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The Void

May 3, 2023 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

What if your home town suddenly was “erased”? Louisa takes us into the void.

A Fictional Imagining By Middle-School Blogger Louisa Richardson

When I drove home from Nebraska that day, I didn’t think it would have been any different than the usual commute home for Christmas. I was thinking about Aunty Sharon, about the last time I saw her. As I drove, it struck me – the population of Red-ton County was getting smaller and smaller. I realized there were no cars at all, no people either. I started to worry, until I saw the familiar blinking blue light on in the Red-ton County Library. It was reassuring, . . . until it grew brighter, and brighter. And then it was gone.

I had closed my eyes because of the brightness of the blue light, and when I opened my eyes, I saw nothing, and everything all at once.

I stepped out of the car and walked into the bright blinding lights; it was all white, and void-like. I immediately picked up my cell to call my parents, but when I looked through my contacts, there was no one there. Aunty Sharon, my sister, my two brothers, my parents, no one living in Red-ton County was on my list of contacts. It was as though they had all disappeared into this sort of void–with my entire home town. I turned around to look for an exit, but there was nothing there. The closer I got to the space through which I entered this void, the further that space drifted away.

This was the moment that I started to freak out. Everything was gone. At first I was confused, then I got angry. The void grew into a sort of white room, with blinding white paint that you couldn’t touch because every time you started near the walls they got further and further away. The white void went on forever; it seemed to be endless. I tried searching for an escape. Time passed; time elapsed; my hair grew out until it touched my hips. Eventually I gave up. I sat, and hugged my knees close, rocking back and forth. That’s when the chanting started. “Gone far away” was all I heard, the same three words over and over again. The voices were what made me regain the strength to get out of there. I hadn’t eaten, drunk, or slept. I still don’t know how I managed to survive. I got up and started running towards anything, anything other than the blinding white light that seemed to be everywhere, surrounding me. I finally found a door after running in the same direction until the void just couldn’t grow anymore. I don’t know if it appeared or if it had always been there, or if it was even real. I didn’t go through it immediately. I paused. I hesitated. I didn’t know if I would find a giant black void, or more white. I waited, until the voices began to morph into the words “Go.” I finally opened the door. I walked out.

Then, promptly I collapsed. Whatever happened next, I don’t remember. I drifted in and out of consciousness; people poked at my eyes, and injected me with medications I couldn’t pronounce. I finally woke up days later; I was out of it, but I remember the happiness I felt when I finally saw another living being. The doctor said that I was in a bad condition, dehydrated, suffering from weight loss. He said it looked like I had been stranded somewhere for years. I remember him muttering to the nurse, “I don’t get it, she seemed fine last week.” My brain began to scramble; I tried to think of my life before the void, my family. I could barely remember the memories I tried so hard to never forget. The doctor looked at me with concern. He later revealed that I had come in for a doctor’s appointment the week before, but I had no recollection of it. As far as I was concerned, I had been stuck in that void for more than a year and a half. That’s about the amount of time it takes to grow your pixie cut to your knees. But that’s not what the nurses said. I tried to explain it to all of them; they just never got it. They said that Red-ton didn’t exist. My neighbors said that I went away for a day, and they heard that I was in the hospital something like an hour later. It didn’t make sense. Did time pass differently here? Do I have any family? As soon as I was released, I searched for clues. I followed the road to Aunt Sharon’s house, and there was nothing there. I must have retraced my steps a thousand times. I tried to unscramble the days spent in the void. Nothing was working. I was so desperate, I called a therapist. She didn’t believe me either. A few months later, the nightmares started. I was back in the void; I had never escaped. I woke up screaming every night after that. No one seemed to believe me. I barely believed myself anymore.

After that the police came to my house and took me in for questioning. Apparently after every one of my neighbors reported me for “odd activity” it seemed the only reasonable option for the cops. Since there was so much evidence that I was crazy, they put me in some mental institution for the “intellectually disturbed.” Life went on for everyone but the victims of the void. They were gone. Towards “the end,” I had no memories of a life outside of the white nothingness. Eventually, I became engulfed in the memories of the void, unable to think of anything but the bright lights. Tortured in a trap of my own mindset.

