On November 9th, I headed out to Santa Cruz Island with a small group of students and Ms. Davis. I am normally opposed to camping trips because of the intensive backpacking it calls for.

A student is expected to carry his or her own pack with all of their personal gear inside, along with the group gear such as stoves, propane, tents and food. A backpack ends up weighing around 50 pounds, which the student must carry on his or her back at all times for duration of their trip in the wilderness.

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As anger spread throughout citizens, riots began and protesters stood firm outside a former prime minister’s home. The reason for all the rioting is the reason behind her eviction from her home. The government that now stands under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina removed her from the “compound” so that they could replace it with larger buildings, that would be beneficial for families who lost loved ones in a “mutiny at a paramilitary unit in Dhaka.”

It is said that the riots got so bad that tear gas was used against angry protesters and shots were fired. Some were killed after a bomb went off in the middle of the riots and was “detonated” in front of the residence of a member of parliament. It’s funny how our lives can change or even end because of a governments attempt to make life better when all it does is make other lives worse.

The last we heard of Al- Qaida, the group under Osama bin Laden who crashed the World Trade Center, was last month when they threatened to attack a European country for forbidding Muslim women from wearing the Burkha in public places.

However, the plan to have something like the Mumbai attack, on a leading five star hotel, in the continent is perhaps planned for before the end of the year, as an official from Germany believes.

“We have got information that they have planned or are planning a plot like the Mumbai plot in Europe and the United States,” says August Hanning, an ex minister of state from Germany.

According to a source, Osama Bin Laden himself, had sent a video message threating the nation. He  included a form that he had signed too. Another official that is known to be part of this group is Kashmiri, a soldier who fought Kashmir, India. He is thought to have the leading part after Osama.

The most celebrated festival in India, Deepavali (diwali), was celebrated this Friday with great pride and enjoyment. The festival which is most commonly known for its colors, firecrackers and sweets, was far greatly celebrated this year because of the arrival of President Obama the next day. The festival, which can be considered a Christmas for Indians, includes plenty of lighting in the houses and prayers (poojas) to welcome Goddess Laxmi and Ganesh to bring wealth to the houses. Diwali is a religious as well as fun festival, which tells the story of Lord Ram returning from exile after several years.

Every Indian spends time and  money on celebrating the festival. While some can only afford a small prayer in their houses, other go out of their ways to spend on a large hall which includes plenty of people to pray and burst crackers together. Some even fast on the day to honor and offer tribute to the Lord. While others eat plenty to celebrate. Some  buy new clothing for themselves. While some do not believe in that. By the end of the day it is a festival which brings together people to enjoy, and during the evening the sky is full of firecrackers. Diwali is celebrated by most religions, cultures and states in India.

Ever man in India awaits Diwali the entire year. Some men go to the extent of spending one million dollars on firecrackers. The day of Diwali is hectic for the elders. Most of them, spent the day creating footsteps from the main door to the cupboard to help the Lord find place to sit. They also have to make gujhiya, special Diwali homemade sweet. In the evening, there is as story that the elders of the family tell, and finally the firecrackers are bought out.   Diwali is the funnest festival and loved by most Indians.