About my brother

If you would like to read this story about my brother, the first thing you need to know is that he is no ordinary human. In this story, you will find many funny and lovable little tales.

My brother, Yil A. Verdeja Bellemans, born in 11th of December, 1996 is a tall boy who can make friends very easily. Now, you first have to know more about him if you want to keep on reading. His two favorite sports are basketball and baseball. When he grows up, he always tells me that he wants to be an inventor and a stunt man. Yil is also a very funny person. Especially the time a few years ago when he scared a woman to death thinking she was his mom. I found it really funny, but Yil found it really embarrassing. He is also very sensible at school, but you have no idea of what he does at home. He talks in the shower to himself! Now what do you think? It’s not just that. He says it in different voices. For example: “What are you doing here?” he says in a different voice. “I am taking a shower. What are you doing here?” then he says normally. “I don’t know,” I could hear him from the first floor, and he is in the third. Speaking of showering, you do not want to hear him sing at home. He sings so badly at his house, all the birds fly away. One time in Thailand, my nanny and I were sitting outside talking to each other. In front of us was a tree with many little chirping birds. 3 minutes later, I heard from my house a horrible song coming from my brother. Suddenly all the birds flew away. This is why I hate it when my brother sings at home. But no one knows how he really sings…
At school, he is sometimes a very different person or he is just, I don’t know… Ok I guess. In his ok times, he gets good grades, he is sensible, he behaves well in field trips, and you know what I mean (behaving in school properly). Last year he got a 7 for his French class and many high grades in his other classes. Yil’s favorite subjects are Drama, Music, Math, Science, P.E (Physical Education), French, Humanities, and last year, his favorite enrichment class was Theatre Sports. We don’t know what it is for this year yet. Yil does many other good things like when he doesn’t do his homework, he tells the teacher and prepares himself for the consequences. He is serious in art class, but when the teacher turns around, he becomes silly. If Yil hurts someone, he says sorry many times to him or her until they say it is ok (Like Me!). Now he also does crazy things in school. For Example he will act crazy… actually not crazy, really really crazy around his friends! He is really stupid at lunch and recess. He will also poke a friend called Amy on her hip.
The most lovable thing Yil thought about me was when he had a nightmare. When he told me I laughed really hard, but he found it really sad and nice. He said I was a show off so when I jumped from a forty-two-story building, I broke into six pieces. The funny part was when my brother was crying; my head just stood up and shouted “Yil! Help me!” Then he woke up and screamed while crying in his bed, “Lía, please don’t die. I love you!!!” Yil’s stupid times were in Thailand. One time, the phone rang. So of course, he took the phone. “Hello?” he said normally. No one answered. Then he turned the phone off. Then again it rang. Still no one answered. Yil was starting to get frustrated. The third time the phone rang, Yil was as mad as a bull. He got the phone and exclaimed, “OK, if this is a prank call, you guys are so dead. I’m gonna kill you if you do it again.” “Hello,” said a man on the phone. Yil was surprised. “Who is this,” he nervously said. “It’s Opa Staf.” Yil had just screamed at his grandfather from Belgium. Yil quickly got back on the phone and apologized. My grandpa said it was Ok. He just needed to talk to my mom. Then, he gave the phone to my mom. That was so hilarious for him and for me.
Yil is someone you want to have for your life. He’s reeeaaally nice to me. We have the same dreams. We do the same things together. We have lots of fun. Except when we have homework. We have lots of problems with that. Don’t count that in. all you should know is that he will have a fun life with who ever he meets.
The End

The Memories of Menor (The little one)

This is a story of a little fish that passed away on a really rainy day.

In October, we moved to Villa Riviera. My mom chose this house (D-2), because it wasn’t too small, and it wasn’t too big. Our house was the one with the cute little waterfall. This is where I met the fishes. There were 2 black fishes, two orange ones, two shiny fishes, and the little one of the pond. We named him Menor. My nanny called him that for he was the smallest in the pond and there were no other fish like him. He was also the funniest in pond and the cutest.