The End

Stuck Quarantining at Home? Take Up a Hobby.

August 23, 2022 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By Alyna Rei–Upper School Junior and Blog Correspondent

I’m not usually the person to try many hobbies or go outside the box. But, with quarantine and a couple of boring days stuck at home, I was able to conjure up a few new hobbies—some I jettisoned when we came out of quarantine; some I continue to this day.

Quarantine hobbies that were just too weird to continue . . .

Collecting Crystals and Stones – I was pretty enthusiastic about this hobby in 2021. I would collect cool-looking stones. It might have been a crystal that had some essential meaning, or just a cool-looking stone. I still have my crystals, but I just don’t collect them as much now. I’m not sure why I stopped collecting them, but I feel like this hobby is off and on for me. This is something I may come back to, depending on my karmic need.

Socializing – I’m not sure if this can be considered as a hobby. When I was around 12 or 13, I would really like to talk to people and meet new people. Now that I’m older, I feel that having two-three friends is comfortable. I also hate the idea of having to talk to strangers. Through the years, I started to like the idea of being alone on a couple of occasions and having me time. The thought of socializing with people that I don’t know or being in a huge crowd of people gives me a little anxiety. Plus, now that we’re out of quarantine, I’m in the world more. It’s nurturing to embrace me time.

Quarantine hobbies that stayed with me . . .

Reading – Going back to liking the fact of being by myself, I have gotten into reading. I got this hobby from my mom who loves fictional books (same with me). I love to listen to calm music and read a book in my alone time. I am mostly into romance books. I thrive on rom coms and fictional romances.

Collecting Plants – I started this hobby at the age thirteen. I would always see little succulent plants and houseplants on the internet and ask, ”Why would anyone want to have a plant in their room?” But, through the years, I started to love having plants in my room and loving the habit of watering them. I say this is a good hobby since it taught me how to care for a living object and have responsibility. My mom first gave me plants that you can’t kill. Once my mom saw that I can keep a plant alive, I started to collect plants that are trickier, but plants that I am really interested in. I usually prefer plants that require not a lot of sun.

* * *

I’m pretty content with the hobbies I do now. I’m not sure if I will come up with more since I don’t like to switch into different hobbies and things. But, I feel like hobbies will always keep me productive and intact.

Homesick

September 23, 2019 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By Katelin Mei

I grew up in Canada, and lately I’ve been missing it. There are many things that remind me of Canada and make me feel at home.

The Metric System — In Canada we use the metric system. It made everything much easier to understand. We didn’t use Fahrenheit, so whenever I see the degrees measured in Celsius rather than Fahrenheit, it makes me feel at home.

French — Canada is a bilingual country, so I was taught French at a very young age (since kindergarten). The French language makes me feel at home because I am very familiar with it, and, because of that, I am taking French class now.

Ferry boats — I grew up on an island, so I am familiar with having to take a ferry to the mainland to buy groceries. Ever since I can remember, my parents have been taking me with them for a ferry ride to get groceries, go shopping, or just visit the mainland. The ferry’s foghorn used to scare me, but now it just reminds me of when I was younger and helps me remember my home.

Pine forests and daisy fields — I grew up in an area that was practically in the middle of a forest, and vast evergreen forests are something that we don’t really have here. I miss the smell of pine and the climbing ivy. There were also sprawling, fragrant daisy fields. Evergreen forests and daisy fields are some of the things that make me feel most at home.

Wildlife — Since I grew up in a forest, I am quite familiar with different types of wildlife. My family and I used to feed the deer. There were constantly caterpillars — eagerly munching — on track to become butterflies.

Editor: Renée Vazquez

Where is Home

September 23, 2019 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

Editor Renée assigned the Blog staff the subject “Home.” She plays along herself, contributing these thoughts on “Home.” What do you have to add?

