Nationalism

First of all I'd like to give myself a high five for not starting after 11. 

This is literally me. So it seems that I'm making some progress.

Being a first generation American, I struggle with balancing my two cultures. Today, I was watching the Olympics with my friends, and they asked me whether I would cheer on China or America. I would be lying if I said I was conflicted between the two, but I immediately replied America and proceeded to express my nationalism. The fact that USA is wreaking havoc might or might not have influenced my decision, but I still tend to identify myself as American.
http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/three-americans-three-medal-winning-slopestyle-runs?ctx=golden-moments
*Crying because nationalism too strong*

I definitely believe it is difficult to find a perfect blend of two cultures, but is is not impossible. My parents raised me with certain morals that I still believe in to this day, but they also have some ideologies that I believe are backward and outdated. Children still keep their parents culture through commonly overlooked things like religion, food, and habits, but they can have different perspectives on politics, society, and money. Personally, I think my parents focus too much on success and favor it over personality. They would prefer to have a banking demon daughter over a Unicef volunteer. It literally drives me to my wit's end. Even thinking about it upsets me. 
I believe that the third option is just a mix of the two cultures. People grow up adopting different aspects of both cultures and just combine them into a new one. If I was shipped to China I would stick out like a sore thumb. Granted I would look the same, but the second I speak, people will know that I am not a native. The opposite is true about America, I definitely do not look like the typical white American, but you wouldn't be able to tell over the phone.

It's not like I abandoned the traditional Chinese ways of life either. I went to Chinese school every Sunday for about 11 years. I actually quit after fall 2013 semester because I felt like I didn't have 2 hours to waste especially since I just sat in a ridiculously small desk staring at the board like the clueless muck I am. I did martial arts for years and even quit track to do traditional Chinese folk dancing. Still don't forgive my mom for forcing me to do something so stupid.
Interestingly enough, I do bleed red, white and blue.

I love the idea of independence and can't wait to move out. I don't think education is the only way to success. And I don't think success is life's goal. I have the audacity to speak my opinion and I occasionally threaten to run away when I'm channeling my inner drama queen. I PROCRASTINATE LIKE NO OTHER. I'm horribly lazy and am subject to gluttony. These ideas are distinctly American concepts that show the true nature of the couch potato. But I am also open-minded. I am generous and determined and willing to fight for what is mine. I have spread kindness to strangers and have held the door open for others. I'm daring and adventurous, but most importantly, I am American. 

Poe's Woe

I usually try to be witty in these blog posts, but I'm not really feeling it, so to my 2(3 if I'm lucky) readers, this is a premature apology for my sub par post. 

I would definitely copy how Poe establishes a bad gut feeling about the house. He did "not know how it was" but he already had a sketchy feeling about the House of Usher. Just looking at the house presented " a sense of insufferable gloom."

Another great technique Poe uses is the creation of a sickly, critical character. Roderick Usher is a lonely, mentally ill introvert that owns the haunted house. What's scarier, a haunted house or the freak that spends his whole life in it? Personally, Roderick freaks me out, and if he can make me feel some type of way, you can bet that I would create a character even more eccentric than my buddy Roderick.

Poe also uses imagery to describe the house as gloomy and sickly. The building had an "atmosphere of sorrow" that prevented the idea of happiness. Is it even possible to smile when "an air of stern, deep, and irredeemable gloom" fills the room with a mood of despair? A scary setting will definitely keep the readers interested in a scary story.

Another genius thing that Poe does is the use of an ignorant narrator. This creates suspense and and forces the readers to question what's really important and what's not.

The last thing I would copy is an unclear ending. The reader is not quite sure of what happened to the characters or plot; This leaves them wanting answers and hopefully raises awareness to my increasingly popular haunted house story.

I guess this "challenge" is not optional. I would introduce more characters to create complexity and I would not be so repetitive in imagery. We get it Poe the house is creepy. 

Here's Lady Rainicorn to lighten up the mood of this post.

A SONIC RAINBOOM!!!! OMG STOP THE PRESSES. YOU GO RAINBOW DASH