Day Nineteen

Well... Since I have never written a book before I really do not know what is missing in my book. I wish I could know what is missing so I can have a good book but until then all I can do is follow the blogs that Mr. Prier is giving. I think that the part that is most lacking is the magic part. I really do not know how to incorporate magic into my story but I am trying.

I really want my story to stand out by the Jamaican culture because everyone is not doing that culture. I think that I could add more excitement into the story. Yes... I think that my story is kind of dull and I feel that I need to add a little more excitement just to keep the kids engaged into the story. I really think that the magic and number part is really going to hurt me because I STILL DONT KNOW how to incorporate that into the story.

Day Eighteen

The folk-tale that I read was The Man Who Never Lied. It was about this man who never lies and everybody knows him even people in the never never lands ( yes I said never never lands ). The king asked  him if it is true that he has never lied he said yeah. Then the king was like will you ever lie in your life and he said no. So the king put him up to the test, he told the boy to go and tell the queen to prepare a big dinner and he will have dinner with her. The little boy did and then the next day the king told the queen that the little boy was lying. The queen told the king what the little boy said and it turn out that... the little boy DID NOT lie.

This story was funny to me at first. The only part that was confusing was in the folk tale the king was talking about his foot being on a stirrup ( whatever that is ). I did not know what that was. I really like how this guy has NEVER lied in his story because that shows that he is an honest and truthful young man. I wish that I had that type of personality. But anyways, the moral to the story is that even though people might tempt you to lie do not lie because Karma will come back and bite you in the bootie!
        
                                           ~ Taj Brimmer <3

Day Seventeen

The story that I read was The Red and Blue Coat, when I first read this story I laughed because my friend and I do this everyday. The story is about how these two friends did everything together and they even had their houses facing each other. So one day a man came walking down the street with a coat on. It was red and blue on the other. One of the friends was like "Wasn't that a beautiful red coat the man was wearing today?" and then the other friend was like oooh no it was blue and then they started arguing. Then the trickster was like "Both of you are wrong, and both of you are right. Yes, what each one saw was true. You are fighting because you only looked at my coat from your own point of view."


My story The Grasshopper and the Toad is similar because they both have to do with friends. The stories are also similar because the moral of one story is like the flow of another. For example the grasshopper and the toad can only see each other for how they act at the dinner table because they are so different so they only see each other from one point of view. 


They are different because besides animals they use people to tell the story. In the Red and Blue coat they are so close like brothers. They are so close that they decide to build houses across from each other facing each other. In grasshopper and the toad they are not that close. 


I thing that the message in the first story is to look at things from a different point of view. It is just like when you argue with someone. You should not be stubborn, you should try to be considerate and look walk in the other persons shoes. 

Day Sixteen

Tya - One of the main characters in the story , she will have a Jamaican accent of course. She has the voice of the know it all, she thinks she is better than everyone but deep inside she really has a kind heart. The sound of her voice I guess would kind of be like the preppy girl ( not too preppy, kind of like how I act )


Bailey - He is also one the main characters in the story, he has that shy voice at first but then when gets around people he knows he can talk talk talk talk and he also has a Jamaican accent. He has to feel you out because he has been shut down many times before.


Tya - Wa gwan! < hi >
Bailey - Wa gwan! < hi >
Tya - It is like freezing out here!
Bailey - Yeah.
Tya - Dude? Every ting criss? < Everything cool? >
Bailey - Yep.
Tya - ( looks down at shoes ) Cooh deh! < look at that > Why are you wearing busted kicks?
Bailey - Why aren't you wearing a jacket?
Tya - You are weird man!
Bailey - Thanks ( rolls eyes )
Tya - I got to go I will talk to you later dude.
Bailey - (mumbles) Wear a jacket next time.
Tya - What you say bum?
Bailey - Me seh < I said > See you next time! Mi wi si yuh! < bye >
Tya - Likke man! < bye > ( walks away clueless )


I tried to put some Jamaican words into the story so not only will you learn words but the reader will get excited and want to read more of the story. 

Day Fifteen

My Animoto presentation was okay, of course their are some things I wish I could have done better. I feel that I over thought it (like I do everything). The pictures where really pretty and the Jamaican music just added onto it. Having speech class really helped because I knew what to do to keep people interested and what not to do. 


I think that I was speaking entirely too fast and nobody could understand what I was saying. That needs to change because I really want people to get the message that I am sending out. 


Sometimes I doubt myself too, like after my presentation I was like oohh that was terrible and Mr. Prier was like you did fine. I just looked at him and was like yeah right. Now that I think about it I actually did not do all that bad.


            ~ Taj Brimmer <3

Day Fourteen

Bailey has had a bad relationships with people, he goes to school and gets picked on because he does not have the fancy shoes or clothes, Bailey goes and make 3 wishes (a good friend, not to be picked on anymore, wishes to get new clothes) Tya and Bailey become best friends, Tya invites Bailey over to dinner and then she realizes that he eats too messy, Bailey invites Tya over for dinner and he realizes that she eats too proper, they get into an argument because they are different, they finally realize that being different does not matter because that might be what keeps their relationship interesting.


