw out health all together, because we all know that could take a bad turn in the opposite direction, but I stopped acting like a pageant contestant being forced to fit a mold, and started being a teenager again, embracing my appetite, metabolism, and growing self all in one.

Yes, orthorexia sounds like a ridiculous, made-up disorder for lunatic girls, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need to acknowledge that your behavior is ridiculous. It is so easy to get caught up in appearance in our culture that constantly flashes unrealistic body images in our face. Since we are so numbed to the disillusionment of appearance in our society, it is easy to rationalize obsessive behavior, and difficult to recognize that, to whatever degree, it is obsessive, and it can lead to self-harm.

Obviously, there is a ridiculous amount of cereal brands, and although I could on for far too long talking about them, there are simply too many to look at each one closely, so I’ve broken some up into a few categories. First, the classic brands, or as I see them, the plain, slightly-nutritional and slightly-boring cereals. This group consists of brands such as Cheerios, Life, and Raisin Bran. Growing up with these cereals, I must admit they have lost any pizzazz the grainy O’s or flakes once had, as well as their somewhat unanimated boxes, usually only flashing the “healthy heart” value; no mazes or games on the back to be found. However, as staples of the cereal industry that have been appreciated by many American families for countless years, I will acknowledge my respect for the stability and value of these brands. I have seldom babysat without finding Cheerios in the kitchen or seen babies at the park teething on the small whole-grains; their necessity for small children is right up there with goldfish.

However, there is a terrible extreme to these “healthy” cereals. Yes, I am talking about things like Kashi, and even the beloved Grapenuts. As much hype as there is over some of these health brands, let’s get past the vitamin and fiber count and face the fact that Grapenuts taste a little too much like horse grain for my liking. I support a healthy diet, but at least throw some bananas or strawberries on these dry grains to spice things up a bit.

There are way too many brands in the fun, colorful, and sweetened category of cereals, so I am just going to focus on a few of my personal favorites. For breakfast eaters who like a little sweetness without having to taste the rainbow, or shovel in chocolate chunks early in the morning, I recommend brands such as Honey Nut Cheerios, Applejacks, Honey Bunches of Oats, or Pops. There is nothing like the cinnamonish mystery flavor of Applejacks (“What is that other flavor? Not apple…”), the sweet essence of Honey Nut Cheerios to spark up your O’s, or the surprising textures of Honey Bunches of Oats, different in each bite, to wake you up in the morning. Occasionally these cereals also have coupons tucked in the box, slightly more exciting then nutritional highlights. And for hardcore cereal connoisseurs like myself, why not bust out the big guns at breakfast time? Yes, I am talking about Lucky Charms, Captain Crunch, Coco Puffs, Fruity Pebbles, or all of the above. Maybe these brands have a little less fiber and a little more sugar, but why not jumpstart your morning with a nice sugar high to get you going? Some other pros: Coco Puffs are a great way to make chocolate milk, you can pick out all the marshmallows from the Lucky Charms box to have a very colorful breakfast, as long as you don’t have any pouty younger siblings. These fun cereals are guaranteed to have a variety of games on the back of the boxes, from mazes to hidden messages to awesome figurines hidden right in your Captain Crunch!

However, it is easy to get carried away with these exotic flavors and entertaining boxes, and reach for a cereal that may be too exotic to be properly enjoyed. There is also an extreme to the sweetened cereal category, taking form in brands such as Cookie Crisp and Reese’s Puffs. These cereals are way too similar to the food they are trying to mimic to be enjoyed as a nourishing breakfast. Although I am a fan of Reese’s peanut butter cups, and I don’t mind some chocolatey flavor in my cereal, Reese’s puffs tasted way too much like eating straight candy, and I prefer my chocolate chip cookies after dinner, and usually warm, with some milk. So, maybe Cookie Crisps would be a nice late night snack, but early in the morning is not for me.

