American History In A Global Context Essay

America has been at the centre of the history of the world as much as the history of the world has been at eh centre of the formation of the American nation. This makes it important for anyone looking at and trying to understand America make it his or her business to look at the histories of the world and that of the United States of America as one entity with different faces and phases rather than two distinct entities (Baud, 158). Many historians have implied that it is the isolation policy of the United State that helped her industrialize. However it is worth noting that America interacted with the other European nations in the earlier years of her republic. This isolation however helped develop without interference the economic, cultural, industrial and political thoughts of the nation in the intervening years between colonization and the world wars of the twentieth century. America went in to small wars with the French and Mexicans as well as the Spaniards but these wars never had a significant impact on the direction America was taking (Bender, 257). Historical context and world history American history dates back to the days of exploration by Columbus. She managed to transport in to her industries orient goods by water and whale trading became a booming business. America at the moment was at the centre of this trade. The discoveries of the nation strengthened world trade with the industries in America becoming big centers for trade (Bender, 178). Turning to the American Civil War one might be tempted to think that this was an isolated case for the American people. Deep down the revolution was a strong feeling and tide to end the reign of slavery in the world. These were the seedling of freedom planted in an attempt to end slavery. Bender says that the American Civil War is â€Å"a larger history of†¦ conflicts over nationalism and freedom and the proper balance of central and local authority. † This has more often than not repeated itself in other parts of the world at a smaller or larger scale (Bender, 218). From colonialism it was the centre for migration and voyages that marked the advances of the world powers in conquering other nations. Later America becomes the centre of slavery. As central as the tide of slavery is to the world, so is it to American history and development (Baud, 58). Later on in the following years America was at the centre of civil rights movements. It set the trends on civil and human rights for the rest of the world to copy. The modifications on child labor laws, civil rights, better working conditions and many social changes have been driven from American struggles and reformation (Bender, 105). At one point America was said to rag behind in other social issues. Baud suggests that it is the openness of the rest of the world and the American feeling to catch up with the rest of the world that have driven her to make the many and significant changes and strides n the medical and food security and health issues. The feelings and advances of the world have driven America to follow suit and to set the pace on such issues affecting her population. This has gotten the United States of America in to the ring of global influence (Baud, 79). Industrialization in America and the whole world brought with it many challenges and social issues. While the industries had to make profit, they had to look at the interest of the workers. As the labor laws activists fought for better conditions for the workers, they were responding to a global tide that. This was in all nations that had industrialized. Bender in fact says that some of the laws that exist in the American system could be traced in other countries long before the surfaced in America. Among these laws are some insurance laws, laws on child labor as well as better working conditions (Bender, 289). The integration of the immigrant races will also play a central role in shaping the history of American and consequently that of the world. A nation built on migration rising to the status of a world super power is a nation to watch even as other nations open up to immigration (Adas, 34). Further in his analysis Adas, looks at the later influences that the so called ‘ideals of the American people have shaped and influenced the world after the coming to being of the American state. While the Americans moving from Europe wanted a nation built on freedom and very strong ideals, the Germans had an almost similar idea. It may seem like years after but it is the same idea of purity and nationalism that informs the activities of the Germans later (Adas, 32). Bender is categorical on the place and the role of America as a military empire in the end of the 18th and the beginning of the 19th century. America is seen to intervene in global wars between empires. All this time she has not only been watching but preparing herself though for no war in particular. Even when America goes to war it marks her place in the history of the American nation as well as that of the world (Bender, 229). One of the most common influences America has had on the world’s political landscape is the concept of democracy. Other nations have found it comfortable to adopt the American system of political interaction. According to Bender this concept has not only influenced the political but the social systems of the world. It was hard for America to sell the concept of freedom and democracy to the other nations while slavery existed on her south. This forced her abolish slavery in order to easily sell the democracy idea. Its adoption meant freedom for many other marginalized groups of the world (Bender, 256). Conclusion One can only be splitting hairs trying to differentiate the history of America with that of the world. It is a fact undeniable to any one that America has her history grounded and similarly identical to that of the world. The many changes the world has witnessed have been influenced and at the same time they have influenced the world outlook. This is an assertion that finds home in the ideas of great scholars as discussed above and at the same time very verifiable and logical. If proper understanding of the history of America is to be achieved it has to be grounded squarely on the history of the world. Works cited 1. Adas, M, (2001) `From settler colony to global hegemony: integrating the exceptionalist narrative of the American experience into world history`, American historical review, The University of Chicago Press: Indiana. 2. Bender, T, (2006) A Nation Among Nations: Americas place in world history, introduction. (6), Hill and Wang: New York. 3. Baud, M, and W Van Schendel, (1997) `Toward a Comparative history of the borderlands` in Journal of world history, University of Hawaii Press: Hawaii

Favorite Restuarant

My Favorite Restaurant Every year for my birthday we go out as a family to my favorite restaurant, Benihana! For those of you that are ready to have a good time with family or friends this place is definitely the place to go, but it is best to book a reservation ahead of time it isn’t a secret to society. Benihana is an all-time favorite restaurant of mine, with great location, unforgettable entertainment and an excellent menu choice. Benihana is an all-time favorite restaurant of mine because it is located in the heart of downtown, in the midst of all the city lights and city life.When we go to Benihana we park around the block and get a horse & carriage to take us to the door. Parking is free the carriage is extra. This is an excellent idea for any special occasion or just a date night on the town. The location is convenient to any of the major freeways (I-45, I-10 and 59). Aside from the location, Benihana is an excellent place to go for a fun filled night of entertainment. I can assure anyone that after an experience at the original Benihana it will be easy to see why I am declaring it to be my favorite restaurant.Benihana has unforgettable entertainment from the moment you walk in. Walking into the restaurant the guest will be greeted by the amazing aroma of some of the best food, laughter and fun for all! The server will take drink orders from each guest and when they come to bring the drink orders, the fun decorated souvenir glass starts out as a unique conversational piece, as the cook prepares the table for even more unforgettable entertainment. At Benihana the food is not only cooked it's choreographed.The chefs will have you craving for more as they slice and dice and chop your meal before your eyes, very skilled and trained, in the art of entertainment or â€Å"eater-tainment† as they call it themselves. Each table’s personal chef will perform a uniquely amazing presentation as they cook each guest personal favorites. Everything is cooked right in front of the guest on a Japanese style on a hibachi table. The best entertainment is the entertainment your taste buds get from the outstanding menu.The menu has anything from sushi to steak. Everything is fresh no frozen, no canned, no additives! Each guest will be brought a hot towel to clean their hands. Then served a hot onion soup, as well a huge favorite to many; the salad with the Benihana dressing over the top! You can use chop sticks or the regular silver ware, it’s fun to learn how to use chop sticks, and in case you may not know how to use them, the server will be glad to give quick, fun lessons!One of my personal favorite items from the menu is the â€Å"Sea and Meadow† or better known as steak and shrimp, is served to perfection with vegies, fried rice and sauteed bean sprouts over extra more shrimp. Anything from the menu is to die for and all ranges in price from $10. 75-19. 95 not bad for steak, chicken, and shrimp, or lobster and sc allops. Don’t forget to order dessert from the menu, maybe a tempura banana or rainbow sherbet. After dessert the guest have had the most memorable night in a while entertained and full to the brim.For those looking for a new favorite restaurant I would recommend Benihana or even if you are just looking for something outside the norm, or maybe a special someone is having a birthday or anniversary, this is definitely a restaurant that will leave the guest wanting to come back time and time again. Benihana is conveniently located in the heart of downtown, it’s full of surprises, and extreme diner entertainment and everything on the menu is delicious and healthy! Book your reservations and enjoy the experience that will leave a lasting memory and bring home some uniquely designed souvenir cups.