It is going to connect because they are going to connect because like the story just flows together so well. I think that placing things in different settings will help with that flow. The moral of the story will be like so obvious because the story is a great example of the moral.


                        ~ Taj Brimmer <3

Day Thirteen

The message that I am trying to give in my story is very similar to the moral of the story. Friends are always going to be there for you no matter what. So it should not matter if they are rich,poor, tall or short. If they are treating you right and they are being a good friend than all that should not matter. It is funny because I had to learn the same thing. I did not want to be this girls friend because she always wore the same pair of shoes and now we are the best of friends.

If you wish to have true friendship with someone, learn to accept each other's faults, as well as each other's good qualities. Now that is the moral of the story. I think this is a good way to teach kids that friends come in any shape or form. If they learn this now then they will be able to teach their kids and then they can teach their kids.

                                            ~ Taj Brimmer <3

Day Twelve

I think that my folk-tale is the Noddlehead folk-tale because Bailey keeps trusting in all these people that he  thought where his friends. So he goes and makes 3 wishes and one of the wishes where having a good friend. Then Tya comes along at first she treats him bad just like all of the other people did then she finally realizes that her and Bailey have alot in common and she becomes his friend.

The Noddlehead folk-tale relates to the message I want to send because at the end of the story Bailey corrects his error. The moral of the story is it does not matter where you come from because friends are there forever. I belive that the moral of the story relates to the Noddlehead folk-tale.

                                                   ~ Taj Brimmer <3

Day Eleven

Let me start off by saying that 3 is my absolute favorite number because my name has 3 letters and I was born in the third month which is March ( ooohhh yea!! ) But past that... AGAIN!! I do not know who I am going to put this into my story. When you comment at the bottom let me know what you think or if you have any ideas let me know.

I want to say something like 3 acts of kindnes because in the story because Tya is very mean. Or maybe have Bailey (the boy) make these 3 wishes that gets him to a good friend and that friend would be Tya. Yeah, I think that is maybe what I am going to do. Have Bailey go and wish for a good friend and his wishes direct him to Tya. So this would be not only my magic but my number thing.

                              ~ Taj Brimmer <3

Day Ten

Well... I am all caught up with everything. Only problem is that I need help with the magical part. I really do not know what to do really, I do not know how to incorporate that into my story because the story is so simple and straight to the point. I am really proud of myself being caught up with everything because I am trying to stop procrastinating for things. I started this little thing to where if I turned my work in late however many points it was is however many push-ups I have to do.

I really like how people give their honest opinion on the comments. Sometimes people just comment just to get their little comment of the way and they are not saying anything really. So this message is for you. IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE ME YOUR FULL HONEST OPINION DO NOT COMMENT ON MY POST! Peoples honest opinion really help me because they are giving me a better view of what I am talking about besides just one.

                            ~ Taj Brimmer <3

Day Nine

When I first read this blog I was like I really do not know how I am going to incorperate magic into my story. Simply because I have grown out of that stage and I do not really know what kids enjoy in a book. I am going to try my best to do this you guys but if you have any suggestions please let me know when you comment.

The first thing that I was thinking was since at the begining of the story they do not like eachother. When they have dinner with eachother have like a "niceness" spell in their drinks and then they become friend.

Second thing was have one of them fall while they are at recess and the meaness falls out of them and then that character realizes that it should not matter where they come to to be friends.

Then I thought that maybe I should have one of the characters go to like the magic tree and wish for a good friend and the friend is other character.

                                               ~ Taj Brimmer <3

Day Eight

As you can see in this picture are two young girls that are just walking down the street enjoying life. They look like they are just having fun. This picture relates to my story because in my story I have two people that come from two different worlds. They get into this big argument and at the end of the book they realize that it does not matter where you come from it just matters how your friends treat you.

I think that this picture is telling me that everyone needs to take some time out of their day and just relax and talk to your friends. Teens now a days are very busy and we do not not time for much. Just taking 30 minutes to an hour of your day and just sit back and enjoy life. Plus, this will help so you will not become so stressed. I really like this picture!!

                                ~ Taj Brimmer <3

Day Seven

The main characters are:
Tya:
Female
Physical traits: tall, skinny, caramel skin, brown eyes, long hair, freckles on her face, newest shoes and clothes, very proper and has very good manners.
Personal history: attends Glengoffe Prep, parents have top notch jobs, lives next to the beach, parents spoil her, Christian Religion, healthy, 10 years old.
Inner person traits: very spoiled, intelligent, loves clothes, very confident about herself, has a little sense of humor, she is Jamaican and black and she does not like people that are lower than her.

