Work Cited

Carter, Chris. The Hemingway You Didnt know: Papa's Adventures. 2009

Routhier, Ray. The man, the myth, the gun lover. Portland: 2010.

Reflection Piece

This smester I have learned a whole lot. Professor Candia has taught me so much about literature and to me did a fantastic job. I defintley would take another class of hers in the future. I learned to look at literature in a whole new way now. I used to look at a piece of writing and not know where to start. I would have a million questions and thoughts running through my mind. In English 102 that has changed. Now when I look at a piece of literature I know where to begin and how to jump into it. I was also taught to be a good investigator and really look at everything the work contains so that way if it gives any clues away I wont be missing anything important. I have also learned that literature comes in so many diffrent styles which is what makes writing a beauty. I have also come to learn that writing is a process and dosent get done in a day. Writing in itself has a beauty because their is no stopping or putting a restriction on where your ideas can go and how deep they can get. I have found that a couple of things have changed in my writing. One change that I have noticed is that Im finding my thesis and topic sentence's are getting better. They still need more work but im finding that as I go over my essay's again I feel they are getting a little bit stronger as well as staying on task. This is still a big one that im working on but did see an improvement from my first essay to my second one  I did during this semester. Another aspect of my writing that I have seen has changed is my choice of word diction. I feel im not using repeatitive words as much and am finding myself using much greater word choice to get my message across or to simply answer a question. I feel I have grown both as a writer and thinker as well as a speaker. I will be honest that I still need work in each department but do feel I am much better than I was before during first semester. The one thing I really enjoyed about this class was the selection of readings we did. I really got into them and could relate to a couple of them. One really important aspect of this class that im going to take away with me is the knowing how to investigate and how to interpret a story. To me that is vital because without knowing how to interpret a story and investigate it then you really dont know what it is that your indulging yourself with. This last question is a bit rough to answer but I would say in five years from now I think I would be a pretty good thinker and be able to come up with my own conclusions based on whats given. I find I will be great and that what ever challenge I may have to face I will try to think hard through it. As far as a writer I feel I will get even better. Five years from now I think I will have developed what is needed to deliver a solid piece of writing home and that it will be a lot more discriptive with better sentences.

Hemingway The Story Teller

One of Hemingway's famous quotes!! 

It's no secret that Hemingway could weave a masterful tale behind a typewriter, a fact that is reinforced through many of his stories such as A Clean, Well-Lighted Place. The New York Times Book Review labled him "The most important author since Shakespeare". But Hemingway was not just a good story teller on paper. The tales he spun for friends and family captivated everyone within earshot, and were frequently so grand and full of wild incidents that those who listned were often left questioning whether one man could really have expreinced so much in a single lifetime. Many of his tales seemed to stretch the truth, often more than a little. In his short stories he was famous for leaving the reader confused at some points of the book. He was also known for leaving the reader asking question in the end and wanting to do more investigating as it did with me in A Clean, Well-Lighted Place. Ernest Hemingway to me was a legend who will forever have an impact on me as a reader when I continue to read his stories and begin to understand his concepts as I move foward through his work. 

One of my favorite quotes from Hemingway!!

Hemingway The Boxer

Warming up before a match!! 

Hemingway had practiced the sweet science since childhood, and at one point, was a sucessful amateur boxer. Hemingway's love for boxing was unmatched by his other passions, and he even had a boxing ring built in the backyard of his Key West home, right next to the pool, so that he could spar with guests. Often, throughout the summer, Hemingway attended huge boxing events, and while fighitng, he had taken many hard hits to the head. There were times when Hemingway would go home, and during some nights, feel very dizzy, and often have horrible headches. In my opinion, I feel this had contributed to his suicide because of the fact that he was getting hit with hard blows to the head left and right. The trauma that his head had taken most certanitly led him to make poor descions, which led to his death. This, out of all he went through, I think impacted him the greatest. Hemingway's love of the sport carried over into the literary world as well. He was known for using his analogies in interviews, as well as for attempting to teach the poet, Ezra Pound, to box during his years in Paris. Several of his short stories reflect his love for the sport, including ones like Fifty Grand and The Battler.

 Hemingway The champion at boxing!! 

Passion For Guns and Hunting

Hemingway hunting in East Africa. 

