MY COMMENTS

http://iremoyku.blogspot.com/2012/11/journal-entry-6.html#comment-form

http://ozlemdogann.blogspot.com/2012/12/journal-set-2-multi-media-entry.html

http://bushess05.blogspot.com/2013/01/journal-set-3-entry-1.html

http://inci010911.blogspot.com/2012/12/journal-set-1-reflection-entry_23.html#comment-form

REWRITTEN JOURNAL 2

BEING A METU STUDENT

This year is not my first year at METU because I studied at the Department of Basic English last year. I am not going through an adaptation process this year but last year was not easy for me. Although I stayed in the dormitory in high school for four years, it was still challenging for me to be far away from my family and old friends. However, I didn't feel alone because I had some of my friends from high school in METU. They helped me a lot during my adaptation process. Moreover, my roommates were friendly, cheerful and positive people. I had so much fun with my friends last year. However, the immoderate climate of Ankara was a big challenge for me. The daytimes were very hot and the nights were so cold at the beginnings. Although it was difficult for me, I got used to the climate in time.

This year, I do not have problems about adjusting to METU at all. But as for courses, they are more difficult and intensive when compared to high school but they are very useful for us to develop ourselves in terms of writing, listening and speaking skills. Furthermore, we are learning second language beside English. I am learning German and it is very enjoyable for me.

As for the campus, I think that METU has one of the best campuses in Turkey. All of its departments, dormitories, cafes and even markets are the same campus and I think it is a big advantage for us in terms of transportation. The campus is very huge but the transportation inside the campus is provided by ring services and minibuses easily.

There are a lot of student clubs and communities and also social services such as sport centers, tennis courts and swimming pool. We can develop ourselves socially thanks to these opportunities. To sum up, METU fulfilled my expectations and I am glad and proud of being a METU student. :)

REWRITTEN JOURNAL 1

MY IDEAL UNIVERSITY

I think a university must have several features to be an ideal university for me. Firstly, the academic staff must be qualified and well-equipped. Also, the curriculum is very significant.In an ideal university's curriculum, there must be technical and practical courses, foreign language courses and opportunities to interact with foreigners because, in order to increase its students' chances to have good jobs, being active and known worldwide is very important for an ideal university. In addition, libraries and laboratories must be adequate and easy to access. Similarly, the internet connection must be satisfactory and accesible.

Secondly, there must be social clubs and entertainment opportunities. Students cannot always study, right? They need to relax and have fun when necessary. That's why the recreation atmosphere is also essential. Students should do physical activities, swim, play several games such as football, basketball, volleyball, tenis or badminton at university. Moreover, several student clubs must be active. Students can express their feelings and thoughts freely by means of these clubs. 

Thirdly, the structure of university must be well-organized and aesthetic. It is better to gather all departments, dormitories and social services in the same campus. Also the campus should be surrounded by nature; for example forests, groves, lakes or rivers.

When it comes to question that whether METU satisfies the criteria of my ideal university, my answer is certainly "yes, it does". Although it is a little bit expensive to live in here, METU has all of the features that I demand for an ideal university.

JOURNAL SET 3

THE KITE RUNNER TRAILER

Here is the trailer of the film, The Kite Runner. I chose this video because it clearly shows the important plots of the film. It is an explanatory paragraph. 

The video starts withthe scene of the soldiers because at that time, Taliban has the control of the city, Kabul. That's why the Taliban soldiers stop the cars and check the people who come to city or leave the city. After that, the coming scenes show the intimacy between Amir and Hassan. Later, the scene of the traditional kite fighting scenes come. There are only two kites are left and the contestant who cuts the other kite will win the racing. Most of the citizens including Amir's father, Baba are watching the competition. And with the help of Hassan, Amir is able to cut the other kite and wins the competition. Then, the scene of the intimacy of Amir and Hassan is shown again. In December 1979, Soviet Russians invade Afghanistan. Because of the invasion, Baba and Amir have to leave the city. Later, the past scene of the first encounter of Hassan and Assef appears. And then, because of what Amir sees about Hassan, Amir causes Hassan and his father to leave the home. Several years later, Amir becomes an adult and figths with adult Assef in order to save the orphan boy of Hassan. Finally, the unfortunate scene of Hassan is shown. He is beaten and raped by Assef and his friends. 