Ferdinand de Saussure and Onject of Study: a Brief Illustration Essay

Ferdinand de Saussure was a Swiss linguist who laid the foundation on the ideas of structure in the study of language. His Book Course in General Linguistics that was published in 1916 has detailed all that he claimed to be his views. In his book Saussure shows us a clear reaction against many of the ideas raised and he emphasizes the importance of seeing language as a living phenomenon as against the historical view, of studying speech, of analysing the underlying system of a language in order to demonstrate an integral structure, and of placing language firmly in the social milieu. Saussure’s theoretical ideas are a must read and his influence has been unparalleled in European Linguistics since and, it had a major formative role to play in the shaping of linguistic thoughts in Europe. Saussure’s Object of Study theorised his structuralist view of language and shows how his essay forms the basis of structuralist theory. Saussure equipped his essay with a theory and a method of linguistic analysis from the structuralist point of view. Saussure envisaged langage to be composed of two aspects- the language system and the act of speaking. Langage is that faculty of human speech that is present in all human being due to heredity, and it requires the correct environmental stimuli for proper development. It is our facility to talk to each other which Saussure has infused in his work. Saussure also argues strongly that the characteristics of the system of language are really present in the brain, and are not simply abstractions. It is something which the individual speaker can make use of but cannot affect by itself. It is a corporate and social phenomenon. Saussure in the very beginning of the essay claims that the linguistic study cannot be judged from the study of other sciences. Linguistic study is completely a different process. In linguistic a particular object of study may have several series of different things- the sound, the idea, the derivation- to light up after study. Hence Saussure says that the object of study cannot be at the first to the view point. It is the viewpoint that creates the object of study. The linguistic phenomena can be always found in bi-complimentary facets which are dependent on one another. That is, the perception of the ear of the articulated syllables as the auditory impressions cannot be the sounds in questions that come to be existed with the vocal organs. Speech sound is no equal to language and they do not exist independently and are mere instruments of thoughts whereas, language is completely an individual aspect. Saussure emphasis on these two distinctions comes at this point of his analysis. The language system as Saussure admits should be studied independently. He cites the example of Dead language that even though it is no longer to be spoken, however, we can acquaint to its linguistic structures. The language is incongruous and its systems are of similar nature. The language is a structured system and it differs from speech. Saussure has cited a example of a man who has lost his power of speech can also grasp the language system through vocal signs by which he can understand. Saussure in his essay discusses the linguistic structures as only to be a part of language even though it is an integral part of it. The structure of a language is both the social product and the body of necessary conventions adopted by society to enable members of society to use their language faculty. It comprises in various domains and it is purely physical, psychological and physiological. It is for the individual and for the society. The language faculty of the both rest upon the structure of the language and there cannot be a proper classification for that as such language has no proper distinctions. The linguistic structures are that faculty in the study of language by which the articulating words, natural or not, are put in use only by means of linguistic instruments that are created and provided by society. The language itself is a structured system and a self contained whole and principle of classification. Saussure in his essay mentions the role of speech circuits of how speeches are exchanged from one individual to another. He gave a proper illustration of it with a proper diagram. This he calls purely a physical process. In order to understand this tract one must leave the individual act, which is merely language in its young stage, and he proceeds to consider it a social phenomenon. If done so all individuals will linguistically link among themselves and all individuals will reproduce whether it may or may not be that exact but will be almost the same signs related to the same concept. Saussure says that the language cannot be the function of the speaker but it is a passively registered product of the individual whereas, speech is the act of the will and of intelligence of the individual. In his essay, Saussure also speaks about the evolution of language from times. There are some words which are rarely spoken in our daily contemporary word and usage of such words in our day to day life is kind of absurdity. So Saussure argues that language and linguistics goes on evolution from time to time. It is an institution of the present and of the past at any given time. Saussure also notes on the sciences that claims to language as falling under their domain. But Saussure says that their methods are different and are not as it were needed. He says that the linguists should only take up his primary concern in studying language and to manifest all other concerns with it. Saussure also speaks about the question of the vocal apparatus and he says it a secondary one in comparison to language. Linguists disagree to the notion about the vocal apparatus and it is not clear that the vocal apparatus is solely made for our speaking as that our legs are made for walking. Saussure cites the example of Whitney who regards this vocal apparatus is that we uses for our linguistic purposes. The contribution of Saussure in the concept of language system is the main theoretical contribution and many linguists feel that it was this facet of his thought which had the most profound influence on subsequent scholarship. His view of a language as a system of mutually defining entities is a conception which underlay his works to philology. It is fundamental to his account to his structure in language. Any sentence, for Saussure, is a sequence of signs, and each signs contributes something to the meaning of the whole, and each contrasting with all other signs in the language. The sign, for Saussure is the basic element of a language. A sequence of a syntagmatic relationship- which is a linear relationship between the signs are present in the sentence. The sign is the basic unit of communication and it is a mental construct. Saussure accepted that there must be two sides of meaning that posits a natural relationship between words and things. His labels for the two sides were signifier and signified, one which the thing which signifies and the other the thing that is signified. It can also be taken as the concept and the acoustic image. The signified is thus always omething of an interpretation that is added to the signifier. He calls this relationship a linguistic sign. This linguistic signs are not abstractions, although they are essentially psychological. Linguistic signs are, so to speak, tangible and writing can fix them in conventional images, whereas it would be impossible to capture the acts of speech in all their details. When we say signified, this do not exist in sensible form, it is a thought and creation of mental image that the signifier has signified. Saussure’s main concern is linguistic sign does not link a name and a thing; instead it links a concept and an acoustic image. That is, language is more than just a list of terms that correspond to things. An acoustic image is the mental image of a name that allows a language-user to say the name. However, a linguistic sign links signifier and signified. A signifier is the sound we say when we say an object, and the signified is the concept of that said object. The said object is the sign. In Saussure’s theory of linguistics, the signifier is the sound and the signified is the thought. The linguistic sign is neither conceptual nor phonic, neither thought nor sound. Rather, it is the whole of the link that unites sound and idea, signifier and signified. The properties of the sign are by nature abstract, and are not concrete. He says that the linguistic principles operate on two principles. The first principle is that the linguistic sign is arbitrary as there is no interior link between the concept and the acoustic image. The second is that the signifier being auditory in nature unfolds in time only. When the signifier and the signified are joined together they produce a sign which is of positive order, and concrete rather than abstract. The idea of structuralist theory has achieved the status largely on the account of Saussure Object of Study which made it the major linguistic theme of the later years after his death. The linguists were also much influenced by the notions of Saussure, although less directly. The essay forms the basis of a concept of language as a vast network of structures and systems was emphasised on the syntagmatic relationships of the Saussurean emphasis in structures which was taken as the keynote of a number of theories of language and which underlies many other linguistic approaches to language. The central tenet of structuralism is that the phenomena of human life, whether language or media, are not intelligible except through their network of relationships, making the sign and the system (or structure) in which the sign is embedded primary concepts. As such, a sign — for instance, a word — gets its meaning only in relation to or in contrast with other signs in a system of signs. Thus we can analyse that Saussure’s Object of Study has its basis of the structuralism theory.

CURRENT LEGAL EVENT Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

CURRENT LEGAL EVENT - Essay Example The subscribers alleged violation of the Sherman Act through the decision by the company to undertake clustering. In effect, the corporation’s decision limited competition for its services. It subsequently imposed unfair charges on services to its customers. The plaintiffs included the corporation’s customers. The plaintiffs pledged for a class action in the case. In response, the Supreme Court rejected the plaintiffs’ pledge on a five-four ruling that favored the corporation. The court issued its ruling on the case on March 27, 2013. The majority opinion in the case referred to the class action as unacceptable. This was on grounds that the plaintiffs never provided sufficient reasons to prove that the damage were quantifiable on a class-scale. The only compensation that the plaintiffs would claim from the respondent was that which accrued from compromised over builder competition by the corporation’s actions. The ruling in the case appeared as among the greatest shield that the court grants to companies and corporations against class actions as well as human rights suits. Pro-business court decisions, definitely, have effects on business. The ruling has notable implications on securities class actions that are invaluable in regulating the operations of corporations, companies and other businesses. Antitrust class actions play a central role in keeping corporations and other businesses from violating the rights of customers through overcharges and possible monopoly. The decision was a works against ensuring proper competition in business in the U.S. The plaintiffs including both current and former subscribers to the company claimed the clustering eliminated healthy competition. This would have detrimental effects on the rights of consumers to ensure companies and service providers do not exploit them through such conducts as overcharges. It has a negative effect on business in the U.S sin ce it entails the violation of

Introduction music technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Introduction music technology - Essay Example The music critics also praised the lyrics and the natural and simple tone of Adele’s voice. Adele was offered her first recording contract from XL Recording after her demo was posted online by her friend. It was immediately a year after it that Adele received the critics’ choice award at Brit Awards and she also won the award for BBC Sound of the Year. Her first debut album â€Å"19† was released in the year 2008 and it immediately turned out to be a commercial and critical success. It was declared double platinum in US and four times platinum in UK. Adele experienced a career boost after she appeared on the show â€Å"Saturday night live† in 2008. She was also awarded â€Å"The Female Pop Vocal Performance† and â€Å"The Best New Artist† at the 51st annual Grammy awards. Adele’s second album named 21 set a world record, as it sold more than 28 million copies worldwide. For the completion of the song Adele collaborated with the successful producer and musician Dan Wilson. Before her meeting with Wilson, Adele wrote the lyrics of the song. Both of them practiced and brainstormed various lyrics and melodies. The song was recorded by Adele at the Harmony Studio that is present in West Hollywood California and Dan Wilson was on the Piano during the song. At that time Phillip Allen was the recording engineer. The mixing of the song was however done by Dan Parry and Tom Elmhirst, while the mastering of the song was completed by Tom Coyne. The song has a certain history, as lyrically it speaks about the end of relationship with her log time lover. The song also shows Adele confronting his marriage. At the starting of the song Adele sings a line which indicated that her boyfriend has now settled and has married someone else, which is accompanied by simple piano melody. The lyrics of the song indicate that what once was in Adele’s life and what could have been. Dan Wilson states that when Adele first

