Science Center

My new learning today was how to make hard candy, and what the ingredients did to the candy. For example, the corn syrup made the hard candy transparent and shiny, but if you were to make hard candy without corn syrup, the candy would be ugly, opaque, and non shiny. I also learned that candies are chemical reactions. Another weird thing I learned was honey is bees' regurgitate (puke).

I most enjoyed making and eating the cotton candy (or candy floss), because it is my favorite type of candy. I also didn't know that cotton candy machines can be killing machines.

What I would do differently is to make the lollipops (hard candy) in a more comfortable position, because the lollipops were hard to put in my mouth. The lollipops in some other science groups weren't as hard as my group's so they got to change the shape of their lollipops. This makes me think that they made their lollipops in the wrong temperature (because hard candy is supposed to be hard).

The first picture shows me stirring the sugar syrup on a heating pad, and the second picture shows some hard candy another group made.

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Questions for Salva Dut

Tomorrow, I will meet Salva Dut. From my reading and viewing about him, these are some questions I would like answered:

• Did you make any friends along the way to Kenya?
• Was it hard to get food and clean water along the way to Kenya?
• How old were you when you started and ended you trip to Kenya, from Sudan?
• What was the water sickness your dad had?
• How did you learn how to speak English, and how did you learn school stuff when you were in the refugee camp?
• How did you feel when you finally reached America?
• Are you excited that you company is working, and is works very well?
• How did you feel when you saved a bunch of people?

Personal Narrative

Go Karting

I’m ready. I have three pillows on my back, my foot is ready to press the pedal, and my hands… Are on the wheel. I’m SUPER scared, and I was showering the wheel with sweat. Is it too late to turn back? I want to do it but why do I have to be such a scaredy cat? It’s not like this is my first time go karting. I did it when I was about five years old… On my dad’s lap! I guess that doesn’t really count, but I’ve played Mario Kart at home, and a few race car games in an arcade. Go karting can’t be that hard, or this scary. But is it even safe to go kart at 8o’clock at night? There isn’t even any sunlight! Why do nerves hate me so much?

“3...2...1, GO!” The checkered flag aggressively waves in front of me. I feel the pedal against my food, and I stomp on it. Zooming straight ahead, I feel my navy blue shirt stick to my back with sweat. I see the yellow ‘Slow down’ flag wave at me, but I ignore it, which is a bad idea because;

“SHCREEEH!” My cart slides while trying to get past a sharp turn. I look around. I’m still in front of everyone! I keep going.

Jeer. Jee-jeer. I hear an engine coming towards me, so I violently step on the accelerating pedal.

Phew! I’m safe. I think to myself while taking a deep breath. I suddenly notice another turn. This time I will not slide, I will not slide. So I vigorously turn my wheel. Slipping off with sweat, my hand flies of from the wheel. I feel my back jerk to the side. Then I notice… I’m facing the wrong direction!

“Help me! Someone! Please!” I yell. A man comes running towards me, but he came too late. My best friends Alex and Jackie had managed to get in front of me. The force between my foot and the ‘Go’ pedal makes the engine roar.

I come closer and closer to Alex. Her head turns around. Yup, she knows I’m here… I don’t know why, but suddenly I feel a sudden burst of rage. I grip the wheel and drive in front of her. One down, another to go. Jackie is now only 2 meters away from me, and she knows it. She tries swerving in front of me, but I was prepared for that. So as she tries again, I spin my wheel with pride, and make my way in front of her. I blindly look around barely seeing the checkered flag wave again. I head towards the starting point with no interruptions. I suddenly feel the sides of my mouth flying. I won.

“Nice job Maddy! How did you do it?” I hear.

“I dunno, nerves?” I call back. Then I look at Alex and Jackie’s dad.

“By the way, can I go again?” I ask. This time, I think, nerves were on my side.