From the 1920's to 1960's, fine guns and safari hunting were a mark of status and something everyone talked about. Ernest Hemingway's grandfather had been a soldier and Civil War veteran who fought in many infantry divisions, dealing with guns almost everyday of his life. Hemingway's father was also an active hunter as well, who went on many hunting adventures and was seen as a successful hunter. An accomplished outdoors man, Hemingway had learned how to handle a gun at a very young age, and held the title of being an accomplished hunter, so there is no doubt that Ernest grew up to follow his family's tradition of being in the outdoors and hunting. The greater influence for his passion of guns and hunting was from president Theodore Roosevelt who was also known as the hunting president. Roosevelt had worked on a ranch at youth, and after leaving office, he went on safari hunts in East Africa, just as Hemingway did with his wife. Hemingway was so impressed by Roosevelt and his lifestyle that, as time went on, it became very clear to people that president Roosevelt was the one who shaped Ernest Hemingway to be that huge hunting, conservative type of guy. Ernest Hemingway's interest in hunting sports varied between two distinct ones. It was Pheasant and Duck shooting. During Hemingway's second major hunt in 1954 is where he became quite the professional hunter and flourished. He was widely known by other popular hunters, and was seen on many newspaper covers and sports articles for catching the biggest animal and winning huge prizes. He had dedicated so much time and effort, as this was something he, proverbially speaking, died for and loved so much. This was what he did on his free time, and was really good at it.

Hemingway doing what he does best! Hunting!! 

Fatal Plane Crash!!

What the news looked like
back at home. 

During Hemingway's last safari in East Africa, he had survived, not one, but two plane crashes. News of the first crash, deep in the jungles of Uganda, set off reports of his death back home. This spawned many obituaries, which Hemingway later read daily over his morning coffee with amusement. Following the crash, he, his wife, and the pilot were forced to camp out overnight in the middle of what was known as the elephant country, which was a whole story in itself. The second crash, following just several days after the first, was much more severe, and Hemingway was injured really badly in multiple areas. The pilot, this time, had been forced to perform an emergency dive to avoid a bird strike, and the plane ground-looped, eventually crashing. The plane burst into flames upon impact, forcing Ernest to shoulder the door open and try to help his wife and the pilot to safety. When he had gotten out, there was a long list of injuries he had suffered, including first degree burns, internal bleeding, ruptured kidneys, ruptured spleen, ruptured liver, a crushed vertebra, and a fractured skull. After this huge ordeal, Hemingway still managed to put on a smile for the reporters at his evacuation point. He had to said to one reporter, "My luck, she's running very good".

Cessna 182 that had crashed in
East Africa. 

The War Hero

Ernest Hemingway 20 years old
serving in the military during
World War 1. 

Hemingway navigating through
World War 2. 

As a young man, Hemingway served in the Military with the Red Cross  during World War 1. Not long after serving in the  Army, Hemingway had gotten seriously wounded. While delivering chocolates and cigarettes to soldiers on the line, he was hit by a trench mortar fire, leaving over two hundred sharp fragments in his leg, nearly destroying his knee. Despite his gruesome injury, he had managed to drag another injured solider to safety, having stuffed the cigarettes he was carrying into his own wounds to stop the bleeding temporarily. Hemingway received the silver medal of military valor from the Italian government for his heroic actions that day. After this, he had moved back to the U.S., and then, after some time went by, he went back to Europe to see the action of World War 2 as a war correspondent. Then, Hemingway joined the Royal airforce on bombing raids and followed infantry divisions around Europe wherever fighting was the worst. Hemingway also witnessed the D-Day invasion from one of the landing crafts a couple of miles away from where the invasion had taken place, and recorded many horrors of the war. As time progressed in World War 2, he began to play a more active role in the war than he was supposed to. He would, at times, engage and help the soldiers fight, often throwing grenades on the battlefront. He would often assume the role of a soldier himself, which was an indirect violation of the Geneva Convention's guidelines for war correspondents. From other reports, Hemingway allegedly went on to form his own unit, which shockingly had twice the firepower and alcohol rations of all other units. Hemingway was also accused of keeping a virtual armory in his private room, including anti-tank grenades and German bazookas. 

Sporting Events

Napoli!! 

I absolutely love going to huge sporting events, especially soccer games. I love watching the Sunday games with my family on tv with the Italian leagues battling it out for the European Cup. My favorite team is Napoli, out of the whole A series league. Just a couple of weeks ago, during spring break, I was in Italy and was at one of the big stadiums where the Italian teams play. The game I had went to go watch was Napoli against Juventus. When I entered the stadium, it looked insane. There were lights beaming from every angle possible, and people all over the place scattered like ants. As the game progressed, it got intense. As I was sitting down watching the game, I got this jolt of adrenaline rush  seconds after Napoli had scored. Soccer, in my family, is huge and is taken as seriously as the Super Bowl here in America. I could remember the crowds going nuts, and people screaming and banging into each other with horns and whistles going off. It was quite the memory that I will never forget, as it was my first time ever attending a Soccer game live in another country. 