Trends in contemporary society Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Trends in contemporary society - Essay Example The study found that some ethnic minorities such as Black African, Pakistani and Bangladeshi men enjoyed increased employment rates. This is attributed to improvement made in their educational attainment. However, the study finds that there remains a wide gap in the employment of Black Africans, Black Caribbeans, Pakistani and Bangladeshi men. Additionally the women from minority ethnic groups also faced an employment gap when compared with white women. The study shows that Pakistani and Bangladeshi women’s employment rates remained considerably low at less than 30%. The relationship between high educational attainment and job opportunities has elicited more investment in education for ethnic minorities, thus promising a high return in the terms of employment. The study also found that living in deprived areas reduced employment prospects for ethnic minorities more than it did for whites. Another finding is that the self-employment rates fell for Chinese and Indians. However, self-employment remained unchanged for Bangladeshi and Pakistani men. The study finds that there was general improvement in terms of paid work, where ethnic minorities had a higher occupational attainment. ... In 2001, the Minority ethnic community in the UK comprised about 8% of the country’s entire population. The factors that characterise ethnic minorities include: geographical areas of residence, younger age structures and specific group traits. Most Black Africans, Black Caribbean’s and Bangladeshis live in London. The Pakistan are the most evenly dispersed ethnic minority group in the UK (Gregg and Wardsworth, 2011). As of 2001, Indians make up most of the minorities population (2% of the entire population) or one fourth of the minority population. The Pakistanis accounted for 16% of the ethnic minority population and Black Caribbean minorities accounted for 12% of the same. Black Africans representation among the UK minority population was at 10% while that of Bangladeshis and Chinese was 6% and 5% respectively (Li, 2008). People from each of these minority groups came into Britain with different cultures, economic backgrounds and different educational backgrounds. All these combined to shape how the different communities fitted into the British employment environment. Labour statistics show that various ethnic communities living in Britain all have different employment data. For instance, a higher percentage of Black Africans are in employment than either Bangladeshi or Pakistani. The employment situation of ethnic groups in the UK is characterised by high levels of unemployment and low pay (Dex and Lindley, 2007). A study by Li (2008) shows that White British men have a higher probability (80%) of being employed than men from minority groups. Indians followed closely on the probability scale with 78%. Chinese had the lowest probability of being employed with a score of slightly less than 59%. Pakistani and Bangladeshi men also scored lowly on the

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Maslows Hierarchy of Needs - Assignment Example Shank’s old boss failed to meet the safety need as they were told that â€Å"you are just another number†¦Ã¢â‚¬  There was no love or belongingness and the question of self-esteem and self-actualization does not arise in these circumstances. The needs could not be met because the boss did not value his employees, did not recognize their efforts and contribution to the company. The self-esteem of the employees in the process was at its lowest. Low self-esteem can inhibit creativity, interpersonal relations, hinder performance and conflict resolution. Focusing on employee needs is essential to motivate and sustain the motivation of the employees. Maslow clarifies that satisfied needs are not motivators. When the higher order needs take over they serve as the motivating force. Thus, an organization can meet the missing needs in several ways. People need to feel connected with the top management and not feel alienated. Thus regular interactions between the management and the employees make them feel valued. A few words of recognition publicly reinforce the self-esteem of an individual and this can be a great motivator. The employees should feel that they can approach the management freely. Interest in the work or the store by the management is a great motivator for the employees because when they experience the excitement of the owners they too feel involved in their work. To err is human and employers should recognize this fact. Errors should be tolerated and as in the case of Southwest Airlines, errors should be considered a learning experience. A controlled approach can inhibit growth as it reduces initiatives. Hence an employee should be allowed to develop feelings of self-worth which provides intrinsic motivation. Intrinsic motivation is better than extrinsic motivation. When a person is aroused through a desire from within, the results are better.  

Management and Organisational Behaviour Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words - 1

Management and Organisational Behaviour - Essay Example It is not only the behavior that is important in the organization, rather it is the elements that make up the behavior that determines the extent to which people are working towards the organizational goals. This essay illuminates the impact of organizational culture on people’s behavior and elaborates how cultural environment affects performance. The recent emergence of organizational culture in research also encompasses the importance of transforming organizational culture in the process of evoking organizational change. The cultural environment has crucial significance in the event of organizational change because of its importance in defining the employees’ reaction. It is not only the employee’s reaction that is important in determining organizational change but also it is the overall effectiveness of organizational culture that influences the process of change in an organization. Furthermore, this essay argues that transformation of organizational culture i s more important for the successful implementation of organizational change. This paper discusses the impact of organizational culture in affecting employee behavior and elaborates the importance of cultural change in the event of the organizational change. The essay question that it answers is â€Å"In recent years attention has shifted from the effects of the organization of work on people’s behavior to how behavior is influenced by the organizational culture. What is much more common today is the widespread recognition that organizational change is not just, or even necessarily mainly about changing the structure but often requires changing the culture too† Stewart (1999). Therefore, this essay encompasses the ever-increasing importance of cultural environment in the context of organizational behavior and organizational change.  

Enviroment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 7

Enviroment - Essay Example However, very little has been done to minimize the overdependence as dramatic increase has been witnessed over the years and the trend is expected to continue. The main concern of the American Jewish Community is the fact that the enemy is being strengthened at the expense of national security while the government is also concerned about the economic growth. There is an urgent need to adopt new and environmental friendly sources of energy such as wind and solar energy so as to reduce the overdependence on oil. Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) was enacted to help reduce energy consumption through the manufacture of vehicles that uses fuel efficiently. The legislation has since been neglected by the congress leading to an increase in the number of fuel guzzlers. The Brighter Source Company which is owned by Israel plans to put up a major solar power plant after receiving a major funding from the government. This tender was awarded to the firm since it uses the most advanced level of technology and expertise given its familiarity with desert conditions. The move is seen to be a major boost to the U.S- Israel ties. This project will greatly reduce importation of oil from the Middle East and will also strengthen the image of U.S as the world’s super

A new tourist market, Costa Rica Research Paper

A new tourist market, Costa Rica - Research Paper Example The term alternative tourism is easily explained by describing the setting and activities undertaken at alternative tourist sites. Is this because alternative tourism is not an independent phenomenon but that, it was crafted out of the traditional type of tourism, commonly referred to as mass tourism. Newsome, Moore & Dowling (2002) describe alternative tourism as â€Å"the existence of small or medium companies, created by families or friends, where there is the possibility of more contact with the communities and where most of the times there is a respect for the environment.† This means that alternative tourism is best seen in the set up of a particular tourist site and the kind of activities that go on there. Alternative tourism is therefore the opposite of the traditional form of tourism which is characterized by companies are property of big transnational corporations, where one expects the same type of service and facilities all around the world.In this form of tourism, the owners of tourist sites barely have any connection with the local community. As far as they are concerned, they are into business and the tourist is their greatest assert. So where as mass tourism is set up by big companies and corporations, alternative tourism is set up by relatively small groups of people, mostly family-owned. Again, whereas mass tourism has relatively nothing to do with the local community, alternative tourism focuses on the local community, what the community is made up of, its culture, its arts, its history and so on. As tourists around the world look for diversity in their visitations, most of them have resorted to alternative tourism for this variety. Countries around the world have therefore began giving alternative tourism a lot of attention. One of such countries is Costa Rica. Background of alternative tourism in Costa Rica In recent years, Costa Rica has embraced alternative tourism. This is seen in the springing up of several well resourced alterna tive tourism destinations in the country. The specialty of these tourism destinations are in the fields of native arts and crafts. These are aspects of tourism that helps in the promotion of the rich culture of the country. Barker (2010) observes that â€Å"In recent years, however, artists across the spectrum have found a new confidence and are shaking off rigid social norms, exciting for a country long dismissed as a cultural backwater.† This is to say that the promotion of art and culture as part of the unique identity of Costa Rica was relative impoverished in the country until recently when the urge to promote art and culture was taken over by alternative tourism in the country. Presently, the alternative tourism industry is taking great advantage of the country’s abundant natural resource gift. Todras-Whitehill (2009) notes that Costa Rica is â€Å"enclosed in tropical lines of latitude, with appropriate squiggles for mountains, coasts and interior borders, it's an inkblot for projecting travel fantasies. Beach lovers trace the craggy coasts and see hammocks swinging in the sunset breeze.† The tourism industry in Costa Rica has capitalized on this to promote alternative tourism in the area of culture heritage, events, showcasing beauty of nature vacation travels. Among all tourist destinations in Costa Rica, one destination site that has been hailed as the most preferred is the Manuel Antonio National Park Manuel Antonio National Park, an outstanding alternative tourism destination in Perspective Manuel Antonio National Park is in the alternative tourism business in Costa Rica. It is found in the North Puntarenas Province of Costa Rica. Manuel Antonio Na