In conclusion, choose your cereal wisely, but do not be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and move down the cereal aisle from the boxes with diet tips along the sides, to the colorful boxes with sugar-rushed animations inviting you to take a bite.

A private show at your convenience, at a very good price

Turning the lock, first right, then up, sigh of relief in the cool, dark, calm as you lean against the door and ease into the stillness

Imagining soft piano and closing your eyes to hear peaceful ocean waves

Tea kettle sings, a chipped mug you painted on a foggy grey afternoon

Under Erin’s quilt, a house-warming gift, a heart-warming gift, watching Breakfast at Tiffany’s, or Classic Dr. Phil

One pot for one plate, one #27 curry to please one growling stomach

Deep in the dark of a matinee movie theatre, open arm rests for miles, laughing softly to yourself, or maybe louder than you think, free to love or hate the villain, who cares if he broke her heart

Tuesday morning alarm clock, or Sunday morning sleeping in with lazy satisfaction

A quick run through the park, and a home-made green tea smoothie, no one has to see the color.

Or a late cup of coffee, on a teeny patio, just one loved armchair will fit as you sip slowly to warm the contented soul that sinks into the soft, worn leather.

The day is young and free as your hand reaches for the phone and you scroll through the rolodex in your mind, there’s that new movie out today, and his party tonight.

A glance at your calendar, appointments and deadlines, tugs you to emmerge

But then a car honks on the street below, a cloud looks like Peter Rabbit, small hands holding soapy wands lean over flowerpots as rainbow bubbles drift down from a nearby rooftop,

And you still have coffee in your cup,

And you submerge for just a while longer.

Five Key Differences to Note between Spanish and American Living:

1. First, let’s talk schedule. One of the first drastic changes that hit me was the difference of schedules between Barcelona and San Francisco. In comparison to my average summer day at home, with breakfast at 9, lunch about 12:30, and dinner, let’s say, 7ish, here’s a quick break down of the Spanish routine:

Breakfast: 11:00 am (followed by lounging around, watching movies, or going to the pool, or beach!)

Lunch: 3:00 pm (the largest meal-more gory details on that later-followed by about an hour of sitting around the table talking with loud voices and big hand gestures. Next we have afternoon activities-considered after 5:00 pm- consisting of going downtown, another trip to the beach, or some other type of tourist attraction.)

Dinner: 10:00 pm (also followed by an hour of table talk and relaxing digestion. Afterwards, on a night out, there could be an outing to a bar or a disco where one can chat or dance the night away until the wee hours of the morning, very new for an American whose city night life shuts down at 1 am, and that’s late!)

2. Ok, so I definitely make the schedule sound more exciting in Spain, but I do want to emphasize that there are many categories in which I prefer the American lifestyle; such as the housing. Of course I loved visiting all the famous architecture of Barcelona’s Gaudi, but as far as living situations go, God bless America. I have a much better appreciation now for the amount of space we have in San Francisco. There are cases in which I am ashamed of how much space we occupy here in the U.S. and how our only size seems super-sized, such as gigantic gas-guzzling hummers in comparison with the dainty, eco-friendly mini coopers and smart cars of Europe. However, as hip as many of the apartments are in Barcelona, I prefer all the unique houses of all shapes and sizes here in San Francisco, and not just for their looks, but for the personal space they provide that many of us in San Francisco take for granted. Although the towering apartment buildings and narrow winding streets are beautifully ancient and detailed, it is difficult to find a grassy front lawn, open backyard, or even a small neighborhood park, whereas quaint grassy parks with basketball courts and play structures appear on every other corner in SF.