By Renée

We’ve all felt loss

Felt emptiness

Felt lonely

We want to go home

Home is where

We feel secure

Feel loved

Feel accepted

We can rest

Where is home?

A Local’s Guide For Tourists: Kunming, Yunnan, China

September 20, 2019 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By Travel Guide Extraordinaire James Zheng

When we ask where is “Home”? James answers, “Kunming.” He adds, “It’s better than heaven.”

Where am I from? In terms of cities in China, most people have only heard of Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou as these are popular spots for visitors. However, there are plenty of places worth visiting in the interior provinces, like my city, Kunming.

Kunming is the capital city located in the center of a province called Yunnan. This whole province is full of popular must-see destinations, but most of them are only known by local residents. I’m giving you the insider’s guide.

Here is a brief introduction to Kunming. Kunming has one of the most temperate climates and has the best air quality in China. The weather is not too hot or too cold. The season in Kunming is always spring; therefore, my city is also given the name “Spring City.” This climate has attracted many people who move from other crowded cities when they need a well-deserved vacation. Geographically, Kunming is located near some south-eastern countries, being closer to Burma, Vietnam, and Laos. But it is also close to Thailand, Bangladesh, and Cambodia. This makes it a place of international cultural exchange and a cultural melting pot.

Here are some of my recommendations for local foods and places to visit in Kunming:

Places to see:

Golden Temple Park: A palace that was built during the Qing Dynasty (1368―1644), it contains historical meanings everywhere. The main structure is yellow bronze, so it was also categorized as one of the Chinese grand bronze palaces. It is preserved as it originally was. There is also a huge mountain surrounding the palace, and with all the forests, it is tucked into a natural environment. You get to see lots of flowers as well.

The ancient town of Guandu: Guandu used to be an independent region; now it is one of the districts within Kunming. The only thing you might be interested in here is the old-styled building and some exquisite handicraft. The initial construction of Guandu started from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and mixed with some culture generated from Buddhism. You would see some temples and towers as well.

Southern-east-Styled City: This place does not have the same size as a city, but it is one of the most commercialized and well-developed areas inside Kunming. There is an exhibition called Southern-east Cultural Exhibition, which is held each year. During the exhibition, you get to participate in cultural activities and buy interesting gadgets from Southern-east. Even if it’s not for the purpose of going for the exhibition, you can also hang out there and find fun things to do.

Food to Try:

“Cross-the-bridge rice noodle”: This is a unique style of rice noodle invented by Kunming locals. You serve this rice noodle with hot soup. Along with separate fresh side dishes, you cook the rice noodles instantly by putting them into the soup. It is popular in Kunming.

Varieties of Mushrooms: The Yunnan province is given the respectful name “The Kingdom of Mushrooms,” since we have thousands of types of mushrooms. Most of them contain valuable nutrients. The mushrooms are a main incentive attracting tourists to visit Kunming.

And that is generally all I would say about Kunming. Depending on the motivations of the travelers, you could discover more about this heavenly city I call “home.” I hope this helps you know more about China!

Editor: Renée Vazquez

KING OF MY HEART

September 19, 2019 by szachik@pvs.org 1 Comment

By Philosopher-Poet Quintus Ni

In keeping with this week’s “Home” theme, assigned by Editor Renée Vazquez, Quintus reminds us “Home” is being yourself. Don’t let anyone or anything disturb you. Be king of your heart. Be yourself. Be home.

Back in the 1970s and 1980s, the land construction and conditions in China were underdeveloped, so that waterway transportation was the only choice for travelers and merchants. Cangbumen was the most prosperous section in Wuwei County in my grandfather’s hometown, in the countryside of southern China. A lot of boats docked at the town’s terminal, waiting for passengers to get on and off the ships and stevedores to load and discharge goods. With the ships whistling, abundant resources like wood, coal, and grain surged in.