Effects of Technology on the Hr Function Essay Example for Free

Effects of Technology on the Hr Function Essay Critically analyse the ways in which the increasing application of technology at work have an effect upon the HR function. The use of technology within HRM has grown considerably within recent years with the majority of large organisations now using technology of some form within their HR function (CIPD, 2005). As HR becomes increasingly reliant on technology it is important to assess its effect upon the HR function. Firstly, consideration will be given to definition of terms along with a description of the uses of technology within the HR function. Next the change in the structure of the HR profession that has developed alongside the emerging and growing use of technology will be addressed. The goals of the use of technology which have been afforded a significant amount of attention within the literature will then be outlined along with consideration of the realisation of these goals. In addition, the effect of shared service centres, which make significant use of technology, upon the role of HR practitioners will be addressed in conjunction with the views of HR practitioners themselves. Whilst little attention has been given to the situating of the use of technology in HR within a wider sociological perspective in the academic literature, an attempt will be made to consider the effect of technology upon HR within such a debate. Finally, conclusions will be drawn as to the impact of the use of technology upon the HR function. It is firstly important to consider what is meant by the use of technology within the HR function. The term e-HRM is frequently used to refer to the use of technology within the HR function. The use of e-HRM varies enormously within organisations and may be used for different purposes (Parry et al. 2007). The term Human Resource Information System (HRIS) is also used to refer to any system that helps an organisation to â€Å"acquire, store, manipulate, analyse, retrieve and distribute information about an organisation’s human resources† (Tannenbaum, 1990, p.28). However, the use of technology within HR is broader than the use of HRIS and may encompass manager and employee self-service, the use of staff intranets and e-enabled processes such and recruitment and performance management amongst others (Reilly, 2012). It is acknowledged that some current research focuses on the more recent developments in web-based technology, collectively referred to as social media technologies or Web 2.0 (see Reddington, 2012). However, the use of Web 2.0 is outwith the focus of this discussion. HRIS was originally used for standardising the gathering of information about and for employees (Kovach et al. 2002). However, the use of HRIS has subsequently developed and is now used more broadly for purposes such as recruitment and selection, learning and development, administration of flexible benefits and performance appraisal (Grensing-Pophal, 2001) or to manage HR and employee information across the whole employment cycle (Parry et al. 2007). Technology has also been increasingly associated with supporting integrated call centres, shared service centres and the use of manager and employee self-service (CIPD, 2007). There is a great emphasis in the literature about the potential goals of e-HRM (Marler, 2009; Ruel, Bondarouk and Looise, 2004). However, there has been less emphasis on whether these goals have been realised in reality (Parry and Tyson, 2011; Strohmeier, 2007). Alongside the development and increasing use of technology is the development and changing role of the HR function itself. Traditionally the HR function has been seen as being a largely administrative function, focussed on administrative processes such as the maintenance of employee and payroll records (CIPD, 2007). It would appear that in its search for identity and the resulting proposed need for transformation of the function (Ulrich, 1997), HR has made use of technology to attempt to facilitate this transformation (Shirvastava and Shaw, 2003). Ulrich (1997) has argued that HRM should become a strategic business partner, in addition to performing roles as administrative expert, change agent and employee champion. It has been suggested that the use of technology within the HR function may create the opportunity for HR to become more strategic by freeing up time through the automation of many administrative tasks (Parry et al. 2007). The provision of accurate and detailed information available through the use of HRIS could also enable HR practitioners to engage in a more strategic role as such data could be used to inform managerial decisions. The move to new service delivery models of HR and the development of technology can be seen as interdependent as without increasingly sophisticated technology the various elements of HR service delivery may not be as effective (Reddington, 2012). Drivers for introduction of technology can be described as being operational, relational or transformational (Kettley and O’ Reilly, 2003; Snell, Stueber and Lepak, 2002) Operational goals can be described as having a focus on reducing the administrative burden of HR and cost effectiveness, whilst enhancing the accuracy of data; relational goals relate to improving services for internal customers due to reported low levels of satisfaction with the HR function (Kyprianou, 2008) and transformational goals address the strategic aims of the business (Lepak and Snell, 1998; Martin et al. 2008). These drivers of e-HRM can be seen as addressing either transactional or transformational goals (Martin et al. 2008). Transactional goals relate to operational efficiencies or improved service delivery. There is talk of liberating HR through technology (Shirvastava and Shaw 2003) although this strong statement is qualified by the requirement that it informates as opposed to automates HR proc esses. The distinction between automating and informating is made by Zuboff (1988) whereby automating relates to increasing efficiency through computerising work processes and procedures with decreasing dependence on human skills. In contrast, informating refers to increasing effectiveness through acquiring information by using information technology and using that information to create new knowledge. Automating could be seen as relating to addressing operational goals whereas informating could potentially address the relational and transformational goals through provision of information to inform decisions and strategy. Despite the attention to the promise of technology in transforming the HR function, much less attention has been given to the impact of technology on the HR function and whether or not the highly prized strategic orientation of HR has been achieved (Lepak and Snell, 1998, Shrivastava and Shaw, 2003). Studies that relate to whether e-HRM is achieving its operational goals provide some mixed results (Strohmeier, 2007). In practice it would appear that HRIS is having a slightly better (but not statistically significant) impact in areas of information processing, for example improving the speed that information is available and the quality of the information available than in economic terms, such as reducing headcount, lowering operational costs and improving productivity and profitability (CIPD, 2005). However, within this survey, in a third of cases the reduction in administrative burden was less than was to be expected. Stronger support for the operational impact of e-HRM comes from analysis of 10 case studies by Parry et al. (2007) which showed that technology can lead to faster and more efficient processes, greater accuracy and consistency as well as a reduction in costs. A number of other studies also provide some evidence of the impact of technology on operational efficiency ( Marler, 2009; Ruel, Bondarouk and Looise, 2004; Ruta, 2005). However, it may be that some caution needs to be exercised in drawing conclusions on the impact of e-HRM in this area as it may be that the efficiencies achieved within the HR function are simply moved elsewhere within the organisation as the responsibility for some tasks is moved from HR to line managers or employees (Ruel, Bondarouk and Looise, 2004). There is some positive evidence for the relational impact of e-HRM, notably improvements in HR service delivery achieved through the increased accuracy of data or by simplification of processes (Gardener, Lepak and Bartol, 2003). However, the relational impact of e-HRM appears to have been granted little attention in the literature (Strohmeir, 2007). Whether technology has led to a transformational impact on the HR function appears even less clear than the impact it has had on transactional processes. Despite the identification by many organisations of transformational drivers being important in the adoption of e-HR (Watson Wyatt, 2002; Yeung and Brockbank, 1995) it would seem that the issue of whether e-HRM supports a transformation of the HR function into a strategic business partner is only â€Å"parenthetically addressed† (Strohmeir, 2007, p.28). Indeed, Bondarouk and Ruel (2009, p.508) state â€Å"organisations are definitely silent about whether their HR departments become more strategic with e-HRM†. Where evidence is presented it is contradictory in nature. It would seem that in some cases technology has not led to a more strategic orientation of the HR function and has been used mainly for automating operational processes (Burbach and Dundon, 2005; Dery, Grant and Wiblen, 2009; Kinnie and Arthurs, 1993; Tansley et al. 2001). Indeed, Broderick and Boudreau (1992) found that most organisations have only used technology to support a narrow range of administrativ e decisions, resulting in efficiencies in managing information but that the potential competitive advantage of technology has not been exploited. In contrast, other studies have offered some evidence that e-HRM has supported the strategic integration of HR with business strategy (Olivas-Lujan, Ramirez and Zapata-Cantu, 2007; Ruel, Bondarouk and Looise, 2004; Teo, Soon and Fedric, 2001) More recent research has provided some anecdotal evidence for a move towards a more strategic role (Parry and Tyson, 2011) although the evidence supporting the transformational impact compared with the operational and relational appeared to be the weakest. It would appear that there is far greater attention in the literature to the potential for e-HRM to have an impact in the three areas outlined above than there is accorded to the actual outcomes (Shrivastava and Shaw, 2003; Strohmeir, 2007). The reorganisation of the HR function and the introduction of shared service centres appears to have had an impact on numbers of on-site HR staff and a reduction in the number of HR staff to employees (Francis and Keegan, 2006). The operation of such shared service centres relies on technology that is characterised by formalisation, routinisation and centralisation resulting in an impact on staffing of such centres, which require specialised but generally low level HR administrators (Martin and Reddington, 2009). Research that addresses the issue of how HR practitioners have viewed the increasing use of technology appears to be limited to date. There is evidence that some practitioners may view the use of technology and an associated increase in the use of shared service centres cautiously because it has resulted in a reduction of face-to-face relationships, which is often the reason individuals cite for choosing a career in HR (Francis and Keegan, 2006). Martin and Reddington (2009) suggest that the significant role of technology within shared service centres will lead to a lowering of the status of those employed in such environments especially when compared to the status of HR business partners. It is arg ued that there is a risk of deskilling within the administrative function of HR and that staff may be confined to more routine tasks where they had previously had a wider role (Reilly, 2000). It is also suggested that within shared service centres different skills may be required and staff may be employed who have customer service skills but who do not necessarily have a background in HR as technical knowledge can be learned whereas the right attitudes may be harder to learn (Parry et al. 2007; Reilly, 2000). In addition to this, there is evidence that suggests that there a perception amongst HR practitioners of an increasing distance between