The Topic of Public Relations Essay Example for Free

The Topic of Public Relations Essay Public relations are essential part and parcel of any organization for its smooth running with sustained courage. Every leading management industries, accounting firms, institutions, and name it, pay huge emphasis to the subject of public relation among other important issues pertinent to growth. Imagine the best of the companies in the world without publicity; it is like hiding cold water in the far Sahara desert of the hottest climate. The present world of globalizations has rather advanced beyond mere publicity; it is the game of marketing the worse along the only available demand. It involves constant briefing of the progress of the organizations with the consciousness of keeping tract on the goal. The smaller the industry, the more effective is the relation essence is fulfilled. Many people would prefer â€Å"boutique† firms to â€Å"global communication† firms. This in a way reminds of the need for effectiveness of relations irrespective of size for sustenance.   Personal Definition Public relations is the systematic way of relating the development, activities and forecast of an institution to the masses towards bridging the communication gap between the firm (government or non-governmental organization) and the stake holders. Usually, a goal driven organization is set to fully utilize the available raw material to a fashioned and newly refined product. The suppliers of the raw materials could either be the tax payers, the shareholders or an asset from the entrepreneur.   Public relations is, simply-stated, the art of creating and maintaining relationships between an organization and the public.   Edward Bernays In 1807, sequel to Thomas Jefferson first use of the word public relations in a conceptual sense of a â€Å"political policy† than the contemporary meaning in a communication bridging, Edward Bernays accordingly defines thus, â€Å"Public Relations entails the management activities where public attitudes are drawn, defines the policies, procedures and interest of an organization followed by accomplishment of program of action to earn public understanding and acceptance† (Edward, n.d)   Robert Heath In the contemporary world, Robert submits that â€Å" Public relations is a set of management, advisory, supervisory, and technical functions that foster an industry’s capability to strategically listen to, appreciate, and contribute to those persons who are rather contributive to the missions, values and objectives of the organization with the return of mutual exchange† (Robert L. n.d.). It is of important to note here that the management function is directed at strengthening symbiotic profit-cost relationships between an institution and its entire public.   The Modern Organization Picture The underlining need for public awareness is preserved in all definitions of public relations, with little or no contrast. The present industries invest heavily in research at all levels, through the marketing department. Individual opinions are gathered in form of data. The data are collected, collated. From this thesis are formulated and appropriate recommendation follows. Of cogent is the need to strike out every problem and accordingly map out the best resolution to resolve future crisis. This is publicly presented in form of awareness. All is solely aimed at meeting the objectives of sustaining the company-to-persons mutual benefits.   For a professional running in the modern practice of public relations, relations required are in the fields of art, social sciences (psychology, anthropology, sociology and democrat), local and international politics, economics and the acts of management and ethics. Technical knowledge is necessary for researches accomplishment most importantly in the final dissemination of the findings through the media of any form.   Albeit, many public relation officers are somehow regarded as corporate slaves, may I further stress that companies who have senses of relevancies in the public enrichment designate this assignment to the office of the director of public relations, and some the office of the Public relation manager. Organizations like police department, trade unions at large found the need for instituting a quarter for same purpose. References Scott M. Cutlip, Allen H. Center,Glen M. Broom, Effective Public Relations, 7th Ed., Prentice-Hall, Inc. A Simon and Schuster Company, Englewood Cliffs, N.J. 07632, 1994.

