How to--Anthony

As a child raised in a costa rican environment I have grown with this food and loved it. This being mostly a breakfast for me, can be eaten any time during the day and will still fill up that hungry stomach. You should give it a try as it can give you a taste of another cultures’ food style.

Ingredients:

●      2 cups Black beans. Freshly made ( with the bean water ).

●      7-9 cilantro stems fresh

●      Half of a small onion

●      Half small red or yellow sweet pepper

●      2 cups white rice

●      ½ teaspoon  salt

●      3 Tablespoons vegetable oil or desired oil ( May change the flavor slightly depending on substitute)

Tools:

●      Medium sized pan ( Used to cook meal )

●      Spatula ( To mix )

●      Stove ( To heat and prepare dish )

●      Knive(s) ( To chop onions, veggies, and cilantro)

●      Measuring cups

Instructions:

Step 1: Add dry rice and the 3 Tablespoons of oil and mix for one minute over medium flame in a pan or until you start to see the rice get golden ( Make sure not to burn rice!!!).

Step 2: Add bean juice from beans ( just enough to cook the rice) , boil it , cover and put on low until rice is tender (20-30 minutes).

Step 3: Wait for the rice to be ready. ( make sure to mix here and there making sure that the rice at the bottom doesn't burn)

Step 4: Finely chop cilantro, onion, and sweet pepper of any color

Step 5: Add to the pan with rice and mix ( after adding don’t keep on heat for too long as it will ruin the crisp of the vegetable )

Step 6: If you do not want your gallo pinto too dry add more bean water until the desired moisture is achieved.

Step 7: Place a decent amount on plate and enjoy!!!

This meal is pretty good, some sauce is usually added by costa ricans called Salsa Lizano which is rare to be found here but if so you pour some on top of your gallo pinto as if it were salsa or sour cream. Another option to flavor the Gallo Pinto would be to add Crema Centroamericana to the side of the dish, its similar to sour cream in texture but salted and has a different flavor. If you want to go the extra mile, add a egg to the plate, prepare the egg however you like them. Make some quesadillas with the cheese of your choice and you now have a complete and delicious meal. 

http://www.inforecetas.com/receta/gallopinto

A Pirate's Life for Me--Jenna

A long time ago I followed him. We all did. He was my idol. He said it was for our sake that he took us, he did it to protect us. We all believed him. He could do anything, everyone on the island loved him, how could we not? At the beginning I believed it was for the better. My parents were always fighting, I was going to be starting school in a few weeks and Neverland didn’t have parents or school. It was an endless summer without rules. What kid wouldn’t want that?
I was one of Pan’s favorites from the beginning. I soon raised in the rankings and in no time I outranked everyone and was Pan’s second hand boy. I helped him with everything. I would even go back to the mainland and spend a few days there searching for the child most in need of our help.
I love Neverland. Whenever I wasn’t with the other boys or Pan, I was out exploring the island. I spent long afternoons with the Indian Tribe. I wanted to learn more about the island, why didn’t we age, why was Pan the only one that could fly, and why did the fairy follow him? The Tribe told me that, until recently, the legends of the island didn’t include Pan. The island had its own source of power and magic that Pan had figured out how to harness. The tribe leader said the mermaids were the ones to discover the island and that they would know more about it than him. So my quest for knowledge led me there.
The mermaids were very informative. They said that the island’s magic was more of a curse than a blessing. When the island was first discovered, it was uninhabitable by humans. The mermaids believed it was because humans had destroyed any magic they had come in contact with. However a fairy had a debt to be paid to Pan, he used her magic to make the island habitable, but the fairy tried to preserve the islands magic source by only making it habitable to children. An adult who spent too much time on the island would begin to go insane. Pan however didn’t want to live here alone so he found the islands magic source and harnessed it to steal children’s childhood, freeze them where they were, never let them age. All so he could have company. The mermaids told me that Pan was stealing the magic from the island. He used it when he flew, he had however figured out the the future life he stole from the lost boys could be used to generate magic. So that's what he did. Whenever the magic on the island was running low, Pan made a trip to the main land to ‘recruit’ another boy.
When I returned to the treehouse that night, I told Pan that I was just playing pirate with the mermaids. He didn’t question me and still let me tag along on his trips to the mainland. However now I was more aware of the trips. I noticed before the trips, leaves began to change from lush and green to dry and brown, flowers stopped blooming, the sun wasn’t as bright and the days were shorter. Then we went to get a new boy and the island returned to it’s lush greenery and long summer days.
As the time went by, the island soon began to change faster and our trips more frequent. Pan spent less time searching for the boy living in a bad home and just looking for an open window so we could return quick.

