ABORTION

Abortion is the ending of pregnancy by a medical procedure. This topic is very controversial because a lot of people are against abortion. Catholic people or in general, people that believe in God are opposed to abortion. They believe that life is sacred and inviolable. The majority of religious people believe that a new human life begins as soon as the egg has been fertilized and any interruption of pregnancy is a sin. Abortion is against God’s laws. I am a catholic and I believe in God and life, but I agree that they are some circumstances in which a woman should have the right to choose about her own pregnancy.

For me, circumstances or reasons in which abortion should be acceptable are: when a baby has any genetic malformation or in a case of sexual abuse. I am a pro-life person and I don’t think that interruption of pregnancy on time is a destruction of life. I know people that even though they knew their babies will have a genetic malformation they choose to finish the pregnancy. They take the challenge to take care of their children with special needs, and some of them have done a wonderful job.

In my opinion, this may sound cruel but I do not want to bring children with a genetic malformation into the world because they would suffer from many medical problems. They will also always need someone to take care of them permanently. They would stay in/out of the hospital, and they are controlled with a lot of medicines that cause sleepiness. I don’t think that it is a life for those children. What is going to happen when that child does not have his/her parents? Is there someone to take care of those children as their parents did? Tell me what you think about abortion.

Colombia and the United States

Lately, I've been thinking about the differences and similarities between Colombia and the United States.

Being from Colombia, I have been able to experience two different cultures in my life. Similarities and differences exist between Colombia and the U.S. For instance, the U.S is a country on immigrants, has a multicultural society, and is made up of different races, religions, and political beliefs. In Colombia, however, it is strange to see people from other cultures. The majority of people in Colombia are Catholic. Catholics are against abortion and the death penalty. On the other hand, the U.S. is a Protestant country that allows the death penalty and abortion.

The U.S. is a powerful and wealthy country that offers many great opportunities for its people. People have the opportunity to receive a good education, have laws to govern working conditions, and have availability of good medical coverage. In contrast, Colombia is a poor country and cannot offer its people the same educational, legal, and medical services.

People in the U.S. are concerned about the needs of their children and the elderly. In Colombia, however, I can find people of all ages begging for money or food and sleeping in the streets. Poverty in Colombia is one of the biggest reasons why many people are in the illegal drug business. Colombia is a big producer and exporter of illegal drugs, and the U.S is a major market for these drugs. Both governments, I am happy to say, have been working hard to eliminate the production and sale of illegal drugs.

Technology in the U.S is available everywhere, but in Colombia, there is a need to find resources to upgrade and expand the infrastructure. The U.S is a major exporter and importer of many agricultural products. In the same way, Colombia’s economy has a traditional agricultural base and is known especially for its word-famous coffee and fruit production.

Another similarity between the U.S.  and Colombia is the value of the family. To both cultures, the family is the most basic but important part of our lives. We always want to have good and happy families. Family is the place to share happiness and sadness and encourage ourselves when we are in difficult problems. As a result, we can get over all the problems in our lives and live happily. Also, people in both countries are warm, friendly, and very polite. I have noticed people in U.S. say “thank you” a lot. In Colombia, it is similar the most common expressions are please, could you do me a favor, and thank you.

NUTRITION

Chapters 8,11, and 17 talk a lot about nutrition and how important is to maintain a healthy life. Nutrition is on my mind this week.

Nutrition is the power source that enables the body to function properly and keeps it healthy. The supply of nutrition furnished to the body via intake of various food items, enables it to carry out all the body functions appropriately, thereby enabling it to protect itself from invasion of viruses, bacteria and toxins. From the food consumed, the body absorbs the simple but essential minerals, vitamins, fats, proteins, carbohydrates and water into the bloodstream.

Why is good nutrition so important? Food and the nutrients obtained from food are viral to keep the body healthy and alive. Nutrients are required in order to build and repair cells and body tissues, maintain the organs and bones in optimum working condition and to provide energy, fuel and warmth.

What is a balanced diet? Food can be broken down in to five major groups. These groups are carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water. The body needs varying amounts of these types of food so that the adequate amount of nutrients is supplied to the body. Each type of food plays a significant role in our body but excesses or deficiencies of certain types of food can also harm the body and produce a negative impact on our health.

Basically, for optimum health a well-balanced diet should include plenty of complex carbohydrates, lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, a moderate amount of meat and dairy products, eight glasses of water a day and a limited amount of saturated fats and sugars. A well-balanced diet should also complemented with plenty exercise, a small intake of alcohol and no smoking whatsoever.

DEPRESSION

Lately, I have seen a lot of people where I work suffering from depression. What is depression? Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness. Also, people lose interest in activities that they enjoyed before. Depression affects people’s mind and behavior. Some people become more aggressive while others become reserved and uncommunicable. Depression develops from a variety of physical changes in the human brain, especially a deficiency in the serotonin levels. In addition, people can develop depression because a traumatic event in life such as the loss of a loved one or any abuse. Everyone feels sad or anxious at some point, but if this feeling is persist and affects people daily activities, is important to find somebody to talk about it.

Depression is a serious mental illness and it needs to be treated. Depression can be treated with antidepressants or psychotherapy. Without immediate attention, people are more susceptible to suicidal thoughts. Also, people have a tendency to use drugs or alcohol to deal with symptoms associated with depression. It is important to help people around us that are showing any sign of depression to get a diagnosis and treatment.  It is essential to get an adequate treatment and emotional support in order to overcome depression.

DANCING

Today, I want to talk about my passion, dancing. I am taking Cuban salsa classes in Atlanta on Sundays, and I am also teaching people how to dance different types of Latin music. It is awesome!!!

Dancing is a lot more than just pretty movements to me. It is a way to express myself and communicate with others. It is initialing a dialogue in which words are unnecessary. Dancing means expressing emotions with every part of my body. Ever since I was little, dancing has always been my favorite sport. I come from a Latin country, Colombia. We are one of the countries where dancing is very popular, and it is part of the culture. Being Latina taught me the importance of knowing my body through dance and help me feel the harmony in my body when I hear the music. Dancing is a way to express my feelings and to keep myself active.

Dancing is my passion. Could it be the control of the dancer’s body to executive each move flawlessly that captivates me? Or could it be the look on the dancers’ faces that say they are loving what they are doing? Either way, I absolutely love to dance. It brings such joy to see how the whole body is mixed with sensuality and determination. Dancing embodies passion, grace, and poise. Dancing is a way to communicate with everyone; it does not matter what language they speak or how old they are. It is a way to cross barriers and touch souls. Also, dancing is a way to keep in touch with our culture, pass down our culture’s heritage, and unite people from different ethnicities who share the same passion for dance.

Dancing has been a part of human history since the earliest records of human life. It has been used as a form of art for centuries. Over time, dancing has become an entertainment and an artistic spectacle. Today, dancing is one of the main entertainments for people around the world. Also, it is one of the excuses that people used to lose weight and stay physically and mentally healthy.

Dancing has taught me teamwork and determination. In order to move on, I have to be open-minded and cooperate with people around me. Also, I have to be determined to move on and reach the end. Without determination, it is possible to slack off and interrupt the creative process of the choreography. Dancing for me, it is the expression that connects the body with the mind to create harmonious movements filled with passion and glamour. Some of the qualities that I find in dancing is that help me release tension, remain healthy, improve my coordination, balance, and body rhythm. Besides these qualities, dancing is a way to have fun and escape from my daily routine.