Impact of Capitalism on Global Development

Impact of Capitalism on Global Development Is geographically uneven development an inevitable outcome of capitalism? Harris (2006, p. 2) claims that in ‘examining the general character of the process of capitalist development as it has appeared historically across many different countries over a long period of time, one of its most striking characteristics is the phenomenon of uneven development.’ However we choose to define the terms ‘development’ and ‘capitalism’, it is undeniable that in recent centuries capitalism – of one kind or another – has been the dominant economic and social system throughout the world and the development has been geographically uneven – whether considered at the local, national, regional or global level. Whether the former is the cause of the latter is open to debate. Further, whether the former must necessarily cause the other, as suggested by the title question, is even less clear. This essay will first provide definitions and explanations of development and capitalism. Next it will consider the argument â₠¬â€œ most famously put forward by David Harvey, but also expounded by many others – that capitalism inevitably leads to geographically uneven development. Development can and has been defined in many different ways. Until the 1970s it was generally accepted that increasing GNP per capita was the primary – even the exclusive – objective of development. Thus development was measured exclusively in terms of GNP per capita. Since 1970, however, many criticisms have been levelled against the use of GNP as a measure of societal well-being, and various other objectives of development have been suggested to replace it. The criticisms encompass both the theoretical and the empirical, but broadly speaking they arise from the fact that use of GNP per capita as a measure of development treats economic growth as synonymous with development whereas in fact development must incorporate the enabling of individuals to achieve basic aims such as to live long, to be well-nourished, to be healthy and to be literate (Sen, 1999). Furthermore, since development was viewed in terms with GNP per capita, it was concerned with the average or aggreg ate income, rather than with the incomes of the poorest. As Arndt (1983, p. 1) explains, ‘ disappointment was increasingly widely expressed that, after two decades of unprecedentedly high rates of economic growth in most of the Third World, hundreds of millions remained in abject poverty and in many countries income distribution appeared to have worsened.’ Arndt goes on to argue that at this time, a myth emerged that something called ‘trickle-down theory’ had existed in the 1950s and 1960s, but that no development economist ever actually subscribed to any such theory. This alleged theory posits that the benefits of the accumulation of capital by the elites would ‘trickle-down’ to the masses through the creation of jobs and other economic opportunities. Whether trickle-down theory was originally part and parcel of the view of development as increasing GNP per capita, or whether it was appended to such a notion of development ex-post, it is certa inly clear that the benefits of economic growth did not trickle down to the masses. On the contrary, in fact, the world has witnessed increasing inequality. It is this inequality – or unevenness of development – with which we are most concerned in this essay. As Harvey (2005, p. 55) describes it, a ‘convergence in well-being has not occurred and geographical as well as social inequalities within the capitalist world appear to have increased in recent decades. The promised outcome of poverty reduction from freer trade, open markets and â€Å"neo-liberal† strategies of globalization has not materialized. Environmental degradations and social dislocations have also been unevenly distributed.’ Capitalism refers to an economic and social system in which the means of production are mainly privately-owned and operated for profit. It is defined by Bernstein (2002, p. 242) as ‘(a) Production of goods and services for market exchange (commodities), to make profits; (b) founded on a definitive social (class) relation between owners of capital and owners of labour power; (c) to which other social relations and divisions are linked, e.g. those of gender, urban/rural differences, nationality.’ The private owners of capital determine investment, distribution, income, production and pricing according to their own self-interest. Within these parameters, however, there are various forms of capitalism. Historically, it can be said that capitalism has gone through various stages: from merchant capitalism, through industrial capitalism; finance capitalism and monopoly capitalism to state capitalism. Further, in any stage of capitalism, any given economy can be more or less pur ely capitalist. In the world today, for example, every economy is in reality a mixed economy with elements of capitalism and elements of regulation and planning – it is the balance between free market policies and private ownership vs. regulation and public ownership that determines the extent to which an economy can be said to be capitalist or otherwise. According to Marxist accounts of capitalism, capital is created through buying commodities in order to create new commodities with an exchange value – as distinct from the use value – higher than the cost of the original commodities. Most importantly, under capitalism, labour had become a commodity itself and surplus labour is extracted by the capitalist who gains greater value from the labour (through the sale-value of the produced commodities) than the exchange value of the labour (i.e. the wage that the capitalist pays). For Marx, it was this cycle of extracting surplus labour that forms the basis of the cla ss-struggle. Harvey (see, for example, 1982, 1985, 2005, 2006) has provided what is arguably the most significant contribution to the discourse on capitalism