Menor & the Food

Everyday in the morning my nanny and I gave the fishes some fish food. The funny part about Menor there is that every time he catches one fish food, it comes right back out of his mouth. But sometimes, it stays in his mouth. One time, Menor had one fish food in his mouth, it came out, and an orange fish ate it. Also, when my nanny is giving the fishes bread, instead of Menor eating the smaller pieces of bread, he went for the giant ones. It took lots and lots of time for him to eat his food because he has a really tiny mouth. That was two of my memories.

Menor the friend:

This might sound funny, but every time I was lonely, Menor was always there for me. One time, I was really lonely. So I went outside where my nanny was reading. She was also bored. So then, we were talking together while looking at the pond and…. Out from a rock came Menor! He was so hyper. He was practically moving very fast around the other fishes. Once he came out we weren’t bored any more. We were talking about how funny he was. This is how he is a friend to me, my nanny, my family, and friends.

Menor and his family:

After Christmas, some fishes died from the cold. There were hardly any fishes left in the pond. Menor, had survived Christmas. So my nanny and I were very happy to see him alive. But then, he wasn’t as happy and hyper as he usually was. He was calmer. A few months later, he got use to being without many fishes. Something needed to be done. So a few days later, Menorsita was in the pond. Menorsita stands for (The little one (for girl).) They got married. They had some baby fishes. Well, lots of baby fishes. They were all very happy.

Menor’s death:

Weeks later after Mating, was really raining. It was on a Saturday. The pond was flooded, the garden was flooded, and the pond already went to the grass. As my brother and I were playing Wii, my brother thought he saw a little fish out of water. But I thought it was nothing.

The next day was a big and sad surprise. We saw Menorsita, alone, going from corner to corner, rock to rock, looking for Menor. A few minutes later she hid in a rock, just sitting there alone. Menor had passed away on that rainy day. I threw a flower on to the pond wishing him a good time in fish heaven. My nanny threw a pink flower for sadness that he had died.

I will never forget the memories of Menor.

The Dream

While walking in a bay,
there's something in my way.

Who is it?
What is it?

It's a BIG turtle.
A big purple turtle!

"follow me Ollie, into the cave."
As I slowly walk towards that way,
Everything fades away...

"Wake up Ollie, it's only a dream, it's only a
dream"

Shining Star

I'll wish upon a shining star,
Will my dream come true?

I'll wish upon a shining star,
and so can you!

We'll both wish upon a shining star,
and guess what?
Your friends are invited too!

We'll ALL wish upon a shining star...
SHHHHHH!
Don't tell your wish or it won't come TRUE!!!

Banana Split

Likety lick goes my banana split!
I just finished one so which other ice cream will i pick?

Of course! Another banana split!

Likety lick goes my NEW banana split.
i now don't feel so well. I kinda feel sick.

I shouldn't have eaten too much of my new banana split!

My Journal (Christopher Columbus)

Hi there! I’m Christopher Columbus from Italy Genoa. I was born in the year 1451. I started navigating at the age of fourteen.

I am going to the King and Queen of Spain to share my brilliant Idea to go quicker around the world on boat to India, than walking there. They are giving me a chance to my idea. So they’re providing me the money, the boats, and the sailors. They are offering me three boats: 2 small boats, the “Pinta” and the “Niña”. The big boat is called “Santa Maria”.

On the boat, we are bringing some rice, cheese and animals to kill. For our navigation we are bringing things such as… Almanacs, charts, compasses, and hourglasses. When we get to our location, we will trade…Glass beads, brass rings, knitted caps, gold and silver, pearls, and spices.

“Splash! Splosh! Splush!” My first Voyage around the world to India. It’s October 12 and I’m hearing Rodrigo de Triana shouting “Tierra! Tierra!” (Land! Land!)

“CRASH!” I’m looking outside and guess what… Land! We were almost about to leave. From saving our hunger and lives, I declare this land called “San Salvador.” Everybody is getting out now excited with the new world. Then, I see islanders coming out from the forest, just greeting everybody nicely… Of course! They’re Indians!

A few hours later, we started our trading business. They were actually pretty nice. They would trade anything for anything. Spun cotton, parrots, and spears for the sailors. Glass beads, red caps, and trinkets for the Indians. After a few months, we learned more about the Indians until we found out that they were actually called “Tainos” but there are bigger groups of islanders in the island called the “Arawaks”

We were having so much fun until we found out the Taino and the Arawaks had pure gold pierced in their noses! So I was asking them about it. The islanders told me… “If you go farther in this island, you will see more gold around.”