Cangbumen was my hometown. I lived on the widest and most prosperous street, as I remember. I still remember the yo-heavy-ho of the freight hand pallet and the trackers when climbing the slope; I remember the ancient city wall and Hualin Bridge, as well as my olive canvas schoolbag and the white canvas sneakers.

People have similar experiences. When we were young, we longed to go out to the furthest place and seeing a different world. But as time goes by, we get so tired of the exhausting life in our different cities, we miss the quiet, slow, and comfortable days we once had in our hometowns. And we become so eager to return to them. Every generation has its fate. After experiencing unemployment, housing reform, and so-called “worldly wisdom,” we realize half our lives have slipped away already.

Looking back at the history of the city, reform and urban development brought a brand new look to this city. We can see the high-rise buildings, prosperous shopping malls, and green plants everywhere, and see that people move into commercial houses happily. Everyone here walks fast. I want to share my hometown memories with my future child. But I will always feel a little bit sad because there is no scenery left unchanged or a memorial to commemorate that time. No longer is there neither bluestone road nor black bricks, nor tiles, nor mottled phoenix tree shadows in the shattered moonlight. The time back then seemed to pass by so slowly.

I can’t help but think of an article I read that said western countries don’t change appearances easily. Any change to the city or school must be voted on and must obtain civic permission. If it’s really necessary, slight change could be allowed, thereby protecting the appearance and look of cities or schools, and letting people always remember the origin of the place. This is different in China. A lot of construction only reproduces identical modern cities with no special characteristics. Old features are lost.

Life is a process of losing good times gradually. Although it may seem negative, it’s true. People like forging ahead and seeing rapid changes instead of being immersed in the sadness of watching old things fade. However in such a noisy world, maybe everyone feels melancholy deep inside. Walking into an urban and crowded world, we see the shining lights and people slipping away from us. Among so many lights, there is no one for me. Whatever. I have become stronger in life; I am now used to the toughness of the reality of being alone in a new world, and I will never feel pain from the harm I suffer. I know the stars are always there in the dark night, indicating my direction, helping me forge ahead.

A Nordic song, named “My Home is my Heart,” sings about the impressions of an old city, and the experience of half a life…

— My home is myself.

I am the king of my heart.

Editor: Renée Vazquez

How to Draw a House

September 18, 2019 by szachik@pvs.org Leave a Comment

By PROFESSIONAL ARTIST AP ART STUDENT EXTRAORDINAIRE Chelsea Xu

Hello everyone!!

Today I’m going to show you guys how to draw a house based on the “home” theme for this week’s blog!!

Before we begin, I just want to say this is different than the previous post when I taught you guys how to draw anime heads. Houses are mainly based on shapes and perspective. If you are good at drawing shapes and have steady hands, you’ll get the hang of drawing houses pretty quickly. And, if you don’t, all you need is some more practice.

In the meantime, follow along, and let’s get started!!

Step #1

First, draw a trapezoid towards the upper side of the paper.

Step #2

Then, draw a rectangle right beneath the trapezoid.

Step #3

Draw a small triangle in the middle of the house; it’s also where the trapezoid and rectangle meet.

Step #4

Draw two more parallel lines and a bottom line that is a little below the rectangle.

Step #5

Add the door! Draw another rectangle (vertically) in the center of the front of the house.

Step #6

Chimney time!!

This step is totally optional; it’s totally up to you if you want to add a little chimney to your lovely house or not. If so, please follow the instruction and do the best you can! You can add windows as well!

Step #7

Background! This is a simple background that you can try on. While simple, it adds complexity and perspective to the picture as a whole.

Step #8

Gently (if you are on paper) erase your helping lines, and ta-da!! You have completed your house!!!

I hope this tutorial helped you!! I’ll see you next time!!

Editor: Renėe Vazquez

“Objectively The Best Grade”

September 16, 2019 by szachik@pvs.org 2 Comments

thebirdonfire.org rotates editors weekly. This week, Renée Vazquez takes the helm. With the power inherent in being editor comes the charge of naming the week’s THEME. Renée charges the Blog Team with writing about “Home.” Luke opens discussing how PVS is “Home” to our Class of 2020.