as inevitably resulting in geographically uneven development. Harvey points to the geographic contradiction between the fixity and mobility of capital as central to understanding geographically uneven development. In order to produce value, capitalists invest in infrastructure – a form of capital with a long life and fixed location. Over its long life, this capital facilitates the production of commodities which are sold to recoup the original cost of the infrastructure and to make a profit. Meanwhile, social infrastructures are built up as the local labour force develops skills specific to the production of these commodities, relations develop between the capitalist and local suppliers, clients, politicians and banks, and knowledge is gained of local industrial processes. However, the value – or profit – produced is not spatially restricted in this way and can circulate to be invested in labour power and means of production elsewhere. Thus it may be invested in competing businesses or in different sectors of the economy. Cheaper labour and other means of production are sought and tapped in other locations within the country, in other countries in the same region, or beyond. As a result firms in a particular locality may close or reduce their level of output thus reducing employment and/or wages in the area. In turn, state agencies will receive less income through taxation, and local businesses such as those in the retail sector will suffer as the local population has less income. Home-owners may default on their mortgage payments and lenders will be forced to sell the properties at lower prices as the economy declines. Yet these state agencies, shops and shopping centres, and houses are spatially fixed – they cannot be moved elsewhere to where they could produce more value. Also, while firm s have the option to move to locations where profitability would be higher, they are also likely to have become somewhat embedded in the local area (as a result of relationships built up with customers, suppliers, employees, state officials and banks) and they have to assess the benefits of moving against the cost of building all of these relationships from scratch in a new location. The end result is the attempt (by the different stakeholders – individually or collectively) to defend exchange values in any given place to guarantee future streams of profits, wages, rents and tax revenues. Since local capitalists and local labour classes both have a vested interest in the continued existence of local industry, territorial cross-class allegiances are formed, and geographically uneven development ensues. While it is important not to conflate globalisation with capitalism since globalisation refers to a much broader process of increasing interdependence that goes far beyond the economic, Coe Yeung (2001, pp. 370-371) provide interesting input to the debate on uneven development with a consideration of globalisation, arguing that ‘one needs not be a Marxist to appreciate the uneven outcomes of the globalisation processes First, globalisation impacts differently in different sectors and industries even in the same country and/or region. While global restructuring tends to favour high tech industries, it has serious repercussions for such labour-intensive industries as textiles and clothing†¦ Second, global restructuring can produce geographically uneven impact on producers and/or countries specialising in different stages of the same production chain.’ This ties in with the explanation of how the expansion of capitalism produces new forms of unevenness, and the stagna tion of certain localities. According to Walker (1978, p. 34), for example, as capitalism expands it develops new distinctions of space thus creating a spatial mosaic of development in which none of the parts are truly independent or particularly susceptible to regional development programmes. Additionally, the expansion of capitalism intensifies its penetration of space thus increasing its mobility giving capital a strategic advantage over labour. As a result, local development becomes increasingly reliant on external capital. ‘Thus, although there is a certain evening up of development as the capitalist core expands, uneven development of a new kind necessarily emerges within what can be considered a fully developed capitalist space. This kind of unevenness is implicit in the use-value nature of capital’s relation to space, in fragmenting tendencies of the capitalist division of labor and its class hierarchy, and in the tendency of capital constantly to reduce the tim e of circulation.’ Agnew’s (2001, p. 6) perspective also demonstrates how globalization has accentuated the uneven development that results from capitalism, arguing that in this context, for example, the ‘need for rapid access to information has privileged those ‘world cities’ that have good connectivity to other places. The local availability of entrepreneurship, venture capital, technical know-how, and design capabilities differentiate ‘attractive’ from ‘unattractive’ sites for investment. At the same time, [niche] markets associated with different social groups increasingly cross national boundaries, giving rise to cross-national markets that can be served by factories located in any one of them or, for labor-intensive goods, produced wherever labor costs are lower.’ What, then, of the role of the state in today’s mixed economies? As Brenner (1998, p. 11) has pointed out, in the past century, it has been the state – and not private capital – that has planned, produced and regulated large-scale infrastructure projects (including transport infrastructure, public transport systems, utilities, energy, subsidised public housing and education systems, communications systems) to direct the ways in which labour power and capital reproduce. This highlights the fact that a purely capitalist system does not exist in any country in the world. As Harvey (1982, p. 404) explains, the state control of large-scale infrastructure enables it to direct infrastructural development differentially as the ‘territorial organisation of the state becomes the geographical configuration within which the dynamics of [infrastructural] investment is worked out.’ Thus the territorial organization of the state could in theory at least be used to channel infrastructure development in such a way as to produce geographically even – or at least more even – development. Yet Brenner (1998, p. 12) argues that in fact the state direction in practice leads to ‘new forms of uneven geographic development’ and that in so doing it produces an equilibrium. Walker (1978, p. 30) claims that geographically uneven development is indeed inevitable in advanced capitalist economies, claiming that no ‘critical observer would imagine that there is something less than systematic in the nature of capitalism producing the inevitable juxtapositions of poverty and wealth, growth and stagnation, and diverse functions in the capitalist city.’ Like Harvey, Walker claims that uneven development occurs as a result of spatial differentiation and capital mobility, two components of any capitalist system. According to Walker, (1978, p. 30), uneven development is the corollary of uneven spatial location of use-values, a nd the spatial organization of use-values is not random but is ‘a systematic product of capitalist development, varying only in form and in degree among advanced capitalist nations.’ Both Harvey and Walker provide a convincing argument for the inevitability of geographically uneven development in a capitalist system thus painting a bleak picture for development and effectively invalidating any claims of regional development programmes or any other policies aimed an evening out development. However, this last point by Walker does offer some scope for optimism. If uneven development in advanced capitalist nations varies in form and, more importantly, degree then the intuitive conclusion would be that it could vary so far that the degree of unevenness reaches zero and thus development is even. Even if in practice development can never be perfectly even, the variance in degree suggests that policies can be implemented to make development more even, if not totally even. In order to devise such policies, it is necessary to understand what aspects of certain capitalists systems have enabled them to produce more even development than others. According to Perrons (2000, p . 24), it is possible to direct policies against uneven development and to do so requires a holistic approach to social theory that explores the differences of experience in different national contexts and at different spatial scales: ‘the nature and pace of change differs between nation states and between different organizations depending on the legislative framework and social and cultural norms leading to different regional and local outcomes. Recognising and understanding these different experiences within capitalism provides a foundation for mapping alternative futures.’ If geographically uneven development is an inevitable outcome of capitalism, then we cannot hope to even out development within a capitalist world system. Short of radical calls for an overthrow of the existing system of economic and social organisation, then, policies directed at evening out development could only ever meet with partial success. However, given the importance of the state in defining and directing spaces of development, and given that every economy in the world today is a mixed economy, it must be conceivable (in theory at least) that the state could provide definition and direction in such a way as to promote even development. In order to do so, however, it is necessary to understand just what it is that causes uneven development. From the analysis above it is clear that uneven development is indeed a characteristic of capitalism; indeed it seems to be one that is inevitable. However the form and extent of that unevenness vary from place to place. Thus a better unde rstanding of exactly what determines the form and extent is necessary to reduce the extent and produced the most desirable (in other words, the least bad) form of uneven development. Bibliography Agnew, J. (2001). The New Global Economy: Time-Space Compression, Geopolitics and Global Uneven Development. Los Angeles: Center for Globalization and Policy Research, UCLA. Arndt, H. W. (1983). The Trickle-Down Myth. Economic Development and Cultural Change , 32 (1), 1-10. Bernstein, H. (2002). Colonialism, Capitalism, Development. In T. Allen, A. Thomas, Poverty and Development in the 21st Century (pp. 241-270). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Brenner, N. (1998, January 7). Between fixity and motion: accumulation, territorial organization and the historical geography of spatial scales. Chicago. Coe, N. M., Yeung, H. W.-c. (2001). Geographical perspectives on mapping globalisation. Journal of Economic Geography , 367-380. Harris, D. J. (2006). Uneven Development. Stanford University, Economics. Harvey D. (1982) The Limits to Capital, Chicago: University of Chicago Press Harvey D. (1985) The geopolitics of capitalism, in D Gregory, J Urry (eds.) Social Relations and Spatial Structures, London: Macmillan, pp 128- 163 Harvey, D. (2005). Spaces of Neoliberalization: Towards a Theory of Uneven Geographical Development . Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag. Harvey, D. (2006). Spaces of Global Capitalism: Towards a Theory of Uneven Geographical Development . London: Verso Books. Perrons, D. (2000). The New Economy and Uneven Geographical Development: Towards a More Holistic Framework for Economic Geography. Economic Geography Research Group. Sen, A. (1999). Development as Freedom. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Walker, R. (1978). Two Sources of Uneven Development Under Advanced Capitalism: Spatial Differentiation and Capital Mobility. Review of Radical Political Economics , 28-38.