those at the top and bottom of the career ladder and that people from outwith the HR function are â€Å"parachuting† into the top jobs (Francis and Keegan, 2006). This effect could possibly be explained by the requirement of new areas of expertise, such as technical, consultancy and project management skills (Parry and Tyson, 2011), which may require developing within HR practitioners and could possibly result in recruiting from outside the profession. Indeed a number of reports emphasise the skills of HR staff as a significant barrier to transformation of the HR function (see Reilly, 2012). The debate on the use of technology within HRM can also be situated within a wider sociological perspective. Whilst the sociological literature appears to focus mainly on the use of technology within manufacturing environments or of computerisation in general as opposed to within the HR function an attempt to situate the effect of technology upon HR could be made in terms of attempting to assess the effect upon the organisation of the function and the impact on the level of skills required. The attempts to understand the impact of technology upon the organisation of work have resulted in divergent views. The debate focuses mainly on two opposing views. The managerialist and essentially optimistic perspective associated with writers such as Blauner (1964) argues that the application of technology will render obsolete routine and more manual jobs and create more skilled and complex opportunities resulting in an overall effect of â€Å"upskilling†, along with organisations characterised by decentralised structures, reduction in hierarchy, increased worker autonomy and a prevalence of knowledge workers (for example, Attewell, 1992; Piore and Sabel, 1984) Such analysis suggests that in the earlier phases of industrialisation advances in technology tended to reduce skills and devalue work but that more recent technological developments have had the opposite effect. Examination of the increasing use of technology and its impact on skills levels has provided some evidence for a raising of skills levels (Daniel, 1987, Gaillie, 1991) In contrast, labour process theorists have argued that technological changes have a degrading effect on work and result in â€Å"deskilling† of the labour process and reduced worker autonomy, with a centralised, neo-Taylorist form of organisation, with separation of conception from execution (for example, Braverman, 1974; Zimbalist, 1979). The issues of the expansion of non-manual work and the apparent rising skills levels as suggested by formal skills gradings are not inconsistent with the labour process perspective (Gaillie, 1991) who argues that non-manual work has undergone a major transformation, r esulting in work that is increasingly routinized and mechanised (supported by the increase in office automation). From such a perspective non-manual workers are no longer accorded their relatively privileged position and are now accorded a similar level of skills as manual workers. Support for the process of deskilling can be found in many analyses of the effects of computerised technology (Meiksins, 1994) Analysis of the experience of employees within the call centre environment emphasises the process of deskilling (Desai, 2010) which is described by Taylor and Bain (1999, p.109) as a situation of â€Å"an assembly-line in the head†. The impacts of such call centre roles are often high turnover rates and high levels of absence (Ackroyd, Gordon-Dseagu and Fairhurst, 2006) and the effect on employees is outlined by Rose and Wright (2005, pp.156-157): â€Å"low skilled call centre jobs allied with high levels of technological and management controls do not contribute towards employee well-being and satisfaction† This account of the impact of technology resonates with the description above of shared service centres whose result has been the deskilling of the administrative function of HR and the recruitment of those who do not have a background in HR (Martin and Reddington, 2009; Reilly, 2000). However, whilst it could be argued that a labour process perspective accounts for the effects of technology on some aspects of the HR function, it does not address the effect on the function as a whole as it does not appear to account for the strategic end of the spectrum, where it seems that business partner roles are accorded status and prestige along with substantially increased salaries (Francis and Reddington, 2006). The role of business partners cannot easily be reconciled with the notion of deskilling. There has been a tendency to view the classification of either upskilling or deskilling as too simplistic and some writers have moved away from this conceptualisation of work by postulating that instead there is an increasing polarisation of the workforce in terms of skill level with at one end, highly skilled workers with high levels of autonomy and at the other end a lower skilled sector characterised by an intensification of work through deskilling and management control (Edw ards, 1979), who can be dispensed if surplus to requirements (Berger and Piore, 1981). This polarisation of the workplace appears to be a better reflection of the changing HR function with the autonomous business partner role, with the accompanying perception of a high level of skill and status at one end of the spectrum and at the opposite end, the shared service centre roles characterised by routine and deskilling. In relation to professional work, there is some argument that professionals have not been adversely affected by computerisation and continue to be accorded high status and prestige (Friedson, 1984, 1986). In contrast, it is argued that technology may have differing effects on professionals, depending on the relative status of the profession and on the status of individuals within the profession (Burris, 1998). It is argued that alongside polarisation of the workplace, there tends to be poorer career prospects for non-expert workers (Baran, 1987; Hodson, 1988) with higher level posts being filled from outwith the organisation (Hodson, 1988; Burris 1983,a,b) This issue within HR is highlighted by Reilly (2000) who suggests that there may be less opportunity for career development if lower level staff do not build the experience that they would gain in more generalist roles in traditional HR functions. As stated earlier, there also appears to be a perception that the higher status business partner roles are at least sometimes being filled not just from outwith the organisation but from outwith the HR profession (Francis and Reddington, 2006). Whilst the issue of the impact of technology upon the HR function appears to have been given little attention within research (Lepak and Snell, 1998; Shrivastava and Shaw, 2003) it would seem that what discussion there has been relates mainly to the promise of technology in transforming the HR function and facilitating a more strategic orientation. The reality of the impact of technology in achieving an impact in operational, relational and transformational areas is much less clear although evidence would suggest that the greatest impact is in achieving operational efficiencies. Alongside the development of the use of technology has been the reorganisation of the HR function. Although there has been little attempt to consider the impact of technology from a sociological perspective, it can be argued that the increasing use of technology, which has been used to support the shared service centre model may be resulting in a deskilling of an element of the HR profession and reducing career development paths for some practitioners. In addition, there appears to be a change in skills viewed as necessary within this function, with a focus on customer service skills as opposed to specialist HR knowledge. In contrast, although the evidence for a transformational impact of technology upon HR is weaker and more contradictory, there would appear to be a perception of a higher status role in the business partner, with accordingly higher remuneration, thus demonstrating a polarisation of the HR function in terms of both skills and status. However, this reorganisation of the HR function and the development of a more strategic orientation, which it is argued can be facilitated by the increasing use of technology, although being seen as having an upskilling effect on those in a more strategic role could be argued as achieving the opposite effect if the result is recruiting from outwith the profession. This could leave HR professionals in a precarious position in terms of career and skill development, which could at least in part be attributed to the effect of technology as without increasingly sophisticated technology the new models of service delivery may not be possible or at least may not be as effective. Whilst, a lack of academic attention to the actual impact of technology on the HR function requires that caution is exercised in drawing conclusions, the tendency to focus on the potential impact of technology could be followed in suggesting that the potential of technology in facilitating the move to a transformation of the HR function may be to tend towards a degradation of the HR profession, with low skilled staff employed in shared service centres and more highly skilled and valued business partners being recruited from outwith the HR profession. However, without significant further research in the area, in particular on the impact of technology and the accompanying change in service delivery models upon the career paths and development opportunities for HR practitioners, this conclusion remains just a potential. References Ackroyd, K., Gordon-Dseagu, V. and Fairhurst, P. (2006) â€Å"Well-being and call centres†, Institute of Employment Studies, Brighton [online]. Available at: http://www.employment-studies.co.uk/pdflibrary/mp69.pdf (Accessed 21st November 2012) Attewell, P. (1992) â€Å"Skill and occupational changes in U.S. manufacturing† in Technology and the future of work, P.S. Adler, New York, Oxford University Press. Baran, B. (1987) â€Å"The technological transformation of white collar work†, in Computer chips and paper clips, vol 2, H. Hartmaan, ed., Washington DC, National Academy Press. Berger, S. and Piore, M. (1981) Dualism and discontinuity in industrial societies, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. Blauner, R. (1964) Alienation and freedom, Chicago, IL, University Chicago Press Bondarouk, T.V. and Ruel, H.J.M. (2009) â€Å"Electronic human resource management: challenges in the digital era†, The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 20 (3), pp. 505-514. [online]. Available at: http://ezproxy.napier.ac.uk:2343/doi/pdf/10.1080/09585190802707235 (Accessed 10th November 2012) Braverman, H. (1974) Labor and Monopoly Capital, New York, Monthly Review Press Broderick, R. and Boudreau, J.W. (1992) â€Å"Human resource management, information technology and the competitive edge†, Academy of Management Perspectives, 6 (2), pp. 7-17. [online]. Available at: http://ezproxy.napier.ac.uk:2334/docview/210521060/fulltext PDF/13A99A5CA0029773271/6?accountid=16607 (Accessed 21st November 2012) Burbach, R. and Dundon, T. (2005) â€Å"The strategic potential of human resource information systems: Evidence from the Republic of Ireland†, International Employment Relations Review, 11 (1/2), pp. 97-117. [online]. Available at: http://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=164472644509297;res=IELBUS (Accessed 21st November 2012) Burris, B.H. (1983a) No room at the top, New York, Praeger Burris, B.H. (1998) â€Å"Computerisation of the workplace†, Annual Review of Sociology, 24, pp. 141-157. [online]. Available at: http://ezproxy.napier.ac.uk:2334/docview/199730349/fulltextPDF/13A94B0278177DBCD7E/8?accountid=16607 (Accessed 10th November 2012) CIPD (2005) People management and technology: progress and potential, London, CIPD. CIPD (2007) HR and Technology: beyond delivery, London, CIPD Daniel, W.W. (1987) Workplace industrial relations and technological change, London, Frances Pinter. Dery, K., Grant, D. and Wiblen, S. (2009) Human resource information systems (HRIS): replacing or enhancing HRM, Paper presented at the 15th World Congress of the International Industrial Relations Association. [online] Available at:http://sydney.edu.au/business/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/72273/IIRA_Dery_et_al_HRIS_Replacing_or_enhancing_HRM_final.pdf (accessed 10th November 2012)