It was on one of these trips that Pan’s shadow tried to escape. He let it leave not thinking much of it, but he soon realized that he couldn’t enter Neverland without it. It took us a week to find the dang thing, and when we finally did we barely had enough magic to get home. The island didn’t change back right away this time. The days stayed short, the weather turned cold and the leaves changed color. Pan left for the main land a few days later, he left me behind and took the fairy with him. This time he returned with twins.
Once he got back, the fairy and him seemed to be fighting. I asked him what had happened and why he took the fairy this time, and he confided in me. He confirmed what I had learned and told me that he used the fairy’s magic to make the trip, the islands magic was too low. He was gloating. Pan was proud that he could work around his issues, use others for his gain.
It was then that I decided he was taking advantage of Neverland and everyone who lives here. I confronted him and vowed to stop him. His personality changed in an instant, he laughed in my face, said I would never be able to. Our verbal fight soon turned physical. Pan had the upper hand, and as a result I lost mine. He let me live but banished me from neverland to the sea.
I have been unable to set foot on the island for fear of going mad and forgetting who I am and what I’m fighting for. Pan is brainwashing boys, making them his lost boys, his army to fight against me. I have created my own army, other lost boys to fight with me. I am no longer a lost boy, and neither are they. We have found each other and share one common cause: to stop Peter Pan. Before I came to this island I had a name, but I can’t remember that now. Everyone just calls me Hook.

Freedom from Fear --Lauren

Society frequently tells us to "face our fears” since confrontation is the only way to gain freedom from fear.  In most situations, those who do face their fears are able to overcome them.  However, what if you have a fear of dying?  Do you conquer it by dying?  No!  I used to be afraid of death, but I no longer am.  Here's how I was freed of that fear.
            It's January 7th, 2018, a calm Sunday morning I've spent biking on the Pacific Electric trail, making fruit smoothies, and devouring avocado toast.  I am elated and it seems as though nothing can ruin my happiness or kill my motivation.  It being a new year, I'm ready to return to school tomorrow and start second semester off in a strong sprint to the finish line that is graduation.  

I decide I’ll stop by a friend’s house, then go back home to organize my room and get ahead on several assignments for the next semester.  With this plan in mind, I grab my keys and get in the car.  I quickly run through my mental checklist of “Seatbelt?  Check.  Doors locked?  Check.  Phone put away?  Check.  Emergency brake off?  Check.  Nobody behind my car or approaching?  Check.” then backed out of the driveway.

It's about 12:30 p.m. and there is the usual daytime traffic out.  As I go to cross the intersection at Victoria Park Lane and Baseline, I see a car pull out from my right, making a left turn in front of me and think, “What the hell is this person doing?  It’s green for me!”  Immediately, I slam on the brake with as much force as I can exert, but I know we're still going to collide.

Time elapses in milliseconds.  My glasses are sent flying off my face.  I smell hot metal and feel the airbags deploy, leaving me winded, and then all goes white.  For what feels like minutes, but in reality is only a few seconds, I see and feel this soothing presence of light, like God is telling me, "You have nothing to be concerned about.  You'll be alright." I feel like I'm not in my body, as though only my soul is present.  I am stripped of all worry and am denied of my physical senses.  