So now I set sail again to find more gold but this time, some Tainos are coming with me so they can lead me to where the gold is. It’s taking a few weeks to get there, but I can’t fail this exploration.

(Almost November) Finally! We got to the next island though we are on the coast of this is got, and.

After we got to this weird place, we started going east. We went all across the land. This land had more gold around and people had bracelets of pure gold!

When we got to the end of the land, we found another island. Some of the Tainos told me that in their language they call this island Haiti. Haiti stands for the island of mountains. There was a small Taino chief who lived in Haiti. So we stayed on this village for Christmas, December 25^th. Since the Santa Maria got destroyed, we made a fort to sleep in for Christmas.

In January, I needed to name this land. So I said… “By the power given to me by the King and Queen of Spain, I shall name this land la Hispaniola!”

I am now going to go back to Spain to go on my next Voyage. I am going to leave behind Forty-three men in la Hispaniola to see how it goes.

Good-bye Hispaniola!

It’s September 25^th 1493 and the King & Queen of Spain let me go on my second voyage. Me and my sailors are on a rush to this next voyage because the Catholic King and Queen are scared that the Portuguese would come to the islands that I discovered and probably they will discover other things. Now I am off to my second voyage!

On the two boats and other more, we have other things this time. With us, we are bringing priest from the Catholic Church, monks, settlers, and many other types of people.

According to the map we have, we must be getting into a new land we haven’t discovered yet. Lets go! I am so excited to see this new land. I hope it is not to late to discover.

“Land ahead admiral!” I hear. It’s time to get off the ship because my sailors and I need to explore. When I got off the ship, we explored many places on that island. Since I named all the islands I’ve been to, I should name this one too. But I can’t find a name so I shall leave this land without a name.

After I left the land without a name, I went to la Hispania to see how the sailors are going there. When I got there, every single sailor was dead on the floor. I am so shocked!!! All the Indians are cross with me. So I asked one of them of what happened to the sailors.

(A few minutes later…) Oh my god! I can’t believe this happened! All my sailors started stealing gold and making the Indians into slaves. After that horrible moment I decided to go back to Spain and do a new voyage around this place.

So long Indians! See you next time!

It’s the 30^th of May 1498 and I am so pleased that I can go on my 3^rd voyage around India and china. I think that I am going to be very famous for all my exploration.

As always, we are sailing on sea to find more land. And we always do. All my sailors are excited to go discover new lands. Day after day we are sleeping on the floor… Except for me!!! I’m looking at my compass to see if we are on the right direction.

“Land admiral!” says one of the sailors on the 31 of July. Of f we go to a new island! This island is so clean and green! Anybody would want to live in this place!! (This island will soon be called Trinidad.)

After we looked at this island we just went to, we set sail southwest leading us to a coastline said on this chart. We were on our boats for lots of days, probably weeks.

On the 4^th of August, the chart was right. We got to a coastline what if it was already discovered? I checked around to see if there were any flags from countries. No flags. So that means we discovered it first. Hooray! We walked all across the coastline until the 12^th of August.

We started to go a little bit more forwards and we found a very rocky and watery place that the water nearly touched the land. It also looks so beautiful. So… “ By the power given to by the King and Queen of Spain, I shall name this place the Land of Grace.”

A few days later my sailors and I left again to la Hispaniola. When I got there, everything was fine. But then… a few months later came people from Spain came to arrest me. They thought I didn’t get to India but I wasn’t strong enough to let go. I got sent back home Italy, Genoa thinking that my exploration would end from now on.

Good-bye Christopher Columbus, welcome back, Cristoforo Clombo.

I have a feeling this is going to be my last and final voyage. I will first go to Spain, Then I shall do a final trip. It took me a while to find sailors but I got a few.

So now I start the trip. Of I go the same way I usually went, past the canaries. While we are on the boat, I checked if I had everything with me:

. Compass… Check!

. Astrolabe…Check!

. Map… Check!

. Chart… Check!

. Hourglass…Check!

So we have everything with us. After a month or two I checked my map that we are near an island. June 15, we got to a place or an island and we stared exploring it. There was a hurricane coming so we had to leave. I did not want to put a name on this island so I left it alone. It was a beautiful place though.