By Senior Luke Langlois

Greetings one; greetings all. If you haven’t noticed, the class of 2020 is HERE. I can certainly imagine that you have noticed us, since, according to Charles Schnell, we are “objectively the best grade.” He later clarified to me that this line was ironic, but does his irony make something untrue? Anyway, we weren’t always the tippity top dogs of the school. We don’t think about it too much as we carry out our daily lives, but the senior class is a culmination of thousands of days at Palm Valley. We’ve done billions of worksheets and have made even more exclusive jokes that ONLY SENIORS would understand. So, I recently sent out a survey to the entire class asking what it means for them to be a senior.

What does it mean to finally be a part of the traditions that have been performed by countless classes before us? – I was personally expecting some snarky answers; it’s part of the rebellious teenage culture to be apathetic towards school. Surprisingly, everyone made a positive contribution. As one senior put it, “It’s pretty awesome… but it’s super surreal.” That’s probably where I’d gauge myself. Many of us ask, “Wait, I’m graduating soon?” Monotonously going to school every day has become a part of life, so it coming to an end feels quite strange. Some are more excited about being a senior. Claire, for example, says she’s “so jazzed it’s unbelievable. I’m living for this. All my dreams are coming true.” That sounds like pretty legitimate excitement to me! Another senior brings us down, saying that there is a lot of work to do before we’re anywhere. Hopefully, we don’t succumb to senioritis before then.

Could you name a way that Palm Valley has become like a home to you? – We spend more working time at our school than we do at home. I suppose we seniors do because we love Palm Valley very much. One senior remarked that they have never felt more welcome at any other school and that they cannot wait to come back and visit Palm Valley when they have the chance. Another said that they felt their old “home” was unwelcoming, and that being here has given them a clear goal in life. Josh Tyer reminisced on the people that have made him who he is, “ I could never give up the family I’ve made at Palm Valley.” In one way or another, we students have a connection to our school if you dig deep and look. Even if you’re not a senior that may help motivate you to keep hitting academic heights; it’s for your home! Or, you see life like Wilton Zuniga who thinks the student lounge is somewhat of a “cozy living room.”

If you could create a NEW senior tradition, what would it be? – Traditions are the best way to keep the generations of students connected, whether it be an alumnus who graduated fifty years earlier or a current senior. Traditions can be pretty whacky. Palm Valley’s seniors have some ideas that correspond with that theme. One senior had the idea of a “handprint wall,” where every graduating class would put their hands in and leave their mark forever. Another senior suggested “Senior Dorito Day,” which is exactly what it sounds like. Claire Jenkins pulled an idea from her daredevil spirit and said all seniors should go skydiving. Perhaps one of you non-senior student readers can make one of these concepts a reality one day. Please, skydive.

Do you have any senior prank ideas? – Palm Valley School is not known for its senior pranks, but seniors in general certainly are. As such, I asked the class what kind of pranks they would like to see. One senior, insightfully making fun of the way I phrased my question, said “Yes.” In all “seriousness,” though, Lawrence Nelson would be interested in filling the student lounge with BALLOONS. Doesn’t that sound delightful? Perhaps we could bring in a clown as well to strike coulrophobia into the younger students. Charles Schnell ponders about pooling our money together, buying a kayak, and leaving the kayak up at the graduation seats instead of us. Uh, how creative! One senior wishes that they could install League of Legends on every school computer because everyone could use a competitive gaming session. Claire, with sleep on her mind, says every senior should bring a sleeping bag and take a nap in the lobby. I do not actually condone nor condemn, senior pranks (nor does Ms. Zachik), but they are hilarious to think about.

There is your somewhat brief look at the musings of the class of 2020. Unfortunately, not all of the seniors responded to my survey (you know who you are). By the end of the year, I may do this again to see how we’ve come along. No promises, but stay tuned.

Editor: Renée Vazquez