College Degree Essay Example for Free

College Degree Essay When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one person to dissolve the bands which has connected him to a low paying career with little hope for advancement, and to assume that the powers that be will not offer him the promotions and recognition that he feels he deserves to which the laws of nature and natures God entitles him, a decent respect to the hope he has for his future requires that he should declare the steps which he will take to achieve the goals which he has set for himself. . I have many goals which I hope to achieve through the attainment of my degrees. For the purpose of this recourse I will delve into three of them. The first goal I have is to attain a higher paying job. The second goal that I have is to work my way into a position of leadership. Finally, neither my father, mother nor brother has gone to college therefore it is my desire to be the first of our family to attain a degree. In the job market today high paying jobs are at a premium. I believe I heard a statistic once that said the average income for a single income home is around fifty-thousand dollars. I have lived in this income bracket and know how difficult it can be to maintain a household on that income. With a house payment and two car payments and everything else that goes into maintaining a home that can quickly drain a families finances. I recently took a higher paying job, in the upper sixties and just that small increase in salary has done wonders for my families cash flow. I hope to attain a position which pays in the nineties to low one-hundreds and beyond. Most jobs which pay high salary require as a requisite that the person in that position has a high level of education. Typically, the higher the level of education the higher the level of pay. I have always had many leadership qualities and I enjoy working with others to help them succeed. Leadership offers a unique opportunity to guide others and help them along their paths of success. I do not measure my personal success on how high of a leadership position that I can attain but rather the number of people that I can help to achieve the goals which they have set for themselves. Whether it be helping others increase knowledge or accomplish goals or just help them along their journey, I know that from a position of leadership I can help others in this way. That is why I wish to be a leader. Many positions of leadership require that you have degrees to go with your experience, so that is how I am hoping that a college degree will help me. Finally, I have a personal goal of being the first in my family to earn a college degree. Being a parent I know now that the old adage is true, parents always want their kids to do better in life than they have done. I know this is true of my parents. They have always hoped that I would do better than them and have always encouraged and supported me along that path. When I look back upon my college career it will be with a sense of pride knowing that this is something that my parents wanted for me just as much as I have desired it. I also know that my parents have a great hope and expectation that I provide a good life for their grandson and while money and recognition are not everything they certainly take some of the burden of raising a child off of you. In summation, all of my goals of earning degrees revolve around my son. When my son was born I immediately knew that I had to return to school. I had been floundering for too long in lower paying positions with little hope for advancement. My father provided a stable home as I was growing up, we never had to worry about money or food. My hope is that I will provide that and more for my family. By attaining a college degree I put my self into a much better position to attain a position which pays higher salaries. Additionally, it will allow me to help others by being in a position of leadership. Finally, the pride that I will have in myself and the pride that I know my parents and family will have in me will make the whole journey that much sweeter.

A new car, a new choice

A new car, a new choice A New Car, a New Choice For most teenagers, only one thing is on their mind when they turn 16: being able to drive. I remember ever since I received my learners permit, I couldnt wait to drive on my own. I looked forward to driving as fast as I wanted and blasting music with the windows rolled down; I of course couldnt do this with one of my parents in the passengers seat. When I turned 16, I not only obtained my drivers license, but I was also lucky enough to receive a new car. Now I know what youre thinking, and I assure you that I am not just a spoiled rich kid who gets everything handed to him from his parents. My family only owned two cars at the time and being the oldest of four children, I would only be one of the many future drivers; owning only two cars just wasnt enough. One of the fun parts about acquiring the new car was that I had some input in the selection process. My parents narrowed the choices down to a Toyota 4Runner and a Jeep Grand Cherokee and allowed me to help them with the final dec ision. After comparing and contrasting both vehicles, we decided to go with the Toyota 4Runner. Despite the Jeep Grand Cherokee having better performance and many similarities with the 4Runner, my parents and I chose the 4Runner because of its safety, price, and our loyalty to Toyota. The first thing I did when I was comparing the two cars was look at the performance of each vehicle. The Jeep Grand Cherokee has 210 horsepower which is extremely high for an SUV, especially compared to the 4Runners measly 157 horsepower. I really liked the fact that the Grand Cherokee has a lot of power and was able to go pretty fast. The Grand Cherokee packs quite a wallop compared to the 4Runner with respect to torque, which is the force that lets you accelerate quickly. Torque equals pickup, and the Grand Cherokee will have picked up and left by the time the 4Runner finally gets moving. Horsepower and torque was not high on my parents priority list though, they actually thought the Grand Cherokee had too much power. They also explained that bigger engines use more gasoline than smaller ones, meaning that the 4Runner gets better gas mileage. I looked up the statistics to see if they were right and sure enough I found out the 4Runner has an 18/23 city to highway miles per gallon wh ile the Grand Cherokee only has a 16/21 city to highway miles per gallon. Another important aspect of the performance is the handling of the vehicle. With their comparable turning radii, the Grand Cherokee and the 4Runner handle about the same. The Grand Cherokee may edge out the 4Runner in power, but the 4Runner has the advantage with gas mileage, a factor that my parents really care about since they pay for gas. Despite my preference with the Grand Cherokee in the performance category, my parents had the final decision and gave the advantage to the 4Runner. Another category my parents and I looked at when deciding between the two cars was safety. After looking up safety statistics, we found out that the 4Runner has one of the highest safety-crash ratings for an SUV. The Grand Cherokee on the other hand, received average ratings. My parents claimed that safety was one of their top priorities especially since I was just beginning to drive. They told me that according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 7,000 people aged 15 to 20 are involved in fatal crashes a year. My parents did their research and wanted to make sure I was as safe as possible out on the road. The Grand Cherokee is a reliable vehicle and received decent safety reviews, but with the 4Runner, they could feel more comfortable knowing I was in a safer vehicle. When referring to size, neither the 4Runner nor the Grand Cherokee has a marked advantage as far as seating capacity. While the front cabin in the Grand Cherokee offers a bit more head room than the 4Runner, there honestly isnt much of a difference. The Grand Cherokee provides more head and leg room to passengers than the 4Runner does, but the difference wasnt big enough to affect our decision. Both cars have the same seating capacity, being able to seat 5 passengers. The 4Runner though is likely a better choice than the Grand Cherokee when it comes to transporting cargo but the Grand Cherokee out tows the 4Runner by a massive margin. My parents and I didnt take these factors into consideration because I wouldnt be using the car to transport cargo or tow objects, so we didnt really look into size or utility that much due to the similarities. The last categories my parents and I looked at were the price and the manufacturer. The introductory price for the 4Runner is $27,500, while the price for the Grand Cherokee is $30,710, making the 4Runner $3,210 cheaper. On top of the 4Runner being cheaper, the Grand Cherokee requires more trips to the pump, meaning more money would be spent on gas with the Grand Cherokee. The prices state that they also do not include destination charges. After doing more research, we found out that the destination charge is a standard charge for transporting the vehicle from its point of origin to the dealer. It costs almost the same to get the Grand Cherokee to the dealership as the 4Runner so we didnt take that much into consideration. What we did take into heavy consideration though was the manufacturer. My family has always bought Toyota vehicles. We currently own a Toyota Sequoia and a Toyota Camry and even before those two cars, both my parents had always owned a Toyota vehicle. My parents cl aim that they like the reliability and they are very reluctant to change so until one of the cars break down or cause them trouble, we will probably continue to buy from Toyota. Seeing how the 4Runner is manufactures by Toyota, it pretty much sealed the deal. After considering both vehicles and all their pros and cons, my parents and I agreed on the 4Runner. Despite the performance of the 4Runner not being up to par with the Grand Cherokee, the rest of the factors made me favor the 4Runner and to this day Im glad we went with the 4Runner. My parents loved every aspect of the 4Runner and believe it was a perfect fit for me and the rest of my siblings down the road. It still drives great and I love all the features of the vehicle. I dont know how different it would be if we had decided on the Grand Cherokee, but comparing and contrasting the two vehicles really helped us pick the car that best suited our family. With the combination of good gas mileage, safety, price, and the Toyota brand name the 4Runner seemed like a perfect fit.

Comparing the Tragedies of Julius Caesar, Death of a Salesman, and Oedipus Rex :: comparison compare contrast essays

  For a story to be a tragedy it has to follow the principles set   by Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, or those of Arthur Miller   who is a twentieth century playwright.   A tragedy, in Aristotle's   view, usually concerns the fall of an individual whose character is   good but not perfect and his misfortunes are brought about by the   tragic flaw.   This flaw is the part of the character that personifies   him as being tragic.   Miller uses this definition of a tragedy but   also broadens it to include the common man.   All of these   characteristics are seen in the plays   Julius Caesar, Death of a   Salesman, and Oedipus Rex.         Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Although the title of the play   Julius Caesar focuses on   Caesar, the play itself is really based on Brutus. "Brutus had   rather be a villager than to repute himself a son of Rome."(Act I,   scene II, line 172).   This was said by Brutus after Cassius told him   how Caesar had become a towering figure over Rome and how   Caesar controls Rome. Notice the good in Brutus, and the    extremes he will go to in order to protect democracy in Rome    even if it means killing the one he loves, Caesar.   Brutus possesses    one of the most tragic flaws.   He is too nice of a person and    therefore he gets taken advantage of.   He lets Cassius persuade    him into killing Caesar for the good of Rome.   Because he does    for others more than himself he makes a fatal mistake, he lets    Antony live. Brutus says to the conspirators, "For Antony is but a    limb of Caesar"(Act II scene I line 165) meaning that if Caesar is    killed Antony will die off too. Brutus clearly does not regard    Antony as being a threat,   but little does Brutus know that    Antony will stir up the town to seek revenge after the    assassination of Caesar. This mistake will cost him his own life.      When he dies he becomes a prime example of tragedy because not    only did he bring about his own death he dies by his own hand.         Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Death of a Salesman, Willy Lowman's   tragic flaw is that

A Comparison of King Arthur and Beowulf :: comparison compare contrast essays

A Comparison of King Arthur and Beowulf Sir Thomas Malory brings forth a courageous character , "King Arthur", utilizing weaponry and leadership, to enlighten the reader of the unique characteristics of a true hero, on the other hand, the unknown author of "Beowulf", depicts the Anglo-Saxan era to tell a story of one who fights to better society. The noble King moves as a unit with his men and pride to protect and serve the kinsmen of his realm. Beowulf wards off evil, unaccompanied, with nothing but his hands. As a distinct hero of the Medieval Period, King Arthur relied greatly upon his arms and retainers. "Take thou here Excalibur..." The King had a extraordinary sword which he brought forth and kept at his side at all times. He fought many battles and bore great trust into his prominent sword. "`Now give me my spear.' Then the King got his spear in his hands and ran towards Mordred." The mighty Arthur depended largely upon weapons as an alternative to hand-to-hand combat. "He behold that noble sword - That the pommel and the haft was all preious stones." The distinguished Excalibur was carried and shown with dignity. Immense care and respect was imposed into the weapons of the king. The noble King Arthur utilized the arms of his time, opposed to Beowulf's unarmed way of battle. Described as the strongest man in the world, Beowulf voyages across seas slaying evil demons with nothing but his bare hands. "...Knew at once that nowhere on earth had he met a man whose hands where harder." In the confrontation of Grendel and Beowulf, our hero brings forth a force greater than the unmerciful dragon. Weaponless, Beowulf slays the dragon with his divine tools of god. "And was instantly seized himself, claws bent back as Beowulf leaned up on one arm." Beowulf was seen as a hero who conquered the evils with his sheer strength. "Strongest of the Geats - Greater and stronger than anyone anywhere in the world." Beowulf was a hero for who he was, a physically superior being. Additionally, he was adored by the Geats for his personality and mentality, along with his accomplishments of bettering society.

