Olivia Schienke

 Hey Joe! I agree also, this was a very fun way to destress after the semester of hard work and it was a great way to socialize and have fun with our classmates. This was a great end to end the semester!

 This week in class I had a great time learning how to do different Spanish dances. It was a great way to relax and destress after the semester. I really enjoyed listening to the different kinds of music in Spanish. It was fun to be able to get a glimpse into the Latin American culture. I also enjoyed being able to be social with the whole class and have a good time with everyone. I think this was a great way to end the semester and to reflect on all of the hard work we have done to get here. 

 Hey Victoria! I also thought it was very intriguing how the idea of Voodoo and magic fit so well into the book. When I hear of Voodoo, I think of some crazy magic that is not real, however, in the book, it was weird to see how normal it was and how well it fit the story. I also found it interesting to think that if everyone believes in the magic, what is stopping it from being a real thing.

 This week we learned about Simon Bolivar and how he was remembered as somewhat of a villain although he was one of the most influential people when it came to the independence of Latin America. Bolivar did not give up on helping Venezuela gain their independence even though he failed multiple times. This made him one of the most important people in the history of Latin American independence. He fought for Venezuela until he was able to free it. However, he was not meant to be a dictator, he was meant to be a military leader. He did not manage the expenses of the country well and the economy was destroyed which led to Bolivar being exiled and hated by many. Although he caused great change, in the end he was seen as a traitor. Looking back on the great determination Bolivar had, we see the great influence that he left on the history of Latin America and that he was not so much a traitor, but a hero.