3. Moving on to what may have been the most vital and enriching experiences in Spain: the food. I ate everything, and with my newly discovered palette came a wave of observations about Spanish vs. American cuisine. First, I know it may be hard for many Americans to accept, but we really don’t need butter on everything, olive oil happens to do the trick! Everything we eat with butter is replaced with olive oil in Spain, and as a result, a lot of the same dishes such as eggs or meat have the same flavor, but with a much less-greasy essence! Another note about food: do not travel to Spain if you aren’t too big on fruit because delicious varieties of fruit are served after lunch and dinner every day, an amazing asset for me! If I were to split the two countries into meal teams I would have to call America “Team Breakfast” and Spain “Team Lunch”, with dinner falling subject to the individual. Lunch in Spain is huge, almost always two courses followed by fruit and then dessert. My favorite dishes have to be Paella (a delicious rice plate with seafood or meat) and Canelones (basically an amazing hybrid of lasagna and cheesy macaroni). Don’t worry though, Americans still own breakfast. In every specialty international food store I passed, three things consistently stood on the United States shelf. I am proud to say we are famous for peanut butter, marshmallows, and pancake mix. I have to say, a small piece of toast with tomato or a cup of milk does not compare to a good stack of flapjacks or a stroll down our diverse cereal aisle at Safeway.

4. Of course there are many differences between the customs and habits of Spaniards and Americans, but I would like to examine one in particular: kisses vs. handshakes. I’ll admit, it did take me by surprise when I stepped off the plane to be greeted by firm hands pulling me so close so that complete strangers could land two big kisses on both my cheeks, but I warmed up to this salutation very quickly. One of my American companions did worry that a lot could go wrong with this greeting, such as the awkward turning of the head too soon before the other person leans back, potentially creating some lip-to-lip action, or the classic overly-passionate cheek kiss where one person goes in for a peck and is caught off guard by two wet, lingering smooches on either sides of his or her face. Despite all these worst-case scenarios and pessimistic foreigners, I enjoyed the greeting custom because I automatically felt closer to new people as they pulled me in and introduced themselves between kisses. I guess a handshake can offer warmth and friendship, but many times I feel the firmness of a handshake as a somewhat cold, guarded, or even intimidating introduction. Starting with my family as I reunited with them in the San Francisco airport, I have already began my quest to bring the double-kiss to America, so do your part!

5. Finally, our last vital difference to note: fashion. Discussing European fashion, all I have to say is one word: mullets. You may have previously thought the “Euro mullet” was a myth or a trend of the past; it is still very much alive and thriving. Before walking the streets of downtown Barcelona, I was unaware that mullets could be gelled in so many directions; it is a bit overwhelming at first. Teenage fashion is also different in that here in the U.S., Abercrombie & Fitch tends to cater to a demographic of pre-teen girls just discovering denim mini skirts and obsessing over the male models who stand at the front entrance to take pictures. Luckily this is a stage that most girls grow out of here. In contrast, Abercrombie is like a fashion god in Spain, and sported by anyone from the same pre-teen female group, to the average eighteen-year-old male-skin-tight shirts and gigantic moose labels work for everyone! Although the men’s fashion did leave me a bit disappointed, all my confidence in European style was redeemed by the females of Barcelona. I have never seen so many styles of sandals or so many vibrant scarves. I spotted countless business women downtown sporting very professional blazers with flowy, bright-colored pants which tightened above their ankles and three-inch espadrilles. Mopeds and motorcycles filled the streets, but instead of Hells’ Angels, they were ridden by business men in sharp suits or young women in elegant flowing dresses blowing in the breeze. Although sometimes I missed the very casual wear of America, Spanish fashion made everyone feel like they had somewhere to go.

Despite all of this comparing and contrasting, both San Francisco and Barcelona  have their own wonderfully unique customs and lifestyles. Whether some of these notes have been a positive or negative influence on your potential spanish journeys, I think it is important for all travelers to step outside their boundaries and get a taste of something new. Hopefully now you will seem a little cooler than the average tourist walking around with a fanny pack and an upside-down map. One more thing, Spaniards hate Crocs and high socks, so try not to sport a combination of the both if you want to appear a local.