So my sailors and I went on boat to la Hispaniola so we can be safe. When I got there on June 29, the Indians wouldn’t let me enter. I was telling them about the hurricane but they did not want to believe me.

After the conversation, I headed back to one of the islands in the third voyage. Then I went east with my sailors and got to a coastline on the 30^th of July, and we kept going ford ward to the land so my sailors and me can explore. We are exploring on this coast for about 2 months.

Later, after exploring the coastline, I sailed south on the boat and got somewhere close to that coastline. We started exploring that place too. I was seeing some Indians there too. They taught me lots of things now I can do them. I was having so much fun until a storm came by. All my ships but one got destroyed. So I immediately had to go to la Hispaniola.

A few weeks later in la Hispaniola came a big giant storm. My last boat did not survive! So I have nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.

So-long Italy, Spain, & India.

Good-bye,

Christopher Columbus…

My Summer Vacation

My Summer Vacation

By: Lía Verdeja B.

Chapter 1

Finally school was over. No more homework! Except for reading.

But one day after the last day of school, I heard bad news: my family and me are moving! And worse, we have to stay one whole month in Thailand doing nothing! How boring is that? Reading, walking around, and T.V. But my friend Eva Lin was there to play with me for a while.

We made a castle out of card board (which took lots of time!). The castle ended small from outside. But to walk inside, was sort of big.

We played in the pool (example: animal tag, water balloon fight, ect.) we never played Marco Polo or cops and robbers because they were boring in the water.

And we made a massage place that everyone liked. We made a foot massage, a back massage, a hand massage, and a whole body massage with your clothes on.

After all the things we've done together, she had to leave to the USA. NOW I have no one to play with.

CHAPTER 2

I'm going to Bali! No more boring time. I'm going to Bali because of my dad's birthday and we want to go to the beach to have fun!

4hrs later in the airplane… Yes! We're at Bali. We went to a hotel called Alu Bali. 5 minutes away from the beach. So what do we do on the first day??? Simple. We go to the beach! The beach was wonderful. Though it had BIG waves. But the best part of going to the beach was…watching the sunset.

The next day, we went to a water park. The water was very cold but there were many cool slides. I went in a cool slide with my mom. It was called the macaroni tube. It was very fun so I went there over and over again. Then we had to go because it was getting dark. One day I want to go to this water park again.

When I woke up the next morning, my family and me went to a city called Ubud. It took an hour and a half to get there. When we got to Ubud, we started to find rice fields. Some just started to grow and some were being taken out. We also went to a monkey forest. I saw a mother monkey with her baby. It was really cute. Now I'm going back because the sun was going down.

The next day, I went to the beach again. My dad and me made a sand tower competion. The one who makes the tallest tower in 2 minutes is the winner. I won because in the last 3 seconds my dad's tower broke down. Tomorrow I'm leaving in the morning. I had fun in Bali.

CHAPTER 3

Good-bye Thailand and good-bye friends. I'm now moving to Vietnam. That was when I found one good thing about moving. I might see my old friends there.

2 hrs and 5 min. later… I'm in Vietnam! Now that I'm still remembering a little, it's better. We got to an apartment called Indochine. We went to the 16^th floor. And in our rooms we have 3 floors. Floor 1: living room, dining room, and kitchen. Floor 2: 3 bedrooms and a bathroom. And last, Floor 3: Balcony. This place is going to be GREAT!!! Well not that great until we go to the beach in Muine.

A few days later, probably the 29^th of July, we went to Muine. It took 4 hours to get there. Then we were at Muine happy and carsick. It looked exactly the same. And this time we went to a different hotel called Blue Ocean. We stayed there for 3 days. It was really fun because the waves weren't so big, and the water was normal not cold, and we made cool sand castles.

After 3 days, we came back to the apartment. Me, carsick again and happy.

Now August 8 is my nanny's birthday!!! How awesome is that. So for her birthday present I made a painting saying happy birthday. She was very happy. So we planned that on the 9^th of August, we would eat at Al Fresco's. And we did. I ate spaghetti and she ate ribs.

Now 3 more days and it's school time! I had lots of fun on my summer vacation.