Juventus!!

My Local Fire Department

Brand new truck to our fleet!! 

During my free time, I volunteer at my local fire department as a way of me giving back to my community for all that it has done for me. I currently volunteer at my local district, which is Carle Place Fire Department. I love working with a great team of people who care as much as I do about my community. It fills me with joy when I know that I have impacted some one else and made their day better. Giving back is huge with me, I believe strongly in it, and it's what I look forward to. On my way to the fire house, I get this sense of great confidence and pride because I know that it will be another day of lending out a helping hand to one who needs it most. 

Second truck added to our fleet!! Currently the most operated. 

 

My Italian-American Family

My Father and Mother at HighSchool
Graduation. 

I am from a family of 5 and am the oldest child. There is my mother, Carmela, my father, Giovanni, and my two younger twin brothers named Giovanni Jr. and Nicholas.

My father was born and raised in Italy, specifically southern Italy in Naples. My farther is the only one in the house with a very heavy accent, but being around it my whole life, I got used to it and understand him well. My mother, brothers, and I were born here in the United States. My mother speaks fluent Italian, and the majority of her family has come and moved here to the U.S. from Italy. My father's entire family is unfortunately  back in Italy, and at times, it can be hard, but we still keep in very close contact with them. I am extremely  thankful that I come from a very supportive, loving, caring family. My younger twin brothers are complete soccer addicts and are both fourteen years old. 

My brother's Confirmation.

My family and I love to spend Sundays together. For example, we have gone, and still go on occasion, to The Nautical Mile in Freeport, NY and have dinner by the sea. Family bonding is important to us as a whole, and I feel that it only brings us closer. When the Italian Soccer leagues are playing, we will get together and watch them battle it out for the European Cup. 

My passion for the Drums

Drumline crew!!   

On my free time, I play one very special instrument, and that is the drums. I have been playing the drums since I was four years old. I have such a strong passion for them, and it started at a super young age. One Christmas, I woke up and remember opening up my presents and seeing this drum set!! I was so excited and couldn't wait to open them up and start playing. It was tiny but did the job. As I got older, I began progressing and getting much better at playing. I had taught myself how to play at the time, but as time began to progress, I got really good. As I moved throughout middle school and high school, I got involved in the Jazz band and Drum line. It was something I truly loved and found that I was really good at. I could remember when my percussion group and I would play at big sporting events and competitions. I could remember hearing the crowds going nuts and screaming so loud after we finished off strong. I remember feeling the adrenaline rush going through me. I feel that when I play the drums my emotions come out, and I show it through my playing, as one can tell based on how I'm playing. I also use the drums as a way for me to let all my frustration out, and also as a way of therapeutic relaxation. When I play, I feel that I'm letting all that is bottled up in me out, so that when I'm done, I feel like I'm in a better state of mind. The drums, for me, is a way to get away from everything and go to my happy place. Playing the drums and listening to music is what fuels me and gets me right back up when I'm feeling down.

Me and the group performing at the Middle school
winter concert. 

First Flight Up in the Air

Football Field over Farmingdale, New York

Aviation has been a deep passion of mine since I was 6 years old. I would go out to the Airport every weekend with my parents, and I would sit and watch all the planes takeoff at Republic Airport in Farmingdale, New York. I would be there from eight in the morning until three in the afternoon. As I got older, I began to grow more and more interested in Aviation and became more involved, as well. For example, in 2016, I volunteered at the Air Power Museum on the grounds of Republic Airport.

My father, Giovanni Portelli, owns a landscaping and irrigation business. In 2009, when I was 8 years old, on a weekday, I was studying and received a call from one of my father's customers, Al. As I began to speak with this man, I realized he was a pilot himself. I began to go into a deep discussion about his aircrafts and what he did for a living. I was so fascinated and intrigued at what this man had at his disposal. As we progressed into the conversation, he proceeded to ask me if I would like to go flying with him in his aircraft. I was in shock, just trying to  absorb what he just asked of me. I quickly responded with a jolt of excitement and said, "Yes!"

Flying over Jones Beach. 

The next day, I got to see Long Island up at 4000 feet, and it was just spectacular. No words could describe how cool it was to be sitting inside of such a complex machine, flying and being around what I love.

Getting ready to board Al's Helicopter.