But don’t let the critics’ and awards “hoopla” distort your own reaction to this movie. When I walked into the theatre to see Slumdog, I had no idea what to expect. The film opens with the violent interrogation of Jamal Malik as government officials accuse him of cheating his way to the final question of the Indian version of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. The opening scenes were very upsetting, and after the first five minutes I was sure I was not going to like a movie centered around the disturbing torture methods of the Indian government. However, as Jamal recounts the events throughout his life that have truthfully given him the information to do so well on the show, I quickly became intrigued by his story and formed a connection with his character that grew closer with each chapter of his life and the looming evils that followed his success.

The film does a great job of portraying the evolution of both Jamal and his brother, Salim as they fight for their survival without any parental support. I enjoyed watching the humorous and somewhat innocent scenes as the brothers tried to maintain a carefree childhood, but it was even more interesting to see them grow into two very different types of men, Salim becomes captivated by the underground world of violence and short-lived wealth, while Jamal pursues his dream of finding true love and a life without corruption. Jamal’s romantic interest, Latika, is played by breakout star Freida Pintal, who earned herself a Best Supporting Actress nomination for the BAFTA Film Awards. Slumdog was Pintal’s first major film, but her emotional portrayal of a young woman trapped in India’s underground sex trade had every member of the audience enraged when Salim forces her to stay with him, and overjoyed when she finally escaped to reunite with Jamal. Although I wished she could have fought more for herself while she was “married” to a leader of the underground black market, her story gave a realistic picture of the horrific lifestyles some Indian women must face alone with nowhere to escape and no one to turn to for help.

Dev Patel also had a great performance as Jamal in his first role. I personally loved the way he remained so casual and relaxed while on the game show. Even when the stakes were risen up to the million dollar question, he never compromised his number one priority of finding his true love. Salim’s character provided an opposition to Jamal’s good natured and strong-willed personality. However, his character constantly frustrated me because just when I started to trust his judgment, he would screw Jamal over, and just when I wanted to jump into the screen and strangle him myself, he would come through with his brotherly loyalty. I wish that Salim did not have to die, but I respected the writer’s choice to make him pay for his decisions. Also, I think many of the viewers would agree that if Salim had not commited suicide, we would be constantly worry for Jamal and Latika’s safety with Salim’s unpredictable and impulsive actions.

Although this movie has a heart-warming sentiment, many of the scenes and events surrounding Jamal’s pursuit of destiny do open our eyes to the political conspiracies and social tragedies that are currently happening in India. Although many of the conflicts are overcome by the romantic hope of Jamal and Latika, I think there is a great lesson to be learned from the entangled plot. What seems like a harmless game show that provides equal opportunities for all citizens gives us an inside look at the corruption that takes place within strict caste systems such as that of India. However, just as the game show conspiracy symbolizes corruption, so does Jamal and Latika’s journey exemplify that fate and love can conquer evil.

Although we may learn about the Holocaust and Rwanda in our history classrooms, genocide remains very apparent across the globe. It seems with every generation comes a new genocide. So my question is: who will have the courage to break the cycle? With each generation throughout history, genocide has continued to slide by as leaders neglect quick reactions and refuse to step up as the sole forces capable of stopping the madness. Time and again, the United Nations has beat around using the term “genocide” to label obvious massacres so they can avoid the necessity of getting involved. Now it is our turn. Will we let it slide? Will we refuse to face the violence, or will we call it like it is and step up to the plate to fight back against the perpetrators?