Then I snap back to the accident, joined by all of my senses, which now fire in simultaneous pandemonium.  The sound of the impact resonates in my head, producing a high-pitched sound that blocks my ears off from all others.  The ringing eventually fades out to silence, but is replaced by the cursing of the other driver.  I look around and find myself clenched to my seat in a car whose face is compacted like that of a pug.  I no longer feel at bliss.  In that moment, my old fear of claustrophobia comes back to me.  Despite their fumbling, my shaky hands press the button to release myself from the seat belt’s embrace, then I get out of the car and go into the back seat to give myself more space and, quite literally, room to breathe.  I reach to the glove box, grab my phone, and get out of the car.  Looking around from the center of the intersection, I see every car stopped in shock, some people calling 911, I assume.  Subconsciously, I make my way to the sidewalk on the corner of the intersection.  I call my parents with the curt opener, “I’ve been in a car accident,” then burst into tears.  They say they’re on their way and will be at the intersection soon.  As soon as I end the call, a woman named Harmony asks me if I’m okay and if I’d like to pray.  I sob uncontrollably, nodding yes, and mutter, “I’d love to.”  I find solace in prayer and am reminded of the white light.  Hands joined with Harmony, I know God sent an angel to watch over me.  As we end our prayers in “Amen,” the sirens of an ambulance, a fire truck, and a police car become audible.  Shortly after, my parents arrive, I make my statements to the police, and am examined by a paramedic.  I have no severe injuries, aside from some bruising and soreness in my knees, chest, neck, and back from the impact and a very minor concussion.  The other driver is also okay.
            After the accident, I realized death no longer scares me.  I came close to its hand and yet, I wasn’t afraid.  Instead, I was calm and at peace.  I felt that whether I lived or died, I would be fine because I trusted in God.  This experience taught me to always wear a seat belt, made me more faithful and grateful for life, and granted me freedom from fear, or at least the fear of dying.

Time...d?--Caleb

The indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole...or so that's the dictionary's definition of time. I see time as a privilege, though everyone does have it, that should be used to its full potential. Time is something that we all possess as humans on this earth. A lot of us take it for granted, we don't realize that we are actually timed. From the day you are born the clock starts and each day that passes, the closer you are to your death. Though there is no announcer saying, “Your time starts now” that is the harsh reality of it. This sort of time when you are born can be seen in two different ways, either you have a lot of time on your hands or your time is now running out. No matter which way you view it, you are timed. We don't realize this because we all want to believe that we are going to live until we are 100 or longer but in reality most of us will not. We don't get to decide when we pass or how long we stay on this earth, the only thing we get to control is how we use our time. I've always been told by teachers not to waste time and to use my time efficiently. Although, I never really stopped to think about how much that related to my life and not just my school work that I was given. We overlook the amount of time we receive and we don't realize that it is actually a privilege until loved ones pass away. It takes the deaths of others to show us how much we take for granted. We must enjoy our time on this earth and make the most out of it each and everyday. Don't spend your days mad and upset because that is time you have now wasted. Enjoy the time that you are given, spend days with loved ones. Tryout for that sport, go eat with your friends, and buy that ice cream. We have all seen how many people around the world are taken so soon and we wonder why them. Everything happens for a reason and we truly do not know when our time is up. It could be today or tomorrow or 70 years from now...what we do know is that we must take advantage of it while it is still ours. With all the deaths that we see I believe that it is a wake up call telling us to take advantage of our time before it is too late. You must ask yourself, “Have I used my time wisely so far to the best of my ability?” If not you must start now because the clock is ticking. Use your time in a way that brings you the most joy and satisfaction that can be offered. Every second of every day has value, it's up to you on how you spend your time but I advise spending it wisely because after all...you are timed.

