When choosing the option to do a close reading of a personal blog, i wasn't sure how to approach finding one. The web is huge! How am I supposed to find a blog worthwhile to do a close analysis of it and write a 2 page paper? This task came alot easier than I imagined. My roommate, and best friend, Teri, went on a mission trip this past summer to Uganda. The purpose of this trip was to spend time with children from an orphanage and help with miscellaneous tasks around the village. Teri had told me when she got back that she would be sharing her journal entries she had written on her online blog, but I didn't pay much attention to taking the time to read it, great friend I know :/ it's sad that it took this assignment for me to become "interested" in her journey, but it did give me a purpose to read and see what exactly she went through. After reading her blog entries, not only did I accomplish the task at hand, but I also gained a personal closeness with her writings and almost felt like I had actually been there.
There were many things in Teri's blog that I found interesting, the first being videos and photos. In most all of her entries, Teri included at least 2 or 3 personal photos she had taken while on her trip. This allowed me, as the reader, to associate the words with photos. I felt more "in tune" with what she was saying and it helped me paint an accurate picture in my head about the conditions she was experiencing. Teri also posted some videos on her page. These included two Ugandan children singing a song, a personal show of her riding a camel, and even a short video taken on a moving walkway in the LAX airport! :) The video of the children signing in their native language gave me an insight to their culture and I was able to see how music in their country differed from ours. In the United States, we wouldn't consider riding a camel to be public transportation, but in Uganda, it is a way of life. Seeing Teri try her hardest not to fall off of the camel was hilarious, and maybe even more so because she's a close friend! Overall, the photos and videos included in each of her entries really allowed me to gain a closer understanding of what she was going through.
Teri also kep teach of her entires short enough that she wouldn't lose reader interest, but long enough for the reader to walk away with a new sense of the different world in Uganda. Some people tend to stop "absorbing" information after a few paragraphs andd all else is lost. Teri was wise in keeping her blogs to a maximum of three paragraphs in order to keep the reader's attention and let them focus on the certain subject she was reflecting on. This made it difficult in some ways for her to become detailed in her descriptions, but Teri also used great word choice and sentence structure in order to be detailed without dragging on.
The detailed descriptions allowed me as the reader to feel like I was personally there with her, experiencing this journey on my own. She was descriptive in the food she ate, the weather, things the kids said and mannerisms, and thoughts in general. By keeping a diary, Teri was able to record what she was feeling at exact moments. For most people, writing lets them express what they are unable to vocally. She continues to write and expand on her trip which allows the reader to see how over the past month since she's been back, this trip still affects her. At the beginning, her entries were mainly focused on her day-to-day activities in Uganda. Since her trip ended, her blogs have been more centered on her thoughts regarding the trip and the personal changes she has made in her life.
Because she is a close friend of mine, we have had numerous conversations where she has shared her experience with me. A person can only absorb so much from listening to someone talk. Teri encouraged me to read her blog, telling me it would give me a better understanding of what she went through. I kept putting it off, I mean who wants to leisurely read about a girl's experience in Uganda? But as soon as I started reading, I couldn't make myself stop. I gained a new sense Teri as a person overall. She was truly touched and changed forever from just 3 weeks in Uganda.
Teri's personal blog documenting her mission trip to Uganda is a perfect example of the use of a blog. Yes, most blogs focus on a certain topic and refrain from the author getting too personal, but I personally think that it's important for authors to include personal stories, feelings, and thoughts they have in order for the reader to gain a full understanding of the writing. I'm still sorry to say that it took a school homework assignment for me to show interest in wanting to actually read about her trip, but I feel as though I have been personally touched and changed through her experiences.
Her blog can be accessible at the following site:
http://siyahamba8611.blogspot.com/
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