Awareness is simply the first step. Hopefully through this short video as well as the other informative articles included in this platform, you have developed some sense of awareness to a few of the genocide issues existing in our world. Action comes next. Some of the students in this video weren’t in the least bit aware of the genocides occurring today, while others were thoroughly aware. Whose to say those informed individuals will have the courage to step up and join the fight actively against genocide? We can all be fed the knowledge, whether it be through the news, protests, commercials, or clips like this. The choice now is how you will allow the information to move you, how you soak in the knowledge. Will you allow the awareness to soak into you like a sponge as you stand heavily with a burden of selfishness and watch the massacres go by? Or will you let the knowledge seep into your soul and broil within you until it explodes into action! As the great playwright Arthur Miller tells us, “Let the storm come, even from God, and yet it leaves a choice with the man in the dark. He may sit eyeless, waiting for some unknown force to return him his light, or he may seek his private flame. But the choice, the choice is there. We cannot yet be tired. There is work to be done. This is no time to go to sleep.” Our generation must strive to be men and women who always light candles in the dark.

http://www.invisiblechildren.com/theMovement/ - Invisible Children for Uganda Genocide

http://www.savedarfur.org/content?splash=yes - Save Darfur

http://www.dosomething.org/whatsyourthing/International+Human+Rights/Darfur?gclid=COrZwYvdy5YCFQsQagod9yI3wg - Take Action against Genocide in Darfur

Within this four-year genocide, three waves of killing took place. The first aimed to wipe out anyone associated with the previous Lon Nol regime. The Khmer Rouge banned all institutions in order to “cleanse” the society of any ideas or ways of living that promoted individual success. Everyone was forced to work 12-14 hours a day with a diet of just watery soup to survive. In late 1975, the second wave of murder broke out against large classes of people including professionals and civil servants who had either been condemned by enemies or prisoners, or had revealed fatal details of their past through autobiographies for their new rulers. If the regime thought citizens did not work hard enough, were too educated, or showed sympathy when others were killed, they would be next. With this outbreak of massacre came the establishment of the national prison network.

The systematic process of destruction began in Tuol Sleng, a high school in Phnom Penh that had been transformed into Security Office 21, which served as headquarters for exposure and determination of enemies of the Khmer Rouge. Here the regime exhibited their precision and organization through meticulous arrest and execution records. Although Tuol Sleng was labeled as an interrogation center, as author and spectator Doug Bandow puts it, “Khmer Rouge interrogation meant torture. And torture often meant death.” In Tuol Sleng, authorities first forced confessions from their victims to justify their arrests and the omnipresence of the Communist Party. After the interrogations, members of the infamous regime did not simply kill victims of their “social revolution.” Instead, they tortured the inmates as painfully as possible. Some of these deadly weapons included wooden bathtubs where prisoners were drowned, houses of scorpions that government officers let loose on inmates, and electric shock wires. The Khmer Rouge also strung barbed wire around the cellblocks to prevent any suicide attempts. Just like every other decision and aspect of society, the Khmer Rouge believed they held the power to decide when an individual had the right to die.

The main portion of the Cambodia Genocide took place in a region called Choeng Ek, which has come to be known as the Killing Fields. Here the Khmer Rouge put their social revolution into full effect by separating all the children from the rest of society and brainwashing them with their ideals of totalitarian egalitarianism, a concept that life means nothing and the collective means everything. The young generation quickly accepted their new way of life and became brutal enforcers of the Khmer Rouge torture against the rest of society. Once loving children mercilessly beat and whipped their parents and grandparents, forcing them to dig ditches for the 20,000 people buried at the Killing Fields.

The final wave of killing began in 1976, when the brutality of the regime swept through all classes of the new society, including Khmer Rouge followers and military officials themselves. The government had become so deranged that it began to engulf its own followers as the communists began to see enemies everywhere. The chaos and destruction of the Khmer Rouge did not cease until 1979 when the Vietnamese invaded and liberated 600,000 Cambodian people who fled to Thai refugee camps. The country was in ruins, covered in land mines and the corpses of an entire generation eliminated by the Communist regime. Even after the Khmer Rouge died with their leader, Pol Pot, and the United Nations sent the largest peacekeeping expedition in history to Cambodia in 1991, the country continues to deal with the devastations of the genocide and remain slow on their journey back toward strength and unity as a nation.

Our team is actively writing about this controversial topic in August 2008. Sign up for our newsletter if you want to be notified when the entire project is complete.