My Guardian Angel--Jada

Not many people realize the value of life or even cherish what it is like to be alive. Many just go out in the world not caring or realizing that life is valuable and time is precious. Nothing ever lasts forever and sadly I learned that from one of my dearest friends. Her name is Dana Grace Housley. Dana hasn’t been feeling great for the passed couple of weeks, she even missed finals because she has been complaining of headaches. She even went to the doctors but they said nothing was wrong. I was still young, only fourteen and I had just finished my freshman year. It was a normal start of summer for me, beginning with a softball tournament the week after we got out of school. Everything seemed routine. I woke up, got ready for my games not realizing I was about to go through the biggest tragedy of my young life. I get to the softball fields and there she was so full of life, smile as bright as ever. I didn’t realize that would be my last time seeing her smile. My team did our usual warm up routine getting ready for the games ahead. I remember asking her, “ Dana, how are you feeling? Any better?” She replied with her big smile and said, “ yes, I feel good. My head doesn’t hurt anymore.” The game was about to start and I felt happy, she was feeling better and everything seemed to be good. We got through the game about half way until everything became so unreal. Dana would always find little random items and give them to me and she would think it was so funny. She was always so random and when she was on deck she gave me another one of her random gifts. She called me over and told me to stick out my hand and she handed me the plastic thing that connects tags to clothes. I remember looking at her, laughing, and telling her, “ thank you.” She smiled and nodded laughing as well. That was the last time she made me laugh. It was her turn to bat and she hit a foul ball and ran to first base. She came back to home plate to pick her bat up to hit again and she collapsed. The stands got quiet. No one knew what was going on. She became unconscious and the ambulance was called. Luckily, one of the parents in the stands happened to be a nurse and held her over until the ambulance got there. When the ambulance arrived, they stripped off her shirt and placed her lifeless body on the gurney and rushed her to the nearest hospital which was down the street at Kaiser in Fontana. My team didn’t really understand what was happening at that time and just thought she had fainted. My coach pulled my team aside and asked if we wanted to finish playing the game so we decided to finish the game for her and won. We had an hour game break so my coach decided to go check on Dana at the hospital so he could update us on how she was doing. We got a phone call a little while later telling us things were not looking good and our precious Dana was now on life support, fighting for her life. We forfeited the tournament and went straight to the hospital. I remember feeling so helpless because all we could do was wait and pray. Nights and days at the hospital felt forever. I don’t think I slept at all that week she was in the hospital. Her parents came down and asked us if we wanted to see her but it was going to be hard looking at her because she was connected to a whole bunch of tubes and a big machine. I went up to her room and held her hand asking her if she could please wake up. I stayed up there for a while telling her it was okay if she wanted to go and I’d still always love her and never forget her. I gave her a kiss on her forehead and pale cheeks making sure she knew I was there. Everything felt like a living nightmare. The doctors said it would be a miracle if she woke up and even if she did, she

wouldn’t remember anyone and become a vegetable. She had a brain aneurysm which is very rare for a fifteen year old to have. Danas’ parents finally pulled the plug the fifth day she was in the hospital. I remember that day so vividly. I didn’t think I would ever stop crying. She passed away on February 27, 2015. She was a beautiful girl and had the most beautiful soul. She had the most purest heart and such bubbly personality. She was always friendly and nice to everyone and could make anyone’s day by just being her. I will never forget all the laughs she gave me. I miss playing softball with her because she was such a good teammate. It was really hard for me because I used to see her everyday. I saw her at school and with our travel ball team on the weekends. It wasn’t easy getting used to not seeing her everyday. I always questioned why such a terrible thing could happen to such a good person. Some images I wish I could unsee like her falling, or her in the hospital, or even her lying peacefully in her casket. I had to mature at such a young age and learned such an important life lesson which was things can change in a matter of seconds and to not take anyone or anything for granted. She was a fallen angel and I am proud to say she was one of my best friends. I know she is happy and doing okay because she told me that in my dreams one night. She always reminds me that she’s still here because I find items that she loved in random places. One time I found a bouquet of sunflowers on the beach stuck in the sand by the shore. Sunflowers were her favorite. I am blessed to know that she is now my guardian angel and is forever with me always.