Join Bianca and I as we talk about “All Things Food”. We share our experiences and likes as well as dislikes about types of food. Our experiences with baking, cooking, traditional food and more. From two people who are polar opposites join us as we share out stands and experiences with food.
All Things Food
November 26, 2023
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About the Contributors
Betel Mekonnen, Staff Writer
Most students dread the thought of school beginning. The endless homework, the back-to-back tests, the late night studying. However, for Paint Branch junior Betel Mekonnen, being back in school is the highlight of her social life.
For someone who values time with her friends, school is a vessel for Betel to spend time with them. Betel rates her life a “9 out of 10, because I’m having a lot of fun with my friends.” She adds, “I thought the school year would be really stressful, but it’s not bad.”
While she was a bit fearful at first, the panic of school beginning disappeared the moment she realized she would get to spend time with her friends. Betel would’ve rated life a perfect 10 if she were able to spend time with her cousins and friends without the worry of school work. Perhaps this is why she is already looking forward to summer break.
As Betel looks forward to another wonderful summer break (even though the last one just ended), she also looks forward to the transition of snow melting as the sun says hello to the new green leaves that are ready to grow as spring blossoms. This is why spring is her favorite season; bright new greens, like her favorite color, growing in the perfect temperature of the warm sun hugging you as the calm wind blows. Like Goldilocks, spring is not too cold, not too hot, it’s just right!
As an extrovert, it’s in Betel’s nature to have new experiences and adventures. At the same time of her favorite season, she will be participating in a new experience when she plays for the Paint Branch tennis team this year. With the same amount of love as she has for new experiences, Betel also approaches traveling. Traveling enables Betel to experience new environments and new people. As for why she enjoys traveling so much, Betel states that it “helps me understand where the majority of the people come from and helps me learn about their lifestyle and culture.”
For Betel, on one hand is the endless adventures of new experiences, while on the other hand is the determination of a student passionate about her future. Both are treasured assets of Betel, a person who is determined to go into the medical field for either anesthesiology or to combine her passions and pursue a career as a travel nurse. For a studious student like Betel who is ambitious and passionate about her future, it will be a piece of cake.
By: Bianca Barkmeyer
Bianca Barkmeyer, Staff Writer
For many people, winter is their favorite season. Hanging out in the cold weather and playing with snow is something that brings a smile to their faces. Bianca Barkmeyer, a senior at Paint Branch High School feels quite the opposite. Her favorite season is summer, a time of year that involves spending time at the beach and enjoying warm, sunny days. While winter might be nice for some, for Bianca the joy of the season can’t mask the potential frostbite, the desperation to feel warm, and shorter days.
As for why Bianca doesn’t feel a connection with the cold it is because she’s more of a heat person. “I love the heat, I’m definitely a beach girl!” Bianca exclaims. Her love for the beach actually led her to one of her previous jobs working as a lifeguard at an outdoor pool at Atsugi Naval Air Facility. Along with going to the beach and the pool, she loves hanging out with her friends and plans to hang out with them more often before she leaves for college next summer.
Bianca enjoys staying home with her dog and binge-watching anime in her free time. She likes to binge-watch any show she finds intriguing, mostly anime like Jujustu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, Fairytale, One Punch Man, and so on. Bianca, who is also a part of the swim team for PB, likes being on her laptop browsing through the internet and going online shopping. Her favorite clothing store is Hollister, which she says has “a lot of cute clothing that are really affordable.”
She can be defined as an introvert but admits that she is more open around people she knows. Bianca also loves traveling and hanging out with her friends in her free time. In terms of traveling, she states that she’s been traveling since she was really young but hates being in a plane. When traveling, she loves to find new foods she can try. Speaking of food, her favorite thing to eat is food cooked by her grandmother. Bianca states, “I will never say no to eating her food.”
At school, her favorite subject is science, which connects with her goal of becoming a chemical engineer. In fact, right now she’s looking deeper into engineering. She is applying to colleges in both the U.S. and Japan. There aren’t any specific colleges that she is focused on right now but she wants to go to a college that isn’t too expensive and doesn’t put her in debt. “I hate those student loans that’ll take years to pay off,” Bianca notes.
From staying home and binge-watching anime with her dog to going to the beach and spending time with her friends, Bianca always finds a way to enjoy herself. One thing Bianca likes about herself the most is her eyes, and notes that she loves the hazel color and how they shine in the sun.
By: Betel Mekonnen