Foils in Shakespeares Hamlet :: The Tragedy of Hamlet

Foils in Hamlet Hamlet by William Shakespeare is a well known play. Shakespeare uses foils in Hamlet to further create and explain Hamlet’s character. Foils are created in a play to help the audience better understand a major character by giving the character someone to talk to and compare the major character to. [Using the definition as the thesis was not a good idea in this paper. The assignment said not in the first paragraph, i.e., the paper was to be about how foils affect the meaning of this play.] Foils are minor characters created in a play to help the audience understand a major character better by giving the major character someone to talk to and compare them to. Ophelia can be considered a foil to Hamlet because she helps us see the different attitudes Hamlet has toward certain things. Hamlet, after finding out that his father was murdered, starts acting crazy and giving Ophelia mixed signals about his love for her. Ophelia believes Hamlet loves her but, because of her father’s wishes, constantly turns him down and denies that she feels the same way. Ophelia finally denounces denies that she loves him but Hamlet states that "I did love you once." He also stated that "You should not have believed me, for virtue cannot so inoculate our old stock but we shall relish of it. I loved you not." "Get thee to a nunnery." These lines from the play states [SV -1] that Hamlet was pretending to be delirious and pretending to love Ophelia because of what Claudius has done to his father. Not only does the scene, "Get thee to a nunnery," show how Hamlet feels about Ophelia, but it also shows how Hamlet feels about marriage and women. Hamlet tells Ophelia to go to the convent because she should not want to be a "breeder of sinners" and because there should be no more marriage. Hamlet does not want anymore marriage because that would mean more children and according to Hamlet the only children born to marriage are sinners. Ophelia is also considered a foil for Hamlet because of the difference in the way each grieved for their father’s deaths. The difference between the way Hamlet and Ophelia grieved is that Ophelia’s grief was actually for her father, whereas Hamlet’s grief was for his mother.

Teatro Campensino :: Mexico Spanish Essays

Teatro Campensino Teatro Campensino can be described as an artistic outreach program with political ramifications, the actors are farm workers that find it necessary to spread their message throughout villages composed primarily of poor, Mexican farm workers. The group performs skits that attack "white-washed Mexicans", the Vietnam War, and racism. In "Los Vendidos", director and writer Luis Valdez tackles issues that have plagued Mexican- American history. In fact, by analyzing his play one can deduce several social stigmas and draw parallels to the actual history through the character skits in the play. Furthermore, in order to analyze this play one must delve into the setting, name, characters, and the social ramifications of their situations in order to fully incorporate the scope that this play affects. The name of the play itself has social and political ramifications, that is it reflects the Mexican situation throughout history. Furthermore, the literal meaning of the title is quite ambivilous, "venderse" means to sellout, to betray, or to give away. This can be applied to how Mexicans are treated by Americans and other Mexicans. For instance, Mexicans have been discriminated against for generations, ever since the Spanish conquest. They have been "repatriated" into Mexico during the 1930s, and they have never received the same political or social programs that Anglo- Americans have, such as schools. However, it has also become evident that Mexicans have discriminated against each other throughout the years for various reasons. One of the most prevalent was the schism in the Mexican community between the "American- born of Mexican Parents†¦", "†¦those born and raised in Mexico†¦", and "†¦the largest group were those born in the United States whose parental line age ran back to the original settlers and the early immigrants of the Southwest." (Morin qtd. in Vargas 305). The Old Mexicans, those that were living in the present day United States were somewhat assimilated and accepted by Anglo- Americans because they were a good source of labor. However, the migratory patterns of Mexican immigrants, legal and illegal, allowed the farm owners greater accessibility to a cheap labor force. In fact, the migrations sent the wage of a farmhand to the basement and the Old Mexicans resented this phenomenon. Another way in which this play explores the social and political history of the Mexican-American is through the analysis of the set. For instance, in the window "Honest Sanchos Used Mexicans" indicates that the stereotypical Mexicans "sold" in the store are accurate representations of all Mexicans.

Literal Interpretation In Literature :: essays research papers

Literal Interpretation in Literature Literature is meant to provide a perspective on life. Phrases or quotes found in works of literature may be used to help express one's own thoughts, to describe a particular situation, or even to apply the circumstances in another piece of literature. Readers often utilize literary quotes for this purpose, yet not every reader will interpret a given quote the same way. One example of a phrase which can have many different meanings is the biblical quote "The sins of the father visit upon the children." A literal interpretation of the above quote would mean the wrongdoings of the father somehow affects the children. If the "bad habits" of one generation aren't corrected, they will be passed on to the generations that follow. That can result in generations of drug abusers, spouse abusers, or just rude people. One example of this interpretation might be if a father is a drug abuser, the children will learn from him, and use drugs also. Another example is if the father is abusive, the children will think that is how problems are solved. They, in turn, will be abusive to their families, and will start a vicious cycle for generations to come. These examples definitely show how this biblical quote may be interpreted literally. "The sins of the father visit upon the children" has a deeper meaning than that described above. For example, "father" could be changed to "parent," and these "parents" could mean "generations" that precede the children. A situation that would represent that would be war or pollution. A second example which illustrates how this quote may be interpreted on a more global level is preceding generations could affect the children by means of racial discrimination that has been passed down from long ago. This may have started with slavery and segregation. Then, as generations follow, racial discrimination is passed. All of these situations prove that one quote may have many different meanings. A third way to interpret this biblical quote is to change the word "sins" to a more general or positive term such as "behaviors", "expectations", "experiences", or even "good deeds". By making such a substitution, the quote takes on a new meaning. This makes the biblical quote good or bad depending on the "behaviors". For example, the father may behave in a polite way, which would teach the children behaviors that make many friends, get job offers, and basically get the most out of life. On the other hand, the fathers behaviors could be rude, and the children would learn to be mean, which would cause them to lose their jobs and friends.