Free Essays - A Psychological Analysis of Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown :: Young Goodman Brown YGB

My first thought when I read the story is that there's a psychological aspect to this. This aspect comes to life when Brown begins to accept the reality that he seems to repress. Which reality is this? As imperfect humans, we've occasionally used poor judgment on issues in our everyday lives, but what is most important is how we deal with these experiences that will become forever frozen in our minds. I feel that this is the major cause of anguish for Brown. When you look at his society and the beliefs of the townspeople, one can understand how Brown's conscience can be very overbearing. So overbearing that it causes him to have delusions concerning the welfare of his soul. I believe it is a dream or nightmare for Brown, one that he will never be able to deal with. One wonders how Brown's townsfolk deal with their sins. Do they repress them or just keep them hid from others? Through time, Brown learns he is not alone when it comes to dealing with good and evil. Isn't he just dealing with good? Or is it the connection between good and evil that bugs him? His own wife, Faith, is bothered with symptoms: "a lone woman is troubled with such dreams." Brown mentions, "She talks of dreams, too," which is a somewhat reassuring statement for him. This seems to confirm the notion that his "journey" is a fabrication of his unconscious (a dream) and that his wife has similar problems. It's quite ironic that her name is Faith, which seems to be the very thing that she is lacking. Also, Brown is caught offguard when he sees the "journeyman" mingle with Goody Cloyse. He comments: "that old woman taught me my catechism"; such a respectable woman is talking to evil. We are also told of how Brown's family wasn't as wholesome as he believed. His grandfather lashed a Quaker woman while his father set fire to an Indian village. How did these men deal with their actions? I can remember reading about Puritans who used to whip themselves for their sins. This torment can exhaust you to a physical numbness but the sin is still in your mind. Through it all, I wonder about all the hell people were put through, during this time period, for acts that were deemed unacceptable I really like the symbolism in this story.

Short Answer Questions

Explain how the poet has explored the importance of community to the sense of belonging. The poet powerfully explores community to achieving sense of belonging. The use of a personal pronoun in â€Å"my village† provides the village context and proves a powerful sense of connection where he belongs. The power of community is highlighted through inclusive pronoun †our† which connotes ownership and connection to the context. Poet makes clear importance of community to achieving sense of belonging. Identify two techniques and explain how they convey the importance of family to belonging. The importance of family to creating a sense of belonging is explored through literary techniques showcased in the magazine cover. On a connotative level the world family reinforces the idea of connection. The magazine’s name â€Å"family tree† is a metaphor for connection as trees have branches. The couple in the middle is given salience. The fact that they are kissing implies the importance of relationships and connection. From looking at the miscenscene we can see how the magazine cover portrays the importance of family to belonging. Analyse how Shona Jones establishes the narrator’s place and her sense of belonging. The narrator explores the significance of place and its impact on a characters sense of belonging. Interrogative language in â€Å"you are married?† is positioning her as the other in this foreign country which is reinforced by her admission of this being a Muslim country. This contributes to her feeling of alienation and lack of connection. In â€Å"songs to sing†¦and they kept me company†, music is personified to keep company. It provides a connection to home. This connection is highlighted by a contrast with disconnection which is reinforced by connotations of homesick. The singing she hears when she is homesick is heard again when she has established a sense of connection in the new country. Reflecting on sound shows the cyclical nature of text and hence the cyclical nature of belonging. It demonstrates that familiarity of place breeds confidence. From the literary techniques in ‘The Singing’ we can see how Jones establishes the narrator’s p lace and her sense of belonging.

The Perfect Storm and the Titanic analysis

The Perfect Storm and the Titanic are both films that are based on true events; they also contain fictional plots and characters. This combination of fact and fiction is the main reason for these accounts becoming films rather than documentaries or other information based programme, as it includes an extra area of interest into the film which would usually be flat because of the droning historical backgrounds. To increase the tension and sympathy felt by the audience at each climatic ending, the directors both use the fictional plots. They take this fact and fiction as a n advantage, and because of this both plots are based on romance, and the people involved around the love. In the case of Jack and Rose, their love creates more tension and sympathy at the ending because it is a forbidden love across the class boundaries of rich and poor, but which seems to be so strong. Bobby and Kristina's love is open and strong. By using these romantic liaisons and including many biographical details throughout the films, it increases the depth of the emotions felt by the audience. This is clearly seen in the Perfect Storm when as the ship is beginning to sink and the camera is showing clips of the crew below deck, Murphy says to the person he is with, ‘this is gonna be hard on my son. ‘ This has a direct impact on the audience as earlier in the film he tried to explain to his son that: his mother might remarry or get a new partner; then he would be his father as well; the young boy does not like this idea and wants his father to stay. Because of this knowledge from earlier in the film it also makes the audience sad for the families of the dead because in the end the only reason they were going was because they wanted to bring in money for their families, but the skipper only wanted to go to bring up his weights in the fish market. Due to both these films developing from actual events, it is crucial for both of these films settings to be fully detailed to add emphasis to the authenticity and credibility of the films. Titanic was an extremely expensive film because of the directors adhering themselves completely to the effect authenticity could have on a film and the way it would make the fictional plot more plausible. The characters were attired in costumes of the period, also the quality of the clothes the actors wore was different to help enforce the class boundaries and the forbidden love between Jack and Rose; in the Perfect Storm the ship is strewn with copious amounts of paraphernalia required for deep sea fishing. The rugged disorganisation emits to the audience an atmosphere of frequent use which takes its toll on the boat and the crew who seem to be continuously draw to the punishment of the sea. To add emphasis to the setting and feeling of hopelessness when the Titanic begins to sink, a short clip is included. It only lasts for a couple of seconds but that is enough for it to have an impact on the audience. It shows the Titanic in all its glowing glory, in the middle of the pitch black Atlantic Ocean, the water is so dark you can't tell where the water is and where the sky is. The music in both films seems to be centred on an orchestra. During scenes when there is great suspense, tension and danger the music changes. It becomes thicker and louder, the tempo often increases and there is a contrast between the length and the pitch of notes and the instruments used. There are long, quite high pitched notes being played by wind and string instruments, with the quickening drum beats and low wind instrument blasts, which are often accompanied by clashing cymbals. This type of music occurs in both films: in the Titanic when the ship hits the iceberg; during the Perfect Storm when the helicopter crashes and while the crew attempt an about turn with the boat. During ‘tender' moment, the sound changes dramatically. For instance, when Rose and Jack are reunited, the music fades into the compassionate theme tune, which is played stridently over the top of resonating sound of the two lovers running feet. The effect of this is to emphasise the audience's awareness of the absolute love felt between them. This use of love in each film brings conflicting thoughts into the heads of the audience. For some reason, the audience feels compassionate towards the plight of the characters, almost admiring them for their bravery in the face of danger, but in both films it was clearly the decision of the individuals themselves to undertake the journeys. In the Perfect Storm this idea is again conflicted with the audience's knowledge that most of the people are only going on the voyage to raise funds so they can support their families. In the end the feeling of the audience towards the characters within the film is one of sympathy because the characters are trying to be the people they are expected to be; to live up to standards and to push the boundaries of anticipation; to provide more for their families so that they can live a better life almost to the point of foolhardiness. During the Perfect Storm when the boat reaches the eye of the storm, there are many alterations in the film to effect the mood and feelings of the audience. The music undergoes an almost undetectable metamorphosis, slipping gently between the dramatically thick, heavy use of instruments in the time of danger, slowly filtering out most of the noise to leave a lightly textured tone of long high wind and string notes. In the duration of this scene the lighting is also subtly changed. The first shot is from outside the boat, surrounded by tumbling waves and rolling dark clouds. The camera is then focused on the bridge of the Andrea Gale in an interior shot and onto the faces of William and Bobby. The bridge is surrounded by an almost glaring darkness. As they hit the eye of the storm, their faces are slowly illuminated by a rich honey coloured light. The camera changes to a shot from within the bridge of the boat. The audience's eye is lead, out over the prow of the boat onto a large zone of calm, soothingly lapping water bathed in the rich ambiance of the light from between the parted huge billowing cumulus clouds. The expressions on the faces of the crewmen change to facades of wonder. But these expressions are quickly transformed to their former selves as the subtle light fades into the darkness. At this point the audience's senses are heightened to the emotions of the characters and the audience feels a sudden heaviness which makes them sympathetic as they can see the process of realization that occurs on the crew as the find they are at the centre of the storm. This use of lighting is also used on the Titanic. The lights on the ship begin to flicker on and off soon after the collision with the iceberg. This is a successful technique as it mingles with the audience's knowledge that they already have of the historical background to the film. This makes the audience nervous as they can see the upper class going around like it was any other day on the ship, as they believe the ship to be unsinkable and do not realise the immediate danger to their lives. To add to the extent of the effect that the lighting has on the audience, many techniques are used at the same time in conjunction with one another. This is often the case with lighting and camera angles. For instance, in both films to emphasise the tremendous tragedies of each accident, series of short clips are added in the endings. In the Perfect Storm the camera quickly concludes the lives of each character below deck by focusing on them during their last moments, this takes you around the below deck area of the ship as each man seems to be in the place most familiar to them. This cutting to and from each character adds to the authenticity of each character's life as their emotions are plainly seen and have a large impact on the audience. This is also used in the Titanic, as the quartet plays out it's final ballad flashing images are shown that correspond to earlier in the film when you see the lower classes being locked below deck. The images include: two elderly people lying together on their bed saying their last goodbyes, the camera is above them to show the water rising around them; an Irish woman telling her children a bedtime story to make them sleep and try to reduce their suffering. This is almost from the perspective of the children to show how this grieves the mother: the faces of the ship stewards as they continue to try and keep the lower classes down below where they will inevitably die; Dr. Andrews standing alone on the lounge of the upper class contemplating the fate of many that he knew should this situation occur would die, the shot is sweeping and on an angle, drawing through the lounge to the dining room where the floor is completely submerged in water on which most of the furniture is floating. Throughout these clips the lighting flashes constantly or is completely cut off, surrounding the people in the darkness of their imminent expiration.

