Christmas Around The world

Christmas around the world map:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=ziiRXcmFxzfw.kg-o0NOutfpM


Santa around the world.
https://www.mystorybook.com/books/6478/

Christmas is a holiday celebrated annually marking the birth of Jesus Christ hence the name “Christmas”.

 It is celebrated both religiously and culturally around the world. Originated from the Christian religion, it is usually distinguished on Dec 25^th with exceptions of other cultures.

 In this festive season, the spirit of giving, forgiveness and happiness are some of the values that people try to embody during this holiday. Santa clause otherwise known to some as the fat man in red, reign deers’ and the Christmas tree are the ultimate symbols of the Christmas holiday.

Having family and friends from around the world, my partner Kaitlyn and I were able to learn and share similar traditions that are carried throughout this holiday. From Eastern Africa Kenya to all the way in the U.K, not forgetting Taiwan and China in Asia our family and friends shared with us pics of the Christmas festivities from their current location that you will see on our graphic map.

In most African countries, most families celebrate Christmas holidays by having family reunions to party and have a full on feast.  For those who are Christians, Some will do attend church on the day of Christmas. Gift giving and wrapping is also participated but isn’t as huge compared to America and Europe. ‘Kwanzaa’ is not celebrated in Africa as it is a Black American Holiday.

In China since there are very few Christians, not many celebrate or know what Christmas is. In major cities you will find Christmas Trees, lights and other decorations. But many might not know the meaning or the values of this holiday. Giving apples is a popular tradition on Christmas and Christmas Eve. Stores sell the apples wrapped in different color gift wrappers.

In the U.K Christmas is a huge holiday. Different countries might have one or two slightly different beliefs but all in all it’s the same Theory. In Scotland, On Christmas day, people sometimes make big bonfires and dance around them to the playing of bagpipes. In Ireland, Christmas tends to be more religious than fun with the lighting of candles.

In Latin America, where most people are Catholics there are a lot of church bells ringing to call families to Mass during Christmas Eve.  The Christmas season is usually in the summer time compared to Europe and America where the season is usually winter. In the Middle East Christmas is not common due to the high population who are Muslims. Although the decorations are still put up due to tourism.

Final Project Proposal

For our final project Kaitlyn Manktelow and I have decided to once again work together, this time focusing on different ways Christmas is celebrated around the world.

We will ask our friends from different parts of the world to send in photographs of their Christmas decorations or celebrations. We will create a slideshow out of these photographs from different areas in the world. (We will attempt to use videolicious for that but depending on the length we may not be able to.)

We will also use an interactive map to show what places celebrate Christmas the most, since Christmas is one of the most celebrated holidays it'll be interesting to see the different percentages.

Finally, our project will include a write up with why different cultures celebrate this renown holiday each differently and different ways how they do it.

The Mustard Seed. Home Away from Home.

The Mustard Seed is not only a homely environment but a safe, accepting and a judgment free zone, that many locals of St Johnsbury come to every other day for a fresh hot meal.

Serving different meals ranging from thanksgiving dishes to shepherd’s pie, the quality of the food can be compared to that of a restaurant.
My partner Kaitlyn Manktelow and I got a chance to visit this safe haven that has been running for over 4years.
Located in the middle of the St Johnsbury town in VT, one would never presume that it’s a soup kitchen from the outside look of it.
The Mustard Seed is not your regular soup kitchen.
Right from when we walked in, one could feel the sense of community and love.

The name “mustard seed” originated from the Bible symbolizing growth and development from a tiny seed just like a plant.
Christian missionary Frank Rothe, who’s the founder and still runs the kitchen, decided to open this establishment not having any financial support but just faith hence naming this organization “Mustard Seed”.

Strictly a Christian nonprofit organization, it is involved with the churches around the community. The Mustard Seed is strictly run by volunteers and well-wishers.
Apart from donations and support from the Vermont Food Bank, the soup kitchen is funded by the thrift store that’s right across the street from it.
Without any home shelter around the area, the mustard seed is the only thing that’s closest to an accommodation that the homeless can come and get any type of help.
Most volunteers like Lenny and Eugene happened to have benefited from mustard seed before they decided to devote their life to it.

Eugene started out with Rothe when he first opened the kitchen and was dealing with drugs and alcohol at the time.
Since then he has now sobered up and found his way. With all that he has gone through, he uses his story as a testimony to others dealing with the same issues who have walked through the doors of the mustard seed.
When asked he said his role was basically being cheerful. Promoting love, peace and respect to those who come and get a fresh hot meal in the kitchen.