Dropout Rate among High School Students

Every year there are thousands of high school students who dropout of school for different reasons in the United States. The data’s statistics regarding the dropout rate of high school students in America since 1990 showed that it diminishes slowly and the problem has been continuing up to this present time. That is why; researches, campaigns and law have been promulgated to help on preventing students to dropout of school. However, the greatest thing to be done is the support of every individual on preventing and helping high school students to stay on schooling.Since the issue is not just pertaining to a dropout student but also with the society as well so every high school dropouts affects society on its economic status. Dropout Rate among High School Students Since the past years, the rate of high school dropouts was considerably higher and has been one of the great issues pertaining to education and to the society. Every time the clock ticks there is one student who drops out of school. And, this dropping out of school affects not only the individual’s life, career or future; but also the community and the economic status of the country as well.That is why it has been a great concern of every policymakers and educational institutions to resolve the problem which continually acts like a terrible disease, a â€Å"silent epidemic† of a country, taking into consideration the dropout rates in the past years in the United States. This paper will show the following information: 1. Dropout rate of high school in America. 2. Effects of high school dropouts to education and to the society. 3. How does dropout rate could be best resolved in both policy and innovative practices.Dropout Rate of High School in America From the early years of individuals’ education, students were compelled by parents to continue studying as much as possible. Because it is said that education is one of the major assets which one can keep for the whole lifetime. Education is a treasure which will give future career and better life. However, many high school students dropped out of school even if parents had given advice and thoughts regarding a better life with the help of standard education.The dropout rate of high school students never diminishes worldwide. In the United States’ rate of dropout, it shows a little change in the past years from 1990 to 2000 (Table 1). â€Å"Data compiled by NCES (National Center for Education Statistics) indicates that the percentage of 16-through 24-year-olds who were dropouts ranged between 10. 9 and 12. 5 percent† (General Accounting Office-GAO, 2002, p. 7).NCES’s dropout rates, of America, in percentage of 16- Through 24 yrs. old who were dropout from Oct. 1990 through Oct. 2000 (cited in GAO, 2002, p. 7) Although, region’s dropout rate shows a discrepancy wherein â€Å"[t]he highest dropout rates occurred in the South and West, while the lowest rates occurred in the Northe ast and Midwest† (GAO, 2002). It’s visible in table 2, â€Å"while the national portion of 16 through 24-year-olds that were dropouts was 10. 9 percent in October 2000, the regional averaged ranged from 12. 9 percent in the South to 8. 5 percent in the Northeast† (GAO, 2002, p. 8)

My Christmas 2008

When I woke up early morning Friday 19. December the first thought that crossed my mind was that finally, today we were getting free from school! This holiday was going to be amazing! Time went on and suddenly I got home from school and the days without homework, early mornings and tired hours were finally over! What a relief†¦ I started these days by just sleeping. I slept for a very long time the first nights. I didn't really do anything special the first weekend. I was rested and ready for a new week full of Christmas, friends, family and fun! Christmas Eve was really good. My aunt and my grandfather visited us and ate dinner with us. I just love the dinner on Christmas Eve! My neighbour, a good friend of mine also showed up late at night, and he stayed with us a little while we watched a movie and talked. At the first day of Christmas my whole family, including my uncles, aunts with their family. My cousins are so fun to be around, so I had a really good day. Christmas is the best holiday. At least that's what I think. Next day I went shopping with two of my friends. Of course this trip went no longer than Sweden. We ended the day by watching movies and eating a lot candy. Not very healthy though, but we had a good time that day. The days went faster then ever, and suddenly it was new years eve! I spent this night only with my family. We ate good food, and the night turned out to be real nice. After this night the holiday was going to an end, and before we knew it, suddenly it was Monday and back to school. I really loved this holiday. I had a good time with my family and my friends that I care about a lot. They're the best. Hoping it will be just as good next year.