I love this film because it clearly shows the intimacy and its disappearing. Also, the film is very good at telling the love, sacrifice and lies between fathers and sons. I think it is very affecting film. In my opinion, everyone should watch it. :)

JOURNAL SET 3

THE KITE RUNNER

The Kite Runner is a novel by Khaled Hosseini. It tells the story of Amir, a young boy from Kabul, and his closest friend Hassan, Amir's father's servant boy.

In the 70's in Afghanistan, the Pushtun boy Amir and the Hazara boy Hassan are raised together in Amir's father's house, plaiyng and kitting on the streets of a peaceful Kabul. They are best friends and compete as a team in kite fighting competitions. Hassan will do whatever for the respect of Amir and brings the cut kites to Amir in kite fighting competitions. One day in the competition, Amir and Hassan cut the last kite and win a victory. Also, Amir receives the respect from his father, Baba, for the first time. When Hassan runs to bring the cut kite to Amir, he is beaten and raped by the brutal Assef in an empty street. The coward Amir witness the assault but does not help the loyal Hassan because he is afraid of not receiving the respect from Baba when he returns to home without the cut kite. This incident will change their lives. Due to the disloyalty of himself to Hassan, Amir causes Hassan and his father to leave from the home. In 1979, the Russians invade Afghanistan and therefore, Baba and Amir escape to Pakistan and then America. Baba and Amir start their new lives with getting through several difficulties. Amir becomes a novelist and gets married with his countrywoman Soraya there. In 2000, after Baba has passed away, Amir receives a telephone call from Rahim Khan, who encourages Amir to write and is respected very much by Amir. Rahim asks Amir to return to Afghanistan in order to rescue the orphaned son of Hassan from Taliban. When Amir learns that Hassan actually his own brother, Amir does what he can to honor the memory of his old friend Hassan. 

I love this novel very much because its story is about the price of friendship, betrayal and loyalty. Also it is very successful at telling the relationship, love, sacrifice and lies between fathers and sons. I think you should watch the film as soon as possible. :)

JOURNAL SET 2

CINEMAGRAPH : MORNING

In this video, there is a collection of cinemagraphs taken to show a daily morning of a man. I chose this video because it clearly shows us the definite examples of cinemagraphs.

The video starts with the movements of the minute hand of the wall clock. Then the man tries to wake up and massages his eye. Then he makes a  preparation for a shower and controlls the heat of the water. Later he moves his eyes and blinks. He again makes a preparation to brush his teeth. Also he buttons up his shirt and wears his perfume. And then the coffee pours into the cup and eggs are fried. Finally a propeller fan is moving. These are just photographs but we can understand what is being done thanks to the invention of cinemagraph technology. 

These cinemagraphs clearly show that only one part of the cinemagraphs is moving. For example, while the man is checking the heat of the water for shower, only running water and fingers of the man are moving. Also when he sprays on perfume, we only see the perfume spray; the finger of the man is not moving.  

I think this technique is very interesting. I really enjoyed when I was writing it. I hope you will enjoy as much as I do. :)

JOURNAL SET 2

CINEMAGRAPH

The term "cinemagraph" was coined by U.S. photographers Kevin Burg and Jamie Beck, who used the technique to animate their fashion and new photographs. It is the combination of "cinema" and "photograph".

Cinemagraphs are still photographs in which a minor and repeated movement occurs. Cinemagraphs can give the illusion that the viewer is watching a video.

The process of producing a cinemagraph is not so hard. It has some basic steps. First of all, a series of photographs is taken or a video is recorded. Then by using image editing software, the photographs or the video frames are composed into a seamless loop of sequential frames. During this process, the animated GIF file format is often used. This format is used in such a manner that motion in part of the subject between exposures is perceived as a repeating or continued motion, in contrast with the stillness of the rest of the image.

As you can see in the photograph, only taxis on one road and some of the people are moving. The rest of the cars and people are still as in other non-cinamagraph photographs.

In my opinion, these cinemagraphs are very funny and stunning. I would like to display some more cinemagraphs so that you can enjoy much more. :)