Lenny who is now the supervisor and the head cook says he fell in love with the mustard seed when he chose the soup kitchen to be the place where he would do his community hours.
Ever since then he couldn’t imagine a better place to serve and give back to the community.
Many like Eugene and Lenny add to what makes the mustard seed a safe haven

CNN Ireport Topic

For the CNN ireport assignment, my partner Victor Mwangi and I are going to go to the soup kitchen the mustard seed in Saint Johnsbury, Vermont.
For the audio sounds we will interview one of the volunteers at the soup kitchen and if we can find someone who eats at the soup kitchen and is willing to be interviewed then we will interview them as well.
The visual aspects we will use for this project will contain footage from outside the soup kitchen, preparing the food and the consuming of the food.
This project will primarily focus on the volunteers at the Mustard Seed, why they do what they do, what it takes and how it impacts the Saint Johnsbury community.

member responsibilities:
Getting in touch with the volunteers and setting up a interview: Kaitlyn Manktelow
Taking pictures: Kaitlyn Manktelow and Victor Mwangi
Interviewing the volunteers: Kaitlyn Manktelow and Victor Mwangi
Editing the interview: Kaitlyn Manktelow and Victor Mwangi

IREPORT

  The Ireport is definitely a good website that connects the community and helps them tell their stories and their perspectives.

Its the first of its kind that I have personally seen and I am really impressed by it. I think this is also a good reason to why CNN is growing bigger because this is a good technique on getting news that the community is buzzing about.

So far, I haven't seen any negatives about the site and am honestly not hoping to find one. The site itself is easy to youse and not complicated as expected at first.

"Art is my Drug"

Dorian McGowan

Victor Mwangi, & Kaitlyn Manktelow

Dorian McGowan, is a small man from a small town but as anyone can see, his artistic talent is anything but small.

He is a former professor at Lyndon State College, but now retired, he spends most of his days drawing portraits of students, staff and faculty members and even town residence. In addition to this, he continues to pursue his passions at home where he has his own art gallery, full of his own collection as well as his sons.

While others might have a passion for music, culture and science, McGowan believes art is a form of therapy for him. “A drawing a day keeps the doctor away.” Perhaps this is how he has reached the aged of eighty-one and still continues to pursue his passions in the art.

  Born and raised in Vermont he always knew he wanted to be an artist from a young age. He describes how his first painting was when he used the poop from his diaper and then smeared it on the wall, only to prove his mother right when she said all those years ago, “Oh God I have an artist on my hand!”

McGowan’s grandmother played a big role in nurturing his talent. From a young age she would encourage him to sit on her lap and draw with him. Being paralyzed from the waist down, McGowan found himself spending much time sitting beside her drawing, which he continued to do so even after her death.

Having gone to a catholic school, Dorian McGowan shocked his teachers when he told them that art was his passion and that’s what he wanted to study when he went to college. The nuns of his high school believed that McGowan was only pursuing this career goal as a way to see naked women, and while that may have played a minor part in it, he was set on his belief that he did not want to be a priest.

 After making this firm decision and writing to his inspiration Norman Rockwell, his decision was made when he applied to Pratt University. Passing the drawing exam heightened his confidence that art was his future. Moving to Brooklyn, NY was a huge risk that paid off.

While getting his education, little did McGowan know that that’s the same place he would meet his lovely wife. To perfect his artisan talent and also make a living, McGowan taught at a high school in New York before moving back to Vermont where he taught at Lyndon state College.

Dorian’s passion for art was passed down to his four children who are now grown and earn a living by being artists. Apart from drawing, painting and sculpting, building of stone walls is one of the many talents that McGowan has been able to express all over his property.

Never a seeker of fame Dorian McGowan is grateful and takes pride in all that he has accomplished. Raising a beautiful family and having a successful carrier.  

Photos: Kaitlyn Manktelow

Photo editing: Kaitlyn Manktelow

Contacting Dorian: Victor Mwangi

Interview: Victor & Kaitlyn

 Audio: Kaitlyn Manktelow

 Soundslides editing: Kaitlyn Manktelow

Story Text: Victor Mwangi

Dorian (Synopsis)

For our group project, Victor Mwangi and Kaitlyn Manktelow are planning on interviewing Dorian McGowan.

 Dorian McGowan is a former professor at Lyndon State College and an amazing artist. During this interview they hope to gain more insight onto the incredible life that Dorian has lived so far from conversing with Norman Rockwell to sketching amazingly accurate portraits on a daily basis.

They plan on going to his house and taking pictures of his gallery and his art work. While at his gallery they will be using a digital voice recorder to record his story and a digital camera to document his work.
           
The intended audience for the project is student and faculty at Lyndon State College as well as those living in the Caledonia area. Dorian McGowan is a well-known name around the surrounding area, learning more about him will provide great interest to many people. The fact that he has done so much in his life and accomplished a great deal many of things is what makes this such an interesting story. To hear the story behind his art work and to know more about his accomplishments, his greatest moments, his lowest and what makes his art so dramatic and emotional to look at.

The crew members of this project are:
Kaitlyn Manktelow
Victor Mwangi

Both crew members plan on interviewing Dorian and taking pictures of his gallery, his work and the artist himself. Then both crew members will participate in creating the audio slideshow containing the interview as a voice over and the pictures taken during the interview