Bailey:
Male
Physical traits: tall, mid-size, dark skinned, dark brown eyes, short hair and a big nose, does not have manners and is improper.
Personal history: attends Glengoffe Prep, mother works hard being a waitress at a restaurant, lives in a very small house, wears his brothers clothes, does not like stuck up people and is 10 years old.
Inner person traits: not so confident about himself, has a huge sense of humor, 100% Jamaican, very intelligent, does not take everything for granted and very humble.

**Im trying to get the idea that they are opposites and somehow opposites can attract and you can become the best of friends. Is that a good message to send to little kids? WHEN YOU COMMENT PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!

                           ~ Taj Brimmer <3

Day Six

At first when I did the research I laughed because the way they speak is so funny, but beyond that that here are some words and phrases of Jamacia. Jamaica does not only speak Jamaican, they also speak English and America has borrowed some the words that they use.

way yuh a'go, e e? = where you going?
wa gwan = hello
'seh wa? = what did you say.
g'way = go way
every ting criss = everythings cool
likkle man - bye
mi ah zuh - bye
mi wi si yuh = bye
renk = rude
mi nuh no = I dont know
me seh = I said
axe = ask
gal pickney/bway pickney = children boy/girl
caw = because
mi nuh nyam = I have not eaten
cooh deh! = look at that!
Jamaican words and phrases
Most of the things that they say are like American slang. Americans try to short everything down to make it easier and that is just how Jamaican language is. Most of the stuff Americans do say like me nuh no or axe. It was very funny to read these words at first.

                                               ~ Taj Brimmer <3

Day Five

Names in Jamaica are very weird but I want the names of the characters to be different but also common at the same time. I know that sounds weird but it is kind of like my name, Taj is weird but common at the same time. I looked up some names and I seen Tya (girl name), I even tried to look for the meaning of it but nothing came up. Now for the boy name I seen Bailey. I chose this name because I really liked the little baby Bailey on the show Teen Mom. When I looked up the meaning of Bailey it said that it ment bailff. I wanted both of the characters names to begin with a "T" because it is the best letter ever but then I decided to jump out of my comfort zone. :) Then I seen the name Tya for a girl and a name Tyler for a boy. I really do not know for sure what I want my characters names to be. This is going to be the most difficult thing for me because I can never make up my mind for anything.

                                                           ~ Taj Brimmer <3

Day Four

The main setting of the story is the dinner table at the two friends house. I also wanted them to be on the playground when they realized that they have not been to eachothers house. The main setting is when the two friends are at eachothers dinner table (dinner time) and when they are on the play ground (afternoon) because that is when kids usually have recess. The dialogue of the two characters will begin at the recess setting and the weather will be sunny (they are in Jamacia). Like I said before, the dinner table will be where everything is mostly taken place.

Since the story is taken place is Jamacia, the climate is going to be hot. In the folk tale they only had two settings but I want to add a little spice to it and do something a little bit different just to make it more interesting because I do not want the reader to get bored.

                                         ~ Taj Brimmer <3

Day Three

After I did my research Jamaica is a very interesting place. Here are a few things that I discovered.

Religion: Christian and Ratsafari

Dining Etiquette: manners are very informal, more formal the occasion the more strict the protocol, can not sit down until instructed, fork is held in the left hand and the knife is held in the right, can not begin eating until told, it is considered polite to finish everything on the plate. 

Language: The official language is Creole but English and African is spoken. 

Music: Reggae and rock, Bob Marley is celebrated a lot in Jamaica 

Food: Jerk pork, jerk chicken and red stripe beer.

Geography: 3rd largest island in the Caribbean, home to the Blue Mountains. 

Clothing: Clothing and fashion is not popular, defined by the use of primary colors and the popular of cotton because of the tropical climate. 

Dance: Dancing is very important because it is a way to express yourself.

                                                      ~ Taj Brimmer <3

About Jamaica

Jamaica Culture

The Grasshopper and the Toad

Day Two

Motif: Friendship

Symbols: Grasshopper sounds and the toad being dirty.

Characters: Grasshopper and toad

  Those things are very important because they make up the story and without these things you would not have any story. Besides having a grasshopper and a toad I wanted to have people like a little boy or girl (because I could not think of any animals) I wanted one to be rich and one to be poor. Like I said before I wanted the children to understand that if you have a true friend that is always there for you, it should not matter where you come from.

                                 ~ Taj Brimmer <3 

Day One

            The story that I chose was The Grasshopper and the Toad, it is an oral tradition folk tale from Nigeria, Africa. I chose this story because I had similar problem with one of my friends and I thought it would be cute to teach little kids that everyone is different and that you must accept your friends however they come. I wanted to have my story be like one friend is rich and the other one is poor and they realize that they should accept where each other comes from.

           I chose to do this in the Jamaican culture because I want to visit Jamaica. Almost everyone in my family has been to Jamaica except for me and I am VERY JEALOUS!

        I really want kids to get the message that everyone in the world is different and you should accept people no matter where they come from.

                                                 ~ Taj Brimmer <3