A Memorable Experience: My Son’s Graduation Day

Memorable Experience Having children in my life make me feel more responsible. I have two children, teenagers, Elvis 17 years old and David 14 years old. My husband and I raise them with love and devotion but It comes a moment and we realize that they are growing up very fast. My younger son finished eight grade In Forest Middle School. Celebrating my son s graduation was a memorable experience for me. A good looking Is Important for this event. For examples, he was dressed In pants, and shirt, and tie. He looked Like a man.He Is taller than me and that It means too such for me because I m very short for him. And sure I was In perfect dress for that event, too. I bought a beautiful dress especially for that day. I invited my mother to be with us in that special day. The ceremony was so emotional. For instance, the principal speech was so emotional and encouraging the student for their future, so in the end of it everybody were in cheer. Another emotional moment was when one of the st udent sang the national anthem. She did it in perfect way and all the people liked it.And the third and important nominal moment was when I heard MO son ‘s name by the principal f the school who gave him the diploma. I was in tearful from emotions. His name was between honor students. He is such a nice child. He never gives me hard time during his life. My mother and I felt both proud of him. We took some pictures to memorize those moments, with teachers, who felt so proud for my son, and his friends and then we left. The party for graduated student is the cherry on cake. The party took place in a small bar. He did know nothing about it. The party was a surprise for him. Y younger sister was prepared the party. The adornments and lour balloons decorated the place. All my sisters and brothers with their husbands and wife with their children ,too, were there to help her and to celebrate with my family. There also were friends, and relatives, and neighbors, too. The drinks, the m usic, and the food were amazing. Everybody had fun that day. We danced and we sang Albanian music all late afternoon. To memorize those moments we did pictures and videos. Celebrating my son ‘s graduation was the most wonderful and amazing moment for my family especially for younger one.A Memorable Experience: My Son's Graduation Day By trendily with love and devotion but it comes a moment and we realize that they are growing up very fast. My younger son finished eight grade in Forest Middle School. Celebrating my son ‘s graduation was a memorable experience for me. A good looking is important for this event. For examples, he was dressed in pants, and shirt, and tie. He looked like a man.

Character Sketch of Patrick Jane in The Mentalist

Character Sketch – Patrick Jane, The Mentalist Patrick Jane is the primary character on The Mentalist, a dramatic series that uses the homicide team of the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to showcase Jane’s talents. He has a reputation for his observation skills, which are highly useful when questioning suspects and witnesses, even though he can appear unfeeling when interacting with the recently bereaved. He frequently challenges his superiors, and does it in a mocking manner.Jane’s career prior to the CBI gig was as a charlatan, actually. He was the kind of entertainer that people in need actually believe in – they think he can speak to their dead relative and deliver messages. He was really just reading the audience members’ body language, and filling in the blanks from his imagination. In his interactions with his co-workers and suspects he comes off as quirky, but is quite often spot-on. Otherwise the series wouldn’t have lasted four years (so far).His has a great sense of humor, and is mischievous, even though he is still in mourning for his wife and child, who were murder victims. This creates a high degree of tension and may act as Jane’s motivation in his quest to find the murderer in each episode. Jane is a very attractive white male in his thirties. He’s of average height, with a slim build. His curly, light-brown hair is a little too long to be considered professional. While he always wears a jacket and usually wears a vest, he never wears a tie.Jane’s unconventional attire matches his apparent need to flaunt authority by baiting his superiors. When Jane is trying to work out a problem, he lies on the couch in the the detectives’ area, shuts his eyes, and lets the pieces fall into place. Quite often he sits on that same couch to have a cup of tea. We never see him drinking anything else. Jane is a round character, as we see his struggle to deal with his loss, to develop h is relationships with co-workers, particularly Lisbet. She may be, at some point, a love interest.There are flashbacks to illustrate (showing us) the horror he encountered when he discovered his family’s bodies, and we see that he’s getting emotionally healthier, though he still struggles. His character is dynamic in that regard, yet consistent in his appeal, his cockiness and his mockery of those who take themselves too seriously (telling us his personality traits). He is plausible to the degree that it is possible there’s a person like this – he isn’t superhuman, or anything. He’s just so charming, and so sympathetic, that it’s unlikely that any of us will meet anyone like this. It does work, though.

Aspects of Belonging Notes

Acceptance: A strong sense of belonging within a community is reliant not only on the willingness to assimilate, but also on those already in the community to be accepting. †¢Feelings of acceptance can heighten a sense of belonging whereas rejection can alienate individuals. †¢An individual’s fear of alienation can lead them to think or act in ways that are not true to their ideology. Understanding †¢For an individual to feel that they belong to a particular person, place or group, they need to accept and understand the social expectations and behaviours of that community. Understanding the values of a person, place or group is the fundamental foundation for mutual respect that allows for a sense of belonging. †¢An understanding and appreciation of individual differences – even within a group – is essential for the smooth running of the society and thus is the origin of the sense of belonging or not belonging. Relationships †¢The need to belong to a group or community shapes our behaviour, attitude and actions. When humanity experiences a strong connection to a place the notion of belonging is strengthened and enriched. †¢When our relationship with a place is shaped by a narrow and biased view of the world, our notion of belonging can be questionable. †¢Connections with individuals, groups or places can nurture a sense of belonging through the relationship with that other person, group or place. †¢Relationships are the basis upon which an individual may feel a sense of belonging or not belonging towards a person or place. When significant relationships in life are fractured, often many other aspects related to an individual’s wellbeing will be negatively impacted. †¢Relationships come in many forms and can either allow an individual to experience a sense of belonging or hinder this sense of belonging. Notions of Identity †¢When your cultural identity is marginalised, you can feel disl ocated and displaced, and believe that you do not belong to your culture or part of the dominant culture. Our search for who we are is fuelled by a need to find a place in the world where we feel we belong. †¢Time and the passage of time can have a significant impact on our notion of identity and from that – to whom and to where an individual might belong. †¢An individual’s fear of alienation can make them act or think in ways that are not true to their ideology. †¢Our individual identity is greatly constructed by how others perceive us. †¢The community surrounding you impacts your opinion of selfhood, consequently moulding your identity. Experience We search for a place to belong, not realising that it is our perceptions and attitudes, not the place, that ultimately allows us to feel a sense of belonging. †¢Personal experiences shape our beliefs and values and hence contribute to their sense of self and ultimately where they belong. †¢Exp eriences can have both positive and negative effects on individuals depending on the extent and power of the knowledge gained. †¢The way we view and assess the experiences of life can change overtime and thus impact how we establish the present and future. Place/Landscape †¢ Strong conclusion: Strong relationships nourish belonging, whilst damaged relationships may be detrimental to the experience of belonging† It is evident that both composers represent this interpretation, but in varying ways – while Romulus focuses more on so how relationships – and barriers to these – can hinder belonging, â€Å"other related text† focuses much more on the†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. and how these flourish and nourish one’s sense of belonging/ Although different, both composers effectively present their interpretation of relationships, and how these can either nourish or hinder one’s sense of belonging. OR In conclusion, both â€Å"† and â€Å"† show the various ways in which relationships with people and surroundings can impact an individual’s experience of belonging. Degrees of empathy, understanding, prejudice and sexual attraction, as shown in the examples above, clearly help determine the nature and strength of some of the relationships within the respective texts, and the extent to which they can and do impact on an individual’s broader sense of belonging or exclusion. Romantic, professional and cultural affiliation with others and his surroundings are integral to Romulus’ efforts to belong in his new country, Australia.