ISLAND VIEWS

[I]Editor’s Note: The following mini-essays are written by the students of the writing classes of Mrs. G. C. Borja-Robinson at the Northern Marianas College. The views expressed are solely those of the students.
[/I] [B]PIFF[/B] [I]By IN JU AHN[/I]

Have you ever heard of “PIFF”? PIFF stands for Pusan International Film Festival. In my hometown of Pusan every September to October, we have the “Pusan International Film Festival” or “PIFF.” Pusan is called Busan today. When I lived in Busan, I enjoyed attending the “PIFF.” This fall will be the 15th PIFF. I attended the PIFF every year until 2010 when I moved to Saipan for my education. At the PIFF, I saw many films from different countries. Those international films featured movie stars from different countries. If you enjoy films, make sure to visit the PIFF in Busan, South Korea. During the festival, you can also attend special previews of upcoming movies. You can also watch special interviews with actors, actresses, and producers of forthcoming international movies. Those interviews provide a good opportunity to see famous international movie stars up close. When I lived in Korea, my sister and I went every weekend to the movie theater to watch a brand new movie. Watching international movies helped me reduce fatigue and stress. For me, movies are as indispensable as air. If you love movies, you will want to visit the PIFF—the Pusan International Film Festival—in Busan, South Korea.

[B]Family picnics[/B] [I]By PISANTY NACHU[/I]

I come from a big family, so we often have picnics on weekends to bring everyone together for peace, unity, and love. Last weekend, my family and I spent an unusual weekend at the beach. It was raining hard. The other male adults and I tried to get a fire going for a barbeque. After several attempts, we finally got the fire started. However, we had to use an umbrella to keep the fire going. Now picture this: A bunch of adult guys all huddled around the barbeque grill with big umbrellas to keep ourselves and the barbecue fire dry. While we waited for the meat to grill, my cousins went to the store to get cold treats—sodas, ice cream, and the like. Never mind that it was raining hard and we were cold and wet! We also wanted to eat and drink cold treats. If you meet my family for the first time, you will see that we are somewhat unusual. However, you will also immediately see the peace, unity, and unconditional love among everyone in the family.

[B]Grotto[/B] [I]By JESSICA R. FLORES[/I]

Have you recently visited the Grotto in Marpi? The Grotto is a favorite place to visit for residents and tourists alike. With the cold breezes and rushing waters, the Grotto is a place to swim with family and friends. However, only swimmers should experience the waters of the Grotto. Non-swimmers definitely should not swim there, because the Grotto has underwater currents. Swimmers will also find the Grotto waters exciting to snorkel in. They will see the awesome beauty of the ocean waters. Divers will also enjoy the Grotto. Even though the stairs are long to reach it, the Grotto is a worthwhile place to visit. Two weekends ago a friend of mine almost drowned while swimming in the Grotto. Fortunately, there were other swimmers who helped us rescue her. So visit the Grotto. Just remember to take great care and caution when you swim!

[B]My wheels[/B] [I]By HEIRSZAN JAMES MARTINEZ[/I]

Do you have a pickup truck? I have a 1992 Nissan hard body pickup that I love, second to my girlfriend. I have a passion for low-rider pickup trucks. Ever since I was a little kid, I worked on the engine of my Nissan pickup with my father. He taught me how to disassemble the engine for port and polish. The best part about taking an engine apart is putting it back together. It is so exciting to hear it start when you test drive it. Those early experiences got me into drag racing. My mom thinks it is dangerous for me to drag race my pickup but I still do it anyway. My favorite spot to drag race is in Marpi. My dad passed away last year, so now I work on my truck by myself. I find working on the engine relaxing and easy to do. Sometimes my girlfriend gets mad at me for not paying more attention to her. She says I am always working on my truck.

[B]My brother[/B] [I]By CRYSTAL BENAVENTE[/I]

Do you have a family member whom you admire? The person I most respect and admire is my older brother, Andrew. He encourages me to do my best in everything I do. He will not allow me to give up on anything. By his example, I do my best.
As a 19-year old, I have many challenges in school and in my personal life. My brother Andrew is always there to support me. We go through some brother-sister arguments sometimes, but no matter what the situation is, he still stands by me. I am more than grateful to have him in my life.
At times I feel completely lost in my own world, not understanding what I am doing. My brother can always see that I need help. He helps me until I get closer to my goals. For him, giving up is not an answer.
I have watched my brother go through challenges in his own life. This has made it easier for me to believe that anything is possible. I have also become more committed to try harder and to move forward and make things better for myself and my future.
Among all my siblings, he is the most hardworking. He always leads me down a smarter and more sensible path. My brother, Andrew, has been and continues to be a loving role model in my life. He has helped me to reach school and personal goals. His constant advice helps me to have greater faith in myself and in my plans for a better future.